January 21, 2006
Born today, 20 January, 2006, at 1 in the afternoon was
Copelyn Bency Lowther,
making me an Auntie for the second time!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Big sister Rylee waiting to meet
Copelyn for the first time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What a good big sister!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Auntie Felicia holding Copelyn for the first time
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copelyn and Daddy (Mommy was resting)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





Happy Birthday Little One!
(view comments)

revolution.

January 18, 2006
You say you want a revolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know you can count me out in
Don't you know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright

You say you got a real solution
Well you know
we'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well you know
We're doing what we can
But if you want money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell you is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright

You say you'll change the constitution
Well you know
we all love to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well you know
You better free your mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright
Alright
(view comments)

revolution.

January 18, 2006
You say you want a revolution Well you know We all want to change the world You tell me that it's evolution Well you know We all want to change the world But when you talk about destruction Don't you know you can count me out in Don't you know it's gonna be alright Alright Alright You say you got a real solution Well you know we'd all love to see the plan You ask me for a contribution Well you know We're doing what we can But if you want money for people with minds that hate All I can tell you is brother you have to wait Don't you know it's gonna be alright Alright Alright You say you'll change the constitution Well you know we all love to change your head You tell me it's the institution Well you know You better free your mind instead But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow Don't you know know it's gonna be alright Alright Alright
(view comments)

to-night.

January 18, 2006
hello ladies and fellas. I'm writing you from Sweet Carolina, the south y'all. I've spent the past couple of days kind of hidden away in my mom's house laying around and resting....I think I could use a few more days of that. Tonight I'm gonna meet up with some friends and do the shopping/dinner/movie thing. I need it. That's about all I'm gonna say for now. I'm home.
(view comments)

she's leaving home, bye bye.

January 14, 2006
I will be boarding a plane in a few hours! Woo Hoo! I really need this break.
I need to be pampered and fussed over I think. I just need to relax and enjoy my time. My mom phoned this morning she's rearraging and decorating things...getting her new sunroom ready for my arrival. I'm just ready for my bed. Then we'll see from there. I think this time will go by way too fast, but I want to enjoy every second of it. I really need to enjoy ever second and be refreshed and renewed and revived. These last months have taken their tole.
I am also looking forward to things being very different when I get back here. They need to be....at the moment, someone is banging something. I dont know what it is....this morning it was the blowing of a ram's horn FOR TWO HOURS! are you kidding me!?!
well. I think I'm going to stay in tonight after all. The DTS wants me to go have drinks with them, but i'm too tired. I think Julie and I are just gonna watch a movie. And I'm gonna make roast chicken and potatoes. mmm.
Ok...this entry has become all scattery. I'm gonna go, and start dinner. And then pack. And then watch a movie.
next entry will be from Chucktown, USA :)
(view comments)

£5.

January 11, 2006
I went into town yesterday to pick up a few things to bring home with me. For some reason I went into Marks & Spencers, I don't usually go in there, it's too posh for my purse. I was passing through the sale section, right on the front of the rack nearest to the isle were these beautiful jeans. I noticed the tag, I thought it said £5. But there's no way that could be. Sure enough £5! amazing. I figured I wouldn't even bother because they wouldn't be my size, and they'd definitely be too short, all trousers are too short.
You'll never believe it. They were my size...and they were talls! This never happens. I snatched them up and looked for a few other things to make my trip to the dressing room worth it. I tried them on first because, I was sure they'd be funky somehow and I should just get it out of the way. Well. They're not funky or wonky. Not at all. They're perfect. They fit perfectly and are actually a bit too long. So I can wear whatever shoes I want with them! Everthing else I tried on was rubbish. But I got to join the que with my perfect jeans. And the best part was that they were only £5.
Then...I passed by a children's shop window. I saw some alligator welly boots. I thought...my neice should have some wellies from her auntie in Scotland. The alligator ones turned out to be boy's. There were only sandals and dress up shoes in the girl's section...what to do, what to do...I decided it was just too bad, oh well. On my way out There were a pair of girl's wellies! they were just hidden behind everything else! AND they were on sale too! It was a sucessful trip to Paisley Cross.
(view comments)

more wisdom

January 10, 2006
“THE MISSION OF A SMALL GROUP LEADER IS TO DEVELOP MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS AND TO HELP SHAPE THEM INTO THE PEOPLE GOD DESIGNED THEM TO BE.”
(view comments)

January 10, 2006
THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO SAY BUT COULDN'T FIND THE WORDS!!!!

