Holidays

its been a strange few weeks preparing and getting ready for tomorrow and the weeks that follow.....the school summer holidays ! Dan yet again has been blessed with a wonderful teacher but this year he seems to have especially bonded with his teacher and she has been so supportive to us, and of course we've had weeks of anxiety as he worries about what September holds.
And tomorrow Elijah too says good bye to Hoo Saints..the place Dan also went to pre school as he embarks on a new adventure starting Nursery at Daniel's school making life practically much easier for us!!
This week as well as finishing the transition lessons I've also been privileged to attend some leavers assemblies....and the commonality in the, have been the importance of change.....if things don't change we get stuck in a rut, we don't grow or develop in any way and we deprive ourselves of further adventures. I remember adamantly aged 16 refusing to believe I had to leave my secondary school I loved it so much but of course I did and in fact moved half way acrosss the country too!!!

Tonight I face the challenge of changing netball teams....meeting new people and starting  again.....at 41 I still feel nervous...but at least I can share that with Dan that even us grown ups struggle with change .......

The holidays are always a challenge finding things to occupy the children whilst juggling work as well, visiting friends and family whilst trying to keep some sense of rest....holidays were created for us to recharge our batteries to experience a change in routine and to expose new surroundings.
It's even Biblical..God created the 7th day for rest!

So whether we are facing a change in routine as we become surrounded by little people for 6 weeks, whether we are facing change in place as we enjoy a break in the norm and holiday or wether life is plodding on... find those changes to allow rest.

Changes challenges and choices

it has been a funny old week that has left me feeling somewhat discombobulated!!
It's been a week of thinking about change going into schools talking to year 6 children about transitioning to year 7 thinking about changes, challenges and choices..... I've absolutely loved being back in the classroom and so far the response has been fantastic though having kids in one class take the mick out of my accent wasn't much fun!!
Change is all around us whether it's a change in school, job or circumstance....just last night we taught our final mission shaped ministry session....a ten year journey come to an end ..... happy to regain some space back in my diary but sad to say goodbye to working with s fab team and an awesome teaching companion and also to share the buzz of pioneering and mission with others ....last night was also a challenge as I found myself sharing a rather personal story from my childhood which my mum (who also taught the course) also continued filling in blanks I didn't remember .....a very powerful experience challenging me to contemplate where life has taken me thus far....
It hasn't also been a difficult week for me choices have been made out of my control and that can be difficult to deal with , at times I've felt 16 again not 41 and realise there's a lot of emotions and feelings I still carry around from those teenage angst days.
What this week has shown me is that I have some very dear friends....I may not see them or even speak to them every day (some I do and that's an added blessing) but when the chips are down they are there to send a message or call round to check I'm ok....
It's really important to have people around you people you can be open and honest with, people who challenge you and check up on you... I'm a very heart on my sleeve kinda girl (I never used to be!!!) what you see is what you get and for those who still love me after that.....I'm grateful !
I've been telling the year 6s the importance of choosing friends and keeping in touch with them.....I'm practising what I preach !