TAKE THAT!

I am currently the happiest girl on the planet! After a long and painful 5 hour wait, Irish ticketmaster has saved the day by finally letting me book tickets for the Take That 2011 tour. OH YES! And if seeing Gary Barlow isn't enough - which it obviously is - Robbie Williams is back! :D

However, slight problem. I thought I was booking the tickets at Manchester City's ground, but once I had submitted the contact details and credit card details, I realised I'd booked to see them in Sunderland! HAHA. I have no clue where that is, but apparently its a good 4+ hours away - woops! But thankfully, after being told off, we noticed that it was in the May half term so we can train it up. And now we have a happy bunch of girls! 

Last years tour was AMAZING. This one, I know, will only be better!

So Gary, Jason, Mark, Howard and Robbie ...

HERE WE MOST DEFINITELY COME! :)))

A Worth of Sacrifice...

 

A rambling summary to half term so far...

After 8 weeks into year 13, we are now half way into half term - most definitely a much needed week off. Since I've not started any revision or essays, my week off seems to be pretty relaxed so far, although I'm feeling completely sleep deprived. A couple of months back an early night for me would be midnight/one o'clock, but nowadays a late night for me is eleven - I think I'm definitely getting old!

Cinema

My holiday has been very much cinema filled. I went to social network last week which I enjoyed, but you know a films not going to be Award-winning when 13 people walk out of its cinema viewing. I understand why people didn't enjoy it because its about how facebook came about - just slightly dramatised - and not a lot really happens throughout so I wouldn't go and buy it on DVD. It completely ruined Justin Timberlake - who plays a bad guy - for me. Not attractive in the slightest. He should've bust a move somewhere in the film too - might have made people stay!

Then, yesterday I went to see Paranormal Activity 2 with girls from college. Despite hating the first one, I thought I would go as I was told it would be better - which it was, but thats not really a difficult achievement. A couple of jumpy moments, but overall it was pretty poor and boring. So much so, I nearly fell asleep. Most of my excitement from that night came from the fact that I got into a 15 certificated film without being ID'd (many would say this isn't an achievement, but despite me being 18 next month, I don't think I've ever been to a 15 film without having to show proof of my age. I must be growing up! HA). However, the girls loved it and were completely freaked out saying it 'messed with their head'. Sooo, maybe I just didn't understand it properly? :P

Footy

Other than that, I've not really done alot. I went to watch Franco Baresi X1 vs All-stars at The Alex (Gresty Road) on Sunday between church. It was freezing cold, and Baresi's team kicked butt. Was definitely a laugh to see some of the All-stars attempts to play. It would be safe to say, they put on an entertaining performance.

All Stars

Franco Baresi XI

Piers Morgan's Life Stories

Cheryl Cole. What a woman.

Saturday night, along with over 7 million other viewers, I was well and truly glued to my TV when Piers Morgan's Life Stories came on. With Cheryl Cole, a person I completely admire, as a guest, I really wasn't going to miss!
Listening to her interview and watching the genuine strength she has after all she's been through was amazing. Malaria, a divorce, negative press ... and still fighting! Ah, if you haven't noticed, I love the woman - even if she did put Cher through to the finals on the X Factor. Fume!

Something i've never understood is why footballers, despite it being morally wrong, cheat on their beautiful wives? Eurgh, it makes me so angry. Ashley cole, is most definitely, a stupid man!

Joshua Radin Gig

On Sunday evening, as part of my best friends birthday present, I took her to Manchester Academy where we had the beautiful privilege of seeing Joshua Radin for the 3rd time. If there was one man in the world I could choose to marry, it would most definitely be this man! 

He was supported by the Canadian Justin Nozuka and Rumer who were also good - particularly Justin. Just brilliant.

If you're not a Joshua Radin fan, I have lost complete respect for you! Ha. His new album 'Rock & the Tide' came out the other day and has been the only thing to be playing on my ipod since it came out. Definitely recommend!

Overall, Amazing gig, gorgeous voice and a beautiful man!

"I will rise" by Chris Tomlin.

As you can tell, I love music. I would apologise for the amount of songs I blog up on here, but I'm not going to because they are such beautiful songs.

'Jesus has overcome,
And the grave is overwhelmed.
The victory is won.'

An eventful week.

As the title of this post suggests, due to much clumsiness, this week has been somewhat eventful. It started on Tuesday really when I was walking home from school at lunch time. I walked via town and was texting whilst walking. Then I had the privilege of publicly humiliating myself by walking into a lamppost, leaving an egg shaped bump on the top of my head. So painful!

