My new favourite number

is 78.
'Cos I did quite well in my last Dissertation module - results came out yesterday
OK enough of that.

My other favourite number is 216 as that means home. I have been away for three days doing some research for said dissertation in Cambridge. I did have a fab time, catching up with some of the most adorable people I know, meeting the new ordinands at Westminster College (thats someone training to be a Minister and where they train) walking a lot (it is 30 minutes walk from where I was staying to Anglia Ruskin university) and reading lots of Management Studies books about teams and leadership and making connections to Ministry until my head buzzed. But it is good to be home and hanging with my babes and laughing over tea again. Tomorrow Carys and I are having a girly day at Lakeside which will be fabulous I'm sure! (Even though I detest Lakeside :))

Because I have been away I haven't been crafting but I actually managed to do my Daring Card early in the week rather than 10pm on Thursday night as I usually do.
Lynda gave us a fun dare to think about.

The Year of the Rabbit

3^rd February 2011 will welcome in the next Chinese New Year – the Year of the Rabbit. So this week I’m going to let you have TWO options to choose from:-

Make a card with an Oriental feel to it

OR

Make a card that features a rabbit.

It’s entirely up to you.

I went for rabbit as I knew I still had one of these cuties left
Cosmo Cricket Togetherness - what a great collection. I only have a few sheets left but loads of the chipboard pieces as i couldn't bear to use them. Serve me right! So I'll have to make some cards with the rest of it I think. Everything is Cosmo apart from the ribbon which is Papertrey Ink. Oh how I wish they would make it easier (ie less costly) to order for UK people as it is soooo expensive.

My other favourite number is 30. That is the date this Sunday and although I have a tea party at Church I do not have a service to prepare this week as I am on study leave. Although I look forward to Sunday's away from the pulpit there is often a sense of regret as well because of what I won't get to wrestle with. This week its the Beatitudes - some words that Jesus said and I love this version from the Message

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope.
With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you.
Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
You're blessed when you're content with just who you are - no more, no less.
That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God.
He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'carefull,' you find yourselves cared for.
"You're blessed when you get your inside world - your mind and heart - put right.
Then you can see God in the outside world.
"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight.
That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

May you feel blessed this weekend!