Whilst most folk count down the he days until the weekend ...usually from Sunday night ...some of us , in fact most of us wonderful church lot (lay and ordained) are gearing up for a weekend of opportunities... this weekend was exceptionally busy as I was helping to teach a unit on the mission shaped ministry training programme which was residential in west wickham . I absolutely love teaching and do miss it in many ways but here is something slightly nerves about teaching adults, fellow colleagues and people, who have had way much more life experience, throw in teaching Alongside the woman I admire the most...my mother and I was a light anxious shall we say!
However it was truly a wonderful time sitting and working alongside some amazing people doing some amazing things across the whole of Kent, it was also great to catch up with some old friends too!
Unfortunately or fortunately this week end was also our church weekend for our new family event UP4IT in Upnor so I hot footed it back in time for 3.45 where we made stuff, planted stuff, jumped up and down, saw the creation story told in many ways including by balloon modelling and I felt really blessed to be in such great company.
After battling teething toddler and a birthday cake Sunday came and another's full day of Sunday where I got to be with the kids, have an announcement about my future and spend lunch time with some of our families from church and those thinking about baptism .
It's gone 11pm I've barely had a minute to myself , the steroids are doing there thing and tomorrow another full on day plus a big boys 7th birthday...I reflect back now wondering how we fitted so much in to these last few days, feeling blessed for amazing parents supporting, working and looking after the kids ad of course marc keeping the show on the road. Physically tired if not mentally I wouldn't have changed any of it for the world ..I love being with people , I love sharing the message of hope in Jesus and I love how things just come together but tonight I most of all love the boy who turns 7 tomorrow, the boy we never thought we'd have and after 5 years of trying surprised us during vicar training ! Feeling well and truly blessed ! 😍
Sunday, 12 March 2017
Monday, 6 March 2017
Treasure
The last few days have been stressful to say the least!
Last Wednesday night/Thursday morning we were woken by Elijah crying...not unusual but this time the cry sounded different. I shot out of bed, realised he was boiling hot and stripped him down. Unfortunately not quick enough because he then began to have a convulsion. I've seen these before several times but nothing could've prepared me for that experience, still holding onto Elijah for dear life I called 999 and very quickly help was on its way. After a long stint in A and E we were finally released diagnosed with having a febrile convulsion due to a very high temperature (over 40 degrees) and still awaiting to find out what caused that. The last few days have been a bit of a blur as I reflect on what happened and how scared I felt after the event. Every moment I treasure the blessings I have been given, life is fragile.
Today I attended the funeral of a most humble and caring lady, the daughter of an amazing couple from our church leaving behind her very courageous 14 year old son who was able to stand up in front of a full cathedral and share a reading.
We can't predict what will happen or when but this week has taught me to treasure every moment, everything we have every one that we love, that's in our family, our friends , life is just too short and too unpredictable ....
Treasure all you have dear friends xxx
Last Wednesday night/Thursday morning we were woken by Elijah crying...not unusual but this time the cry sounded different. I shot out of bed, realised he was boiling hot and stripped him down. Unfortunately not quick enough because he then began to have a convulsion. I've seen these before several times but nothing could've prepared me for that experience, still holding onto Elijah for dear life I called 999 and very quickly help was on its way. After a long stint in A and E we were finally released diagnosed with having a febrile convulsion due to a very high temperature (over 40 degrees) and still awaiting to find out what caused that. The last few days have been a bit of a blur as I reflect on what happened and how scared I felt after the event. Every moment I treasure the blessings I have been given, life is fragile.
Today I attended the funeral of a most humble and caring lady, the daughter of an amazing couple from our church leaving behind her very courageous 14 year old son who was able to stand up in front of a full cathedral and share a reading.
We can't predict what will happen or when but this week has taught me to treasure every moment, everything we have every one that we love, that's in our family, our friends , life is just too short and too unpredictable ....
Treasure all you have dear friends xxx
Sunday, 19 February 2017
Sleep
is it just me or do other people come back from time away thoroughly exhausted ?!!
This past week we had the delight of going away to celebrate my dad's 70th birthday. Wonderful food , lovely wine and fresh sea air. Unfortunately Elijah wakes up at 6am so marc but mostly I spent most early mornings exploring the sea front . After a couple of mornings I got it down to a fine art Leaving clothes , keys, coats by the door to throw on as quietly as possible (I do confess to going out in my p.j.s the first morning 🙈)
I have to say despite the tiredness I began to thoroughly enjoy my strolls with Elijah, each morning we got to watch the sun rise in beautiful surroundings, I got to have done blue sky thinking time and had an hours worth of excercise. Of course my preference for time off would be to lie in but I'm blessed with an early riser so what better thing to do than to embrace it and enjoy the precious moments.
So in my tiredness I'm going to try and follow a new motto;
Life doesn't always follow our plan, we think we are going in one direction and suddenly we find ourselves on a totally different route. At these times even when it's really hard try to cease the moment , find the silver lining in the cloud , take each opportunity that comes our way but most importantly enjoy and appreciate what's around you .