"GOOD LEADERS ARE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR WAYS TO MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH KIDS OUTSIDE THE MEETING"
Good leaders develop relationships with students not only by leading them during the meeting, but also by pursuing them outside of the meeting. Remember Jesus’ strategy with his sheep. When 99 showed up, he went looking for the one who didn’t.
Jesus lived out this strategy with his disciples in a more profound way.

Mark 3:14 says, “He appointed 12—designating them apostles—that they might be with him” (emphasis ours). Being with Jesus was the fi rst and most important goal for this renegade small group. The unbelievable invitation of Jesus is that he calls us to a ministry of inviting kids to be with us—so that they can be with him!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(view comments)

5 days!

January 09, 2006
"there are only two emotions on a plane... Boredom and terror", said Orson Welles. I happen to agree with at least the boredom part, I've never actually been afraid to fly or flying. Anyone who has made a transcontinental flight knows the hours of painful boredom, especially when the in flight films are rubbish!!!!!!!!!!
Why am I going on about boredom on planes you might wonder, I would if I were you by the way. It is because in 10 short days I will be making a flight across the Atlantic once again! I'm comin home (for a month)!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so looking forward to all the things I miss so much. It hardly seems real. I really need a break. These past several months have been wild to say the least, I have quite a few new gray hairs. As life is, there's been lots of good and lots of bad. This is actually the longest I've been away from home. These past 8 months have marked many firsts. My first Christmas and New Year's overseas. My first Guy Fawkes Night. My first trip to Switzerland. My first taste of white pudding, which I do not recommend, it sounds nice...but it's not, it's a battered and deep fried sausage thing, it's sick. My first time standing in what's left of William Wallace's birthplace. My first overseas bank account, sounds glamorous doesn't it. Most of it is, except anything ending in "pudding".

Let's see....so far all I have planned is a hair cut. That's right! I scheduled an appointment with my beloved James from Scotland :) Yeah, you know how I do. Imagine me not having a hair cut in more than half a year, even I'm shocked.
I may be able to make it up to the Queen City. I may be able to make it up to The City That Never Sleeps aka The Big Apple aka New York aka Kirsten's couch. Who knows! It's all open. Oh wait, I do have big plans with Shona to get taco bell and watch movies!!! I can hardly wait to worship at Seacoast again!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow, I really, really, really miss it. But no where near as much as I miss my friends and family. My new niece will be born while I'm home!...maybe even on MY birthday!
I'm hoping to do catching up with lots of people. I'm expecting to do lots of lunches. I have photos and stories galore, I'm looking forward to hearing stories and looking at photos of the weddings, birthdays and every days that I've missed. I also have hopes for what I'll be returning to when I come back to Scotland. Things have been especially difficult over the past months. I've been assured that things will be in place when I return that will make everything run more smoothly. I've been assured by more than one party. Things must change, that's just a fact. I happen to have a love hate relationship with change. I really love it even when it hurts, it's the uncomfortable times during change that I hate. I'm also really trusting that God knows how much I can handle, and that He brought me for here for a reason. That He made me with certain gifts and strengths and weaknesses. That He brought me to Paisley with a plan in mind, and that that plan was not to crush me. This short passage of scripture is of deeper meaning to me now, than before. Please do pray for a renewal in this place, and in me while I'm away.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

I wonder if by mature they mean having gray hairs, because if they do, I'm getting seriously mature under my hair color. After long times spent having character built and tests of faith it's crucial to spend time watching films in one's mom's new sun room while washing the new clothes one will buy with birthday money, for free. It is of equal importance to drink sweet tea and eat a real cheeseburger from The Boulevard Diner, in fact, I'm pretty sure that is a Dr. prescribed treatment for homesickness. Cheeseburgers and sweet tea may also be substituted with Pad Thai, Sushi and anything from Jestine's kitchen and one honey mocha's from Starbucks...Dr.'s orders. A somewhat new radical therapy consists of spending hours on King Street either participating in retail therapy or being submerged in the live local music tank or "Cumberlands". It could be risky but, I don't mind taking a chance, you know, for science. I also need to renew my visa while home! eek.
So here I come! I should be arriving at the Charleston "International" airport at about 11:21pm on 15 January! Please don't think I'll be too busy to see you while I'm at home! I don't want to end up sitting in my mom's new sun room allll alone, well, some of the time I do but...please email and call me! Lets watch movies and sight-see and eat bean burritos, crab legs and cheese burgers while drinking sweet tea and chewing cinnamon gum...or whatever. I'M SO EXCITED!

love, Felicia
(view comments)

2006.

