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
Saturday, 25 September 2010
Monday, 13 September 2010
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
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
Saturday, 4 September 2010
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
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
Saturday, 28 August 2010
Holiday Club 2010
Holiday Club for this year is over...which makes me sad because I had a brilliant week and it always goes too quickly!
From the beginning of the week I knew it was going to be good- Mum fell off the stage in set-up day and bashed herself up, team members were ill, I was shattered...all of which meant I knew God was going to work: the enemy always doubles his efforts when a breakthrough is round the corner!
This year was space-themed as we took the kids on the Starship Discovery and told them about Peter who had many adventures with Jesus and how we can also have cool adventures with Jesus.
My week consisted of jumping around doing actions on stage, chatting to my small group about Jesus (11 kids out of our 3 groups became friends with Jesus), and doing lots of delagating to get jobs done.
A few people have been commenting on my ability to delagate...some joke that it means that I don't have to do any jobs myself, some would say I like to be in control, some say it is a special gift. I'd like to think of it as a gift :) I'm perfectly capable of doing most of the tasks that I delegate to others but if I did them all myself then it would take forever- or I could utilise the resources around me (usually a bunch of helpful teenage helpers) and get them to do one or two jobs each and get it all done quickly!
This year at holiday club I had some fantastic teenagers- helpful, willing to take the initiative, focussed, good at building relationships with the kids...and why wouldn't I want to utilise those skills?! Plus it did mean that I was able to get some one-to-one time with the kids and be able to do actions without having to worry about things.
I also had two wonderful leaders who were running the other 2 groups in my larger group which helped alot- we were very proud of our group The Planets and wrote chants for the kids to shout at the other groups- healthy competition!
So basically it was a brilliant week- full of great upfront sessions, dramas, quizzes, fantastic music, funny actions, amazing God-filled small group time...ending with a big family bbq where I got to meet the parents of my kids, some of whom told me how much their kids had enjoyed it which makes it all worthwhile.
I love Holiday Club- it is my favourite week of my entire year because I get to do everything I love, with a huge bunch of kids who I love, supported by a great team who I also love.
I do enjoy the social work thing, but eventually I'd love to do kids work full-time...that would make me the happiest girl in the world :)
Much love xxx
From the beginning of the week I knew it was going to be good- Mum fell off the stage in set-up day and bashed herself up, team members were ill, I was shattered...all of which meant I knew God was going to work: the enemy always doubles his efforts when a breakthrough is round the corner!
This year was space-themed as we took the kids on the Starship Discovery and told them about Peter who had many adventures with Jesus and how we can also have cool adventures with Jesus.
My week consisted of jumping around doing actions on stage, chatting to my small group about Jesus (11 kids out of our 3 groups became friends with Jesus), and doing lots of delagating to get jobs done.
A few people have been commenting on my ability to delagate...some joke that it means that I don't have to do any jobs myself, some would say I like to be in control, some say it is a special gift. I'd like to think of it as a gift :) I'm perfectly capable of doing most of the tasks that I delegate to others but if I did them all myself then it would take forever- or I could utilise the resources around me (usually a bunch of helpful teenage helpers) and get them to do one or two jobs each and get it all done quickly!
This year at holiday club I had some fantastic teenagers- helpful, willing to take the initiative, focussed, good at building relationships with the kids...and why wouldn't I want to utilise those skills?! Plus it did mean that I was able to get some one-to-one time with the kids and be able to do actions without having to worry about things.
I also had two wonderful leaders who were running the other 2 groups in my larger group which helped alot- we were very proud of our group The Planets and wrote chants for the kids to shout at the other groups- healthy competition!
So basically it was a brilliant week- full of great upfront sessions, dramas, quizzes, fantastic music, funny actions, amazing God-filled small group time...ending with a big family bbq where I got to meet the parents of my kids, some of whom told me how much their kids had enjoyed it which makes it all worthwhile.
I love Holiday Club- it is my favourite week of my entire year because I get to do everything I love, with a huge bunch of kids who I love, supported by a great team who I also love.
I do enjoy the social work thing, but eventually I'd love to do kids work full-time...that would make me the happiest girl in the world :)
Much love xxx
Monday, 16 August 2010
We're all different...
Recently I've been starting to think about PJ and Hannah going away to university...Hannah going away I can sort of deal with because a) she doesn't live with us and b) she's just been away for most of the last year so it's not such a big change (although I've kinda gotten used to having her around again).
But PJ...that's going to be a tough one. I never really left home so he's always been around and soon he won't be.
I'm also incredibly aware of my own emotions about moving away or more specifically my feelings surrounding halls.
I'm trying to balance knowing that they could have a much better experience than me or that they could possibly experience some of the same homesickness that I did. Either way I'm trying not to pre-empt what they might feel.
