sarah dickinson becomes sarah hill

it feels like forever ago now but still getting used to this new life!  i’ve had a very fun year-ish of trying on white dresses, looking through countless magazines, learning many news flowers, picking denby, running in and out of debenhams, buying beds and sofas, colouring in every individual invitation and order of services, writing thank you cards and most of all, feeling hugely overwhelmed by people’s continuous and unbelieveably generousity.  i think for me, that is the biggest thing i have learnt and recognised throughout our engagement and even still ongoing.  i can never never express how grateful i am and how much it is so appreciated.

there have been many many good moments over the past months and i am loving life right now.  i am loving settling into married life, figuring how to clean a house, cook meals and decorate a house.  but it’s fun!!

so here’s a few snapshots of some of 2009’s highlights:

spending some fun times with special people in a special place…

some hen hen hen hen…

some life changing-ness…

my first american adventure…

it’s been a year i’ll never forget…and there’s still 3 months left!!!

sarah dickinson is now sarah hill….

 

music is amazing when done right!

I know I know….I should be doing my report…but I got a little distracted and thought I’d post a blog about the man who has once of the most amazing voices I’ve ever heard….he’s wonderful…

Ladies and Gentlemen… Michael Buble…

 

home home home

Leaving your room in a mess and dandering downstairs for a ready prepared full fry breakfast and by the time you finished eating, your room is perfectly tidy to the point your pjs are put below your pillow! Knowing that you will always have hot water whenever you fancy a shower, opening the sliding doors and walking down 60 steps onto the beach, absolutely beautiful views, knowing that your 3 course dinner will be on the table at 6. Life in a hotel rocks!

But, there’s nowhere quite like home although…with the hecticness of everything, maybe Jersey is better…!!

Was on the Donegal Team but left early to go on holidays to Jersey with my family and cousins for a week so that was all very beautiful and nice, then this week has been spent doing Spark preparations…headache!

Here’s a few pics from holidays…

 

reflection

I had a wee look on Stewart’s blog and he has listed some of the names of the people that we have met on the streets this past week, and I would love ask you to pray for these people, just so we can cover these people’s lives in as much prayer as we can. If only you knew all the stories of their lives that have been shared with us – alcoholics, homeless, lost, raped, beaten, confused, dissatisfied, searching, hearts so hard, loveless, gang controlled, drug addicts, partners dieing, loved ones committing suicide, lonely, isolated, foreign, churched, unchurched, cult-controlled, abused, encouraged, challenged in their own faith…and the list goes on. And so do the people – these are just the names of the people we have got and remembered. There were many more who were chatted to for a brief moment, the reasoning behind the whole free thing explained and either received or rejected, and those who just received a friendly smile and a free CD and some sweets. Please also remember them in your prayers.

As for my thoughts on the week – there’s just been so many. So many laughs, so many tears, so many questions, so many awe-struck moments. I’ve learnt the value of fellowship and friendship more than ever, and also the joy it is to stand on the streets in chucking down rain just to tell people about God. And to stand and watch God move, people sharing stories from their lives with these random people in red hoodies. God is good.

 

pain and smiles

Just arrived in Dublin last night and making the most of the rain on Grafton Street! But pain and smiles seem to sum up so far what God has been doing.

Some people we met have lived lives full of unimaginable pain and some horrific stories, yet some just smile at receiving something for free or a kid seeing bubbles blowing all around them. It’s incredible to see how bubbles make such a difference – even to older people! And some people are just full of joy when they see young people lifting up the name of their Lord and Saviour.

Reactions are so different and so diverse…but each and every one come from a secret place in their life, whether of pain or of happiness.

The team have also amazed me – some are such a blessing and can start a conversation with someone in a second and speak words into their life of hope and of truth. I pray that more and more into each of the team member’s lives. May our words be filled with grace and with love, and soaked in Jesus.

Thank you to anyone who has been praying for us – we have felt your prayers with us. And please, continue to pray as we try to lift up Jesus’ name and make Him famous here. And as we try to speak hope and truth in lives which are so desperate for it.

We praise You Jesus, and we love you

“Open up the doors and let the music play
Let the streets resound with singing!”

 

awesome…

Just home last night from an amazing weekend with St Michael’s Church of Ireland down in Ballina in Co.Mayo! After a 4 hour drive, we arrived at our hotel (yes…that’s right…a hotel!) and it was the most amazing hotel I’ve stayed at in ages! A whole double bed all to myself…! ) And I haven’t had a shower like I did those two mornings since being in London in January! Was sooooo powerful…lol! The banter was also totally rife!

It was just an awesome time teaching this 10 year old kids to play a song and to play and sing as part of a band for the first time ever. It was also awesome chatting to a 30 year old Down Syndrome girl about her life and her gold medal in the Special Olympics and watching her as she concentrated with all that was within her to try to play the drums…and really try to learn. Janet was amazing and was just so great to be able to chat to her and watch her have a class day! And then there was wee Dillon. He was such a wee messer who just walked up to me and in my face announced “you’re ugly” but by the end of the afternoon he was sitting on the grass with me chatting about how to make daisy chains and about his experiences go-karting for the first time that afternoon after lunch! He was also all made up when Steve gave him his egg-shaker and was told he had to be heard using at the praise service, which he did! Out of beat, but it was so special. These two kids just made such a wee impact on my heart…

And the praise service. Well, that was the first time for powerpoint, and a service like it in anyway. Most watched, just drinking it all in and thinking about what was going on. Some entered in. But God was at work. He was speaking to hearts in new ways, fresh ways for this church.

The Sunday morning service was my first time in a Church of Ireland morning service. But it again was cool. Rick shared a bit and he spoke so well (as did he on the Sat night!) and people were really listening as he told of what God has done in his life. The people there are just so genuine and cared so much for us and would have done anything!

So, then started the long, but immensely beautiful drive home! The mountains were amazing! Roads were terrible…lol! It was just so eye-opening to the beauty of what God has created. And it was just nice to have some banter with Rick for the time periods were I wasn’t sleeping! Whoops.

But, one of the most important things I learnt this weekend. I don’t like boys. Boys are smelly and vulgar! Almost taking their trousers off at the car wash….smelling a room out like nothing I’ve ever witnessed before….making very rude comments during breakfast/lunch/dinner/or just generally at different times. They are not pretty. (Although Rick was the best out of the lot so I still like him!)

Lol. Aw well. This is just one of life’s flaws! )

Some bad pictures of our beautiful drive down….

The amazement that was the toilet roll….

At Maud’s in Enniskillen….having some food and banter….

All in all….a great weekend…although I’m exhausted….xx

 

beautiful night

Yesterday was a horrid day. Last night was a beautiful night. I was working in the labs til Rick picked me up at 8, and I thought I was going to have to go home and make both Rick and I dinner, but Rick being amazing, took me out for a long walk and dinner. It was beautiful.

I’ve never been so grateful for a walk and meal before. The sky was gorgeous – the picture doesn’t do it fully to justice…and just being able to spend some time with Rick just chatting and laughing loads…just being able to be fully ourselves.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

- Proverbs 18:24