Lately.

My life is a little crazy right now between kids, packing and saying goodbyes. Can't believe I go home in just 3 more days. Instead of recapping what's been happening on this side of the pond I thought I would do a photo diary:

Getting ready for the Jubilee!

Enjoying my beautiful  flowers. 

Last assembly in the primary school!

Takeout in the garden with some of my girls. 

Evie, Rosie, Amelia and Liv. 

Tea and cake at Gill and Tony's. 

My new charm from Gill and Tony. Perfect addition!

Leaving cake at the YFC staff BBQ. 

Last Monday...wait what?!

Time is flying by so fast! Today was my last Monday at youth groups! I don't think it has really hit me yet. Probably won't until I land in Texas! Firecrackers wished me a goodbye with a cake, a teddy, a new recipe book and a card full of sweet messages. We hung out, painted stones and the kids went on a bear hunt (Ste made me be the bear). Overall it was a lovely end to my wonderful time with them! Thunderbolts and Lightning Bolts was a bit different as we had a fashion show where the kids modeled clothes to raise money for the youth work. It was fun to watch the kids and we raised 200 pounds for the youth work! I got some more lovely cards and some beautiful flowers! Really can't say how much I've loved getting to work with these kids over the past 10 months. Some drove me plum nuts but I wouldn't have had it any other way! Definitely leaving a piece of my heart here with them when I go!

The stone I painted. 

The whole Firecracker gang!

 All my sweet gifts!

Texan Time!

Today we woke up bright and early (4:30am) to see the Texans off. The last week and a half with them has been awesome. So weird to think that I came on the same trip only a year ago. We did a lot of the same work in the schools, but this year we took 19 kids on a residential weekend to Marrick Priory. It was so much fun! The kids and the leaders all grew so much. The Texans did a great job leading sessions and on Monday night at youth groups several kids were teary eyed as they said goodbye to their new friends. I could go on and on about the past week but instead I thought I would just mention some highlights: 

• Taking 45 primary school kids on a field trip/walk to see the Methodist church and St Mary's Church then running three youth groups. It was exhausting, but so much fun.
• Baking cakes with kids in enrichment classes at the secondary school.
• Getting in our recipe books and tea towels!
• Taking a day trip to York. I immediately fell in love with the city. It has York Minster, the cutest shops and the streets look like Harry Potter.
• Climbing Roseberry Topping.
• Doing archery and hauling my fat butt up a ropes course at Marrick.
• Having wonderful and moving conversations with some of the greatest kids ever.
• Sharing a house with three boys instead of one. Needless to say I got picked on!
• Spending a gorgeous and SUNNY day in Whitby!

I'm sure there are some things I'm forgetting, but hopefully these will help give an idea:

York

Great Ayton/Roseberry Topping

Marrick Priory

On the train to Whitby.

Whitby

Happy Birthday Edward!

                             
So today, thanks to Google, I learned that it is Edward Lear's 200th Birthday! Who is Edward Lear you ask? Well he was a  was a British artist, illustrator, author, and poet, renowned for  his limericks, a form that he popularized. And what is a limerick? It's a humorous, frequently bawdy, verse of three long and two short lines rhyming aabba. One of his famous limericks is The Owl and the Pussy-cat. So enjoy!....




                            

I

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea     In a beautiful pea green boat, They took some honey, and plenty of money,     Wrapped up in a five pound note. The Owl looked up to the stars above,     And sang to a small guitar, 'O lovely Pussy! O Pussy my love,       What a beautiful Pussy you are,           You are,           You are! What a beautiful Pussy you are!'

II

Pussy said to the Owl, 'You elegant fowl!     How charmingly sweet you sing! O let us be married! too long we have tarried:     But what shall we do for a ring?' They sailed away, for a year and a day,     To the land where the Bong-tree grows And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood     With a ring at the end of his nose,           His nose,           His nose, With a ring at the end of his nose.

                        

III

'Dear pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling     Your ring?' Said the Piggy, 'I will.' So they took it away, and were married next day     By the Turkey who lives on the hill. They dined on mince, and slices of quince,     Which they ate with a runcible spoon; And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,     They danced by the light of the moon,           The moon,           The moon, They danced by the light of the moon.

 
                  

HERMAN

Today was the day, day 10! Time to see what Herman was all about...

I divided Herman into fourths and took him to one of my girls and two of our neighbors with his instructions.

