His eye is on the sparrow.....

Last Thursday was a little fraught, as I knew I needed to turn the boys round quickly after school - get them fed, changed and out of the door again.  I was rushed in the morning, too busy to get anything out to defrost and went off to work wondering what I was going to give them for dinner.   I hoped to leave work on time and get to Tesco, although I knew I had hotdogs if it came to it.

I didn't get out of work on time and at the back of my mind, I was mentally apologising to the boys for hotdog rolls for tea (not that they would care!).  Just before I left, one of the church ladies put her head round my office door and said "Funny question!  Would you like a big pan of mashed potatoes to take home tonight?  We have lots left over from lunch club for some reason.  We've got peas, too if you want them."   

:)  God is good, all the time.

A rather busy week

My lovely colleague was struck down with a horrendous lurgy this week and so I found myself "in charge".  It was a rather busy week at St John's, with a funeral, a mid-week communion, a wedding & reception and three Sunday services to prepare for.  I was greatly blessed by our amazing army of volunteers, all of them very new to the role, but who to a man & woman looked at me and said "What can I do?". 

A (my boss) and I went to Peterborough at the end of January and now have extremely ambitious plans for certain areas of church life....

And the boys are all a bit less mopey than they were, although tired and ready for half term.  Dan is loving his 8.30am swimming lessons on a Sunday morning, his knackered parents slightly less so. 

After some thought, Luke has changed drum lessons and is now at a local group called The Rock Project.  He seems much happier - no emphasis on exams and they are all encouraged to help pick the songs they want to learn.  Jack has a taster there this week, once he was assured he could keep on with his current guitar teacher as well. 

New Year & A New Thing

Quite a lot has happened since I last blogged.  This is somewhat inevitable when you only blog once in a blue moon.

Jack is 10.  He got a new guitar for his birthday and has ambitions.  He and Tiff have a fortnightly lesson, first Jack, then Tiff.  Jack really likes the teacher, they have clicked and he is making good progress.

My work has changed.  After a restructure (and sadly redundancies) at the end of last year, I am now working 24 hours a week.  My official job title is Church Administrator & PA to t'vicar .  We are all learning new ways of working together and it is...busy!

Weirdly, given that we have two guitarists and a drummer in the family, our house is feeling a bit quiet and empty.  From July of last year we had the church worship development consultant living with us for six months and he left this week, at the end of his contract.  The boys are mopey and I am very glad for lots of work to keep myself busy.  Jack, Luke & I were reading from a children's devotional based around The Hobbit tonight (the things you find at New Wine), about great adventures and how having Matt with us was a great adventure.  And then we wondered, what adventure is next? 

Wishing you - and ourselves - a very adventurous 2014.  :)

An unexpected moment

I have been going back and forth about this Sunday in my head for over 24 hours now, but it feels right to write about it.

We are members of a large charismatic, evangelical Anglican church, which we have called home for nearly 10 years now.  We walked through the doors in January 2003, with Jack, our new born and knew, in that first service, that we had found the church we were looking for.  Kids Church runs most Sunday mornings, alongside the main service and we are blessed with devoted and able teachers.

This Sunday, we had a family communion service.  At the end of the Eucharistic prayers, Andy our vicar explained that anyone who loved Jesus and wanted to say so was welcome to take communion and that children were also welcome if parents were happy.  As I went forward with the boys, Jack asked me if he could take communion and once I had said yes, Luke asked too.  As we knelt at the rail and the server approached us, Dan put out one confident little hand and was served bread.  So, all three of my boys took their first communion together, clustered around me.  It was utterly unexpected and moving in a way that I just can't put into words.

"By Your mercy, we come to Your table 
By Your grace, You are making us faithful"
Remembrance (The Communion Song) Maher & Redman, Thankyou Music

Happy 8th Birthday, Luke!

Late.  Again.  But, hey, going up before Jack's 10th birthday.

Luke had an epic birthday, full of Lego, Skylanders Swopforce and a pizza hut party which came close to having no pizza at all (long story!).

We also had parents evening recently and Luke and his teacher have clearly hit it off fine.  However, the most interesting comment of the whole evening came not from Mrs R, but from Mrs U, Jack's teacher.  As we wrapped up our meeting with her, about Jack, we said to Dan "come on then, let's go and find Luke" and Mrs U immediately told us how much she enjoys watching Luke in the after school singing club which she helps to run.  Apparently he really enjoys the music and can't stand still - he has the music in him, it seems.

Here he is, with the good behaviour beaver, finally his for the weekend after two years!  Love you, Lukey! xx

We are the pirates, yo ho ho!

It makes me laugh every time I look at it. 

August - summer days

We have had a lovely, lovely summer.  It went so fast, much helped I think by the lovely weather, so different to last year!   It has been most odd to be able to go out without a nappy bag or a pram, very freeing.  We spent a lot of time down at the beach and in the sea.  Dan is turning out to be yet another daredevil - if I turn my back on him, he is in the sea and up to his neck in it. 

He's also learnt the art of cajoling a big brother for a carry.