Ally's Antics

Canela

2008-08-30T11:17:00.004+02:00

Canela is over 14 years old....now that´s like 98 in Dog years. She is an old lady, but she is still spritley and energetic when she hears the words "walkies!", eager and expectant in case some crumbs fall by the way during meal times and grateful for any attention that comes her way! We have been taking care of her for a few days,while my sister is on holiday.

Canela means cinnamon in Spanish, which suits her colouring to a tee! She is though, as her age dictates, somewhat grumpy and fiesty when it comes to allowing people to touch her....but I guess that due to the aches and pains her little body must experience at her age.

Canela is a true reflection of the words "sticks closer than a brother" and follows me without tiring, around the house. Where ever I go...she goes.... just like Ruth said to her mother in law! Wherever I am ...there she is at my side... even a trip to the bathroom can not be missed by her watchful eye and listening ear. There she follows me with her pitter patter of four paws making there clickety clackety on our fake wood floor up and down.

Even if I am in my tidying up mode up and down, and in and out of rooms, taking clothing here...dirty washing there.... it´s never too much for Canela to follow. There she is like a shadow at my side. Faithful, watching, loyal...close.

It make me think how our Heavenly Father also is always with us. There is no place where his presence does not follow. Nowhere where His love and grace do not reach us. If only I could remember this in those moments when God feels far away, distant and quiet.

Dear God, continue to renew the revelation of Your constance in our lives and may we always take advantage of our instant connection into Your presence and into Your arms.

Emanuel..... God is with us!

A special invitation!

2008-07-22T11:03:00.005+02:00

For those non-Spanish speaking amongst us, this is the invitation we received from the American Embassy here in Madrid to join the Ambassador and his wife celebrating Independence day! (hey man I´m British..why am I celebrating this? Should I even be celebrating this??!!!!)

We enjoyed the honour of joining the almost 400 guests to savour great American delicacies such as hamburgers, donuts and Starbucks coffee with the overtures of a live country band filling the warm summer air! There was the traditional singing of the national anthem and flag raising, as well as a speech from the Ambassador!

The invitation said to go dressed up in either red, white or blue, or with a Western Theme! I went as a cowgirl together with hat and boots. I really did look the part (and hopefully soon will be able to get that photo off my sister´s camera and onto this post!!!) Little did I know my outfit would cause me problems later!!! Stephan being more "responsible" (or boring!!) went low key!

There were American Military people there dressed in their white uniforms (thought of you Grandpa Gordon!!!) who had so many badges and medals on their jackets that they were almost falling off! There were other ambassadors and those in high places, and then there was us!!!!

As I was standing on the red carpet nervously waiting for my turn to shake the ambassador´s hand, I was watching attentively how those before me were greeting this important man and contemplating all amount of questions like, why am I here? No, why was I born??!!!!

I wished that someone had run me through protocol by the security check at the door, but here I was and I had no idea what I was meant to do. No amount of coaxing from my dh seemed to calm the butterfly storm that was raging inside my stomach!

"Don´t worry...they´re just people like you and me!!" he whispered into my ear, but like Fred says on the Lucy show, I said to myself... "Yeah they may be people...but they are not like you and me!!!!"

It seemed that all the people before us in the line were close friends, because he asked after their sons and daughters etc! I knew I couldn´t follow that example.. so I pretty much had to go it alone! (no amount of watching The West Wing was gonna help me on this!!)

In front of the greeting party stood a row of journalists and camera men eagerly waiting to snap photos of all those important guests as they greeted the Ambassador and it was no surprize that as we stepped up to the Ambassador and his wife, they all took a coffee break!

As I mentioned, I was all dressed up in my cowgirl outfit, but what I hadn´t anticipated was that the Ambassador would be wearing a big white Stetson! So as we attempted to do the Spanish two kisses thing, we inevitably bumped hats!!!! I could have kicked myself for not thinking of taking mine off before I reached him, so this made actually saying anything outside of, "Opps I am very sorry!", pretty much obsolete! !

I managed to fumble my way onto greeting his wife who looked in my eyes with an expression of "Who the heck is this woman and why is she at my party!??!!" but graciously shook my hand anyway. In turn this was followed by what felt like an eternal minute of greeting more people who stood in the line who also entertained expressions of "How on earth did these people get on the invitation list?!!"

