224

Buzzing.

Just spent the night speaking to teens about Daniel.  Great bunch, great dynamics, great drama, great God.  Loved it, loved it, loved it!  I got the chance to sing a couple of my songs and hear them beg for my myspace details (they’re only young – they don’t know any better, bless em!).  They totally LOVED acting out the stories, did it really well and seemed to grasp the actual application of it all.  I thought that working with students would have put me off teens, but nope!

Another whiff of recording opportunities…  Watch this (my) space!

I LOVE the blogosphere.  Its geeky, naval-gazingish (or nombrilleux pour ceux qui parlent francais) and downright time-consuming, but I LOVE it.  Tonight (when I should be wrapping and packing and sleeping), I read posts that made me laugh, cry and hope all over again.

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217

Hmm… Oh!  I know!  Ramore Strawboffee dessert.  Yum, yum, yum.  An afternoon nap and  then a wee jaunt to the stones-kicked-by (!) household was a nice way to pass an evening.

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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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118

Steak, medium-rare and a power nap in Wetherspoons!

Pottering round the shops with no pressure to hurry or buy or even look.  Just hangin out with my buddy, Hops, and dreaming dreams about a holiday in June…!

Getting to the airport, I was actually knackered, feet killing, no energy… So, a chilled mango smoothie and feet up in Costa Coffee through security was bliss.

A completely unexpected conversation on the plane.  Flew with bmi who allocate seats – someone from the year above me in school was allocated the seat next to mine.  I didn’t want to have to be sociable at all, but God had obviously ordained it, because we had such a great chat about Jesus and how his lordship is good!  The guy on the aisle was ear-y-wigging which annoyed me at first, but then I didn’t care!

My own-own bed at home-home and the prospect of a relative lie-in!

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104

A lengthy lie-in, cosy and warm and no pressure to get up.

I was taking the service in my home church tonight.  Talking about my work with students.  Took a different slant and got people within the congregation to talk about their experiences of the CU movement.  It was magic!  Not only did they say exactly what I wanted them to, but they meant it too!!!  Reinforces the fact that actually, what I’m involved in is being used by God to bring far-reaching consequences through all generations!

I felt so blessed by the presence and support of friends and family; eager to encourage and thank me afterwards and assure me of their prayers.  Knowing that they do pray.

Supper at the Manse and an intimate performance by the husband of a couple who’ve recently taken over supporting the students of the congregation.  He sang one of his own songs – kindy folky and reminded me of Martyn Joseph (who I’m only beginning to discover).  It was just a memorable moment – perhaps made more poignant by the realisation that this couple, who were formerly on the fringes, are beginning to embrace and be embraced into the community.  Beautiful.

Not only did his singing bless me, but the reminder of Martyn Joseph prompted me to listen to some tracks on my way back home.  I love the space and privacy that driving can afford.  Tonight, through a song by MJ, I remembered that I am precious in God’s eyes.

Joy and hope restored.

Understanding why God wanted me in Ireland this weekend.  Ryanair will have other sales…

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97

I kinda dreaded today because it heralded the return to work work – ie the stuff that requires thought, effort and preparation…

Despite the day getting off to a bad start because I woke up at 9.35am realising I’d forgotten to set my alarm (even though I’d dragged myself out of bed half asleep the night before to get my phone from the other side of the room, purely to set my alarm.  duuu-uuuhhhh.), I had a pretty nice day!  I got to meet the newest member of my church – very cute and jet-black-haired!  The conception and birth of new life still blows me away.  I just don’t know how it works.  The actual coming-to-life-ness, rather than the conception that is…

I spent the afternoon preparing to go and speak to a group of older Christians who pray for the work of IFES in the North West.  I decided relatively last minute to get rid of my Christmas chocolate by doing a pass-the-parcel quiz type thing!  It went down an absolute storm!  Not to mention the great chat we had (I L.O.V.E to talk about culture shifts…!) and a real sense of people who are genuinely interested in what I had to say.  KNowing that they will pray too.  Awesome.

I reckon the highlight of my day was actually the thing I dreaded most…

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83

I’ve had one of those days where up until the waning moments of the day you think you’ll have trouble doing a 365.  But tonight I am so grateful for friends who allow me to practice community with them even with the imminent arrival of the artist currently known as ‘Bump’.  Grateful for company on a ‘all-my-housemates-have-disappeared-for-Christmas-and-I’m-sick-of-being-alone-in-the-house’ kinda day.  Grateful for comfortable silences between stimulating conversation on all levels of the depth spectrum.  Grateful to have somewhere to voice endless ridiculous nit-picky questions without them feeling they have to have all the answers.

I’m thankful for 365s that give historicity and scope to otherwise insignificant daily occurences.  Thankful for the beauty of writing and creativity and freedom of expression.

Thankful that tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I get to go home home.

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All the fives, 55

(By the way – I’m going to Bingo after Christmas for a hen night!  Yeeeoooo!)

Sundays are usually great in general.  Did some reading, some sleeping… what’s not to love?! 

Church this morning was great.  I turned up feeling really flat and not up for it.  I left smiling, glad to have found friendship and community and know that I can do my bit to add to that feeling for others.  Also, unexpectedly called on to play piano at church tonight – I love it.

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