Dream big and often...........................

I have enjoyed the last three days worth of the Word for today which has been focusing on courage.  The first instalment was about stepping out of our comfort zone in order to experience God's blessings.  It said that;

We all have a tendency to cling to the 'tried and true.' The trouble with that is, when you are no longer being stretched you begin to shrink, you become complacent, you think you can handle things on your own, and you stop growing. That's a dangerous place to be. If you feel restless at heart today and believe that God has more for you than you've been settling for, then it's time to confront your fears, walk through them and launch out into a new experience with Him.

The second instalment talked about the need to dream big and often and that great courage is required to sustain such dreams until they become a reality.  It goes on to remind us that hot on the heels of every dream there is a demon of doubt;

 No sooner is your dream conceived than your mind is suddenly filled with all the reasons why it may not work. And there will be folks around you who'll be quick to confirm those fears. In spite of that, you must forge ahead and dream; otherwise you'll spend the rest of your life fulfilling the dreams of others. 'Rise up; this matter is in your hands...take courage and do it.'

Today's instalment really is the icing on the cake because it tells us to keep the faith and stand firmly on scripture and not to worry about the what and how of making our dreams a reality;

If the pathway to success were well lit it would already be crowded. If how wasn't a problem, someone else would already have figured it out. All progress begins with one question: 'What needs to be done?' And somebody needs to be asking that question-why not you? The future belongs to those who have the courage to ask that question and the faith to hang in until they discover the answer. When the obstacles look too big and opposition seems too strong, stand on this Scripture: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged...for there is a greater power with us than with him.'

A dictionary definition of courage says that; 
Courage (also bravery, boldness, fearlessness, mettle, fortitude, or intrepidity) is the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. "Physical courage" is courage in the face of physical pain, hardship, death, or threat of death, while "moral courage" is the ability to act rightly in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal, or discouragement.

We often stay in our comfort zones because of a fear of the things mentioned in the definition above and equally lose sight of our dreams or do not dream big because of the things mentioned above.  Our faith too is put to the test because of the things mentioned above, but thanks be to God our Father that we have only to look into the Book of Life to find all that we need to keep us pressing forward.  Today (day 187) I pledge to continue to dream, bigger than before and more often than before........

To go boldy........................

Have you ever been so tired that it hurts to be so tired?  Does that make sense?  Well that was me tonight.  I was just beat on my feet, the kind of silly over tiredness that children experience!  It has simply been something of a rollercoster sort of week with more troughs than peaks so the thought of there being no school or work tomorrow has put a smile on my face, in fact all our faces!

I am thankful to my Father today (day 186) for the boldness he equipped me with when I had to discuss a concern I had with one of Grace's teachers.  It is, I feel, always a tricky situation when you have to discuss something, teacher to teacher, but first and foremost in this discussion I was wearing my parent hat.  I had been contemplating broaching my concern for a while now, having previously discussed it and although solution had been arrived at it had not been followed through.  I asked my Father to help me formulate what I would say and how I should say it and through the discussion I got answers regarding my concern.  Often it is the fear of causing offence that stops us from facing tricky / difficult situations, but I know it is our approach to each other and a mind set that is willing and able to listen, understand (but not necessarily agree) and move forward that is key to any resolution.


(Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV) "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."


(Deuteronomy 31:8 NKJV) "And the LORD, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."

Enjoy whatever blessings your weekend brings.................

Turning our mistakes into something good..........

Playing rounders on the field this afternoon posed something of a challenge in this heat.  Wearing a black P.E. kit did not help either (note to self) as it just trapped the heat, but it was lovely to be outside making the most of the lesson.  Yesterday too was lovely and we took our sketch books out on to the field to sketch the landscape.  I added a twist by asking the children to leave their rubbers behind and instead turn their mistakes into something good.  They all said that although they initially found it hard to not have the security of  a rubber (eraser) to remove any errors / blemishes on their sketches they were glad to be able to turn their mistakes into something good.

Life can be like that too.  We can turn an unfavourable situation into a favourable one, turn a negative experience into a positive one......................................................

Thank goodness that with our Heavenly Father He took all that was not pleasing in our lives and made them pleasing.  When He sacrificed His only son He washed us clean, took away all the mistakes we had made, all the errors in our lives and gave us a clean slate. 

How wonderful, how marvellous is my Saviour's love for me and today (day 185) I give Him sincere thanks.

Embracing each day for its uniqueness.........

The arrival of Wednesday always seems to be a focal point for discussion, most of it around being thankful that it is Wednesday because it is a sign that the end of the working week is in sight and the weekend does not now appear too far off.  I do like Wednesday because of these reasons, but I think every day could be viewed in a similar way.

