Checking in....

I cannot believe that the last time I posted a blog was in August! I remember when I started doing this blogging business, my friend Kirk warned me that I would never be able to keep it up. Well, I managed the first the few months, but now that I've moved to Staffordshire with no internet connection at home, it's proven very difficult.

This is the first time in years that I haven't had regular access to the internet. Where I can go 3, 4 days without checking my email. The first week after I moved to Staffordshire, I suffered severe internet withdrawal symptoms. My new laptop has WIFI and I decided to test it out. So I logged on at home, and in seconds my laptop found a wireless network that I could use! I called Chris with excitement saying that I have internet access at home! I've found a wireless connection, no more isolation from the outside world. He was quick to point out that what I had in fact done was 'hack' into someone else's wireless network that wasn't protected, therefore making it illegal. How quickly my bubble burst. Now, I cycle to the library, trying to beat the over 60s to a computer so that I can use it for an hour. Oh, how my life has changed!

How's it been Staffordshire so far? Well, it's different! It's very quiet. Not many students around. A lot of cats! But at least you don't have to watch where you're walking for vomit (as in Leeds), instead you look out for dog poo! But just over the bridge where I live is some lovely countryside (Rosliston). I am now commuting to Leeds once or twice a week. And I now found myself waking up at 5am to catch a 6:25am train so that I can be on time to teach my 10am tutorial. By the time I catch the 5:10pm train home, I just want to have dinner and go to bed. And usually that's what I do.

Oh! I've also learnt to ride a bicycle! Well, re-learn to ride one. I haven't ridden on a bicycle since I was age 8 or 9. A couple from the church that I go to, gave me their daughter's old road bike. When I tried cycling up a hill with this old, steel frame bike, I thought that I had done some permanent damage to my legs. I cycled to church, sweating pouring from my face (in Autumn), legs throbbing. Sitting down and standing up were both painful. And I felt that I would never be able to get the knack of cycling again - or at least that it wouldn't hurt so much.

And God has been doing amazing things in my life! I don't even know where to begin! First of all, I'm blessed to be in the church that I'm in now. Chris and I go to the same church, and it's such a blessing to be able to see him everyday. And to be honest, this is the happiest I've been since I been in England (5 years in January). I've written 2 chapters in a month and a half. That's about as much as I wrote in 2 years! But I believe in a supernatural God who can work beyond human logic and can give you the strength when you need it the most. And I just feel this tremendous peace, that I haven't felt in such a long time. I thank God that He has given me this opportunity and I look forward to telling you more about what He's been doing. Well, that was why I started this blog after all.

God bless

Lots of love

Julie