Blessings.

Last week I wasn't really feeling myself. Last year I have envisaged that I would be in California now. Well, I am still here. I absolutely take comfort in knowing that the LORD is in control of the situation, and I wouldn't want it any other way. But because I had put my own timescale on it I managed to get my hopes up. I have definitely learnt over this past year that more often than not my timescale and plan is different to what the LORD has planned.

Anyway...back to this post. SO while I was feeling a bit down, and a bit distant from God, I got to speak to my dear friends. Oh my goodness, they are a joy to me! Not only could I speak to them about everything that is going on with me, and I could hear everything that is going on with them! They always have such encouraging, kind words that comfort me. They pray for me and I greatly appreciate this. They build me up in my faith and challenge me. Just now, I don't really have many friends around me that challenge me in this way or really encourage me in my faith. So I am thankful for Skype, as it really breaks down the distance between me and my friends.

Meet my lovely friend, Karen (a.k.a. Boo.) You have met her before on here. She is my little ray of sunshine. She can make me smile on any day, no matter how bad it is going. See this face below, this is what I see (plus many more faces) everytime that we talk on Skype. She is hilarious. Not only is she funny, but she is also so wise and I learn so much from her. I really miss being able to laugh in the same room as this lady. I am very thankful that the LORD has brought her into my life, He definitely knew what He was doing with this friendship. I love you, Boo!

I didn't have a photo from Skype for these two! So I used this one, that I took in 2008. I love this one. When I spoke to this lovely couple last week they listening to every moan I had and then gave me some wonderful, encouraging words. I really miss having conversations with them and having their advice on hand. I learnt so much from that and I'm so thankful that the LORD crossed our paths back in 2003. I love them dearly.

So, there's an insight into a couple of my many blessings!

Psalm 63:1-5 ♥

Curly.

My beautiful, baby brother left for his Navy training yesterday! Excuse me, but when did he grow up and how did I miss it? I honestly can't believe it.

A few days before he left we had a "date night". We went to the movies to see Due Date. I knew that it was going to be good because Fin had gone the night before and loved it! He was very happy to go and see it again. There were a lot of people in the cinema watching the movie. I got a little bit annoyed though. It seemed like there were hundreds of people that were all there together and I think they thought they were on their sofa watching it at home. Every couple of minutes they would turn around and talk to the person 2 rows behind them!! I didn't notice this too much because I was far too busy laughing at the movie. Seriously, if you haven't seen this yet then you should definitely go! I am probably going to see it again.

I do have a few knew bruises after our date though. Aparantly I have an annoying laugh when we are at the cinema, so my sister and brother kindly told me. So, whenever I laughed during the movie he would elbow me in the arm! Lovely. I must have been because it was really funny! Anyway, I had a lovely time with Fin.

Before we left I told him that he needed to get changed into something smarter. And this is what he came down in! He always makes me laugh!!

Fin is such a funny, caring, loving, thoughtful guy and I will miss him. I love you, Curly.

"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10 NLT

Tired.

Today was my day off and it went by sooo fast! I had a lovely day though. I had lunch with friends and their new baby boy (remember the baby shower a few weeks ago? Well he finally arrived last weekend!) He is beautiful, and BIG. He slept the whole 4 hours we were out, so I am going to visit him tomorrow and see if he will give me a cuddle and a cute smile. Babies bring me so much joy.

So tired just now and have to sleep. I have a long day at work tomorrow! Look out for a post on my "date" with my baby brother!

Smile.

I love my sister and brother! When we are together we are either laughing, arguing, smiling, annoying each other, crying or dancing. This photo below makes me smile. They are such a blessing to me. I love you, Sassy and Fin!

♥

Hello November.