On a Monday I am thankful for the weekend I have just had, memories of which are still fresh in my mind.  My body is usually well rested and refreshed.  I look forward to seizing opportunities to make a difference in the lives of the children in my care at school and my colleagues too.  On school nights my younger two sleep early and so Gracie and I have our special cuddles & natter before bed.

Tuesday although a longer working day because we have our staff meeting after school, gives me an opportunity to touch base with colleagues I normally might not see during the busy school day.  Neither Gracie or Aaron currently have extra curricular activities on a Tuesday so it's home and just hanging out with them and a longer linger around the dining table!

Each day will brings its own challenges so I think it is important to see and embrace the uniqueness of each after all there is only one of each day in any given week.  There will always be days of the week we favour more than others.  With that in mind Lord I thank you for this unique day, Wednesday, that brought challenges but also reasons to be thankful and I am today (day 184).

Disappointments ...... a necessary part of the journey!

Sometimes a day can bring disappointments or throw things at us that cause us to stop and ask questions and it can be difficult to see clearly and in extract the positive.  Disappointments shake our faith foundations and we go through certain emotions and at the same time feel that perhaps by feeling disappointed it means we are doubting our faith in the one who first loved us and paid the price for all our disappointments.  I have through experience learnt that at such times it is best to remove myself as quickly as is possible from the situation and just chat with my Father (he is accessible 24/7), it is the natural thing to do. 

I am thankful that I can take my husband's hand and off load, there is nothing like his listening ears or his voice to say 'Don't worry.'

The Bible says;

Romans 8:28         
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Philippians 4:6-7     
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 100:1-5          
A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

So today (day 183) I am filled with gratitude that I can run to you Lord and know that your arms will be wide open to embrace me and take those cares away.............. as I am also reminded in the lyrics of this song;

When the cares of life

Seem overwhelming

And my heart is sinking down

'How great is the love of God

How steady is His hand

To guide me through this world

And though I'm weak in Him I'll stand

And you will hear me say

Today I'm gonna trust in God

Counting down............

It's amazing what the appearance of sunshine can do to just boost the enthusiasm, energy and just general feel good factor of children and adults alike.  My class were just thrilled to be able to have two lots of outdoor play in one day!

And so we have the final countdown, four weeks until the end of the academic session and the beginning of the summer (I use the term loosely) vacation.  As I sealed my completed reports on each of the children in my class I am happy in the knowledge that I have given my very best to each of them in my capacity as class teacher.

Today's word for today encourages us to keep trying:

Keep Trying			25 Jun 2012
'...Well done, good and faithful servant...' Matthew 25:23
In Discipleship Journal Paul Thigpen writes: 'I remember coming home one afternoon to discover that the kitchen I had worked so hard to clean only a few hours before, was now a terrible wreck. My young daughter had obviously been busy 'cooking' and the ingredients were scattered, along with dirty bowls and utensils, across the counters and floor. I was not happy with the situation. Then, as I looked a little more closely at the mess I spied a tiny note on the table, clumsily written and smeared with chocolatey fingerprints. The message was short-'I'm makin somethin 4 you, dad'-and it was signed, 'your angel. ' In the midst of that disarray, and despite my irritation, joy suddenly sprang up in my heart, sweet and pure. My attention had been redirected from the problem to the little girl I loved. As I encountered her in that brief note, I delighted in her. With her simple goodness in focus, I could take pleasure in seeing her hand at work in the situation that seemed otherwise disastrous. ' In the parable of the talents, Jesus pointed out that the two servants who invested and multiplied what had been entrusted to them received the Master's highest commendation: 'Well done, good and faithful servant.' On the other hand, the servant who buried his gifts rather than risk and lose, received the Master's harshest condemnation: '...You wicked and lazy servant...' (v. 26 NKJV). Commendation or condemnation: which will you receive? God doesn't say, 'If you can't do it right, don't do it at all.' No, He's pleased when you try, make mistakes, learn from them and grow. So keep trying! I was so happy and thankful to read this today (day 182) because it means that tomorrow, just as today I am going to try to be the best I can be in each of the roles that make up my being and know that in doing so my Father is pleased.  I will try to not worry if I fall short, instead learn from my mistakes and press on.

Happily exhausted.............

My Sunday morning began quite early with the arrival of nails!  No I wasn't embarking on a DIY frenzy before church, it was my Gracie at my bedroom door asking for a pedicure.  That's right, bye bye lie in hello manicure set and selection of nail varnishes.  What a discussion we had over the fine art of beautifying toes.............. Seriously every moment with my girl is an opportunity for intimate fellowship, not to be missed!

