Sometimes in life things seem to flood at you from all directions ! These last few weeks have been really really difficult not just for one reason but for many different t reasons. I’m usually quite a positive person but after a while it does get to you .
Despite this though I’ve been blessed with some really wonderful friends , in real life and in the virtual world . In the busyness of life it has been Really important to stay connected , to catch up, go for a drink , talk just hang out .. being friends with a vicar isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but I’m thankful to those who see me beyond the collar !!
Friends are a special blessing ..maybe take the time over the next few days to connect with a friend .. send a text , Facebook message whatever works best for you !
Saturday, 6 April 2019
Sunday, 10 March 2019
R and R
It won't have passed you by to notice that Marc and I were blessed with a couple of days respite this last week thanks to my parents..it's been a long and emotional few weeks and having a child with such complex needs as Dan ..as much as we love him it is exhausting never getting. A full nights sleep or being able to switch off together.
We didn't go far but house swapped heading to Deal to read, sleep, reflect on our future and spend time together uninterrupted. We also had the real blessing of being invited out for a posh dinner with good friends and those few hours were like gold dust..something that I will treasure and will keep me going when things get tough ! Friendship is really important and quality time even more so.
It's so hard to get perspective when you are "in the thick of it" and we came back into the busiest weekend ever; but even that has been amazing. Today my third service was the joyous occasion of baptising a 9 year old....a girl who used to come to our toddler group in Upnor . When she was a couple of years old we were invited to her naming ceremony at the house. Whilst there I distinctly rememebr thinking this is just like a baptism without Jesus....7 years later I got to put the Jesus into the celebration.....
Despite still feeling tired there is always lots to be thankful for .
We didn't go far but house swapped heading to Deal to read, sleep, reflect on our future and spend time together uninterrupted. We also had the real blessing of being invited out for a posh dinner with good friends and those few hours were like gold dust..something that I will treasure and will keep me going when things get tough ! Friendship is really important and quality time even more so.
It's so hard to get perspective when you are "in the thick of it" and we came back into the busiest weekend ever; but even that has been amazing. Today my third service was the joyous occasion of baptising a 9 year old....a girl who used to come to our toddler group in Upnor . When she was a couple of years old we were invited to her naming ceremony at the house. Whilst there I distinctly rememebr thinking this is just like a baptism without Jesus....7 years later I got to put the Jesus into the celebration.....
Despite still feeling tired there is always lots to be thankful for .
Monday, 4 March 2019
Emotionally spent
Ronan Keating wrote a song Life is a Rollercoaster....never was a truer word sung!
These past few weeks have been a real rollercoaster for our family..most ofmyou will be aware that we sadly had a bereavement on Marc's side of the family..the beautiful Mum of Philip our brother in law ..Joyce. Joyce was such a wonderful,lady, she suffered (quietly) with a debilitating disability but always smiled her way through life, was resilient and always thought about others. The first time I met Joyce was when I was just 19 and she'd offered to put us up after seeing Bon Jovi in Stoke... her and John stayed up late and even collected us from the stadium ...always so selfless.
I was given the real privilege of being asked to do Joyce's funeral along side the local Catholic Priest. This in itself is pretty amazing....a truly ecumenical, breaking down barriers event, I have to confess I was so anxious...how would Father Phil and I work together , would I do Joyce (and our family) justice and would I hold it together ! Well the service was so amazingly moving, Yes there were tears , but also laughter, amazing sung worship and a real sense of love. The really great thing to see was our tough men really feeling able to show their emotions and the support given from friends.
Amidst this difficult time my awesome niece gave birth to William Issac just 7 days ago..... this was obviously amazing and also brought back a glimmer of hope to the rest of the family during the sad time. William is practically perfect in every way...Emily and Ant are doing a fab job and Emily not only led the worship with Marc at the funeral just 3 days after giving birth but did a smashing eulogy for her gran.
7 days of happy tears, sad tears, laughter, anxiety and gin!
Today amidst the rollercoaster of emotions I sit here still with the hope and knowledge that Joyce is now with her Heavenly Father in a safe place without any of that pain...and the joy that baby William is growing up in a family that will truly love and care for him....family ....a rollercoaster but one of the best things we've been blessed with .
These past few weeks have been a real rollercoaster for our family..most ofmyou will be aware that we sadly had a bereavement on Marc's side of the family..the beautiful Mum of Philip our brother in law ..Joyce. Joyce was such a wonderful,lady, she suffered (quietly) with a debilitating disability but always smiled her way through life, was resilient and always thought about others. The first time I met Joyce was when I was just 19 and she'd offered to put us up after seeing Bon Jovi in Stoke... her and John stayed up late and even collected us from the stadium ...always so selfless.
