Wimbledon on my birthday

Have had a hectic but really enjoyable few days.

The main news is that my friend who has been coming to church with us became a Christian last week. I was overjoyed! She is still deciding which church to attend and even though I would love it if she came to ours I can't influence her decision and she is praying about it.

Rosie was in a school concert and sang a solo- I was so nervous for her, but she was great.

Well I've been spoilt rotten by my husband, children and friends. Last Wednesday some friends organised a surprise meal out at an Indian restaurant. There were 8 of us when I was expecting 3. On Saturday my birthday I had a once in a lifetime experience with a special trip to Wimbledon- centre court tickets and pass into VIP lounge. I saw celeb after celeb including Cliff Richards, Martina Navratilova, Trevor McDonald, Jonathon Edwards, not to mention the tennis stars. I did feel like an observer though and not really part of it. The tennis was amazing and I saw Roddick's and Murray's matches.

Yesterday after an amazing church service with 4 baptisms we went out as a family for lunch. The weather is in the 90s!!! It is so muggy though- but I'm not complaining!

Tomorrow I have to submit my written work for probation and then I'm going to chill for a few days and catch up with my ironing mountain and general housework such as clearing the porch and utility room. The children break up on Thurs/Fri- yippee! School's out for summer!!

Grandma's garden

Lots happening which I am thankful to God for:

Our marriage. We have been married 18 years today.

Our health- back at the gym today

The children's health and joy in everything they do. Harry played in a concert on Friday. Charlie is on a Geography field trip and returns today- how we have missed him! Rosie and all her sport

Our family. Father's Day yesterday so we went to see Graham's Dad in the afternoon after a nice lunch out with friends

Our church and leaders. We are so priviledged to belong to our church and I thank God for our anointed leaders and amazing teaching, worship, children's and youth work. I could go on.

Friends- I am thankful for all my friends and the fun times we share together. Looking forward to my birthday and a trip to Wimbledon on Saturday. I have never been before and a friend has given me a ticket for my birthday.


My job- probation is looming and this is my last week to correct my work which is due in a week tomorrow.

Rosie's birthday weekend

Can't believe my baby is 11 years old! She had a great birthday weekend with a Wild West Party on Saturday and then 4 friends for a sleepover. The weather was beautiful and on her actual birthday on Sunday we went to the village pub for lunch and back home for cake.

On Friday night I went to part of a 'Heaven Touches Earth Conference' led by Julian Adams. I took a friend with me the one who has been coming to church with us. It was amazing and it was so good to soak in the Holy Spirit. The highlight of the evening was to walk through a 'tunnel of fire'. I could barely move and really struggled to walk back to my seat. My friend also was touched by the Holy Spirit!! God is good!

Just getting ready to return to the Dentist for a root canal this morning. If it fails I have to have it done under a GA! I then have a hair appointment and this afternoon I'm meeting up with a friend. In between I have to fit in work and sort out my probation assessments which are due in on the 30th June.

Yesterday I went to St Neots to meet up with an old friend. We had such a laugh.

The children are busy with end of term performances, music concerts and Charlie two GCSE exams this week. They break up on the 3rd July- so looking forward to the long summer ahead

Monday 8th June 2009

After a busy, exciting but nerve wrecking week, I had a relaxing weekend. A friend and his son came to stay on Saturday. It was great to see them and we went out for a curry in the evening. Harry returned after his week away. He had had an amazing time and had climbed mountains, kayaked, swam in the sea to mention a few of the activities.

Rosie went away with church and got back last night. She also had had a good time.

Charlie has his first GCSE exam this week, so is still in exam mode. He didn't do any work all weekend though, so needs to get back on track.

My second presentation on Wednesday went really well and as I stood at the front of the room I knew God was with me and amazingly all my nervous fear disappeared as I began to talk. That was an answer to prayer! On Friday I presented my poster and I was a runner up for the online people's choice competition! So, an eventful week. Now back to normality and washing two big bags of wet, dirty clothes from Harry and Rosie's return.

Church was brilliant yesterday. Our friend came with us and he really enjoyed the sermon.

Last ditch attempt to lose some weight before the summer- went swimming this morning and have gone back on WWs

Thankful Thursday

I have so much to be thankful for!


Family and friends- we had a lovely time with Graham's mum and dad who came over with Chris to celebrate Grandad's birthday. An old friend and his son are coming to stay this weekend which we are looking forward to.


Health- Managed a swim this week. Haven't been to the gym for one month! Will be able to get back into the swing of things next week, now that my presentations are over.

PhD studentship- God gave me confidence to present my research at two conferences this week. I KNOW that God was with me and took away my fear. I used to have such a fear almost phobia of public speaking, but with God's help He has taken away that fear over the years. I have two more major deadlines and then I am on holiday all summer- yeah!!! I need to find some good books to read. Last year I read all of Francine Rivers's books. I am reading an Anne Tyler book at the moment which is good.

