Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud?

This last bank holiday weekend saw myself and a bunch of family and wonderful friends pack our bags, tents and wellies and head to Cheltenham Race course for The Greenbelt Christian Arts Festival.

We have been going to Greenbelt on and off for many years ( my first visit was when I was 3!) and I love the eclectic mix of people, passions and experiences that can be found in one place. The music, the art, the creativity, seeing old friends and the Jesus Arms ( beer tent) are great ingredients for a brilliant weekend...normally..

This year was quite a challenge..In true British Bank Holiday weekend style the weather was a great challenge! In fact it rained and rained and rained. It rained so much at times it looked like we were sat in between a waterfall with thunder and lightning all around us. For those of you that know me will know that I am terrified of thunder but having a 2 year old I had to try and be brave!Once the rain eased however the problems did not ease..we were left with a massive mound of mud that in places came well over my ankles.

It was hard going, battling the rain, mud and camping but it was also a real witness to camaraderie, team spirit and a chance to "jump up and down in muddy puddles!"...Daniel thought it was the best thing ever and had a whale of a time.

I can not lie and say we had a wonderful time despite the weather...some of our group really did struggle and when your last pair of socks are soaked because your wellies have broken it is very difficult to put on a smile!

However, it really was a lesson in how we deal with adversity...do we throw in the towel and take shelter in the nearest travel lodge at the first sign of rain or do we face the eye of the storm and stay strong through thick and thin?

I like to think that I am a tough cookie and can cope with most things but this nearly had me beat....but thanks to a happy toddler, a great talk from Frank Skinner ( yep the Frank Skinner is a Christian!) and a good old session of Beer and Hymns I got through the weekend with a smile on my face ready to book again next year :)....anyone want to join me?

A matter of life and death

This week has been a week of funerals, planning, preparing and delivering, church services, cremations and burials. Any kind of funeral and every kind of funeral. The last few weeks have seen a lot of the deanery clergy on holiday so all local funerals have come my way.

It has been an emotionally challenging week, any funeral no matter what the circumstance or situation is a sad and difficult time to all involved, but so many at once certainly take their toil especially when one is someone younger than yourself.

Many people say to me that funerals must be the one thing that I hate about my job yet it is one of the things I really enjoy doing . That may sound sadistic but I find at the time of someones death family and friends are much more open to talk to you about life, the world and the universe, they want you to be there, they want comfort and they want hope but most of all they want you to listen and to guide them through one of the most difficult experiences of their lives.

This week saw our church bursting at the seams with young people trying to find a way to grieve, this is the second experience in a year I have had of such a mega funeral for one so young and both times I have been amazed by the response of friends desperate to show their love and their grief to their friend who has died and to the family. This week the tribute was made via an enormous array of flowers, bouquets and wreaths of all shapes, sizes and descriptions, it was also shown by a uniform of flat caps and an array of colourful socks....
These experiences make me feel so privileged that I have a faith, a hope that this world is not the end, it makes me feel privileged that I have a family who cares so much for me, and it makes me feel privileged that I for a few hours can be a part of someones difficult journey.But it also makes me think about how those with no faith, no hope cope, what do they cling to and what do they look for to survive each day....because of this I do my job to share hope in Jesus and just pray a tiny seed may be sown at these difficult times. A light can be shone for them in their times of darkness.

Footprints in the Sand

Footprints in the Sand

THis summer has been the busiest that I can ever remember. It has been a summer of excitement, achievemnt and hard, hard work!

We started the summer with a lovely if not very hot and exhausting trip to Los Boliches in Spain. 10 days with my parents playing on the beach with Daniel and watching him take in all things Spanish, including the food (tapas, calamaries and Paella where his favs!) the language...(gracias, adios and por favour!) and the way of life ( siestas and staying up late!)

It was a different kind of beach holiday having a toddler but a real delight and a joy and great to spend family quality time together.

But since we have been back so much has happened work wise it has been quite crazy...experiencing the Olympics ( a blog in itself) a wonderful holiday club and conducting my first wedding; All really exciting and wonderful events that helped me to engage with so many different people yet very energy consuming making Spain seem a distant memory...

The saddest part of the job though has really been the focus of these summer months, that of funerals. I find funerals such a blessing, to be with people at there most difficult times and to be able to walk along isde them in their grief and just be there to help them try and create a memory in the form of a funeral service. The funeral services usually try and give people a flavour of that person, what they were like as a yongster, the jobs they have had and the family they have left behind, along with a few amusing anecdotes along the way. However this week I am preparing the funeral of a 27 year old man who died tragiclly leaving a 2 year old and a 3 month old baby. Such a short life lived taken so suddenly. It has made me think about what mark do we leave behind when we are gone..what effect will our eventual passing have on those around us....will it be a clear mark like a footprint in the sand.

I hope and pray that your summers have been eventful yet restful, exciting yet enlightening and for those whose summers continue as any other season may you find refreshment when you can!

HOO CLEARS UP

HOO CLEARS UP!

This morning I put on my old clothes and headed down with Marc and Daniel to Hoo village to help with the Hoo Community Clear Up. I have been meaning to go down for the last few months but this has been the first Saturday I have been free enough to help.

The morning started well...Daniel decided, whilst we waited for the rest of the team, that the library was a much better option for Saturday morning entertainment so off he and Marc went leaving me with a Peppa Pig bag and a pick up stick!

The morning was actually a really good and enjoyable occassion, as you can see above there was a fair bit of rubbish around the centre of Hoo but not as much as I anticipated. My best find has to be a pair of bright pink boxer shorts!

