Football

Inter, campeão do Mundo

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Inter have just won the Fifa Cup World Chapionships. For those of you who dont follow the football(I was never much of a football person, but living the Football country of the world, I dont have much choice...as you will see) Inter is a Brazilian Team - from Porto Alegre, the capital city of the state I live in - Rio Grande do Sul. The celebrations are CRAZY and since we live in the center of town we are surrounded by it. This video was taken from the window of Junior's room...and the noise is still continuing as I type. The fireworks sound like gun-fire shots. You would think we would be celebrating too..a Brazilian team has won the world championships...however we (Junior and I as the supporting and loyal girlfiriend) support Inter's rivals - Grêmio so for us, it is not a happy day...well actually I don't really care...I just want the flippin noise to stop!!! I've never seen anything like this before...only on T.V. and now i am living in the middle of it! My life is just one insane adventure! woohoo!

For those who are interested

The School of Missons in Sapiranga, Brazil has been cancelled for 2007.

Junior and I are focussing all our time and energy solely on each other...uh... no...I mean on the Leaders School and History Makers School that are both happening in January.

(check out this cool flyer we designed for it...)

As we accept people onto the school, I place their picutres on a piece of paper that says their name and their age and where they are from...yes, I feel just like Sarah Dalley in those moments...although the Spectacular Miss Sarah D. makes them look much more beautiful than I ever could...how does she do that ladies and gentlemen? We shall never know, it will forever be one the many mysteries of the Fantasticly, Fast and Fabulous Sarah Dalley
(Who was actually in my dream last night...and it was oh so lovely to see her there!!)

Anyway, really that was all I wanted to say...

OH! EXCEPT....
So Junior and I prayed for this lady who had cancer in her womb. We prayed for her like 2 months ago at a youth conference. Alyn had just preached on healing and asked all of the people with serious illnesses to come to the front to be prayed for by him, Junior and I (no pressure!) She came to the last conference we had (while I was in Africa) and told Junior that 2 days after we prayed for her, she went to Dr. and he checked her out and itold her she had NO CANCER ANYMORE!!! so when Jr told me, I didn't really believe that it had been US that had prayed for her and she was healed...then I rebuked myself for not believing that I could do something like that...and then God said...but Lois, that's exactly it...you didn't heal her, I did...of course you have a hard time believing it because it's not anything that you can physically do. I did it through you. GOD DID IT, I DIDNT DO IT. God is the healer...yeh, i've heard it so many times...and actually it's what gives me faith to pray - I have ALL of the faith in the world that God can heal-but now I am starting to experience it...and it REALLY is nothing to do with me. I am just the 'mouth, the hands and the feet'...he is the power

What is also cool about this story is she said to Jr, I couldn't believe that this guy with earings in his ears, long hair and his pants too low was the one that God used to heal me...! I think some religious spirits must have left her that day too!!

ok...really, that was all I wanted to say ....

Where exhaust pipes grow on trees

My first few moments in Mozambique, I thought that I was seeing some really cool street art. A sculpture made out of Exhaust Pipes...what a sweet idea! However, by the next few mmoments of my stay in Mozambique, I realised this was no masterpiece placed in the city to make it look pretty, but a source of income for the people. Everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE there are things for sale on the side of the road: car parts: wheels, rims, hub-caps, bumpers, doors...clothes: lines of pants hanging up, t-shirts, jeans, even underwear...furniture: wooden bed heads, leather sofas...food: mainly fruit and veg.

I also realised within a short time that what I would consider to be rubbish, was another man's treasure. Every few miles there would be an incredibly aweful smell and you would look out of the window and see piles and piles of rubbish by the side of the road. A lot of the wares being sold by the roadside began their second life as rubbish.

This is how people make a living. Not all people in Mozambique, but a lot of them.

I had an absolutely incredible time.
My heart was stolen by the children in the Center and outside of the Center.
God blew me away with his love.
I had an experience that is simply too deep for words. I think that there isn't a way to explain it, but I know that it will play out in my life this side of Mozambique.

It stunk, I was hot, there was sand and dirt everywhere, I slept on a nasty bed and I loved every minute of it!!!

