March 31, 2012 • 7,216 notes • leilockheart
Love this xx

Love this xx

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March 27, 2012 • 1 note
March 27, 2012

<—- Which Way Next? —->

I’m in a very odd place at the moment. It’s just like I was 3 years ago. On the brink of change, not knowing what to expect, where I would go, what I would be doing, but really looking forward to it. Now here I am again, and I’m honestly surprising myself with how much crap I’ve been sprouting. My opinions on everything are all back up in the air again, and in one conversation I’ll say one thing and then will say something later that completely contradicts what I’ve said earlier. It’s so ODD!! I feel like a teenager again!

In all honesty, I haven’t the foggiest idea what I want to do next. Ideally I’d like to do nothing for a few weeks as I have previously posted - which is seemingly alarming to everyone I have said this to. I bumped into a lady today who I volunteered alongside for my final year of Sixth form (just over 3 years ago) and she said ‘so are you looking for a job now?’ and I said ‘yeah, but i’d like to chill a bit first!’ this was followed by a bit of a blank look. I can give you right here, right now, a list of at least 10 things I’d LOVE to do next (or at some point in the near future!) 

Do I want to go straight into Youth Work? No, not really. I’d love to be able to do some kind of night course…maybe in cake decorating, cookery, floristry or something crafty! I would quite happily work in a nice cafe or in somewhere arty in Hebden Bridge. I’d really like to see where the tide takes me. I want to join a WI (this is more important than finding a job). But more than that…I want to ENJOY LIFE. I’ve had the most amazing long weekend..I’ve stayed with one of my best friends, had a lovely curry, caught up with everyone at Church, had a wonderful Sunday roast in the sunshine with wine, spent an afternoon in Hebden finding Charity shop gems and having vintage afternoon tea, finished off with a day spent with my beautiful niece, sister and mom having a picnic in the garden and running round doing fun things, and catching up with a good friend. It has just been LIFE. Stress free, fun. I sounded so silly today, but I was telling my friend how I felt really emotional at the weekend because I was just overwhelmed by the feeling that I was really living, that this is what it is all about. 

The more I think about this, the more I see how life can be so full of stress. That we push ourselves to the limits, to the point where it affects our health. It affects us ALL in different ways. This year I have started having anxiety attacks when I am too stressed out and I find that I can’t even leave my room sometimes because I know I will have to socialise and I have zero energy for it. I saw on TV today a girl who was stressed would headbutt her pillow repeatedly during the night whilst she was sleeping. There are just SO MANY ways it gets to us. But so much of it is unnecessary. We are not designed for this. Obviously we aren’t or our bodies wouldn’t be saying this to us. If we do not take care of ourselves, we cannot be as effective in helping others. We need to encourage each other in this. We need to stop missing out on taking time out to SEE life and LIVE it. It just passes us by in a busy blur. And I don’t believe this is the way it has to be.

I am aware that maybe some of the things I say on here appear very naive, like i’m from some happy little bubble and all I think about is tea and scones. But I am well aware of our world, and what goes on in it, and I want us to start where we are, in our locality, to use our sphere of influence, to ready ourselves to be world changers. There are some people who are called to travel the world starting revolution after revolution. That is not me. I am here to be friends with my neighbours. I am here to offer a friendly face to a hurting friend. I am here to look out for those who are lost and unloved. And I am here to encourage people to love. My heart is moved constantly by worldwide campaigns, and I do what I can to support them and raise awareness. As for me though, I prefer to be behind the scenes, making things tick over and enjoying the small things that the busy ones miss. The small things are what I live for! 

So, excuse me whilst I go to bed ready for my day in the park tomorrow feeding the ducks with my family. 

x x x 

March 21, 2012 • 3 notes

Live by Faith, not by sight…

The past few days I’ve been thinking about these words a LOT. As I am now 11 weeks away from leaving this City the future is drawing ever closer. Friends have started applying for jobs, (and getting them!) and will be going straight from here into full time work - meaning they will also be relocating. As I began to panic, I started to look for jobs as well, and so far not a single one has stood out to me. But then I stepped back and thought, is it time for me to be looking for a job? And I have resolved; it isn’t. So right now, I’m not going to! This is why.

As I began to make plans for summer, a few people mentioned that I should to a big camp in America. Because i LOVE America and that would seem like it would be a dream summer, but I just didn’t want to! The thought of getting through the hardest year of my life and then going straight to a foreign country to work my butt off for 3 months did not seem appealing. No regrets from applying for that - it just didn’t feel right. It’s a good job really, because then I got a call from my Dad inviting me to go to Arizona straight after I finish for 2 weeks! I cried with tears of happiness when I got this call! When we went about 5 years ago I fell in love with that state and have dreamt of going back ever since. So that prayer was answered! Next, I will be having 2 more holidays - one with my Mum and all my Sister’s family and one with one of my best friends to Rome. So that adds up to 5 weeks of jetsetting! Not bad hey.

Then I got to thinking…why do I need to stress myself out when the signs are asking me to relax? This is where Faith comes into it. I believe God is asking me to relax, to wait, and He will sort it out. And I fully believe that. He is my provider, and who knows apart from Him what is waiting around the corner for me? I may be at home for a few months and then feel ready to relocate, I may find a job mid-summer that I can start after my holidays, there may be a job in September, there are so many possibilities. But I just have this overwhelming feeling that I don’t need to worry about it, I just need to wait.

Isn’t it amazing how vast and deep and wide God’s love is for us that He knows exactly what I need? And what you need? Even though all of our needs are incredibly different. When I have time to sit back and take that in, it always blows my mind a bit! I am so incredibly thankful for that.

