Shine!

A massive apology to you all for going on and on about Shine....all who donated are a proper star and I love your dearly!
I did my first Shine walk in 2014 having just found out I was pregnant with Elijah (but didn't tell anyone in case they stopped me !!) I wanted to achieve a marathon but knew I'd never achieve it running as I have dodgy knees so when I saw friends put on Facebook they were doing the Shine walk I wanted in!!
Cancer is such a git that's hurt and even taken some very dear people close to me in work , family and friends that I felt useless... doing this has been a very tiny way of raising money, showing support, and enduring a little pain in solidarity of those who suffer.

Going through a marathon is an amazing experience from the preparation (which I definitely didn't do enough this time) which made me take time out to not only exercise but to get some fresh air and spend time with lovely folk walking, to the night again spending time with wonderful people. The atmosphere really was electric on Saturday hearing powerful stories, seeing the labels people were wearing in memory of loved ones, but it also is an endurance , for me it definitely wasn't a walk in the park I had to dig deep, I had to find some mental energy and I had to control my constant need to wee !!!

Since yesterday many folk have asked if I'll do it again.....never say never 😜

Vikki

The last few weeks have really taken their toll on Marc and I. Some of you know that a friend of ours Vikki passed away very suddenly at just 43 years of age. Vikki was one of the first people we met when we moved into Hoo and she welcomed us into the toddler group ..(especially Marc as I was working ) with open arms. I then had the real privilege of meeting Mark when I was asked to baptise baby Amelia who is now a gorgeous 6 year old, her and Dan went to the same prep school for a while.
Vikki was one of the kindest people I've ever met and always had time to chat, she popped into our cafe church a few times to chat through the "big" questions, we'd bump into her in the Chequers pub and have a chat there, or even passing in the street she'd stop for a chat.
When things like this happen you alway think I really should have made mroe of an effort to meet up, chat A little longer , follow a certain conversation up etc but in the moment you think you've got all the time in the world.
On Thursday I was honoured that Mark entrusted me to take Vikki on her last journey from earth into the heavenly realm in her funeral. I've never seen a crem so overflowing that people couldn't get near but instead listened to the service outside on loud speakers, so much was the love for Vikki. The service of course was a toughy full of emotion and it would  only be fair for others there to comment on it but it felt beautiful. Afterwards we spent a long time at the Chequers chatting to family and friends Sharing stories and releasing balloons.
This week has shown me how special friend s are, how fragile life is and how amazingly supportive some people have been to us... appreciate each moment, love those cLose to you and take care of those who are struggling at this time !
Love and prayer s are with you Mark and Amelia xxx

Summer

So this morning I spent the morning welcoming, supporting, moping upmtears of the new year sevens and their parents  /carers...marking the end of the school summer holidays !!!

It's been a really different summer for us...for many reasons we chose not to go away away (if that makes sense) . We had a lovely few days visiting my cousin and seeing her fringe show, seeing old school friends and climbing my mountain and doing the Vallente thing. Dan had an amazing experience going away for the first time with my folks being all grown up and living the life of Riley and then we've had a truly restful, inspiring fun 5 days at the Greenbelt festival with my amazing aunty and fab friends . These experiences have been great don't get me wrong but I'm feeling the strain of not having a block of time completely away from everything.

It's been an interesting Summer connecting with different people spending time with folk and developing friendships ...it's amazing the folk who've been around To help and support us. I love the summer and have a,ways dreaded September but there's something Reassuring about a routine but also the excitement of knowing the fun of autumn/winter is on its way.
Whatever you've been up to this summer whether it's work rest or play I hope you have found some chill time for yourself and your loved ones.

Bucket Lists

Im not sure when the notion of a bucket list came into my mind but over the last few years I've begun to name key things I'd like to do, see, achieve amongst the busyness of life.... the list includes things that are hopefully achieveable and some which aren't but are pipe dreams.... so aft they've been pretty shallow things like seeing Kylie ✅and Take That ✅ is also like to see Cold play And U2 but they are proving tricky... amongst other things are to swim with dolphins, see the northern lights and attend a school reunion ✅ but top of the list was definitely to climb a mountain ✅

Last week thanks to my fairygodPEteacher who I've stayed in touch with we managed to arrange (eventually) a day to climb Helvelyn in the Lake District... climbing a mountain is on Marc s bucket list too but unfortunately we couldn't find child care so he sacrificed his space to enable me to go. (Don't worry I'm hoping my dear friend will agree to take me again but both this time in the

future )
There is something really really exhilarating about achieving a goal of specially a physical challenge....I can't deny that at points I struggled and needed my beloved blue puffer a few times and also needed a lot of emergency first aid, not on myself but my boots that disintegrated (berghaus have offered a 30% discount on a new pair!) but to reach the summit, see the views and meet people from across the world..and their dogs ! It really was amazing...what a wonderful creator we have !
One week on I'm still buzzing from it and keen to go again though living in Kent makes it some what more tricky...
                        