It's good to be back in Brazil. I am dreaming and wondering where God will take me next. But for now, the time is right to be right here. I am peaceful, more than ever and I am full of love.

Here are some pictures for your eyes to enjoy:


Carmina: the one who stole my heart. She is 4 years old. She doesn't speak yet, and she can't walk yet. She had Meningitus (sp?) as a baby. She smiles all the time and her face lit up eveytime I walked into the room. She didn't need to say anything, she stole my heart with one glance of her eyes.


Rosa and Ruti. Ruti has the most personality I have ever seen in a 3 year old, and man can she dance!! this picture was completely spontaneous and one of my favourites!!


Sam at the beach. We took 25 babies and small children to the beach for the morning...it was a lot of fun!!
Oh yeh...and we went to South Africa for the day on Safari, that was cool!

Raquel and I in Portugual: the beginning of our semi-nightmare trip home...but that's another story!

I still miss you all and love you very much.

MWAH x

Leaving on a jet plane

I am leaving Brazil today. Tonight I fly to Lisbon, Portugal and then onto Mozambique for one month. Clearly I have gained the Portuguese anointing!
It is raining today in Brazil. (I don’t actually know if the whole of Brazil is experiencing rain right now, but all I know of Brazil, my little city of Sapiranga, there is rain and wind and thunder) I am enjoying the break from the heat, and savouring the moment as I will be hitting 45ºC in Mozambique….but not before I’ve had a day of European winter in Lisbon.

I didn’t sleep well last night and had the classic ‘not ready on time’ dreams…fun times!

I am realizing that I am made for this. I was made to travel. I love it and am taking it all in my stride. God is so amazing to have given me so many flippin awesome opportunities to see the world and know more of His heart.

I am peaceful, excited and ready for the adventure to continue.

I will be thinking of you my dear friends and fam.

Pray for me.

Let it be known that God is so good and so faithful.

Ladies, lend me your ears and send me your mulah

One of Brazil's biggest exports is shoes. I live in the town that has one of the 3rd LARGEST shoe factories in the WHOLE of Brazil!

Beautiful shoe-wearing ladies of the world: send me your money, your mulah, your dollars and your stirling and I will buy you some beautiful shoes for you to wear. They are well made and super in-expensive.

I bought a super cute pair of heals, leather, pointy, for just R$50 from the factory shop. just to clarify, R$50 works out at around US$25 and £12.50....!!!!!!!!!!!

Today I wore my red birthday shoes (heals, leather, pointy and from Zara, bought for me by Junior, independant of any advice from me...oh yeh, major brownie points for him!) and I have no idea how the women of Brazil do it. It is more common to see a woman in heals as her everyday shoe-attire than it is to see her in flats or flip-flops. However, the pavement (side-walk) is SO un-even with cracks that would certainly break your back if you stepped on the crack!! A normal 5 minuite walk from home to the church took me around 10 minutes today in my red birthdady shoes!

When I asked Junior how the women in Brazil do it, he said 'Women who wear heals dont walk to work, they drive. Only poor people walk'....oh....hmmm...maybe I'm trying to be something I'm not??!!

Nah, I don't think so! Bring on more great buys from the Factory shop of Brazil's 3rd largest Shoe Factory!! woohoo!!

All I want for Christmas

This year I will be mostly requesting Christmas Classics. Normally I am not a fan of such things, I don't like to make a Christmas list or tell people what I would like. I much prefere for the gifts I am given to be thought of, to be sentimental, creative, anything small or big, just because you thought of me when you bought it, means that I WILL LOVE IT!

However, this year, there is no room for such orniments of love in my life. I won't be asking for those wonderful trinkets, the perfect soundtrack that will make me think of you and that time we had together every time I listen to it. I won't be asking for a journal (which by the way, is one of my most favourite gifts EVER! Even though I already own a thousand of them) I won't even be asking for Adobe Creative Suite for my little PowerBook. I will be making a beeline for those Christmas Classics:

Toiletries
Underwear
Chocolate

The essentials.

Living in Brazil is not at all like 'roughing it' but there are a few things that for some strange reason are either a) unavailable b) imported so therefore ridiculously expensive c)I can't think of a third reason but I didn't want to leave a+b to stand alone in this point making session.