I was given the real privilege of being asked to do Joyce's funeral along side the local Catholic Priest. This in itself is pretty amazing....a truly ecumenical, breaking down barriers event, I have to confess I was so anxious...how would Father Phil and I work together , would I do Joyce (and our family) justice and would I hold it together ! Well the service was so amazingly moving, Yes there were tears , but also laughter, amazing sung worship and a real sense of love. The really great thing to see was our tough men really feeling able to show their emotions and the support given from friends.
Amidst this difficult time my awesome niece gave birth to William Issac just 7 days ago..... this was obviously amazing and also brought back a glimmer of hope to the rest of the family during the sad time. William is practically perfect in every way...Emily and Ant are doing a fab job and Emily not only led the worship with Marc at the funeral just 3 days after giving birth but did a smashing eulogy for her gran.
7 days of happy tears, sad tears, laughter, anxiety and gin!
Today amidst the rollercoaster of emotions I sit here still with the hope and knowledge that Joyce is now with her Heavenly Father in a safe place without any of that pain...and the joy that baby William is growing up in a family that will truly love and care for him....family ....a rollercoaster but one of the best things we've been blessed with .
Sunday, 10 February 2019
SORRY
I'm not sure who I am apologising to..maybe myself....maybe the folks I hope read this and it helps in some small way...but anyway this is the first blog in 2019 and we are nearly half way through February already!!!
It has been a year of ups and downs already this year...lots of close friends have faced difficult situations in life and health, but what has been amazing to see is how those folk have coped in adversity, of course there has been frustration and annoyance , but there has also been acceptance, determination and friendship!
This has got me thinking about how I cope when the chips are down, I'm very much a heart on my sleeve kind of girl ( I wouldn't write a blog otherwise !!) I find it hard to hide my feelings but that I do try . I've discovered though some amazing people around who I can turn to either virtually, by what's app or text or who I can grab a coffee with an share my woes!
People are a funny breed....though I'm in some ways an introvert, a real reflector I am also a massive extrovert , I need people around me to keep me going ! It's really important to find those special people in your lives and cherish them whilst you can .
To my treasured folk....thank you !!!
It has been a year of ups and downs already this year...lots of close friends have faced difficult situations in life and health, but what has been amazing to see is how those folk have coped in adversity, of course there has been frustration and annoyance , but there has also been acceptance, determination and friendship!
This has got me thinking about how I cope when the chips are down, I'm very much a heart on my sleeve kind of girl ( I wouldn't write a blog otherwise !!) I find it hard to hide my feelings but that I do try . I've discovered though some amazing people around who I can turn to either virtually, by what's app or text or who I can grab a coffee with an share my woes!
People are a funny breed....though I'm in some ways an introvert, a real reflector I am also a massive extrovert , I need people around me to keep me going ! It's really important to find those special people in your lives and cherish them whilst you can .
To my treasured folk....thank you !!!
Monday, 31 December 2018
When things don't go to plan ...
It started in Christmas Eve.. approximately 11.25pm just as we were getting ready to start midnight mass. We noticed that someone had suddenly collapsed on the path near the main road and church ... it was freezing cold and as I've some first aid training ( thanks to the air cadets!) myself and a couple of others headed out ( me in full on alb) . To cut a long story short we needed an ambulance and so after necessary checks put the casualty into the recovery position and waited .
By the time I arrived back in church I had a minute to spare before I was due to preach and no word of a lie my first line was let me tell you a story about one night at 11.30pm ...when things didn't go to plan .... what I proceeded to do was to pray for our injured person and their subsequent trip to an over stretched A and E
And so I Continues by talking about how much time and effort we put into Christmas trying to make it perfect ... and then low and behold 40 hours later all our plans were haltered as marc got the flu!
As frustrating as it has been , as hard work as it has been as exhausted as I feel the time has helped me focus on the true meaning of Christmas... things for Mary didn't go to plan yet still 2000 years Go a perfect baby was born the saviour of the world for you and for me in my imperfect, grumpy tired state !
It has also been lovely spending quality time with the boys enjoying the toys and games and educating them in Christmas films from decades ago!
As we sit on the cusp of a new year I know so many approach it waiting for results operations opportunities for work ... pitter parter of tiny feet , weddings ... whatever happens in the good and in the difficult May that baby born in unusual circumstances all those years ago bring you peace hope and love in 2019
By the time I arrived back in church I had a minute to spare before I was due to preach and no word of a lie my first line was let me tell you a story about one night at 11.30pm ...when things didn't go to plan .... what I proceeded to do was to pray for our injured person and their subsequent trip to an over stretched A and E
And so I Continues by talking about how much time and effort we put into Christmas trying to make it perfect ... and then low and behold 40 hours later all our plans were haltered as marc got the flu!
