Here you’ll find the blogs I read regularly. Some people I knew in real life, some people I’ve met online and have since met ‘in real life’, others I only know through blogging or twitter!

…living in Scotland

Blobbs of Ink - Paul was one of the ‘youth’ of MBC but has now gone off to uni – braving the weegieland in pursuit of greater knowledge of science! He’s also a fellow Jambo, something I wholeheartedly approve of.

Fran Brady - A Scottish author, one of the many ‘Barnabus’-like people in my life and volunteers with the pregnancy crisis centre I work in. She’s lots of fun. Read her book!

Help, I work with children - Lynn is a Childrens & Families Pastor and used to be what I planned on being: a geography teacher! She’s pretty awesome with a huge passion for God and the work she does.

Kilau Coffee - Well, ok, I don’t know them well, but we’ve met…lots of times…because when I wasn’t at Foresterhill,  you’d likely find me in Kilau. Best crepes ever.

Learning to Love… - Lindsay also goes to MBC, and I’ve FINALLY met her in person. From reading her blog and her tweets I know she loves cake and having fun. Go take a wee visit!

Matt & Jude Tindale – Matt & Jude are friends from MBC. Jude did inter:act at the same time as myself & Ruth. They have 2 gorgeous kiddles – one might be known as the Pied Piper of Pune and the other that I nicknamed Mini Miyagi while she was but a ‘bump’. Their blog is a tale of family life as they go on a journey into life as overseas missionaries.

Mairead – One young woman’s journey battling cancer. I have been so inspired by the Mairead’s strength that she has shown through the challenges that have faced her over this year.

New Life From Old - Gavin is a Medical Physicist & was one of my first friends at MBC. Several people used to think we were dating, which we find very funny. Recently, Gavin expressed his huge relief when I confessed to our smallgroup that I am determined never to marry an Englishman.

Quiet Hyperbole – Scott was born in Scotland’s captial – where the best of us are born .Thought provoking blogger and lover of good music, Scott currently lives in the Weegieland.

Soul Surfers - Brisaac is a drummer, surfer and husband to Vicky, Dad to Miss S and the Mini Kahuna. He used to be one of my smallgroup leaders and a lead worshipper. My life is richer and much more fun with these guys in my real life!

…living in England

Baggin’s World - I got ‘meet’ Tim when Linus introduced us via e-mail when I was hosting my first blog party on the topic of community. Tim has a real gift for creative writing, and I can totally see how he & Linus are friends.

Blue Soul – Ben is a priest who lives in North East England. He does crazy things like giving up wearing shoes for lent.

Innocent Drinks - If you’ve never had an innocent smoothie you’ve missed out my friends. They were the first company to use 100% recyclable materials for their plastic bottles their drinks come in. Good quality, healthy, fresh and ethical…

Linusandco – Linus lives in Newcastle. He knows people I know and bizarrely one of his friends was also part of Soul in the City Durban at the same time as me!  He’s very encouraging person to have comment on your blog.

Looking for Something Deeper - Lucy lives in Southern England with her husband and has a very sweet rabbit called Charlie. I was first drawn to Lucy’s blog when I discovered that she  has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) which I was diagnosed with when I was 19, and later recovered from. Lucy is another photographer!

Making Memories - Rebecca is a now a qualified staff nurse. As someone who studied in the health care world and worked in the NHS, it’s a real encouragement to see someone giving an honest view of how they live their beliefs out in a secular healthcare world.

Nicola Hulks - Nicola is a fabulous lady, a gifted writer who loves to travel. We met when she came to do her MSc at Scotland’s best uni (oh yes, Aberdeen!) and we bonded with a weekly ritual of prayer, chocolate log and One Tree Hill. During a very interesting gap year, the poor lassie had to camp out on my living room floor. She’s also one of the best friends a girl could ask for.

Oli Lewington – Oli seems to be a very creative person and most of that comes through drama, writing and film. I discovered Oli through his work with Live Life then Give Life via twitter.

The Ongoing Adventures of ASBO Jesus - You know, I don’t know much about Jon or his wife Clare, other than they have a dog, go to Greenbelt and Jon makes very thought provoking and cool cartoons! He’s even done one for me based on me and my friends commonly used phrase “I feel like I’m an alien on Planet Christian”

Ruthy’s Ramblings - Ruth is a lovely Welsh lass who works as Children & Family Pastor in the South West. I met her when she worked in Edinburgh Zoo and we did inter:act together. She’s a fabulously fun person to be around. She also drives a corsa, and back in her Devon days had her Elmo kidnapped.