As I do not think I will be coming home for Christmas (Liz and Kate, you can cancel the BluePeter bring Lois Home for Christmas Appeal!) I thought I would post my wish list early so that you could all prepare!!


My Christmas List:

Facewash : Garnier Pure Deep Clean Foam Wash or Garnier Pure Deep Pore Wash
Face Moisturiser: Garnier Soft 24hr Nourishing Day Cream
Eye Make-up remover: Garnier Clean & Fresh Ultra Gentle Eye make-up remover
Moisturiser : Nivia Body Milk or Bath and Body Works Coconut Lime
Tampons: Tampax (naturally) super plus
Mac concealer (NC20): Ok, so not exactly a Christmas Classic, but I am running out and it is most certainly an essential, right ladies?!

Socks: they do have socks here, but I'd just like some new ones for christmas. plain and simple. no paterns. please.

Chocolate: cadburys, cadburys and more cadburys. There is not even the imitation stuff here like there is in Canada. Mr.Cadbury quite simply does not exist here in Brazil.


Finally, the thing that I want the most.

YOU

You, I miss you YOU. I want to be with you for Christmas. The people who I love who are all over the world right now.
So, if you feel the urge to get on a plane and fly to Brazil around the 20th Decemeber (or any other time in the year while I am here) do not even hesitate. Don't think about the hole it may leave in your wallet, don't even think about the long flight. JUST DO IT! Ok? good.


Av. 20 de Setembro 3365,
Centro Sapiranga RS
BRASIL
93800-000

That's where you need to go. (Actually, that's the church, but I don't know our home address since all of our mail gets sent to the Church. But I will probably be at the church when you arrive anyway!)

(P.S. Are you impressed that I have blogged 3 times in one week?!! I am!)

This is cool

My friend Cat originally posted this. I love it.

LEONARDO DA VINCI'S VITRUVIAN MAN

I have joined the gym. Yes it is true. I have been going for about 3 weeks now.
Every time I leave the appartment to go to the gym, I feel like I am conqering the world! I think to myself 'check me out...I'm in Brazil...going to a gym class where I don't understand the instructions from the front and I look pretty amusing always one step behind as I follow the people in front of me.' but you know what, I am doing it. I sure am.


There's something you should know about Saprianga...there's not much to do here, and so one source of entertainment is to go to the gym, not to work out, but to watch other people sweat and labour away. I am not even joking. So I am not only a source of amusement for myself, but I am also providing quality entertainment for the lost and bored people of Sapiranga. While I am doing my super cool aerobics moves there are people behind me, sat on bean bags, just watching. It has become quite obivous that I am not from these parts. (The hair-cut and one-step-behind-everybody-else-super-cool-moves give it away!) Within my first week of conquering the world (going to the gym) there was a rumour spread around town that Vânia (JR's Mum, also widely known Pastor) was bringing an American to the gym (just to clarify that I wasn't telling porky pies earlier when I said I went to the gym alone, Vânia has been with me once and from thereon in, I was on my own) AN AMERICAN?! I am not at all offended because I have some amazing friends who also happen to be american, but I found it quite amuzing that a girl from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales could be mistaken for an american (and no, my accent hasn't changed THAT much since being accross the big pond)


As I'm doing my super cool excersise moves, I am thinking to myself how this would be one of those aweful times where, when you've become famous and you're on a prestigous chat show like Parkinson, you find out that somebody secretly filmed you while you were at your little gym in Sapiranga, Brazil and has now sold the evidence of you dancing always one step behind everybody else to the press and now the 10 million viewers can be entertained along with the Sapirangonians that made their way out to watch you that night.

These are the things I think about whilest being at the gym...I also think about how the last 5 minutes simply must have been the longest 5 minutes of my life and when are we going to get to the cool down part so that I can lie down and then go home?!