Then the ordeal was done!! I guess I could sum up the experience by saying that we reveled in the honour of being invited more than the actual party itself!

It made me think of the invitation we all have to celebrate at Christ´s table when he returns and how I will feel about attending that celebration!

I won´t have to worry about protocol as I stand on the red carpet waiting to meet the Lord. I know He will know my name and He won´t have an expression on his face of, "Who is this and why is she here?" I will be overwhelmed with excitement and not anxiety as I wait in turn to greet him. I will run into his arms and feel confident that He will love me in return. It won´t matter if we bump hats!

He will be just as happy to see me as I Him, and the honour of being with Him will far outweigh the joy of the invitation! He is more important than any King, Ambassador or Politician, and I am his daughter! I not only have the right to be at the party but he wants me there!

He can´t wait for my turn in line to greet me and He feels the same way about you too!!!

Let´s catch up a bit....shall we?

2008-05-07T20:37:00.014+02:00

The above photo in my header contain my feet.......isn´t it great? I love the sea...I love the sea... I LOVE THE SEA!

A dearest blog friend accompanied me walking up and down the sea´s edge..freezing our toes off...but loving it none the less.. chatting to our hearts content . This was just a part of the tapestry of events during the intense six day stay on my wonderful birth island of Guernsey, jewel of the sea!

Talk about that shaken down, pushed together feeling, by some miracle of time warp, we managed to fit in an abundance of visits and activities that exceeded the limits of a 24 hour day I am just sure of it!

The motive of our trip (I went with my sister), was to celebrate my brother´s 25th Wedding Anniversary, but naturally you combine it with catching up with family and friends and visits to sights that only are retained in your memory, as much as you can. Can you believe that I have lived away from the island now for 25 years!!!!

We enjoyed some lovely meals and fellowship which felt so rich you could have drowned us in the abunance we felt with those who shared their time with us. How important relationships are!

Sadly my camara and I had a falling out during my stay in Guernsey and I didn´t manage to get any pics while I was there... (Grr...grr) So I am glad that Prodigal daughter had hers to capture at least, our antics on film!

My mum was overjoyed by having us there and we had sleeping arrangements like the story of Goldilocks and the tree bears! There definitely was a Papa´s bed, Mama´s bed and Baby´s bed thing going on!

My mum lives in retired housing and there is just one room up and one down plus kitchen and bathroom, so we all squashed into the one bedroom with a normal bed...high and comfortable... that was for mum. Then came the camp bed a little lower, not the less with springs ...that was for my sister. Finally came my bed..... (and yep, you guessed it....) which was a thin mattress on the floor!!! Hmm........ there is something to say for status quo in my house! hahahah! But we had a good laugh and I know how important it is for my mum that we are all together even if I did envy her bed sometimes!!!

My sister and I need to take two flights to get to Guernsey, which naturally means that the travelling swallows up those days. Something interesting happened while waiting at the airport here to catch our flight to Gatwick.

My sister, who teaches English was called up then and there by her boss offering her another job teaching English in a company. She declined saying that the hours were impossible for her and after a few pleasantries, hung up. After a second´s thought I felt that this was a job reaching out for me. Why?

Because the last couple of weeks, several people had mentioned about doing english classes and I wasn´t sure if I could do that so I had brushed it off.

To be honest, I was feeling insecure about my abilities and didn´t savour the idea of a new challenge! But I was feeling that God was tapping on that insecurity door, and offering me His help to face the challenge...

Now here was a job knocking at my door, and I felt it was the Lord saying "Why not?" I knew I didn´t really have a reason to say no, so I told my sister to call back right then and say that I would do it. It was only for 4 hours a week, so I knew it couldn´t be that bad!!!!

The day after we returned from Guernsey, I had an interview and the job was mine....and I started this week. And you know what.... I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT!

I can´t believe I am getting paid to do this! I enjoy it so much and everyone around me seems to be nodding their heads knowingly, saying, "We told you so!!!" and thinking..."Why did she take so long to get it?"

I go one hour a day

just 20 mins away, and teach Business English to the staff of a electrics company and have a blast doing it. I also feel so happy to be able to contribute (even though just a little) to our financial situation without sacrificing being with the family.

I AM BLESSED.

I spend quite a bit of time preparing for the classes, but I know that this investment will get less and less. Yet I even enjoy preparing for the class!!! I love making my students laugh and have a good time. My theory is that if they are having fun, they WILL learn....

