Update

Hiya friends and family,
I am sorry I have been a little slow in the blog-writing...I will try to do better!

So I am only down to 3 months left here in the beautiful land of England. To some that may seem like a lot still, but I know how quick the 8 months have already flow by..and so 3 seems very short. I am definitely having mixed emotions about it all, thinking of this year coming to a close. It is scary, sad, exciting to see what is next, yet a part of me just wants to hold on to what I have here. I love this place and the people I now call my friends and family. Let me tell you a little bit of why I love them...
First there is Sarah, my supervisor and one of my good friends here. We do everything together when it comes to work. We ride to work together, work on our youth nights together, de-stress by punching and kicking each other at boxercise and quite often vent to each other. The other day, Sarah and I were setting up for one of our youth events and started singing a song (like ALWAYS). But this particular time it just hit me how unique it really is. We just started singing some song in harmony and it just makes me smile to think how good of friends we have become. I love being able to go to work and be myself, and sing and burp, joke around and express any difficulties or concerns I have. Thanks Sarah!!

Then there is my lovely little brother, Daniel. He is the most precious boy, always giving me cuddles and telling me he missed me. Today, after being gone for the weekend, he ran up the stairs and said, "Amanda, you are my best friend." He has said this to me before, but it is SOOO cute. And then he gave me a big cuddle (hug).

I unfortunately came down with tonsillitis...yes it was painful, but man o man, the care and concern my friends gave me was unbelievable. I went on holiday to visit some friends, and while there I received a call from one of my good friends. She was simply checking up on me, seeing if my medicine was working and if I was feeling better. It made me feel so loved.

My life has become so involved in the church and in the youth clubs, I am going to have a hard time leaving it all. BUT I still have 3 months...and let me tell you...we have LOADS planned still. I cannot wait to have our church retreat this coming weekend, followed by 2 clubs, then our Family Fun Run/Smelly Church, Sports Camp, Drama Camp, Fun Day...I think these are going to be great 3 months...

I cannot stop but think back to the days I was saying goodbye to my family and friends at home. I was sad, yes, but I knew I would probably see them again in 11 months. Now, thinking about leaving in such a short amount of time, I realise that I may not see these friends and family again, and if I do, it won't be for a while. Oh how we will have changed and life will be so different. Oh life. Oh future....

but for now, I will soak up every moment I have here...give everything I can to these events and to my youth, and embrace my family and my friends. I thank God every day for this place and for these people and the memories I have made with them. They are beautiful.