Unexpected support...

Well you know I withdraw from the world and lose myself on the computer...right?
I was on one of my worldwide blog crawls and was flicking from blog to blog... and then I arrived here and perspective came back and I'm back on track praying for help, letting Him hold me when my legs give way and refocusing on my priority right now :looking after the children!
Thank you Elysa!

So cross with myself!

I hardly have the most taxing daily schedule do I? So why when I think I'm starting to be more organised and plan in advance... I fall short everytime?
Today I enjoyed a lovely telephone chat with my mummy, finished the call feeling all nice and warm (as you do when you chat to your mum) to get that feeling dashed with the next phonecall from the surgery.... I missed my pre-booked appt (yet again), I failed them and can only book on the day from now on.
I understand their frustration at missed appt, but I've been sobbing here at my uselessness at remembering a simple thing such as an appt. I don't even want to ring up to make an on the day appt in the next few days... I'm so ashamed.... If anything was wrong with the blood tests... surely they'll contact me?!

Matthew's not been 100% and has had yet a couple more days at home... this afternoon he also had his follow up appt. All clear! We are still awaiting the dermatologist referral but his bloods came back AOK. So the general tiredness and lowered immunity,is just "him" a growing boy who's body is finding it tough keeping up with the growth spurts and changes. A relief that nothing is wrong but frustrating as there is no quick fix solution to get him back to his "old" self.

Stargazing

Monday nights sees us "Stargazing"...
Imagining new beginnings, new possibilities of outreach for the Church in Billinghay. Watching a short DVD from fresh expressions initiated discussion on the needs in the village and how can we break down the preconceptions of those fearful of commiting themselves to a church community? The Church is more than any four walls, more than any specific denomination... it is the people living their faith openly, enthusing others by their passion for Christ.... but how can we find new, fresh ways of of bringing a community together and in turn show them the unconditional love God has for us all...
Do YOU have any thoughts, ideas? Come along and tell us how the church can best satisfy YOUR needs....
The meetings are independent of each other so come to any one or all!

Venue: The Methodist Chapel (meeting room through church)
Time: 7pm - 8pm or thereabouts
Dates:Monday 26th November, Monday 3rd December, Monday 10th December

A hectic weekend...

An early start on Saturday morning saw us collecting David and heading off to Milton Keynes to vist Aunty Anne and Uncle Dick. We brought lunch... lovely brisket and spanish tomato beans (courtesy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks!)Gladly Anne had put some baked potatoes in as my mash went "weird". Ann also came up trumps with a decadent pear and chocolate pudding with rich sauce as well as an array of fairy cakes and a gorgeous lemon drizzle... We caught up with Phillip and Vicky and Tom who's as tall as his dad!(scary he's only 13!!!)
A lovely day was had,it's always so nice to meet up... but a long day for all especially David. A picnic tea in the car and everyone was home by 1900.
No rest for the wicked though! Chris and Asha came over to babysit whilst Su kindly was taxi and companion joining us for a "sing mission praise" evening at the Ruskington methodist chapel. Beautiful, songs, inspiring evening...
Sunday, David was too tired to come out again and the day was heavy on the schedule, family service followed by a quick lunch and then a practise session at Walcott church to prepare for next week's Christingle sevice. The children sang beautifully and are all looking forward to the service. No photos! Too busy!Apologies for the drone of text...

The first flurry....

Brief though it was, we did have snow!!! And the children were squealing with delight! Then they watched it turn to sleet and then rain before the sun came out for a brisk, bright , sunny Friday!

And at the end of the school day up we went to the Special Assembly as Joseph was receiving his silver badge on completion of his siver award certificate. (stars earned by exemplary behaviour and/or work)

12yrs happy....

Not a birthday in the household... but our wedding anniversary. Silk? well it hasn't been all smooth! but we persevere and continue to learn about each other, learn together and pray that our love and God's strength will help us through the many years to come...

A commitment promise, based on 1 Corinthians 13...

Because I love you,
And with God's help:

I will be patient and kind.
I will not be envious or try to "outdo"you.
I will consider you as better than myself.
I will not be arrogant or haughty towards you.
I will be respectful and considerate of you.
I will look out for your best interests.
I will not get easily offended.
I will always think the best about you.
I will be glad of your successes.
I will speak honestly and openly to you.
I will help you in your difficulties.
I will believe in you.
I will be encouragement and support to you.

Because that's what God's love is like.
And I want to be a channel for His love so that it can pour into your life, and fill every corner of your heart with His love and peace and joy and hope.
Now and always.

Amen.

A lovely family day, and to celebrate? After a quiet night in with a special meal by the open fire last night, this afternoon we took all the children to the cinema to watch "Ratatouille"! What a treat!!!

A friend for tea...

Third time lucky? Becky joined us from school for an afternoon of fun, den building with sofa cushions and playing monsters in the dark with Tom...introduced to the delights of eating BBQ spare ribs and fruit strudel she survived the ordeal unscathed ... A FIRST!!!!!
Tracey, here's a photo to prove she was OK before she went to YPF! ;)
look at those mucky BBQ sauce covered faces!!!!

Dressing up for Pudsey...

A day early as two of the classes will out on a trip tomorrow, the children had the option of dressing up as their heroes.... with alittle stretch of the imagination here we have... an unimpressed Jesus, an enthusiastic Olympian athlete, an eager Batman and a little Postman Pat (whose hat blew away in the story, so I didn't have to make one!!!!)

Going...

Going...

Going...

Going...

GONE!

To let go takes love...

