Wednesday 30 November 2011

Goodbye - My last blog post!

Dear Friends and Family!

I've decided not to continue this blog. Thank you for following about a year of my life! It's been a great year and my favourite month of the year starts tomorrow!

If you want to find out what I'm up to, you know where to find me :).

December already looks like it's going to be a wonderful month with a trip to Paris! And other exciting things happening :)!

And I'm really looking forward to next year :)!

I love having each of you in my life and being a part of yours!

May you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

And of course we have to have a song for my last blog post. And I think this one is perfect :)!



God Bless,

Keep in Touch,

Nicola

Tuesday 22 November 2011

Thanks!

Dear Friends and Family.

My previous blog posts have had the theme of decisions and change. In our lives we have to make choices and the choices we make determine the course of our lives. We can feel the weight of them on our shoulders, which way to go? what to do? A few weeks ago I had a blog post that was entitled "I got my answer" - the answer is that I have to trust God with my future just like this:

Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Another verse in Matthew 6: 34:"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Which brings me to the title for my blog post. While I don't know what lies ahead and where the road may lead, I do know that I am thankful for my life here, my friends, my church, my job and all the memories and opportunities I have had! I am most thankful for God and for each of you being a part of life. Thank you all! You're awesome for just being you! Each of you are unique and add something special to my life.

This blog post has a story which I have copied and pasted below. God does have a plan for our lives but at the same time we can't sit back and say "God's going to do it." We have to take the step and God will guide our steps and I looked up this story which reminded me of that.

A guy is in his house when horrendous rains start falling. The water begins to rise, and before long it becomes a major flood. The roads are covered in water making driving impossible. After awhile, a boat comes along.

A rescue worker in the boat yells, “Come on! We’re here to save you! Get in the boat!”

The guy in the house responds, “No! I’ve got faith that God will save me!”

After an unsuccessful rescue attempt, the boat leaves. The water continues to rise, and the guy is forced up to the second floor of his home.

The county sheriff’s boat comes along, and the sheriff yells, “Come on! You are going to drown if you don’t get in the boat.”

From his second floor window the guy says, “No! I’ll be okay! I have faith God will save me.” The boat moves on.

The house, except for a small part on the roof, is submerged in water. The guy is on the roof as a helicopter hovers overhead. The pilot shouts out, “This is your last chance! Climb up the ladder to safety! If you don’t come now you’re going to drown!”

The guy hollers, “No, thanks! God is going to save me!” The pilot shrugs his shoulders and flies away.

The house is covered, and the guy is swept away by the flood waters. He ascends to the Pearly Gates, where God is waiting for his arrival.

He asks God, “What happened? I have been devoted to you and had absolute faith that you would save me. Why did you let me down?”

God answers back, “What more do you want? I sent you two boats and a helicopter!”

Yesterday was departure day and although we finished late it went really well, I was in my element cleaning my rooms.

Today was my half day, I finished work at 12:30pm and I have the whole day off tomorrow. I am going to watch the new twilight movie tonight with a friend because I can't wait to see it! I had a glass of wine this afternoon, I do enjoy a good glass and to chill out once in a while and as I'm going to Paris next month and they make some of the best wine in the world I'm sure some wine tasting is in order!

Someone also gave me a grapefruit this afternoon and I was really excited! Ok I know you may think it's just a grapefruit but to me it shows how much you can appreciate and be thankful for the litte things in life. A lot of the time our thoughts are revolved around what we want but what about what we have?

So today I am thankful for everything I have in this moment!

THANKS! (Glory to God!)

My friend gave me this song and she said this could be our song for life (she knows I have a song of the day on facebook almost all the time) because the words are what every human being should feel. So this is not only my song for the day but my song for life :)!



With that I shall love and leave you,
Until I write again,
Love always
Nicola

PS: Love to hear your news and how your life is going.

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Bonjour!

Dear Friends and Family!

Another week in the life of Nicola Hill! Haha well it's nice to share a bit of my life through my blog posts and keep you updated of what's going on.

This is one of the bible verses that has been on my heart the past week. It's actually my favourite verse in the bible because it shows how we should treat people. I found a blog post someone wrote on it too which was really good!
Matthew 5: 43-48. "You have heard that is was said, 'You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.'

This was one of my songs of the day the past week because actually as I was working it popped in to my head I was singing it but no one heard me (good for them lol).



On Friday the 11th our most regular guest in the hotel passed away in a car accident. It was a sad day for us as he really was a part of the hotel and everyone knew him. He was a very unique man and he had his own style and way about him. On that day I got reminded of this, "Life is precious, cherish yours! Accidents happen and in the blink of an eye someone can be gone." In the evening I went out to a pub for drinks with friends after work.