As frustrating as it has been , as hard work as it has been as exhausted as I feel the time has helped me focus on the true meaning of Christmas... things for Mary didn't go to plan yet still 2000 years Go a perfect baby was born the saviour of the world for you and for me in my imperfect, grumpy tired state !
It has also been lovely spending quality time with the boys enjoying the toys and games and educating them in Christmas films from decades ago!
As we sit on the cusp of a new year I know so many approach it waiting for results operations opportunities for work ... pitter parter of tiny feet , weddings ... whatever happens in the good and in the difficult May that baby born in unusual circumstances all those years ago bring you peace hope and love in 2019
Sunday, 23 December 2018
The best gift
The eagle eyed of you will be aware I've not blogged for a while ... tbh I've had a bit of writers block. I've had friends and family going through some tough times especially health wise and so everything else has felt less important.
But tonight as I'm sat here desperately hoping the kids will sleep so I can finish prep for the next 4 services I've felt compelled to write.
The next few days will be chaos of work, wrapping paper tinsel wine ( I hope!) good food ( I hope!) and precious family time but today again the whole point of the celebration s comes head first at me.
God loves the world so much he sent his son ,. The best most surprising gift anyone could ever want ( find out more about the surprises tomorrow 12pm at Upnor church!!!!)
Why? Because the world is broken ... today I see my favourite place in the world in TV broken, this week I've seen families in poverty broken , this month I've seen friends and families bodies (and my own) brokenand bow especially our country feels broken.
But God still loves us ... Jesus is still the best gift ever ... unfortunately the world hasn't really opened that gift and allowed him to reach his full potential ..
This Christmas have an amazing celebration .... and I hope to catch as many of you as possible in 2019 😘
But tonight as I'm sat here desperately hoping the kids will sleep so I can finish prep for the next 4 services I've felt compelled to write.
The next few days will be chaos of work, wrapping paper tinsel wine ( I hope!) good food ( I hope!) and precious family time but today again the whole point of the celebration s comes head first at me.
God loves the world so much he sent his son ,. The best most surprising gift anyone could ever want ( find out more about the surprises tomorrow 12pm at Upnor church!!!!)
Why? Because the world is broken ... today I see my favourite place in the world in TV broken, this week I've seen families in poverty broken , this month I've seen friends and families bodies (and my own) brokenand bow especially our country feels broken.
But God still loves us ... Jesus is still the best gift ever ... unfortunately the world hasn't really opened that gift and allowed him to reach his full potential ..
This Christmas have an amazing celebration .... and I hope to catch as many of you as possible in 2019 😘
Monday, 12 November 2018
The rough with the smooth
it has been a REALLY hard week....last week started off really good being away (with dad so precious daddy daughter time) with the air cadet chaplains...it was an intense course with long dryas but a great chance to meet others across the country , experience things military style, and join in with the house patterns of prayer several items a day so almost at times felt like a mini retreat.
Coming to the end of that there proceeded to be a catalogue of sadness with illness , and things just going pear shaped for people I care about.
One of the things I've been aware of those week though is how shockingly BAD our care system is for those in need. I contacted over 12 homeless charities this week to find help for someone and there was only one that could help ....in 3 weeks time. It seems to be the case that if you're young, single, not an addict and a person of good reputation you'll be ok on the streets for a bit and of something comes up then they'll help you but in the mean time youre not a priority!
That's generalising of course but it angers me that there really is no help for people when they are most vulnerable.
At the moment this story after 3 days of stress, anxiety and searching has a "happy" ending in that I did find somewhere and thanks to some real life Good Samaritans putting deposits together and pushing protocol through quickly this person now has a roof over their head but how many other vulnerable young people are there out there?
Coming to the end of that there proceeded to be a catalogue of sadness with illness , and things just going pear shaped for people I care about.
One of the things I've been aware of those week though is how shockingly BAD our care system is for those in need. I contacted over 12 homeless charities this week to find help for someone and there was only one that could help ....in 3 weeks time. It seems to be the case that if you're young, single, not an addict and a person of good reputation you'll be ok on the streets for a bit and of something comes up then they'll help you but in the mean time youre not a priority!
That's generalising of course but it angers me that there really is no help for people when they are most vulnerable.
At the moment this story after 3 days of stress, anxiety and searching has a "happy" ending in that I did find somewhere and thanks to some real life Good Samaritans putting deposits together and pushing protocol through quickly this person now has a roof over their head but how many other vulnerable young people are there out there?
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