Other news:

I am going to Mozambique, Africa for one month. I leave in 3 weeks.
I am co-ordinating the School of Ministry in Brazil. Next year we will have a School of Missions. You should come (if you're passionate about missions)
I have been translating the PIH part of the website from Portuguese to English.
I am learning Portuganese
I have been teaching English
Jr and I are having fun
I love living in Brazil
I miss my family
I miss my friends
I have painted a few more paintings:




I am learning:
I wrote this in an e-mail to my beautiful friend Andrea:
"I have been learning that Love is Patient. when God is patient with me, it's not patience that is weary, or itching for something to happen, or doubtful that the desire will one day be filled. His patience for me, is strong, peaceful, resting and welcoming. He waits for me with patience. He loves me with patience. there is no pressure, there is grace, it is complete. I want this patience. i want to rest in my love for people. i want to rest in God's love for me. I want to love and for that love to be patient."


This is me right now. Peace and love and all things wonderful

So much to say...

So here I am, in Brazil. There is so much to tell you.

Well, here is some quick info.
I am here with Junior and we are helping out/working at his church. We are puting together a school of missions...more info to come!

I have eaten more meat in the last week than in my entire life (nearly)
The weather is extreme: one day it's 30c the next it's 8c
My surroundings are beautiful - full of colour
I am so happy to finally be here
Junior really was a black baby (In his baby pics, he looks as if he could have grown up to be of 'african' ethnicity...I have no clue of the P.C. way to say that!)
And he is almost famous here. Even the optition had heard of him before meeting him! (that makes me cool by association...!)

My trip down here was so good. Here is the epic story....

So I arrived at the airport and the guy who was checking me in said
that I needed a return ticket in order to get into the country....uh oh, I don't have one of those!!!

He took me over to the ticket desk and along with another air
canada person helped me find a ticket.(Many people have told me that Air Canada people are rude, my experience was quite the opposite!)
I had no money in my account,
only the 500 pound overdraught limit...And I don't have a credit card either.

So after about 1 hour we found a ticket to Buenos Aries for $444 which
was amazing b/c the ATM would only allow to me to withdraw
$400!!!!!!!! so i had just enough. (including the money that I had in my walet already)

The plan was to refund the ticket as soon as i got to Brazil.
The flight to Sao Paulo was fine, I slept for most of it.

I thought about what I was going to say to the person at the desk when I reached Sao Paulo. How would I explain my 'trip' to Buenos Aries without lying...?

At Customs they let me in, no questions, not even asking to see my ticket out!!!!


I tried to call JR from the airport but I couldn't get through. By this
time im obv. feeling emotional, tired, a bit scared - you know, new country, 'eu nao fala portugues' etc. etc.

The whole time however, even when I was stood at the ticket desk back in Toronto, I knew Peace, like a constant 'Everything is going to be alright. Trust me'

So I'm in Sao Paulo Airport. It's a little bit late 80's, early 90's there, with some 21st Century thrown in. My flight out of Sao Paulo is in 18 hours. Yep, that's right people, 18 HOURS!!!!! At this point Holy Spirit reminds me of something that I admire in Alyn Jones, Cathy Harris and Gillian Schuler. Their confidence to ask for what they want. These three people have really shown me how to simply step up and go for those things that you might be afraid to ask for: a refund on a shirt that you don't want, a discount when the quality of what you've been given isn't the standard that you expected, an earlier ticket to your destination when you have 18 hours to wait for your scheduled flight. (Clearly these amazing people have taught me so much more than this, but in that moment, this lesson was exactly what I needed. There is no harm in asking.)

I went to the TAM ticket sales. I asked for an earlier flight, even if it will cost me $ to change, it's worth asking. The lady behind the desk said 'Yes, there is a flight that leaves at 3.30pm' I ask 'What time is it now?'
'1pm. the plane leaves from the other airport. You can take a bus from just outside here. It takes one hour to get there.'
'Oh, how much will the bus cost?' (Thinking, this may all add up to be too much for me to afford)
'It's free'
'Oh WOW! how much will it cost for me to change my ticket?'
'It's free, here you go' She hands me back my ticket with a small piece of paper stuck on it.
'Oh WOW! (My tone even higher) so, am I booked on that flight now?'
'Yes you are.'
'THANK YOU SO MUCH'

I leg it up stairs to the internet cafe (one of the 21st Century hints) and send an email to everyone in JR's family who's email address I have to say I will be at Porto Alegre at 5.30 pm TODAY, not 6.05 am
tomorrow....I hopped on the bus, hopped on the plane.

