Miss G's Bloggings

Mar 11, 2013

Farewell to all of my Breathing Space Chums!

I've loved my job at Breathing Space Spa! I can honestly say that. What girl would not be in a dream world - surrounded by exquisitely designed interiors, a relaxing ambiance and, a personal favourite of mine: healthy living from super foods to super fitness!

A year and a half ago, sitting around a cozy carpeted room in Lakeside, Montana, a motley crew of friends gathered for my leaving do. A tradition in YWAM: each gave a word of encouragement. One that sticks out in particular is...

Friend One: "I just see the word SPA." Confused expression.
Friend Two: "You know that's what Emily wants to do in the future?"
Friend One: "No I didn't know that."

God knew.

I had had it on my heart to work in the spa industry, with the vision of learning the business, to then use it in the context of community development. Giving people the chance to earn a living whilst also improving the health and wellness of those that they were giving their service to.

I ventured back to England and researched various avenues to move towards this idea. In fact the opportunity landed on my lap. Which tends to happen when you're in step with the decider of destinies. Family friend Clare told me about a Personal Training position at a spa in town. I popped in with my CV and the long and short of it is I have been working there until now! God is so good as not only have I had the chance to experience working in an award winning spa, I have met some of the most amazing people on the way!

I want to say a massive thank you to the directors at the spa, Jane and Keith who have given me the opportunity to work with them. There is so much hard work that goes on behind the scenes which I appreciate all of and it takes some genius and a lot of expertise to make it all work so finely! A really easy couple to respect. Thank you for everything.

I also want to thank all of the people that I have worked with. Everyone's positivity and literal beauty inside and out has blessed me so much. I was pretty worn out by my international, cross cultural adventures and it has been like an oasis to come back to my own country and work with some of the warmest and friendly people I've ever met. Its been rejuvenating for me. Especially thanks to Lucy. It has been awesome getting to know you and your resilience, leadership and hospitality is a massive example! Thanks also to Karen who has patiently trained me up on front of house. I will miss working along side you for our "Productive Thursdays"!

To finish my sentimentality's I would like to lastly but definitely not least thank all of the people that I have got the privilege to personal train in the studio! Such a high calibre of people in every way. It has been an honour to meet you and work with you, I've loved all of our chats and laughs. I felt like a bit of a loser coming back from holiday and not being able wait to get to work again, but that is only because of all of the awesome people! Loved being part of your journey for this season and working alongside to see you achieve some amazing fitness progression!

So enough of my ramble, I'm onto the next chapter to the bustle of London, but I'm sure I will be back soon enough to one of my favourite places in the world... Breathing Space Spa.

Good bye for now and God Bless,

Emily G

xxx

Aug 14, 2012

One Year In England!

Time has flown by as it is coming up to a year since I flew into Heathrow airport from the USA last

September. The aim of returning home was to gain experience in the Spa industry as well as keeping

up my professional skills and this has definitely come about which I totally thank God for. I have been

fortunate to have started full-time work with Breathing Space Spa: continuing my personal training as

well as taking on a business assistant role. I couldn't ask for a better job. In the central picture above I

am running with one of our members Mandy who has just achieved a weight loss of 4 stone in the

course of the year! Other highlights of 2012 have been getting to meet my nephew Benjamin, who I

totally adore! Peter and Amber are visiting in August so I will get to see him again soon! Also we have

had lots of visitors for the Olympics thanks to help from friends and family (especially thanks to

Mum!). It has been really fun having people stay from USA, Switzerland, Norway, Finland and Nepal.

Being home has really given me time rest, refuel and take stock of where I'm going and what it will

take to get there. I don't feel that it is the right time to go to Cambodia in September as timing is

everything and preparation is essential! I feel that God has opened doors to gain work experience and

qualifications which will be really valuable for the future. In my small group at Soul Survivor Church

Harpenden we are studying the book of Acts: an exciting account of the early church with one mind

blowing event after another. With some research you learn that these events actually happened years

apart with a lot of time spent not directly on the mission field (in Acts 9 Saul goes home for about 12

years!). This assures me that “plodding along” in everyday life and being faithful in the small things is

all part of the plan! With a bigger vision of eventually being involved with a health centered business

as missions project I feel that the small things that I am doing this year will help lead me towards this.

