Flat, Car, Church, Patience and answers to prayer!

So looking at the above title, this is really what's been going on over the past few months!!

Our flat is still on the market and we are being taught patience, as we haven't even had one viewing! The price was lowered yesterday, so we pray that this will encourage someone to poke their nose in the door... after that - who could refuse our beautiful home?!! :D

My car has been a bit of a saga the past few days, on Saturday night someone tried to break into it :( and succeeded in pulling out all the wiring under the steering column! Thankfully on Monday evening a friend of a friend put it all back together for me; however my poor little Mr Incredible (it's red and indestructable!!)was looking a little sorry for itself! On the Monday evening, before it was fixed, my Grandparents offered to sell me their car! It's a lovely little white R Reg Corsa, roomy and with a lot of character... I accepted their offer and I am starting to fall in love with my little car! It's much roomier than I thought it would be, I am also LOVING having a radio - luxury after 18 months of driving in silence!!

Church is mentioned because it has been a major part of our lives recently... we have been loving the fellowship we've been having with the people at Church, we've enjoyed lovely hospitality and friendship.

So... this is what I have been up to recently!
Just to warn you, at some point I am going to wax lyrical about 'Lest we forget'. It's a blog which has been in my head since the first time I visited the National Memorial Arboretum and was revived in my mind when we went there again a week ago.. however I need to be curled up or tucked up somewhere with the time to write it and think about it.... so another little while, but it will come!!!

We had a lovely holiday in Portugal, we really literally did enjoy Sun, Sea and Sand, with a beautiful beach, amazing sea that you could swim in until 7-8 in the evening and amazing weather ALL week! We are looking forward to spending some time in Scotland with my family soon... in fact... that might just be the week for the 'Lest we forget' Blog!!

Farewell! x

Happiness is!

Have you ever seen those mugs/cards, entititled "Happiness is" and then a picture of something, either friends hugging, or boy meets girl etc...?

A friend of mine, whenever she sees someone contented, looks and says "Ahh, happiness is". I saw my dog come in today from a walk and she collapsed on the floor with a big grin on her face and I looked and said "Happiness is.."

I was reminded of this song:

Happiness is to know the Saviour,
Living a life within His favour,
Having a change in my behaviour,
Happiness is the Lord.

Happiness is a new creation,
Jesus and me in close relation,
Having a part in His salvation,
Happiness is the Lord.

Real joy is mine, no matter if teardrops start;
I've found the secret, it's Jesus in my heart!

Happiness is to be forgiven,
Living a life that's worth the living,
Taking a trip that leads to Heaven,
Happiness is the Lord,
Happiness is the Lord,
Happiness is the Lord!

To know the Lord... that is true happiness!

Happy Father's day!

Typo....!

In previous post I put PALS Manager... I meant officer... that'll teach me to watch the football and type at the same time!!!

Welcome back!

I feel that's what my blog said to me when I logged in... Welcome back! We missed you! At least, I hope whoever is reading this missed me... oh well, if you didn't, that's not really the point of this blog anyway is it...

I'm rambling...

We have been ridiculously busy over the past few weeks... evenings and weekends have just got chocka, and believe it or not, my boss has found things for me to do at work, so I've actually been busy (how awful, to be busy at work!! :D)

So, the major things that have happened to me over the past few weeks... well we've been really enjoying the fellowship at Bulkington Congregational Church! The people are lovely and the spiritual food is .. well filling! And challenging whilst gracious. We are so blessed to be there!

The other big things... we've put the flat on the market... yes! We've finally done it..! Agreed to pay an estate agent an extortionate amount, and got some nice pictures of our place on rightmove, and got a board up outside. Now we just have to wait for someone to come and look round it.. and wait... and wait... patience is a virtue they say! And one that the Lord is teaching us day by day.

Jon is currently watching England vs Algeria, along with 90% of the population I reckon... Pippa and I are equally unimpressed!!! She is playing with a ball and getting dirty looks from Jon whenever she makes too much noise. I am blogging... and just managing to avoid the annoyed look for my tip tapping on the keyboard - lol :D

My job at the moment has been slightly boring... I mean boring. My boss is wonderful and I really get on with my colleagues, however there are no challenges and I have really reached the end of that career path if I want a career... so a few weeks ago I appplied for the job of PALS manager at a Mental Health Trust near where we want to move to... last Friday I found out I was shortlisted... and today was the interview.

I GOT THE JOB! I am so excited. PALS is an amazing service provided by the NHS, and I am exstatic about being a part of it in an up and coming mental health trust. I start as soon as references are through and I have worked my 4 weeks notice at HEFT where I am now.

So... that's all the big news!! Pippa has given up and fallen asleep on the rug, so I think I may as well give in and watch the footie and shout at the tely with Jon... :D

Goodnight all! xxx

Summery dayz!

One of my sisters started one of her blog posts by saying
"It's a shame that having so much to blog about, leaves so little time to actually blog"

My sentiments exactly!!

These past few weeks for some reason have been nice and busy, we have had something on every evening and at the weekends. At the same time, note that I say 'Nice' and busy - not manic, or rushed, just a lovely stream of things to do and look forward to.

Life wouldn't be much if we didn't have things to look forward to would it? I think sometimes we take for granted, we're always looking forward to our next annual leave, the next time a friend is coming to visit, the next weekend, the next, the next, the next... and isn't it wonderful that if we're true born again believers, who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, we can genuinly look forward to that day when He will appear again and we will be like Him, and the sufferings of this present day will not be worthy to be compared with the joy we will have then.