On Saturday the 12th (this is the reason for my blog title) - it was exactly 1 month until I go to.... PARIS :D! I'm going there for about 3 days. When I was in Zim I always dreamed of travelling and seeing the world and Paris has always been my number one destination and now I am finally getting the opportunity to go there! All thanks to God, He is really good, I've had so many things happen that I only dreamed about. I'm trying to learn a bit of French before I go, I do some because I studied it for a year in school but when I was 13. Sometimes I hear my French accent and I think if the French hear me, they may kick me out of France lol. I'm actually very intrigued by languages at the moment and there are so many I want to learn!

I got Sunday night off which was nice, I needed the rest and I'd been to Exeter earlier. By Tuesday (yesterday) I had actually only had 15 hours sleep in 3 days and I could feel it! Today I woke up after a really good nights sleep and the difference is amazing.

On Monday I had one of the best departure days (where most of the guests leave the hotel, busy day for housekeepers) I finished my rooms quite quickly :)!

Yesterday I went to Exeter and had an awesome time at Boston Tea Party (my 1st time there) catching up with a friend. In the evening I was hanging out with one of my friends and talking to others about Paris and I really can't wait for December now lol!

And as I've mentioned in my last post there is a sea of decisions heading my way. Last night my mind felt like a wave of confusion. I've had so much on my mind but we have an awesome God so I am sure I will figure it out :).

This bible verse is my verse for today, it's very fitting.
"Trust the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths." ~Proverbs 3: 5-6

With that I shall love and leave you until I write again,
Keep in touch,
Nicola

Thursday 10 November 2011

I got my answer :)!

Dear Friends and Family!

1 week since my last blog update! The weeks seem to be going fast these days which is a good thing, it's getting closer and closer to my favourite month of the year and an exciting adventure will also be happening in that month :).

On Saturday the 5th it was Guy Fawkes as you know which was Bonfire night here in the Uk too where a lot of people around the Uk lit Bonfires and some had fireworks. I was working that night and it was Christmas for us in the hotel, we have Christmas every Tuesday and Saturday until actual Christmas and yes I had to wear my santa hat for the guests.

This was one of my songs of the day last week:



On Sunday I went to Costa in my town.. It's a lovely coffee shop and I think it will be my new place to write and finish up some writing I've planned to do for ages.

This is another song that actually would be my theme for the week. I really like the lyrics from it. When I'm facing decisions, I like to see what God has got to say about them before I do anything. I may have things I want but more importantly I'd like to see what God wants for me. And well as far as what I should or shouldn't do, you've seen the title for this blog post.



In fact I've been doing so much thinking recently. I suppose because it's also getting to the end of the year and I've had so many flashbacks of this year and flashbacks even going back to SA and Zim days. So many memories.

Monday the 7th was departure day and I don't think I did much after the departure except sleep lol. On Tuesday was my half day so I work until 12:30pm then I am off until Thursday. I got baby powder all over me in the morning, a lot of people love putting baby powder all over their bathrooms.

On Wednesday morning I tried to sleep in but it didn't work and I was up fairly early doing all my washing - 3 loads of washing, I don't know how I had so much this time and I do it every week. As I said on twitter my energy level yesterday was not even at a level lol. However I managed to go out shopping and exploring different shops in my town. The funniest was a few months ago I found out this shop called "Jullian Graves" was actually a sweet/ food shop. I'd lived here for almost a year and always assumed it was something else condering most of the population in my town is 60+. Yesterday I went in it for my 1st time and bought way too many things and I've eaten them all already :O.

Probably yesterday's adventure guilted me in to running today! Well actually it was such a beautiful day today that I ran straight after my morning shift and I ran the whole way and pushed myself too. It felt really good. Climbing up the stairs to the kitchen later was slightly challenging though lol. I love running with music and because this song came on my ipod while I was running and it really made me miss home in Africa, it's my song of the day! I also thought of how my running journey started there! I used to run at 5am in the morning before school in Zimbabwe and I was always doing cross country in school. And in South Africa I used to run after work at about 5 or 6pm. And now I have a new memory of my running journey in my park in my town, which is stunning :)!



This evening I am working tonight, for now, I will be having my afternoon nap.

I have lots of things coming up in the next few weeks and months so lots to look forward to :D!

Love you guys,
Until I write again,
Nicola

Friday 4 November 2011

We must stand together and Leaving, Learning and Loving

Dear Friends and Family!

