Back in Bloggyland!

So much has happened during my month away from Bloggyland that I don't know where to start. So, in summary, I am thanking God for the following during Summer 2010:

1. Our wonderful two week holiday in Switzerland. It is like returning home each time we go. We have been to the same place for the last 22 years. We are thinking of buying a very small apartment in Interlaken as we know we will continue to visit this beautiful area to walk in the glorious mountains twice or more a year. The first few days were strange without Charlie- I felt bereft at times! He had an amazing time in Rome and did so much during the 5 days he was there. Graham and Harry went to meet him, but his flight was delayed by 51/2 hours so they missed the last train back to Interlaken and had to stay in Basel overnight! Highlights of the first week's holiday included a boat trip on Lake Thun, Trotti-biking down the Niederhorn and walking up Harder Kulm. A family from church were staying on the same campsite for a few days so we had several enjoyable evenings with them, playing games, bbq-ing marshmallows, and eating chocolate fondues. The second week was spent in Grindelwald at Hotel Bodmi, in an apartment at the very top of the hotel. The weather wasn't brilliant, but we still had a good time and did the usual walks, including the 6 hour hike from Kleine Sheidegg to First which was amazing. We swam most days and played several games of tension-filled Monopoly with Rosie reigning as our new family champion. So, Graham is flying out on Saturday to meet the estate agent and view the property. We are praying for wisdom and guidance in making the right decision here as we will have to borrow the money. Hopefully, we'll be able to rent it out during the skiing season and times when we know we won't use it. We would be able to go for week-ends as flights are inexpensive, and we will drive for longer trips.

2. All the children have been with 7,000 other 12-18 year olds at Newday for the last 5 days. It is the first time ever that Graham and I have been without all the children for a period of time. It has been so strange and I have missed them so much. They return today at 1pm and I can't wait to see them. Both Rosie and Harry took friends from school and we have been praying that God will have met with them in a life-changing and tangible way. So, during this time away from my taxi-driving job, I have a relatively clean house, I have blitzed the boys' rooms and have taken 4 bin bags of clothes to charity, I have worked on my project, Graham and I have been out for a couple of nice meals. On Saturday evening we drove to Cambridge and went to Browns and had such a nice meal. We were going to go away walking in the Dales for the week-end which leads me on to the next point.

3. A lesson learned from God about trusting Him, and not avoiding his promptings, which thankfully we didn't. We kept putting off booking our week-end away and in the end I just ran out of time as we were too busy organising Charlie's trip with his friend and our own holiday. On holiday we had a text message from Graham's mum to say that she had a date for her hip replacement op which was last week-end. So we knew that was the reason why we hadn't booked anywhere. We have been able to take Beryl to the hospital, visit everyday and take Graham's dad to see her and look after him too. He is 86, walks unsteadily with a stick and we have been able to discourage him from driving so far. I will set off after I've written this to bring her home. The operation has been successful and she is recovering well. I feel I am really living my project at the moment and will have to see how they get on during the next few weeks as it will be difficult for me to drive over every day when we are back at school and the routine of a new term. They live 30 minutes away, and I'm just praying that Beryl will be ready to go home when I get to the hospital so I will be back in time to collect the children!

3. I am so thankful for changes, the new season which is ahead of us, a new term for the children, a new stage in Charlie's life with sixth form. I had supervision yesterday and in order for me to complete this PhD in three years, I am going to have major deadlines each month and will be extremely busy during the next year. Less coffee and lunch time with friends I think. But with God's help, I will do it. We did talk about me having some time off ( suspension) if Graham's parents need more help, so we will see.

4. I am thankful that we have a new baby nephew and cousin for the children in the family. Baby Henry was born 2 days ago to my sister-in-law and brother and is doing well.

Summertime

Counting down the days now until our holidays. So looking forward to it! Feeling quite excited as we've decided to drive across Europe through the night which we haven't done since before the children were born.

Feeling apprehensive about Charlie having five days in Rome with a friend and his family and then flying on his own to Basle where we will meet him. I'm just praying that God will protect him. I know this is a sign of things to come the older he gets and it won't be too long before he flies the nest.

I have three interviews to do this week as well as fitting in a busking trip to Cambridge with Harry and his band.

Rosie went to Dorset with a friend this weekend and I drove to meet her in Newbury yesterday. I was so pleased to see her. She had a great time and had been swimming in the sea and out on a pedalo.