January 04, 2006
so...it's now 2006. time seems to speed up as it goes on. it's somehow not fair...your whole childhood you're desperate for time to speed up. you're not just 8 yrs old...you're 8 and three quarters. There were lifetimes between Christmases (it's a new word, don't worry).
I've revisited the age when time crawls over these past 7 months. But then all of a sudden it's the year 2006.
Shona was here for New Years. We got to spend the day together on New Year's Eve. We had adventures with windshield wipers, and a basically horrible car. I had a white chocolate mocha and Shona had a haggis supper with pickled onions.
That night we got fancied up and headed over to Mossy for a ceilidh. There was an akward incident that will go unmentioned other than this statement, but then the rest of the night was good fun! I was even dragged out onto the dance floor a few times. The truth is I really do like to dance, I just feel terribly akward doing it infront of people. The count down happened and then we stood in a circle and sang Auld Lang Syne. Seemed a perfect ending to the night. Then I was away home shortly there after. I spent New Year's Day with Shona and the Chalks too. I'm really so thankful to be so near by to them. I can't imagine what my life would be like otherwise!
After rushing through the meal, Shona and I were off to the cinema with a bunch of people from Mossy. We came back here for a few games of sardines, then hours of silly games and tea and chats. I had a whole lotta fun.
(view comments)

me and patrick in west kilbride.

December 30, 2005

(view comments)

December 25, 2005.

December 30, 2005
December 25, 2005 marks my very first Christmas away from home. This is an overview of the day. Because Patrick and I were up til 5 am watching old britcoms (british sitcoms) I slept in until about 11 or noon. We putz around for the morning, I made "Clark Gable" pancakes. I don't know why they're called Clark Gable pancakes, that's just what the recipe said. Patrick and I watched some Billy Connolly. Patrick went for a nap and I started getting ready to go to the Wishart's house for Christmas dinner.
Bill, Erica, Alister, Rachel, Calum and dog Jesse were fabulous! Patrick and I had a good time, and we ate well. We hung out, watched Dr. Who, the men drank fine Scottish whiskey, us ladies had red wine. We played a music game, which the girls won...it was a close game...we only won by 1 point because of a judge who favoured the boys!
All in all it was good. It was a little weird not being with my own family, but the Wishart's really made us feel welcome. Patrick even went away with some chocolate and a wee bottle of whiskey. can't beat that with a stick can ya?
(view comments)

christmas thingy.

December 25, 2005
This is my first Christmas away from home. I mean it'd been years since I've woken up at my Mom's house for Christmas morning. Waking up early on Christmas morning lost it's charm at around 13 or 14...sleeping in became a much better option. But there's still something not very Christmasy about being overseas, and not having the familiar traditions, like Seacoast's beautiful Christmas eve candlelight service.
But this year I suppose I'm am making my own traditions. My friend from my DTS, Patrick, is visiting me here in Paisley, I'm so happy to have him here! Tonight we went to midnight Watchlight Celebration at the Paisley Abbey. I'm not usually a big fan of the super "traditional" church service with music by organ and vicar in robes, but this evenings service was different, it was so beautiful.
The Abbey itself is breathtaking at night. The alter and choir boxes were lightly glowing with hundreds of small candles. The tea lights cast just enough lights to give shadow to the amazing vaulted ceiling. The normally empty abbey was full of late night church goers celebrating Jesus' birth. It did not matter at all why you were there. Whether because you're a faithful follower, or a holiday Christian. Whether because you wanted to make sure your whole year's worth of sins would be taken care of before the start of the new year or because you are there to genuflect in adoration. Tonight we were all worshippers. The ancient pues were full of quite a montley crew. Some were dressed to the nines, with hat and fur. Others came just as they were, ripped jeans and a dirty tshirt. It didn't matter, tonight we were all worshippers.
Some people knew all the words to the carols, others did not, like myself. Some words were spelled differently like "nowell" instead of noel. Silent Night is called Still Night and has completely different lyrics but same melody. It didn't matter either. I was part of something so much bigger than myself or my own experience. I think I will remember tonight for a long time. I will remember what it was like to be someone new in the midst of something so antediluvian. I will remember my first Christmas eve in Scotland. I will remember this chapter in my life's story. My first Christmas Eve away from home.
(view comments)

December 19, 2005

(view comments)

sooo cold.