Properly pruned we all made our way to church, the initial grey sky could not dampen  the glorious fellowship that awaited us.  We sang some a song in particular, 'Shine Jesus shine,' that brought tears to my eyes for a couple of reasons; it was a popular choice of the pastor in our previous fellowship and one of mine and Ayo's choices on the day we said 'I do.'  As we sang Ayo caught my gaze and our smiles said it all.  Shine Jesus certainly did today - we had a Bible college graduate in our midst and we celebrated with him, on the completion of an epic three year journey in which we as a church family have seen the hand of God move to mould and shape him into the man who stood before us today and I have a feeling the mighty Potter isn't done yet!  As if that wasn't enough to warm the cockles we had two planned baptisms and another two who seized the opportunity and guess what ......... three of them were children.  One of them had witnessed his older siblings baptised and was concerned that he was not a real Christian.  Today, aged just 8 he knew for certain how much God loved him and it was wonderful to see him clutch his newly acquired Bible and stride around with a beam of pride.  This day will certainly go down in the history of his life as a special one.

Now in a style for which our fellowship is known we had nibbles and a natter afterwards.

To top it all it was my mother-in-law's birthday today and in true Aina family style we serenaded her with a harmonious 'happy birthday' chorus.

I am happily exhausted just writing all of this!  Thank you Lord for today (day 181) for your goodness and grace in the lives of all these precious children of yours.  May the youngsters never depart from the walk they have started with You and the slightly older ones continue their life journey holding on tightly to You.

My groceries came to me........ yay!

In my quest to ensure I enjoy the weekends to the max with my precious jewels I have more recently been having our grocery shopping delivered.  It was actually my better half who suggested I gave it a try and I must admit after initially being somewhat sceptical it has certainly been beneficial.  This afternoon I took receipt of my grocery delivery from the Tesco home shopping man.  After he had gone I stood in the kitchen and just smiled. Who would have thought it....... your groceries hand picked and packed and then delivered to your door, no need to spend hours in a crowded supermarket.  Technology seems to be moving at a pace, at times it is hard to keep up. My husband will tell you I am not too bothered by technological gadgets, but it is great when technology helps to ease the load, like with the home shopping delivery system.  Who knows what will be available in the future!

Some things though are best just the way they are.  I am thankful that some things do not change over time, they don't need to be improved.  I am thankful today (day 180) that my Father in heaven is not subject to or reliant on advances in technology, He does not need to be re-packaged because He is the same today as He was yesterday and will be tomorrow.

Teaching............ magic moments included!

Just before the summer mid term break my pupils had completed their end of year assessment papers in reading, writing and maths and over the last couple of days they had been asking me to tell them their test results.  Today we had a window of opportunity so we all sat on the carpet, me armed with my huge assessment folder.  My teaching assistant loves being part of this and will leave what ever she is doing to join us.  Now many of the children have made significant academic progress, some encouraging progress and some have made smaller steps of progress so I have to be very careful how I feed back to them.  You see my focus is not just on the raw progress, rather on the whole child and so in feeding back I use carefully chosen words and phrases so that I build each child up by highlighting their strengths and successes first before moving on to points for improvement, all wrapped around their actual test scores.  It truly is a magical moment, to see the beams on their faces, for themselves and each other.  They even applauded one another.  I always end by telling them to share all I have said with their parents.

Being given the job of caring for children in my capacity as a teacher is a privilege (I knew it was what I wanted to do from about the age of 8) and today (day 179) I am most humbly thankful.

Be blessed this weekend in all that you do.................

The lighter side of life....................

I knew today was going to be a pretty heavy day at school and if I'm honest I wasn't truly looking forward to it.  Yet my approach was going to be the same; keep my eyes firmly fixed on Him.  I knew my day would need sporadic bursts of lighter, laughter moments to get me through.  Well my Gracie was the first provider of that.............. as she got dressed for school in her room she called across for me and I rushed to her room to be met with "Mum please can you buy me some new knickers as these are too small, they roll up as I try to get them on!"  I struggled to keep my chuckles under control because she said it in such a matter of fact way.

My chuckles continued during the course of the day.  A memorable moment was when the children were on the carpet and I was giving and discussing their recent test results with them and the girls began to point and scream in succession.  I flew off my chair and we all started to make a beeline for the door.  The reason behind such hysteria - there was a spider slowly making its way down its web, I presume to join in our discussion and one of the girls had spotted it.  The scene in the classroom at that moment was just hilarious and we think the spider made a quick retreat back up its web!

It is comforting that even in the midst of heavy situations God brings light relief, His way of saying 'Don't worry about a thing' and for that I give thanks today (day 178).

