Thoughts on changing weather!

¹Everything on earth has its own time and its own season.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (Contemporary English Version)

There must surely be a collective sigh of relief as, after what seems like a particularly long winter, the daffodils and crocuses are finally peeping through, temperatures are up a bit and sometimes the sun shines!! It’s amazing how all this can lift one’s spirits and put a whole new perspective on life.

Spring is the favourite season of many people. It’s a time of growth, of hope and of excitement as the days get longer. It’s a time of celebration as we look to the resurrection of Jesus on Easter day. It’s tempting to wish it could always be spring.

Yet of course change is inevitable. Spring becomes summer, summer becomes autumn, and autumn becomes winter. Each season is important and brings with it newness of different kinds. As the earth grows and flourishes, rests and dies, so the cycle of life continues.

This is often mirrored in our lives. There are times when we are growing and changing, a springtime not just in physical ways but in emotional and spiritual ways too. Times, when we feel we are growing closer to God, where his word speaks loudly and clearly to us and where we are changed for good.

Summer speaks of joy and contentment, where we relish all we have, when things are calm and good and positive. Life is good. It often much easier to praise God in the summers of our lives.

Autumn perhaps makes us think of drawing on the resources we have. When life perhaps begins to be a bit harder we can stop and recall all that has gone on before, the times of growth and the times of joy. It’s a time to remember and recount the goodness of God. Many people love autumn; the changes of colour, the crispness in the air, the celebration of God’s provision and faithfulness as we celebrate Harvest.

The season of winter in our lives can be very bleak. Winter is perhaps those times of depression and anxiety, the times when we feel far from God and we wonder where he is. Life can be hard and harsh…. and yet spring is coming and a new time of hope and growth and the wonder of God is near again.

In every season of life God promises to be with us. The seasons may be long, they may be short, they may be good, they may be harsh, but nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ who holds all our times in his hands.

Love~

Rachel.

Despite my long gaps between writing entries on this blog, I have actually discovered that I like writing. This has come as a bit of a surprise to me. When I was at school my English teacher used to chastise me on a regular basis because I used to write the number of words I had written in the margin in order that I could stop the dreaded assignment the moment I had written the required number of words.

This does , of course, show immense laziness on my part that I couldn't be bothered to write any more than was absolutely necessary but also a complete lack of engagement with anything I was doing at school. It wasn't only English but maths ( I was just numerate enough to be able to count the words of my English essays), science, history....you get the picture.

So, to discover this enjoyment of writing is a bit like discovering a lovely birthday present some days after the birthday itself. I've also discovered that I'm not bad at writing. Don't get me wrong. I'm not for one moment suggesting that I am in any way in the running for some great literary prize but what joy to realise that I can string a sentence together and even make a paragraph!!!!

Funny how things work out really. I even enjoy studying now...not everything but stuff that interests me now that never did before. For example, I'm doing some stuff on a story from the gospel of Luke, the Prodigal Son, at the moment and I love it. It's that most amazing story, beautifully written, just the right length to keep you interested, 3 fascinating characters and the most unbelievable twist at the end. It is the perfect story. I've been looking at it for quite a while now and still I've not plumbed its depths. I never felt this way about Shakespeare or algebra and most certainly not about hockey!!!

So, I'm off to do more reading and writing and just for the record this blog is 345 words, or there~abouts!

Love,

Rachel.

To quote an oft-used phrase, where has this year gone? In fact, where has this decade gone? When I think back to how we all anticipated the year 2000 and now here we are at the beginning of another decade. It's been a decade of many changes, including becoming the wife of the Vicar that lives here. ( I was his wife before that but you know what I mean....)

This decade has certainly been what can only be described as the busiest decade of my life. Completing our family in 2001 with the twins adding to the other 2 has meant a decade of domesticity at which I do not excel really. Washing, cooking, shopping, cleaning, looking after sick kids, and making sure everyone always gets to where there supposed to be without being too horribly late kinda sums it all up really.