For those of you blessed with sleep....enjoy every minute it's a precious luxury.
This past week we had the delight of going away to celebrate my dad's 70th birthday. Wonderful food , lovely wine and fresh sea air. Unfortunately Elijah wakes up at 6am so marc but mostly I spent most early mornings exploring the sea front . After a couple of mornings I got it down to a fine art Leaving clothes , keys, coats by the door to throw on as quietly as possible (I do confess to going out in my p.j.s the first morning 🙈)
I have to say despite the tiredness I began to thoroughly enjoy my strolls with Elijah, each morning we got to watch the sun rise in beautiful surroundings, I got to have done blue sky thinking time and had an hours worth of excercise. Of course my preference for time off would be to lie in but I'm blessed with an early riser so what better thing to do than to embrace it and enjoy the precious moments.
So in my tiredness I'm going to try and follow a new motto;
Life doesn't always follow our plan, we think we are going in one direction and suddenly we find ourselves on a totally different route. At these times even when it's really hard try to cease the moment , find the silver lining in the cloud , take each opportunity that comes our way but most importantly enjoy and appreciate what's around you .
For those of you blessed with sleep....enjoy every minute it's a precious luxury.
Wednesday, 1 February 2017
Pain
This week has been one of many challenges....most of you know that I'm a rubbish housewife, I'm not a natural cook or cleaner but I do love my boys more than anything and will do what needs to be done ....marc s been away so work and life survival has all fallen on me..... hard enough as it is but through into the mix another bout of pleurisy and I confess it's been tough.
12 years ago we headed home from I donesia sufferig from sever pneumonia and knaccered lungs.....12 years on the scars of that are still evident ... but I'm not one to see the glass as half empty head down I crack on with what needs to be done.
But yesterday even I had to stop and take a moment....my sister went in for an operation that didn't go to plan and instead of being in and out in a few hours she's looking at several days stay and a road to recovery we never envisaged.
Life is certainly a rollercoaster as good old Rownan sang...you never know what's around the corner....life's is too short for upset and falling out, embrace those you love, seize the day, be thankful for each and every moment.
If you are the praying type do pray for my sister and also for my brother in law as he holds together home and work ad our beautiful niece missing her mummy x
Thursday, 19 January 2017
F & F
It's been a strange old week so far, I'm beyond exhausted what with the littlest VK having a bad chest over the weekend and waking in the night coughing himself silly to Marc being ill at the beginning of the week meaning I've had to juggle work, kids and even cooking (let it be known Daniel was VERY impressed with my chicken fajitas and homemade dairy free pizzas!). Having disturbed sleep has clearly made me an emotional wreck but this week especially I've really begun to miss friendships... In fact that's a lie this has been brewing for a while, maybe it's old age heading for the dreaded BIG birthday... Maybe it's social media and seeing people and what they are up to...whatever it is I've really been missing my friendships. Life is so busy and I think it is vital to make time for friends whenever you can whether they live down the road, in the next town or hundreds of miles away. Friends are so important to our lives and our lives are ever so much richer for them. There's something so special about being able to pop out for a coffee or something stronger with a friend, to text someone who gets you and to see someone who's known you for years and receive a hug. I'm so grateful to all the friends I have , but I truly do miss those of you I don't get to see . And so I'm not ashamed to say I've been feeling a bit down about it all
And then...
Last night I had a lovely chat with one of my oldest friends that made me feel so loved and even though the missing is still there being connected by social media helps.
This week has also been rubbish for some dear friends here and I won't go into details as its not fair for them but life can be really really poo at times but
As I bathed the boys tonight I was left thinking WOW I made these kids, they have their moments (don't we all) but they are so amazingly awesome individual and especially together I am truly blessed.. So tonight I'm taking each moment each blessing and each God given opportunity to seized life, take every option given and appreciate every person that comes my way....life is unpredictable so embrace it but please make those close to you know just how much they mean to you ...it may just be the thing they need to hear today x
(F & F ...Friends and Family)
And then...
Last night I had a lovely chat with one of my oldest friends that made me feel so loved and even though the missing is still there being connected by social media helps.
This week has also been rubbish for some dear friends here and I won't go into details as its not fair for them but life can be really really poo at times but
As I bathed the boys tonight I was left thinking WOW I made these kids, they have their moments (don't we all) but they are so amazingly awesome individual and especially together I am truly blessed.. So tonight I'm taking each moment each blessing and each God given opportunity to seized life, take every option given and appreciate every person that comes my way....life is unpredictable so embrace it but please make those close to you know just how much they mean to you ...it may just be the thing they need to hear today x
(F & F ...Friends and Family)
Sunday, 15 January 2017
Perspective
this morning I woke up feeling dreadful, sore throat and very tired; was woken a few times in the night by the littlest with his asthma and cough and slept a second night "sleeping" with him on my shoulder.
The last thing I felt capable of doing was leading worship and preaching coherently ..but that was the task in hand.
