My God is an Awesome God

Why would I spend my weekend with between 19 and 64 children, on my feet for 10 straight hours, 3 puppet sketches, lots of cooking, even more washing up? Because I got to see the God of the Universe at work in the lives of these kids.

In particular was an amazing session where we 'taught' them about prophesy. You see I believe that God talks to us, we just have to listen, and that sometimes He tells us things that He want us to pass onto others for their encouragement, comfort, or to strengthen the church. Which = prophesy. And each and everyone of the 19 kids we did this with (and the 10ish teenagers, and 3 adults) heard God speak to them, and 'risked' sharing it with each, and God blessed them, and us, because of this.

And my aching bones, my knackeredness, my dry dry hands, matter nothing, cos I saw God at work :D

(Poor Sarah was poorly sick big time but was still amazing throughout)

Things that make me happy

One of my bestest friends gave me a book on a happiness project which I'm currently reading, and a good place to start seems to be remembering the things in my life that make me happy.
So, not necessarily in order

• My Jesus, my saviour
• My family
• My friends
• Sunshine
• Good coffee
• Walking, particularly on a beach, or in sunshine
• Producing a picture I'm happy with
• Worship music
• Lying in bed, not needing to get up in the morning
• Sharing a glass of wine with someone I love
• Chocolate, Divine, Guylein, sometimes any sort will do
• A phone call or email from my friends
• Little things that remind me that you care about me
• My house, clean and tidy after the cleaner has left

Many many more but that'll do for starters - its a good thing to do - it reminds me how blessed I am

Kal

Paul is back!!!!!!!!

Paul is off all meds but diclofenac and this means he's awake :) and with it :D And realising how much of the last 10 weeks he cant remember............
Its not all good - he's inclined to want to do everything immediately now that he feels so much better, and he's interfering in stuff that have been passing him by, but it is lovely to have him back, the emotional support that I had been missing so much, the love and the care, 'him' is back. SO I'm happy.

Mind you this means that Sarah has to give him his car back soon!

And we're looking at booking a holiday, just a week in Devon, but a lovely break in the summer.

Thank you, again, for your love and support. I hope (to use that lovely American phrase) that I can pay it forward.........

Kal

One week on........

Paul is now one week post op and he's doing well. He's dropping the diazepam and amitryptilline and is waking up! he's even confessed that he doesn't remember anything of the Godzone Carol service which he led!
He has good movement in his neck, and minimal pain. The only thing that isn't recovering as fast as we'd hoped is that his thumb is still numb - he did have some sensation immediately postop but it went again. We aren't panicking though as the surgeon said it could take a while as the nerves will be bruised.
I'm still knackered though - its been nearly 9 weeks now. We've just re jigged the sleeping arrangements again though to see if I can get some more sleep!
I haven't really had time or energy for much else, started back at Pilates which is lovely.
I have really appreciated the support of all our family and friends, so thank you all

Kal

The start of Paul's recovery

I am really really pleased to be able to say that Paul had his op today. 7 weeks after it started. Surgery went well, and he's looking quite good (if you ignore the oxygen, drips, drains etc). And although he's in pain this is the start of him getting better - which we all desperately need. Its been a long hard 7 weeks - Paul has either been in pain, or so doped up that he couldn't do anything, his right thumb has been numb throughout, he's been fed up, frustrated and grumpy. None of which was his fault - but it was hard to live with. So for him, and us, I'm really pleased that he's had the op.

I do know that he's got a long way to go - he'll be off work for at least 4 weeks, and he isn't a good patient but its SO good that he's safe and well

Thank you all for your prayers, please keep them going

Kal

There's snow business like snow business...........

So on tuesday/ wednesday it snowed - I doubt you were able to miss this small fact! Abingdon had about 9 inches and here we are on sunday still with lots of snow!!!!! The main roads, A34 etc are lovely and clear, the road our house on is still thick snow, and there is every possibility in between. Pj's school closed (as did they all) Sarah couldn't get to placement, I didn't go in to work (but did work reasonable at home).

Paul and I did make it in to see his consultant - and we are waiting for a date for surgery. If it wasn't for the blasted snow we'd have a date. Either next thursday, or if snow stops play (again) the week after.

And yes I am fed up with snow. Britain just hasn't got its act together. I know from our friends in America that although they have the odd snow day, they are too well set up to let it cause problems this long. And I know that economically we don't have snow often enough to have everything in place to cope as other countries do but I'd love to know how much this is costing our economy.

Enough moaning about snow, its just a fed up day, Paul is feeling rough and without a date the end doesn't feel any nearer and just generally blah................

With hope (and those of you who know me will know what hope means to me) this time next week Paul will have had surgery and will be home recovering............

Kal

2010

I'm currently enjoying the penultimate lie in of my holidays. I love lazy mornings, breakfast in bed, the balance of things to do but not so much that I feel pressured.

So 2009 was an interesting year, full of challenges, highs and lows. I think I've documented most of them but I'd like to record the highs (because one of the things I've learnt is that its much more productive to focus on the good than the bad).

In no particular order

• learning that its not my job to fix things - its Gods - the world, in particular my part of the world, is a much better place if I 'allow' God His rightful place in charge of it. He wont fail me, I will.
• the day of Grandpa's death - a real gift to all of us, and the assurance that he's in Heaven
• Grandma safe in the nursing home
• celebrating 25 years of marriage with Paul, and of course, Mauritius
• Sarah - being friends with your daughter is a very precious gift, watching her thrive in her life is inspiring
• PJ - his quiet determination to do what he needs to do, to achieve what God has in store for him is impressive. His love for Hannah, his support for her whilst she is in India. The chance this has given him and me to develop a friendship has been an unexpected bonus
• Hannah - it is something very special when you can become not just friends, but family, with your sons girlfriend. I am so proud of you Hannah - for who you are, you are just as God intended - don't doubt His handiwork
• Friends - who have prayed for us, laughed and cried with us

I'm sure there's more but that will do for now.

And 2010? I'm not in to reslolutions. I have hopes and good intentions but mostly they are summed up by the very grand desire to walk more closely with my Heavenly Papa. If I can do this then all will be ok. In the words of a New Wine speaker (brain dead as ever) left foot, right foot - we rarely change things/ God occassionally changes things miraculously instantaneously. More often it is about changing habits, retraining our behaviours, the hard slog, of daily obediance, left foot then right foot. That's my hope for this year.

May yours bring you everything God has in store for you.

Kal