It all sounds incredibly dull to be honest and yet it has been the most satisfying decade of my life. These four beautiful, full on, loud, sociable, exasperating, anxiety-inducing, joy bringing bundles of life have turned my world upside down and brought me more fulfilment than i could ever have imagined.

It's just that I struggle with the practicalities if life sometimes...well, often. I don't understand why the socks never match up or why a hearty meal never seems to fill anyone up for longer than half an hour and why there is always something odd in the fruit bowl ( usually the latest Brownie or Scout badge that I still haven't sewn on) and why, despite years, of trying my children still do not go to bed at a suitable time.

I guess the last decade has taught me that life is never what you expect. Some things don't work out as well as one had hoped but other things are infinitely better than one could ever have believed possible.

I can only testify to the grace of God in my life over the last decade as he has given me strength to cope with changes, stresses, blessings and joys.

So, for this next decade, which isn't going to be any quieter, I shall resign myself to the fact that socks will never match, kids will always be hungry and badges won't be sewn on. I don't think I shall ever sort myself out in the remembering people's birthdays but maybe, with yet more of God's grace in my life I will be able to discern better what are the really important things in life and treasure the blessings and perceive God's hand in all things.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!

Love,

Rachel.

Sunday with a difference.

Have just spent the best part of an hour trying to pimp-up (think that's the right phrase...heaven help me if it's not!!!!) my blog. Bearing in mind that I have no idea how many, if any, people read these ramblings of an increasingly demented and scatty vicar's wife it is hard to know if it is time well spent to be honest.

But today is somewhat different. It is Sunday and not a single Rectory dweller has been to church. Shock, horror. I can hear my staunch protestant paternal grandmother turning in her grave, her false teeth chattering in disgust!

The reason for this is that life at Rectory Towers is not all it could be. My lovely son has had an encounter with swine flu. He was very unwell and now his father, i.e. The Vicar that lives here, has also encountered this beast of an illness. Basically we are all in quarantine. No church, no Sunday club, no nothing.

So, what have we done instead? Well, the Vicar has slept. The lovely son has lounged on the sofa still a bit washed out. The girls, all 3, went out for a run before the rain starts and the Vicar's wife read a paper, pimped up her blog and did some spontaneous housework.

I am in a dilemma though. It was lovely waking up without an alarm. It was lovely having some time to do ....nothing.

However, it just doesn't feel right. I know it's easy to say that as I have been to church virtually every Sunday of my life it's bound not to feel right. But I honestly believe that it goes deeper than that. Meeting with other Christians on Sunday is about much more than just being all together in one place. It's about the body of Christ meeting together with Him, about the togetherness of joining in worship and gathering around the communion table; a bunch of broken, fallen people, in need of each other's encouragement to carry on living in the grace that God so freely bestows on us.

So while it all feels like a bit of a luxury lying in bed and seems like a treat to read the paper I think I'd rather do it on a Saturday. Or better still a Monday!!

Please pray for the Vicar who lives here. Not seen him so rough for years. And just to say there will be some churchy work today. I'm off to sing Christmas carols with 60 Beavers. Random.

With love,

Rachel.

More haste less speed.

Hi everyone,

It's confession time.I have been done for speeding...again. It was a total surprise to me. I am shocked. No way could it possibly have been my fault. I mean , I know I was driving and it was my foot on the gas pedal but honestly m'lud it was an honest mistake by a woman minding her own business and carrying on the usual day to day tasks that life throws at me.

It did get me thinking though, about other misdemeanour's that I have inadvertently committed in my life. Like the time I managed to throw away 6 library books in the recycling box.This may seem a small and insignificant thing but somehow I felt like a criminal of the worst kind... losing one's library books somehow making me feel like a murderer.I ended up having to pay £20 to make amends.