Can you believe that it is November already? I mean, really? I can't. 2010 is nearly over. Yikes. I had different ideas about how my year would map out but my God had other plans. So I am trusting that the Lord's plan is way better than mine. In fact, His is perfect! Jeremiah 29:11

I thought I would let you all in on something that I try desperately to hide. Below is a lovely outfit that I have to wear to work a couple of times a week. It has to be worn on Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) every week. From now until New Year we have Mistletoe and Mountain tours so every week consists of... Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Hogmanay! Right now I am absolutely loving it. But I can see that in a few weeks, after many "Christmas Days" I will not be full of Christmas cheer. I had a GREAT time decorating the Hotel last week with all the many Christmas decorations and listening to Christmas music. I always want to start listening to my Christmas songs early, so this is perfect for me!

Pretty nice dress I have there, don't you think? I have to admit that at the start of this year, when we had to wear this outfit for our Ceilidh night, I thought it was hideous. Well, I still think it is horrible (you should have seen the colour of the under-dress thing when I got it!) For some reason, this time round, I am actually enjoying wearing it. I'm not sure if you can see from this photo or not but I am wearing beautiful flower that was handmade by some lovely people in Aberfeldy. These lovely flowers were made to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness and CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) These are charities that are very close to two wonderful families in our town. They organised a charity night last weekend. It was a HUGE success! I will post more on that next week. I hope you like ABBA?

Also, keep your eyes peeled for another attractive photo of myself in my Christmas outfit! Get excited!!

Just the 2 of us.

Just a quick post. Yesterday I spent the day with my baby brother, my 17 year old baby brother! I love him. He is hilarious, annoying, sweet, thoughtful and TALL! It was fun just hanging out with him for the day. Below are a couple of snaps that we got.

We had lunch and he ordered SO much food! Needless to say, he was very full for the rest of the day!

I am wearing a shirt/dress thing that I got about a month ago. I love it BUT the other day I saw an old lady wearing the same dress and have to admit that I thought to myself "AHHHHHH!" but now I am like..hey, whatever! She must be a pretty trendy, little lady!! :)

Will try and post something more interesting soon. Crazy busy at work. Maybe I will post photos of the many different outfits that I have to wear there. Not 100% sure if I want to share it with the world yet though!

Recent photos.

I thought I would post some recent photos. Ever since I have said that I would take some photos of how beautiful it is looking just now in the lovely sunshine..the lovely sunshine disappeared! Of course. So I am still working on some good photos of our beautiful countryside but I did snap these ones on a drive today.

I actually love that is is blurry at the bottom of this photo because it blends all those colours together. I LOVE the photos below because all the colours are all mixed through. I think it's pretty cool. :)

Yes, it is that time already. All my cosy hats are out in full force. This one below is a new one though. I love it. Also in this photo you will see a jacket that my lovely friend gave to me when I left America. I wear it all the time, and think of her everytime I wear it. Love you, boo.

My American mom gave me this jar of mixed herbs when I left America. She had used these many, delicious meals that she cooked for me while I was there so I was already in love with them. But this week I cooke a yummy meal using these herbs with salmon. SO tasty. SO easy.

Looks pretty yummy, right? You should definitely try and get your hands on BRAGG organic sprinkle; 24 herbs and spices seasoning. Yummmm...

I have been doing lots of baking this week. We had a lovely baby shower and the cakes below were made for that occasion. I had a bit of a disaster with the red food colouring though. I was trying to make a deep red, but it turned out BRIGHT PINK. Luckily they still tasty yummy. I had all different colours over my hands from the different colours I used for the icings!

The other icings were very mellow in comparison.

The other night, when I got home from work at 10pm, I had a craving for muffins. So I made some. I have a really simple, delicious recipe for muffins that aren't too sweet and and perfect, really. I got it from my Aunty Trish. I might share it on here soon. Also, check out my lovely case that I got from my American mom. (My American family are too good to me!!) I have so many beautiful cupcake cases now that I want to bake all the time!

And that's all I've got just now. I will try and get some better photos outside this week. Hopefully the weather will cooperate with me.