Something funny I guess – Mike lives in Watford, and I got to meet him in London when we had a ‘tweet-up’ to see Ray Meagher (Home and Away legend) in Priscilla: Queen of the Desert.

…living in Wales

D Train – Jeff and Christine Gill are part of a really cool church I want to visit in Conwy, Wales where they do lots of childrens and youth work. Jeff gives me good computery technical advice and Christine is another incredible photographer and generally all round creative person with skills I’m in awe of.

sPARKLY sARAH art – Sarah is also part of the same cool church Jeff & Christine Gill are part of. Sarah is an artist, and you should totally check it out – she creates jewellery, cards, canvasses (sp?!) amongst other things. Go check it out!

…living in Northern Ireland

5enses - Connor is another Northern Irish person, only he’s not trying to take over Scotland (at least I don’t think he is). A very talented photographer who loves to travel.

Eatin’ Thinkin’ Bloggin’ – Diane is married to David and she is a Northern Irish lass who used to live in Sydney. She has a cat called Maebh who is getting a passport. We share the same favourite word (‘miscreant’). And she gets brownie points for having a Scottish word as her blog title. Woo!

Shaping the Space – David and his wife, Diane lived in Sydney, Australia but recently moved to Northern Ireland. He’s a Jesus follower too, and is passionate about using music to lead others in worship to Him.

…living in Zimbabwe

Learning to Breathe - Pam is an Edinburgh friend, and I’m so happy that you get to see more of her thoughts and writing. She’s also wise and a great youth worker!!

…living in South Africa

Carl’s Blog & Michelle’s Blog – Had the blessing of meeeting Carl, Michelle and their family while I was in South Africa in July 2009. They are working with Seed of Hope Community Development, a project that will always have a special place in my heart!

Liam and Rachel.com - Liam went to one of the best universities around, you know, the same one as me? He studied Divinity there. He is now married to Rachel, and they are about to embark on an exciting adventure in Masi, South Africa

…living in Australia (so not fair!)

Amber Crabtree – I’m really just getting to know Amber through twitter, and so excited that she is blogging now. Another online friend with mad photography skills!

More about nothing – Paula is another cool Aussie friend, but mostly a twitter friend than a blogging friend. Another vocalist who also is involved with counselling and youth work…!

The Party That Never Quits – Jen is a mum, wife, songwriter….did I mention she has SIX kids? Wow. Another Aussie twitter friend who I’m jealous of because she gets to sing AND live in Australia…

…living in New Zealand

Adventures of Holly - I got ‘introduced’ to Holly when we were both doing guest posts for Rebecca’s blog, and was very honoured when Holly accepted an invitation to be part of the Community Blog Party. Holly is a newly qualified teacher and lives in Christchurch.

…living in Japan

Fearfully Made – Kamsin is English, and has a very cool name. She teaches in Japan. She’s also a pretty rockin’ photographer.

…living in Canada

65_RedRoses – Eva Markvoort was the star of the documentary 65_RedRoses. Eva was born literally within days of me, but with a genetic disease called Cystic Fibrosis. She received a double lung transplant in 2007, but later her body went into chronic rejection. She was in hospital for several months waiting for a second transplant but the lungs never came. She died on Saturday 27th March 2010. Her family continue to update her blog as they continue Eva’s legacy of fundraising to find a cure for CF, and raising awareness of the need for more organ donors.

Naked Pastor - David is a cartoonist, artist and pastor. He and his family live in New Brunswick.

Shasher’s Life – Shannon lives in Ontario. She is the wife of a Pastor, works from home while looking after her 4 kiddles. She’s also addicted to coffee, and shares with me a love for South Africa (and more specifically KwaZulu-Natal like me!)

…living in the USA

Bethany Hamilton – Bethany lives in Hawaii and is a surfer sponsored by RipCurl.  She’s also pretty inspirational as she continued to surf after getting her arm bitten off by a tiger shark when she was 13 years old. I also love Bethany for this post: telling us why soda is bad, and diet soda even worse (preach it sister!!)

Carpe Diem – Ally lives in the South, and works in the world of Law. Her posts sometimes just totally crack me up with giggles and I just love how down to earth Ally is!

