I think I am reasonably easy to please! I don't ask for much to be honest. A trip to the loo without anyone shouting out wanting to know where I am is always a pleaser, getting the washing dry is fab and a cup of tea with a friend is the icing on the cake. But now....I have had a taste of some finer things of life and sisters, I like the taste!!!
The vicar that lives here bought me and my friend across the way some biscuits. These are not just any old custard creams or bourbons. Not for me the dreariness of Asda Smart Price (no offence, Asda!) NO! These are biscuits from a place I normally cannot even dream about...Harrods!!! OH MY GOSH. They are indeed the most sumptuous biscuits I have ever tasted. My husband is WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!
My friend and I are being very restrained. We are limiting ourselves to just one a day...that is how special they are and eeking them out like this makes them all the more special. They are a real treat.
I must confess that since the children went back to school I have indulged in one or two other treats as my reward to myself for having got through the summer holidays without committing any heinous crime. My treats have included two new glorious items of underwear from a rather lovely new shop in the city (I feel like a new woman!) and getting my hair cut at a somewhat up market hair emporium.
And now back to reality. The school run is underway, the washing is never ending, my brain hurts each day as I try to think of yet another meal to cook and helping the children with their ever-increasing amounts of homework. Tonight was maths..mean, mode and median. To be honest I don't even know if I've spelt those words correctly never mind understanding them!
Now that the summer is over and normality is back (Ha ha) I shall endeavour to blog more frequently. I have missed doing it and now that we have gone wireless which means, apparently, that because we have more than one computer with internet access, I will not always be last in the queue to get on it. Huzzah!!!!!
Mind you, the house is quiet with everyone out during the day. We have had a great summer with some time away and good times at home and visitors and friends but I must admit I like a bit of structure and routine in my life so am always glad to see September.
SO...here's to a more regular blogging life, more cups of tea with fabulous biscuits, and energy, strength and enthusiasm to cope with the mundane but necessary things of life.
Much love,
Rachel.
Tuesday 16 September 2008
Wednesday 4 June 2008
Girlfriends.
My lovely friend who lives across the road has been away. Only for a week but it has seemed like years. We drink a lot of tea together.
My fabulous cousin has been really busy so we have not chatted so much. We share so much and pray together over the phone.
My sister, who is busy woman and another very dear friend have all had lots on their plates. So have I. We talk a lot.
Another friend has put up with me cancelling dinner with her..twice. We laugh a lot.
So the past couple of days have seen lots of catching up with each of them and it has been wonderful.
My girlfriends are amazing women...they inspire me, encourage me, listen to me, laugh with me (and sometimes at me!!) eat chocolate with me, pray with me, clean my kitchen while I catch up on much needed sleep and generally make me feel better about myself when the going gets tough.
I cannot imagine my life without them. Their wisdom, humour, tea-making skills and love are what makes me who I am. I am truly grateful for them and thank God for bringing them into my lives.
Girlfriends are a gift from God and I thank Him for blessing me with fabulous wonderful girlfriends.
With love,
Rachel.
My fabulous cousin has been really busy so we have not chatted so much. We share so much and pray together over the phone.
My sister, who is busy woman and another very dear friend have all had lots on their plates. So have I. We talk a lot.
Another friend has put up with me cancelling dinner with her..twice. We laugh a lot.
So the past couple of days have seen lots of catching up with each of them and it has been wonderful.
My girlfriends are amazing women...they inspire me, encourage me, listen to me, laugh with me (and sometimes at me!!) eat chocolate with me, pray with me, clean my kitchen while I catch up on much needed sleep and generally make me feel better about myself when the going gets tough.
I cannot imagine my life without them. Their wisdom, humour, tea-making skills and love are what makes me who I am. I am truly grateful for them and thank God for bringing them into my lives.
Girlfriends are a gift from God and I thank Him for blessing me with fabulous wonderful girlfriends.
With love,
Rachel.
Monday 26 May 2008
A very English weekend.
We are just at the end of a very English weekend. It has been our church flower festival based on the theme of the hymn "All things bright and beautiful," (not one of my favourites I have to confess...).
However, moving on...the church looked incredibly beautiful. Many people have spent hours putting together amazing flower arrangements and displaying very lovely works of art.
I am always in awe of people who can do wonderful artistic things. I received an "F" for art at school and can clearly remember the art teacher, when I moved on to college shouting at me across the art room," What the b....h... have you painted that cheese board .....brown for??" It is a phrase that still haunts my dreams!!!!!
What makes these occasions very English, of course, is the fact that we are so stoic. We are totally at the mercy of the weather and yet we carry on barbecuing vast quantities of sausages and burgers in a howling gale, brewing up more tea than you would believe possible and parachuting much loved teddies off the church tower. That's why I love being English!
It has been a great weekend. The Bishop came yesterday and I lead a "Songs of Praise" service in the evening with testimonies and some fabulous traditional hymns.
So now the big clear-up begins and by 7pm this evening you would never know it had happened. I am hoping that the Vicar who lives here will take a couple of days off as he has worked non-stop and hasn't had a day off for several weeks and he is knackered. As it is half term here it would be good to have some family time.
Well, this vicar's wife and mother of twins plus 2 must go and put her head around feeding everyone.
Much love,
Rachel.
However, moving on...the church looked incredibly beautiful. Many people have spent hours putting together amazing flower arrangements and displaying very lovely works of art.
I am always in awe of people who can do wonderful artistic things. I received an "F" for art at school and can clearly remember the art teacher, when I moved on to college shouting at me across the art room," What the b....h... have you painted that cheese board .....brown for??" It is a phrase that still haunts my dreams!!!!!
What makes these occasions very English, of course, is the fact that we are so stoic. We are totally at the mercy of the weather and yet we carry on barbecuing vast quantities of sausages and burgers in a howling gale, brewing up more tea than you would believe possible and parachuting much loved teddies off the church tower. That's why I love being English!
It has been a great weekend. The Bishop came yesterday and I lead a "Songs of Praise" service in the evening with testimonies and some fabulous traditional hymns.
So now the big clear-up begins and by 7pm this evening you would never know it had happened. I am hoping that the Vicar who lives here will take a couple of days off as he has worked non-stop and hasn't had a day off for several weeks and he is knackered. As it is half term here it would be good to have some family time.
Well, this vicar's wife and mother of twins plus 2 must go and put her head around feeding everyone.
Much love,
Rachel.
Wednesday 7 May 2008
A whole jumble of thoughts.
Hi lovely people!! Where have the last few weeks gone?? They seem to have passed me by in a blur of chicken pox, the usual round of mundane household chores, which frankly are boring the pants off me and an increasing number of senior moments.
It's these senior moments that trouble me most. In the past few weeks I have forgotten to cook for my family. It is most disconcerting to be leading worship and just as I was about to announce the creed to suddenly have flash through my mind that I had forgotten to put the lunch in before leaving for church. My beloved family were less than impressed.
I lost a child...or rather I didn't. A friend asked me if I could look after her son after school one day. He didn't show up. I panicked. I spent 30 minutes looking the streets for him. It felt like eternity. I went to the school. Everyone was concerned. I finally caught up with him in the park. He told me that he was coming the following week. He was right. I was wrong. I was also embarrassed and had to inform the school. I felt a right twit. The school laughed at me. Hardly surprising.
My girls have started Brownies. They love it and I love the fact that they belong to something that I belonged to when I was a child. The first week they came home full of excitement. "Did you dance round the toadstool?" I asked. They looked at me with the withering look that only seven year olds can give. "NO!" was the reply. "Oh we used to dance round a toadstool when I was a Brownie." "Well," said one of my little angels, "I think things have moved on a bit since your day mummy!!!" Words failed me....
Chicken pox is not pleasant. The twins have just come through it. The first one to get it wasn't really ill...just spotty. The second one was so ill. Really nasty. Today they are both back at school. The sun shone all day so I changed the beds and washed the revolting scabs away down the drain. How satisfying...I am a cheap round.
I have a lovely new mobile phone. It's a very long story as to why and how and if i wrote it all down it would take so long I would get arthritis so I shan't bother. What I will say, however, is that I hope one day I shall actually be able to work out how to use it. Thank goodness I have a 13 year old daughter to show me how.
I am so grateful to God for his strength these last few weeks. There never seems to be a minute to call my own and tiredness is constant. But there is much to be thankful for, especially for his love for me even when my behaviour is that of a dotty old lady. Wonder what I will be like when I really am old....
With love,
It's these senior moments that trouble me most. In the past few weeks I have forgotten to cook for my family. It is most disconcerting to be leading worship and just as I was about to announce the creed to suddenly have flash through my mind that I had forgotten to put the lunch in before leaving for church. My beloved family were less than impressed.
I lost a child...or rather I didn't. A friend asked me if I could look after her son after school one day. He didn't show up. I panicked. I spent 30 minutes looking the streets for him. It felt like eternity. I went to the school. Everyone was concerned. I finally caught up with him in the park. He told me that he was coming the following week. He was right. I was wrong. I was also embarrassed and had to inform the school. I felt a right twit. The school laughed at me. Hardly surprising.
My girls have started Brownies. They love it and I love the fact that they belong to something that I belonged to when I was a child. The first week they came home full of excitement. "Did you dance round the toadstool?" I asked. They looked at me with the withering look that only seven year olds can give. "NO!" was the reply. "Oh we used to dance round a toadstool when I was a Brownie." "Well," said one of my little angels, "I think things have moved on a bit since your day mummy!!!" Words failed me....
Chicken pox is not pleasant. The twins have just come through it. The first one to get it wasn't really ill...just spotty. The second one was so ill. Really nasty. Today they are both back at school. The sun shone all day so I changed the beds and washed the revolting scabs away down the drain. How satisfying...I am a cheap round.
I have a lovely new mobile phone. It's a very long story as to why and how and if i wrote it all down it would take so long I would get arthritis so I shan't bother. What I will say, however, is that I hope one day I shall actually be able to work out how to use it. Thank goodness I have a 13 year old daughter to show me how.
I am so grateful to God for his strength these last few weeks. There never seems to be a minute to call my own and tiredness is constant. But there is much to be thankful for, especially for his love for me even when my behaviour is that of a dotty old lady. Wonder what I will be like when I really am old....
With love,
Rachel
Friday 11 April 2008
Thawing out....
We have been away and it has been glorious. It was unbelievably cold but if you insist on going to Skegness at any time of the year you deserve to be cold!
We went to Spring Harvest which is an annual event that takes place at very cold Butlin's holiday resorts. Thousands of Christians wearing several layers of clothing, gloves, woolly hats and carrying large Bibles get together for worship and teaching and general jolliness as we all make the most of the Butlins swimming pool, fun fair and delights of the East coast.
It is always a great time and good to get away from the phone and doorbell and general day-to-day busyness of parish life.
The children are always delighted that we actually have time to do things with them and swimming is a hot favourite...for them, not for me. I actually do like swimming but it's all this taking your clothes off malarkey and all the performance of having to shave your legs before hand that seems to blight the whole experience to be honest.
This year I did manage to take them all on my own. This is no mean feat as my son is always ready in two seconds flat, my little girls not long after and then my eldest daughter and me last as we have to have the obligatory "Does my bum look big in this?" conversation. The answer to her question is, "No, you look gorgeous." When I ask the answer is not the same!
We make it through to the pool .....Me trying to look very cool and together while at the same time trying not to let my self be seen and then getting into the pool with immense speed if not grace.And then...there is the art of trying to keep my eyes on small children who are totally fearless, full of excitement and possibly still on the side of being not-quite-swimmers-yet.