A timely message

Vitamins for Spiritual Health (3)
'...Are you in health, my brother?...' 2 Samuel 20:9
Never allow life's disappointments to make you cynical. If you live long enough people will disappoint you, including your family. Even spiritual leaders will let you down! Paul wrote: 'We wanted to come to you-even I, Paul, time and again-but satan hindered us' (1Thessalonians 2:18 NKJV). Did you think satan was going to send you a congratulatory telegram because you decided to serve the Lord? Not a chance! The walk of faith is one of delight- and difficulty. When you signed on for the first, you signed on for the second. Paul was on a sixteen-month missionary journey-one of miracles and church building. But he ended up in prison on trumped-up charges and was left to rot there. How did he respond? 'Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!' (Philippians 4:4 NKJV). You say, 'How can somebody rejoice in prison?' When you see your disappointment as God's appointment, you start to understand its purpose. Paul had books to write that would change the world, so God needed to get him 'off the road.' Listen to what he wrote from prison: 'I want you to know...that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear' (Philippians 1:12-14 NLT). Hidden in some of your biggest disappointments, you will find treasures of truth that literally transform your life and your future. I thank you lord today (day 177) for a timely message.

The windowsill of heaven....................

The windowsill of heaven

Every morning lean your arms awhile
upon the windowsill of heaven
and gaze upon the Lord.
Then with the vision in your heart,
turn strong to meet your day.

(Thomas Blake)


This is a beautiful morning prayer, just a few lines but yet so powerful.  It is so necessary when we wake in the morning, minds and bodies rested, ready to face the day.  It talks about having a vision in our hearts, a vision of our heavenly Father.  Once we have that picture embedded in our hearts we are then able to face the day and whatever it may present.

Not only is it imperative for me to start my day this way, I have to work hard to ensure that I am not broken / distracted by the challenges each day will undoubtedly bring.  Today for instance was a real mixed bag and there were situations that could have caused me to lose my way and become burdened, but instead just praise Him for the 'God' things each day also brings and today brought many.............................

Thank you Lord today (day 176) for my morning windowsill of heaven. 

Divine reassurance....................

It is so good to have a manual that one can turn to in all situations and find an answer.  I did just that today and it was so reassuring to know that He knows the things that troubles me even before I do, that everything I tell Him will be in confidence, without judgement and that His answers will be with my best interest at the forefront.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Thank you Lord today (day 175) for such reassurance.

A masterpiece and God called it........Dad

Today (day 174) I give thanks for my children who were so excited today, to wake up early to make their Dad one of his favourite breakfast, full on English.  They had discussed and meticulously planned the division of labour this morning and with Gracie on hand to organise them they pulled off a special morning breakfast fellowship.  All three sat proudly at the table quite in awe and humbled by this man they call 'Dad.'  Even though, as a nation, we set aside this special day in celebration of fathers, Sam, Aaron and Gracie are demonstrative of their love for him every day in so many ways.

We made our way to church for the family service, sang from our hearts to our Father in heaven and honoured our earthly fathers with votes of thanks and prayers of thanksgiving.  It was a most special moment, part of a beautiful day...............  We were blessed with a video clip that reflected on what a dad is:

What Makes A Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
he wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so,

He called it ... Dad
- Author Unknown

I have printed this to add to my collection of favourites!

We indulged in a relaxing afternoon and sat reminiscing way after our lovely dinner was over, just the way I like it.  Such indulgence continued into the evening as we all assisted in the continued transformation of our garden and Gracie and Aaron disappeared intermittently to make good use of the trampoline................  a beautiful day.

It's a beautiful day............ don't let it get away!

As we pottered around in our front garden I heard this line 'It's a beautiful day' from the song by U2 and as usual, being a ponderer decided to ponder on it. Each day certainly does come with its own beauty, not necessarily physical beauty that you can see (although this is part of it), but rather beauty gratitudes - the beauty of being grateful for all that our Father is to us; all that we are because of Him; the provisions we have because of Him (material, spiritual............) and most importantly the beauty of having an unfailing love that will last a lifetime and beyond, His love. It is there for free, we only have to ask. It is a love that we should not let slip away, instead grab hold of and let reside in our hearts.

It certainly is a beautiful day; Sean Connery made a stop at our house disguised of course as James in Thunderball.  Interestingly, Ayo and I had just popped out to the shops and on our return I put the box on and there it was, just about to start. Yes I do have the dvd, but it's not quite the same without the never ending commercial breaks! A relaxed late afternoon it was then, feet on a pouffe and a glass of something in hand to complete the scene.  Gracie & Aaron spent the afternoon in the company of another James (one of Aaron's best buddies) and my hubby went off excitedly to get down with a good old fashioned fellowship of the male kind, catching up with old friends.  As for my boy Sam, well it is football season, say no more.............................. 

Some things for you to ponder on about seizing the day.............

 Life is short, God's way of encouraging a bit of focus. ~Robert Brault

Spend the afternoon. You can't take it with you. ~Annie Dillard

Be happy while you're living, for you're a long time dead. ~Scottish Proverb

You live longer once you realise that any time spent being unhappy is wasted. ~Ruth E. Renkl

I am today (day 173) thankful for a beautiful Saturday and hope yours was too!