As always I had a really blessed time in Upnor the small but perfectly formed congregation are always so lovely, kind and friendly and gracious too. After leading their service I then hot footed it too Frindsbury , again feeling inadequate and praying that God could make sense out of my words. Both churches were particularly cold today so shivering. Aside we got through a nd again everyone was very gracious and soem even complementary of my words. As I got to the car to take a friend home we were greeted by a little dog and no owner...I vaguely recognised said dog and managed to pick him up shivering and soaked from the deluge and take him home....to find two paramedics and his own collapsed on the floor ...the clever dog I'm sure had come To find help .
Dog returned and friend delivered I return home locked out as hubby had taken the boys out (they did church yesterday !) on return marc was fuming as a car had zoomed passed them flicked a stone up and cracked the windscreen ...deep joy.
This afternoon Dan had choir practise for the children's choir and so we trundled back to Frindsbury, we'd literally just got through the door when a lady looking frozen appeared in search of warmth and food, she had run out of money, had no food or heating, her partner is in hospital with late stage cancer and her children staying with her mother ... After a long conversation various things were put in place, we got her warm and gave her some food and temporarily sorted her out u til tomorrow when we can get professional assistance.
2 things today happened that made me stop and think how blessed I am, I don't live alone so God forbid if anything happened to me someone would be there or find me, I've got a roof over my head food in the cupboards and people I can talk to .
What's the world coming to when people are walking the streets looking for someone To talk to, in need of a cup of tea and no one to provide it.
The art of community is lost and I really feel we need to inject it back.
Tonight I will go to sleep thankful that I'm fed, watered and warm...and if Elijah wakes I will cuddle him extra hard , because I can.
Take care of yourself and especially their around you xxx
The last thing I felt capable of doing was leading worship and preaching coherently ..but that was the task in hand.
As always I had a really blessed time in Upnor the small but perfectly formed congregation are always so lovely, kind and friendly and gracious too. After leading their service I then hot footed it too Frindsbury , again feeling inadequate and praying that God could make sense out of my words. Both churches were particularly cold today so shivering. Aside we got through a nd again everyone was very gracious and soem even complementary of my words. As I got to the car to take a friend home we were greeted by a little dog and no owner...I vaguely recognised said dog and managed to pick him up shivering and soaked from the deluge and take him home....to find two paramedics and his own collapsed on the floor ...the clever dog I'm sure had come To find help .
Dog returned and friend delivered I return home locked out as hubby had taken the boys out (they did church yesterday !) on return marc was fuming as a car had zoomed passed them flicked a stone up and cracked the windscreen ...deep joy.
This afternoon Dan had choir practise for the children's choir and so we trundled back to Frindsbury, we'd literally just got through the door when a lady looking frozen appeared in search of warmth and food, she had run out of money, had no food or heating, her partner is in hospital with late stage cancer and her children staying with her mother ... After a long conversation various things were put in place, we got her warm and gave her some food and temporarily sorted her out u til tomorrow when we can get professional assistance.
2 things today happened that made me stop and think how blessed I am, I don't live alone so God forbid if anything happened to me someone would be there or find me, I've got a roof over my head food in the cupboards and people I can talk to .
What's the world coming to when people are walking the streets looking for someone To talk to, in need of a cup of tea and no one to provide it.
The art of community is lost and I really feel we need to inject it back.
Tonight I will go to sleep thankful that I'm fed, watered and warm...and if Elijah wakes I will cuddle him extra hard , because I can.
Take care of yourself and especially their around you xxx
Wednesday, 4 January 2017
Away
The last 6 weeks have been exceptionally exhausting ...what with all the build up to Christmas and then the Christmas week services and activities followed by family Christmas and new year visiting everyone , unfortunately our house isn't very big for entertaining ..the last few days are the first time the bits have actually had a chance to sit down and spend time playing with their new toys..I'm embarrassed to say that yesterday Daniel was still opening presents and Elijah still has some left, they just love playing with everything they receive.
Our boys have been really blessed with gifts and time spent with family here and up north , they've loved building bears in the Trafford centre and walking excitable doggies on the Lancaster/lakes boarder , playing with cousins and learning the art of playing pool (yes even Elijah!) the problem comes when you've got to come back to reality and realise how much you miss dear friends and family ...
This year is a biggy for me and whilst trying to plan time off I'm looking more at planning opportunities to visit /spend time with friends and family rather than actually just going away.
So as this week tries to get in to some sort of normality we are just as exhausted as before my time off but looking forward to what the year may hold....
Our boys have been really blessed with gifts and time spent with family here and up north , they've loved building bears in the Trafford centre and walking excitable doggies on the Lancaster/lakes boarder , playing with cousins and learning the art of playing pool (yes even Elijah!) the problem comes when you've got to come back to reality and realise how much you miss dear friends and family ...
This year is a biggy for me and whilst trying to plan time off I'm looking more at planning opportunities to visit /spend time with friends and family rather than actually just going away.
So as this week tries to get in to some sort of normality we are just as exhausted as before my time off but looking forward to what the year may hold....
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