Welcome back to blogging?

I was recently asked by a close friend to start blogging again. It is something I've been considering for a while but the busyness of life and the challenge of what to write has kept me away. There are certainly several 'controversial' topics I'd like to talk about, but the knock-on effects of those are always a challenge and the question remains of what is the best forum for such discussions. I've not yet made my mind up on whether or not to discuss them, and over the next few weeks I'm going to put a lot of thought into them and will come to a decision. But for now, I should probably update you on my life!

I'm currently in the heaviest part of my masters! (LLM Human Rights Law at The University of Nottingham! Exciting!) I have, since the beginning of March, written two essays of 4,500 words (roughly), and have another three to do before the 17th May! (Wah!!) On top of that I have an exam on the 1st May (worth 100% of a full-year module!) and one on the 7th May. So, life is certainly not pressure-free. It's also my birthday on the 4th, and there are some major social events happening on May bank-holiday in Aber that I'd love to go to, but I really doubt I'm going to have the time!

Although life is busy, I'm feeling really quite relaxed and at peace about it - I know God has it all in control! :) Woop for Jesus! It's so freeing to be able to sit back and know that it's all in His hands. The burden is lifted and I'm not panicking anywhere near as much as I was a few months ago!

I've settled in much more to my mum's house now too. Its a really beautiful place and my room, despite not being big, is beautiful. (and very girly). The only downside is that it is 45mins (with no traffic) from uni. This is a real pain when all I need to do is pop in to collect some books. Especially as the uni has a silly system of only giving out the same student parking permits to those that live miiillleeesss away that they give to student with their cars on campus - which means I have the joy of driving for what feels like forever, then walking up a hill lugging masses of books, my lunch, my dinner, a laptop, etc... pah! (You can tell this has been a cause of great frustration!) This is only made more annoying because staff that live close by can park right by the doors - unjust or what!?!

Tom and I have managed to see each other roughly once every two weeks which is great. Although when we have to stretch it to 3 weeks its much harder - 2.5 weeks is definitely my limit! We've also been able to see some of our really good friends a lot since we moved to the midlands which is really good as we had found really hard getting to see them whilst living in Aber because of the time it took to get there and Tom's work commitments. They've had a beautiful little girl this year and it has been great fun playing with her :) It's been especially good for me as I've had a fear of children (especially babies) for a good few years now so it's wonderful being able to deal with those fears and put them away :) Praise God!

I've also been going to a really great church in the centre of Nottingham - I'll post another post up about Gracechurch soon as I've been waffling for too long now and really should be writing an essay! I'm writing this one on philosophical arguments for why abortion and killing and eating unwanted children is wrong! Interesting, I know! (Follow the link for a wiki explanation!)

Food for thought...

The world is, and always will be, full of those who desire to do evil. The key is not to stop them existing, but to limit the harm they do...

Aberystwyth Comes to an End...

These past three years have been amazing and have meant so much to me... Let's take a walk through my time at Uni.

First Year

First year brought the joy of a new place, new people and lots of excitement...

'Anti-Halloween Party' (for scaredy-cats)

The St.Mikes' Ball

CU House Party

Whilst I really enjoyed moving to Aber, didn't find moving away from home too hard, and thoroughly enjoyed making new friends and having a new adventure, November 2009 saw my family break up. 

After a difficult Christmas I was thrown into depression. All I can say is a massive thank you to everyone that stuck with me and showed me such amazing love and support over the year! Especially to the amazing Hannah Sweeney... 

and my fantastic boyfriend, Tom Lott...

Thankfully, through His love and grace, God broke my depression in June 2009!

Second Year

Second year was full of change and the joys of cracking down a little bit more with work and growing closer to different people... now for the pictures!

Isaac, Toby, Laura and Me

Me and Laura

Phil, Ben, and Mark - Ali's birthday celebration

Laura and I go to Marseilles

Harry, Dan and Tom playing FIFA

Josh, Tom, Rachel and I welcome the summer with a walk along the sea-front

Third Year

So, third year saw me become a bit more of a hermit :P  I really put a considerable more amount of time and effort into doing my work, but I have had so much fun! I've learnt so much and thoroughly enjoyed the time spent with such amazing friends! So, here comes another year in photos...

Katie

Isaac eating cake off the floor!

Amy and Amy

Laughter in the house with Kirsty, Jo and Chris

Surprise!! Kirsty's 21st

Isaac and Toby in the SUN!

Me and Tom on my 21st

J-Wo!

 

So now all that is left to do is to say thank you to all the amazing people that have made my time at Aber what it has been. 

Thank you so much to all my friends for providing so much fun and laughter over the past three years! It's been a joy :)

And a massive thank you to St.Mikes (both staff and the congregation) for growing with me and encouraging me in my walk with God and being a support in times of hardship. 

Bye bye Aberystwyth... 

Facebook privacy settings and 'Girls Around You'

Whilst procrastinating today I came across this blog post  'iPhone App contributes to trafficking?'.

It talks about an app, now removed from the iTunes Store, called 'Girls Around You'. This app give the user details of women near them, giving them their location and any facebook details available. The post above highlights that, although this app is now removed there are likely other ones like it and will probably be more in the future.

It is really important that girls keep their Facebook, Google+ etc. information on private - you don't know what information you're sending and to whom!

I'm sorry for not posting much recently. It is now the end of my final year and I have just completed and handed in my dissertation. I will be posting more in the near future!

Peace pressure

Pressures are piling up at the moment! 


The term is slowly coming to an end and deadlines are starting to appear - I handed one essay in yesterday, have another to hand in next week, and then dissertatiooonnn!! 


I've been quite stressed recently, hence not updating my blog, but here is a quote to keep you going.


'Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.'
                                                                                                                      - UNESCO Constitution

I think that it is such a beautiful mantra. Let's challenge ourselves to build the defences of peace in our minds and help encourage them in the minds of those around us. 


Blessings to you all!

Pintrest

Several of my housemates have had a 'Pintrest' for a while but I figured that as I already have a blog, am on Facebook, and have a Twitter account that I shouldn't really get another 'page'. 

I gave in

I was sat in the lounge the other day and Sarah was showing us her Pintrest page which she has used to 'pin' wedding ideas on. I then looked through Kirsty's and decided that I did want one but that I'd only use it a little and would definitely NOT put any wedding things on...

I gave in... although, not too badly! I am resisting, its just some people's 'Pins' are so pretty!! :) 

Here is my latest 'Pin':

I just though it was so beautiful... and of course so true! Just to clarify... it is a reference to God's love for us... see verses such as Hosea 2:19, Deuteronomy 4:24, and so many more!

As you can see though, I haven't gone crazy on 'pinning' wedding things, with only 3 vaguely related 'pins'... Which is good, especially as a girl! It has been really funny looking at friend's pages and noting just how many have a 'board' dedicated to weddings... and so many are single! Ah, girls! :)

I've had much more fun looking at ideas for a home! :) 

Please, take a look at my 'pintrest' page :) 

Search me and know me

I read this last night and was just struck by the beauty of it.


O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain.
Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!

(Psalm 139 ESV)