365 with the soapbox

In some ways today feels like it should be room 101 instead of looking for the good. Lots of stress and stuff that should have been picked up or sorted sooner that i missed and the perfectionist in me doesn’t like that.

However two things eclipsed all of those.
Catching up with, and spending time with someone who has been mentoring me but has been out of the country. Spending time with someone who is so for you and wants to help you reach some of your potential is amazing. wise words, good chat, and inspiring honesty.
Second was dinner with some of the Peru crew – Rob who is over from the States and Jo from Cambridge. So good to see them if for such a little while.
And to sneak in a third – a good glass of red to end the day…

Flip, 100, wow – something to be thankful in itself – that i’ve made it this far!

After a busy day, a night at home, sorry lifegroup in church was much needed and enjoyed

The first day of my last MDiv module, and a module I’ve been waiting a long time to do. It wasn’t disappointing, and I’m glad to have a lecturer who is passionate and doesn’t want to settle for safe. Looking forward to the next 12 weeks!

Really glad to sit down and enjoy two episodes of CSI after a long tiring, but satisfying day.

Driving over Craigantlet on a sunny morning, Scrabo in the distance past the greens and yellows of the fields and the blue sky, then coming over the hills to see Belfast lough and Knocka appearing in the brightness, provided visual stimulus while thinking as I drove and being reminded how much God loves me despite the horlicks I make of so many things.

Topped off the day of my friends sofa chatting and praying through what’s going on in both out lives, and thankful for friends like that who have walked alongside me so far…

Time after church chatting and catching up with my church ‘family’ was incredibly refreshing and invigorating. Really appreciated a chilled out sunday – complete with a nap and my first night in, watchig some TV for over a week. Well needed.

Sitting down watching football after an afternoon braving the shops in Belfast city centre with M&S food.

A friend’s surprise 30th – being back at his parent’s house which have many happy memories of younger days. It was great seeing him genuinely shocked, and having some quality time catching up with people, especially the bit after most people had left and there were enough of us all to sit round on the sofas and have some banter.

After working three nights this week I had a well enjoyed day off. Well apart from tying up a few things that i’d needed to do – so had the satisfaction of finally ticking them off the to do list.

Enjoyed a lazy day, playing risk and scabble on facebook, watching spooks and damages, tidying up and then heading out for the wonderful ‘The assasination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford’. Loving these weekly trips to the cinema to see quality films.

An afternoon out of the office meeting people was fantastic, harking back to the last few years.

Church mission committee meeting provided reminders of lots of good stuff to talk about, the privilege of being able to be involved with a diverse group of people all working with one purpose. I actually enjoy meetings planning stuff, that I know will make a difference, so rolled into bed very tired but very satisfied.

A welcome return to the 4A, enjoying the crisp morning and those moments of solitude and silence at the bus stop before watching east Belfast crawl rather than whizz past though the windows.

An evening spent working, putting together a handbook for a conference but thankful for a friend who does this sort of thing so well, volunteering her spare time to do it (and way better than I would have done it).

Getting to hang out with the 3 K’s, with a bonus addition at lunch of transfarmer. Time to ease some of my theological quandries, and inspired to dream – which there has been too little of recently.

It was back in the car for an event we run for graduates, which organisationally (my fault) had fallen apart a little, I was having to step in and do it, I was tired and just wanted to go home, hoping no-one would show up. But God had other plans and surprised me, with 13 people who despite my ramblings on succcess and ambition, engaged, and found the night helpful. Another reminder of that strength in weakness thing. Most encouraging was one girl commenting how much she valued a space like this to discuss those faith and work issues, as she didnt have it anywhere else. That one comment restored my perspective and made it all so much more worthwhile than I had imagined, and refreshed my original vision of the event.