It's interesting to note that since these swimming outings my hair really does appear to be greyer and my brow more furrowed..and all this before the deep, deep joy of finding a family changing cubicle and making sure that all are properly dressed.(can't be bothered to get dry as no matter how hard you try it is impossible to get dry after swimming). After ensuring everyone has everything you then have the joy of everyone being grumpy because they have all used up so much energy that they are starving!!!
But God is good and we were able to be part of some fabulous worship and some great bible teaching. The children had a wonderful time and it is such an encouragement to them to see that they are not the only kids who have Christian parents and that actually it is cool to know Jesus and that is a huge encouragement to us.
It all spurs me on especially as I went there feeling really exhausted and a bit low. It's an awful feeling to believe that you just cannot keep up this being a Christian thing. I guess that's why we need each other so much...to give each other a prod in the right direction and keep each other going.
Well, must sign off. Me and the vicar that lives here are about to transform our sitting room into a tropical island. Our babies are going to be 7 tomorrow so we have a whole host of girls coming for the party of the year. That will really not help the grey hair situation will it???????
With love,
Rachel.
We went to Spring Harvest which is an annual event that takes place at very cold Butlin's holiday resorts. Thousands of Christians wearing several layers of clothing, gloves, woolly hats and carrying large Bibles get together for worship and teaching and general jolliness as we all make the most of the Butlins swimming pool, fun fair and delights of the East coast.
It is always a great time and good to get away from the phone and doorbell and general day-to-day busyness of parish life.
The children are always delighted that we actually have time to do things with them and swimming is a hot favourite...for them, not for me. I actually do like swimming but it's all this taking your clothes off malarkey and all the performance of having to shave your legs before hand that seems to blight the whole experience to be honest.
This year I did manage to take them all on my own. This is no mean feat as my son is always ready in two seconds flat, my little girls not long after and then my eldest daughter and me last as we have to have the obligatory "Does my bum look big in this?" conversation. The answer to her question is, "No, you look gorgeous." When I ask the answer is not the same!
We make it through to the pool .....Me trying to look very cool and together while at the same time trying not to let my self be seen and then getting into the pool with immense speed if not grace.And then...there is the art of trying to keep my eyes on small children who are totally fearless, full of excitement and possibly still on the side of being not-quite-swimmers-yet.
It's interesting to note that since these swimming outings my hair really does appear to be greyer and my brow more furrowed..and all this before the deep, deep joy of finding a family changing cubicle and making sure that all are properly dressed.(can't be bothered to get dry as no matter how hard you try it is impossible to get dry after swimming). After ensuring everyone has everything you then have the joy of everyone being grumpy because they have all used up so much energy that they are starving!!!
But God is good and we were able to be part of some fabulous worship and some great bible teaching. The children had a wonderful time and it is such an encouragement to them to see that they are not the only kids who have Christian parents and that actually it is cool to know Jesus and that is a huge encouragement to us.
It all spurs me on especially as I went there feeling really exhausted and a bit low. It's an awful feeling to believe that you just cannot keep up this being a Christian thing. I guess that's why we need each other so much...to give each other a prod in the right direction and keep each other going.
Well, must sign off. Me and the vicar that lives here are about to transform our sitting room into a tropical island. Our babies are going to be 7 tomorrow so we have a whole host of girls coming for the party of the year. That will really not help the grey hair situation will it???????
With love,
Rachel.
Monday 24 March 2008
Happy Easter!
Happy Easter everyone!!
Hope that your Easter has been good and that your chocolate intake has been positively delicious.
What a dilemma for us here in the wilds of Norfolk though. Never has there been such a quandary on Easter morning. What to do first....eat chocolate or play in the snow???? Everywhere looked so beautiful on Easter day morning, covered in a layer of snow that made it look much more like Christmas.
The children have done fantastically well over Holy week and Easter. It is not easy being the Vicar's kids and having to spend so much of your life in church, especially when, more often than not, you are the only kids there. But they made it to everything, took part in a lot of things and I am really proud of them for that.
I think that Easter is my favourite time of year. It always feels like we are doing what we're supposed to be doing, reflecting, remembering and allowing history, what happened 2000 years ago, to transform today, the present, because what happened on the cross then still changes lives today.
It means that there is hope when so often so many of us feel hope-less. It means there is strength for today because of the obedience of Jesus giving up his all for us 2000 years ago.
It means there is joy for us in knowing we belong to God because of the pain God felt at the sin and broken down relationships and the ultimate step He took to rectify and redeem all that.
It means new beginnings because God has made the way open for forgiveness and new life.
Yes, it is definitely my favourite time of year....all that and chocolate too!!
Much love,
Rachel.
Hope that your Easter has been good and that your chocolate intake has been positively delicious.
What a dilemma for us here in the wilds of Norfolk though. Never has there been such a quandary on Easter morning. What to do first....eat chocolate or play in the snow???? Everywhere looked so beautiful on Easter day morning, covered in a layer of snow that made it look much more like Christmas.
The children have done fantastically well over Holy week and Easter. It is not easy being the Vicar's kids and having to spend so much of your life in church, especially when, more often than not, you are the only kids there. But they made it to everything, took part in a lot of things and I am really proud of them for that.
I think that Easter is my favourite time of year. It always feels like we are doing what we're supposed to be doing, reflecting, remembering and allowing history, what happened 2000 years ago, to transform today, the present, because what happened on the cross then still changes lives today.
It means that there is hope when so often so many of us feel hope-less. It means there is strength for today because of the obedience of Jesus giving up his all for us 2000 years ago.
It means there is joy for us in knowing we belong to God because of the pain God felt at the sin and broken down relationships and the ultimate step He took to rectify and redeem all that.
It means new beginnings because God has made the way open for forgiveness and new life.
Yes, it is definitely my favourite time of year....all that and chocolate too!!
Much love,
Rachel.
Tuesday 18 March 2008
Phew, finally made it back!
Hi there lovely blog readers! How are you? Hope life has been good to you over these last two and a bit weeks. I cannot believe where the time has gone. It has all been really busy here, so much so that the vicar that lives here and me are barely even ships that pass in the night at the moment.
This past fortnight has been filled with all kinds of good things, embarrassing things, boring and tedious things and all those other things that go to make up life in all its fullness.
Firstly we have a new member in our family here at Rectory Towers. No, I have not omitted news of a pregnancy (the thought fills me with untold horror!!!!). Rather we have some-one staying with us for a time. I love the dynamic of having someone join the family. He is a really nice guy, studying theology in England. He is from Cameroon and has become part of our family for a while. We are learning loads from him and really pleased that he is with us.
Last week I spoke at The Women's World day of Prayer. Always a rather strange event I think and made more so this year by the fact that there was very nearly a punch up between two of the participants...I kid you not. Always good to see how we Christians love each other eh?!
I had a rather embarrassing Vicar of Dibley moment a few days ago when I opened the front door to see a, how shall I put it? rather gorgeous man standing on the doorstep. My hands were wet as I was in the middle of washing up. He apologised for turning up at a bad moment. I, totally flummoxed, replied, "No, it's fine. I'm just a bit wet...that is my hands, not my personality I hope!!" I cannot believe I said that. Please floor open up and swallow me. Dawn French or what???!!!
Last Saturday we held a Fair Trade cake competition at church and it fell to me to be one of the judges...well, somebody had to do it.Homemade cakes are without doubt the best thing since sliced bread and church with cake is much, much better than church without cake as my lovely sister once said so wisely.
It was all good fun and we raised a whole stash of money for Fairtrade projects which is great. Have to say though that even with just a small nibble of each cake I did not feel at my best for the rest of the day and as I then had to cook for 24 it was a bit harder than my greedy self had reckoned on!!
We are now in full flow getting ready for Easter. This is my most favourite time of year, filled with hope and joy and wonder as we think again and re-enact the last week of our Lord's life and ponder on all that He has so graciously done for us. It is heart stoppingly awesome. So much of me wants to hurry on to Easter day itself. We must stop, though, at the places on the way...the Upper Room and Calvery because unless we stop the ressurection becomes less and we miss so much. We need to take it in slowly and deliberately because it was all for us.
Please post me a comment and let me know how you are.
Love,
Rachel.
This past fortnight has been filled with all kinds of good things, embarrassing things, boring and tedious things and all those other things that go to make up life in all its fullness.
Firstly we have a new member in our family here at Rectory Towers. No, I have not omitted news of a pregnancy (the thought fills me with untold horror!!!!). Rather we have some-one staying with us for a time. I love the dynamic of having someone join the family. He is a really nice guy, studying theology in England. He is from Cameroon and has become part of our family for a while. We are learning loads from him and really pleased that he is with us.
Last week I spoke at The Women's World day of Prayer. Always a rather strange event I think and made more so this year by the fact that there was very nearly a punch up between two of the participants...I kid you not. Always good to see how we Christians love each other eh?!
I had a rather embarrassing Vicar of Dibley moment a few days ago when I opened the front door to see a, how shall I put it? rather gorgeous man standing on the doorstep. My hands were wet as I was in the middle of washing up. He apologised for turning up at a bad moment. I, totally flummoxed, replied, "No, it's fine. I'm just a bit wet...that is my hands, not my personality I hope!!" I cannot believe I said that. Please floor open up and swallow me. Dawn French or what???!!!
Last Saturday we held a Fair Trade cake competition at church and it fell to me to be one of the judges...well, somebody had to do it.Homemade cakes are without doubt the best thing since sliced bread and church with cake is much, much better than church without cake as my lovely sister once said so wisely.
It was all good fun and we raised a whole stash of money for Fairtrade projects which is great. Have to say though that even with just a small nibble of each cake I did not feel at my best for the rest of the day and as I then had to cook for 24 it was a bit harder than my greedy self had reckoned on!!
We are now in full flow getting ready for Easter. This is my most favourite time of year, filled with hope and joy and wonder as we think again and re-enact the last week of our Lord's life and ponder on all that He has so graciously done for us. It is heart stoppingly awesome. So much of me wants to hurry on to Easter day itself. We must stop, though, at the places on the way...the Upper Room and Calvery because unless we stop the ressurection becomes less and we miss so much. We need to take it in slowly and deliberately because it was all for us.
Please post me a comment and let me know how you are.
Love,
Rachel.
Sunday 2 March 2008
Mothering Sunday Musings.
Here in the UK we have been celebrating Mothering Sunday. Card manufacturers have made an enormous fortune, restaurants have put their prices up for the occasion and schools have made sure that all children have made a suitable card to give their mums on this special day.
Here at Rectory Towers the mother of the house,(That's me!) has done very nicely thank you. No breakfast in bed sadly but that's because I was up at the crack of dawn worrying about the service I was leading and putting on the old slap so that nobody would see my worry lines and know that I had lost all my notes!!!
Anyway, I received lovely cards, all hand made, so stick that in your pipe Mr. Hallmark! Lunch was great...I cooked it but the kids washed up, dried up and put away. Marvellous. The vicar that lives here organised flowers and a lovely teddy bear for me from the children so I was well chuffed.
Church, despite me losing my notes, went really well...even if I say so myself. I must confess Mothering Sunday is not the easiest service to lead. Yes, there is so much to be thankful for, IF our relationships with our mothers are good and, praise God the vast majority of us (myself included) do have good relationships with our mothers. But what of those for whom family relationships are hard and painful or filled with sadness for whatever reasons?
I worry that it is too easy to come out with trite sayings, to gloss over people's pain and not acknowledge it. Jesus never did that. He met people where they were and continues to meet us where we are, to walk with us in whatever circumstances and situations we find ourselves in.