Then I came home added some more ingredients and baked Herman! And I must say, he was worth the wait! 

Herman. Day 5.

Well this is Herman halfway through. He's grown a little, mostly due to me adding a cup of sugar, flour and milk on day 4. All I can say is this cake better be worth it. Herman don't let me down!

49 days.

Seems so crazy to think that my time here in England is winding down. It feels like not that long ago people were asking when I was leaving to come over and now I constantly get asked, "How much longer are you with us?" and "What are you going to do when you get back?". When I get asked those questions it makes me feel a lot of the same emotions I felt last year at this time as I neared graduation. This time though I'm not as worried or obsessed with knowing everything because I know He does. Such an awesome feeling!

On another note I am starting the book of 1 Corinthians with my girls tomorrow and am super excited. It's the first book in the New Testament we've looked at so I'm really eager to hear their thoughts. Praying God uses me and his Word to reach out to them!

P.S. Herman is growing! I fed him today and will try and post a picture soon! :)

Herman.

Yesterday I got an unexpected gift. His name is Herman. What is he you ask? He's a cake. Yes, a cake.

Actually he's part of a cake. I have to take care of him and feed him for 10 days then split the dough into 4 parts, keep one part to bake and give the other three portions away to friends. I was given the recipe for 'Herman the German Friendship Cake' and strict instructions so I don't kill him. Yes the recipe says I have to check daily to make sure he is still alive (bubbling). The next week or so should be interesting and I'll try and post pictures as Herman progresses!

Only three more weeks!

Crazy to think, but it's almost been a year since I first came across the pond last May. So weird how time flies! Ste and I are starting to get ready for the team from UMHB and I'm so excited. I can't wait for them to get here and experience this place I now call my second home!

Here's a poster I designed for events we have going on while they are here:

Beloved

I hadn't blogged in a while because I'd been busy getting ready for Beloved, my girl's retreat. It took place this last weekend and it was absolutely AMAZING! For starters I was praying to at least have 10 girls and turned out I had 16. It was such a blessing! I also had about 5 or 6 mom's and women in the church come and help out. We stayed in the hall both Friday and Saturday night then about half of the girls stayed for church on Sunday morning. Here's a little run down of what we did:

FRIDAY

They arrived and set up their beds under a giant tent (I made it out of a big colorful parachute). They hung out and explored all the things I had set up (prayer room, cinema room, photo booth). We then had dinner followed by personality tests. We had to answer a set of questions and then found out what animal we were. It was really interesting and the girls loved it! After that we had a talk/discussion on beauty. How unrealistic demands are put on girls these days, how beauty has to come from the inside (you can be pretty and still be ugly with your attitude, etc.) and how God created us and finds us beautiful. The girls then had time to go off and reflect and write about their feelings in some journals I had got them. After that we just hung out and watched movies. It was a great first night.

SATURDAY

We woke up to bacon, sausage, eggs, toast and beans! Yum. After breakfast we had a Bible study on the story of Rahab. I wanted the girls to see that God uses women to great tasks. And that she was just as brave and bold as the spies who were sent into Jericho. The rest of the morning was spent doing some awesome crafts and baking. First we made fascinators (for those that don't know they are little hats worn at weddings and special events) followed by the painting of teacups. All the while the girls were rotated into the kitchen to bake scones. We later turned those teacups into candles. I gave the girls some free time afterwards so I could get ready for our tea party. The girls dressed up and wore their fascinators for afternoon tea where I taught them etiquette. It was a hoot. They seemed to love it and it gave us all some good laughs. That evening we ate dinner and had another discussion on unveiling our beauty or opening our hearts to the Lord. How we have to be honest and willing to work on our relationship with Him. That it takes time to mature and grow. After more time for reflection the girls hit the cinema room up again and sang through Grease at the top of their lungs.

Sunday morning we all awoke somewhat tired and cleaned up to get ready for the service. Overall, it was a great weekend. The girls all got along wonderfully despite their age difference (11-16 years old). I got several wonderful letters of encouragement and gratitude from the girls. Those right there made it all worth it. I feel so blessed to work with such a great group of young ladies and wonderful leaders. I can't thank everyone enough who helped, contributed and prayed for the weekend!

My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. 

-Song of Songs 2:14

Photobooth fun.

The whole gang.

Prayer cross. 

Cinema room.

My fascinator. 

Tea party.

A cup one of the mom's painted for me. :)