My car has been repaired after it rolled down the drive and crashed into the wall as I hadn't put the handbrake on properly! We walked to the garage in Kempston to collect it on Saturday morning. The walk was lovely through the village and along the river. In the afternoon we met some of our home group at the river festival. We found a lovely 'afternoon tea' tent and stayed there for the afternoon drinking tea and eating scones away from the hustle and bustle of the festival- think I'm getting old but there were thousands of people there and we couldn't move and had to queue to cross the bridges!

Holidays

I've had such a busy week work wise, but have achieved a lot and am now thinking about our holiday in a couple of weeks, whoop, whoop!

I presented a poster at the BSG last week and presented a paper at the International Carers Conference at the week end. I was so nervous beforehand, but God took my fear away! Lots of people were praying for me and I could sense that God was with me throughout the weekend.

So, my second year as PhD student is almost over and I am ready for a holiday before I start my final year. The children have broken up from school. As I write this I'm looking out onto our garden with four children asleep in two tents. Both Harry and Rosie had friends over yesterday and they decided to camp out. Tonight Harry has his first gig with his band Sel Zout at a local nightclub. It is a school competition. Charlie is half-way through his work experience which he is enjoying.

I have two people coming to house/Lily sit when we're away which is great. I really didn't want to put her in a cattery for two weeks.

So, life is very good. I have so much to thank God for, including the much needed holiday where we can re-charge our batteries and have some quality family time together.

Hot hot hot!

This weather is amazing! It has been wall-to-wall sunshine for almost a week now. It was my birthday on Sunday and I felt really blessed by my family and friends. We were going to go out but stayed in and chilled in the garden. Both Graham and I felt a bit out of sorts during the week end so took the time to re-charge our batteries.

Busy couple of weeks ahead with a poster presentation a week today and a paper one a week on Sunday. I'm trying to work but it's too hot to concentrate.

Rosie's party

Rosie had a great party. God answered two specific prayers that evening-one that the rain would keep away and it did and that our electricity would come back on in time for the party. We had been without electricity during the afternoon, but thankfully I had made the brownie cake in the morning. We invited our neighbours to the party who came with their cute two-year old son who was a hit with 20 12 year old girls!

Church on Sunday was amazing! We saw the father heart of God manifested amongst us in such a way that people were crying, there were tears of joy and people were just overwhelmed by His love for us. Graham whispered to me when we were singing 'Here is love, vast as the ocean 'that this old hymn reminded him of our old church in Cambridge as we used to sing it a lot. The same memory came flooding back to me and I found it hard not to cry as I remembered old times and also the meaning of this powerful old hymn. I can't escape the fact that my heart yearns to be back in Cambridge. I'm not just looking back at the past but can see a future for us there. God did speak to me last October during a women's conference about moving back one day. But it is all His timing and not mine.

Was fortunate to have had four lunches out last week with friends! It was great to catch up with old friends and a new friend, a lady who has recently moved to the area and has joined our church. We had such a good conversation about how we should not live in the past or future but thank God for each day and that He gives us everything we need just for the day. There are so many references in the bible to this and just thinking of 'This is the day that the Lord has made, be glad and rejoice in it' is one. It is so important to live in the present and to deal with things in our past so they don't become our present.

Still recruiting participants for my study, and I have about half now. I have had a couple of good networking meetings at local day care centres which I'm hoping will lead to carers showing an interest in the project.

It is our 19th Wedding Anniversary today and my birthday on Sunday so we have a lot to celebrate. We are going out for a nice meal over the week-end.

Charlie has his last exam today. It has been great having him home everyday during the last few weeks. He is now off school until September.

June 13th 2010

Haven't written for a while- so much has been happening. Exams, Rosie away with school, birthdays. Graham's mum had a birthday last Thursday and Rosie will be 12 years old tomorrow. My baby is growing up too quickly. She is having the party of the year next Saturday. Harry's band will be playing and 20 girls will be wearing pretty summer dresses and enjoying a chocolate fountain and mocktails- hopefully if the weather is good.

I'm so busy with my work and have got a couple of conference presentations coming up, one a poster and one a paper. Not looking forward to the paper one and will only be able to do it with God's help.

Half-Term

Thankfully the weather has improved since the above photos were taken two days ago. Summer is here again The children are off school this week and we are spending it at home. Both boys are revising and Rosie is meeting up with friends. We did enjoy a family trip to the seaside on Monday despite the cold weather. Tonight we're going out with another family for a Chinese buffet which should be nice.

Work is going ok. I now have 7 participants and am very busy interviewing, transcribing the interviews and analysing the data. I am so enjoying it though.