And as if that wasn't enough. I came home and found a broken cheese grater on the kitchen surface. Thinking I was being helpful, I decided to try and fix it. Whilst trying to attach the plastic handle back to the metal grater, the metal part slipped and slid straight into my index finger on my left hand. To say it was bleeding would be an understatement. I never knew a person had so much blood in their finger! So after nearly fainting, I saw that my skin was half hanging off my finger and I'd cut it open. This left me in a panic and a trip to the surgery, where i was told my finger was too swollen to stitch up, so I had to wait. So I'm currently doing that - waiting with a doc off bandage on my finger for the swelling to go down. Not fun! :(

Then to think my week couldn't get much worse. Wednesday brought me a trip to the dentist - I needed a filling replacing after knocking it at netball. My appointment, however, was made with a student who was training to be a dentist, who spent half my appointment taking photos on her digital camera of my mouth to show her university what she was doing. So a usual 15 minute job turned into an hour and a half's visit!

Despite such a rubbish few days, my week was brought to a lovely close at YP tonight. We had a few games - including dodgeball, which our team obviously won - then it finished with a short talk on Jesus being the light of the world. It was so good to sit down and ponder on what Jesus has done for us; how through his grace and love, He came as a light to save us from this cruel and dark world. What a loving God we have!

 

'When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 

"I am the light of the world. 

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, 

but will have the light of life."'

 (John 8:12) 

 

Chris Tomlin; 'Our God.'

 

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He alos justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" 

- Romans 8:28-31

I ♥ Wales

It was so lovely to be able to make the trip down to South Wales, where I was able to attend the EMW South Wales Rally, see loads of friends from camps and Aber, and also visit my best friend and people from my old church. It was such a blessed weekend with quality teaching, which included a seminar on how we are to be lights shining in this dark world and a sound sunday message on Psalm 139. 

Having spent almost 6 years of my life in Port Talbot, the place and the people have definitely had a massive impact on my life. After almost 2 years of not visiting, it was a little treat to be able to travel down again. Lots of laughs and girly catch ups were had, and it has to be said ... I definitely miss the place!

:)

THANK GOODNESS.

After much stress and worry, my UCAS application form is finally complete and sent off! Having grown huge amounts of hatred towards the UCAS website, whilst everybody is still stressing about personal statements, I can officially relax, leaving my application in the hands of school and the 5 following places:

• Nottingham Trent University.
• Liverpool John Moores University.
• Leeds Metropolitan University.
• University of Surrey.
• Cardiff University. 

Now the only worry I have is whether I get accepted.
oh. and exams.

EEPS!

Joe Jonas and Josh

 

hmms...

same people?

Dad's birthday ...

If you know my dad, you'll know that he hates celebrating birthdays. But as it was his birthday this weekend, and we all wanted to do something, he took us all (bar our josh, who's at uni) to Wetherspoons for breakfast. It was so lovely to go out and spend time together like old times.

My dad is one of the most amazing people in my life. Some would describe me a bit of a daddys girl - which I suppose is quite true! We've been through some difficult times as a family over the years, but no matter what happens, and no matter how far apart we are, I know I'll always be thankful to my Heavenly Father for giving me a dad who loves and cares for me so much :')

^'How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, 

that we should be called children of God! 

And that is what we are! 

The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.'

- 1 John 3:1. 

Be Unto Your Name.

We are the broken

You are the Healer

Jesus Redeemer

Mighty to save.

Over the past week I have had to say a bundle of goodbyes to so many people. My friend Nashra has moved back to Slough, Lisa back to Gibralta, Abi has gone to Nigeria for 8 months, Coxy has gone to Australia for a year ... then everybodys off to Uni. As cheesy as it sounds, saying goodbye to these people has made me realise how some people can have such an impact on your life, and boy, I'm going to miss them all millions.

As part of a goodbye to a few of the people going, we went round my friend Tasha's for a little gathering. It was a really good night and lovely to be able to catch up with people who I hadn't seen too much over Summer, and goodbye to other people. But heres some lovely, and some horrible, pictures of some beautiful people from the night:

Karl Marx, he will rock you!

As part of A Level Sociology, we were asked to compose a song which would help us remember the marxist theory. We each created a verse or two each, to fit into the tune of 'We will rock you', by Queen. Then we combined the song together, and although a lot of the verses make no sense, i thought we did a super dupe job! so good, I think I should consider taking up music combined with sociology (something uni's don't do but should do!) But this is what we came up with:

Karl Marx was a Ger-man, bright man,

Born in 1818 to a Jewish fam.

He had a beard on his face

He ran the Marxist race,

Advocating communism all over the place.

Karl Marx lead the Marxists.

Karl Marx lead the Marxists.

Dialectic movement is a struggle, fight,

Growing in the street creating a collision

It starts again,

It creates contradictions over a hen,

Wavin' your Utopia all over the place.

Karl Marx lead the Marxists.

Karl Marx lead the Marxists.

Alienation is a Marxist concept

Where the workers will inevitabley lose control

of their lives and labour.