Our identity is in Him, as His children, belonging to Him and being members of His family and sometimes, indeed often, it takes us all of our lives to begin to have some understanding of what belonging to Him means. It can be a long, slow process but through it we find freedom and hope and healing.
Well, I'm off to bed with my new "Best Mum" teddy bear to cuddle. My children have done me proud today and I love them with every breath of my being. I'm just hugely relieved that when my youngest told the assembled congregation that I snuggle her up in bed she did not, as she often does, remark that it's good because I'm fat and squidgy. Huzzah!!!!!!
Love,
Rachel.
Here at Rectory Towers the mother of the house,(That's me!) has done very nicely thank you. No breakfast in bed sadly but that's because I was up at the crack of dawn worrying about the service I was leading and putting on the old slap so that nobody would see my worry lines and know that I had lost all my notes!!!
Anyway, I received lovely cards, all hand made, so stick that in your pipe Mr. Hallmark! Lunch was great...I cooked it but the kids washed up, dried up and put away. Marvellous. The vicar that lives here organised flowers and a lovely teddy bear for me from the children so I was well chuffed.
Church, despite me losing my notes, went really well...even if I say so myself. I must confess Mothering Sunday is not the easiest service to lead. Yes, there is so much to be thankful for, IF our relationships with our mothers are good and, praise God the vast majority of us (myself included) do have good relationships with our mothers. But what of those for whom family relationships are hard and painful or filled with sadness for whatever reasons?
I worry that it is too easy to come out with trite sayings, to gloss over people's pain and not acknowledge it. Jesus never did that. He met people where they were and continues to meet us where we are, to walk with us in whatever circumstances and situations we find ourselves in.
Our identity is in Him, as His children, belonging to Him and being members of His family and sometimes, indeed often, it takes us all of our lives to begin to have some understanding of what belonging to Him means. It can be a long, slow process but through it we find freedom and hope and healing.
Well, I'm off to bed with my new "Best Mum" teddy bear to cuddle. My children have done me proud today and I love them with every breath of my being. I'm just hugely relieved that when my youngest told the assembled congregation that I snuggle her up in bed she did not, as she often does, remark that it's good because I'm fat and squidgy. Huzzah!!!!!!
Love,
Rachel.
Tuesday 26 February 2008
A posh lady reflects
Well, well, well. Let me begin by saying that it is totally and utterly impossible to learn to tie a bow tie in 3 hours. Please treat this statement as public service information so that you, dear reader,can save yourself the angst.
Anyhow, we managed to be washed, dressed, teeth cleaned and in shiny shoes in time for the taxi to take us to the very lovely venue where the poshest do we have been to in many years was getting under way with lots of lovely Bucks Fizz.
The vicar looked quite ravishing in his dinner jacket and hastily borrowed, already made up bow tie. We turned the house upside down looking for his cuff links. No luck. But honestly what you can't do with a paper clip isn't worth doing! (He did also wear trousers!)
It was a great evening. The food was sumptuous and the whole event raised loads of money for charity. AND it was just so fantastic to spend the evening with 6 (well,7 if you include the vicar) such great friends. ( There were other people there obviously...!!)
So a great time was had by all. My daughter's shoes made for immense pain so I was thankful there was no dancing. I didn't drop anything on the dress, I didn't tell any rude jokes and think I possibly...almost, could have passed for posh. Huzzah!!!!!!
So, that was that. The weekend then trolled on in its usual way, although we did have glorious Christmas lunch on Saturday, bit that's another story. In the midst of so much mundane routine it is great to have these special respites of loveliness. They do keep you going when life is full of cooking, cleaning, washing and children. God is good.
With love,
Rachel.
Anyhow, we managed to be washed, dressed, teeth cleaned and in shiny shoes in time for the taxi to take us to the very lovely venue where the poshest do we have been to in many years was getting under way with lots of lovely Bucks Fizz.
The vicar looked quite ravishing in his dinner jacket and hastily borrowed, already made up bow tie. We turned the house upside down looking for his cuff links. No luck. But honestly what you can't do with a paper clip isn't worth doing! (He did also wear trousers!)
It was a great evening. The food was sumptuous and the whole event raised loads of money for charity. AND it was just so fantastic to spend the evening with 6 (well,7 if you include the vicar) such great friends. ( There were other people there obviously...!!)
So a great time was had by all. My daughter's shoes made for immense pain so I was thankful there was no dancing. I didn't drop anything on the dress, I didn't tell any rude jokes and think I possibly...almost, could have passed for posh. Huzzah!!!!!!
So, that was that. The weekend then trolled on in its usual way, although we did have glorious Christmas lunch on Saturday, bit that's another story. In the midst of so much mundane routine it is great to have these special respites of loveliness. They do keep you going when life is full of cooking, cleaning, washing and children. God is good.
With love,
Rachel.
Friday 22 February 2008
Going posh.
Tonight I am going to be a posh and beautiful lady!!!!!!!!
Well, that's the theory anyway. The vicar who lives here and I have been invited to a black tie dinner and auction of things money can't buy. We are going with some very lovely friends. But..I am nervous.
As the mother of 4 full on children, all lovely but not what you might call demure, I am not used to posh. I always think we've been reasonably posh when no-one has burped or farted at the tea table for once.
And as for dressing up and looking gorgeous..well the word "never" springs to mind. I try to remind myself each day that the Lord looks on the heart not the outward appearance. I use this as an excuse for looking like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards most days. But as I also struggle with a quiet time I'm not too sure how my inner appearance looks either.
However, I am in possession of a b-e-a-u-tiful dress, lent to me by a very dear friend. I am borrowing my eldest daughter's shoes which are a perfect colour to match...a sort of raspberry pink. The dress feels gorgeous and I shall be trying my hardest not to spill anything on it.
The vicar is wearing a dinner jacket and trousers he found in a charity shop 5 or so years ago for a tenner. As long as he remains in the right light you would never know that the jacket and trousers are a different colour.
I bought him a bow tie and with 3 hours to go until we leave it is all systems go to learn how to tie the blinking thing!!!!!! My small girls who are very girly girls are keen to help me with my hair and make up. This does not help my nerves.
So, why am I nervous?? Well, can I really do this? Can I look ok? Will I be able to walk in these very lovely shoes that have a....heel?? Will I be able to manage a glass of wine and not tell a dirty joke? Will my hold-everything- in- pants be all that should be? Will I manage not to nod my head in the auction and spend several thousand pounds on a scuba diving experience in The Wash?
All these questions and more will be answered at the earliest opportunity. In the meantime I have a nearly seven year old daughter weilding the hair straightners. Pray for me Sisters!!!!!!!
With love,
Rachel.
Well, that's the theory anyway. The vicar who lives here and I have been invited to a black tie dinner and auction of things money can't buy. We are going with some very lovely friends. But..I am nervous.
As the mother of 4 full on children, all lovely but not what you might call demure, I am not used to posh. I always think we've been reasonably posh when no-one has burped or farted at the tea table for once.
And as for dressing up and looking gorgeous..well the word "never" springs to mind. I try to remind myself each day that the Lord looks on the heart not the outward appearance. I use this as an excuse for looking like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards most days. But as I also struggle with a quiet time I'm not too sure how my inner appearance looks either.
However, I am in possession of a b-e-a-u-tiful dress, lent to me by a very dear friend. I am borrowing my eldest daughter's shoes which are a perfect colour to match...a sort of raspberry pink. The dress feels gorgeous and I shall be trying my hardest not to spill anything on it.
The vicar is wearing a dinner jacket and trousers he found in a charity shop 5 or so years ago for a tenner. As long as he remains in the right light you would never know that the jacket and trousers are a different colour.
I bought him a bow tie and with 3 hours to go until we leave it is all systems go to learn how to tie the blinking thing!!!!!! My small girls who are very girly girls are keen to help me with my hair and make up. This does not help my nerves.
So, why am I nervous?? Well, can I really do this? Can I look ok? Will I be able to walk in these very lovely shoes that have a....heel?? Will I be able to manage a glass of wine and not tell a dirty joke? Will my hold-everything- in- pants be all that should be? Will I manage not to nod my head in the auction and spend several thousand pounds on a scuba diving experience in The Wash?
All these questions and more will be answered at the earliest opportunity. In the meantime I have a nearly seven year old daughter weilding the hair straightners. Pray for me Sisters!!!!!!!
With love,
Rachel.
Monday 18 February 2008
Funny old thing, time...
I have been transported back in time these last couple of weeks. My eldest daughter is doing her options. This means she has to choose 4 subjects to study for her GCSEs. She has to do English, maths and science but she gets to choose four things that interest her and that she wants to study a bit more in depth and to take exams in, in a couple of years time.
We went to parents evening to see the teachers (they all looked incredibly young).I asked her English teacher how the course worked and he told me that it was all very different from "your day." Arghh.
It really doesn't seem that long ago since I did my options...and what a terrible hash up I made of it to be honest. School just did not do it for me. I had no desire to work, so didn't. I was eventually dropped from virtually all my O level subjects (remember them?) and walked away with a CSE in religious studies. Hardly a glittering academic career!
Thankfully my beautiful daughter has a bit more about her than I did (and probably still do). I have been so impressed with her level of maturity in choosing, her desire to achieve and her sheer enthusiasm for school, something which was just not my experience at all.
It worries me that I will not be able to give her the academic support she needs. In honesty I will probably learn a great deal from her. It is true to say that it is only since my children have had to learn their tables that I have really learned mine and I'm still a bit ropey on the 6x table.Mind you, as long as you can cut a cake into as many portions as there are people round the table, does it really matter?????
And I can teach her other things like how to fold washing, so you don't have to iron it, how to make a sound like an owl, how to make it look like you've broken your thumb, how to cook an entire meal whilst holding the phone and finally (this is my number one skill) how to breast feed while driving. See, not so useless after all eh ??!!
With love,
Rachel.
We went to parents evening to see the teachers (they all looked incredibly young).I asked her English teacher how the course worked and he told me that it was all very different from "your day." Arghh.
It really doesn't seem that long ago since I did my options...and what a terrible hash up I made of it to be honest. School just did not do it for me. I had no desire to work, so didn't. I was eventually dropped from virtually all my O level subjects (remember them?) and walked away with a CSE in religious studies. Hardly a glittering academic career!
Thankfully my beautiful daughter has a bit more about her than I did (and probably still do). I have been so impressed with her level of maturity in choosing, her desire to achieve and her sheer enthusiasm for school, something which was just not my experience at all.
It worries me that I will not be able to give her the academic support she needs. In honesty I will probably learn a great deal from her. It is true to say that it is only since my children have had to learn their tables that I have really learned mine and I'm still a bit ropey on the 6x table.Mind you, as long as you can cut a cake into as many portions as there are people round the table, does it really matter?????
And I can teach her other things like how to fold washing, so you don't have to iron it, how to make a sound like an owl, how to make it look like you've broken your thumb, how to cook an entire meal whilst holding the phone and finally (this is my number one skill) how to breast feed while driving. See, not so useless after all eh ??!!
With love,
Rachel.
Saturday 16 February 2008
Useless information.
This blog is brought to you with help from 2 small girls who helped to tell me what I
should list.
Things I like....
The smell of a new book.
Walkers cheese and onion crisps with a banana.(Honestly, it is delicious).
Letters from friends.
The sound of scissors cutting through wet hair.
Freesias.
My children's drawings.
The sittng room when it is clean and tidy.
The first cup of tea of the day.
Jules Holland.
Johnny Cash.
Watching a film with the family and sharing a tub of ice cream...one tub, six spoons.
Being with people who have loved Jesus for a very long time so that He shines through them.
