A quiet week..........

In contrast to my beautiful daugther, who has had a manically busy week, I've had a quiet one. I had monday as a day off, tuesday/wednesday was in Coventry on a course, thursday a day at home writing an essay. So I haven't been in the office at all - my out of office and voicemail said you probably aren't going to get me.............. I have checked my emails and there's a stack of work sitting there - but it'll wait :) Its been nice, a less busy week, although not quite a holiday. I've written loads of my essay, which is due in at the end of the month, I can send in another draft just to check, so feeling ok about it. Its for a Post Graduate Certificate in Leadership, and linked to the course I was on this week, there's a second essay I need to work on as soon as I get this one, but I'm on a role so that's ok. This gives me 1/3rd of a masters! The course has been good, spread over a year, but I'm rubbish at distance learning :( I've been in a small group of really diverse people and we've all got on really well - the only problem is boy do they love to drink. Now I know I like a few glasses of wine but on tuesday half of the group had had about 3 predinner drinks, then we had 8 bottles of wine on the table (for 9 of us) and I believe they hit the bar later. I bailed about 930 - they work us hard on these courses - but I also felt I was starting to adapt my behaviour to fit in, and I didn't want to go there - so I left - they were fine about it, they are a nice bunch :)
Tonight we have two of our best friends coming round for a takeaway, wine and a movie - much more my line of fun - am I getting old? Maybe but I'm happy with who I am.

Not to forget its Easter - today is Good Friday - the day when we remember the excruciating, shameful, scary death Jesus chose to go through for me, and you, thank you doesn't seem to be enough does it?

Kal x

A lovely birthday

Yesterday was my birthday (as you probably know). I had a lovely day :) Breakfast in bed, a lovely new bike (so that I can try and get fit), candles, flowers, jewellery. A pedicure, a meal out with my family.
And now a relaxing weekend, the sun is shining at the moment, not too much work next week, and then Easter.
Paul's parents remain ill and frail, but they now have a live in carer and its helped relieve the constant worry. A brief respite I'm sure, but we'll enjoy it while we can.
Off to enjoy the sunshine............

trully mad..............

I am (mad that is), if you weren't sure before (unlikely I know) be assured :)
28 kids for 24 hours, including not enough of them spent asleep (although some at all is probably more than you'd expect). Lots of fun and activity, nearly 3 hours with an additional 50 kids for a party, lots of amazing teenagers, great friends, 'expensive milk', time to share more about Jesus with them.
And now, completely, utterly exhausted.................

Madness - men with white coats etc - either that or sleep................

Sunshine

I've been very aware that I was due (overdue?) a blog but was struggling to think of anything different to say................and I'm sitting here with sunshine streaming through the window!
Now we've been blessed with about a week of spring like sunshine and I love it. The forecast says its going to break soon (well it is only March I suppose)
Sunshine lifts my mood, encourages me to raise my head to the sunlight and thank my God for all He's given me. I know a lot of people suffer with SAD, I don't, but I do feel sooooooo much happier when the sunshines.
So today I'm going to walk down town, buy a costa coffee, browse the shops, and enjoy the day. And pretend not to notice the jobs that I also have to do, or that I'm lonely later. Which isn't a cry for sympathy, a little bit of loneliness is fine - I love alone time, just gets boring after a bit.

Another day off :)

I'm using some leave up at the moment, I'd saved some in case I needed time in Trowbridge, and then realised that the end of March was fast approaching and if I didn't use my leave I'd lose it! we can carry a week over but I had more. The end result is 4 weeks of having a day off per week - and I like it!

I don't have any major plans for today - pottering, shopping with Sarah maybe, writing a bit of an assignment................... and that's one of the lovely things - an unbusy day :)

Sarah is better, tired but better - its such a relief for her and us.

Paul's folk continue their ups and downs.

I feel that God has really been speaking to me about recognising who is whispering in my ear - I can't remember if I've blogged about this before but I'll risk repeating myself. That quiet voice is either our own thoughts, or from God, or from the Devil. Now the Devil is particularly insidious. He speaks many, many untruths into our lives - I'm ugly, unworthy, and there's some really scary stuff either happening or about to happen and I need to fret and worry and try and sort it all out. These are LIES! Apart from anything else worry does not come from God - He does not promise us an easy life but He does promise to be with us always and He promises not to let more happen to us than we can bear. When Sarah was ill I was worrying (its my human nature). Paul and I were praying and Paul prayed something about knowing that God was worrying with us (what he meant was that God was with us in the middle of it all) but I heard in capital letters (if you know what I mean) God does not worry. So my worries were not from God - so I needed to stop. Now it's not that simple, but I am turning to God whenever I worry, and handing it over, and working hard at obedience. I read something about our obedience to God releases His Godly interference - it struck a cord.

So enough deep and meaningful - off to potter :)

A nice day off

Today the sun shone, I had a day off, I went the garden centre with my mum, coffee in town with my husband, my nails and hair done, and relaxed.

I know I am really fortunate, Paul's had a busy, busy day. We've had a call this evening to say that his mum has spent the day in bed, ill as a result of her urine infection, the uncertainty goes on and on.

But for some reason, today I had a few hours off, and it was precious.

And tomorrow is Women's day, some quality time with God, and good friends. Roller coasters should have highs as well as lows shouldn't they? But my husband needs some too.

Anyway, now for a nice evening. :)

Another swoop of the rollercoaster..............

Sarah has had a really horrible sinusitis - 3 weeks later she is at last getting better. A week ago we had a trip to our local hospital for a second opinion - her history of raised ESR made me and the GP a bit twitchy! 5 hours at the medical assessment unit - our first experience of adult services. It wasn't awful - we had some really good nursing care, but a lot of waiting around, and heightened anxiety, to, thank you Lord, be told that they couldn't find anything wrong but the sinusitis. Which is good news, especially now she is at last feeling a bit better. We've since heard stories of this really nasty bug going round, I had a relatively mild version too.

Paul spent another weekend with his M&D, I'm really proud of his devotion to them, and to supporting his sister, but he comes home exhausted, I can't help asking 'how long Lord?'

Work continues to be up and down - quite what my world will look like 6-12 months from now I really don't know, it could be exciting, it could be the wrong place for me, the good news is that I'm not fretting (which is a major thing for me)- I'm relying on the fact that God has it all sorted ' I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, not to harm you'

But I'm oh so tired....................

But we have a women's away day on Saturday and I'm really looking forward to the time with God (and my friends!)