December 16, 2005
well, for the past 2 weeks i've been late for my one on ones. i just couldn't seem to make it to west kilbride when i was supposed to. BUT TODAY I AM NOT LATE! i'm like an hour early. and it's unbelievably cold. and silly me, i don't have too few layers on. I told myself I would start wearing 2 pairs of socks. But I didn't do it. I figured out to wear a sweater and thermal but...I didn't do that either. So I'm pretty much frozen. Well, not at the moment because I've ducked into the library for shelter from the bitter cold. But I have to walk up to the house, then back to the train...then wait for the train...then go from the train to the bus, and from the bus to the house...i really will freeze i think. It's the kind of cold where every muscle in your body tenses up and It's kinda hard to breath. The kind of cold that makes you want to cry, but you can't because there will just be bits of ice frozen to your eyeballs. Eyeball is a very strange word by the way.
I've just noticed that above my head are a load of scary paper people strung on sticks. It appears to be a 12 days of Christmas mobile. It's frightening, especially the leaping lords and dancing ladies *shudder*. ooooh man. i'm really not looking forward to venturing back out in that freezingness. I feel like I'm being sneaky sitting here in the West Kilbride library, it's dead quiet in here....Beth is gone now, I have Stanely House aaaallllllll to myself. Esther leaves on Monday so then I'll have the car too. Imagine, I'll be mobile and have my own home/mansion for 3ish weeks. Hopefully I'll be able to spend some quality time with some grown up people. pretty fabulous.
Patrick will be here in 8 days. Shona will be here in 10 days. I will be arriving in Charleston in exactly a month!
(view comments)

eeeew. gross.

December 07, 2005
i suppose it is because it is SO FREAKING COLD IN THIS HOUSE, but my nose will not stop dripping. it's so disgusting, seriously. my fingers are numb, i keep making typos. and i think i need to start wearing at least 2 pairs of socks. i'm already wearing my thermals...but i guess i need more. i was in a meeting earlier, it was in the back classroom of st. ninians...i never took my jacket off, or my scarf, and i had to put my gloves ON! in the building! what is with this place?! why won't you people use the heat???!!!!!????!?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that is all for the moment...i'll be back later. and i'm listening to the films ep by the way. it's the type of foot tappin, finger snappin music you want to play everywhere you go as your personal soundtrack. buy it. now. i'm not kidding. seriously.

(view comments)

do you really want a revolution?

December 05, 2005
"i break stereotypes. i challenge statue quo. i enact change. i seek GOD. I live life. I impact the world."
I am so drawn to that quote, I don't know who said it or when, but I have adopted it as my own. It inspires me. It stirs my passions. It challenges me. It makes me want to challenge others. I seem to keep coming back to the same ideas, we're meant to live in FULLNESS. We're designed to live in relationship. We're destined to impact the world. God challenges us to share our lives with people, not just offer them our "ministry". People are people, they are not projects. So what are we doing? What am I doing? We can not continue to do what we have always done. It is not fruitfull. It is not enacting change. It is not promoting personal development. Without development and progress things can not make impact. Stagnant water does not produce life. If we don't have life, what do we have?
Do we really mean what we say when we say "God bring revival, bring a revolution". I dare say we don't. We like the idea, but I think very few are willing to take the risk of being radical enough to be a catalyst.
I want to show you something...
do you know who this man is? You'll most likely know him as a revolutionary, a dangerous man. He was a man who at the root of it all wanted to change the world for the better. When he was a young man he travelled through his nation on a dodgy motorcycle. It is during those months that his heart was moved for other people. He spent time with them, he talked with them, he ate meals with them, he touched their lives, and they his. Relationships were formed where ever he went. He loved and was loved. Ernesto "Che" Guevera reminds me very much of another revolutionary who caused a great deal of trouble every where He went. This other man paid very dearly for being so radical.

I want a revolution. I want to know people and bring love into their lives. I want to see their lives changed by that love. I am desperate to see them become the catalysts for change that will impact the world. It's all very simple. Break stereotypes. challenge statue quo. enact change. seek GOD. live life. impact the world.
(view comments)

imagine that!

December 05, 2005

lookie my two favourite senior pastors! greg surratt from my home church on the left with pastor rober chalk of mossvale community church here in paisley!
(view comments)

my mom's birthday

December 02, 2005
it's my mom's birthday on sunday, everyone send her birthday wishes! she deserves them, she's a star. calowther@yahoo.com or if you wanna write her a card ask me for the address!
(view comments)

the irn bru rumour.

December 02, 2005
i would like to address the rumour that i love irn bru. it's simply not true. i do enjoy a bottle of irn bru from time to time, but i say i love the stuff is an exaggeration. the stuff jacks me up as in it makes me hyper. i do love white chocolate mochas though. i'm also a rather big fan of coke, even though it's really bad for you. but as far as irn bru goes....the day glow orange color is a bit of what makes it a bit less appealing than oh....dirty dish water.
(view comments)