A once upon a time . . . Birthday

 Hey,

I know it’s been like forever since I have posted, but I have been busy starting my work experience, that I am loving, and trying to pass these stupid tests so I can get into my course, to study teaching in September, which I have now actually got a tutor to help me. I actually had my first session with her today which was great. I now know that I need to work on: methods that will help me work out the maths faster; I need to practice on recognising where punctuation should be; important information in comprehension and noticing what the question is asking me to do. However, let’s forget about all of that as this post has absolutely nothing to do with stupid, boring, annoying revision, and whatever other words that could be used, I am sure there are loads but listing them would take forever.

This post is actually about my birthday party; well you could say mine and my sisters. I am sure that in an earlier post, I spoke about all the birthday’s I had coming up such as mine and my sister’s, which are a day apart near the end of June.

This party was a Barbeque where you came dressed as your favourite Disney character and then a sleepover afterwards with a Disney marathon included. Two of my friends actually ended up cancelling because one was ill and the other got called into work, in London, last minute so it ended up being my family and one of my best friends which was great, especially since my aunt and cousin drove down to spend the weekend, and a bit more as my cousin is being an interior designer for us as we are planning to fix up the house a bit.

Anyway, back to the party. For this event, I was obviously Snow White as, if you know me you would know that ever since I was little my family would call me ‘their Snow White’ since when I was younger I have rose coloured cheeks, pale skin and was born with black hair which I have recently dyed back. My sister was little Red Riding Hood, I know not really Disney, but it is a fairy tale so who cares, it’s what she wanted to dress as. Mum wore a Disney T-shirt and at one point in the evening put on the ‘Mad Hatter’ hat which was actually made as part of my A2 photography work as I did a project on fairy tales. My best friend, Emi was Tinkerbelle, well a wingless version, but she looked great; she even had green glitter on her face as fairy dust.

Now the Barbeque was amazing! Dad did the cooking of all the meat and I had baked all the confectioneries as well as the birthday cake. I did have some help with the cookies from my sister, who also made pizza for a snack before the BBQ and bread for brunch in the morning.

After everyone had finished our food we stayed outside and talked. We also had a gap between the meal and desserts where we opened presents and Maria, my cousin, arrived, as she had to drive down after finishing work at 5ish.

When it came to the evening and time to go to sleep, well bed maybe not sleep, we did what I usually do when Emi comes around for one of our marathon sleepovers. This is that I get all: the sleeping bags; duvets; pillows and cushions, then put them in the lounge to make a huge comfy floor to sleep on but obviously a duvet or sleeping bag to sleep with as well. We (me, Emi, Maria and Nicola) got settled down for the Disney marathon that were basically all the traditional ones like Beauty and the Beast & Bambi, but some new were like Frozen & Tangled. This involved getting the old videos out from when I was little to watch the traditional ones. We did find out that the ‘Snow White’ video doesn’t work which was disappointing, but oh well, it was still loads of fun.

Before the actual barbeque started we sat outside in the garden and did some colouring in of different Disney films, with mini pizzas, Nicola had made, as a snack to eat. It was so much fun and I thoroughly enjoyed myself and am glad the weather was good for this day.

Thanks for reading,

I hope you enjoyed it,

Please use the contact box for comments or questions.

Amy x

Decorating Biscuits

Hey,

Today at rainbows we had a change of plans as for some reason the guide dogs couldn’t come in as originally planned, so we went with decorating biscuits and who doesn’t love that.

So, like I said, they decorated biscuits which involved me and a mum, who was a volunteer for this week’s meeting, making icing sugar in 4 different bowls, one for each table. Then helping them spread the icing and covering the biscuits in sprinkles and stars. This obviously meant a lot of clearing to do afterwards but oh well they enjoyed themselves and so did I.

Once everyone had finished we played a game with them where is groups they took it in turns, in the group, to run to the other side of the room and pick up a piece of a puzzle, however it would have to be of the colour of your team (on the other side of the piece), and the game would end when one team has completed the puzzle. While they played this game, I was in the kitchen washing up the bowls and cutlery.