Home sweet home..........................

It's funny how you sometimes don't realise how tired you are until you sit down.......... I am shall we say 'beat' on my feet!  The children were safely delivered to the waiting hands of parents, a bottle of wine gratefully received from my Headteacher and a tall, dark, handsome bloke with the biggest smile ever arriving to take me home.  It is so good to be home.  My wonderful and loving mother-in-law had called my guys every day this week from Nigeria just to check in on them.  Even in my absence God sent the reassuring voice of an earthly angel to keep a check over them and His grace was sufficient for them all this week.

With Sunday being the day for honouring Fathers I found this message quite poignant because when I look at my husband I can see that he received the four things mentioned from his parents and as such is a first class example for our three.  Today (day 172) I am thankful to be back in the hub of all things family.

Give Your Children These Four Things
'Bring them...and I will bless them.' Genesis 48:9
Give your children these four things: 1) Instruction. 'Do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children'  (Deuteronomy 4:9 NIV). It is not the responsibility of the government or the school system to instill character and convictions in your child; it's your job! And God will hold you accountable for it. 2) Correction. 'Discipline your children while there is hope' (Proverbs 19:18 NLT). Children who know how far they can go are relieved of a great burden. Knowing your authority will stand gives them security. When they learn that no really means NO, they'll be able to say it to others, and to their own impulses. 3) Blessing. 'Joseph said unto his father, 'They are my sons'... And he [Jacob] said, 'Bring them...and I will bless them.' Old Testament parents laid hands on their children because they believed the blessing of God was transferable. If nobody did this for you then start a new tradition, for with God's blessing comes peace, long life and prosperity (See Deuteronomy 28). That's why the enemy has attacked you so often; he's trying to break the link through which the blessing of God comes. Don't let him. 4) Example. A great preacher once looked into the crib of his infant son and prayed: 'Lord, if ever You made a man, make me one now. Let my life, my example and my prayers mold him into someone You can use. And, Lord, let me die twenty-four hours before I say or do anything that would cause him to stumble.'

Bye bye Scarborough...........................

Very tired sleepy heads tonight, might have something to do with nearly 7 hours of thrills and rides at Flamingo Land theme park.  The children really had an amazing time and again we were favoured with lovely weather.  So although we adults are barely standing we are happy that every child commented on what a wonderful day they have had and that's good enough for me.  So cases are mostly packed and the children are ready to go home, but all in all a week of memories have been made that will last a life time.

I give You sincere thanks today (day 171) my Heavenly Father for your watchful care over us this week, for strength when I felt weak, for rest when I was tired, for comfort when I felt concerned and to end the week able to say your glory shone in all situations!

Eventful and thankful

A most eventful day that began in the small hours of this morning and could have resulted in more serious outcomes.  I am truly thankful today (170) that God's favour saw us through.............................

Thankful for many small things......................

'Serve the Lord with gladness...' Psalm 100:2

Paul writes: 'When people commend themselves, it doesn't count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them' (2 Corinthians 10:18 NLT). If your self-worth is based on anything other than God's approval, you won't  serve with the right motives. Insecure people worry about how they'll be  perceived by others. They hide their weaknesses beneath layers of protective pride. The more insecure you are, the more you need people to serve you, and the more you work for their acceptance. One Bible scholar writes: 'In order to be of service to others we must die to them; that is, we have to give up measuring our meaning and value by the yardstick of others... Thus we become free to be compassionate.' Your service should not be based on the response of those you are serving, but on obedience to God alone. True servants of God don't insist on having lofty titles. If their job description calls for it, they wear that badge with humility. Paul, the greatest of the apostles, wrote: 'You may brag about yourself, but the only approval that counts is the Lord's approval' (v. 18 CEV). If anybody had a chance to name-drop, it was James the half-brother of Jesus. What credentials; imagine growing up with Jesus as your brother! Yet he simply referred to himself in Scripture as 'a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ...' (James 1:1). Your service to Christ should be both your job and your joy: 'Serve the Lord with gladness.' Can you imagine what would be accomplished if we all got serious about our role as servants-and did it joyfully?

Today (day 169) I am thankful for so many things: constant side splitting laughter and I mean from the adults; peppermint oil which abated the feelings of sickness and today there was plenty of that about; sunshine that followed us all day; inquisitive, excited children who embraced all they did today; fewer tears at bedtime and a most welcome cup of tea................

Tired, but happy customers

My posts this week might appear a little disjointed as the internet connection is unstable where we are in Scarborough and I am on the top floor of a 4 storey hotel!  Nonetheless I know I will have lots to give gratitude for..............