Today saw the last of the parenting classes up at the community rooms, a small group of mums sharing experiences of parenting, and discussing how best to deal with situations, how to support each other and believe in ourselves and our ability to do what is best for our children... Tina did a grand job of mediating the group which felt informal and comfortable enough to chat openly.
Today's parting session was about letting our children go.... allowing them to grow independent... a way off for most of us but it'll come round faster than we think and we have to think now to prepare them now to think for themselves and assume responsability for their actions and decisions in life...
Here's a poem to make you ponder on what it is to "let go".

To "let go" does not mean to stop caring,
it means I can't do it for someone else.
To "let go" is not to cut myself off,
it is the realisation that I cannot control another.
To "let go" is not to enable,
but to allow learning from natural consequences.
To "let go" is to admit powerlessness,
which means the outcome is not in my hands.
To "let go" is not to try to change or blame another,
it is to make the most of myself.
To "let go" is not to fix,
but to be supportive.
To "let go" is not to judge,
but to allow another to be a human being.
To "let go" is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes,
but to allow others to affect their own destinies.
To "let go" is not to be protective,
it is to permit another to face reality.
To "let go" is not to deny,
but to accept.
To "let go" is not to nag, scold or argue,
but instead to search out my own shortcomings and to correct them.
To "let go" is not to adjust everything to my own desires,
but to take each day as it comes, to cherish myself in it.
To "let go" is not to criticise and regulate anybody,
but to try to become what I dream I can be.
To "let go" is not to regret the past,
but to grow and live for the future.
To "let go" is to fear less,
and love more.

(Author unknown)

Remembering those who fought for our freedom...

With the rest of the uniformed services, Matthew and Joseph, as Cubs joined the rememberance day parade, observing the minute's silence, Matthew being chosen this year as standard bearer (not an easy job without gloves on such a bitter morning!). A healthy group of people had gathered and joined in the service of rememberance immediately afterwards.

An Egyptian for the day...

Before....

and after the transformation....


What do you think? a few decaff coffee granules in some suncream adn some black face paints.... all ready for an Ancient Egyptian open morning at school!

An alternative Christmas...

The Victorians believed in no more than 4 presents per child..... with the adage: Something they want, something they need, something to play with and something to read
How much easier would our Christmas be? how much less debt people would get in? How less capricious and spoilt our generation of youngsters would be....
Give it some thought and think on the true meaning of Christmas giving, the selfless act of love, to please with no reward other than the joy of giving...
Ponder it when you stress out in the queues this Christmastide.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPPY

To our dearest niece and cousin,
have a wonderful birthday, we think of you so often and would have loved to share this special day with you... Uncle Tom is poorly and so hasn't been able to come down to London today with your present, but will bring it and leave it at Mamine and Papytail's house as soon as he is well enough.
Here are your cousins singing to you today...

.... ooops it appears that the camera I've been lent does video but without sound!!! Can you lip read them singing out your name?????

A few friends... a few fireworks...

We planned to have a small display for the children this year, as with the Twinning wine and wisdom on Saturday night we missed any local displays. I bought a small box from Lidl and Tom chopped down an apple tree in the garden! Having been to JTF with Penny after having had my knee Xrayed (to try and figure out why it's still swollen three weeks on) She treated us to a pack of "rockets". So, warning a few friends that it would last all of 5mn, we invited them to come and join in the feeding of the bonfire....
The evening was fine and mild, the fire was glowing and welcoming and Tom master of ceremonies put on a show to be proud of. It lasted longer than we expected and had some lovely fireworks. The children had a fun and safe evening, Leah fell asleep in my arms.
An impromptu social gathering and good memories for all...

Aurevoir, Véronique et Christophe!

A short visit but new friends made, we wish them a safe journey having waived them off at the community rooms at 0800 this morning... A manic few days but filled with fun and lots of new experiences.
A stunning bilingual assembly followed by a display of traditional playground games, by the children of Billinghay Primary CoE School set the standard for what was an activity packed three days for our French visitors, set about the theme of "Sports, Games and Pastimes", Matthew and Joseph joined us for an evening of European fun and games, learning about curling, becoming dab hands at bar billiards and even having a go at French board games such as "Jeu de l'oie"(Thank you Brenda for coming over for a quiet read of your book!!!). Friday I joined a group visiting Carre's Grammar school's Sport's centre.Tom and I opted out of the Greyhound racing evening at Peterborough, but it was a new experience for not only "our couple" and other French, but a fair few of the British contingency...
A very interesting debate on Saturday morning, discussing the way ahead for our twinning and general raising of awareness of the EU in our communities. I had great fun being roped in as an assistant interpreter. A few of us visited the new surgery and discussed the differences in funding and health provisions in both countries before setting off back home, relaxing for an afternoon with Véronique and Christophe.They have two sons Victor and Paul who are Isaac and Benjamin's age, on this visit they stayed home but will be coming over next visit in two years time.
Next it is the turn of Billinghay to visit Ballon, probably next May/June ½term will we be on the coach? watch this space!
The finale was a "Vin et vérité" (wine and wisdom) with a Europeen flavour, a stunning buffet and a show put on by all the French party. A little too late for us we excused ourselves and the children at 2245, knowing we had to get everyone up for the farewell appt...

Panoramic view of the village of Ballon

[Edit- Here is a lovely photo taken of our group, at the Sunday morning departure. Thank you Véronique for sending it to me so promptly!]

Get your kicking boots on...

Matthew and Joseph joined in a sponsored goal kick on Friday, they had three goes at kicking a football onto a target in a special goal, a sensor recorded the speed at which the ball hit the target. The fastest scorer from each class was awarded a "hot shot" medal, but everyone received a certificate, including Isaac who was allowed a go, together with his class mates. Thank you to all family who have helped by sponsoring the boys...(although you may not know it yet!)
Well done Matthew who was his classe's "hot shot" with a 37mph kick (following a three way tie!), Joseph scored 36mph and Isaac 16mph. Well done all for the effort, they all had great fun.