Looking at photos of the children when they were first born.
The smell of coffee.
A new bottle of shower gel.
Sherry.
Opening a new pack of cards.
Things I am not so keen on.
What the scales say.
Mint chocolate.
Kids hairwash evening.
Nails down a blackboard.
Ironing.
Trips to the dentist.
Spiders.
Finding mouldy food down the side of the sofa.
Liver casserole... even with a fine chianti.
Crumbs in the bed.
Letters from the tv licensing people telling me we are breaking the law when we are not and have it in writing that we are not. Grrrr.
Post me a comment and let me know your likes and dislikes.
Love,
Rachel.
should list.
Things I like....
The smell of a new book.
Walkers cheese and onion crisps with a banana.(Honestly, it is delicious).
Letters from friends.
The sound of scissors cutting through wet hair.
Freesias.
My children's drawings.
The sittng room when it is clean and tidy.
The first cup of tea of the day.
Jules Holland.
Johnny Cash.
Watching a film with the family and sharing a tub of ice cream...one tub, six spoons.
Being with people who have loved Jesus for a very long time so that He shines through them.
Looking at photos of the children when they were first born.
The smell of coffee.
A new bottle of shower gel.
Sherry.
Opening a new pack of cards.
Things I am not so keen on.
What the scales say.
Mint chocolate.
Kids hairwash evening.
Nails down a blackboard.
Ironing.
Trips to the dentist.
Spiders.
Finding mouldy food down the side of the sofa.
Liver casserole... even with a fine chianti.
Crumbs in the bed.
Letters from the tv licensing people telling me we are breaking the law when we are not and have it in writing that we are not. Grrrr.
Post me a comment and let me know your likes and dislikes.
Love,
Rachel.
Tuesday 12 February 2008
The third part in a trilogy of three!!!!!!!!
Isaiah 35: 1-end.
" The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom."
Colour,texture, vibrancy, LIFE. All these things burst forth in this wonderful passage from Isaiah. It is a feast for the senses and is filled with hope.
And this message of hope and wonder comes to us from..the wilderness. God promises to bring life into the wilderness and do something new and amazing.
This is God, our God, who brings hope out of despair, order out of chaos, life out death, as He ultimately did through His Son, Jesus.
I love the fact that the huge and wonderful story of God's love for us is shown so often through the lives of individuals who faced their own wilderness times.
We thought of Elijah,seeing the glory of God on the mountain of Horeb. But think too of Abraham, Moses, David, Jeremiah, Hosea and Jesus Himself as He hung on the cross for us. All experiencing wilderness times and feeling cut off from God.
And yet God was faithful. He showed His love to them and His committment and brought them through bleak and difficult times.And He promises to do that for us...to be with us in our wilderness and to bring us through.
The rivers of water in this passage speak ofJesus who offers us the Water of Life that cleanses, refreshes and revives us. And the Way of Holiness...Jesus, who is The Way. This is our God, the God who is on our side, who rescues us and delivers us and gives us strength for today and hope for the future, the promise of life the promise and of His presence.
1) Can you identify any times in your life when God has brought rivers of life to the dryness of your life?
2) Do you need to know God's refreshing now? Ask Him to help you and believe that He will.
3) Read Isaiah 43: 5. Allow God to speak to you through it.
4) Do you know anyone who needs you to walk through the wilderness with them? How can you do this?
Heavenly Father,
Thank you that you cleanse and revive me through the Living Water that your Son freely offers me.Thank you for the hope you bring me.For being with me in the wilderness and for never leaving me, I praise and thank you. Amen.
" The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom."
Colour,texture, vibrancy, LIFE. All these things burst forth in this wonderful passage from Isaiah. It is a feast for the senses and is filled with hope.
And this message of hope and wonder comes to us from..the wilderness. God promises to bring life into the wilderness and do something new and amazing.
This is God, our God, who brings hope out of despair, order out of chaos, life out death, as He ultimately did through His Son, Jesus.
I love the fact that the huge and wonderful story of God's love for us is shown so often through the lives of individuals who faced their own wilderness times.
We thought of Elijah,seeing the glory of God on the mountain of Horeb. But think too of Abraham, Moses, David, Jeremiah, Hosea and Jesus Himself as He hung on the cross for us. All experiencing wilderness times and feeling cut off from God.
And yet God was faithful. He showed His love to them and His committment and brought them through bleak and difficult times.And He promises to do that for us...to be with us in our wilderness and to bring us through.
The rivers of water in this passage speak ofJesus who offers us the Water of Life that cleanses, refreshes and revives us. And the Way of Holiness...Jesus, who is The Way. This is our God, the God who is on our side, who rescues us and delivers us and gives us strength for today and hope for the future, the promise of life the promise and of His presence.
1) Can you identify any times in your life when God has brought rivers of life to the dryness of your life?
2) Do you need to know God's refreshing now? Ask Him to help you and believe that He will.
3) Read Isaiah 43: 5. Allow God to speak to you through it.
4) Do you know anyone who needs you to walk through the wilderness with them? How can you do this?
Heavenly Father,
Thank you that you cleanse and revive me through the Living Water that your Son freely offers me.Thank you for the hope you bring me.For being with me in the wilderness and for never leaving me, I praise and thank you. Amen.
Monday 11 February 2008
The Wilderness. Part 2.
In the previous post we thought about how Jesus’ wilderness experience came hard on the heels of the amazing experience of His Baptism. We turn our thoughts now to Elijah, one of the greatest Old Testament prophets.
He too has had an amazing experience. He has just defeated the 400 prophets of Baal. He has been witness to God’s awesome power. Elijah should surely be on a real high, dining out on the story of what has just happened and feeling really pleased with all that has happened. But no. He sinks into a real dark depression. To be fair, things are not good for him. Jezebel is after his blood for slaying her prophets, he is alone and he wants to die.
So he runs…to the wilderness, to lick his wounds, to be on his own. He spends forty days and forty nights traveling to Horeb, the mountain of God. I can only imagine that the journey seemed interminable, that all that was burdening him seemed to get worse because he complains to God about all that has happened to him.
But isn’t that interesting?…He complains to God and God lets Elijah complain and get it all out in the open. I love that God doesn’t tell Elijah to pull himself together , nor does he tell Elijah off and remind Elijah of all that He, God, has done. He complains to God because when he gets to Horeb he discovers that God is already there. God says to him, ”What are you doing here , Elijah?” Just think about that for a moment. God was already in the wilderness when Elijah got there. Very often we think that the wilderness is a God-forsaken place. It feels like that certainly. It can feel like there is no life there and yet God is there and totally present with Elijah.
And what happens next? Elijah sees the glory of God in a way he has never seen it before. It is a totally unexpected way, without noise, without visual drama. The glory of God comes as a profound and unmistakeable silence on the mountain of God. And Elijah heard the silence.
Psalm 139 reminds us that there is no-where any of us can go that is where God isn’t. And that most certainly includes the desert wilderness of our lives. Even when we cannot hear God, even when there seems too be no evidence of His presence He is there. His glory abounds even when we are unaware of it or perhaps looking for it in the wrong place or maybe we don’t even have the strength to seek it anymore. It is there, God is wherever we are and that is where our hope lies… God present, God listening to us. We are never alone in the wilderness. Jesus has redeemed the wilderness.
1) As you think back over your wilderness times are you able to look back and see that God was there? How did He show Himself to you?
2) Read Psalm 139 slowly to yourself. Ask God to speak to you through it.Remember that God allowed Elijah to say what he needed to say. Spend some time being honest with God, knowing that He hears you.
With love,
Rachel.
He too has had an amazing experience. He has just defeated the 400 prophets of Baal. He has been witness to God’s awesome power. Elijah should surely be on a real high, dining out on the story of what has just happened and feeling really pleased with all that has happened. But no. He sinks into a real dark depression. To be fair, things are not good for him. Jezebel is after his blood for slaying her prophets, he is alone and he wants to die.
So he runs…to the wilderness, to lick his wounds, to be on his own. He spends forty days and forty nights traveling to Horeb, the mountain of God. I can only imagine that the journey seemed interminable, that all that was burdening him seemed to get worse because he complains to God about all that has happened to him.
But isn’t that interesting?…He complains to God and God lets Elijah complain and get it all out in the open. I love that God doesn’t tell Elijah to pull himself together , nor does he tell Elijah off and remind Elijah of all that He, God, has done. He complains to God because when he gets to Horeb he discovers that God is already there. God says to him, ”What are you doing here , Elijah?” Just think about that for a moment. God was already in the wilderness when Elijah got there. Very often we think that the wilderness is a God-forsaken place. It feels like that certainly. It can feel like there is no life there and yet God is there and totally present with Elijah.
And what happens next? Elijah sees the glory of God in a way he has never seen it before. It is a totally unexpected way, without noise, without visual drama. The glory of God comes as a profound and unmistakeable silence on the mountain of God. And Elijah heard the silence.
Psalm 139 reminds us that there is no-where any of us can go that is where God isn’t. And that most certainly includes the desert wilderness of our lives. Even when we cannot hear God, even when there seems too be no evidence of His presence He is there. His glory abounds even when we are unaware of it or perhaps looking for it in the wrong place or maybe we don’t even have the strength to seek it anymore. It is there, God is wherever we are and that is where our hope lies… God present, God listening to us. We are never alone in the wilderness. Jesus has redeemed the wilderness.
1) As you think back over your wilderness times are you able to look back and see that God was there? How did He show Himself to you?
2) Read Psalm 139 slowly to yourself. Ask God to speak to you through it.Remember that God allowed Elijah to say what he needed to say. Spend some time being honest with God, knowing that He hears you.
Father God, Thank you that You are already in the wilderness with me, even though I may not see you, hear you or sense your presence. Help me to hang on to the fact that you are with me and help me to trust you in the dark and bleak times of my life.
Amen.
With love,
Rachel.
Saturday 9 February 2008
And now for something totally different...
This morning I led a Lent Quiet morning at church. I thought I would post the 3 short talks I did. Maybe something will speak to you. Will post the other two over the next two days.
Matthew 4: 1-11.
Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the spirit for forty days and forty nights to be tested by the devil.Matt 4: 1
Prior to this reading of Jesus being tempted in the desert we have the account of His baptism by John. Such an amazing experience. God is so obviously present….The Holy Spirit descends like a dove and the voice of the Father is heard…”This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.”
And now the same Spirit who was present at His baptism leads Jesus into the desert for 40 days and forty nights specifically so He can be tempted by the devil.
Jesus was called by God into the wilderness for a specific time, a specific reason and purpose. Going into the wilderness has been a tradition in the church since the earliest days of Christianity. Men and women have felt the call of God to withdraw from society and live life alone, focusing their entire attentions on hearing the voice of God, praying for the world and coming face to face with who they really are and acknowledging their complete dependence on God. The call of the wilderness, the draw of solitude, a life lived alone or sometimes in community but away from society, totally reliant on God.
Of course along with the actual physical wilderness there is spiritual wilderness. I guess all of us at some point in our lives have experienced times when it feels like we are in some kind of dark Godless place and it is not an easy place to be. The experience of Jesus shows that wilderness time is hard, frightening, lonely and unlike those who are called to solitary life, not something we would choose!
So how do we end up in the wilderness, the last place on earth we want to be? People end up in the wilderness for so many reasons. Situations and circumstances throw us in there, our faces covered with hot and painful sand causing us to be blind and feeling like we have lost our way.
Death, divorce, addiction, fear and loneliness, physical, emotional and mental illness can all drive us into the wilderness.
