More rambly than ever.

Well, church came and went. I managed to get all the preparation done and think that it all went ok, even if sleep was lacking.

Mother Nature has been a little cruel to me. Having had four babies and all that does to knacker your body, the afore-mentioned Mother Nature has also bestowed upon me a great need for things like: chocolate, biscuits, crisps and other such delicacies. Obviously this is something out of my control and all down to her. It also means that when leading worship, great thought has to be given as to what I wear in order to look reasonable up at the front, in more ways than one.

So, when I should probably be praying hard about the service and checking to make sure I am totally prepared in honesty I am riffling through my drawers to find steel girder- ed drawers to pull it all in and hold it there, the prayer being that I don't I don't pass out mid-sermon and need to be rushed to A&E- although I can at least take comfort in the fact that my huge pants are clean!!!!!

We took down our Christmas tree yesterday. It is supposed to be good luck to take it down on 12th night, 6th Jan. I myself am not convinced. By leaving it up for so long there were needles everywhere and many in my knees. I needed mammoth doses of Ventolin I was wheezing so much and , of course, by taking it down on the 6th there is now less time till we put next year's up...bah humbug!!!

Well, as the children are back at school, the house is strangely but pleasantly quiet and there is the chance to catch breath before they all come home at 3.30pm. Oh, what to do?? Coffee, cake, sleep, phone a friend....or, in reality, washing, cleaning, shopping for dinner tonight and then preparing it? I know what I'd rather do but I know too what I will do. Oh well. At least I know that what I clean and tidy will remain clean and tidied for a couple of hours and that's got to count for something.

It is always odd the day they go back to school. I really miss them. They all go back with various emotions. I am so grateful that I can place them in God's hands and my prayer for each of them is that they will know His peace and presence and quickly settle back in. I honestly could not be a parent without God's help...it's hard enough even with it! But they are so precious and so loved by their Father and me and loved totally and completely by God and being in His hands is the best place for them and for me. Knowing He is there always is a huge source of strength and that is definitely something for the gratitude book!

Take care,

Rachel.