So, let me tell you some of what we've been up to!

I went out for a meal a week or so ago, with a friend I haven't seen in a while and have been meaning to catch up with! We had a carvery and a glass of wine and lots and lots of talk... it's a good job I don't mind cold potatoes!!

For 2 days at the end of last week, my youngest sister came over and helped me sort some things out in the flat. We did a major spring clean of all the rooms, and sorted the 'junk' in all the cupboards. We managed to pack up 16 boxes for loft storage, take a car full of stuff to the charity shop and 2 cars full to the local tip! Needless to say, the flat is looking an awful lot tidier!

Last Saturday we had a lovely time; in the morning we finished off some of the tidying and cleaning we had been doing. Jon put up some fences in the back garden (which involved a very funny story I'll tell another time!) and Mr VDR came over and helped. The sun was shining, and it was nice all round. We then went over to Bulkington for a coffee and cake fundraiser, and had a nice time at John and Judy's house. We bought plenty of cakes and some really lovely flower arrangements.

In the evening it was Fred's 90th birthday 'do', he and Kathleen hired the sunroom in the local village centre, and had some food laid on. We were entertained by Beth, Morris and Pastor Pete :o)

This week I had Wednesday off work, and I went shopping with Georgie as she'd had an exam on the Tuesday; we left home at 9.30 and returned at 5, much poorer and quite tired, but very happy!

Last night Dad came up from Hove for a visit. He surprised Jo from work and then as the weather was so nice, we ended up having a bbq in our back garden which was lovely...! Tonight, Jon and I are going shopping for some more bbq things, and having another bbq tomorrow evening with family and very good friends; Mum is coming, Nicki and Andrew, Mr VDR... so we should be a very jolly gathering! This time however, Pippa won't get any marshmallows... another funny story I will tell another time.... :D

Sausage roll memories

Today we had a lie in this morning and then we went over to Mums. Before we went we went to Greggs, the local bakers, and got some sausage rolls for lunch.

Sausage rolls from Greggs reminds me of shopping on Chelmsley Wood with my mum, feeling like I was eating the biggest treat in the world, and anticipating eating a cake afterwards. The memory is usually tied in with the thought of rain, as it was usually raining, and being surrounded by my younger sisters...!
Jon got his sausage roll, and smelt it, and promptly said that the smell reminded him of Christmas, as Christmas when he was a child was the only time he ever used to eat hot sausage rolls...

Isn't it funny how a smell or a feeling or a sound can spark a memory? It's wonderful how that same smell, feeling or sound can send a whole room full of people down memory lane, and each memory is different. Didn't God create us just GREAT?!

Jon had fun this afternoon helping put up some bookcases for Mum, and I had fun organising them onto the shelves! Mum had a dissapointment with Curry's and Nicoles laptop... Grrrrr just about describes it. We have already decided that our family motto should be "Everything is for a reason"... tied in with the fact that God loves us, it just about makes life bearable some days doesn't it!

I have to admit, these past weeks I have been resting in God's promises for Heaven, 2 in particular,

Romans 8v18: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Revelation 21v3-5a: And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."

We are currently lying in bed watching a 'Gaither Gospel Hour', which are always lovely to have on in the background; we're listing to a guy singing Amazing Grace, and The Old Rugged Cross.. the guy who's speaking is telling the story of how he heard the new song 'The Old Rugged Cross' when he was 5, that's 93 years ago. How God does deal graciously with some people! This man is 98 years old and totally with it, walking with the Lord and a testimony to His grace.

We went to my Grandma and Granddad's for tea today, and had a wonderful time as we always do, we enjoyed spare ribs, lemon chicken, sweet and sour vegetables, satay chicken and spring rolls!! My Granddad's mind is going, and sadly he knows it and it is upsetting for both him and my Grandma. In constrast to the man singing on the television in the bedroom, they have no real testimony of God's grace and dealings with them. Oh how I pray that God would give me the oppurtunities to speak to them, and the courage to take the oppurtunities when they arise.
The evening was a lovely way to end our week!

Jon and I are looking forward to tomorrow, the first day of the week, worshipping with our friends in Bulkington. We have once again been invited out for lunch, which we are looking forward to :o)

I'll leave you with the hymn we're just about to hear, and one of my favourites...

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

Chorus:
Than to be the king of a vast domain,
Or be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
I’d rather be true to His holy name

He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs;
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead

Religion and Politics.... again!

I'm guessing a lot of people will be talking about Politics this morning, seeing as we now officially have a hung parliament.

It's scary in some ways, that there's such a state of unrest, that the country has no clear leader - really isn't it indicative of the fact that we have confidence in none of our political leaders?!

I am so comforted to know that I can have confidence in God, that He is in control and He knows what His plans are for this country.
Yes, we are entering a time of unrest and uncertainty, and yet, we know that our duty is to do what's right and the consequences are in God's hands. Daniel is so relevant here, don't you think?! Kings will rule and pass laws and listen to false advisors, and yet we should turn up and work, live peaceably among all men, and yet pray for our leaders as we're commanded. The consequences of those actions will be part of God's supreme plan for our estate,village, town, city, county, country, nation and ultimatley His plan for the world; as He holds Kings hearts in His hands.