Where did the summer go?

The sun is shining outside but it's distinctly cooler - autumn is on its way if not here. Which is a shame cos I love summer, I love sunshine, it lifts my soul. Thinking about it its sunshine more than heat, so a cold crisp day with lovely sunshine will do the same thing, its just much rarer (although thinking about this summers weather maybe not!)

 

But I didn't start this post intending to talk about the weather.

 

It's been a good summer.....

 

PJ being home has been lovely, I'm very aware as good friends take their offspring to Uni how it felt this time last year, and how lovely it is to have taken him back yesterday, knowing he's happy, healthy, enjoying Uni, his course, CU, life. I know I'll see him soon, and can talk to him, and that our relationship is just as strong, even though he lives somewhere else a lot of the time. I think its one of the irrational thoughts in a mother's mind, when one of your children has a significant life change - will I lose them? But I've always held onto the idea of let them go, and they will come back, idea, I hope I'd never hold one of them back....... but its lovely to know that family is important to them, even as it changes subtly.

 

Hannah only had about 4 weeks back in Abingdon, and wasn't able to do New Wine apart from the last day and a half, but did make Holiday Club which was lovely. I sometimes worry that Hannah doesn't get a chance to get a word in edgewise in my noisy family, but actually she does fine. Hannah I hope you know how very grateful I am that you're in our lives :)

 

Of course the huge event of the summer was Sarah's graduation. As most of you will know Sarah had some challenges on the way, as often happens, but she faced them, and thrived. A fantastic 2:1 Ba Hons and QSW (Qualified Social Worker). She has 2-3 jobs, working in a nursery, working for a Social Care Agency, and volunteering with the kids work at Church. This isn't forever, its while she works out what God wants her to do next. But it means she is earning, which is a huge relief to us all. Its a tricky transition, no longer a student but a working woman - but I know she'll make it.

 

And Paul is on his way to Heathrow as I type, off to Seattle for just over 3 weeks, including 3 1/2 weekends. Its a big course that Microsoft do. Now this is going to be challenging for us all, not least because when he last did this, just over 2 years ago, his dad was dying.......

 

But work is good, I'm about to start the next bit of my masters, the Nurse prescibing course, which everyone tells me is extremely tough....

 

Its so nice to be able to blog about a life full of family and friends, and work, and holidays. I'm very grateful for the balance and variety I have. I'm not complacent, I'm seeking my Lord, trying to know what's on His heart for me, and for me to be and do for Him, but mostly wanting to be closer to Him. Life is a journey that doesn't end of this earth, and I guess the changing seasons are a good reminder of that, so I'll enjoy the beautiful colours in the trees, and hope for crisp, frosty mornings, and not complain (too much!) about the dull, damp days.

New Wine 2011

We've just returned from another amazing week at New Wine. 12000 people gathering on an agricultural showground turned camp site/Christian conference. An opportunity to come together with people from my church, with Christians from around the Central South Wast Region, a chance to spend time with God, further away from the distractions of every day life.

 

I love New Wine.

 

Put aside the noise, and the queues for the showers, the variable quality of the loos (including more queues) and the lack of sleep (caravan helped but the site is only quietish between midnight and 6).

 

Focus on time with God, time to praise Him through sung worship, prayer and silence. Time to learn more about Him, through good quality bible teaching. Time to be encouraged ( He really does love me just as I am, and is pleased with me, His beloved daughter), time to be challenged (about creating balance between solitude, community and mission, about being true to the person He wants me to be, about working in a job that leaves me vulnerable to attack so I need His protection daily, and so much more).

 

Time to give to my relationship with Him. And time for friendships, old and new, to talk, to be honest, to say sorry, to recommit to Him, and to my community.

 

I have been blessed, and I have been used - spiritually and practically - more blessings.

 

I'm not naive - I will fail to follow through on much of this - but I am renewed, and energised, and have new insights and knowledge.

 

So as I plow through the washing, and as we unpack and sort and put away, I will give thanks to my Lord, the God of the Universe.

Normal service resumed

I debated deleting my last post but thought that would only confuse folk - have had a good night sleep and am no longer feeling sorry for myself - thank you for indulging me :)

Home alone.....again

So this is a bit of a self pity post - but I'm sitting home alone.....again.