The rich aint a good neighbour;

I'm suprised the poor aint tried to hit them with a light saber.

Karl Marx lead the Marxists.

Karl Marx lead the Marxists.

(Rap)

Marx said 'the rich become richer.'

How the poor gonna change this picture?

They're gonna take over, lead a revolution

To stop the Bourgeoisie pollution.

Karl Marx lead the Marxists.

Karl Marx lead the Marxists.

Karl Marx mainly looked at the rich and poor

Everybody in the middle he did ignore

The rich benefited

And the poor they oppress

Leading them into false consciousness.

Karl Marx, he will rock you! (Rock you, Baby!)

Karl Marx, he will rock you!

The youtube video could possibly follow - dancing with cotton wool beards, gold chains and baseball caps. Embarrassing but too funny!

C.S Lewis

  

'I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: 

not only because I see it, 

but because by it I see everything else.'

The Power of the Cross

I love the lyrics of this song:

Oh, to see the dawn,
Of the darkest day,
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then,
Nailed to a cross of wood.

This, the power of the cross;
Christ became sin for us.
Took the blame, bore the wrath -
We stand forgiven at the cross. 
 
Oh, to see the pain,
Written on the face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Every bitter thought,
Every evil deed,
Crowning Your bloodstained brow. 
 

This, the power of the cross;
Christ became sin for us.
Took the blame, bore the wrath -
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Now the daylight flees,
Now the ground beneath,
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life,
'Finished!' the victory cry.
  
This, the power of the cross;
Christ became sin for us.
Took the blame, bore the wrath -
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see my name,
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death,
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

This, the power of the cross;
Son of God - slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

(Keith and Kristyn Getty) 

There is no such thing as mission impossible for my Saviour ...

Our morning service was taken by Ste Barlow, and we were looking at Luke 19:1-10. The message he brought to us really struck me. Particularly the fact that our God is a saving God who can achieve the impossible!

'But he said, 

"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.'

- Luke 18:27.

Zacchaeus was a man who was despised by many. He was a rebellious man; a selfish man; a materialistic man. He had few friends and his family disowned him. He was a low life and could only associate with other tax collectors. Many people would have seen Zacchaeus' as a man who had such a hardened heart that there was no chance he could be saved. But we see that Jesus reached out to Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was a man who responded to Jesus' calling.

This made me realise that there are so many of my friends who I have often thought 'it is impossible to get the message of Jesus through to them.' But God works the impossible and saves lives - even saves those who we do not expect. Sharing the gospel is something that I often find challenging, but it is so important that we live as lights shining for Jesus in this dark world, in the hope that people see Jesus through us. 

How great is our God! :)

'How do you know whether you are on of the Good Shepherds flock?

You will not only hear the Shepherds call in your heart,

but you will respond positively and follow Him.'

'Love the Lord your God:

• with all your heart
• with all your soul  
• with all your mind
• with all your strength.'

- Mark 12:30

Back 2 School ...

Well it was the first day of year 13 today, which was a bit rubbish, I suppose. Summer holidays seem to fly by far too quickly and essay writing always seems to come around far too soon! But it's the final year of college and I'm determined to make it a good one. I'm going to work my butt off, but make the most of it and enjoy it while it lasts :)

I woke up and got ready this morning, then I went to meet Luce for our usual 40 minute walk to school. After a whole summer of being a lazy so and so, walking to school - instead of catching the bus - was a bad move. To my embarrassment, I got a stitch by the time we reached half way! Then to top it all off, despite leaving ten minutes earlier than usual to meet the newly timetabled 8:30 start, we still managed to be late ... so late we didn't even make it on time for the old 8:40 start. Thankfully the morning was just a doss about!

New timetables. Sociology, English and History - thankfully only three subjects to focus on. 19 hours worth of frees. And no more Spanish lessons ¡Me encanta mucho! Looking up to be a good year except for one thing ...

... Nashra, one of my nearest and dearest, is moving back to Slough. We found out that whilst it was our first day of year 13, it was Nash's last. So sociology lessons will officially lose the class clown, Slough will take back their super lovely girly, and I will most definitely be without one of my best friends from this past year. So Slough better be ready for millions of visits from me over the next year! :')

Lu, myself and Nashra.

Anyway... enough blogging from me for one day. I have 2 essays, 2 presentations and a large number of history questions that I should've completed over the holidays, in for tomorrow. eeeps! Great start to the new year :/

'Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. 

Each day has enough trouble of its own.'

- Matthew 6:34

Why get rid of good TV?

Friends has gone, Big Brothers finishing and it was the final episode of 'The Bill' last night - I swear TV is deliberately axing all of my favorite programmes?! 

I am absolutely gutted. I recorded the final episode of 'The Bill' and watched it today. I'm not going to lie, as sad as it sounds, I cried a river through Jack's final speech. Beautiful but emotional. How on earth am I going to fill that hour every week now?