Thanks for sharing my joy! I know many of you have been walking the process with me!

A matter of perspective.

2008-04-22T15:16:00.005+02:00

Yesterday I was reading one of my old collections of Reader´s Digests and came across this little dittie:-

"I had been Sports Editor of the Port Chester, N.Y., Daily Item only a few weeks when my wife and I went to the movies in downtown Port Chester. The house lights were still on as we walked down th aisle and the 13 or 14 people scattered throughout the theatre turned towards and began to applaud. I was stunned. Even though my daily sports column included a photo of me, I had no idea I had become so popular in such a short time.

When the moive was over, one of the patrons came over and vigorously shook my hand. "I´m very flattered that all you people recognize me, " I told him. "I´m really amazed and honoured."

"I don´t know about that," he said, puzzled. "All I know is that a few seconds before you and your wife walked in, they announced that unless there were at least 15 customers in the theatre, the wouldn´t show the moive!!""

Isn´t that precious? I just laughed and laughed when I read this and I began to ponder how important the role perspective plays in our lives!

This newspaper reporter had a certain perspective about what was going on and interpreted the situation from that stand point. It´s very funny to note that what he thought was the reason for the applause couldn´'t have been further from the truth could it?

One could conclude that our perspectives can often not be based on truth, and therefore the conclusions we often draw can be erroneous. Our perspective is based often only on part of the truth and not the whole picture.

perspective
noun

1.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.; "consider what follows from the positivist view" [syn: position]
2.
the appearance of things relative to one another as determined by their distance from the viewer

I am sure many of you have seen the movie Ratatouille and the part when the food critic Anton orders some perspective and the poor waiter stands there dumb founded wondering what on earth he is talking about.

Perspective is key when forming our ideas and opinions about where we are at, where we will go and what we will do. Our perspective plays a major role in how we afront difficulties and walk through life. It can be a make or break of many situations. It has the ability to rise above what we see. It´s interesting that our perspective is determined by DISTANCE or POSITION.

Working in a team gives us the posibility of having different perspectives and to view any given situation from all angles. The bible talks about there being wisdom in a multitude of counsellors and I believe that is what it´s conveying.

There is also reference to being in heavenly places with Christ Jesus...being up there with him and seeing our lives from His perspective. Placing distance between us and our problems can be the first step to gaining a truthful perspective on the whole.

1 Corinthians 13:12 says

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

Now we see in part...our perspective on this earth is limited, but God´s is not. He has the whole perspective from all positions and He wants to guide us.

Let us then be encouraged to do as it says in Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the LORD with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding................ (to your own perspective!!!!)

Train chugging down the tracks of life!

2008-04-21T23:13:00.012+02:00

My wise mother always says, "When it rains, it pours!!" (a little different from the title of the book I am reading lately!!!) She´s right of course, as mothers tend to be; and I find myself running from one thing to the other, finding that everything tends to happen all at once! I am meeting all array of demands and delights that seem to be connected like the wagons of a train chugging down the tracks of life!

My dh and I have been involved once again, in a yearly retreat we help organize for missionaries & pastors. This requires all types of coordination and preparation with our main role centering on leading worship.

We updated our repetoir with several new songs, which required some designated time before hand to do that, but which is a occupation that I enjoy! I love this retreat, because I love being involved in blessing others.... It´s so amazing that God allows us the priviledge of being his hands and feet to those around us, even more so to those serving the Body of Christ.

All 3 kids were placed in 3 diffrent homes, with their 3 different suitcases and information as to our whereabouts and contact numbers in case of emergencies!!!! That required major organizational skills on the part of my brain, which often isn´t up to par! That aside, everything went well and without hiccups and we returned Sunday evening tired but fulfilled from our four days away.

Now I have two days to unpack, wash clothes (from all 5 of us!!!) , plus prepare some meals for when I am away and re pack to leave Wednesday for GUERNSEY with my sister to celebrate my brother´s 25th Wedding Anniversary!

I am soooooooooooooooo excited. It´s been a year since my last visit and even though we will only be there for 6 days I am going to soak up the local colour like it´s going out of style! I will also get to be with a bloggy friend that I haven´t seen for years as well as my pastor and his wife which is going to be so great!