Or the time I sent my sweet children to school with maggots (live) in their lunch boxes. This is true and also humiliating.I bought some cereal bars that no-one liked so I threw them to the back of the cupboard, as you do, in the hopes that one day somebody might eat them at some point. Somehow they ended up in lunch boxes. The girls came home with the bars in a carrier bag with a huge note pinned to it, saying, "Live maggots. Out of date 6 months ago." I was truly mortified.Not one of my greatest mothering moments.

Or what about the time when I was given a cheque for a substantial amount of money from someone and I managed to tear it up and had to grovellingly ask for another one.

Or how about the time when I managed to pick up 2 of my children and leave one behind.

It does seem to me that all these occasions occur when I am rushing, and I always seem to be rushing, as proved by a speeding ticket. It's always easy to think that I can just do one more thing than time allows,to cram more in than is really possible. And when I do that I make mistakes. I drive too fast, I throw things away by accident, things get put into lunch boxes that shouldn't, or torn up or missed.

I don't suppose I'm the only one who does these things. But there must be a lesson in it that goes even beyond "More haste, less speed." The pace of life is just too fast and slowing down and living in the moment must be the way to go. How we do that is another matter entirely and is easier said than done.

In the meantime I'd better find a way of slowing down in the car...hmmm.

Love,

Rachel.

Birthday thoughts.

I have had a birthday. Interestingly it has come exactly a year after my last one and yet somehow I don't feel any older than I did at the last one!

It was a great day. The kids all snuggled up in bed with me and gave me presents and hugs and the Vicar that lives here made sure that it was a festival more than a birthday and he really spoiled me.

I suppose birthdays can really be a time for reflection on what has happened during the last 12 months. Have I achieved anything, am I a better person than I was, have the goals I set for myself been realised, did I even set any goals?

I do find as I get older that my goals are fewer, more easily summed up and are really based on my every day walk with Jesus.My over riding goal, or perhaps desire is a better word, is to reach the place where I can honestly say that Jesus is enough for me, that if I had nothing else he would be sufficient, that to know him completely is my completeness.

I have the most incredible blessings in my life. Amazing children, a faithful and loving husband and wonderful friendships. I live constantly with God's blessings all around me and I am so thankful. But more than his blessing I long to know him better, to hear his voice;to know the Blesser not just the blessings.

With love,

Rachel.

Stirring up a hornet's nest.....

Question:How many house group members does it take to tackle a hornet?????

Answer:Many, plus much screaming, shaking and telephoning from one side of a door to the other.

There are occasions in life when you see people as they really are, when truth will out as people revert to type. Take our house group. We meet weekly. We have become an incredibly close knit group who laugh together, pray together and study together. We are getting to know each other really well and Tuesday evenings are one of the highlights of my week.

Last time we met we had an incident. As we came to the end of our prayer time a low droning noise was heard. We thought the Luftwaffe were on their way in. Not so. The most enormous queen hornet you have ever seen had decided to check out our sitting room with a view to building a nest.

Now, our group is made up of people who hold responsible positions at work. They are people you can turn to in any kind of crisis....except the crisis of a nest-seeking hornet. The police woman left the room so quickly she left a trail of smoke, a former nurse was rooted to the spot and the vicar's wife took immediate action. I shouted loudly for the Vicar that lives here!!!

We shut the Vicar and the head teacher in the sitting room with a plank of wood and a bicycle lamp...obviously! After an hour...yes, an hour of much activity, during which time my brand new lamp shade came a cropper and several pounds were spent phoning each other for updates because we didn't want to open the door, one of my beautiful little girls came up with a cunning plan.

"Daddy," she said, "Why don't you catch it in my pink fishing net??" The child is a genius! Not thirty seconds later said hornet was gone and peace was restored. We put the kettle on, showered the Vicar that lives here and the headteacher with kisses for their bravery but poured praise and admiration on a small girl with more sense than the rest of us put together.

