5 reasons why I am in love with today

1. I just got in from my first legs, bums, tums work out.  And lets just say that it even hurts to type.  My body has never worked so hard in its 19 years, but the instructor was awesome and out of the whole class he would come over and encourage me...he even went and got me a lighter weight at one point (how embarrassing!) then recommended a swim..sauna...walk; something tomorrow because, "you'll be feeling it." Thank you very much, I already am.

2. I had my first lecture today, first assignment, first intimidating theology books out of the library.  I know I'm a loser but the international students here have been really showing me that it is a privilege to learn.  I have a Chinese friend Helen, who talked the other night about how little resources there are on Christianity, the outside world and even China, back home.  She says she has learnt more about China being outside of it that in her whole life there.  She explained this is why people joke about always finding her reading or studying in the library...she knows these books and teachings wont be available when she returns.  Another girl Raquel from Venezuela who just moved in across the hall from me told me she picked up English from TV shows, movies and music. Wow, her English is perfect. I know my enthusiasm for classes is likely to soon fade but right now, after a years break, I'm excited to be in education.

3.  The people here are lovely.  I'm already feeling secure and at home here. All first years get assigned a third year buddy, I met mine and she's a beautiful girl...she was really sweet, asked if I had any questions,took my number and I thought that would be that. Well the past few days she has text me every day to see how I'm doing...today she text me to say she liked my cardigan! I made a mental note to be an awesome buddy when I get to third year!

Then next door to me lives a girl named Ali.  I'm pretty sure she has the gift of encouragement and I'm pretty sure she doesn't realise it.  But she told me today that she had facebook stalked me and my pictures were crazy.  She then went on to say "And do I see that you have a boyfriend? You too look really good together.  The way you look at each other you can tell that you love each other."  Then at dinner she said "I can tell you have a funny side, you started off all quiet and professional but i'm looking forward to getting to know that side of you."  Its these small things that give you the confidence to walk tall through the day.

I could actually write a bit about all the people I live with because they are great, but this probably isn't making a very interesting post!

4. Today Lindsey, a gorgeous lady from Georgia, threw a painting party in the lounge simply because she had some paint to use up.  So us girls made posters with our names on for our doors...and the boys watched because apparently painting isn't 'manly' haha.

5.  I have so many times asked the Lord to give me diligence.  And I think it may be starting to slowly arrive because it sounds stupid but all of a sudden I love cleaning.  Cleaning the kitchen, doing dinner duty...whatever, I'm enjoying waiting on people.  Maybe I just have to much time?

oh and 5 1/2.  Naomi has arrived in Belfast so Friday I get to see her lovely face!

So there you have it, today has been great so I figured i'd share my joy.  Soli deo Gloria.

Wooly tights and umbrellas.

...Meanwhile in a small village in Northern Ireland.  I have finally moved out, and this time it feels real.  I have a slight fluttering in my stomach that tells me that this is it, I am doing LIFE.  And I love it! Ireland is beautiful, it's green and rainy and I feel as if I should always have a pint of Guiness in one hand?

I'm classed as a 'foreign student' here so I get to live on the small bible college campus.  Not everybody has moved in but so far I share 'home' with French, English, Americans, Pakistani and there's a guy from Cosovo, I think?  There has been so much meeting and information I can hardly remember, but the important thing is that everybody seems lovely.  My college is a 5 minute walk from the center of the tiny village of Dunmurry and a 10 minute train ride from the city of Belfast. I popped into Belfast yesterday with a group of new students and went off alone to find Queens University where I will register for classes Tuesday.  So far everybody I've met here is doing the Cumbria Theology course so I'm hoping to find some Queens friends soon. But anyway I let myself be a tourist for the day and enjoyed the freshers events in the Botanic gardens, had the biggest crepe i've ever seen and generally looked around.  Just when I was getting tired and feeling a little alone I bumped into the group I had come with so travelled back to the college with them.  I think that's what I'm looking for this year, a balance between an awesome support network of friends that I can genuinely love, and alone time to study, listen to the Lord and just hang out with myself.