So...I had no idea if anyone would be at the airport to get me, but knew that whatever happened, I would be ok. I just felt so peaceful. I arrived, went to
get my bag...turned around, and there, on the other side of the
window, was Junior!!! I didnt even have to wait for him!!! GOD SORTED
IT ALL OUT!!!!

I AM SO THANKFUL TO GOD FOR THIS TRIP.



SO, TO FINALLY END THIS STORY: God confirmed 2 major things in me:

1. I AM his daughter and He will take care of me
2. This is the right place for me to be, God made it happen.

I will write again soon....

The Red Room

I took a trip to Stratford last weekend and there my friends and I drank some coffee at a little place called 'Sputniks'. Sputniks has a bathroom - not a big bathroom, just one of those ones with a single toilet in it. But this bathroom was particularly amazing and caused Andrea and I to have a photoshoot in it! It was red and beautifully decorated. It was small but that didnt stop us from taking excellently cool pictures.

My time here in Toronto has been quite amazing and surprising.

Undone, walls crashed down to see Your face and know Your voice again.
Found, drowning in love to come alive again.
Loved, extravegantly, wildly, quitely and gently.
Captured again, to be held tight until I can breathe.

Who I am is Your Joy. You delight in me. That is who I am. This is real, no fakes allowed. Peace is real and I am really Yours. Like REALLY? I am REALLY YOURS. There is nothing to prove. There is life to be lived and enjoyed. There is an adventure to explore and discover, to be uncovered and fought for. I'm in. I'm fully in. You have all of me. My heart is open and my spirit is hungry. (Your hunger for God - that's the best thing about you)

From stone to flesh. From glory to glory. From death to life; all over again, only this time it's much deeper and next time will be the same. Because You are more faithful than I realised, more extravegant that I comprehended and more real than anything I have EVER known or loved.

Red for passion, red for heat and fire, red for love, red for blood, red for apples, red for danger, red for risk, red for fast cars, red for a cold nose, red for vulnerable skin, red.

I wish I had a camera inside my head

Hello Friends!
Yes I am alive and I am now wesside (west side) of the Atlantic Ocean!
The weather is rediculous...and spectacular! Heat, rain, thunder and lightening!!!

I have said hello and goodbye to My Love.



And now I am feeling that familiar ache...I thought that the ache and I had said goodbye for good, but it seems that the ache wants to come back for a little visit - just 4 weeks. (Junior is away on outreach - In the UK...Is this a sick joke?? hmmm no, I don't think so...I think it's a gift, a surprise, something that we will know the value of and treasure when time has past)

oh and I wrote a little poem to myself...

Oh Lo,
By now you should know,
How high in the sky you can fly.

So just go away from here,
to be near to the one your heart loves

And smile like the sun
Reflected off the water,
Giving kisses to the sea
I wish I could be
Where you are.


The other night, for my birthday, my best friend Andrea took me to a concert. It was AMAZING! The band we went to see were Pilate and they were excellent.
The whole evening was just one fun night of cool things. The first support were SO good - Wintersleep and the second support were from WALES!!!! (People in Planes)

I was so inspired. I love seeing people do what they love and do it with excellence. And there is NOTHING like being at a live concert. Yep, we had a good time!

The Leaders School starts tomorrow. I will be a small group leader again...that's a bit weird, but very wonderful. I love being at the school I love seeing people set free and healed and going for their dreams. I love being around my incredible leaders and pastors.




Ok, gotta go and move...again...Today Andrea and I are moving our stuff back to the school where we will be living in our AIR CONDITONED room with an En-suite...SWEET!

Peace x

It's time to leave now.

My last week at home (for a while) is nearly over. I have managed to completely exhaust myself with all of my last minute activities! I might even simply colapse at Terminal 3, Pearson International Airport on Tuesday afternoon...but maybe a 7 hour flight will help to bring some rest...or maybe not, since I might actually EXPLODE with excitement.

On the other side.

On the other side, will you be waiting for me with open arms? Will you know the things I'm feeling and understand my broken heart?
Will you laugh with me and cry with me for all the silly things I've done?
Will you be waiting for me and looking for me, prepared for what's to come?

So I did some painting the other day...and wow, do I love painting!!

