I met my husband, an Irishman living just down the road from Schull in Ballydehob after travelling to Ireland in an incredible leap of faith. I had always wanted to live in Ireland and decided, in my mid-thirties, to take a leap and move there for two years without any real plan, without knowing anyone. I met my soon to be husband shortly after arriving through a magical series of events.
We moved back to Canada, my home, almost ten years ago and married shortly after. One of the most precious gifts of my wedding day was the Croí álainn bracelet I received from my husband's sister. I put it on on my wedding day and have not taken it off since. When our daughter, a truly beautiful heart, began school at the age of 4, she was nervous and worried about being away from me all day. She had grown up, on my lap, twiddling that bracelet, asking what it meant, so it seemed like the perfect thing to give her as well. I purchased a matching Croí álainn bracelet for her so throughout the day, whenever she felt lonely or lost at school, she could touch her bracelet and know that our beautiful hearts were connected.
She's almost 9 and still wears that bracelet every day as well. That bracelet and those words have become a touchstone for us, something that reminds all three of us of our love and connection with one another.