From September...

Breathing Space . Swimming Teaching . Open University . Soul Survivor Church . Youth work

and possibly a business as missions course in Thailand?! (February)

Mar 25, 2012

Triathlon Training

Why would anyone want to do a triathlon? I have been training for the HSV triathlon in Hatfield, on May 13th for a month now and it has been excellent to ensure doing a good amount of cardio vascular exercise everyday. Unlike just training for long distance running it also has the added benefits of training in a variety of disciplines making clocking up the miles more interesting and meaning less of a likelihood for injury. The distances are: 400m swim, 20k bike ride finishing with a 5k run.

There is no going back now as I have officially signed up for the event! It is slightly intimidating being my first of its kind (and the fact that my times are towards the bottom of last years event!) but I would like to compete in support of Jeevits House: A rest house for aids orphans that I have connections with in Battambang, Cambodia. Last year we raised $300 for them to help fund summer kids camps for children from the local slums, including providing nutritious food during the day. Let me know if you would like to sponsor me for this event! Either per kilometre or just for completing! All proceeds will go to the same worthwhile cause!

Aug 9, 2011

Love In Its Rawest Form

Some ponderings in verse just before returning from outreach in Costa Rica. It started with one line, but turned out to be a story...

Love in its rawest form

Concerned momentum

A will to be good toward

A thought to expend oneself for another

It Involves more than one

What if the raw source was a person?

Where else could it come from?

Where does matter come from?

In the beginning God.

They Were

He Was

Matter was good

Some matter was more alive than another

Some matter had forever spirit

That matter was very good

That matter resembled the person source

That matter had the ability to expend oneself for another

But also to expend another for oneself

One action life-giving the other lead to death.

And what if the Father with the good toward will guided

the created resemblance on how to expend oneself for another?

But before even that to expend oneself for himself,

Which could only benefit oneself.

He Gave a command.

To follow it would be love

To not would be to expend from another

Which ultimately kills life.

They unfollowed

Which might mean to turn away

To Disobey

To Say, "I want my way, which is different to yours."

And when two walk in differing direction

Greater spans the degree of separation

Notably so when ones leads to life and the other conjures masses of lacking

to the point worse than nothing

Because death is painful

Togetherness is broken

With one in isolation

The question was laid bare

Because never before had this problem been there

Is travesty reversible?

An act that ramifies every soul

The tragic truth that the matter with forever spirit was destined

for forever exclusion in a place where death is painful and exit exists not.

The person source,

Love in its rawest form willed into momentum

A passionate concern for their creation,

An idea to end the deprivation

A part of his heart he gave

To become the created resemblance

And yet to fully remain love in its rawest form

which could only mean perfection

Perfection followed hallowed command

What ever it might demand

Therefore keeping perfect step with the father of creation

not one degree of separation

life on earth to the breadth of its summation

And the second part?

To expend oneself for another, in its greatest form

To lay ones life down for a brother

He took the task

That only the source person could ask

Not because he had set a foot wrong

But because one he was passionately concerned for had

Not just one but every soul who ever turned away

We all had

Everyone was bad

What happens when perfection dies?

Right before your eyes

Perfect truth no lies

They Were

He was

Together...then wrathful separation

But they were one

A will for concern in its rawest form

That power could not be overcome

A force of magnitude innate before time

magnetism reviving life to its prime

Death became life and this was miraculously multiplied

To all that chose to listen and hear

And know it as a personal belief

Enough to follow the command

What ever love in its rawest form might demand

To allow concerned momentum

Goodness toward even one

who expends another for themselves

That we can give

Because love in its rawest form

Gave everything for us.

May 31, 2011

Adventure Camp!

