Summer

No blog since May?? Oh dear...kinda echoing Scott's post by saying that I don't think it's been missed! haha But anyway, I will blog a bit about what my summer is going to be like....

First of all is our Uganda trip. A team of about 20 are heading out this year for 3 weeks. The team head out on Sunday 5th July then Laura, Dave and myself are heading out laster that evening on a different flight then we arrive home a day after the rest. I am very excited about the trip, but it's a different feeling from last year. Lat year's trip was my first time in Afirca so my excitement was more because of the anticipation of what it was going to be like. This year though, I'm excited to be with some of the people from last year's team and some new people, and I'm excited to see the familiar faces of the pupils and teachers from last year. Mostly though, I am excited to see our school, "Light for all". It opened in February so right now there is learning going on. How amazing is that? It's going to be a very special experience to return to the school and see pupils and teachers within the walls I helped to build with my own hands. I'm excited to see what God will do in my heart, when I was in Africa last year I had such an overwhelming feeling of God all around us. I wonder what he will stir up this time??

Secondly...my graduation...FINALLY! On Monday 29th June I will be walking across the stage to collect my certificate that says I have a degree! Relief doesn't even begin to describe how I'm feeling. I'm not really looking forward to the ceremony itself as I hear they can be quite boring! But I am definately looking forward to the feeling of achievement on that day (even though it's 2 years late!!) Unfortunately it's Scott's last day of school that day so he won't be at the actual ceremony but he will be up after for a meal in the Ramore Wine Bar (my favourite restaurant!!)

Then after all that, Scott and I are hoping to get away for a week's holiday in the sun in August sometime, only if we can afford it though as it would be a nice end to the summer.

So that's about it in a nutshell...a pretty busy summer lies ahead but I can't wait!

Love love love!

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks was on Jonathon Woss on Friday night...did anyone see him? I liked him alot. He seems like a really down to earth guy and he was really quite funny. My favourite part of his interview though was the rap from his film "Big"....

Marathon

Didn't Scott and Lewis do well on Monday?? (And also all the other people who took part!) It's such an achievement...it's quite an inspiration actually. I would love to be able to do it...maybe some day...I'm sure I have it in me somewhere!

I'm very proud of them both, especially at times it wasn't looking like they were going to do it, but they raised alot of money for a great cause, and they can now say that they have ran a marathon! On Monday night after all the action we headed round to the Woods' for pizza and a dvd..."Run Fat Boy Run"! Perfect choice! haha, but the boys (and pregnant Gayle) faded fast!!

Great job boys!

The Notebook

Been a while since my last post!

Was just watching the notebook and was reminded of a piece of dialogue that I absolutely love. They are the first words spoken in the film, and from the first time I heard them, they have stuck with me.

"I am no one special, just a common man with common thoughts. I have led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who ever lived. I have loved another wth all my heart and soul, and for me that has always been enough."

Just beautiful.

love love love!

Homebird

We were at this gig in the Mandela hall last year and I just came across a video that was taken at it, it's one of my favourite Foy Vance songs and I loved it when he sang it here then the crowd took over! It's not a great recording but I just love this...

February so far...

So Scotty and I are back from Southampton and its back to work and back to the usual routine! We had a great time away, our hotel was amazing, although I can't say the same for the weather! We were away for 3 nights and we got 4 full days with the way the flights worked out which was great. Scott showed me round, we went to see the St. Mary's football stadium, I got to see his old room in the academy guesthouse where he lived for a few years and I got to see his photo up on the wall alongside some guys who are now famous footballers (truthfully the only one i knew was Theo Walcott!). Southampton holds a very special place in Scott's heart as his time there was a big part of his life for years, so it was special to me that he wanted to take me there to share some of that with me. It was also great just to spend some proper time together on our own.

Then it was Valentines day on Saturday. To be honest I don't get overly carried away on Valentines day, i hold the same view as quite alot of people that it shouldn't just be on one day that we show our love for eachother, but that's just me! I don't really do presents, as long as I get a card i'm a happy bunny. We did head out for a meal though and we had planned to go to the cinema aswell to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but the show we had booked for had been cancelled due to a technical fault. However the meal was gorgeous, we went to Dante's Italian Bistro in Victoria Square. It is such a lovely little place and the food was amazing, so i would recommend there!

Finally, for those who have been reading about my frustrations with uni and my exam which I sat on 12th January...i passed! So I now have my degree and I am finally set to graduate in the summer! So all round it has been a pretty great February so far...

Love love love!

This week....

This week is a pretty good one for me for 3 main reasons...

1. I have my interview for beauty college on Thursday,

2. I am leading a new group at Alpha and our first night was tonight with the meal, first proper night next week,

3. An finally, leaving the best til last...my dad got saved lastnight! After years of us praying for him he finally took that step and he committed his life to the Lord lastnight. He headed back to Iraq today which was harder than usual becasue he has been home since 18th December and won't be back now til the end of April. I am just so happy that our prayers have been answered, and is such an encouragement for others aswell...

