TEXAS for the holidays!

I made it back yesterday afternoon after a horribly long flight. I left Teeside at 6am and had a layover in Amsterdam. I enjoyed some much needed Starbucks and taught myself a little Dutch and then I was off again! Rebecca was nice enough to pick me up from the airport, I was never so happy to see a friend! She brought me home (with an awesome funfetti birthday cake) and I was immediately hounded by my puppy who is nowhere near a puppy anymore. After a delicious dinner of homemade taco soup I did what anyone who had been traveling would do...I put up my christmas tree in my room!

Man it feels good to be home!

Day out in Guisborough

Yesterday I went and hung out with my friend Emily who has been doing youth work in London. She came home for her birthday, which was yesterday, and since she turned 18 it was time for a pub! We went and saw some of her friends at college and then went to check out this cute new pub called The Priory in Guisborough. I hadn't been to this town before and I instantly loved it. It's super cute with a church in the center and it has remains of the Gisborough Priory dating back to the 12th century. It was way too cold to go and fully see it, but I plan to when it gets warmer! 

Today I'm 22!

Yesterday was like having three birthdays in one day. I got a card and serenade in each youth group and in two of them I got a cake! 

Yummy marble cake with maltesers!

My second yummy chocolate cake!

Then today one of the lightning bolt leaders, Mandy, stopped by to tell me happy birthday. She brought me some pretty flowers and chocolate! Shortly after the vicar stopped by and brought me more chocolates! Then some of my EQ girls stopped by after school to serenade me and give me even more chocolates! Needles to say I have loads of chocolate and am feeling very blessed. 

And in less than a week I will be home in Texas for the holidays!

My week in photos

Tuesday I decorated another tree.

Thursday I came home to this...

Then I had my first mince pie!

 Saturday I started a new look. 

And today I made a Christingle! 

What is a Christingle you might ask? It is a symbolic candle made during Advent season in the church. It originated in Germany and is now done throughout England. The orange represents the world and has a a red ribbon around it representing the blood of Jesus. Dried fruits or sweets are skewered on cocktail sticks and pushed into the orange, representing the fruits of the earth and the four seasons. The candle is pushed in the middles and represents Jesus, the light of the world.