Celebrations!

It's only Tuesday and yet it feels like it should already be Friday ! Why do I feel to exhausted? Well it's been a really really full on few days...the weekend began on Friday morning where I was pleasantly woken up by a little boy literally beaming from ear to ear declaring that it was his birthday...and that was the  setting for the next few days, for my boys do t just celebrate birthdays for one day but a whole weekend! Daniel was especially excited that his birthday fell this year on Red Nose Day (comic relief) and so got to wear his own clothes for the day at school.  We celebrated with grandma and grandad  on Friday at Pizza Express and later on I with cake (Star Wars of course!) and went on to celebrate with friends on Saturday taking 17 children aged between 2-11 bowling. The kids were fab at getting along considering they were a mix from home, school and church.  It was an amazing afternoon, pretty chilled out as far as kids parties are concerned and the host at the bowling place said at the end that we were the best behaved party she's had..she had never seen children behave so well...!  And then on Sunday we had more gifts given, mothering Sunday and Daniel again joining the children's choir to sing his heart out infront of the whole church. It really was a delight to be a part of, this followed by lunch cooked by my mum and dad ( due to Marc having sinusitis and also a massive rehearsal for a production in the afternoon). Daniel did a great job at being maître De and taking our orders, serving us and also entertaining us with various shows. I ended the weekend snuggling my now 5 year old whilst watching a DVD.
How does time go so fast? It delights me how much Daniel has grown and developed yet terrifies me how quickly that process has happened.
This weekend though tyring has yet again made me sit up and be thankful for the amazing friends and family we have, for all those who have remembered Daniel and taken time to wish him well.

I'm praying now that the next 5 years don't go as fast!

Mixed day

Today has been a real mixed up day it started off in the usual way of school run and church prayers and then we hot footed down to the midwife for my 28 week check. It's pretty routine now where she asks if there are any concerns, checks my blood pressure and takes my blood. We also have the delight of  getting to listen to the baby s heartbeat. Today this was very comical as as soon as she got the lovely gel and probe out the baby gave an almighty kick making my whole stomach move..to which the midwife said she had never had that happen before ! Looks like we have another child who,likes to make their presence known!

From the midwife we went on to our toddler/drop in...always a delight to catch up with folk of all ages and fab to see seem returning mummies with their new additions . And then we had the sad occasion of visiting the crem, not unusual for me but a first for Marc, as we attended the funeral of dear friends of ours mum, a family Marc used to lodge with when he first moved down South and spent many an evening chatting too. It was strange being the other side of a funeral for a change but comforting as dad was leading the service. It was a truly lovely celebration of life and faith. I have never heard a crem congregation sing so passionately as we did today . It's always terribly sad when someone dies no matter how old they are, but it is a little bit more bare able when we have the hope of heaven.
so tonight amidst trying to get a child who has a terrible cough to sleep! amidst desperately trying to get 2 talks done for Sunday and amidst feeling emotionally drained today has been a great day of  experiencing the whole circle of life with great friends and family. RIP Peggy Evans xxx

ups and downs

Today has been a real day of ups and downs, highs and lows...

This morning I had the joy of going to St Francis church in Strood ( one of our cluster churches) and Preach, preside and baptise a beautiful baby girl. The atmosphere there is always so welcoming and people are so encouraging...and a brucie bonus..it was warm!! During the service the churchwarden produced a card and gift for me to wish me well in my maternity as I wont be going there in my official capacity again on a Sunday morning until after the baby is born. This was such a surprise I was bowled over and felt ever so emotional at the thought and care that had led to that moment... I didn't even know you could get "You're leaving to be a mummy" cards!!! :)

This afternoon we then had our monthly Sunday@4 event which is a bit like messy church mixed with an all age worship experience,,, some craft, games/activities a story and talk, music and food. I love doing this type of thing you never know who is going to come along and its pretty chilled out too. However, unfortunately the last few we have had have only seen the core team and Daniel in attendance. A lot of work goes into these events making sure there's food, craft activities, tech stuff read etc and so when no one else turns up it is disappointing and frustrating.
Time and again I hear people say, "The church doesn't do anything for families", "If only there was something for the children ..", we listened to those statements, we tried something and it hasn't worked, so with great sadness it is looking like Sunday@4 will be no more. I hate seeing things fail but I guess part of being a pioneer is trying new things out and knowing when to move on if something isn't working. Over the next few weeks we will be praying and contemplating what we can do.

So after a strange old emotional weekend I continue to give thanks for the blessings that surround us and learn to let go of the things that are just not meant to be.