I also don't want them to feel like they have to feel a certain way about things or to be influenced by my experience.
I'm aware that PJ deals with things differently and even if he does get homesick he probably won't cry about it like I did.
However I know Hannah is more like me and does feel similar emotional rollercoasters so I want to make sure she's ok.
I want to visit but I know my time is going to be mentally busy, I want to visit enough that they know I'm around, but not so much that I either prompt them to feel more homesick or that I overcrowd them.
Conclusion: I need to stop overthinking things!
Being this sensitive about people's emotions makes me a good social worker but makes my mind a very complicated place sometimes.
I'm trying to trust that God is in control.
Hannah has been away from home for the last year pretty much, she has grown so much and I know she can do this. She will be in halls with other nursing students and in a 2 bed flat which is cosier I think. Yes she may have a cry or two but I know she won't be afraid to ask for help.
PJ is different to me. He is independant and makes friends easily and will do great things at university. He might get homesick but he deals with those emotions by throwing himself into work so I'm sure I won't hear about it. Although I hope he would know he could just give me a text asking for a chocolate brownie delivery and I would be there...and that I would try and resist my need to sort it out.
Either way I'm going to miss them both, especially having PJ around the house, but God will be with them and He knows how to look after them way better than I do.
Much love xxx
But PJ...that's going to be a tough one. I never really left home so he's always been around and soon he won't be.
I'm also incredibly aware of my own emotions about moving away or more specifically my feelings surrounding halls.
I'm trying to balance knowing that they could have a much better experience than me or that they could possibly experience some of the same homesickness that I did. Either way I'm trying not to pre-empt what they might feel.
I also don't want them to feel like they have to feel a certain way about things or to be influenced by my experience.
I'm aware that PJ deals with things differently and even if he does get homesick he probably won't cry about it like I did.
However I know Hannah is more like me and does feel similar emotional rollercoasters so I want to make sure she's ok.
I want to visit but I know my time is going to be mentally busy, I want to visit enough that they know I'm around, but not so much that I either prompt them to feel more homesick or that I overcrowd them.
Conclusion: I need to stop overthinking things!
Being this sensitive about people's emotions makes me a good social worker but makes my mind a very complicated place sometimes.
I'm trying to trust that God is in control.
Hannah has been away from home for the last year pretty much, she has grown so much and I know she can do this. She will be in halls with other nursing students and in a 2 bed flat which is cosier I think. Yes she may have a cry or two but I know she won't be afraid to ask for help.
PJ is different to me. He is independant and makes friends easily and will do great things at university. He might get homesick but he deals with those emotions by throwing himself into work so I'm sure I won't hear about it. Although I hope he would know he could just give me a text asking for a chocolate brownie delivery and I would be there...and that I would try and resist my need to sort it out.
Either way I'm going to miss them both, especially having PJ around the house, but God will be with them and He knows how to look after them way better than I do.
Much love xxx
Thursday, 12 August 2010
Back from New Wine 2010
So I'm back from New Wine...have been for several days but I have unfortunately been very bad with my blog :(
New Wine was amazing- good friends, good weather...very good God.
He gave me so many truths and so many promises and I let him in to be my everything. My beloved. Despite being young, I want a husband and a family so badly. I was born to be a mum, if you know me at all then you probably know that. But I needed to let God be enough for me. I needed to be ok with it being just God and me. I think I needed to let this happen before God would even think about giving me a boyfriend.
And I let it happen...I let him in, I let myself feel loved...and more importantly, I felt like I deserved that love. I also decided not to go speed-dating this year.
God has a plan for me, a plan to prosper and not to harm me, a plan to give me a hope and a future.
I trust that. I trust Him.
It's not going to be easy...I often daydream about meeting the man for me...and I think that's still ok. I just need to make sure it doesn't become bigger than God.
New Wine was also a time of great fellowship- late night drinks, boys playing strip poker, pub quizzes. It was full of amazing worship, good talks, interesting seminars. It brought me new friends and reconnections with old ones. One seminar even got me excited about my dissertation!
Now I'm back in reality: a place of deadlines, dissertation work, friendship dramas (although that's been resolved now thankfully!), and stupid laptops that won't work.
I'm glad I delayed writing this blog because reality was starting to creep back in and I needed an excuse to remember all the things I learnt last week.
The most important being: when I'm stressed and trying to control things I need to take a breath and run to my heavenly daddy, put my arms up to him and let him lift me out of the situation.
Much love xxx
New Wine was amazing- good friends, good weather...very good God.
He gave me so many truths and so many promises and I let him in to be my everything. My beloved. Despite being young, I want a husband and a family so badly. I was born to be a mum, if you know me at all then you probably know that. But I needed to let God be enough for me. I needed to be ok with it being just God and me. I think I needed to let this happen before God would even think about giving me a boyfriend.