So what then do we learn from the account of Jesus in the wilderness? What can we hear God saying to us as we ponder these words of scripture? Is there any hope for us and for others when we find ourselves in hard places?
Jesus has redeemed the wilderness. He has been there, conquered it and shown us His power in it.
1) Can you identify any wilderness times in your life? What took you there, what brought you out the other side or are you still there?
2) Do you see any hope in this passage and if so what gives you hope?
3) Who do you know who is in the wilderness and needs to know the grace and comfort of Jesus who because of His own experience knows what they are going through?
4) Read Psalm 42. How did David respond to his time of wilderness experience?
Lord, thank you for the things you long to teach me and show me about your love in the wilderness areas of my life. Amen.
With love,
Rachel.
Matthew 4: 1-11.
Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the spirit for forty days and forty nights to be tested by the devil.Matt 4: 1
Prior to this reading of Jesus being tempted in the desert we have the account of His baptism by John. Such an amazing experience. God is so obviously present….The Holy Spirit descends like a dove and the voice of the Father is heard…”This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.”
And now the same Spirit who was present at His baptism leads Jesus into the desert for 40 days and forty nights specifically so He can be tempted by the devil.
Jesus was called by God into the wilderness for a specific time, a specific reason and purpose. Going into the wilderness has been a tradition in the church since the earliest days of Christianity. Men and women have felt the call of God to withdraw from society and live life alone, focusing their entire attentions on hearing the voice of God, praying for the world and coming face to face with who they really are and acknowledging their complete dependence on God. The call of the wilderness, the draw of solitude, a life lived alone or sometimes in community but away from society, totally reliant on God.
Of course along with the actual physical wilderness there is spiritual wilderness. I guess all of us at some point in our lives have experienced times when it feels like we are in some kind of dark Godless place and it is not an easy place to be. The experience of Jesus shows that wilderness time is hard, frightening, lonely and unlike those who are called to solitary life, not something we would choose!
So how do we end up in the wilderness, the last place on earth we want to be? People end up in the wilderness for so many reasons. Situations and circumstances throw us in there, our faces covered with hot and painful sand causing us to be blind and feeling like we have lost our way.
Death, divorce, addiction, fear and loneliness, physical, emotional and mental illness can all drive us into the wilderness.
So what then do we learn from the account of Jesus in the wilderness? What can we hear God saying to us as we ponder these words of scripture? Is there any hope for us and for others when we find ourselves in hard places?
Jesus has redeemed the wilderness. He has been there, conquered it and shown us His power in it.
1) Can you identify any wilderness times in your life? What took you there, what brought you out the other side or are you still there?
2) Do you see any hope in this passage and if so what gives you hope?
3) Who do you know who is in the wilderness and needs to know the grace and comfort of Jesus who because of His own experience knows what they are going through?
4) Read Psalm 42. How did David respond to his time of wilderness experience?
Lord, thank you for the things you long to teach me and show me about your love in the wilderness areas of my life. Amen.
With love,
Rachel.
Thursday 7 February 2008
Senior moments....or something!
One of the things I really struggle with is my memory, or to be honest, my lack of it. I spent over half an hour this morning turning the house upside down trying to find some really important notes for a meeting I was having. A real senoir moment!I was panicing because not finding them meant that firstly I would look totally unprofessional and secondly I would have to decide whether to come clean and say I'd lost them, or lie!
As it is Lent I thought I'd give being honest a go. I confessed my sin at the meeting only to be told that I hadn't yet been given any information, indeed that was the reason for the meeting.
I sighed with relief that I hadn't lost it, felt a total idiot that I hadn't remembered the reason for the meeting and wished I'd kept my big mouth shut and at least tried to look as if I'd got a handle on life.
But frankly I don't a lot of the time. I forget stuff so easily, write dates incorrectly in my diary...if I remember to put them in it in the first place, forget to pass on messages (why do I have to pass on messages to my husband from the congrgation anyway? I am his wife not his secretary but don't get me started). I forget birthdays, often forget things the children have to take to school and once (only once) forgot to pick up one of the children from school even though I picked the other two up from the same place.
I try to console myself with the fact that I am a busy woman with four children, a husband who works every hour that God sends, a house to clean, verging on the menopausal, tired and with a lot on my plate. I find myself unconvinced though. I think I probably live in my own little world, doing my own thing and that I am just not blessed with admin and organisational skills...or, I'm just old with increasing senior moments and off my head. Who knows?????
Love ,
Rachel.
As it is Lent I thought I'd give being honest a go. I confessed my sin at the meeting only to be told that I hadn't yet been given any information, indeed that was the reason for the meeting.
I sighed with relief that I hadn't lost it, felt a total idiot that I hadn't remembered the reason for the meeting and wished I'd kept my big mouth shut and at least tried to look as if I'd got a handle on life.
But frankly I don't a lot of the time. I forget stuff so easily, write dates incorrectly in my diary...if I remember to put them in it in the first place, forget to pass on messages (why do I have to pass on messages to my husband from the congrgation anyway? I am his wife not his secretary but don't get me started). I forget birthdays, often forget things the children have to take to school and once (only once) forgot to pick up one of the children from school even though I picked the other two up from the same place.
I try to console myself with the fact that I am a busy woman with four children, a husband who works every hour that God sends, a house to clean, verging on the menopausal, tired and with a lot on my plate. I find myself unconvinced though. I think I probably live in my own little world, doing my own thing and that I am just not blessed with admin and organisational skills...or, I'm just old with increasing senior moments and off my head. Who knows?????
Love ,
Rachel.
Monday 4 February 2008
Lenten Thoughts
This week sees the start of Lent. Of course this year it is extra early so I have had to get my thinking cap on and kick myself into gear as I ponder on what I am going to give up for Lent this year.
As I failed miserably wih my New Year resolutions it would be easy to have another crack at them. To be honest though I think I would just be setting myself up for another quick and easy fall so won't do that.
Of course the whole idea of giving things up for Lent is that you do something worthy instead. But what to give up??
I could give up ironing and use the time to do some much needed exercise but that's not possible as I don't do ironing unless there is an emergency. I could give up watching "Neighbours" and do some extra cleaning but my kids always have it on and the hoover would disturb them so that's not possible either. I could give up writing my blog and reading other people's blogs but I'm now firmly in the habit and withdrawal from that might create behaviour in me that would be difficult for my family to live with so that's a no-no too. I think I can probably come up with an excuse for everything!!
Oh dear...it's not going well is it??? And yet I am really drawn to the idea of making something special of these 40 days. But much like Advent and New Year I get my hopes up that these special times will be life changing and make me a bit more of the holy woman that I honestly do want to be and then feel I have totally failed at.
Paul, somewhere in one of his letters talks about us being changed one degree at a time. We already are holy because of what Jesus has done for us and the Holy Spirit is making us holy through His living in us. One day we will be perfectly holy when we see God face to face.Can't get my head round all this time and eternity stuff but think it's amazing!!
In the meantime we keep going, often one step forward, two steps back holding on in faith to the fact that God picks us up, dusts us down ansd sets us on our way again.
Maybe Lent is a chance to to remind myself that actually it's not about me but about God's work of Grace in me and that maybe my role in it all is to say Yes to Him more often and more readily.
Maybe I need to add a few more things to my life so that I have got things I can give up. I could take up biting my nails or indeed actually do some ironing and better cleaning, especially as cleanliness is next to Godliness....or would that mean I'd have to do even more cleaning next year? It's all getting terribly complicated. Think I need a lie down and a large coffee. Will give up the biscuit though....gotta start somewhere.
Much love,
Rachel.
As I failed miserably wih my New Year resolutions it would be easy to have another crack at them. To be honest though I think I would just be setting myself up for another quick and easy fall so won't do that.
Of course the whole idea of giving things up for Lent is that you do something worthy instead. But what to give up??
I could give up ironing and use the time to do some much needed exercise but that's not possible as I don't do ironing unless there is an emergency. I could give up watching "Neighbours" and do some extra cleaning but my kids always have it on and the hoover would disturb them so that's not possible either. I could give up writing my blog and reading other people's blogs but I'm now firmly in the habit and withdrawal from that might create behaviour in me that would be difficult for my family to live with so that's a no-no too. I think I can probably come up with an excuse for everything!!
Oh dear...it's not going well is it??? And yet I am really drawn to the idea of making something special of these 40 days. But much like Advent and New Year I get my hopes up that these special times will be life changing and make me a bit more of the holy woman that I honestly do want to be and then feel I have totally failed at.
Paul, somewhere in one of his letters talks about us being changed one degree at a time. We already are holy because of what Jesus has done for us and the Holy Spirit is making us holy through His living in us. One day we will be perfectly holy when we see God face to face.Can't get my head round all this time and eternity stuff but think it's amazing!!
In the meantime we keep going, often one step forward, two steps back holding on in faith to the fact that God picks us up, dusts us down ansd sets us on our way again.
Maybe Lent is a chance to to remind myself that actually it's not about me but about God's work of Grace in me and that maybe my role in it all is to say Yes to Him more often and more readily.
Maybe I need to add a few more things to my life so that I have got things I can give up. I could take up biting my nails or indeed actually do some ironing and better cleaning, especially as cleanliness is next to Godliness....or would that mean I'd have to do even more cleaning next year? It's all getting terribly complicated. Think I need a lie down and a large coffee. Will give up the biscuit though....gotta start somewhere.
Much love,
Rachel.
Tuesday 29 January 2008
Truth is stranger than fiction.
Some days just pass you by. They are ok, nothing much happens..you live through them on the roll of routine and wake up the following day expecting much the same.
But some days aren't the same and yesterday was most definitely not a run of the mill day. I was reading Lysa Terkeurst's blog. She had posted a really sad entry about a fatal accident that had happened at the end of her drive the previous day. As I read it the doorbell rang and a lady appeared wanting the key to the church. At the same time our neighbour crossed the road into our drive asking me if I was alright. I said I was fine but had a bit of a cough at which he looked somewhat bemused and went home again.
Then I saw an ambulance. I didn't think too much of it. There are often ambulances this way as we have an elderly population round here so there is often the need for an ambulance. I then saw a couple who looked slightly stunned. I spoke to them and asked them if they were ok. "We had to swerve to miss her, " they said. All this was a bit odd. There was no other car around, just this couple, the lady who came for the key and the ambulance.
The couple went on, "She's hit your fence." I still had no idea what was going on. They repeated, "She's hit your fence. Her car is in your garden."
To my complete and utter astonishment there was a car in the garden which was why I couldn't see it on the road. The young driver had hit the bank alongside our hedge and taken off. She'd come over the hedge, leaving some of her car in it, spun round and landed right way up but facing the way she'd come from.
The ambulance people were checking her out and the couple were waiting for the police to arrive to take witness statements. Now I knew why my neighbour had come to see if I was ok!!
Thankfully the driver was absolutely fine, although obviously very shocked. Eventually the recovery van came and took the car away which was quite tricky because it was wedged on the fence, up against the post so took a fair bit of manoeuvring.
All a bit surreal to be honest. We are all so thankful that the children weren't in the garden, that she didn't hit the garage, that the driver wasn't hurt, that the couple were ok and that basically what could have been unimaginable horror didn't come to pass.
But how strange that it should happen as I was reading about a car accident. Truth is most definitely stranger than fiction... I could never have made it up. What struck me as I mulled it over afterwards was my total obliviousness to the situation until it was virtually spelled out to me but I guess that is probably typical of me and my whole personality. I tend to live in my own little world a lot of the time and always have to be honest.