The kids were all amazingly well behaved on the coach, no travel sickness, only false alarms.  Even when we had a slight delay due to an accident involving another coach carrying children from another school and three cars (thankfully no one was seriously injured) they patiently waited for us to reach the Sea Life Centre which was our first port of call before heading to the hotel, now somewhat exhausted.  The variety, simplicity and complexity of God's sea creations left us all in awe!  After a hearty meal the children continued to make acquaintances with their new surroundings, particularly their bedrooms.

Later we had a birthday to celebrate and games to play which allowed us to indulge in some spontaneous laughter and good cheer.  A few tears before bedtime as we anticipated, some children missed their bed time routines with their parents, but lots of words of encouragement and reassurance were the order of the day.

Thank you Lord today (day 168) for your kindness to all of us in our party, for journey mercies and good cheer all round.  Roll on tomorrow's fun, a visit to an abbey and folk museum.........................

A servant's heart.................

When ever you are preparing for something there comes a time when you have to stop knowing you have prepared all you can.  Well I feel I am at that point, for both home and away ..................  Gracie has been appointed little lady of the house for the next 5 days, responsible for giving out hugs and kisses.  Aaron is in charge of being in charge.  One on one time with Dad is an adventure, an opportunity to be flexible with the rules (just a little) and embrace each others company!  They will each need to go out of their way and serve one another, put each other first, just as God commanded.

I too look forward to a week of serving 36 little people, as well as my colleagues, doing what ever I am required and able to do in order to make it a memorable week for the children in our care.


What it means to serve

'...Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.' John 13:8

Jesus 'took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist... poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped round him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"...Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me"...When he had finished... he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them "...I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master...'' (vv. 4-16 NIV). Observe two things Jesus taught: 1) In order to serve God, you must serve others. When Peter objected, Jesus said, 'Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.' To play your part in God's plan you must put others first. What you're doing right now may enrich you personally, but are you serving others and pleasing God? 2) When it comes to serving, nothing should be beneath you. Can you picture it? Jesus, who was God, stooping to wash the lowest, dirtiest and smelliest part of the body. Keep that picture firmly in mind next time you're asked to do something you don't want to do, or something you think is 'beneath you. ' Christ saw so much value in the least, the lost, the last and the lowest, that He came to redeem them. And today He wants us to go out of our way to serve one another. Today (day 167) thank you Lord for this gentle reminder.

Saturday............What a day!

Where did Saturday go?  Four heads of hair washed, pruned, clipped, braided, rolled, not all at once of course.  An impromptu invitation to a christening and BBQ, helping my guys get ready for my week away on a residential trip with 36  year 4s.  I really pray we have favourable weather otherwise those nightly walks on the beach will be cold...............

I've only ever been away from my guys for a couple of nights before so it will be a tough one. Gracie is pretty occupied thinking about the mock wedding her year group are taking part in this week.

Lord, today (day 166) I am thankful that when I woke this morning it seemed as though I had a million things to do, but you have given me the strength to plough through.

Growing up and resolutions................

My baby boy Aaron went to his first real evening party today to celebrate a friend's birthday.  Well up until today most parties have tended to be an hour skating at speed at the local leisure centre, bowling or the cinema intertwined with a sleep or rather wake over at one of his close mate's house.  Tonight was different because it was a party of volume that went on until 9.30pm!  Yes 9.30pm..........  He had been suitably interrogated, I won't bore you with the questions I asked, but both he and his older brother looked at me peculiarly, with smiles on their faces.  I'm not quite sure if they were smiling at me or with me.................. mmm I must ask them!
For me such events are a big deal and confirm that not only is he growing up, but how different he is to his big brother Sam.  Aaron is, with certain limitations and boundaries, experiencing more than Sam did at his age and than I did at Sam's age.

Just to tickle your funny bone!

 'You know your children are growing up when they stop asking you where they came from and refuse to tell you where they're going.'
PJ O'Rourke

I find it fantastic viewing, just observing the differences a few years can make to the lives of each new generation, differences that challenge us as parents and most certainly keep us on our toes.  Equally though I feel such differences allow us, without compromise, to embrace each child's uniqueness, through the road of life.

My three are quite different characters, yet very much the same ....... you know what I mean.

On a different note a good friend of mine called me to update me on a situation that had been troubling her.  Many conversations later it was clear that the only thing to do was to give it over to God and prayerfully and patiently wait for His resolution.  Well she didn't have to wait too long as He has begun to show her breakthroughs ................ I am thankful today (day 165) for such resolute steps in the right direction, according to His will.

For this new day................Thank you Lord

Thank you Lord for this new day
Right where we are
Hallelujah Praise the Lord
Hallelujah Praise the Lord
Hallelujah Praise the Lord
Right where we are

Thank you Lord for today (day 164) right where we are..................

