Today was set to be a full on crazy day with a last minute meeting called this morning , a pancake play party this afternoon and teaching MSM at Bluewater tonight.
instantly the mood of the day slowed right down as I received a phone call early this morning to let me know a dear friend and gentleman I worked with in hoo on our residents association had passed away just minutes before . This happens a lot in my work but This passing knocked me for six. Not only do I class the couple as friends but I've walked this long painful journey of cancer with them and had only thought yesterday he'd taken a positive turn ... oftern the way !!
But as with life you pick yourself up and keep going .. the hustle and bustle of children playing together and pancakes being eaten soon distracted me but the ultimate healer was the visit from my favourite 4 legged friend (and her owner!) Sometimes pick me ups come from sources you don't even think of but today for the visit I'm immensely grateful!
So now I take a deep breath have another coffee and prepare for a long night in Bluewater.. grateful tonspecial friends and the gift of friendship !
Tuesday, 13 February 2018
Tuesday, 6 February 2018
Lights, camera.....
I've always been described as a shy extrovert.... I can be pretty quiet , I'd like to say reflective and can melt into the background, but, I absolutely love being with people (good job with my job!)
When I was younger I was given the great opportunity of being part of a drama group, we met each week and did various things , mainly panto. At the age of 10 I starred as the main part in amoer goose ....(Priscilla the goose!) no one else wanted the part ...I couldn't understand why ???? 🙈 I progressed through various parts and even got to play Sleeping Beauty (no one else available I'm sure!!) I just loved being on the stage, the escapism into other worlds and lands, the lights the cameras the audience....to those who enabled me to have these experiences I'm so eternally grateful...but then as we moved and I went to a school where a northern accent wasn't cool anymore and the only part I was offered was that of Bottom from a midsummers nights dream 😢 My days on the stage were over!!!
But yesterday I had the real privilege of helping chaperone the choir from Daniel's school, they were singing at the young voices concert in the O2. 7891 children in. Achoir in front of 20,000 adults!!! It was absolutely outstanding, the music, the singing the atmosphere was purely electric, the kids behave differently brilliantly, it was a long day and night, we are knackered today but my goodness it was truly wonderful ! I was so proud to play a small part in such a massive experience and hat an experience it was for those children .
And Dan.....he was so so good....he was a bit wobbly in places but grabbed my hand , took a deep breath and carried on..... proud doesn't come close !!!
When I was younger I was given the great opportunity of being part of a drama group, we met each week and did various things , mainly panto. At the age of 10 I starred as the main part in amoer goose ....(Priscilla the goose!) no one else wanted the part ...I couldn't understand why ???? 🙈 I progressed through various parts and even got to play Sleeping Beauty (no one else available I'm sure!!) I just loved being on the stage, the escapism into other worlds and lands, the lights the cameras the audience....to those who enabled me to have these experiences I'm so eternally grateful...but then as we moved and I went to a school where a northern accent wasn't cool anymore and the only part I was offered was that of Bottom from a midsummers nights dream 😢 My days on the stage were over!!!
But yesterday I had the real privilege of helping chaperone the choir from Daniel's school, they were singing at the young voices concert in the O2. 7891 children in. Achoir in front of 20,000 adults!!! It was absolutely outstanding, the music, the singing the atmosphere was purely electric, the kids behave differently brilliantly, it was a long day and night, we are knackered today but my goodness it was truly wonderful ! I was so proud to play a small part in such a massive experience and hat an experience it was for those children .
And Dan.....he was so so good....he was a bit wobbly in places but grabbed my hand , took a deep breath and carried on..... proud doesn't come close !!!
Saturday, 20 January 2018
Torture
They say sleep deprivation is the worst kind of torture and I've sure experienced that this week....poor Elijah has had a terrible cough/ virus that has made him grumpy , hot and cough most of the night. marc and I have shared the propping up on our shoulder, the 4 hourly drug run and the trying to keep everything else going during the day between us.
It's felt like a really tough few weeks, lot soft things, not just Elijah being ill but different circumstances have been an up hill struggle. And I know it's not just me struggling lots of people have had a difficult few weeks, the loss of loved ones , work dead lines, illness...lots and lots of illness.
And in these situations it's so easy to go down, to feel sorry for yourself and to sink, but this weekend I decided to do the opposite , to come up fighting , to grab life back by the horns, to spend time , even if I didn't have it, with friends and family , to book that extra treat, to plan that visit to check up on those friends in need.
In the difficult times look to the sky, for in the clouds there is often still a hint of light, a star shining in the darkness, a streak of sun trying to burst through...