I feel SO alive when I am painting and creating...I LOVE that God made me that way.
Here's what I created...(For Nigel and Gill - some wonderful friends of mine)


It doesn't have a name yet, so I will call it 'Untitled' until I think of a name.











Here are a few other activities that I have done this week:

I went to B'ham last weekend and completed my TEFL course...So I am now a beginner of Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

I have said goodbye to the girls at youth...I will flippin miss them! I have been helping out my dear friends Matt and Pete with their youth group - Reality. It was just for a short while (Matt called it 'a shot in the arm'!)
I watched the Brazil:Croatia match with my Portuguese Teacher - Nubia, and her Brazilian buds...oh my, Brazilians are CRAZY!!!!
I visited my Grandpa...a fountain of wisdom, knowlegde and cheeky insults!I went to see my friend's band play...Across the Mourning Sky...

Had a little drinky at the Terra Nova with some really good friends...including my beautiful friend Vicki McDonald...I super love her!!!

My beloved friend Louise stopped by for a visit yesterday. We sat in the beautiful garden that my mother has been creating for the last century and we talked about life...and acutally I did the same the day before with my lush friend Cat...it's a garden that is worth sitting in!!!

Yes, many other events have entered my life this week and I quicky realising that I can not hack it like I used to...I must be getting old or something..?

oh and last night my super amazing, number 1 of the Los Tres Amigos friend Kate came over and she dyed my hair.

ok...Peace x

so now i think i will actually start to blog

i can not promise to be a regular blogger, but since i will be leaving this country to go to the next, i thought i could start to blog about random events and that way people can know what is going on in my crazy life!!!


So today is my 22nd birthday.
10 years ago i wrote myself a letter in English class that was not to be opened until this very day. and surprisingly (surprising b/c i am not always very good at not touching the 'forbidden fruit') i managed to save it until now...i didnt even take a sneaky peak half way through the time of waiting!!!!

so i thought i would post it up for all to see, and then also reply to my 12 year old self with the answers to my own questions (a rarety methinks - to posses the answers to ones own questions...i must act now and relish this moment!)

December 1st 1996.

Dear Lois,
Hi! Well hello stranger! How are you? I don't suppose you remember me, I'm that star struck girl you used or still may be. I'm 12 now, you must be about 22.
Are you still interested in being an Actress? or maybe you are a missionary and teacher in Africa? Do you still play the piano? did you go past grade 5? how did you do in your grade 4? What about the clarinet? Did you ever go back to church worship playing the clarinet? do you still go to church? Did you get anywhere in that audition in London? Do you still want your handwriting to be the same as Ceri Jones who used to live in Pencoed? Are you still on the Spirit 2000 team? How did you do in your GCSE's and Alevels? Did you get any A*s? Did you move up to the 'Den' after? where are you living now? Merthyr? Does your theory still stand about boys (being just good friends, nothing else; about some boys) did you have that disco, sloppy dance with Chrissy Morgan? Have you ever had a boyfriend for longer than 3 weeks? Are you married? Do you still write your name like this: (name written)
Are you still against smoking? I hope you were never stupid enough to take drugs. Is Gemma Hynes still your best friend? Is she a lawyer in America? Do you still keep in touch with her and Chrissy Morgan oh and Sean Bellers-Smith? Is R.E. still your favourite subject? and did you ever have Miss Overbury for P.E.?
Anyway, I hope you're happy wherever you are, whoever you're with and whatever you're doing.
Lots of love and kisses
Lois Richards

P.S. Do you still have terrible back pain?
P.P.S What colour is your hair?