One summer, so much to say ...

Summer 2010 could probably be one of the best summers yet. 

HBC 2010;

The first few weeks were a bit of a bore, but we managed to make our way up to the week of our "By the Seaside" themed Holiday Bible Club (HBC). Every year our church runs a 3 day club for children in the local area to come along, play games, sing songs and listen to daily Bible stories - which this year were based around a "Sea of Galilee" theme. It was a real blessing to see around 60 enthusiastic children taking part in the week, and have the opportunity to share the gospel with them. Praise God for such an opportunity, and I pray that He would continue to work in the hearts of those children and parents.

ABERYSTWYTH;

 Another exciting week, and without a doubt my favourite week of summer, was spent at the Aber Conference. This week I learnt so many things about myself - I talk way too much, I'm not the brightest spark on the planet, geography is not a strength of mine, and I can actually be a tidy person after all! Lu (my best friend) and I have been set the challenge of learning the map of the world for when we all next meet up. After completely embarrassing ourselves with our lack of geographical knowledge at Aber, we've taken up the challenge ... splitting the map in half, of course. No way could we learn the whole thing on our own!

 So lu has the right side, and i have to learn the left 

(i think lu has more to learn though. oops! :P)

The whole seven days was a great opportunity to meet new people - and some lovely people they were! and to share fellowship with one another. We were talking in our flat one night about how weird it was that so many different people, from different places in the world, can gather together and have one amazing truth in common - the love of Jesus! It was kind of a very small glimpse of what heaven would be like ... only heaven will be a million times greater - and more!

Throughout the week there were various meetings and seminars that people could attend. Dale Ralph Davis took the morning services and the evening meetings were taken by various speakers. I found the week particularly challenging and felt I was brought so much closer to God. Although I was a Christian, I needed to ask myself, 'Is the life I am living worth Christ dying for?' I needed to be reminded of the love of God, and how we cannot ignore his word and live a life that is for us ... but we need to live a life that is all for Jesus. Christ died for me - a sinner who didn't deserve his grace, and we need to give ourselves completely to Him.

'For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die. But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

(Romans 5:6-8)'

V Festival;

It definitely felt so good to be reunited with my college friends after weeks of not seeing them over Summer. And what better way to do it than spend it with them at Weston Park, for V festival?!

The girls in this picture are some of the most amazing people I have ever met.

I love them to pieces.

  

Over the weekend, I managed to see a fair few acts such as:

Pixie Lott, Tinie Tempah (HE TOUCHED MY CHUBBY HANDS!), Jason Derulo, Kings of Leon, Scouting for Girls, Eliza Doolittle, Scouting for Girls, The Kooks, Joshua Radin, Example, Peter Andre, Florence and the Machine, Diana Vickers :|, Paolo Nutini, Gabriella Cilmi, Kasabian, The Prodigy, Shaun William Ryder (worst act I've EVER seen in my life, yet they replaced Cheryl Cole?) and the beautiful Chipmunk.

Despite the lack of showers and the mingin toilets, it was a BOSS weekend. Definitely up for it again next year!

Blackpool;

 To end the Summer, my beautiful mother took myself and my younger siblings down to Blackpool for 4 days. We had such a laugh - BANTER filled! and managed to get loads done, such as ...

Pleasure Beach

 (where we managed to get mum on a rollercoaster!)

Crazy Golf

(where mum won - somehow!) 

Visited Costa and the Harbour

Visited the beach 

Bowling Competition

(mum and boc 1 - 2 clo and nomes)

LOSERS!

WINNERS!

 Overall we had a super lovely few days and it was really good to be able to spend time together as a family - especially since we don't have time to do it an awful lot!

'The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.'

- Psalm 126:3

With God as our safe place, we will never be shaken.

I want to share a few verses from Psalm 62, a particular passage in the Bible which has really spoken to me over the past few years especially. I love that no matter what hardships we face, and any pain and upset that we come across in our lives, we can always turn to our Father in heaven. He is our refuge!

(1) 'Truly my soul silently waits for God;

From Him comes my salvation.

(2) He only is my rock and my salvation:

He is my defense;

I shall not be greatly moved.

...

(5) My soul, wait silently for God alone,

For my expectation is from Him.

(6) He only is my rock and my salvation;

He is my defense;

I shall not be moved.

(7) In God is my salvation and my glory;

The rock of my strength,

And my refuge, is in God.

(8) Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour our your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.'

Lets start again ...

After epically failing to keep an up to date blog with my best friend, I've decided I am going to reset myself the challenge of writing one. So many friends keep some amazing blogs - and I love reading them. I think it would only be right to join the world of blogging.

Sooo, fingers crossed this doesn't turn out to be one of those things I start but don't finish ....