No two days are ever the same (2)

Yesterday I wrote about the fact that no two days are ever the same.  Well, having spent four hours or so in Accident and Emergency I can testify to that, but you know God's Grace shines through yet again.  We had gone to spend an evening with some friends and whilst eating my Gracie had a severe allergic reaction to one or more of the ingredients of the meal, possibly the cashew nuts.  Within minute she complained of chest pains (probably her air ways constricting) and her face looked like she had endured a few rounds with Mike Tyson and hives quickly developed all over her body.  It really was a most distressing thing to see her go through.  My girl is a trooper.   She even remarked "Mummy I didn't expect to be here today!"  Each day is a gift from our creator and this kind of sums it up for me:

This bright, new day... complete with 24 hours of opportunities, choices, and attitudes… a perfectly matched set of 1440 minutes.This unique gift, this one day, cannot be exchanged, replaced or refunded. Handle with care. Make the most of it. There is only one to a customer.

Author Unknown

I just marvel at God's marvellous design; the way he created the human body to protect itself from a perceived threat.  I thank God for the swift action of the medical team, from the admissions staff, evaluation nurse and of course the doctors.  My gratitude extends to the fact this episode happened in my presence and not when I was not around.  You often do not know you are allergic to something until you have a reaction to it!

As my girl rests to allow her body to recover I am as ever thankful today (day 163) for the compassion of my Father in Heaven which surrounded me and mine today and for my good friend whose smile and encouraging words brought much needed support.............

No two days are ever the same!

The notable absence of Prince Philip at the beautiful service at St Paul's Cathedral today perhaps serves as a reminder that no two days are ever the same in this life, some days, situations are more challenging than others, but I really am thankful that one thing does remain steadfast, my Heavenly Father: when I cannot stand I'll fall on You, Jesus, You're my hope and stay.  I am so glad that I can rely on His Love for me which is real, which he demonstrates in all areas of my life.
Here are 25 reasons why I know He loves me:

1. God loves me. I John 4:10 This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

2. My sins are definitely forgiven. Eph. 1:7 He is so rich in kindness that He purchased our freedom through the blood of His Son, and our sins are forgiven.

3. I possess His peace and His righteousness. Rom. 5:1 Therefore, since we have been made right in Gods sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. I Cor. 1:30 God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the One who made us acceptable to God. He made us pure and holy, and He gave Himself to purchase our freedom.

4. I am holy and blameless in Gods sight. Col. 1:22 Yet now He has brought you back as His friends. He has done this through His death on the cross in His own human body. As a result, He has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault. Eph. 1:4 Long ago, even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.

5. He considers me clean, whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us argue this out," says the Lord. "No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool." I John 1:7 But if we are living in the light of Gods presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from every sin.

6. No one can accuse me. Rom. 8:33,34 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? Will God? No! He is the One who has given us right standing with Himself. Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for He is the One who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us.

7. God has forgotten my sins, even tomorrows sins. Heb. 8:12 "And I will forgive their wrongdoings, and I will never again remember their sins." Psalm 103:12 He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is from the west. I John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.

8. The record of my sins and their requirements have been torn up and destroyed. Col. 2:14 He cancelled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christs cross.

9. I am a complete, whole person. Col. 2:10 ...and you are complete through your union with Christ. He is the Lord over every ruler and authority in the universe. Col. 4:12 Epaphras, from your city, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident of the whole will of God.

10. I am Gods handiwork. He did not make a mistake. Eph. 2:10 For we are Gods masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

11. God is for me! Rom. 8:31 What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

12. God will never give me up or abandon me. Heb. 13:5 Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never forsake you."

13. God rescues and protects me from all harm. Psalm 91:9,10 If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling.

14. God has given his angels orders to protect His own. Psalm 91:11 For He orders His angels to protect you wherever you go.

15. Nothing and no one is able to separate me from Gods love. Romans 8:38,39 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death cant, and life cant. The angels cant, and the demons cant. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell cant keep Gods love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

16. God will supply all my needs. Phil. 4:19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given us in Christ Jesus.

17. I have freedom from the slavery to sin. Rom. 6:22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.

18. I have eternal life. I John 5:13 I write this to you who believe in the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

19. I am freely given Gods grace. Eph. 1:6 So we praise God for the wonderful kindness He has poured out on us because we belong to His dearly loved Son.

20. I have been given sufficient faith as a gift from God. Eph. 2:8,9 God saved you by His special favour when you believed. And you cant take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

21. I have an advocate, a defence attorney before the Father. I John 2:1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if you do sin, there is someone to plead for you before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the One who pleases God completely.

22. I have the very life of God in me. Rom. 8:9-11 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.) Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, you spirit is alive because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as He raised Christ from the dead, He will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you.

23. God will not allow me to be shaken. Psalm 55:22 Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

24. I have strength for every situation. Phil. 4:13 For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

25. I am a part of Gods family. Gal. 4:4,5 But when the right time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children.