May 26th 2006

Dear Lois,
Thank you so much for your letter, you had so many questions about the future 10 years ago, and that hasn't changed...but the topic of questions has shifted slightly...only slightly though - i still wonder what my hair colour will be next !
Anyway, here are the answers to your questions:
I gave up acting when i turned 16, but all my experience and confidence that i gained in public speaking was not in vain as one of my passions in life is communication and teaching.
I am not yet a missionary or a teacher in Africa, maybe I still will be one day. However I have taught in countried all over the world and led mission teams to different places. I hope to go to Brazil in a few months time and although it is pimarily a social trip, I am now of the opinion that my life is a mission. I want to be obedient to God with my every breath and life the way I was created to live in any country of the world.
Yes i still play the piano, and I even made it past grade 5. Grade 4 was fine - as far as exams go. I didn't continue with the clarinet, but I have begun to lead worship at times. Yes i still go to church. I value the corporate so much, whether 'church' is in a big building, a small house or down the pub, i value family, community and relationship very highly. I was unsucessful in the audtion in London, but the trip was an amazing experience.
My handwriting has become its own unique style...i wish that i saw the handwriting of Ceri Jones from Pencoed more often these days and even more feel remorse at not sending her mine with lots of love tied up inside it. (I am encouraged to get back to that special friendship)
Spirit 2000 team came to an end: they were good times and so crucial to my spiritual growth - an oportunity to be with like-hearted people of my own age...it's worth traveling the distance to find people like that.
I did well in both my GCSE's and Alevels. and i think i got atleast 1 A* at GSCE...You can't get A*'s at Alevel, but i did get 2 A's and a B.
I never moved to the den, i saw the error of my ways and enjoyed my MUCH bigger room, and took advantage of the fact that it was on a different floor to the boys rooms...instead of residing in the den which was adjacent to them both. Now i am in Mark's old room...i've painted it though so it looks cooler!
I live in Merthyr right now. I have lived in Cardiff and in Toronto and I'm not sure where my next place of residance will be...but I am so excited to be there!
My theories about boys changed many times over the last 10 years...until i simply decided to enjoy good friendships, have good, clear boundaries and wait until the one who was worthy of my heart had the guts to pursue it and seak me out! (I'm so glad you found me)
No, i didn't get to dance with Chrissy Morgan: he liked my best friend Gemma Hynes. Yes, I've had a boyfriend for longer than 3 weeks. i have learned a lot from my relationships but there is a part of me wonders if, knowing what I do now, whether or not i would have made the same decisions that I did at such a young age. How DOES that work? i guess God's grace is big enough for it all...i know it is.
I'm not married, but I hope to be one day.
I am against smoking, and thankfully i have never taken drugs. I know how dissapointed you would have been!!
Gemma Hynes had a baby about 4 years ago. I haven't heard from her in 5. I don't think she has made it to America yet...but I would like to hear her heart again and know how her life is. (once again, you've inspired me to get in touch with an old friend)
I haven't spoken to Chrissy for about 9 years. (once I found out his interest in my best friend and that his interest in me was full of alteria motives, i moved on)
Sean Bellers-Smith dated one of my closest friends for nearly 7 years. They didnt seem to end very well, but she is much happier now and that makes me happy too. Sean is currently trying to make it as a rockstar. I think he might just do it...and hopefully his fame will move beyond the boarders of South Wales.
Art is my favourite subject. It always was, but i don't think I allowed myself to believe it - 'what can artists do except paint???'
I am an artist.
Miss Overbury never took me for P.E. except on cover. she took us for Sex Ed. though and that was hilarious!!! i see her sometimes on my way to work.
My hair colour is brown, red/brown with some blonde. soon to be darkest brown with red sections.
My back pain is gone.

I am happy, I am so happy. I am living in the reality of me dreams and being drawn to dream bigger and go beyond my potential. I love Jesus with all of my heart. I am learning to give myself grace and I am living today for the fullness of life that Jesus has promised.

So much love, so much excitement for my year of being 22.

xLois

Tomorrow

My heart aches.
Time seems to have slowed - keep breathing
That day - I don't even know when, has become hidden
I look to today for it is all I see now.
Tomorrow has become the silouette of the mountains just before sunrise
Dark. Powerful. A hint of majesty and all you'll do in me.
But not here, not now, not yet
It has only just become today,
and tomorrow seems so far away.

And so it begins...

I did it...the reasons i did it: Andrea told me i should, i have some things that i would like to say...actually, i have a song in my heart that i want to discover. Inspired by the beautiful Kelly Robin Boyes who has been sharing her words with the world (through her blog) so creativly - in the way that only she knows how. i have decided to do the same and explore the things of my heart that are longing to be expressed through words and creativity. So here i am...i will give it a try. this will be my space to communicate my thoughts, ask questions, pose answers and be stretched to do so. thank you for reading...i hope that you will enjoy this journey with me.