out of the norm

today is a day that is out of the norm, not necessarily a bad thing though.
today I'm helping at Prime Time which is the over 50's holiday club at church, I'm actually just the first aider which means I can do some work at the same time. I'm using one of the office computers which is nice, and people know where I am if they need me, plus Tiff, Sarah and Lydia are around so I can chat to them every now and then.

at the moment they've broken for lunch so I thought I would too, I'm hoping one of the girls will bring me some food through hehe. after lunch I think I'm supposed to be going on a walk with them but I don't really know to be honest. at some point I'm picking up Hannah B from oxford because she's doing some work experience there. plus I need to go to Tesco's, so I guess we'll see what time everything happens.

to be honest it's an interesting way to spend the day, on the one hand it's quite nice not to feel stressed or rushed about what's happening during the day but just to be here and be able to get on with some work, but on the other hand it has the danger of becoming boring once I run out of work. which is likely to happen soon...the fact that I'm actually writing in my blog should be evidence of that!

it is giving me some time to reflect though, since I don't have very long left. I'm working this week and then working New Wine. but then I'm done...well, apart from Holiday Club and the odd church service, but they don't really count as work since I would have done Holiday Club anyway and the services and things are so I have the chance to say goodbye to people.

I had my Goodbye lunch with the staff team yesterday and Tim was asking me what my highlight was, what my biggest suprise was, things like that, and it made me think about it.
I actually think that getting to work with LF and the kids and congregation there has been my biggest highlight, before this year began I wasn't sure about it because it meant leaving Godzone but now I love it, I don't want to leave it because it's been amazing and definitely my highlight.
I think the biggest suprise of this year has been that I'm much more capable than I think I am, alot of the time I have to do something and I stress out about it because I think I'll fail but actually I can do alot more than I think, and I can do it well. I've also learnt to work as part of a team but also on my own, which will prove useful when working in social work I think!

I'm better at time-management, at protecting my time off, at planning sessions for groups, at talking to people I don't know, at upfront roles, at trusting God, at having peace, at many many things! I definitely think learning to trust God in every situation has been the biggest thing, it's an easy thing to say that you do, without actually doing it, but because of the whole university decisions and different challenges this year I'm actually trusting God with the little things too. For instance, the food shopping for New Wine is stressful but I'm trusting God that it'll work out, and silly things like trusting that he'd provide a good car for us to take on holiday when Dad's broke, it's those kind of situations that I'm beginning to just trust that God has it in hand and he'll usually suprise you with quite how specifically and amazingly he can answer your prayers.


anyway, tonight I'm going out for dinner with Beth, Anna, Phil and possibly Gareth, should be alot of fun :) and probably very relaxing too. they're the sort of people that I don't have to try very hard with, they're just good company and like me for me.
tomorrow Emma and I are going to Bookers for our 2nd New Wine food shop which will be good to do. plus in the evening I'm having dinner and going to the cinema with Kate and Lucy, which will definitely be good.
thursday I plan to start preparing some stuff for Holiday Club, small group material and things like that.
friday and saturday are filled with New Wine preperation mostly.

ok well I should go and finish my work.
much love xxx

Summertime :)

the weather is gorgeous today :) I'm enjoying cruising round in my car with my windows down, sunglasses on and music playing. makes having to work alot nicer!

sorry for the lack of blogging recently. we were on holiday last week so everything kind of got put on hold. it was a lovely holiday, alot of fun and I loved the chance to just get away.

now I'm back and working hard in the run-up to new wine. Emma and I are busy sorting the food out which is a big job but it feels like we have it under control now. just got alot to do in the next week.
plus alot of my friends are home and wanting to do social stuff which is great but means that my evenings are booking up fast too.

at least new wine is only round the corner, hopefully it'll be amazing...it normally is :)
then I'm free for 2 weeks, then it's holiday club, then another 2 weeks before I go to uni!
crazy!!!!

anyway I have some work I need to do this afternoon so I won't write much more.
will try and write again before new wine and then you'll get the very long run-down of new wine hehe.
much love xxx

alcoholic alien

ok so a short blog today, apologies for the lack of writing, just been so busy! i know thats a rubbish excuse but it's true- i'm sure come the summer and september when i start uni i will be writing more :)

medical update:
had a CT scan last thursday and some more blood tests (yes, thats right, MORE blood tests!) and saw the consultant today. the CT scan was clear which is great, but the doctor found another abnormal blood level, basically one of my liver function tests was high...the level that is high in people that drink alot....which i don't.
so i am an alcoholic alien apparently- basically when the first level was high so many times with no explanation PJ decided i was an alien...this new level now means that i am an alcoholic alien...fun(!)
so the doctor ordered even more blood tests! but is happy to write to me with the results and assuming thats no different, he doesnt want to see me again (yey!) but recommends that i have 6 monthly blood tests for the next couple of years just to keep an eye on it.

thats all for now. i'm completely shattered, it's been a long day on top of a long week, especially with the doctors and other stuff going on today.
i ended up going to house group and having a fantastic time, i wasnt sure i wanted to go but they were all amazing and really cheered me up which is good :)

alright, off to bed.
much love xxx