It's felt like a really tough few weeks, lot soft things, not just Elijah being ill but different circumstances have been an up hill struggle. And I know it's not just me struggling lots of people have had a difficult few weeks, the loss of loved ones , work dead lines, illness...lots and lots of illness.
And in these situations it's so easy to go down, to feel sorry for yourself and to sink, but this weekend I decided to do the opposite , to come up fighting , to grab life back by the horns, to spend time , even if I didn't have it, with friends and family , to book that extra treat, to plan that visit to check up on those friends in need.
In the difficult times look to the sky, for in the clouds there is often still a hint of light, a star shining in the darkness, a streak of sun trying to burst through...
Thursday, 11 January 2018
Rollercoasters
Ive always loved Rollercoasters....the first time I experienced one I was 11 maybe 12 years old....I'd broken my arm on a school residential (a story for another day!) and it was Blackpool so it was raining ☔️
Our school used to do a sponsored event to raise money...(I think it was for a new roof I could be wrong)and the form that raised the most got a free day out to Blackpool pleasure beach. I'd never been on a rollercoaster before but decided to embrace the opportunity, it was free after all and give everything a go!
Wrapped in a kagool and clinging on to my best mate we embarked on the Revolution. We screamed in stereotypical young teen manner and were equally terrified and exhilarated at the same time. I never will forget Lindsay breathing a sigh of relief as we got to the end only to realise the ride returned only backwards !!! The screams reached an all time high !!!!
Life feels like a rollercoaster at the moment ...there have been some real exhilarating highs of times with friends and family, moments of delight with the boys and real epiphany moments (timely for this period of time) in work.. and just when you think progress is being made bang a person, a comment, an event knocks you sideways ...I care too much about people so it hurts.
So many dear friends are also experiencing the dip of the Rollercoaster moment but the reassurance is that when it's in the lowest dip it always goes up again ...the key is to hold on to the knowledge that that will happen in time.
As one of my many favourite blonde boy band singers once sang "life is a rollercoaster you just got to ride it !" ....keep going
Our school used to do a sponsored event to raise money...(I think it was for a new roof I could be wrong)and the form that raised the most got a free day out to Blackpool pleasure beach. I'd never been on a rollercoaster before but decided to embrace the opportunity, it was free after all and give everything a go!
Wrapped in a kagool and clinging on to my best mate we embarked on the Revolution. We screamed in stereotypical young teen manner and were equally terrified and exhilarated at the same time. I never will forget Lindsay breathing a sigh of relief as we got to the end only to realise the ride returned only backwards !!! The screams reached an all time high !!!!
Life feels like a rollercoaster at the moment ...there have been some real exhilarating highs of times with friends and family, moments of delight with the boys and real epiphany moments (timely for this period of time) in work.. and just when you think progress is being made bang a person, a comment, an event knocks you sideways ...I care too much about people so it hurts.
So many dear friends are also experiencing the dip of the Rollercoaster moment but the reassurance is that when it's in the lowest dip it always goes up again ...the key is to hold on to the knowledge that that will happen in time.
As one of my many favourite blonde boy band singers once sang "life is a rollercoaster you just got to ride it !" ....keep going
Tuesday, 19 December 2017
It's beginning to look a lot like....
it's been a crazy busy few days, make that few weeks....doing a lot of schools work means that this time of the year schools are keen for me to be involved in various parts of school life whether that's to just go along and watch nativity plays, to visit nursery classes and do a lesson about Christmas, to whole school carol services, Christingles and even the pleasure of a class party !
It is an exhausting time, the usual winter cold, sore throats has kicked in and the mild panic about how am I going to find the time to write the 2 talks/sermons I've still not done for Sunday let alone wrap presents and prepare the house for our family Christmas.
Yet tonight we ventured out, a band of merry singers, Carol singing in and around Lodgehill in Chattenden to share free mince pies and goody bags . It was cold, we haven't done it before yet the reaction as we walked and sang was amazing, people came out of houses, people stopped and listened and we even made some cry so moved were they that we'd come to them.
When we are so busy we can loose track of what Christmas is all about ...the spark of love come down in the form of a baby. That love is what I want to share with everyone, this year I've been so blessed to be able to hear that love told, shared and sung throughout our schools and to those members of staff who've invited me in I'm grateful.
This Christmas amidst the busyness of what needs to be done.....take a moment to watch, to observe, to take in the moment , the love come down and be blessed x
It is an exhausting time, the usual winter cold, sore throats has kicked in and the mild panic about how am I going to find the time to write the 2 talks/sermons I've still not done for Sunday let alone wrap presents and prepare the house for our family Christmas.
