It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

I am starting to get very excited about Christmas and now that it is December I feel that this is legitimate and no one can tell me off anymore (We have been wearing christmas clothing in the office for a few weeks already - we have a rule that you have to wear at least one christmassy item of clothing every day!) Last night I made some snowflakes whilst listening to christmas music and I have already got out the tinsel. To add to my excitement it is christmas craft week at pathfinders this week so I get to do even more christmassy things!

Despite my love of christmas I do not like winter at all and hate being cold. I currently have a sore throat and can't really breathe which is very annoying. I am also tired after a busy couple of weeks (this was my own fault as I have been away the last two weekends.)

Last Friday Night...

I seem to be spending this year collecting certificates! In the last two weeks I have completed my second child protection training of the year and a first aid course. I have also spent a lot of time in the last couple of weeks in meetings about soul survivor, the youth weekend away and sunday pathfinders. This has actually been really good as I like to be organised about things and it was encouraging to talk to the other leaders.

Last Friday at pathfinders we created our own disney prince and princesses (below) at pathfinders. Disney night has also left us with a giant teaspoon and long green plait in the office - any ideas what we can use them for?

Unfortunately the youth club we help at on thursdays is going to be closing down for a couple of months as the school needs to use the space so we are having our last session on thursday (when we are having a disco)

The highlight of my fortnight though was a trip to the ATP World Tour Finals with my Mum where we got to see a match between Federer and Del Potro - Here is a picture of them warming up!

The next few weeks are going to be really busy in the lead up to Christmas so it would be great if you could pray for energy for me to keep going through this time.

Half Term, Hot Chocolate and Harry Potter

It's been a while since I wrote a blog as I have been rather busy and lacking any inspiration! I am currently drinking a hot chocolate in
the office after a week off so am now feeling much more relaxed. Unfortunately I had a blood test very early this morning so am still just as tired!

The last few weeks have involved more sorting as well as all the usual groups. Sarah and I managed to throw away 6 bin bags full of stuff from the pathfinders cupboard which now looks an awful lot tidier! Another highlight was Harry Potter night where I dressed up as Bellatrix Lestrange - the shower was black for quite a while that evening!

My first half term at St Leonard's has been a really great experience; I have met some lovely people and feel like I am going to learn a lot this year. For those of you who don't know I suffer from depression and often get very stressed. Last year not long after this time I dropped out of Uni and had a pretty rubbish year so I'm feeling really encouraged that I am enjoying what I am doing and managing to cope with all the different things I am doing.

How long does it take to unravel a piece of string?

My job as an intern involves a certain amount of menial tasks, some more bizarre than others. This week I have completed an online food hygiene course, sorted out the pathfinders cupboard in the church hall kitchen (where I found 4 open jars of chocolate spread and about 10 jars of hot chocolate!) and spent 3 hours untangling a ball of string.

Luckily not everything is quite so boring. I have also had fun this week playing team challenges at older pathfinders (unfortunately my team came second although it was very close and I remain unbeaten at the strawberry lace race.) I also enjoyed leading a prayer session at CYFA on sunday.

This week has also been very tiring. So many new things and evenings out are starting to take their toll on me. (I did accidentally fall asleep during our office quiet time on tuesday.) One of the new things I have done this week is my first day of Uni Olly came with us and we had a commissioning service with the other interns.

Overall it has been a great week but I am quite ready now for a lie in! 

New beginnings

The last two weeks have been full of lots of new things: a new house with new flat mates, a new job, a new office, lots of new youth groups, two new churches and lots of new baking skills! This has all been quite a challenge as I have had quite a long relaxing summer holiday and have now suddenly become very busy; However it has also been really exciting. 

The first challenge was trying to squeeze four people into what had up until now been a two person office. We did eventually manage this after trying every possible layout. I seem to have become the official office baker already as the first job on my list was to bake more cakes. I have been inspired by the Great British Bake off though so have now made my first ever millionaire shortbread and cherry bake-well tarts.

The highlight of my first two weeks has been getting to know some of the young people a bit better. I was able to spend time with some of them at Soul Survivor over the summer which was amazing but have now been able to spend even more time with them and get to know some of the other young people. I have particularly enjoyed my cell groups and playing some stupid games at pathfinders (although I still have bruises from last week!)

Outside of my internship I have just moved into a house share in Oxford which thanks to the help of some friends wasn't too hard. I also went to an evening service at St Ebbes in Oxford on sunday and am planning on joining a home group there (if I'm feeling brave enough on wednesday!) 

I'm really looking forward to the rest of the year as I learn new skills and grow closer to God. Overall it's been a great two weeks and a brilliant start to what I hope will be a brilliant year.