Catch Up

It's raining outside and I have a lot of thoughts (as per).

The past few weeks have been super busy! I've had a lot of time to be deep and have talked until I don't know what I'm talking about, so I'm just going to write about what I've been up to...

I got home on the 15th June. It still feels like about 2 days ago. Firstly, the first week I was home, I did nothing except sit outside. Emma and I got ridiculously burnt (Anna was somehow spared), and now anyone who sees me, reminds me that I AM SO TANNED. Well, a lot more tanned than I normally am. And it took a lot of peeling and aloe vera to get here. Moral of the story: always reapply sun cream.

Still with an offensive glow to my red and white skin, I managed to scobe a lift up to Glenarm so I could volunteer at Catalyst. I LOVED IT. May the Lord bless the Lisburn Cathedral/Xplore girls who adopted me into their deluxe glamping tent. Made my weekend. It was also obviously great to camp with people in my age group, and hear speakers who were specifically speaking to young adults. Definitely learnt about how God's grace and goodness follows me even into the awkward 20s. I met a lot of good people who are wiser than me, and scobed another lift home (yes, pattern forming, no shame). It's good to make friends by accident.

By the time I got home from Catalyst I was TOO PSYCHED for Summer Madness to do much, but I did squeeze in a trip to Belfast with the lovely Aislinn so we could meet Lianne for coffee (Avoca, of course). I am so bad at catching up with people (hence the blog; I am hoping this will become a dialogue, rather than me telling the world about my life...). I also spent the end half of that week trying to make my room better. I've been feeling a bit mnurgh with it- I've now made a lot more space, and want to paint/decoupage all my furniture. Photos may or may not follow :P

MADNESS

Summer Madness was a big deal for me. As I said in my last post, last year was really hard. I basically just slept the whole time even though I was supposed to be leading some youths. I tried though! This year I think I expected to suddenly be able to be awake like 24 hours a day. This did not happen and it was so hard not to be grumpy! But I've always been like that... I just needed to get over it! Our youth group completely lived up to my expectations though; I think they are fantastic, even though they woke me up at half 7 in the morning... I just love Summer Madness so much though; this was my 9th year and to see the young people enjoy it as well is just lovely. Plus, I actually got loads from all the talks and seminars as well! God is so good. That's all I can say without this officially becoming a deep post.

I got home on Tuesday afternoon, had a shower, and went to the airport to pick up Hannah and Jenni! My love for them outweighed my tiredness...! I had a fabulous time showing them this lovely island. I really love home. On Wednesday, I took them to Love and Death for lunch in Belfast (£5 lunch jaaaaa), then we went to the Titanic Museum which is actually really great! I hate history but I had fun. Then obvs ended the day in the Dock cafe. The next day, I pretty much got the girls lost trying to find quirky shops. But I like that I know Belfast pretty well, but a few streets along I just don't know. We ate Boojum at City Hall (black beans and seagulls everywhere) and had a classic Clements! When we got home, my sister was watching this weird programme called Jesus Town USA. Look it up. Can't explain how weird it was. Chloe and Kerri came round; they are such banter and it's really cute to see my friends from both countries meet!

On Friday we got up early to go to Dublin, oh my days my feet hurt so much by then but we had a good wander around.

At the weekend my dear mother was free to drive us everywhere! So we took the long way to the Giant's Causeway, which is one of my favourite places, and had Morelli's in Portstewart. Hannah and I had parma violet ice cream- makes me really want to be Wayne Thiebaud and paint sweets and cakes and pretend I'm constantly in the sunshine! But then I just ate the ice cream and forgot... classic me.

So Han and Jen left yesterday after church and a wee walk round Hillsborough; we managed to avoid bad weather pretty much the whole time they were here which is a miracle! But sad they are gone, especially because we are going to be apart for ages and ages!

We went to Newcastle too...

Anyway, life goes on and I have been majorly treated while they were here! Plus my mum took me and my brother to Horatio Todd's last night ha!

Today is my first lie-in day, plus a sweet reunion with the older, but equally good Laura. Definitely need to meet up with everyone I know ever (offers welcome), seeing as I have a
month and a half til I go to Germany...!

Wishing everyone a happy week :)