So in search of this balance I went off to church by myself this morning.  The other English girls went to the local baptist church but I felt a draw to the village Presbyterian church (http://www.dunmurrypresbyterian.org/welcome.htm.)  Despite the fact I can hardly spell the word, I have no experience of this denomination, so I thought why not!? Well I was a little nervous when I walked in behind a man in a suit but all was fine.  It was more formal than WBBC, less formal than the Church of England services I would attend through school; but I can appreciate hymns so that's fine with me. The Reverend was considerably younger than the majority of the congregation and he used a clip from Harry Potter to illustrate his point...so I'm pretty much sold haha. But he welcomed me afterwards and was really lovely, as were several really sweet older men who swept me into their conversation.  Everybody here is incredibly disappointed that I don't have a geordie accent and I'm running out of explanations that don't involve the term 'private school' haha.

But anyway I walked home (in the rain) with a smile on my face because its all new and I think I can really see myself there.  I can't help myself but keep telling the Lord, 'I love you' and I have a feeling he is taking great joy in my acknowledgement that I can trust him and that he just might know what he's doing.

So the fun begins tomorrow when orientation weeks starts and all the other students arrive.  I have a feeling life is about to get very busy.  Wednesday we head out to the Mourne Mountains (I'm told this is where C.S.Lewis was inspired to write the Chronicles of Narnia?) for a sort of retreat, so I look forward to that.

A heartfelt thanks to everyone who has taken the time to text and find out how its going.  All prayers are greatly appreciated...I'm fully aware that this is only the beginning!

I love my last name because it connects me to you.

Today I went on a run with a white legged, highly irritating personal trainer. My father. Running makes me do two things I am trying to avoid in order to fool my future bible college friends into thinking i'm a lady: 1) spit 2) cuss.  But it also makes me feel great; my first achievement in well over a year.  And today I smiled as I ran a frustrating stride behind my super fit father because my Dad thinks I can do anything and I will always be thankful for that.

Today I also went dorm shopping with my Mum.  I can tell that she is getting sappy because she wanted me to have the WHOLE of ikea for my teeny tiny dorm room.  I now have a vase though I have no body to buy me flowers, a candle i'm not allowed in my room and a gazillion 'storage solutions.' I know that she wants to me to have a home when i'm not at home.  And when we afterwards went grocery shopping (picking up a years supply of shampoo and stationary etc) we stopped for a cuppa.  I sat down and said "Mum, I really miss Tyles today," she said

"I know, but I'm so proud of how well you have done, being away from him"

And that makes all the difference.

I had to tell them to leave my room if they are going to kiss today.  Colin and Sarah-Jane you are slightly mad, a little annoying and not nearly as funny as you think you are.  But I love you and I love being your daughter.

The Lord's Mercy on Israel.

There is no denying that I have big feet.  My Momma used to console me with the word 'proportionate'...which I just took to mean that I am giant too.  Many a time, in the weeks just before school started I would fight back tears when the 16th shoe shop told me they didn't carry my size.  And of course I would eventually find a pair but I had cute friends with cute shoes and I always wished away the first day when the 'new shoes, new bag buzz' would die down.

So today granted its a little easier to find shoes my size, but still im an expert at figuring out which size 8s will give enough to fit a size 9 foot.  Well today I misjudged and had a long and painful walk to church.  I was late (of course) so by myself and I couldn't help but think...church is SO far away.  I have been making that journey for 19 years and church hasn't moved but today I wanted to take of my shoes and return to bed. This is for two reasons:

1. Worship makes me confront sin.  I am completely unequipped to even grasp the ugliness and repetitiveness of my rebellion so quite frankly i'd rather avoid it altogether.

2. I'm frustrated with God.  I'm frustrated that I am home with nothing to do, I'm frustrated that i'm moving to Ireland which is the opposite direction to my heart and I am frustrated that the Lord's plans for me are perfect so I can't really be frustrated at all.

But of course I made it to church and my feet will recover, and I was reminded of the beauty of the bride. And though I am frustrated I am far from miserable and I am excited to be a student in Belfast.  I can feel the Lord calling me into the wilderness so he can sing his love songs over me once again.

"Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her." Hosea 2:14