How do I look?

The first thing I did when I received word about my last exams was run down to Deb´s house and put on this fantastic graduation robe and mortarboard! It felt good to somehow live a long life dream to wear this wonderful ensemble of recognition of effort and reaching the finishing line!

Coming from Guernsey, where there isn´t that tradition of "graduation" after secondary school like there is in the United States, I have to agree that I find it to be both a lack and a loss in the British Educational System. Acknowledgment of completion is so valuable and vital to self esteem, personal growth and positive insertion into society (or subsequent studies) It is true though, that upon completing a degree or higher education the robe and mortarboard are used but needless to say, the majority of British citizens are left without any kind of celebration after finishing secondary school and subsequently thrust into the working world with but a smile and a promise!

So I believe that I am not alone amongst my patriots, to have dreamed about wearing this "acclaimed" attire someday and I felt like now was a justifying kind of a moment to license me to dress up!

Now, I haven´t completed any degree or anything amazing. No letters at the end of my name... which actually is a good thing because surname has enough letters to satisfy even the thirstiest of letter lovers.... but I am excited with my achievements: no matter how minor. Sadly, I do have to concede that one looks grossly overweight in one of these things, as the above picture clearly depicts!

But joking aside, I feel truly excited about wearing it even though it seems a little silly. I imagine this is how God would wish us to feel when He clothes us with the robe of sonship/daughership because we are no longer called slaves, but sons and if sons...then heirs to the living God!

I leave you with this famous quote:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. "

~Marianne Williamson,

A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles," 1992 (commonly misattributed to Nelson Mandela, 1994 inauguration speech)

Got the results back just now!

Okay... so now it´s really done!

I got my results back and I passed the very difficult test with a 9! So now all I have to do is celebrate!

For those of you who don´t know what I was studying, it was a 1 year course for auxiliary nurse to dependents and the elderly.

Yahoo... yahoo....I´m jumping for joy!

Thanks for your support

The Lost Sheep

On Sunday, our Pastor was sharing the parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15: 1-7. It is a well known parable to all of us I imagine, but one that doesn't cease to touch me.

Our Pastor shared that he usually found the story to revolve around the goodness of the shepherd, but that recently God had encouraged him to take a closer look at the lost sheep.

Unlike my Pastor, I have always found the role of the lost sheep to stand out to me . I consider the goodness of the Shepherd in the light of the lost sheep. The Shepherd left behind the 99 to look for me, the one that was lost.

I have shared in a previous post, that I was feeling lost and I was reminded of this as the Pastor spoke on Sunday. I might feel lost sometimes, but the Good Shepherd is willing to leave the 99 to seek me out. He then carries me on his shoulders until he gets home and then rounds up the neighbours for a good shin dig to celebrate finding me!"

It wasn't long before the tears started rolling down my cheeks when the realization of this truth began to sink into my heart. How can we not be moved by such love and such sacrifice in persuit of that which is lost?

When I feel lost , I can reassure my self that the Good Shepherd will come in search of me and not give up until he finds me. He then will carry me on his shoulders and take me to safety!


It is well known that the first symbol of Christianity was that of a fish. On sacramental cups, seals, and lamps the Holy Spirit was symbolized by a dove and Christ by a fish (perhaps because at the time, fish was one of the elements of the sacred meal) or by a shepherd carrying a sheep on his shoulders (from Luke 15:3-7) The cross was not adopted until long after the departure of Jesus.

I am sad that this symbol seems to have disappeared from our churches. It seems to reflect in essence the message of the gospel and of God´s undying love that goes in search of us!
I hope that this post has been an encouraging reminder to you that God will always go in search of the lost one!

I´ve finished!

It is done!

Yes, today I did my last chapter in my studies and sent in the final exam! I can hardly believe that almost a year has gone by and that I actually made it through the course!

It has been a real challenge and yet a great joy to see that, with God´s help and lots of encouragement, I have made it to the finish line!

But at present, I am harbouring a somewhat sweet and sour feeling about finishing, because the final chapter and exam were extremely taxing to say the least. I am now waiting for these results really before I can fully get into celebration mode! I´ll let you know!

Two big birthdays!

Here are my two boys.....14yrs and 16yrs.....Man it´s hard to believe that the time has passed so quickly!

While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.
~Angela Schwindt

I can truly say that this quote is my reality. God has blessed me with wonderful children who have taught me more than just patience. Through thick and thin I have learned that God never gives up and that tomorrow is always new with no mistakes in it!

It hasn´t always been easy, in fact I would say being a mother is one of the most difficult challenges I have faced yet and still face... but I can say, that it has opened up my heart more to God, to others and to myself and that love surely does cover a multitude of sins!

A very revealing question

Isn´t that just the million dollar question? I saw this as I was google browsing and I was completely struck. What would I do?

Man it opens up a world full of possibilities doesn´t it? I think that God really wants me to answer the question. I don´t often sit down and contemplate a question of this nature because I am hindered by............. fear (fear of failure for one, fear of looking dumb, fear of .... fill in the blanks... the fears are endless)

I did realize that I don´t even allow myself to dream of possibilities because I let fear keep me trapped in my very comfortable box! Isn´t that sad?

May I challenge you to take a few minutes to consider this question? You might be surprised at what you find out about yourself and maybe you might be on the road to discover (like me) some things that God might want you to try to do.

After all, is not God by my side? Has not God promised to never abandon me or leave me alone? Should I not feel with excitement that:

A little home truth

Health, fitness and happiness.

We all know the importance of eating well, exercising and laughing from the "gut" on a regular basis, to be the ingredients for a Healthy life.

Well, like you, I do try to pass on what I have learned to my little angels (haha). Just the other day though, a little humorous truth came to me out of the mouths of one of my babes!

Let me shed a little light on the circumstances!

Two of my wonderful 3 children are good eaters and one remaining is a "I don´t like anything remotely healthy looking" battlefield at meal times champion!

Life being as it is...contradictory..... The two "good eaters" were given to:

a) the flu and following throat infection- thus missing school for more than a week

b) twisted his ankle and suffered a 2nd degree sprain - hence condemned to using crutches and missing school one day.

The one day that these two coincided in missing school, my junk food junkie was therefore the only child in the household to attend school. As I walked down the stairs to accompany him to the gate he said,

"I´m the only one who doesn´t eat his vegetables and look, I am the only kid healthy! "

Hmm.... what can you say to that? On the contrary my dear Watson!

Long time no see

Good Friends

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. ~Albert Schweitzer

I love you guys...thanks for being wonderful mates!