Yet tonight we ventured out, a band of merry singers, Carol singing in and around Lodgehill in Chattenden to share free mince pies and goody bags . It was cold, we haven't done it before yet the reaction as we walked and sang was amazing, people came out of houses, people stopped and listened and we even made some cry so moved were they that we'd come to them.
When we are so busy we can loose track of what Christmas is all about ...the spark of love come down in the form of a baby. That love is what I want to share with everyone, this year I've been so blessed to be able to hear that love told, shared and sung throughout our schools and to those members of staff who've invited me in I'm grateful.
This Christmas amidst the busyness of what needs to be done.....take a moment to watch, to observe, to take in the moment , the love come down and be blessed x
Saturday, 16 December 2017
Waiting
its been a while! We've had no internet for 6 weeks and we've moved house so life has been pretty hectic!
In 7 days time we will be on the cusp of Christmas Eve..."The most wonderful time of the year !"
Until then there seems an endless amount of things to do ....3 Christingles, 2 school carol services, 2 crib services and a host of other services and appointmets let alone the secular side of stuff to do!! It's so easy to feel overwhelmed by the task ahead yet in doing that I fear we miss the precious moment. The time to step back and take time to appreciate what's to come. For this moment, advent is a time of preparing and waiting....waiting for the greatest day the greatest moment when heaven and earth touched through the birth of a baby. ...preparing to spend time with loved ones, give and receive gifts and remember those who can't be with us any longer .
Tomorrow amidst the morning services, christingle making and carol service Daniel will take his first communion...something he's been asking to do since he was 3! Amidst the busyness I want to take A Moment...freeze time to appreciate the here and now, the sheer overwhelming proud moment that will happen for Dan .
At this time of year , this week amidst the excitement, craziness and the fun take time to appreciate th moment ..
In 7 days time we will be on the cusp of Christmas Eve..."The most wonderful time of the year !"
Until then there seems an endless amount of things to do ....3 Christingles, 2 school carol services, 2 crib services and a host of other services and appointmets let alone the secular side of stuff to do!! It's so easy to feel overwhelmed by the task ahead yet in doing that I fear we miss the precious moment. The time to step back and take time to appreciate what's to come. For this moment, advent is a time of preparing and waiting....waiting for the greatest day the greatest moment when heaven and earth touched through the birth of a baby. ...preparing to spend time with loved ones, give and receive gifts and remember those who can't be with us any longer .
Tomorrow amidst the morning services, christingle making and carol service Daniel will take his first communion...something he's been asking to do since he was 3! Amidst the busyness I want to take A Moment...freeze time to appreciate the here and now, the sheer overwhelming proud moment that will happen for Dan .
At this time of year , this week amidst the excitement, craziness and the fun take time to appreciate th moment ..
Friday, 6 October 2017
beyond the collar
It's been another crazy week in the V-K household. After a wonderfully chilled if not high energy weekend away go aping and segewaying for my cousins non hen do I was back in full swing of a busy week, marc was away leading music at a conference for the diocese with mum and dad so I was on juggle duty trying to fulfill my work commitments, the kids and do the own thing I dread ...cook !
It's been a strange week as last week I was buzzing with ideas for new possibilities once weve moved house, things we can do people we can engage with joy of being able to use the house as a community hub...ideas were flying around and again I felt excited about what's to come.
This week though I suddenly feel overwhelmed with the changes that are coming at me from left right and centre things that need to be laid down, things that I need to let go of and that's tough. The hardest part though of this job is the relationships.
Sometimes it can feel that people can't get past the dog collar it becomes like a barrier that stops people in their tracks, it seems people have such ideas of what a priest should be like and let's face it I blow most of some preconceived ideas out of the water 💦
However, when you're busy, tired an emotional wreck it's amazing who steps up to the mark to support and guide you ..those who remember you before the collar...those who see you as a person behind the collar and those who just know the right thing to say...to my hidden stars ✨ thank you for putting up with me it is massively appreciated.
It's been a strange week as last week I was buzzing with ideas for new possibilities once weve moved house, things we can do people we can engage with joy of being able to use the house as a community hub...ideas were flying around and again I felt excited about what's to come.
This week though I suddenly feel overwhelmed with the changes that are coming at me from left right and centre things that need to be laid down, things that I need to let go of and that's tough. The hardest part though of this job is the relationships.
Sometimes it can feel that people can't get past the dog collar it becomes like a barrier that stops people in their tracks, it seems people have such ideas of what a priest should be like and let's face it I blow most of some preconceived ideas out of the water 💦
However, when you're busy, tired an emotional wreck it's amazing who steps up to the mark to support and guide you ..those who remember you before the collar...those who see you as a person behind the collar and those who just know the right thing to say...to my hidden stars ✨ thank you for putting up with me it is massively appreciated.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)