It came back twice, the old hornet. It obviously really liked our chimney but we felt unable to accommodate it. On it's third visit we made it very clear that it was never to return, and it hasn't. Does anyone know how to get hornet guts of the sitting room carpet? Perhaps I need the wisdom of an 8 year old genius again!!

Much love,

Rachel.

Out of the mouths of babes!

Don't you just love the way kids say things just as they are? No, not always!! For example, "Mummy, why is your tummy so wobbly?" The answer to this is, of course, because I have had 4 babies, 2 of which came at once, and not because I have a deep love of chocolate and a deep hatred of exercise!).

Or what about, "Mum, why are you cleaning? Are some visitors coming? (There is no answer to that one!)  

Or what about , "Mum we told Emily that the present we gave her was one you had for your birthday and didn't like."( The answer to that is a clip round the ear, but I resisted!!)

Yes, children say it as it is and invariably leave you with your heart in your mouth wanting the ground to swallow you up.

We have just come back from Spring Harvest. We had a great week: fabulous worship lead by Graham Kendrick and good bible teaching. The children all had a great time with their various activities and groups. On the way home we were talking about the week and asked them what they most enjoyed. As we waited for some great spiritual revelation from them they announced that the highlight of the week was late night swimming followed by the trips to Burger King for chips and coke! Yes indeed, say it as it is.

Mind you, I have to say that I really enjoyed having some lie-ins, eating chocolate and snoozing on the sofa!! (Hmmm could that possibly be a factor in the wobbly tummy???? NO, NO, NO!!!!)

We are very good at compartmentalizing things that we perceive to be spiritual from the things that don't perceive to be spiritual. Sermons are spiritual so go in the spiritual compartment; swimming goes in the nonspiritual compartment. Why is this?

The Jewish people didn't see it like that. When God commanded them to love him with all their heart, mind and strength he was saying that you cannot compartmentalize. All life, every aspect of life is about relationship with him. He is with us in everything and we with him., sermons, swimming and snoozing. I like that.

And finally, back to the wobbly tummy. They children say it makes me cuddly. Now that is how I like it said!

Much love,

Rachel.

Gimme, gimme, gimme

I saw this recently in a shop. “The Toddlers rules for life.” 1) I have it...it’s mine. 2) I want it...it’s mine. 3) I saw it first...it’s mine. 4) I took it...it’s mine.

There were about 10 of these “it’s mine” statements and they all struck a chord! “Possession is 9/10ths of the law”, or so they say. Sharing is not easy for children and if we’re honest not a lot easier for adults!! Anybody that touches my chocolate...beware!!!!!

A group of us have just come back from Spring Harvest where we have had a fabulous time, worshipping with 7 and a half thousand Christians and journeying together as we discovered more of what it means to be an 

apprentice of Jesus.

Being an apprentice of Jesus means that there is no room for the “It’s mine” approach to faith in Jesus. We cannot hold onto it for ourselves but instead share, through our words and in the way we live our lives that Jesus is for everyone, that a relationship with God through Christ can be a reality for everyone. 

Our relationship with the Father is a personal thing but must not be a private thing. We are called to share; to share Jesus, to share our lives and to share all that we have so that everyone can meet the resurrected Christ and know him.   

Much love,

 Rachel.                          

Uninvited guests.

I believe that being woken fron deep and peaceful slumber is one of the worst things. Having had children who have never been good sleepers I feel qualified to say that broken sleep is a killer. None of our kids have ever really got the hang of sleeping all night and really it is only in the last 3 months or so that everyone finally sleeps all night, on their own and in their own bed. 

I used to play a game with myself. When I woke in the morning I would keep my eyes shut and see if I could remember which bed I was in and who I was with. Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "sleeping around!!!"

Finally, after what seems like years..well, to be honest it is years, the only person I sleep with is the Vicar that lives here... and he interupts my sleep with his outrageous snoring. AND he has the nerve to say I snore too. HMMMM....

