204

Slept like a baby last night – soooo good.  I loved waking up and pottering down to breakfast like it was 2005 again… Only this time Jan-Willem (the oldest boy) was now at school and it was his little bro, Jack (who’d been grumpily distant last night) who was grinning at me and bringing his toys to me while I ate my cereal.  Very cute…

Seeing the newly renovated, new church location to accomodate the church which has tripled since I was around.  Eh… not that it was because of me, of course! Hahaha…

A contemplative walk around Tours Cathedral, site of significant memories…

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201

The French IFES’ movement (and my excuse to come to France) started this afternoon and I was launched into French conversation and singing French praise which was cool.

However, the best conversation of the day started in French and ended up in English… 

I did a Bible College placement in Tours in 2005 and met Raphael and his wife at the church I was working with.  Back then, he was doing a little volunteer work with the GBU (French IFES/CUs) and I got to hang out a little with him at a CU meeting he was at.  So, because of his links, he was at the conference.  The moment of recognition and welcome was really cool – he’s so fun and generally one of the nicest people I’ve encountered.  But, anyway… we had a great conversation about life, discipleship, evangelism, France, God, faith… And he invited me to come lead worship at a conference in France in November!  It was just SUCH an encouraging and inspiring conversation.  Awesome.

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160

I really enjoyed church this morning.  My church isn’t big or flashy, but its a managable wee community that I feel I can actually get to know.  A no-nonsense chat with a lady I’d more or less just met about prayer and her son’s faith; some inspiring teaching from Acts; a chance to speak French with a real-life Marseillais; banter in the Martin Family Tour Bus…

A relaxed game of pool and impromptu fresh pancakes with some students, not to mention a random rant or two about life and love in general!

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153

Aaaaahhh, Sunday!  Hurrah!

I was at my home church this morning with Mumsie (being Mumsie’s Day and all that…) and once I got over the fact that I was jealous of the fact that life appears to have gone on without me, I appreciated the fact that life has gone on – there are new people, happy people, involved people etc.

Ok, I’m still jealous.  But in theory it made me happy.

Being so grateful for my car – the freedom it brings.  Also the fact that this month I could afford to buy my mum, aunt and uncle their dinner out.

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151

Well, this is it… The day that makes a farce of my ‘365’.  The anomaly of the 29th of February which means that I should actually call this my ‘366’.

A somewhat unobtrusive day where I enjoyed the simple pleasure of a cup of coffee in escape from the rain, a chance to propose (in jest I hasten to add) and an enjoyable dinner with a family from church.  Topped off with a date with Mr Darcy.

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149

A satisfyingly productive morning when a talk came together despite me thinking I had NOTHING to say!

SLOBS looked to be a difficult one, but again I was overwhelmed by the real sense that the Small Group Leaders are growing so much.  I loved their engagement with Scripture, with each other and with me – what a blessing.  I am reminded that its often in the struggle that we grow stronger.

A wee jaunt over to Derry to do an address at a ‘Lent’ service in a church – a chance to see some of the students there again and chat a little.  One man’s comment about being glad to hear that ‘students aren’t all bad’ made the CU movement all the more fresh and exciting to me too.

I called a friend I haven’t spoken to in almost a year.  It was easy – I just picked up the phone and did it!  As the phone rang I was thinking that I feel like a different person since we last spoke.  That made me nervous, but I discovered she’s been on a similar journey and that our friendship is still strong, still fresh and still organic!  Praise God for friends like that.  Praise God for growth in difficult times.

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132

Today started out dull and unsettled because of some random unpleasant dream that I can’t quite remember.  But after some conversation at church I felt better.  Then an invitation to lunch turning into an entire day’s company was much needed.  All it lacked was a game of Scrabble…

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119

Catching up with a friend from church.  A good chat with my Dad.  Several bargains from Primark!  Coming home to Coleraine.  Making it to my exercise class (I did NOT enjoy the actual class though!).  Butternut Squash.

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111 (all the ones…)

(The intrepid ‘explorer’ returns – heralding feverish blogging to catch up…!)

Sunday.  Bit of a hectic one this week with preparation and packing for the conference.  But it was still good…

Led praise in church this morning which was fun and it all went well – its great when you have musicians who can just follow your lead without any practice!  Not ideal, but handy nonetheless!

A late evening coffee with my housemate in a still-clean house!

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108

Being able to sit in my living room while I work!  Not making a habit of it though – far too dangerous!

An unexpected excuse to meet a student.

Loving, loving LOVING House Season One – only 2 episodes left!

A church ‘curry night’.  A good meal with an opportunity to feel more relaxed around church people

(I’m soooooooo in denial about how much I have to do in the next three days)

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