So now I'm on the look out for new adventures for my bucket list....any suggestions greatly received !

Multi tasking!

SORRY!
If there is by chance anyone out there mad or bored enough to read these ramblings I apologise it has been forever since I got round to blogging....life has been somewhat crazy busy...

Tonight I've set aside time to write my sermon for Sunday...I've been mulling it over for some days and read lots around it and was really struggling to get inspired...I'm constantly trying to have in mind the congregation that I will be speaking to and of course trying to listen to the dear Lord as to what is needed to be said/ heard....

When I was younger my mum would often moan at me for what I would now call "multi tasking  " watching tv , chatting on the phone (as you did in the 90's) and trying to do my homework....but I always got it done....
Tonight I've had the footy on, been clearing emails , chatting on text, had a bath...and amazingly managed to write a sermon...whether it's the inspiration of the other activities or the weird way my brain needs to have a distraction to help the other side focus I've no idea...and of course is it any good? You'll just have to come to St Francis church on Sunday and find that one out 😜

Discombobulated

It's been a weird few weeks...I've been living in a bubble of excitement with my and Elijah s birthdays , joy of visiting friends and family , a 2 night trip away minus kids and the on going exciting demands of work, alongside that there's been the horrific terrorist attacks in Manchester and London. It's been hard to sit in a place of emmense joy and emmense pain knowing families have suffered so deeply seeing schools having to cancel trips because parents are living in fear for their kids and we are all secretly wondering where on earth next . It can feel like we are In a state of flux but you look again and we are hearing stories of amazing heroism ...people risking their own lives to protect others, people reacting instinctively to try and stop the terror , homeless men rushing from their spots in order to help and try and save the lives of others who may have usually just passed them by. And tonight I sit trying to plan , watching DIY SOS from Sheppey just down the road from us really , watching two guys who have chosen to adopt 4 very vulnerable children with incredible complex needs have a house literally built up for them enabling them to not just survive together but thrive...inspiring, truly inspiring.
So amidst the hurt and pain we are seeing in the world there still is sparks if not flames of absolute wonderful humanity. And that's the hope I believe In. The hope that shines in the darkness...may it continue to shine.

If carlsberg did weeks....

if carlsberg designed the perfect week...the week just gone would not have been it ! I've never known a week where so much could go wrong...I've had to support an institution with a major critical incident, one of my colleagues was dramatically taken ill which then resulted in my having to cover 2 weddings , a confrontation with the Press and the Sunday services. We've also had a long consultation with the paediatrician for Dan moving closer to a diagnosis for him (more on that another time)Amidst this I also know of others who've had very difficult weeks due to personal family circumstances, it really has been a heart breaking week!

But amidst the stress of preparing all the extra work I got to marry two amazing couples , see on elf those walk down the aisle and stand for her vows after years of being bed ridden with severe ME, I got to baptise a beautiful spirited little girl who delighted at the sight of the water and I got to lead an all age communion accompanied by the junior choir including my son with my aunty in the congregation .

After all that I also had the real joy of having a party to celebrate still being 39(albeit for a few more days!)  with my brother in law. Family travelled from Middlesborough and Rochdale and my bestest ever friend from primary school came down from Bolton with her children. It was just the perfect night...people came together to help make it special a dear friend d j ing, some of my old youth group now all grown up did a photo booth , some awesome friend s made cakes and even more amazing friends helped to decorate the rooms. The room was buzzing with all ages having fun together and it was just wonderful....if carlsberg designed not yet 40th parties is would've been it!   ( as my mum said she couldn't have thought of anything that would've made the Party better, apart from Jason Donovan turning up! ....he didn't 😢)
The only thing I could think of was hiring an even bigger room so I could've invited more friends. Thank you special folk who so far have transformed a heart wrenching, painful week into a weekend of real blessing she and joy..now what to do on my actual birthday 🎉???