De-stressing

I have been having nearly fainting spells lately so I had a blood test and the results came back clear. Therefore, the only other reason that people have suggested and I agree, that they are a result of stress. So now it's my mission to find ways to de-stress. I know that I can gain strength through Jesus building me up and giving me peace in my quiet times with him but is there any other actions that I could be doing that could lead to the disappearance of my fainting spells along with the stress?

The stress aint gonna go away anytime soon with my choice of degree and the other activities I do alongside so I guess I need to start being proactive and not allowing myself to get caught sinking like as if I'm in quick sand.

Smartie Challenge!

Yesterday I was reading an article in the magazine 'liberti' about how to be a blessing and I came across an idea which I am now doing. It's called 'the smartie challenge'. This activity is where you put 5p into a smartie packet everytime God answers a prayer about something little, for example I asked God to help me to arrive at uni on time yesterday and I did therefore I have to put 5p into the smartie packet. Once it's been three months you can marvel at how many smartie packets you've filled up with 5 pence pieces and send all the money off to cherish uganda or another charity. I'm up for the challenge and I am rather enjoying munching on the smarties too, I haven't had some in years!

It's the simple things...

Sometimes when you don't have anything to say, it's not that you don't have anything to say but more there are too many things to say..I guess that's why I haven't been able to write a new blog

post lately.

It's the simple things like a nice, soft and runny boil egg that do it for me!

I only occasionally have breakfast. I don't know why. Maybe it's because I don't have the time or that I don't know what to have. However, on this occasion that I decided to have breakfast I chose to have a nice, soft and runny boiled egg..the way I like it, how do you like it? It's simple but there's something about it that makes me feel comforted and homey. And yes, I still make it with toast soldiers the way my mum use to make it for me. Funnily enough, I did feel ready for the day like they all say breakfast is meant to and for that day I started thinking maybe I should have breakfast everyday but then that idea slowly disappears when I have to rush out because I woke up late the next day. And now I think about it, if I had a boiled egg everyday would that take away the happy and homey feeling that I get when I only have it on occasion?

If any of you have got a breakfast delight, try me and I may just give it a go ;)

Try something new today :)

I've always liked Sainsbury's catch phrase 'try something new today' even though I never shop there. Something about that phrase suggests there's an exciting world out there that you need to explore..so go get some! That's what i've been doing lately..trying some new things.

Acting since I left school: I was asked to be the one of the main characters in a performance my church was doing with kids club. I played a troubled young teen who didn't feel worth anything due to events in her life that made her feel that way, until she meets Jesus who isn't what she expected. It was so great to feel the buzz again that always fills me when I am doing acting. I'm definately not gonna stop continuing to carry on that passion of mine!





Cakes: I was watching the tv programme 'cook yourself thin' which attracted me because they had the motto of not dieting but cook healthier. There was this cake recipe that just looked so delish I had to try it out. Also, it included a courgette in the recipe and the woman claimed that you couldn't taste it. Well I found that strange and wanted to find out for myself. So I grabbed my friend maria, we put on our pinnys and got to work. I hadn't baked in ages coz my mum doesn't really have time to bake cakes. I was sooooo pleased! :) they turned out terrific, sweet and presentable..luvly jubbly! annnndddd...she was correct, you couldn't taste the courgette.

Here's the link for the recipe:

http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/healthy/cook-yourself-thin/strawberries-and-cream-cupcake-recipe_p_1.html

Dragon fruit: I was in tesco when I came across an odd but pretty looking fruit which I had never seen before. I thought I wonder what that tastes like as I am a person who loves fruit. So I bought it and then realised I had no idea how to prepare it. So it was time to do a bit of research.

This is what I found out - Pitaya or more commonly known as Dragon Fruit is the fruit of Hylocereus cactus species, which only blooms at night with large white fragrant flowers called 'moon flower' or 'queen of the night' which I think sounds beautiful. They are native to Mexico and Central and South America but are also cultivated in Asian countries. To me the fleshy white pulp looked alot like the flesh of a kiwi apart from the colour.

