Shaken not stirred...

Well who would have thought it? An earthquake in Billinghay!
We were in a deep sleep when we suddenly woke to a rumbling and shaking thinking that a lorry had come off the road and was about to hit the house. The boys woke up fairly disturbed that their bookcase was rattling. I can still feel that eery rumble inside my chest...
Shaken and maybe a little stirred after all!

Friends to stay

A lovely weekend was had, Lorraine and Blythe came up mid-week during their half term break... the boys were back at school but that still left plenty of hours of get together time! Jeremy followed on a couple of days later when we finally had the heating sorted! (yes during the coldest stint, when the thermometer went down to -7c we were reliant on our stove and open fire for heat and lucky for us we have an immersion heater!)
Saturday heralded the arrival of a hired toy for Tom.... a mini digger for him to churn up the garden further... sorry relandscape the garden in readiness for the transformation to come! I got mardy and spent most of the day indoors having time-out whilst the others had a great big bonfire that burnt all the ripped out shrubs and stumps! And of course the many chess games with the boys.. even the biggest one got in on the game!
Thanks guys for a lovely few days... for coming prepared with your gardening gear.. and being our friends despite our failings!
See you soon! Time for us to come down to you.... a chance to have some quality "Hot tub" time!(that's my idea of spending time out in the garden!

Can't remember the actual day I took these although it was after valentine's... but the haw frost was beautiful, making the most mundane day to day sights into works of art.

Love pink....

Suits him?
It is a beautiful sounding instrument... whatever people's views on it's colour!!!

Forgot the camera!!!

A whirlwind few days.... A lovely visit up to Doncaster for a fun day with Poledragon and children... yummy sushi and popcorn! then straight down to London... to snuggle up at Mamine and Papytail's home. (Yes I know geography was never my strongpoint :)
Tuesday brought us a fun day, riding the tube and double decker red buses as well saying hi to the dinosaurs and big blue whale at the Natural History Museum,riding the escalator into the earth to find out about volcanoes and earthquakes (we even felt one!)

(thank you Mamine for remembering to bring your camera so we have a few photos of our trip into London!) and then a very surprise visit to see 'tie Kaz, uncle Andy and of course... cousin Poppy!
A good night's sleep and it was down to Fetcham for lots of catching up, we popped in to see Paul and Liz at St Mary's, had lunch with Sarah then a walk round knocking on past neighbours doors before going to pick Jacob up from school (catching up with more mums at the school gate). Some very excited boys played together before we popped off to see Isaac's Godfather and family... All dressed in PJ's and ready to go we got a call from Tom to say the M25 was chokka and could we stall our departure? Back to the Smith's and a quick video before a minibus bedtime and a traffic free journey back home to Lincolnshire.
I'm tired just writing that! let alone the fact we actually DID it all!!! We certainly packed in a fair bit!
Matthew and Joseph are on an Athletics two days with Star Track again... thank you Mamine and Papytail! So we are now resting and putting "stuff" away... and of course catching up on browsing and blogging!!

Wow!

Still on a high from yesterday's service! Such a restful night though, after an emotional day!
After feeling so nervous... and letting those nerves get in the way of preparations, setting the rooms up ready, arranging refreshments etc. A focusing and calming prayer (thanks Chris) brought the team (including all the 7 children)to a readiness, and for Tom and I as worship leaders, an inner peace.
17 of us joined in hot drinks,visual cues on power point thanks to Susanna, a table/family challenge, a warm welcome followed by beautiful singing, a point of Focus with lots of marbles! and some active worship for the children before a last song and prayer. All too fast it was time for the Children's Treat,a special surprise for the youngest of the group bringing an end to the service!
The time flew by... in the best possible way, hearts focused on our loving Father and his sacrificial son Jesus.
Those who joined us were enthusiastic and we look forward to the coming year and subsequent Vision meetings, in the anticipation that small beginnings may bear fruitful yields...
Thank you Lord for giving us Vision, for directing our lives to your service in a ministering way (something we wouldn't have dreamt of even this time last year!)For giving us the ability to carry it out and for inspiring our words of teaching in your name.
May those who need Vision come to hear of it, and feel at ease learning about developping their relationship with you.

Thank you Sharon!

Absolutely delicious... I just had to share the photo!

Thank you for dropping off a gift of a bagful of fresh mussels! I haven't had any for ages...they were beautiful!

Vision

Well we've been somewhat occupied this last month... Having felt a call last summer to set up an informal worship service in our village... we have done just that!
With the full support of our church and our local methodist chapel funding through Fresh expressions, support, guidance from our friends Chris and Su,and prayers from supporters both local, national and international!
Having also just started a course on Mission Shaped Ministry it was quite comforting to be reminded that if you have experienced a call, it's is actually God's thought, that he has thrust on you, and that if you are faithful to him, and it IS of Him, then he will make it happen! So far we have experienced just that!From the first tentative suggestions, fully embraced by our vicar, to facilities and equipment being provided and funds offered us before we'd even thought of needing any!The right people to help us on our way with God's hand firmly guiding.
We pray that this Godly call, stays faithful and focused on it's aim, to provide a relaxed,informal and uplifting worship experience, where all are welcome.
Welcome to Vision!

I's been a tad windy here!

The trampoline was once more unhappy with it's placement within the garden and decided to reposition itself!! (It's supposed to be roughly to the right of the greyish matress on the left hand side)


We had staked it down after a similar incident in April 2006, but having moved it again this summer.... we hadn't got round to staking it in again! Lesson learnt!