So much to be thankful for, and I am. But that doesn't address why the accident I read about on Lysa's blog ended so very differently and tragically. There are no answers to so many questions about the things of life, but life is precious and the cord between this life and the next so thin. There is certainly so much I take for granted, so much I need to be more thankful for and so much more faith I need to put in Christ even when, especially when, there are no answers.
With love,
Rachel.
But some days aren't the same and yesterday was most definitely not a run of the mill day. I was reading Lysa Terkeurst's blog. She had posted a really sad entry about a fatal accident that had happened at the end of her drive the previous day. As I read it the doorbell rang and a lady appeared wanting the key to the church. At the same time our neighbour crossed the road into our drive asking me if I was alright. I said I was fine but had a bit of a cough at which he looked somewhat bemused and went home again.
Then I saw an ambulance. I didn't think too much of it. There are often ambulances this way as we have an elderly population round here so there is often the need for an ambulance. I then saw a couple who looked slightly stunned. I spoke to them and asked them if they were ok. "We had to swerve to miss her, " they said. All this was a bit odd. There was no other car around, just this couple, the lady who came for the key and the ambulance.
The couple went on, "She's hit your fence." I still had no idea what was going on. They repeated, "She's hit your fence. Her car is in your garden."
To my complete and utter astonishment there was a car in the garden which was why I couldn't see it on the road. The young driver had hit the bank alongside our hedge and taken off. She'd come over the hedge, leaving some of her car in it, spun round and landed right way up but facing the way she'd come from.
The ambulance people were checking her out and the couple were waiting for the police to arrive to take witness statements. Now I knew why my neighbour had come to see if I was ok!!
Thankfully the driver was absolutely fine, although obviously very shocked. Eventually the recovery van came and took the car away which was quite tricky because it was wedged on the fence, up against the post so took a fair bit of manoeuvring.
All a bit surreal to be honest. We are all so thankful that the children weren't in the garden, that she didn't hit the garage, that the driver wasn't hurt, that the couple were ok and that basically what could have been unimaginable horror didn't come to pass.
But how strange that it should happen as I was reading about a car accident. Truth is most definitely stranger than fiction... I could never have made it up. What struck me as I mulled it over afterwards was my total obliviousness to the situation until it was virtually spelled out to me but I guess that is probably typical of me and my whole personality. I tend to live in my own little world a lot of the time and always have to be honest.
So much to be thankful for, and I am. But that doesn't address why the accident I read about on Lysa's blog ended so very differently and tragically. There are no answers to so many questions about the things of life, but life is precious and the cord between this life and the next so thin. There is certainly so much I take for granted, so much I need to be more thankful for and so much more faith I need to put in Christ even when, especially when, there are no answers.
With love,
Rachel.
Friday 25 January 2008
Friday thoughts.
I love Friday afternoons. This is for many and various reasons. Firstly, and massively marvelous in my book, is no packed lunches to prepare for the children for tomorrow. It's a job that doesn't really take long but somehow manages to hang over me like a big, black cloud, taunting me. "What healthy delights will you give your children tomorrow," I am taunted. "What will you put in their lunch boxes that you know full well you will throw in the bin when they come home tomorrow," is the voice in my head.To be honest I don't know why I don't make their lunches, cut out the middle man and just chuck it away. It would save me a job.
I do try with these wretched lunches. I endeavour to make them attractive, healthy and appetising. There are only so many shapes you can cut a Vegemite sandwich in to though. Deep sigh...
I did have one very bleak day in my packed lunch making career I have to confess. I bought some very healthy (let the reader understand....for healthy read hideous) cereal bars. Nobody liked them. They were flung to the back of the cupboard and forgotten about.
Several months later my son decided to help me with the dreaded packed lunches and put one in his lunch box and one each in all the girl's boxes. My little girls came home with them tied up in a carrier bag and a large handwritten note on the bag saying, "Live maggots...out of date 6 months ago." A little humiliating I think you will agree. But to my credit I have only done it the once!!
Friday evenings are great for other reasons too. I love getting all the children home, eating a meal all together and chilling out with no pressure...mind you they all still fight and there is a huge pile of washing up to be done. BUT it all feels different and it feels good.
I have for a long time now really admired those of the Jewish faith who still hold to the keeping of the Sabbath in a much deeper way than most of us Christians do. There is something so marvelous about joining together and stopping in the frantic busyness of life to be together and thank God for His faithfulness and continued presence in our lives. Surprise, surprise, God knew what He was doing when He told us to keep the Sabbath day holy and set apart.
Well, I guess as I have written about being together I'd better go and put it into practise and be with the family God has given me. Feel an Uno challenge coming on!!!
Love,
Rachel.
I do try with these wretched lunches. I endeavour to make them attractive, healthy and appetising. There are only so many shapes you can cut a Vegemite sandwich in to though. Deep sigh...
I did have one very bleak day in my packed lunch making career I have to confess. I bought some very healthy (let the reader understand....for healthy read hideous) cereal bars. Nobody liked them. They were flung to the back of the cupboard and forgotten about.
Several months later my son decided to help me with the dreaded packed lunches and put one in his lunch box and one each in all the girl's boxes. My little girls came home with them tied up in a carrier bag and a large handwritten note on the bag saying, "Live maggots...out of date 6 months ago." A little humiliating I think you will agree. But to my credit I have only done it the once!!
Friday evenings are great for other reasons too. I love getting all the children home, eating a meal all together and chilling out with no pressure...mind you they all still fight and there is a huge pile of washing up to be done. BUT it all feels different and it feels good.
I have for a long time now really admired those of the Jewish faith who still hold to the keeping of the Sabbath in a much deeper way than most of us Christians do. There is something so marvelous about joining together and stopping in the frantic busyness of life to be together and thank God for His faithfulness and continued presence in our lives. Surprise, surprise, God knew what He was doing when He told us to keep the Sabbath day holy and set apart.
Well, I guess as I have written about being together I'd better go and put it into practise and be with the family God has given me. Feel an Uno challenge coming on!!!
Love,
Rachel.
Tuesday 22 January 2008
A bit of a catch up.
I am amazed to discover that this is my 20th post on this 'ere blog. I am even more amazed to discover that I have actually had the where with all to do so many and that I am really enjoying it.
SO, I thought that today I would just look back at my previous posts and bring myself and you dear reader up to date with a few bits and pieces.
1) My Cow Kettle.It died and I bought a rather splendid stainless steel one that does not moo and is a proper grown-up kettle. It was half price in Sainsburys so cost the princely sum of £17. It shows all the water stains, has no character but boils more quickly than the cow.We could not bring ourselves to throw the cow away. We did toy with the idea of a funeral with burial, but on ecological and environmental issues decided it was better just to put it in the cupboard under the stairs. RIP Dear Kettle.
2) My hair is less purple. I bleached some bits of it so some of it is now ginger. I think this is the way to go.
3)The kids are all starving but I have produced a decent meal as planned each day.The kids will learn......!!!!!!!!! Actually they are all eating really well and honestly seem to be enjoying what they eat and like knowing in advance what will be set before them. Feel quite chuffed.
4) Still struggling with Quiet Time discipline and trying to hang on in there.
5) My Gratitude Book. This is all quite interesting really. One of my lovely little girls has been watching me write it each evening and has been keen to write her own Thank You list in my book. Yesterday, however, she wrote in it when I wasn't looking and wrote on the wrong page...shock, horror. She wrote on the next day's page in her lovely but large writing, leaving no room for me to write.
I had been reading what Paul says in some of his letters about giving thanks in all things so gritted my teeth and thanked God that she wanted to say thanks even if she had got ahead of herself!
And then I felt as though God showed me that she was right to be ahead with her thanks, even though she did it unintentionally. Along with saying thank you to Him for what He has blessed me with in the past and thanking Him for what He has blessed me with today, I am able to thank Him in advance, on tomorrow's page, if you like, because He promises to bless us always. to be with us forever, to hold us in the palm of His hand and give us a home in Heaven for all eternity.
So, a lesson learned and now to try and put into practise and to thank Him in faith for what will be as well as for what has been.
Well, I have to confess I am tired and feel like a bit of a "Has Been" myself. Shall go and make a cup of tea in my shiny, even if not as shiny as it was, kettle and watch Trevor MacDonald on News at Ten. Feels like he's never been away and his ties are just as good as ever!
Love,
Rachel.
SO, I thought that today I would just look back at my previous posts and bring myself and you dear reader up to date with a few bits and pieces.
1) My Cow Kettle.It died and I bought a rather splendid stainless steel one that does not moo and is a proper grown-up kettle. It was half price in Sainsburys so cost the princely sum of £17. It shows all the water stains, has no character but boils more quickly than the cow.We could not bring ourselves to throw the cow away. We did toy with the idea of a funeral with burial, but on ecological and environmental issues decided it was better just to put it in the cupboard under the stairs. RIP Dear Kettle.
2) My hair is less purple. I bleached some bits of it so some of it is now ginger. I think this is the way to go.
3)The kids are all starving but I have produced a decent meal as planned each day.The kids will learn......!!!!!!!!! Actually they are all eating really well and honestly seem to be enjoying what they eat and like knowing in advance what will be set before them. Feel quite chuffed.
4) Still struggling with Quiet Time discipline and trying to hang on in there.
5) My Gratitude Book. This is all quite interesting really. One of my lovely little girls has been watching me write it each evening and has been keen to write her own Thank You list in my book. Yesterday, however, she wrote in it when I wasn't looking and wrote on the wrong page...shock, horror. She wrote on the next day's page in her lovely but large writing, leaving no room for me to write.
I had been reading what Paul says in some of his letters about giving thanks in all things so gritted my teeth and thanked God that she wanted to say thanks even if she had got ahead of herself!
And then I felt as though God showed me that she was right to be ahead with her thanks, even though she did it unintentionally. Along with saying thank you to Him for what He has blessed me with in the past and thanking Him for what He has blessed me with today, I am able to thank Him in advance, on tomorrow's page, if you like, because He promises to bless us always. to be with us forever, to hold us in the palm of His hand and give us a home in Heaven for all eternity.
So, a lesson learned and now to try and put into practise and to thank Him in faith for what will be as well as for what has been.
Well, I have to confess I am tired and feel like a bit of a "Has Been" myself. Shall go and make a cup of tea in my shiny, even if not as shiny as it was, kettle and watch Trevor MacDonald on News at Ten. Feels like he's never been away and his ties are just as good as ever!
Love,
Rachel.
Sunday 20 January 2008
Food for thought.
As a child I was always enthralled by the television series "The Waltons." It seemed to me to be the height of family life and something I thought was wonderful.It made me long for a big family, where good wholesome values were upheld and life was always sunny even in the midst of rain clouds. Particularly I was always taken by the harmonious meal times where edifying conversation took place, where the family passed each other things and joined together each day in peace.
Well, what can I say? Has my dream come true? Are the meal times at Rectory Towers anything like The Walton's family meal times. A resounding "NO" shouts out. There is always much discussion that is true. But it generally revolves around who has the crispiest roast potato, who has got more drink in their glass and whether or not we really have to sit at the table anyway because there is something really good on the television and So and So always has their tea in front of the telly.
Does this sound familiar to you? I do hope so because I am always cheered by the fact that what goes on in our house goes on in others households too.It makes me feel that I am not a total failure and at least I am trying my best to do what is right.
I guess for me it highlights that life is not what we'd always expected, nor what we had always dreamed it would be when we were growing up. My dreams and aspirations when I younger were so different from now. Now I hope for good weather to get the washing dry, a reasonable night's sleep and a trip to the loo without someone hammering on the door wanting something. Gosh, how my life has changed!!