However, although this fruit looked tropical and attractive the taste was totally not! It didn't taste of anything which was a real disappointment. Maybe I got a bad one, I dunno but to me I only could eat one mouthful as it was so tasteless. I was glad I tried it though.

Prayer Diary: I have also started a prayer diary where I not only write down church service notes, verses and pictures God gives me but now I write down the things I pray about to. It was an idea I got from reading the book 'too busy not to pray' by Bill Hybels, which I would recommend to you all. It helps me to slow down, give God the private time He deserves, lets me analyse my life and puts things into perspective. Not only that but I found that since I started to write my prayers down now my prayers aren't just I need, I want..ask ask ask, if you get my drift but now I am reminded to include adoration, confession, thanks as well as asking God for help with things..which is important too!

So yeah if you've got any ideas of what else I could try I'd love to hear it :)

Race for Life!

My excuse for not blogging lately is that I have been really tired preparing for the cancer research race for life which happened on sunday. I had to force myself to really go for it in the last couple of weeks before the run because I wasn't someone who used to enjoy running, I wouldn't even be bothered to run for a bus! lol. Now on the other hand, I am actually considering jogging as a hobby :) Unfortunately, me and my good friend Avril (shown in picture with me) had to cram in preparation in the last couple of weeks as our lives have been very hectic with uni and other issues. Next time we do it, it would be much better to spread out the preparation jogging over a longer period of time..although this may have to be by ourselves as she is situated in Scotland, long way to come for just jogging practise!

Anywhooo, we both finished the 5km,jogging the whole way and to say it was harder than anticipated is an understatement. There was many hills, uneven ground( I tripped once, doh!) and people that were walking when they went to the jogging category who were not moving out the way to help those who actually wanted to jog. This won't matter to you if your not an eastenders fan like us, but Zainab Masood was jogging like a metre away from us! cooool :D We jogged the whole 5km in 42 minutes, which I am very proud of..next time we are aiming for under 40 minutes. My leg muscles are still tight and aching even now! I'm very pleased we decided to do it and we raised well over £100 for the charity. Without wanting to sound too cheesy..we really were RACING FOR LIFE.

R.I.P Grandad Minnie - I miss you but I know your happier where you are now..Thanks to God that he found Jesus before he died of the horrible disease.

Still praying for Uncle Rob, who is still fighting cancer.

End of yr 1 teaching and brooooooom broooooom off I go!

I finally finished my 1st teaching practise last friday and we had a celebratory BBQ, just me, raz, mum, dad, lil, ali barbar and warren which was lovely because luckily it didn't rain..there's nothing nice about soggy burgers! My class gave me a huge hand-made card, box of malteasers and a gerainium which made me feel so happy I felt like I was going to cry.


Here is the final product of all my teaching:


AFTER
BEFORE

It was an experience I will never forget, full of so many different emotions. I definately underestimated how much paperwork there was going to be..I was swamped! I enjoyed teaching year one when they behaved lol It gave me an opportunity to be creative which I liked and I thank God for being with me always. I will miss them, all of their very different characters and maybe some day I may just bump into one of the little treasures, I doubt they will remember me though. My confidence grew and my timing in the lessons improved but as always there will be tons more to learn. On to key stage two...but I'll have my much needed holiday first ;)

Driving Lessons:

On a slightly different note, I started up my driving lessons again and the lesson went on for an hour. I was nervous and I thought I had forgotton everything but as I began driving it fell back into place, not everything but most things which I am grateful for. I need to do my theory test soon.

Whirlpool Galaxy

LOOK WHAT GOD MADE

and right at the heart of the billions of lightyears away whirlpool galaxy is a cross :)

AMAZING

Now every time I look up to the stars I will think to myself it is undescrible how great our God is.

We are not even a tiny speck in this beautiful world that God made but he still sent his own son to die for us, I don't know about you but that makes me feel special and loved and sorry for when I underestimate God's power.

If you haven't watched Louis Giglio's talks..I highly recommend you do! It deffo puts things into perspective.