Choosing clothes to take on any trip is always a challenge for me... the actual packing is the easy part. Feeling comfortable in my skin is one thing, feeling comfortable in my clothes is entirely another! So tomorrow I will face that mountain! I have some final errands to run and a horseriding class for No 3 so tomorrow should be a busy day!

Actually no3 stayed home today, because she had a tummy ache and her foot started hurting again. I do believe though that she was feeling anxious about me leaving again after just being away, and I figured that there was a little of "Mummitus" going about too. So we cuddled together to watch Ice Age on the sofa and play a good game of Monopoly to fill up our emotional tanks!

I find having many activites back to back somewhat disconcerting, espeically the days in between activities. It leaves me feeling a little lost and like a person in transit at the airport. Especially if the acitivities have a high level of emotional and spiritual content. I am trying to just walk through it with peace and consistency and keep focusing in on God, that He is the same, no matter which wagon I am jumping into next!

Looking forward to catch up with you all again soon!

Quiz

2008-04-21T21:14:00.002+02:00

Wow, You're a Labrador Retriever!
Labrador Retriever
The Caretaker
Your family is what makes you tick, and you never "flea" from an opportunity to hang out with the whole gang. A family picnic complete with hot dogs, deviled eggs and a refreshing swim in the lake is hard for you to stray from. Your sparky temperament and dogged intelligence mean you are not only a blast to hang out with, but great to work with as well. Your close pals appreciate your patience and forgiveness, knowing you'd rather let sleeping dogs lie than dwell on the mishaps of the past. Your dashing good looks may one day lead to a modelling career, if only you can tame the unfortunate clumsiness that sometimes causes you to go flailing from the catwalk. Learn more »
FAMOUS LABRADOR RETRIEVERS: Bill Cosby, Jackie Onassis, Dr. Phil, David Beckham
LIKELY PROFESSIONS: Doctor, Sales Executive, Teacher

I saw this over at Mari´s and thought it was really good!

6 word memoir meme

2008-04-21T16:04:00.004+02:00

I was tagged by Prodigal daughter

for this Meme

The Rules:

1. Write your own Six-Word Memoir.

2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you want.

3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to the original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere.

4. Tag at least five more blogs with links.

5. Leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.

At the scent of water - LIFE!

I would like to invited anyone of you who read my blog to feel free to join in this meme.

Mum & Daughter Sleepover

2008-04-05T20:37:00.012+02:00

My dh has been away for a teacher´s training all week(get´s back this pm) and so we pulled in the doublemattress from my bedroom into the frontroom and made ourselves comfortable.

Friday night my daughter and I decied it would be fun to spend the night in the front room and sleep in front of the chimney, watch movies and eat goodies! (No 1 Son was downstairs with two of his friends for a sleepover, and son no 2 was spending the night at a friends house!!!)

Actually you soon learn that the word sleepover is pretty much a contradiction in terms as one rarely gets any sleep....I think we should rename it "wake over" or something!!!

Anyway, back to me and my daughter. We watched one of our favourite movies of late called R.V. with Robin Williams ...it´s got a good message and is full of laughs!

We played the card game "fish" .. which has become a new favourite for my Daughter, but an old time game for me as I used to play with my Mum all the time. (Now that´s going back a bit!!!)

We ate Reese's mini cups (great for the diet!!!) that my adopted Dad sent me from the US and took some photos!

These are our feeties.... and you can get a glimpse of the chimney...lovely eh!

Jessie took this of the two of us and you can already see that I am tired and we had just begun! To finish off our "wake over" in the morning my daughter had a nice hot chocolate with marshmellows and I had a nice cup of decaf tea!

Hope

2008-04-04T16:36:00.010+02:00

This is the same tree we harvested so many cherries two years ago. Click here to see!

"A man can live about

fourty days without food,

three days without water,

eight minutes without air...

But only one second without HOPE!"

Holly Wagner

"When it pours, He reigns!"

I feel the hope that is reflected in this Cherry tree. I am blossoming, but not because I forced my self to have life. No. It is a gift from God. It has been a cold, dark winter, where there was no sign of life nor beauty! But God has decided to bring spring...to bring life and hope to this tree.

Before the cherry´s begin to appear the tree will have to go through several phases. The blossoms are just a sign of things to come. A promise to hold on to. Hope for the future.

Here´s a close up!