"Don't expect God's answers to come too easily or too quickly. Prayer may be challenged by evil forces, so pray fervently and pray earnestly. Then expect God's answer at the right time"

love love love!

No more exams....for now!

So I sat my exam last Monday and it feels great to have it over with. It was really getting me down and it just feels like a big weight has been lifted from me. It's great not to have all the revision to do and I can now sit and watch tv or go out and not feel guilty about it! It went just ok, it could have gone alot better. Basically we were learning about the fall of communism in Eastern Europe in the late 1980's and in the exam we had to answer 3 essay questions. Only 1 of the 3 questions was one that i wanted to come up and the other 2 were awful. But I hope I have done enough to pass. I find out on 11th February. But even if I don't pass, I have my interview for the Roberta Mechan College of Beauty on 29th January which will hopefully go well, so at least I have that to focus on. So that means going back to college with more exams at the end!! But at least it will be in a subject I have alot more interest in!

I'm also looking forward to February because Scotty and I head away to Southampton on Sat 7th - Tues 10th. When Scott was a teenager he lived in Southampton and played football there. I have always said I would love to see where he lived, went to school, played football etc.. so for Christmas that's what he got me! I'm so excited! I love heading away for wee breaks as we don't see a whole lot of eachother when we are at home because of work and other commitments during the week, so weekends are our time. So it's always good to spend some quality time together!

Something else to look forward to is the preparations for Laura and Dave's wedding. Our bridesmaids dresses have arrived in so there are a few appointments made for fittings and alterations etc, hair trials, make-up trials and the all important hen party organisation which is starting now! So it's all go! I love it though!

Anyway that's about it for now, nothing else much happening!

Love love love!!

One last shot

I'm sure any of you who read my blog, or even those who know me, will know that I haven't had too much success with my university career. Part of this was due to illness during my finals, but I have to admit that the majority of it was due to my preference of partying and lack of attendance at class. I have never been a straight A student, I was always more interested in sport, music and friends at school. I did no work and always managed to scrape through, I suppose I just thought that this was how it was always going to be. My mum used to get very frustrated with my laid back attitude and on a daily basis when I was sitting my gcse's and A-levels I had to sit through her lecture about applying myself and working to achieve my best results possible because I had the ability to do it. Now about 7 or 8 years on that old phrase keeps popping into my mind, "Mum's are always right!" I was always far too stubborn (still am!) and all her lectures just went in one ear and out the other. Fast forward a few years and I am about to sit my last exam, and if I fail it I walk away from university with no degree.
Tomorrow at 2:00pm I will walk into that exam hall one last time and give it one last shot. Im hoping and praying i pass, but in all honesty I am preparing myself for a fail again. I know thats not the way to look at it, but I believe all my years of not caring are about to catch up with me. I have placed it in the Lord's hands though. I know I am where He wants me to be. But at 2pm tomorrow i would appreciate a wee prayer.

Love love love!

A Mother's Song...

My mum sent me this video in an email and I thought it was great...check it out...

New year New me

Happy new year everybody! I actually can't believe we are into another year, where did the last one go? I'm usually on a downer at this time of the year, christmas trees and decorations are down which makes the house look so bare, work starts back, I feel sluggish after over indulging on all the festive treats.

We are just back from our skiing trip to Bulgaria which was class (apart from the lack of good snow), and on our last night (2nd January) Kerry ann, Laura and myself found ourselves in our room reflecting on the year gone past and the brand new one we are entering into. 2008 was a year which had many ups and downs, Scott's mum was diagnosed with breast cancer, his dad attented 2 funerals including that of his father in the space of a week, my friend Aaron Montgomery had his life taken in Feb. On the up side though, Scott's mum kicked breast cancer's ass, I got to experience Africa for the first time (one of the highlights of my life not just 2008) and we got to see lots of our friends get married.
2009 is a brand new year and so the 3 of us decided that instead of the usual resolutions we all make, we are going to make a list of 3 things which we must strive to do in the next year, and at the beginning of Jan 2010 we are going to see how we have done. I will tell you what 2 of my things are, but the 3rd will have to wait til Jan 2010 (sorry!)

1. I want to spend more time with God, in His Word, talking to Him, talking about Him. I want to grow so much in my relationship with God. Last night at church Alain was talking about "Shalom" and I want to feel that. I want to Rise up and go from here and experience more of God every day.

2. I want to be a healthier person, be more active and get outside more (hopefully i will lose a bit of weight in the process as I have the most beautiful bridesmaid dress to fit into in April!)

And above all, as Alain said lastnight, I want to do everything with a thankful heart. I want to spend less time worrying about myself and my situations and start thinking more about others. I want to live out 2009 like this...

..."Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with eachother and forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdon, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

I hope everyone has a happy and blessed 2009.

Love love love!