We also have a cat that lives here too. She is lovely. We have just come back from a few days away and she is obviously pleased to see us. So pleased that she broke my deep sleep. So pleased in fact that at 4.30 am she came into our bedroom to bring us the wonderful gift of a dead mouse. She was truely pleased with herself and none too pleased that I wasn't pleased. She looked quite put out as I shooed her away. The Vicar that lives here continued snoring...

In the morning the Vicar had the unenviable task of clearing up the remains of said mouse. Not pleasant. Honestly, kids, cats and snoring Vicars (well, just one vicar) when will sleep be mine???

Love,

Rachel.

The Truth or not the Truth.

Well, I have just finished clearing up from cooking for the final session of Alpha today. I set myself the ridiculous challenge of cooking something different each for 12 weeks.I managed it but only just and somebody else cooked for one week which was great.

I am a terrible cheat of a cook to be honest. What you cannot do with a jar of Dolmio sauce isn't worth doing. It has though put me in a bit of a moral dilemma. When people very kindly say how delicious the meal was I just smile serenely and say "Thank you." I made a rather splendid curry a few weeks ago. It went down a treat.Then disaster struck. Somebody wanted the recipe. What was I to do? Should I say it was a secret family recipe and that if I gave it away I would have to shoot the person I gave it to? OR should I come clean and say that Pataks do a fabulous korma sauce and at the moment are on special offer at Sainsburys?? All very tricky.

I'm ashamed to say I have become very reliant on jars and packet sauces. I dread to think about the chemicals, e numbers etc that I am forcing my children to eat. I have even been known to buy ready sliced carrots which is the height of laziness I know. I have become a sound convert of frozen diced onions. No freezer should, to my mind be without a bag. Why make your own Yorkshire puddings when Aunt Bessie has clearly helped out, is my thinking.

I do make my own toast though and am thrilled to say that I am training my children very well in the art of making toast too. It's my job as a mother I'm sure you'll agree. Actually my son is a dab hand at making bacon butties and has also discovered the art of boiling an egg. It is my deepest desire that at least one of children should develop the art of making their mother a cup of tea but I fear that may be some time off.

Oh well, in the meantime I shall make myself an instant hot chocolate and retire to bed. Oh, and what did I say to the person who wanted the curry recipe? Well, what would you do?????????

Much love,

Rachel.

Palm Sunday thoughts.

Many young, and not so young(!) girls dream of being a princess. The whole idea of a beautiful maiden being rescued by a handsome Prince Charming is the stuff of romantic fairy tales. Many boys dream of being that Prince, rescuing the princess and living happily ever after.

Palm Sunday is about the King, coming to rescue; but not in the way we imagine or dream about. This is not some fairy tale we are remembering today but rather the beginning of the final week of Jesus’ earthly life as God’s ultimate rescue plan reaches it’s amazing, incredible climax as Jesus dies and rises again.

The word “Hosanna” literally means, “Save us.” We, all of us, need
rescuing from sin, death and separation from God. In fairy stories the rescuer always appears with a sword and white charger; a conquering hero.

Yet Jesus comes humbly, riding on a donkey, coming in peace and as the ultimate, perfect and only hero...our Saviour, who slays sin and death and opens the way to God for all time.

As we walk the way of the cross again we can remember with joy and thanksgiving that God, through Jesus, has rescued us through his death on the cross and along with those there that first Palm Sunday, shout, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Rachel.

How much excitement can one Vicar's wife have eh?? Today I got to take a trip to B&Q to choose AND purchase a brand new kitchen tap! This really is a thrill. The house that we live in, we live in because it forms part of the salary of the vicar that lives here.

I love this house and I hope that we have made it into a nice home where people feel welcome and wanted. BUT it isn't ours which means that we cannot do a lot of the things to it that we would if it were ours. The kitchen, to be honest, has seen better days, as has the bathroom. I don't mind because I'm used to it but there is something quite thrilling about being able to put our mark on it, even if it is only to choose a new kitchen tap.