Like me, hold on to these 25 promises because they will serve as a reminder of all you are in Christ, regardless of what each day brings and today (day 162) I am thankful.

And the people came together as one.............

As a lover of all types of music I was thrilled to tune into the Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace; a platform full of such diverse acts.  Now I think act of the evening has to go Grace Jones who at the age of 64 showed the youngsters a thing or two.  Her vocals still packed a punch and the outfit would raise an eyebrow or two.  As for the hoola hooping, something extra to just hold the attention of the audience that bit longer!  It was quite a performance.

We humans are a unique and diverse race and the music and artists tonight confirmed that.  Legends like Stevie Wonder; Shirley Bassey, to not so well known artists like Ruby Turner (I attended a small but intimate concert she gave years ago and her voice sounded even better tonight).  The royal family, young and old seemed to be 'down' with it all too!  The Queen herself has some stamina, to embrace the week-end's festivities.

It is good when people of all nations, faiths, standing in life and any other criteria that would normally divide them, come together for one common purpose, today it was to celebrate 60 years of steadfast monarchical leadership.

Thank you Lord for such days like today (day 161) when coming together as one was the natural thing to do...............

contemplative and emotional ....... what a good day!

What a contemplative, emotional day......... An old friend of our fellowship was visiting this week-end and co-led the worship with my hubby and it really did raise the roof!  It is good to lift our voices to praise the King, individually, but also as one body.  A few testimonies now opened the floodgates and I found it hard to keep my composure.  It is so good to hear of God's goodness and grace flowing in people's lives; to hear strong convictions of the power of God undoubtedly at work.

Now I would not say I am a staunch royalist, but I do have a sincere respect for the Queen and I feel the tribute to her today is fitting.  One thing she has been during her 60 year reign is consistent in her approach to her duty as Queen. So much has been documented about her and her relationship with her family, particularly her children, but watching footage presented by Prince Charles it's clear that she enjoys a special relationship with each of them.  To read that one of the things she was presented with at her coronation was a bible is poignant; she often mentions God and her faith in her annual new year address. 

In fact her coronation address on 2nd June 1953 was:

"When I spoke to you last, at Christmas, I asked you all, whatever your religion, to pray for me on the day of my Coronation - to pray that God would give me wisdom and strength to carry out the promises that I should then be making."

Further into her speech was more reference to God

"Therefore I am sure that this, my Coronation, is not the symbol of a power and a splendour that are gone but a declaration of our hopes for the future, and for the years I may, by God's Grace and Mercy, be given to reign and serve you as your Queen."

I believe that it is this faith that has sustained her through the often public trials and tribulations that come with life as the head of the monarchy.  Long may she continue to reign.

Just to keep you in the celebratory mood here are 10 interesting facts about her:

• The Queen is 5'4'' tall
• The Queen was the first British Monarch to send her children to boarding school in order to remove them from the ever probing media
• The Queen has owned more than 30 corgis
• The Queen has 9 thrones
• The Queen is the second longest serving British Monarch

Contemplation is a good thing, so too are emotions and when the two are combined .................... well I get a day like today (day 160) and for that I am thankful.

half way through the year ..................... already!

I can't believe we are almost half way through the year, June already.  I thank God for what He is to us and what He has done for us as a family so far this year.  His Grace has certainly been sufficient for us.  I have been privileged to share the countless blessings we have experienced and just some of the things I am thankful for.

Despite the sun being too shy to make an appearance I had a sunny day; a late rise for my hubby and I followed by a most welcome lazy day,


Today (day 159) I humbly pay tribute to my Father in heaven.

The role we are born into .................

60 years, a remarkable achievement and certainly one to be celebrated.  To have been crowned Queen at the tender age of 26 and take on the responsibility that came with it must have been a daunting experience.  Since that time she has lived a life in the public domain and experienced the same highs and lows of family life as you and I.  Life has not always treated her kindly but yet she continues in the role that she was born into.

It got me thinking the role each of us assume in life.  Now I am not a queen, but I am a princess because my Father is a king.  I am re-born into the kingdom of the most high...........

Jesus Christ was born into a royal family and was destined to play the most important role in history, the saviour of the world.  It was a role He was born into, one for which He paid the ultimate price, his painful death on the cross.  Thank God for his subsequent resurrection............... He accepted this role, but at times asked His Father to release him from it if it were possible.  I wonder if the Queen has ever had such feelings or desire to be released from her role?

My role as a classroom teacher comes with a lot of responsibility, sometimes overwhelming in nature, but I know it is what I was meant to do.  There are highs and lows too, but never ending blessings too and although I have not yet  reached the 60 year mark I am thankful today (day 158) to have come so far and look forward to how God is going to use me within my role!

So this most special Jubilee week-end let us raise a glass to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  If you are celebrating her Diamond Jubilee in any shape of form have a wonderful and safe time.