Freshers Week x2

This past week has been freshers week at my uni, which has meant busy times for me with CU events and things.
I absolutely LOVE it though, it was so much fun to hang out with my CU friends and even make new friendships with some people I didn't know quite as well. Plus we got so many freshers, God blessed our events with lots of people and good fun times :)

In addition to the normal events we ran (live music, challenge night, bbq, freshers fair stall)...I also ate fish & chips in christchurch meadow, got pushed off a blow-up sofa multiple times, made lots of cake, played baseball in south parks, spoke to the 2nd year social work students at uni and ended up taking a friend to A&E for a head injury....it was an interesting week!

It was just really nice to hang out with good friends, both old and new, and have a good time. Especially because my placement starts on monday and I know life is about to get very busy!

To end the week, today we took PJ to university :s it was really weird and I had very mixed emotions about it. I dislike halls...they do not hold good memories for me, so it was interesting to go into a new set of halls except this time in Southampton. PJ has a nice room and we briefly met 2 of his new flatmates. We're going back tomorrow to see Hannah's flat when she moves in and to take PJ to lunch, so I'm seeing him soon but I definitely had a little cry after saying goodbye to him.
I know he'll have a good time, he's a smart and sociable boy and will make friends quickly.

It also made me really glad that I've got at least another year at home before I have to think about moving out! One of us being away at a time is more than enough!

I think that's all for now, I'm a little anxious about starting placement on monday but am hoping it'll be ok and trying to be excited rather than nervous :)
Much love xxx

Promises

I'm being reminded recently to trust in the promises that God has given me. I've been prompted by bible study emails, talks at church, off-hand conversations with friends...it's one of those situations where God knows exactly how I'm feeling so he sends a million obvious messages to make me listen to him.

Sometimes the stress of life, and the 'what ifs' of the future can get too loud and drown out God's voice and actually I need to trust that he has a plan for me.

Some promises which he has already made to me are things I'll have to wait for (a husband and a family) and remember that I'm still young and that God will make it happen in the right timings.
Other promises are things that I believe he has said to me but that I don't know when or how that might happen. These are harder because there are so many possibilities for how it might come about and I don't know whether I'm going off of what I want or going from what God wants.

Ultimately God loves me and I need to keep trusting in his plan for my life. I also welcome his continued nudges and prompts because it's easy to let the world distract my focus and any help in keeping my eyes on him is good.

'For I know the plans I have for you' declares the Lord 'plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future' Jeremiah 29:11

Much love xxx

Growing up in age but not in mentality...

In 2 days I turn 21 years of age...however my birthday celebrations have been going since Wednesday :D it's a special birthday so it has to be celebrated properly! And by properly I mean by doing all the child-like things I can which also happen to be all the things I love!

Wednesday to Friday I have not been at home, I have been in the magical place of Disneyland Paris (told you it was child-like things...) I went with two of my loveliest friends from CU- Alice and Charli- and we stayed in the beautiful princess hotel and went on all the rides and got to meet the characters (got a high-five from tigger, hug from minnie mouse, a kiss from eeyore and pictures with them all), we even made it into Paris for the afternoon/evening on Thursday.
I had so much fun, I love Disney and the hotel was so comfortable and the rides were fun and I was with two of my best friends. It was amazing!

Then today I had a big family BBQ with almost all my favourite people- 37 of them to be precise :D family, friends...lots of lovely people bringing me lots of lovely presents and wanting to spend the afternoon celebrating with me. We had a BBQ for lunch, followed by many rounds of ninja (a very fun game) which were split up by amazingly yummy cupcakes, ice-cream and champagne throughout the afternoon...this was followed by an impromtu water fight and afternoon tea (more cupcakes). Everyone had fun, good conversations, lots of laughter and I felt very loved and celebrated.

Tomorrow I will go to Godzone and church etc and Monday is my actual birthday where we're going out for lunch as a family (without Dad who is in Istanbul- although he has made a huge effort to make that up to me which I appreciate).

Ultimately I have had a brilliant birthday week so far and am sure it is set to continue :)
I'm liking turning 21...the next year has alot in store- final year of uni, placement, graduation, finding a job, maybe even moving out of home...

Some people don't like growing up but I quite enjoy it...especially when you do it the way I do!
Much love xxx