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.

Lake District

I've had a great few days. Last Friday I went to a health spa with 4 friends for the day and the following day, with four other friends I went to the Lake District for a climb. We set off at 5.45am and arrived at Glenriddin at 10.30am. We started the climb/walk up Helvellyn which is the third highest peak in the Lakes at 10.45am and arrived at the summit at 3pm after an arduous walk. The weather was brilliant and the views absolutely stunning. The climb over the top of Striding Edge was exhilarating. At the bottom we drove to Cockermouth, about forty minutes away where my friend's parents have a cottage. We all showered and then walked to the town centre to a pub for a lovely meal. We walked back and were all tucked up in bed by 11pm! We were shattered. The next day some of us struggled to walk, but nevertheless we were up at 8am and after breakfast we drove to Buttermere and walked around the lake. After the walk we had lunch and set off home. Graham and the children were pleased to see me.

Charlie has now officially left the senior school and is on exam leave. It seems very strange, but he is busy working and really wants to do well. Harry and Rosie are looking forward to half-term which is only the week after next. I can't believe how fast time goes. The weather has really picked up and it is lovely and hot. The birds are singing and all the trees and shrubs are in flower. I so love this time of year. The horse chestnut trees on Manton Lane are resplendent with their white 'candlesticks'.

Supervision tomorrow where we'll discuss the 8,000 word draft methodology chapter. Thankfully it is my first draft. I have been extremely busy with my work and have managed to recruit five participants for the study. So I am trying to focus myself so I can transcribe interviews, which is really dull.

Looking forward to growth group and church this week. I so missed Sunday.

Wednesday 5th May

Another month goes by. I've had a great week so far, despite a day spent in bed with a virus temperature buggy thingy. Thought it was hayfever symptoms at first. Feeling better now though and trying to get fit for my walk up Helvelyn via Striding Edge next week-end.

The Bank Holiday week-end was good. We didn't do much apart from a barbeque one day and another we went to see Graham's parents. Charlie has his first proper gcse tomorrow so we need to tread softly around him for the next few weeks. Harry got a distinction in his grade five guitar exam and is very pleased with himself. Rosie is also getting ready for exams.

Just about to start my 10,000 word draft methodology chapter and I will be very happy once I have finished it as I'm so busy with recruiting participants at the moment. I went to an Age Concern meeting this morning which was a good networking event.

Sunday 25th April 2010

Church today was completely amazing; as Acts 1-8 was preached on I felt so stirred by God's word I literally felt my heartbeat quicken. Richard spoke prophetically and what moved me the most was when we prayed for people whose origin wasn't the UK. About a third of the congregation walked to the front and we prayed that God would bless them. Bedford is a multi-cultural town and many nations are represented within our church. Praise God!

The week-end has been restful with glorious weather. We even managed to get the barbecue out. We felt encouraged by the addition of a wonderful family at home group on Saturday and spent the rest of the day chilling in the garden after painting the garden furniture in an attempt to rejuvenate it as it is falling apart a bit.

Harry had his grade 5 guitar exam first thing this morning. Hopefully he did ok and at least it's out of the way. Charlie is preparing for the start of his gcses with a Spanish oral exam on Friday. He also had his last rugby game of the season this morning and scored two tries- his only ones this season. He was really made up about it. Rosie had a friend over yesterday and met up with some more friends today. She has been complaining of a sore ankle for a few days now. It doesn't look swollen but I may have to get it checked out this coming week. Graham has had a very busy week driving to a different town every day. Thankfully next week won't be as bad.

I had supervision last week which was really productive. Despite the criticism ( constructive ) about my interview technique it was a really good two hour session about the thesis. My supervisors all gave me great help and advice and will really try and help me finish by the end of the third year. So, that is 18 months to go which means I really need to start writing! I have a whole chapter to produce by next month ( 10,000 ) words, a conference abstract to write, a Website piece to write, a poster to produce for a presentation and continue with the fieldwork and literature. So, less facebook, less Internet browsing, less coffee and lunchtime chats with friends ( well, a little less) and more focus required. But with God's help I will do it.