CHRISTmas

Christmas in England...what more could one want? How about spending it in snowy covered Bradford...with a lovely family, including a 2 year old and a 3 year old. And maybe eating a lot of sweets and puddings, going sledding, making snowmen, playing games and games, reading many a books, attending a christingle service, and top it all off with a beautiful walk through the snow covered woods! Seriously, I had a wonderful Christmas...and now my big present has arrived...my mum and sister are here! They just landed 4 hours ago and came directly to church with me to meet my family and friends there. Then they crashed...and I am anxiously awaiting their waking up!

Today in church we were reminded of the upcoming celebration of a new year and the goals that often come along with that. When asked to think of goals I had in 2009...I think all that came to mind was figuring out what I was going to do next and hopefully be overseas doing volunteer work...well that seemed to have happened. But then we were asked to think of some new goals...and were told of really great advice on how to make spiritual goals. The number one important thing to do when making any goals...PRAY. How simple that sounds, yet how often forgotten.

I am unsure now of my goals for 2010. As our preacher this morning said...we must first shed our distractions, get rid of the things that hold us back from spiritual closenes...peel away our "potatoe skins", things we should not eat. So I will continue to pray for those things to leave and God's desires to show up and lead me.

I thank all of you for your presence in my life and pray for you. I do hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoy this holiday season. May there be peace, joy, laughter and blessings in each of your lives. Love to you all.

AmandaRuthe.

Oh December!

Happy Advent everyone! Sorry I have not been the best at updating my blog...life has been busy and full of surprises around here! To share some things I have been up to...first, Manchester is becoming more and more decorated for Christmas. It is absolutely beautiful! I do loooove Christmas and am really embracing it in England. I went with a family to an outside ice skating rink downtown Man. and it was brilliant. One of my favourite Sunday's I would have to say! We went ice skating for a while, then went to the Christmas Markets, which are like tons and tons of tiny stands that sell Christmas food, Christmas crafts, presents, etc. If you have been to Nordic Fest, it is similar in that the cute little houses and booths look alike, but just a massive amount of them. And thousands and thousand of people. It was hard to even walk! But it was great fun. Then we went back to their house and had a huge Sunday Roast...which is an English traditional meal on Sunday evenings. Then we spent the rest of the night singing karaoke, watching X Factor (like American Idol) and playing guitar/piano/wii. It was a lovely day. I also went to a pantomime the other day. It is a very English play..where the audience is very much included and the cast interacts with us quite a bit. I was called out upon...and very embarrassed...they were calling out for an Amanda that was in the audience..and I was sure it was someone else. But then they said, "Amanda, here from the USA...?" So of course I knew it was me and had to give a wave and everyone turned to look...not my cup of tea! Ha. Speaking of cups of tea..I am still downing tea about 5 cups a day! I don't know what I would do without it. It seems to be the reliever of all stress and business..if you are in a hurry and have a lot to do, then you sit and have tea to relax and get that energy back. I am so glad I have become a "tea person." We are now working on our nativity play. So Friday's are no longer our normal kids clubs anymore, it is all of the kids clubs together rehearsing. It was great fun because for the older two groups, Sarah and I wrote the sketch that they are going to perform. I loooved doing that and I hope it turns out alright, the kids seem to enjoy it. It is based around the X factor (American Idol type thing again). Let me pause here and tell you all the sad sad story of X Factor...it was the finale last night...and my main man, Olly, did not win. I was very sad about it...I know its lame..but oh so true! Ha. Right when we found out, Ian said "Ok Im going to get get Amanda some chocolate" and we all ate a bunch of chocolate. I recovered quite quickly. Okay back to the Nativity...we have one more rehearsal this Friday and then the performance on Sunday! Looking forward to that! One last piece of news...I had my first basketball clinic yesterday. Unfortunately, the stomach bug has been going around so we lost quite a few kids to that so had a fairly small group to work with but it was so much fun! Finally got to play ball again and the kids seemed to really like it! We did drills and scrimmaged, played some other games and got to know a few new faces that will hopefully come to more things! So I think overall it was successful. I thank God for that and His work through that clinic. That is all the news I have for now. I do hope that you are all well and enjoying the cold, crisp, December air. No snow here...just rain...and rain. But it is still beautiful and kind of feels like December! Oh very very exciting news!! My mom and sister Kelly are arriving here for a visit on the 27th of December! So I am looking forward to see them and spending some QT with them...as well as going to Ireland with them! So excited. Ok. Lots of love to you all. Peace be with you.
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