Coffee Shop Journal – Marla lives in Florida and loves Jesus, coffee, family, friends and community. Marla is another Barnabus, and again such an encouraging person to have commenting on your blog. Hoping we’ll meet the Saunders clan in the not-so-distant future…!

Color Me Katie - Is the very colourful, bubbly blog that is a ray of sunshine in the blogosphere. This is where I head when I’m struggling to smile.

Confessions of a CF Husband – If you haven’t read Nathan’s blog, where have you been? Wow is about all I can say as I’ve followed the incredible rollercoaster journey that Nathan has been on with his wife Tricia (who has Cystic Fibrosis) and their miracle baby daughter, Gwyneth. Possibly the only  blog that has brought me to tears more than once.

Don Miller blog – Donald Miller is one of my favourite authors. Full stop. He also has been working to start  a very cool organisation called The Mentoring Project. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

Faith, Hope, Lovebugs – Tricia lives on the OBX of NC. Her husband is Nathan (of the CF Husband blog). She is one wise lady, and has a lot to offer with all she has learned through the challenges and blessings in her life so far.

From Africa, With Love - Caroline is from Washington, NC married to a South African and they have a son who was born in Scotland, another born in South Africa and now they are all living in North Carolina. How’s that for international?!

Gavin Owens – Gavin’s blog tagline is that Gavin is ‘puttin’ the cool back in chronic‘. Gavin’s parents Adam and Karen regularly updated about the ups and downs of Gavin’s journey with Mitochondrial Disease. A fighter to the very end, Gavin (aged 3) received his healing when he passed away in November 2009. Karen continues to blog there sharing about their family’s journey of grief plus the work they are continuing to do in honour of Gavin. Check out the Baby Legs Campaign!

Grit and Glory - Alece is originally from New York, USA & is now part of the Hodge Lodge. Alece was the founder of an amazing organisation called Thrive Africa. Grit and Glory is a very honest blog about Alece’s journey through life and leadership.

inProgress – Tam Hodge lived in Oregon when I first ‘met’  her and has a husband, Brent, known online as inWorship, and 2 lively and musically talented teenagers. They recently moved to Nashville, Tennessee where Brent has taken on a job as a pastor at Cross Point Church. Tam just generally cracks me up with her comments and tweets on a daily basis!

Leading in Shades of Grey – Jenni lives in Nashville, and is the Executive Pastor of CrossPoint Church, and founded CultivateHer (a project aimed at encouraged and equipping women in leadership). I’ve had the privilege of learning from Jenni during some Leading and Loving It events too.

Lindsey Nobles - Lindsey lives in California. I love Lindsey’s blog not only because she is another single Jesus-loving lady whose writing I so relate to, but also because she is real, down to earth, wise & challenges me in what she writes.

Leading and Loving It – Lori and her husband Jud head up a church in Las Vegas. Yes. Las Vegas!! They have 2 kiddles and a fun sense of humour. Lori’s blog about life as a  Pastor’s Wife attracted a lot of following, and has now turned into a network and resource for Pastor’s Wives & women in other areas of leadership.

Mandy Thompson - Mandy is a singer, musician, songwriter. She also loves chocolate. Yum!

Seattleite Imagery – Alisha is another writer who loves to travel. She is an American, but has been living in Japan, England and New Zealand over the last few years. She is now back living in the Pacific Northwest of the USA.

Shelley Hendrix - Shelley is a wife, mother, teacher, speaker, author, and television talk show host who lives in Atlanta. She started a women’s ministry called ‘Church 4 Chicks’ in 2008, and is one of my ‘Leading and Loving It’ friends.

Standing on Giants – Kyle is from Missouri, loves coffee and is another 20-something blogger (in fact he started the 20-something bloggers list, if you catch the buffalo badge to the right!). He’s also pretty tech & social media savvy.

The Rogge Family - The Rogges were in California, but are now back in Virginia. Jessica spent a year at university in Aberdeen where I got to know her through a university CU smallgroup a bunch of us started in our 2nd/3rd year of uni.

Without Wax – Pete is married to Brandi, and has 3 sons. He is the Pastor of Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN. Been really encouraged by both Pete and Brandi over the last year, particularly with their involvement with Compassion in India and some of the other exciting things going on that Cross Point folks are involved in.