I decided to update my blog already, although I only have 2 days worth of news however you've probably noticed by blog updates are not only about my news ;)!

Although I will start with my news. On Thursday (yesterday) I was back to the world of work after my days off. I went for a run in the afternoon with a friend, it had been weeks since I last ran and I could feel it lol but it felt so good to be running. It always does! I've been running all my life and I usually have music when I run and the feeling is like no other!

This morning it was departure day (very busy day for us) and after my shift I literally ate lunch and then went and napped all afternoon. This evening I was serving in the dining room and one of my tables made me laugh because the one lady asked a few times where the menu was and then when she was handed the menu she said she couldn't read it because of her eyesight. I think it's one of those instances where you had to have been there. I like meeting new people and there are a lot of interesting things that happen at work.

This evening I was watching the American X factor - I haven't watched many of the episodes but I enjoy it and then I decided to write this blog post mainly to post this song. Now you'll see where my blog title comes from!



They're such great lyrics and it really gets you thinking!
"We must stand together
There's no getting even
Hand in hand forever
That's when we all win
That's, that's, that's when we all win."

And I'm really looking forward to this book coming out (November 22nd), if you haven't read her books yet you should they're amazing:



In fact here are the trailers for the first and second book in that series too:

The first book is called Leaving:



The second book is called Learning which I just finished yesterday:



As for what this weekend brings, I will find out. In the meantime God bless you all! You're all so special - thanking God for all of you in my life!

Thanks for reading my writing, I love sharing with you and I love to write.

I read this amazing quote now from Living the Love Dare - A Year of daily reminders to guide your heart:
God is sovereign. He does things His way. He's not a genie in a lamp that submits your every wish. But He does love you and desires an intimate relationship with you. This doesn't happen apart from prayer.

All in all I've had a good couple days :), I hope you have too.

Love hearing your news too,
I shall love and leave you until I write again,
Nicola

Wednesday 2 November 2011

Movember has arrived!

Dear Friends and Family!

Here comes my first blog post in November. Apparently it's Movember month too where men grow moustaches for charity.

I was off work on Friday (28th October) and I started reading my book Learning by Karen Kingsbury and I'm still reading it now, can hardly put it down, she's such a brilliant Christian author.

On the 29th we had a party for one of my friends because it was his birthday. It was a lot of fun!

On the 30th our clocks changed so now we have gone back an hour. Therefore I am now 2 hours behind Africa and 4 hours ahead of most people I know in America. Actually before I went to sleep the night before I set my phone back an hour but I didn't know it would go back an hour automatically too. So in the morning my alarm didn't go off and someone knocked on my door to wake me up haha, I was also confused about the time and what job I was doing when I opened my door because I'd just woken up lol. A few of the girls went to work early too because they forgot about the time change lol. Something always happens with this time change! Later I had my Costa coffee in my town! The Costa here is so nice! This was my song for that day, it's such an awesome song!



On the 31st it was Halloween and I went trick or treating lol. No I didn't. I also had the night off though and watched movies with a friend. It was departure day and it went very well. I also got good news regarding... well actually I'll tell you later ;)!

Yesterday, woah this must be the quickest blog update ever seeing as I'm already on yesterday! It was my half day which means I work till 12:30pm and then I am off until Thursday. I caught up with a few people. I love how technology helps you keep in touch.

In fact today has been a family catch up more or less, I've been catching up with quite a few of my family members the past couple days. It's been cold and rainy here today and I've had a very relaxed resting day which is nice, you do need to catch up once in a while. I am going to keep reading my amazing book later. Also went to Costa and bought a steamer. If you haven't had a steamer you should - they make my world - haha but really they are very good!

Oh yes and as of yesterday well let's just say it's happening! As to what is happening well you will find out :)!

I guess my blog is more of my basic news, it's to keep everyone updated but not everything is in my blog and it's still not a play by play of my life. However it gives you an idea of what I'm up to :)!

I love these verses:

‎"I can do all things in him who strengthens me." ~ Phillipians 4:13
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all," ~ 2 Corinthians 14

I was reading something in the book I am reading that said, "Remember... when you can't take another step, God will carry you." It's true God is always there! He's watching over you!

I shall love and leave you until I write again, I am off to get all cosy on this rainy day and read a book :).

And remember if you want to chat, I'm only a phone call, skype call, facebook message away! I'll always have time for you.

Keep in touch, love to hear your news and what is happening in your lives.

Love Nix

PS: (for the guys) so who is growing a moustache? lol