I have been thinking a lot about homes this week. The guy from Cameroon who came to stay with us for a couple of weeks last March left yesterday!! I feel very bereft and it is strange not to see his stuff about the place. Oddly, the thing that I miss seeing are his towels in the bathroom. It will all take a bit of getting used to.

Lent is trolling along. I failed miserably at giving up chocolate. I blame it entirely on my hormones and that "peri-menopausal" stuff so am not accepting sheer, unadulterated weakness as the reason!!!!!!!!!! However, I have done better at the other two things I resolved to do.

1) Give up swearing. Often I am appalled at the language that trips off my tongue so easily. Often I am NOT appalled and that appalls me...if you see what I mean. I feel much better, cleaner really, for making a concerted effort. I shall endeavour to carry on.

2) To pray on my knees each night before going to sleep. I always fall asleep when I pray in bed so this has been quite a big deal for me. But it has been really worthwhile and my little girls have done it once or twice because they have seen me do it and it feels good that they are copying something like that. I shall endeavour to carry on with that too.

Well, I must go as it is nearly time to be on my knees in prayer, ie: I'm tired and need to go to bed!! Hope you are ok.

Much love,

Rachel.

Spring is bursting out all over....

Hi there folks.

The sun is shining and the daffodils look spectacular along our road. We even have some in our garden, along with some primroses and a few crocuses. Just seeing them and feeling a bit of warmth from the sunshine gives a whole new perspective on life.

Not that I am much of a gardener to be honest. It seems to me that the more work you do in a garden the more you have to do. Our garden isn't huge and my Dad likes to come and do stuff in it which is great and relieves me of the burden of non-gardeners guilt.

As much as I may say that I am just leaving the garden to grow as God intended it I do tend to wander down the road looking with unhidden admiration on my neighbours gardens with their perfectly mown lawns, their beautifully trimmed roses and their immaculately gravelled pathways.

I wonder if the state of peoples gardens reflects the state of their minds? Neat, tidy, possibly a tad too neat or, like me, chaotic, untidy and shambolic? I bet people have done studies on stuff like this, even PHDs.

It is my theory that you can tell a lot about a person by their cutlery drawer. Now here is no room or excuse for untidiness or shambolics. A cutlery drawer should be a work of art where thing are put away properly and in their rightful place. I get very, very upset when my cutlery drawer is messed about with; it's not a pretty sight. And I'm sure there are PHDs on that using words like"Fruitcake" and phrases like "needs to get a life."

My linen cupboard however is a tip. Maybe this balances me out and makes me as normal as the next person, but then everyone is normal til you get to know them.....

Signing off dear people.

Much love,

Rachel.

Well, that went well, didn't it?? There was I back in September issuing forth about how I was going to be a more regular blogger, update my posts on a more frequent basis and now it is the end of January and I have done nothing.

Truth to tell,I have not been at my most ravishing best. Since half term back in October one by one my children and husband and finally myself have all succumbed to various and horrible bugs and viruses. At Christmas we were all a heap of germs flopped out on the sofas, reading, playing on the Wii and sleeping, coughing, sneezing and believing death was imminent.

Death did not come and most of us are now better but I have to confess that these past few months have been hard. I didn't even write Christmas cards!! I have felt under a dark cloud, far from God and weepy. Not nice.

My Mum has had a brush with cancer, my sister and her husband have separated and it's just not been great. But, of course, that is life and with four kids, a busy husband etc, etc, etc you just keep going don't you? I guess I just haven't had any spare resources for anything other than just keeping everything ticking over.

So, that's me really....a bit of a heap at the moment but hanging on in there, trusting that the sun will shine and that my energy levels will rise.

Hope you are all ok.

Much love,

Rachel.

The Finer Things in Life.

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.

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.

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.

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,

Rachel

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.