[this moment]

Many a lovely moment this past week, since Iain came home from 3 weeks walking around the North West of Scotland 3 days early. Indian takeaway, dvds, pancakes, opening of 21st birthday presents (woooooo!), cooking for more than one person, cups of tea, flat decorating...

Jamie Oliver fluffy pancakes with strawberries, bananas and maple syrup.

When God answers

I was praying this morning, and told God quite frankly that I had no desire to pray. I don't know why, there's not been anything specific that has happened or not happened to make me feel this way, but I just didn't want to pray. But I did, and He got me up a bit earlier so I had longer to pray this morning than I often do. And I prayed, and it was good. I like it when obedience brings answered prayer. This afternoon, I was lying on my bed and just thought I really needed something to be challenged on and to have God work on specifically and have a topic to study in depth. I've been feeling a bit down and getting angry and frustrated easily again the past few days. So I decided to go to a couple of Christian websites to be inspired and fill my mind with good and God things. And there it was. The Boundless Summer Challenge, fresh out and ready to focus my mind on things from above. This year, the Summer Challenge is based on 2 Corinthians 5:14-20 which says,

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

The topic is reconciliation in relationships. I found last year that some of the challenges were too American to be exported and some required elements were not available in the UK. Or they were too cheesy and just would not be overly appropriate in the culture here, but I did a few of the challenges and benefited I'm sure. I just thought it was kind of cool how God answered that thought (it wasn't even a prayer!) and feel it is something I should try to adhere to this summer, working on learning that passage off by heart and applying it in different ways through the challenges set each week. So here goes. :)

Streams of consciousness

9 days left in my little primary class. Well... 10 days left, but one of them I'm taking off for the NIXON WEDDING! I don't think I've ever been this excited for a wedding. I could hardly contain it when I was speaking to Kirsty on Sunday - I though I was going to burst with excitement and tears all in one. I had to calm down though because we were in the church entrance and I may have caused a bit of panic had I actually exploded. One exciting thing (though not nearly as exciting as the wedding itself) is that I plan to wear my one and only pair of heels for the second time. Risk of disaster: medium.

I asked for a book to review from NavPress, went for that one because it seemed the most interesting of all those offered (a limited selection of new books are offered for blog review). Only thing is this one's for married couples, making your marriage authentic or something like that. Well it turns out, it's a really good book and one that I am benefiting from as a single. I'll review it soon, I'm getting through it at some fast rate (by my standards anyway!!)

I have been in contact with one of my aunts who I don't think I've seen since my grandma's funeral 12 years ago. She makes amazing amazing cakes. And she's a granny herself - one of my cousins has a kid?! crazy that we're old enough. I suppose we're old enough; my brother's having a kid. Bit scary this whole life thing. Crazy exciting though.

[this moment]

It's been a while! This week I could choose many a moment to share and remember, it has been a few days rich in fun and new experiences. I could choose photos of some favourite parts of Iain and my walks around London last weekend, our trip to the Hummingbird Bakery with Olivia, a delicious Vietnamese lunch, again with Olivia, or a snap or two of the fabulous sunset we witnessed on our way back up to Edinburgh. There were also many a moment that I did not capture, like a very welcome meal in Nando's upon arrival in London, our visit to All Souls church or a 7 course meal in Khublai Khan back in Edinburgh, a Mongolian restaurant where we celebrated Alasdair's 21st birthday on Monday. Amongst others, Zebra, Camel and Baby Octopus were on the menu. YUM! I think it's safe to say that the past few days have been delicious and now it's back to eating healthily and cheaply!! But... with all those fantastic experiences and memories, I am still very excited and happy to introduce you all to Mr and Mrs Barrington, the very reasons we went to London in the first place.  Congratulations guys, you looked fantastic, and we all had such fun celebrating with you.

Jason And Noemi Barrington