Prayer for a new kids camp we're running this year would be awesome! It is for kids in Lakeside and we're running it at a super cheap price to make sure no one misses out! The Theme is "U turn" that it will be a time where the kids can have oodles of fun and hear about Jesus.

May 10, 2011

For You I'd Sing I'd Dance

Mothers Day Weekend brought us many top events in the Flathead Valley, including our first ever fashion show fundraiser held right here at YWAM MT. The Show titled "Divine Romance" endeavoured to invite the wider Flathead Community to share in the many talents that we have here at YWAM Lakeside. The event was raising money for some awesome causes: 501 Recording Studio - Lakeside and Jeevits House - Cambodia. Three boutiques from Kalispell showcased their apparel including: Fun, Funky Fashion from Machallie G's, Summer Dresses, Jeans and T's from the upscale resale store The Alley Exchange and beautiful designer tux and bridal gowns from As You Wish. A magical night was had by all; music, dance, sparkling cider in flutes, canapés, sugared almonds, chocolate covered blueberries, strawberries and creme all from our generous sponsors Glacier Bank, Lakeside. Thank you to all those who helped to put the evening together and for all those who came and helped to raise over $600! The first of many we hope!

Leah, Jackie and Nathan wearing As You Wish

"Play With Me" by The School Of Dance

Treat Street - SOD

Erika Goodfellow - Professional Opera Singer

The Pre-Show

Backstage: Jackie, Sarah and Kelly

Alyssa Thompson modelling for As You Wish. Mariska and Alisha were our amazing MC's for the evening.

Chelsea and Luciano - Couples Dance - Marry Me

Erica and Jason Modelling for As You Wish

Models for Machalle G's: Savannah, Aimee and Jordan

Apr 9, 2011

Divine Romance

Arrangements for our Spring Fashion Show Fundraiser "Divine Romance" are well underway. Not only are we raising money for a YWAM project here at Lakeside: 501 Recording Studio we are also supporting Jeevits House in Battambang, Cambodia. A rest house for AIDS orphans founded by Laura Altemus.

Mar 29, 2011

What D'u Want? A Medal?

Double Awards: Best Athlete, Most Improved, Best Beard and W2011 Basketball Tournament Winners!

Demolished Trophy...

...Last Minute of the Volleyball Tournament from 13 - 13 who will take the win!?

The Winning Team...

Sculpted and painted by Miss Holly Vaughan

Mar 12, 2011

Wait Till The End Of Time

If I could go anywhere right now I think I would fly to the moon,
And gaze upon the earth,
And ask God questions, like can I travel the world and do whatever on a whim?
And he would say, "What is it that you're searching for?"
And I would say, "Peace, happiness and fulfilment."

I wish I could wave a magic wond and I wouldn't ache and I wouldn't be tired and I wouldn't be uninspired
I wish I had a button, that when I'm annoyed I could just turn down like a dimmer switch
I wish I could take a soak in a lilly dotted lake
I wish I could dance the tango all day
It would be lovely if the tidy fairies would come and visit my room.

Life would be lovely if there were no computer viruses,
If monkeys lived in the near by trees
If the bed made itself and if things never broke

The world would be a better place if we all went to Africa once
And tried fresh banana
And if lies disappeared

Sometimes I think, "I'm done, I'm experiencing the unfun, I'd like to bath in the sun."
A day with no questions,
A day full of friends, on the beach in the movie the beach
but not the same story.

I'd like a day where I could chat to whoever I wanted when ever I wanted and transport to any place in the world
I'd like an hour where I sat in the throne room in Westminster Abbey and change all of the rules, just for a short time.
I'd like a minute of free falling tied to a bungee.
I'd like a second where I felt totally loved, free and rested.

Have you ever felt like you weren't sure if this part of your life had a punch-line?
Like what was the point of my preceding life, but a memory?
And that what is NOW will soon be in the PAST
How do we know that it even happened?

But that was a question.

Do nothing for a bit
nothing but simply sit, or recline, just listen to time

pause
pause in front of people, behind people, with no people

stop
stop your thoughts

And Imagine.