And yet I still have so many dreams, so many things that I believe God is calling me to do and they stir my heart and soul and make me feel alive. And one of those things is parenting my children well, making them feel that they really do matter to me and showing them that in so many ways and, please God, showing them Jesus, which is really tough at times as at heart I am a miserable, mean mother who does not reflect Jesus at all. There are other dreams too that are perhaps on the back burner for now because the time isn't right now but one day, in God's time it will be.
One of my favourite verses from scripture is from Psalm 138. It says, "The LORD will fulfil His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O LORD, endures for ever. Do not forsake the work of Your hands."
Keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus, who will bring all things to pass in His time is where my focus needs to be and also to be thankful for this point in my life which also is a gift from Him.
Tell you what though, I certainly didn't get the biggest roast potato at dinner time :( Still there's always pudding....:~)
Take care.
Love,
Rachel.
Well, what can I say? Has my dream come true? Are the meal times at Rectory Towers anything like The Walton's family meal times. A resounding "NO" shouts out. There is always much discussion that is true. But it generally revolves around who has the crispiest roast potato, who has got more drink in their glass and whether or not we really have to sit at the table anyway because there is something really good on the television and So and So always has their tea in front of the telly.
Does this sound familiar to you? I do hope so because I am always cheered by the fact that what goes on in our house goes on in others households too.It makes me feel that I am not a total failure and at least I am trying my best to do what is right.
I guess for me it highlights that life is not what we'd always expected, nor what we had always dreamed it would be when we were growing up. My dreams and aspirations when I younger were so different from now. Now I hope for good weather to get the washing dry, a reasonable night's sleep and a trip to the loo without someone hammering on the door wanting something. Gosh, how my life has changed!!
And yet I still have so many dreams, so many things that I believe God is calling me to do and they stir my heart and soul and make me feel alive. And one of those things is parenting my children well, making them feel that they really do matter to me and showing them that in so many ways and, please God, showing them Jesus, which is really tough at times as at heart I am a miserable, mean mother who does not reflect Jesus at all. There are other dreams too that are perhaps on the back burner for now because the time isn't right now but one day, in God's time it will be.
One of my favourite verses from scripture is from Psalm 138. It says, "The LORD will fulfil His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O LORD, endures for ever. Do not forsake the work of Your hands."
Keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus, who will bring all things to pass in His time is where my focus needs to be and also to be thankful for this point in my life which also is a gift from Him.
Tell you what though, I certainly didn't get the biggest roast potato at dinner time :( Still there's always pudding....:~)
Take care.
Love,
Rachel.
Thursday 17 January 2008
In pursuit of new skills.
You know when something strikes you as being a really fantastic idea and then as soon as you've done it you realise it was indeed a truly NOT fantastic idea but it's just too late?????
We bought our son, who is 10, a drum kit for Christmas. HE is thrilled. We are trying to be encouraging and supportive. Actually he is really good and to his credit very committed to practising for quite lengthy periods of time on a regular, indeed very regular, basis.
Tonight he decided that his lovely mother should learn a rhythm. Now, I play the guitar. I'm not brilliant but I can bash out a few worship songs for church and sing loudly enough to give a good lead.
(Actually there is no louder singing on this earth than at a gathering of clergy, all of whom seem to believe that they alone are responsible for leading the singing even when there is a music group and worship leader there. Honestly, you can take a vicar out of a pulpit but you can't take the pulpit out of the vicar....or something like that.)
Anyhow, I love music and have always believed myself to have some kind of sense of rhythm but I now believe I have deluded myself. Drumming is really, really hard.
All I had to do was cross my hands and do 8 beats on the high hat (a cymbal), do 1 beat on the snare drum at the third beat and do a stomp (is that a musical term?) on the big bass drum on the 7th beat followed by an 8th beat on the snare while continually banging the high hat.
Got it? My son seems to do it with incredible ease and I cannot do it at all, much to his disgust, especially as it's the easiest piece in the book. I am obviously a total failure!!
He has told me to spend tomorrow practising while he is at school. He says I am to be perfect by the time he gets home....no pressure there then?!!
Still, I bet I will practise. I am so frustrated at not being able to do it that I can imagine I will dedicate tomorrow to the pursuit of rhythm. And I must be more encouraging. Drummers in rock bands can earn so much money and if I am nice to him when he is rich and famous he will hopefully keep his father and me in the style to which we'd like to become accustomed!
Take care.
Love,
Rachel.
We bought our son, who is 10, a drum kit for Christmas. HE is thrilled. We are trying to be encouraging and supportive. Actually he is really good and to his credit very committed to practising for quite lengthy periods of time on a regular, indeed very regular, basis.
Tonight he decided that his lovely mother should learn a rhythm. Now, I play the guitar. I'm not brilliant but I can bash out a few worship songs for church and sing loudly enough to give a good lead.
(Actually there is no louder singing on this earth than at a gathering of clergy, all of whom seem to believe that they alone are responsible for leading the singing even when there is a music group and worship leader there. Honestly, you can take a vicar out of a pulpit but you can't take the pulpit out of the vicar....or something like that.)
Anyhow, I love music and have always believed myself to have some kind of sense of rhythm but I now believe I have deluded myself. Drumming is really, really hard.
All I had to do was cross my hands and do 8 beats on the high hat (a cymbal), do 1 beat on the snare drum at the third beat and do a stomp (is that a musical term?) on the big bass drum on the 7th beat followed by an 8th beat on the snare while continually banging the high hat.
Got it? My son seems to do it with incredible ease and I cannot do it at all, much to his disgust, especially as it's the easiest piece in the book. I am obviously a total failure!!
He has told me to spend tomorrow practising while he is at school. He says I am to be perfect by the time he gets home....no pressure there then?!!
Still, I bet I will practise. I am so frustrated at not being able to do it that I can imagine I will dedicate tomorrow to the pursuit of rhythm. And I must be more encouraging. Drummers in rock bands can earn so much money and if I am nice to him when he is rich and famous he will hopefully keep his father and me in the style to which we'd like to become accustomed!
Take care.
Love,
Rachel.
Wednesday 16 January 2008
What a difference a day makes.
Well, in the words of the old song...."What a difference a day makes."
Today the sun is shining, everyone has clean underwear in their drawers and I feel a pound slimmer. Haven't weighed myself to see if this is true in case it isn't, so am happy just thinking thinner.
Also a good night's sleep can make the day seem better. Having endured many years of broken nights, sleep is one of the main thoughts that fills my head a lot of the time.
I am however feeling my age today. I had a friend round for lunch which was lovely. She has just had her first baby and I felt really aged as I heard myself saying several times..."I remember when..." People say how quickly time goes as we get older and it is hard to believe where the time has gone since the children appeared on the scene and robbed me of sleep and sanity!!!!!
We have a house full of children for dinner this evening. I always love it when the house is full...makes the peace later seem even more wonderful. Just kidding, I think.
Trouble is that there has been a rebellion in the house and my beautifully prepared and organised menu has been disputed. Can you believe it?? Today was meant to be sausage casserole and they have said they don't want it. So we are having sausages, chips and beans and I shall gracefully erase sausage casserole and sneak it in some other time. Parenthood is a lot about sneakiness and bribery I find. What cannot be achieved with the promise of some extra pocket money or chocolate isn't worth bothering about.
So, I am out of the pit, for which I am thankful. In fact the psalm I read this morning, psalm 40, said,"I waited patiently for the LORD's help; He listened to me and heard my cry. He pulled me out of the miry pit, out of the deadly bog. He set me safely on a rock and made me secure." That's so good and needs to be held onto next time the pit pulls me in.
Love,
Rachel.
Today the sun is shining, everyone has clean underwear in their drawers and I feel a pound slimmer. Haven't weighed myself to see if this is true in case it isn't, so am happy just thinking thinner.
Also a good night's sleep can make the day seem better. Having endured many years of broken nights, sleep is one of the main thoughts that fills my head a lot of the time.
I am however feeling my age today. I had a friend round for lunch which was lovely. She has just had her first baby and I felt really aged as I heard myself saying several times..."I remember when..." People say how quickly time goes as we get older and it is hard to believe where the time has gone since the children appeared on the scene and robbed me of sleep and sanity!!!!!
We have a house full of children for dinner this evening. I always love it when the house is full...makes the peace later seem even more wonderful. Just kidding, I think.
Trouble is that there has been a rebellion in the house and my beautifully prepared and organised menu has been disputed. Can you believe it?? Today was meant to be sausage casserole and they have said they don't want it. So we are having sausages, chips and beans and I shall gracefully erase sausage casserole and sneak it in some other time. Parenthood is a lot about sneakiness and bribery I find. What cannot be achieved with the promise of some extra pocket money or chocolate isn't worth bothering about.
So, I am out of the pit, for which I am thankful. In fact the psalm I read this morning, psalm 40, said,"I waited patiently for the LORD's help; He listened to me and heard my cry. He pulled me out of the miry pit, out of the deadly bog. He set me safely on a rock and made me secure." That's so good and needs to be held onto next time the pit pulls me in.
Love,
Rachel.
Tuesday 15 January 2008
One of those days.
Am having one of those days....you know, the kind when your mood matches the weather and bed is infinitely more preferable than anywhere else. It is one of those days when I seem to be running on empty and easily irritated and I feel like I have nothing left to give anyone and nothing to put in the gratitude book.
All of which is absurded I know but some times a girl needs to wallow in the pit of self pity for a while and be allowed to stay there!!
I have just managed to amaze myself with a bit of computer technology which is great. I have done some copying and pasting. I don't really know what that means but I am impressed with myself at having done what I set out to do.
I'm a bit of a technophobe really and have only recently learned to send emails without help so learning to blog is a huge achievement for me.
Well, I had better get myself sorted. Tea needs to be cooked (in new organised style) and maybe early nights all round and i shall emerge fresh faced from my pit.
Love,
Rachel.
All of which is absurded I know but some times a girl needs to wallow in the pit of self pity for a while and be allowed to stay there!!
I have just managed to amaze myself with a bit of computer technology which is great. I have done some copying and pasting. I don't really know what that means but I am impressed with myself at having done what I set out to do.
I'm a bit of a technophobe really and have only recently learned to send emails without help so learning to blog is a huge achievement for me.
Well, I had better get myself sorted. Tea needs to be cooked (in new organised style) and maybe early nights all round and i shall emerge fresh faced from my pit.
Love,
Rachel.
Sunday 13 January 2008
Trying hard.
Am trying hard to be a more organised mother/ housewife. One of the most frequently asked questions in this home is , "What's for tea?" I guess that's pretty normal for most homes with kids who, despite being fed at regular intervals never seem to be satisfied. The other most asked question is, "When is tea?" Life here at the Rectory seems to revolve around food. I heard it said that there are two kinds of people; those who eat to live and those who live to eat. If you could see the ever expanding waist lines of the in-mates here you would know which category we fit in to.
Sadly the answer to the aforementioned questions is usually, "I don't know," on both counts and so today I have surpassed myself by producing a menu for the next 5, I say 5 days and the promise (well, intention) that the said meal will be on the table at 6pm.
So, I am feeling quite heartened that for the next 5 days anyway everybody can be at peace knowing what there is to eat and when it will appear.
I am not the most disciplined of people. I struggle to have set routines for meals, housework, exercise etc. I soothe my conscience by telling myself that I am a spontaneous person and that I go with the flow. But with a husband and four children this doesn't always wash and I guess it's not fair for them to always have to wait to see what will appear spontaneously at dinner time!!