The highlight however, the boxer shorts aside, was the conversations, it was really good to be able to chat to people who I haven't met before to find out more about people's lives and to actually help the community.

It was fascinating to hear and engage with the rest of the community as to why we were picking up other people's litter and whether we should be doing it at all. But the main thing I heard being said was that it was all about building up community and working together to make Hoo a better place for everyone.....Couldn't have said it better myself!

The morning finished with our wonderful local councillor providing refreshments for us at the Chequers Pub ( only tea passed my lips!) and off course we were gate crashed by Daniel and Marc who had by then finished at the library.

Today has helped me to remember just how much I enjoy being part of a community and meeting new people but also just being able to help, no matter how simple a task it may seem!.

Thanks to the wonderful Tony Watson and Ronnie Sands for their organisation and any Hoo-ites out there,.,..come get involved next time!



A Time to think

Over the last week my boys have been away visiting the in law side of the family, I couldn't get any extra time off so  Marc took Dan to spend some quality time with the Vallente's. Initially I was very much against the idea...how would i cope? how would I eat? How would I sleep in a house on my own? Then I began to rationalise the idea and decided to not let them go would be selfish on my part...Dan hardly ever gets to see his other grandparents and Marc could do with some quality time with his family.

And I was right I didn't like it, I didn't eat well and I struggled to get a good nights sleep, in fact slept much less than I usually do with a toddler in the house!

What the week alone has taught me is that I am very dependant on my family, they are such a huge part of my world that I am at a total loss without them, I also discovered that I have a serious lack of hobbies and social life! Despite the many meetings scheduled in to get as much work done as possible while the boys were away I still had some time to myself and so what did I do? caught up with Facebook and did more work! ( a very sad state of affairs!)

So what difference has my week alone made to my life? Without making it sound too grand I am determined to create a better work life balance. Obviously with a job like mine I could work all the hours our dear Lord sends and then some but that doesn't create a quality life for my family. I have also realised that I do need to find some time for myself to do something that isn't work related but where I can get out and meet people and have some fun.......

It has been a very LONG week but my boys are back and I appreciate them even more than I did before.

Daniel collecting an egg on his Farm trip



PROUD! (3 Days of contrast!)

I have just haad the most sereal few days possible, from doing my aunty's funeral to a massive family party to help lead a service in aid of cancer research...in the rain!

It really has been a time to reflect on the great wonders and the great sadness of life.

At the funeral my cousins were so composed and dignified and in the way they conducted themselves, the way they had planned the service with me and the way they honoured their mum was a true tribute to them, aunty Chris would have been so proud. The music was emotive with MAke me a channel of your peace to JLS singing about being "Proud" ( if you havent heard it you tube it its a real tear jerker!!) It really was an honour to be able to lead my family in this very important sacrament and i hope in turn I did them proud.

From the funeral I then had to go up to Lancaster to help celebrate my in laws 40th wedding anniversary and my niece's 21st birthday. I have to confess that switching emotions was really very difficult but just to have a cuddle with my baby made it all worth while... The party was a real success with such hard work from my sister in law and MArc the band played the night away and I realised again how emotive music can be, Marc (hubby), Emily (niece) and the rest of the band made me so proud of my extended family and recogise what a talented bunch they are. Going from the sadness of the funeral to the joy of the party was hard but just what was needed!

( Marc and Daniel Guitaring!)

Today has again been a morning of being proud...I have assisted with an outdoor service at Deangate ridge to celebrate the relay for life 24 hour walk in aid of cancer research. I there had to give a testimony of my Aunty Chris....which was almost as emotional as doing her funeral but as I was speaking I could see passing in front of me so many people wearing survivor t shirts or t shirts in memory for someone, but what really moved me was a lady carrying a candle bag with teh picture of a young boy on it. Such a sad image but the people there, walking in the pouring rain havign ahd next to no sleep wanting to show the world how proud they are of their friends and family, how much th ey want to help find a cure and how they just want to spend time amongst others who have been through a similar experience. It makes me proud to be part of a world where people still do actually care about others.





Busyness and Baptisms

Yesterday was a crazy day, I know Sundays are meant to be our "real" working day in some peoples eyes but yesterday was exceptionally busy. After a few early wake up calls thanks to a toilet training toddler i was feeling especially tired and weary and not particularly feelign the Sunday joy I have to confess. However as always God is great in all things and managed to give me the energy and sparkle I needed to do 8am and 10.30am....from then I had to dash back to Hoo to cover a baptism for a family that actually know Marc and Daniel, (The mum runs one of the village toddler groups) The contact so far has been really good, a great pre visit, several inbetween email conversations and then we came to the day. It was so nice to see a little girl so happy even at one clapping and smiling as I spoke and even when I soaked her! The family and friends seemed to engage in what was happening and it was lovely to see one of my air cadets there as a guest.

After the service a few kind people thanked us and we were invited back to the party. As Marc and Dan knew the family we thought it a good opportunity to pop by and share in the celebrations....Now, not to blow my own trumpet but the feed back and encouragement I received wsa astounding, people seemed genuinely pleased, excited and surprised at how much they enjoyed a church service. ( They even asked Marc if they would be able to request me for other services which may upset the vicar!!)

The last week has been hard going and I have put a lot of time and energy into this baptism, not just because it was a family we had a connection with but because it was a service independant of anyother with many non Christians and I wanted it to be the best experience they had ever had of church. Yesterday proved to me that putting in the preparation is definately worth it, being myself and trusting my instincts does pay off and no matter what else is going on God can work within us mightily!!