We are so missing Harry who is away all week with the school. He is climbing mountains and camping out overnight at the top of one. He will be having a great time. Rosie goes away with church tomorrow for the weekend. She is off school today though as she seemed really run down this morning- aching and shivery and a cough, all brought on I think by the amount of sport she did yesterday. She was in a rounders tournament from 4pm until 8pm yesterday. Thankfully they won after investing all that effort. Charlie is in the middle of exams, but is fairly chilled.

Sunny weekend

What glorious weather we are having. I'm so loving these sunny days. I went to work yesterday to practice my presentation in front of my supervisor. I still have some work to do on it over the week end before the first presentation on Monday morning. Boy will I be relieved on Wednesday lunchtime when my second one is over with!

The children have had a relaxing week's holiday. Charlie has done quite a lot of revision, Harry had a sleepover and Rosie had a friend round and then spent the afternoon at church yesterday making pizzas and cakes with her cell group.

A friend came round last night and stayed for tea. Plans for the weekend include ; getting Harry's kit bag ready for Aberdovey on Monday. He will be away until Friday- how we will miss him. He is so looking forward to it. Buy Graham's dad a birthday present and take it round or invite his parents over tomorrow. Hopefully the weather will stay fine so we can have a BBQ tonight before watching the final of Britain's Got Talent! Not sure whether Susan Boyle will win though

I'm going to a different church in the morning with the friend who has been to our church for the last 3 weeks. Somebody who she works with has invited her and I offered to accompany her. My friend is really searching at the moment and I pray that God continues to reveal Himself to her and that she finds a church that is right for her.

My niece is slowly recovering after major surgery on Monday. She will be in hospital for 2 weeks and then will start Chemo and Radio in 5 weeks time. I spoke to my sister this week who seemed really flat and clearly is struggling not only with coping with her daughter's illness but looking after her 2 and 4 year children.

Half term holiday

The children are off school for the week and we had a lovely trip to Thorpeness and Aldeburgh over the bank holiday weekend. However we nearly didn't go as Lulu went missing. She didn't come home the night before we were due to go and eventually came home at 4pm the following day! Our neighbours had agreed to look after her so as soon as she came back we left. It took us 2 hours to get to Suffolk and we had a great time. The weather was glorious on the Sunday so we went to the beach and then out for a meal before returning to the hotel. The hotel was reasonably priced and included breakfast the next day. We were all in one room but it didn't feel too cramped. After breakfast the next day we borrowed the hotel's bicycles and cycled to Aldeburgh along the beach road. We stayed on the beach all day before returning to Thorpeness about 6pm when we set off home. I felt so relaxed and chilled afterwards- we all did.

On Saturday we bought a BBQ! Can't believe we have never had a bbq before. So we invited friends round and had a good evening- think that's why the cat disappeared as we were so noisy! 7 lively children in our garden playing hide and seek is enough to make anyone run for cover. Thankfully we didn't upset the neighbours this time.

A lot has been happening in my life over the last week where God has really been moving. It has been so exciting, and I should have written about it when it happened. My niece had major surgery on Monday for endometrial cancer. She had a hysterectomy and bowel resection which will be followed up with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, whilst all this is terrible, I believe God has really turned the situation round. From being told she had ovarian cancer with a tumour on her liver to having endometrial cancer which is treatable , I believe and know is an answer to prayer. God is an awesome, supernatural God. My sister asked me to ask my friends to pray for my niece. So I sent a text to about 20 people asking them to pray. Some of them also prayed in their home groups, as did we. The next news I had was from my sister to say that the prognosis was now much better and that the cancer was not ovarian cancer as was originally diagnosed. She also said that she had been praying and that was pleased to have been reminded that even though she has faith as 'small as a mustard seed' God will hear her prayers. She then told me about finding a piece of twine which some flowers had been wrapped up in on her kitchen floor in the shape of a cross! She had left the twine ( which was circular in shape) on her kitchen unit and could not understand how it was on the floor and had changed into a cross shape! She felt peaceful following this and then that day had the news that her daughter's cancer is treatable. I was also able to read two psalms over the phone to her ( 100, and 121). From having no faith, my sister is now on a journey with God.

Whilst all this has been happening, a friend of mine who I took to a ladies event at church has been to church with us for the last three weeks and is coming to a short Alpha course next week!

Anyway, must finish here as we need to go and feed various pets of friends who are away. We've been looking after ( in total) 4 hens, 3 cats- excluding Lulu, 1 rabbit, 3 gerbils, I hamster and i goldfish!!

I'm also preparing for my 2 presentations next week- can't think about it too much as I won't sleep. I know God will be with me and that ' I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me'