 

We got home from Egypt on the sunday, Paul went to New York on the monday. He stayed there for 12 days, getting home on friday, was horribly jet lagged saturday and sunday (imagine physically present but mentally absent) and today he's gone to Manchester. Now its only for one night, he'll be back tomorrow, late tomorrow, and as at one point we thought it was 2 nights this is marginally better. But he'll be back up there 2 nights next week. And I'm fed up with it :(

 

And whilst I have had company some of the time, Sarah is currently in Guernsey (having a fabulous time) and PJ is at work. I could've invaded some friends tonight but I had a very early start to be in Southampton by 9 this morning, and had some work to do... and I'm probably only feeling sorry for myself because I'm tired. But I decided that a little moan wouldn't hurt and would probably do me some good as a vent, and I'm about to eat chocolate and then have an early night, so I'm sure normal service will be resumed soon.

 

Egypt

At 4 am this morning Paul and I arrived back from a week in Egypt, staying at a glorious hotel in Sharm El Sheikh, by the Red Sea. We dithered for ages about going away, wondering if it was worth the money, and decided only about a month ago that it was, that unless we went away we wouldn't switch off from the world and relax, have some time to invest in us.

So with this, and some guaranteed sunshine, as our goal, we booked into an all inclusive hotel, for a reasonable amount of money, but encouraged that we weren't being too extravagant by Val and Ivor, who had a lovely holiday in Scotland for about the same amount of money (they had 2 weeks but were camping)

Apart from a very cramped, noisy flight we had a fantastic time. The weather was wall to wall sunshine, daytimes of 34C, dropping to maybe 28C overnight. Every day beautiful blue skies, spent lazing by the pool, or the beach, reading, listening to music or talks, or just chilling, swimming, or in Paul's case snorkelling.

Evenings started with a glass (or two) or champagne (ok Paul - the heathen - drank beer) followed by a lovely meal, then sitting out on the terrace, chatting over a glass (or two - do you see a pattern!!) of brandy - putting the world to rights or planning future holidays ( that safari we've been talking about for ages, a villa in Italy with kids and whatever co they have), talking of friends, family, life.

Decent sleep in a lovely room with aircon and blackout curtains and a seaview.

Lovely people, nothing too much trouble, who remember what you like to drink......

I'll gloss over the evening wasted by the stomach bug, even though I was very very careful.......

Paul had an amazing trip up Mount Sinai but wrecked his feet with blisters and aching muscles, I had a lovely manicure...I do feel a little guilty that I didn't venture outside the resort but maybe next time. This time was for chilling.

And I feel rested, and that our marriage has benefited from this investment, we, Paul in particular, have been very busy, and he flies to New York for nearly 2 weeks tomorrow, and this is how we chose to live but its important to give 'us' time too.

And of course I missed home, and the kids, who coped amazingly without us, and I'm glad to be home, and whilst I'd rather have another week off, I'm happy to go back to work tomorrow. This time last year it was very different.

So I have much to be very grateful for. Photos to follow..

Blogging?

I follow a number of blogs- friends, family, children, some near, some far. Most (like me) blog intermittently. I love reading them - I love the insight into their days and weeks, to know some of what is on their hearts and minds, it helps me think of them, and pray for them. Some are more prolific than others. And this caused me to a) write a new blog myself and b) use it as a gentle prompt (not to be misconstrued as a nag :P ) to said people to blog themselves :)

 

So what is happening in my life? Work is going well, ignoring my part is some toe trodding last week (not deliberate - far from it, but as someone said maybe new teams entering 'storming' phase). I genuinely enjoy this job, the work I get to do, the people I work with, the amazing kids and families.

 

Sarah is done - completely done, in a week. She's waiting for a job, hopefully peacefully, cos we are, God has a plan.

 

PJ comes home tomorrow for the summer - I'm sure he'll be busy but I'm really looking forward to it.

 

Hannah is still busy busy, started new placement.

 

Paul is mega busy too (he's working at the moment!) but we're going out for a meal tonight and in 2 weeks we'll be in a plane on our way to Egypt and lots of sun sea and sand :D

 

So all ticking along nicely - which I've realised is when I tend not to blog, but I enjoy hearing nice things happening in other people's lives so you may too....