To finish we stood and did show and tell which we were unable to do at the beginning of this week’s meeting and then we sang the closing song before making sure each rainbow had what they came with as well as the biscuits.

Once the meeting was over, I cleaned the tables before walking home, which was quite nice as the lovely yet odd weather we had been having recently. I also met and spoke to two of my friends as well as being wished happy birthday for tomorrow, on my way home which was nice. I also met a swan who look beautiful.

Again, I have no pictures but this time it’s my fault as I forgot to take any photos. Sorry about that.

Thanks for reading

Any comments or questions please use the contact box

Amy x

Carrying the Cross

Hey,

The service was started in a moment of silence to think about those who were affected by the Grenfell fire; those who have lost loved ones, those who are recovering from injuries, those who are risking their lives to save others. However, through this tragedy a great message of hope as presented itself through the community that have come to help those affected.

We send prayer to those who have lost love ones, people in hospital, the carers helping them, prayer that homes will be available soon, and prayer for God to comfort them. Gill thought of this verse in relation to this tragedy.

1 Peter 3:14

“But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats, do not be frightened.’”

The talk this week was spoken by Kiran, who spoke briefly about multi-culturism and it’s definition, that is culture value and how not one culture as the right to think it is better than the other. Kiran spoke about how he personally didn’t believe in multiculturism as he believes that everything is about family. I relate to this by looking at not just our individual families but also how we are all one big family as we are all children of God.

The reading for this service is a continuation from the verse Gill shared with us through prayer for the fire tragedy. This is . . .

1 Peter 3:14-16

“But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats, do not be frightened. But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have, But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

Psalms 46:1-5

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most high dwells. Gods is within her, she will not fall; God will help her break of day.”

It is not difficult to talk and start conversations with those of a God culture as they share our belief in God, but you need to remember that we live in a multi-cultural country so there are many different cultures and beliefs. We need to reach out to these cultures, well really reach out and spread the word of God to those people, whatever they believe.

2 Corinthians 6:1-2

“As God’s fellow workers we urge you not receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, ‘In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.”

In the Bible, there are many people such as the Hebrews and Jews who can be examples for us to understand and learn what Jesus teaches us and who he is, but also how we should act to become more like him for he is our salvation.

What should we cling to?

1 Kings 1:50-52

“But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. Then Solomon was told ‘Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is clinging to the horns of the altar He says ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’ Solomon replied ‘If he shows himself to be worthy, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.’”

We carry the cross with us as God works through us and delivers us from evil so that we do not fall into temptation of evil.

Exodus 30:10

“Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on it horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to come. It is most holy to the Lord.”

God will forgive us no matter what just confess your sins to him as Jesus died on the cross for this very reason and we carry him with us. When talking about the cross I feel that we could be talking about the physical cross that Jesus carried but you could also be talking about Jesus, as the cross is a good symbolism for Jesus as well as belief in God.

He is the beginning to the end as God made the choice to intervene by choosing to send his only son down to earth and to live with us and our weaknesses. Jesus went from a safe place to a place full of weaknesses but he still came and sacrificed himself for our sins but mainly for each and everyone of his children. You are the father’s sons and daughters

When writing this blog post a verse was showed to me which I would like to share with you. This verse was . . .

2 Corinthians 6:18

"I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

Kiran believes God wants to be our father but he wants us to carry to cross with him. To die with him and to then rise with him.

Prayer

The prayers this week mainly focused on the tragedy of the Grenfell tower fire but also some general prayers about giving the leaders wisdom to guide them in leadership of our country, as well as healing for those who are ill and are suffering.

After the prayers, we sang ‘Be thou my vision’ which I felt linked well with the prayers as they were about healing and wisdom. This song is inspirational and demonstrates that God is always with us.

Songs

Undignified (I will dance)

This is a new and energetic song that I actually enjoyed and liked.

This I believe (The Creed)

This is an old hymn that is really emotional.

Jesus, All for Jesus

I feel this song is about bringing yourself closer to Jesus by giving yourself to him.

Thanks for reading,

Any questions or comments please use the contact box

Amy x