I have never really been that disciplined in my spiritual life either to be honest. I really want to walk closer to God, to hear His voice and to follow His call. But if I am honest, while my relationship with God needs that spontaneous, impulsive element it also takes discipline and commitment and focus so that I learn to walk closer, hear His voice and then follow His call.
Paul, on at least two occasions talks about training and running the race and pressing on when he writes to encourage others in their faith. In 1 Corinthians 9; 24-26 he talks about the importance of keeping going, running towards the prize, which is Christ Himself. In Paul's first letter to Timothy he writes about training in Godliness. This is not impulsive spontaneity but rather setting one's face to the wind and working at it.
So how to do it then???? Well, I guess first and foremost setting aside a regular time each day for prayer and Bible reading must come tops. Working out some way...the way God tells us as we spend time with Him, how we can put into practice what we are discovering. How to use our money,time and God given talents for His glory and to show His love to others.
Discipline is not such a bad thing....how can it be if it draws us nearer to our Lord and there is always room for spontaneity too and that's all got to be good.
Well, I shall spontaneously sign off and get tea and wow my family, all of whom sound worryingly spontaneous in the sitting room....what awaits me in there?????????
With love,
Rachel.
Sadly the answer to the aforementioned questions is usually, "I don't know," on both counts and so today I have surpassed myself by producing a menu for the next 5, I say 5 days and the promise (well, intention) that the said meal will be on the table at 6pm.
So, I am feeling quite heartened that for the next 5 days anyway everybody can be at peace knowing what there is to eat and when it will appear.
I am not the most disciplined of people. I struggle to have set routines for meals, housework, exercise etc. I soothe my conscience by telling myself that I am a spontaneous person and that I go with the flow. But with a husband and four children this doesn't always wash and I guess it's not fair for them to always have to wait to see what will appear spontaneously at dinner time!!
I have never really been that disciplined in my spiritual life either to be honest. I really want to walk closer to God, to hear His voice and to follow His call. But if I am honest, while my relationship with God needs that spontaneous, impulsive element it also takes discipline and commitment and focus so that I learn to walk closer, hear His voice and then follow His call.
Paul, on at least two occasions talks about training and running the race and pressing on when he writes to encourage others in their faith. In 1 Corinthians 9; 24-26 he talks about the importance of keeping going, running towards the prize, which is Christ Himself. In Paul's first letter to Timothy he writes about training in Godliness. This is not impulsive spontaneity but rather setting one's face to the wind and working at it.
So how to do it then???? Well, I guess first and foremost setting aside a regular time each day for prayer and Bible reading must come tops. Working out some way...the way God tells us as we spend time with Him, how we can put into practice what we are discovering. How to use our money,time and God given talents for His glory and to show His love to others.
Discipline is not such a bad thing....how can it be if it draws us nearer to our Lord and there is always room for spontaneity too and that's all got to be good.
Well, I shall spontaneously sign off and get tea and wow my family, all of whom sound worryingly spontaneous in the sitting room....what awaits me in there?????????
With love,
Rachel.
Saturday 12 January 2008
Oh the shame....
The other evening my past caught up with me. I ran into a couple I had not seen for years..17/ 18 in fact. We were at college together studying for ministry.It was good to see them and catch up on what we're doing now and what the kids are all up to and all that kind of catching up stuff.
All this took place at a deep and heavy evening on prayer but truth to tell I can't remember anything about it as my mind is still processing the parting shot of the wife of the couple I ran into. "I've never told anyone this," she said, "but do you remember that retreat we went on before we finished college? There was a swimming pool there and when you got out of the pool.....well," she went on,"your swimming costume was totally see through!!!!!!!!"
I was completely knocked sideways. I had no recollection of this event. It got worse. "I've just thrown the photos away," she said. My mind was racing in several directions but mostly, "Do I really need to know this after all this time???????"
My entire family think this is hilarious and the sort of thing that could only happen to me.I am just relieved that the photos have gone and at least I was in much better shape than I am now! And I think I do remember the occasion although somewhat hazily.
So, the deep and heavy evening on prayer has passed me by and I have been transported back in time, although in fact one of the things this very saintly monk said was how easy it is to dwell in the past and how easy it is to constantly look towards the future and actually miss what is going on here and now in the present.
When God speaks to Moses from the burning bush and tell Moses to go to Pharaoh and tell him to let His people go, Moses asks "Who shall I tell them sent me?" God replies "I AM WHO I AM....Tell them "I AM" has sent me to you. God also said to Moses."Thus you shall say to the Israelites, "The LORD, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has sent me to you." Exodus 3: 13-16
This encounter takes place when the people of Israel are in dire need of rescuing from their past and they need help in the here and now, the present. They have a future with God and a huge adventure ahead of them as well as a huge past behind them. But God reveals Himself as "I AM." This is our God, the God of the past, the God of the future but also and wondrously the God of now, the God of today, the God of the present.
Isaiah 43: 18-19 says "The LORD says, do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already- you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there."
We all have things in our past that we need to let go of and sometimes we may need special help with that. With God we all have a future to look forward to in heaven and the promise that He walks beside us into our every day future but He is the God of today, here with us in this very moment whether we acknowledge it or not. "I AM, " "Emmanuel," God with us. God who was there in the past, will be there in the future, is here now and doing wonderful things for us and in us and through us. Praise His Name!
Just wish I'd taken more notes on the prayer evening to help me remember. Oh well, might just go and see if I still have the offending swimsuit. Did I ever wear it after that? So many questions.....let it go, Rachel....let it go!!!
Love,
Rachel.
All this took place at a deep and heavy evening on prayer but truth to tell I can't remember anything about it as my mind is still processing the parting shot of the wife of the couple I ran into. "I've never told anyone this," she said, "but do you remember that retreat we went on before we finished college? There was a swimming pool there and when you got out of the pool.....well," she went on,"your swimming costume was totally see through!!!!!!!!"
I was completely knocked sideways. I had no recollection of this event. It got worse. "I've just thrown the photos away," she said. My mind was racing in several directions but mostly, "Do I really need to know this after all this time???????"
My entire family think this is hilarious and the sort of thing that could only happen to me.I am just relieved that the photos have gone and at least I was in much better shape than I am now! And I think I do remember the occasion although somewhat hazily.
So, the deep and heavy evening on prayer has passed me by and I have been transported back in time, although in fact one of the things this very saintly monk said was how easy it is to dwell in the past and how easy it is to constantly look towards the future and actually miss what is going on here and now in the present.
When God speaks to Moses from the burning bush and tell Moses to go to Pharaoh and tell him to let His people go, Moses asks "Who shall I tell them sent me?" God replies "I AM WHO I AM....Tell them "I AM" has sent me to you. God also said to Moses."Thus you shall say to the Israelites, "The LORD, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has sent me to you." Exodus 3: 13-16
This encounter takes place when the people of Israel are in dire need of rescuing from their past and they need help in the here and now, the present. They have a future with God and a huge adventure ahead of them as well as a huge past behind them. But God reveals Himself as "I AM." This is our God, the God of the past, the God of the future but also and wondrously the God of now, the God of today, the God of the present.
Isaiah 43: 18-19 says "The LORD says, do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already- you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there."
We all have things in our past that we need to let go of and sometimes we may need special help with that. With God we all have a future to look forward to in heaven and the promise that He walks beside us into our every day future but He is the God of today, here with us in this very moment whether we acknowledge it or not. "I AM, " "Emmanuel," God with us. God who was there in the past, will be there in the future, is here now and doing wonderful things for us and in us and through us. Praise His Name!
Just wish I'd taken more notes on the prayer evening to help me remember. Oh well, might just go and see if I still have the offending swimsuit. Did I ever wear it after that? So many questions.....let it go, Rachel....let it go!!!
Love,
Rachel.
Thursday 10 January 2008
Clutterings and Clearings.
Since the children went back to school on Monday, even tho' we I had one off on Tuesday with a bad foot, I seem to have spent an awful lot of time tidying up. It's not my favourite activity. I would rather be lying on the sofa drinking coffee and eating cream cakes than tidying in fact I would rather do anything but tidying but needs must.Will we have to do housework in Heaven? We are promised a mansion and as I struggle with a 4 bedroomed house I am slightly troubled by this. However, I digress.
I am often left wondering why there are three Barbies in the fruit bowl, why there are four naked dolls on the dining room table and why on earth there are two colouring books, various felt-tipped pens,most of which don't work, and several pots of glitter(my own personal most loathed thing) on the bathroom floor. Arrgh....!
Oh, the temptation to get a big black bin bag and chuck the whole lot away.
I should also go through the children's clothes and sort out all the things that don't fit them any more and take them to the charity shop.
Tomorrow is dustbin day and all the rubbish I have got rid of will be gone forever and it's a good feeling. I'm sure if I lived alone I would be a minimalist with clean and tidy surfaces, a spotless house and I would probably wear ironed clothes and therefore look like a neater and tidier person..and then again....
I've been doing a bit of reading about tidying up and clearing out and sorting through. Paul, in his letter to the Colossians says we are to take off things that are not Christ-like. In fact he actually says "Put to death,therefore whatever is earthly."
Wow, they are really strong words. Paul is saying if there is an attitude or thought or action in our lives that does not reflect Jesus be done with it, have nothing to do with, get rid of it ,put it to death.
And after encouraging us to put off and get rid of he tells us to "Put on." He gives a list of things Jesus-like qualities that should be the hallmark of our lives as Christians....compassion, humility , kindness and above all love.
This seems like a tall order to me. I can't keep my house straight never mind my attitudes! And yet....Paul writes elsewhere "Put on Christ." When are hearts are set on Him, He changes us to make us more like Him.It is such a long, slow gradual process and our job is to stay focused and committed and He will help us through the power of His Holy Spirit. And that has to be good news because when He changes us, we show His love to others and reflect His glory.
Doesn't answer the question of why there is a whoopie cushion in our bed. Mind you, a son of 10 will know the answer to that one!!!!
Take care,
Rachel.
I am often left wondering why there are three Barbies in the fruit bowl, why there are four naked dolls on the dining room table and why on earth there are two colouring books, various felt-tipped pens,most of which don't work, and several pots of glitter(my own personal most loathed thing) on the bathroom floor. Arrgh....!
Oh, the temptation to get a big black bin bag and chuck the whole lot away.
I should also go through the children's clothes and sort out all the things that don't fit them any more and take them to the charity shop.
Tomorrow is dustbin day and all the rubbish I have got rid of will be gone forever and it's a good feeling. I'm sure if I lived alone I would be a minimalist with clean and tidy surfaces, a spotless house and I would probably wear ironed clothes and therefore look like a neater and tidier person..and then again....
I've been doing a bit of reading about tidying up and clearing out and sorting through. Paul, in his letter to the Colossians says we are to take off things that are not Christ-like. In fact he actually says "Put to death,therefore whatever is earthly."
Wow, they are really strong words. Paul is saying if there is an attitude or thought or action in our lives that does not reflect Jesus be done with it, have nothing to do with, get rid of it ,put it to death.
And after encouraging us to put off and get rid of he tells us to "Put on." He gives a list of things Jesus-like qualities that should be the hallmark of our lives as Christians....compassion, humility , kindness and above all love.
This seems like a tall order to me. I can't keep my house straight never mind my attitudes! And yet....Paul writes elsewhere "Put on Christ." When are hearts are set on Him, He changes us to make us more like Him.It is such a long, slow gradual process and our job is to stay focused and committed and He will help us through the power of His Holy Spirit. And that has to be good news because when He changes us, we show His love to others and reflect His glory.
Doesn't answer the question of why there is a whoopie cushion in our bed. Mind you, a son of 10 will know the answer to that one!!!!
Take care,
Rachel.
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