Thursday, February 26, 2009

Home news

We have sold our house and in a few months will have absolutely nowhere to go! The logistical problem in 4 weeks time of what to do with our furniture (as we are in a fully furnished tenancy) is now hitting home. I am now computing how much space each large item we own takes up; anyone got any warm and dry space?

Actually, it's a weird feeling - our largest asset brought us a lot of security in years past and we are now aware that the feeling that our houses is "ours" is a lie.
Everything we have comes from his hand and we have felt the pain involved in that realisation coming to bear! But it feels very strangely liberating as well. We're not tied. However, we love our children so much and we are longing to provide them with some routine and normality with their wee special things around them and their pictures and posters on the wall.

Got to find somewhere to live and pack up and move (our old house) for the second time in six months pending the third pack up (from our temporary house!) and move......

Normal service on children/family issues will be resumed soon.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

The Gritty Reality


It's been a busy few weeks and it's only going to increase in the next few months. The good news is that, in the past week, we received an offer for our house although this has raised more challenges than it has solved at this precise moment in time.

It's fair to say that the honeymoon period of being here is over. No longer are you just "on holiday", enjoying the sights and sounds of the new environment, making new discoveries as you turn down a street or walk along a busy thoroughfare. True to church culture, I've received my first complaint (must be doing something right then) and felt for the first time that I'm not new anymore.

And do you know what? As I dig through Paul's letters just now to read about his advice to those involved in disputes, factions, fall outs and ungodly practices, I'm sitting here longing for heaven. I'm desperate for heaven to invade earth. I can't wait for imperfection to disappear (my own, of course!) and for the heavens and earth to be transformed.

Until that moment, and in particular today, I'm fixing myself on the cross, where mercy, grace, hope and love meet.Oh how wretched am I for my failings, my criticism and my judgmental thoughts and yet how lavish is his love displayed there for me.
At the risk of sounding like an eighteenth-century hymn writer (move over Wesley), its where I want to stay today.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Nothing really to do with children.........

........but I saw this clip today and I thought it was really funny!