And I let it happen...I let him in, I let myself feel loved...and more importantly, I felt like I deserved that love. I also decided not to go speed-dating this year.
God has a plan for me, a plan to prosper and not to harm me, a plan to give me a hope and a future.
I trust that. I trust Him.
It's not going to be easy...I often daydream about meeting the man for me...and I think that's still ok. I just need to make sure it doesn't become bigger than God.
New Wine was also a time of great fellowship- late night drinks, boys playing strip poker, pub quizzes. It was full of amazing worship, good talks, interesting seminars. It brought me new friends and reconnections with old ones. One seminar even got me excited about my dissertation!
Now I'm back in reality: a place of deadlines, dissertation work, friendship dramas (although that's been resolved now thankfully!), and stupid laptops that won't work.
I'm glad I delayed writing this blog because reality was starting to creep back in and I needed an excuse to remember all the things I learnt last week.
The most important being: when I'm stressed and trying to control things I need to take a breath and run to my heavenly daddy, put my arms up to him and let him lift me out of the situation.
Much love xxx
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
A couple of 'free' weeks...
Since I got back from America I was looking forward to a couple of 'free weeks' before New Wine...here's the things I've done in the last 2 weeks:
-had my hair cut
-been in the audience for an ITV show
-dress shopping with Kat
-Henley
-PJ's leavers service
-Godzone (x2)
-Cinema
-Church (x2)
-Visited my cousin & her daughter
-Road trip with Ellie (x2)
-Met with my dissertation supervisor
-Lots of Holiday Club prep
-Two Holiday Club meetings
-Shopping with Kat & Val
-Had friends over
-Costume shopping with Kat
-House viewings
-Pilates
-Visited Bournemouth for the day
-Searched for a missing friend
-Found missing friend whilst on phone to police
-Spent evening with lots of friends, including now found friend...
-Godzone BBQ
-Organised some Space Leavers surprises
-Been to dinner with Kate & Anna
-Been to Reading for lunch with Adam & Dina
-Picked up a friend's daughter from school (x4)
Still to do this week:
-Submission workshop at uni
-Meet housegroup at pub
-Pilates
-Dissertation work
-Cinema with Kate & Anna
-New Wine welcome tea
-Many church events
-Pick up friend's daughter (x2)
Suddenly my 'free weeks' weren't so free....this makes for a tired Sarah...enjoying everything but maybe needing to slow down a bit...
It's been busy...fun...but busy...and I haven't even included all the other bits and pieces that don't count but still take time (looking after house whilst Mum and Dad were away, reading books, food shopping, phone calls to friends).
Plus my decision to not rent anywhere in Oxford next year....house stuff got complicated and it just became easier to stay home, save some money up and actually make life easier for myself. I've swung back and forth worrying about what other's think but actually realising that this is for me and it's the smart decision and it's actually what I want to do.
I think that's everything...time to go to bed!
Much love xxx
-had my hair cut
-been in the audience for an ITV show
-dress shopping with Kat
-Henley
-PJ's leavers service
-Godzone (x2)
-Cinema
-Church (x2)
-Visited my cousin & her daughter
-Road trip with Ellie (x2)
-Met with my dissertation supervisor
-Lots of Holiday Club prep
-Two Holiday Club meetings
-Shopping with Kat & Val
-Had friends over
-Costume shopping with Kat
-House viewings
-Pilates
-Visited Bournemouth for the day
-Searched for a missing friend
-Found missing friend whilst on phone to police
-Spent evening with lots of friends, including now found friend...
-Godzone BBQ
-Organised some Space Leavers surprises
-Been to dinner with Kate & Anna
-Been to Reading for lunch with Adam & Dina
-Picked up a friend's daughter from school (x4)
Still to do this week:
-Submission workshop at uni
-Meet housegroup at pub
-Pilates
-Dissertation work
-Cinema with Kate & Anna
-New Wine welcome tea
-Many church events
-Pick up friend's daughter (x2)
Suddenly my 'free weeks' weren't so free....this makes for a tired Sarah...enjoying everything but maybe needing to slow down a bit...
It's been busy...fun...but busy...and I haven't even included all the other bits and pieces that don't count but still take time (looking after house whilst Mum and Dad were away, reading books, food shopping, phone calls to friends).
Plus my decision to not rent anywhere in Oxford next year....house stuff got complicated and it just became easier to stay home, save some money up and actually make life easier for myself. I've swung back and forth worrying about what other's think but actually realising that this is for me and it's the smart decision and it's actually what I want to do.
I think that's everything...time to go to bed!
Much love xxx
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