“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a side note, I want to include a link to an excellent article that I read this week. It’s about motherhood. This week I have concluded that is me. That is my calling, and I will definitely need to wait for that! When I search myself, I know that is what I truly want, and these beautiful words showed me that I am by far not the only one who feels this. I think motherhood is much bigger than we think it is. It is a sacrifice. Here it is described as a ‘dying to self’ moment. I have seen this in action, as that is my Mum ALL OVER. She was made to be a mother. I think I might have been too…..x

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/motherhood-is-a-calling-and-where-your-children-rank 

March 10, 2012
Well it&#8217;s been a mad couple of weeks. I can&#8217;t even begin to describe how much I&#8217;ve learnt. At this point (excluding 3 weeks off at Easter) I have 9 weeks of University left. 9 WEEKS.  That means I have 9 little weeks to find a job. I want a house. To have a house, I need a job. To get a job, I need to finish University. To finish University I need to finish 7 assignments and read..a LOT. Needless to say, I have a lot on my mind right now. I know I&#8217;m not the first though and I know I&#8217;m not the only one, but this.is.it. I have 9 weeks before my life really begins. I have 9 weeks left in beautiful Cheshire&#8230;time has absolutely flown.  There is so much to do, so much to think about, so much to plan. But I have this overwhelming feeling that I just need to WAIT. That I have no idea what could change in these next few weeks, that I need to stop planning and just wait. To most people that would sound a little bit ridiculous but I think that&#8217;s what I have to do! That is called Faith. I&#8217;ve been tested enough lately anyway so it would be nice if it all just falls into place! Ha. I see no reason why it wont&#8230;it always has done before. So my plan for life is: Stop planning. Do Not Worry     25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?    28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. I truly believe this is how we should live. A simple trust that what we need will be provided. That when our needs are met we can meet the needs of others too&#8230;we are here for each other, and sometimes that means accepting help when it is needed. This requires humility. I have learnt this firsthand&#8230;it scared me actually, how much pride I had. I have always been the one who &#8216;has it all together&#8217; but for once in my life I didn&#8217;t, and I had to admit that and it felt strange. I had to let people look after me. That is pretty rare. But without that help, I would&#8217;ve remained a mess. So for that slice of humble pie, I am truly thankful. I have also learnt that it&#8217;s OK to make life easy for myself sometimes. I&#8217;ve never really done that before, I&#8217;ve always challenged myself to be outside of my comfort zone&#8230;I left that zone behind a LONG time ago. But I now think that there is a time and a place for retreating to that zone. You have to look after yourself, otherwise who are you good for? You are important. Look after you, too. I won&#8217;t forget that again. xxxx

Well it’s been a mad couple of weeks. I can’t even begin to describe how much I’ve learnt. At this point (excluding 3 weeks off at Easter) I have 9 weeks of University left. 9 WEEKS. 

That means I have 9 little weeks to find a job. I want a house. To have a house, I need a job. To get a job, I need to finish University. To finish University I need to finish 7 assignments and read..a LOT. Needless to say, I have a lot on my mind right now. I know I’m not the first though and I know I’m not the only one, but this.is.it. I have 9 weeks before my life really begins. I have 9 weeks left in beautiful Cheshire…time has absolutely flown. 

There is so much to do, so much to think about, so much to plan. But I have this overwhelming feeling that I just need to WAIT. That I have no idea what could change in these next few weeks, that I need to stop planning and just wait. To most people that would sound a little bit ridiculous but I think that’s what I have to do! That is called Faith. I’ve been tested enough lately anyway so it would be nice if it all just falls into place! Ha. I see no reason why it wont…it always has done before. So my plan for life is: Stop planning.

Do Not Worry

    25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?

   28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I truly believe this is how we should live. A simple trust that what we need will be provided. That when our needs are met we can meet the needs of others too…we are here for each other, and sometimes that means accepting help when it is needed. This requires humility. I have learnt this firsthand…it scared me actually, how much pride I had. I have always been the one who ‘has it all together’ but for once in my life I didn’t, and I had to admit that and it felt strange. I had to let people look after me. That is pretty rare. But without that help, I would’ve remained a mess. So for that slice of humble pie, I am truly thankful.

I have also learnt that it’s OK to make life easy for myself sometimes. I’ve never really done that before, I’ve always challenged myself to be outside of my comfort zone…I left that zone behind a LONG time ago. But I now think that there is a time and a place for retreating to that zone. You have to look after yourself, otherwise who are you good for? You are important. Look after you, too. I won’t forget that again.

xxxx

March 1, 2012

So, I haven’t bought an album in AGES. The other night I was checking the progress of the ‘27 million’ single - (which is raising awareness of human trafficking, an horrific injustice still happening right now) on the itunes Charts on my phone when I saw a tab for ‘top Country Music.’

I thought I would check it out..cos that’s my fave! Anyway, I came across this little beauty and rashly downloaded the whole album. Turns out, it’s all I’ve listened to since I bought it!

Great little mix of songs….I would 100% recommend to a friend xx P.s. whilst you’re their check out 27million and join the cause! xx

February 27, 2012
Generosity Encouraged  6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:    “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;    their righteousness endures forever.”[a]  10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. xxx

Generosity Encouraged
 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:

   “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; 
   their righteousness endures forever.”[a]

 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

xxx

February 22, 2012 • 149 notes • abeautifulmess.typepad.com
zksleepkz-idea2: 10 Ways to Make a Garland I ADORE this post! x x x

zksleepkz-idea2:

10 Ways to Make a Garland

I ADORE this post!

x x x

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February 20, 2012 • 2,662 notes • dolliecrave
There is only ONE of you! xxxx

There is only ONE of you! xxxx

February 19, 2012 • 139,084 notes • camillenium

This is crazy!

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