SOLID

So July has come around super quick again this year. My second year in charge of the youth festival has brought its challenges already. We're heading away for the weekend to Stubbers, so there's some action packed time ahead for the young people and a chance to meet with God and work through a load of stuff with them, making sure that they are safe and happy for the time we're away. I'm fortunate that they are all sensible for the most part, and I have known most of them for a year already (or in the case of Verity - nearly 18!) so we have a good understanding of each other and hopefully at the end of the weekend it will be better.

Pray for us any way... it's getting bigger for Christ Church and it is super important.

This time last year I was blogging about Take That and a new car, about Solid and about other tiny bits and pieces that were going on. This year I really don't have it clear in my head what is going on... Yes, I've been on holiday, yes I've been cycling and trying to raise money for Stop the Traffik, yes, I'm preparing, slowly and surely for Falcon this year, I have more responsibility with this one. at some point I will be celebrating my 26th birthday.

I will also be celebrating a year with Chris. I won't do too much reflecting on the last year with him, but I have done a lot of things I never thought I would get to do, and I'm looking forward to doing some more things with him in the coming months. He's really wonderful and has made me really happy over the last year.

One of the things that I have mentioned on a number of ocassions is 'The Time Travellers Wife' I have a strange relationship with this book. I can't put it down. This time around is slightly different, since the release of the movie, I've not read the book, but now I have my own copy again I've picked it up to read again, but a lot slower than before. I'm scared of it now. I'll let you know how I get on!

One more day...

So the weekend went really quickly and this week seems to have done the same...shortly I will be heading for my bed and hoping for some sleep. SOLID made me ill...well, more likely the cut grass and camping did. Going into work on Tuesday morning was a chore, I only lasted two hours and couldn't even get up Wednesday, apparently even though I've now got a nice tan on my face, there was no colour in my skin, so the mums in my office put me back on the bus and I spent most of the next 48 hours in bed.

Thank goodness for chemists - a couple of paracetamol and benadryl later, I'm about 85% ok. I managed work today...I know I'm going in for my last day tomorrow to be greeted by a decorated desk! But this week has gone too quickly and I've not enjoyed it like I thought I would.

Though having said that, we have some very special people in town this week... Youth Life are currently touring the country, dancing and telling their stories. I've met Ilyos before, he spent new year with us, and it was great to spend sometime with him and Vitalik before they leave Billericay to take part in Soul Survivor and other festivals this summer.

I'm already being called to lead groups, which I would expect, I'm also still unaware of what is going to happen much passed Monday morning. I'm going to prayers and having a meeting straight after...and we'll see where we go from there.

Right now, I have some sleep to catch up on and a list to write of who I want to meet and what I want to do. I also have an article to write...

SOLID

Wow...where did the weekend go?

It has gone by in some what of a blur. Friday evening was spent running round like a headless chicken for ten min (so much so that I have mis-placed my phone charger - heres hoping its at work) before Lynn arrived to collect me and my gear for the short trip to Stubbers. We arrived, unloaded the car, put up four tents and ate dinner before the main meeting.

Saturday mornings sleep was interrupted on three occasions - rain, loud teenagers and loud leaders. During the day we sat in the sun and watched the football, listened to some music and avoided getting wet. I've now got a sun burnt face from sitting in the sun all day! I headed back for a catch up sleep and a chance to start the after sun treatment! We had dinner and went to the main meeting, which was intense. I was very proud to see Kate John, my sister's housemate preaching. She's clearly very practiced and a good story teller. It was nice to say hello to her afterwards.

Sunday rolled around after late night drinks and a chance to catch up with some of the girls who had come down for the evening. We packed up in record time, before the rain fell, and despite it only being ten in the morning I now have sun burnt arms to match my face! The final main meeting was a time to celebrate, and share the highs and lows of the weekend. We said goodbye to the young people and got home without any problems.

Overall a good weekend, I've learnt a lot about the young people I was in charge of, about God's grace and his unfailing love for each and everyone of us. I've spent time with some of the people I'm going to be working with for the next couple of years and prayed for healing for many things.

Even when I'm at my most tired, God will bless me in abundance, and give me a glimmer of hope for the future. I'm not a replacement for anyone, I'm creating my own ministry. One thing that keeps hitting me recently is that God hasn't finished yet...this creation thing...its not over by a long way. There's more to be added to the world.

Time to watch Dr Who...