God is placing seeds of hope in my heart, but then there has to come leaves, fruit and then harvest. God is in the timing of the process and my part pivots on my obedience!

Psalm 25:3

No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame.

Hope is the feeling we have, that the feeling we have, is not permanent.

~Mignon McLaughlin,

Can you see my shadow?

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

The Rescuing Hug

2008-03-27T08:43:00.002+01:00

(click on pic to see bigger)

Sweet Tired Cat

2008-03-27T07:17:00.001+01:00

This is what you call resting in the arms of the Lord and not being anxious about anything!!!!

When it pours, He reigns!

2008-03-26T16:07:00.002+01:00

My dearest Cos Karen, sent me this book and I just started delving into it yesterday and I have been blessed and couldnt wait to share this nugget of gold I found even within the first few pages! ( italics my own)

"When you encounter a storm, don´t take it personally. Some storms might be of our own making - our own bad choices-but plenty occur simply because we are alive on planet Earth.

Storms come to the good and the bad, to the just and the unjust...they come to us all. And storms are not optional, they are part of the curriculum of life. They are not "electives," nor are they necessarily punishment for something we or someone else has done wrong. They are essential elements for our growth.

In 1991, scientists created an artificial enviornment in Oracle, Arizon, called Biosphere 2 and lived inside it for two years. Inside this self-sustaining community, the scientists created a number of mini-ecosystems, including a desert, a rain forest, and even an ocean. They simulated nearly every weather element except wind.

After a while the effects of their windless enviornment became apparent. A number of trees bent over and even snapped. Without the stress of wind to strengthen the wood, the trunks grew weak and could not hold their own weight.

Like it or not, we have to admit that weathering storms builds our strength..."

"There is greatness within you, and it becomes apparent as you go through your storm."

"May I suggest, that the facts are not nearly as important as the truth. To make it through the storms. our lives must be built on TRUTH and not just facts."

"We are changed, transformed, when our minds are renewed, not necessarily when the circumstances change."

Example

".....Finding out that you were unwanted or unnamed at birth could certainly throw you. This is a real sotrm and it happened to Christine. But honestly it didn´t knock Christine off course. Why? Because the facts concerning her birth didn't change the truth of her life.

The facts of her birth: unnamed and unwanted.

The truth: formed by God, wonderfully created, and a loved-beyond measure daughter of the King!"

I was especially blessed by these last quotes and the difference between facts and truth. Often we say...,"You just have to look at the facts - they speak for themselves! Facts are real, but we must not confuse them with TRUTH! I really could relate to this with some of my storms and I hope that it is a blessing to you too. Better yet, buy the book!

The eye of the hurricane

2008-03-24T18:49:00.005+01:00

As I have been commenting in the last posts, God has, in his love, bought me to a place of peace in the midst of inner and outer battles.

Like I said, arriving here was anything but a bed of roses, and in this place of surrender there is no contention, no anxiety....but rather a sweet, sweet presence of God.

As I have been contemplating these things, I was reminded about the structure of hurricanes.

Hurricane winds blow in a counterclockwise spiral around the calm, roughly circular center called the eye. In the eye, which is roughly 20 to 30 miles wide, it is relatively calm and there is little or no rain. The eye is the warmest part of the storm.

Surrounding the eye is the eyewall, a wall of thunderclouds. The eyewall has the most rain and the strongest winds of the storm gusting up to 225 mph (360 km/h) in severe storms.

Right now it´s as if God has led me to the eye of a hurricane. It´s calm. Even though all around me the storm continues I am in a calm because I am in God´s eye.

In Deuteronomy 32:10 it says "He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. "

Figuratively the term apple of his eye is something, or more usually someone, cherished above others.

It seems that God has a knack of leading his cherished ones into the desert so that He can show his love for us, prune us and speak tenderly to us.

Hosea 2:14
Darby Bible Translation

Therefore behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak to her heart.

English Revised Version

Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.

"That is why I'm going to win her back. I will lead her into the desert. I will speak tenderly to her.

In this hurricane, in this storm or wilderness if you will... I am in a place of peace, because God is speaking tenderly, comfortably to my heart. It isn´t a place you stumble across or discover on a map and make it your summer vacation destination. No, it is a place that God leads you to in His timing,and in His love, because you are the apple of his eye.

Meme Grandeur!

2008-03-24T11:59:00.005+01:00

I saw this fun Meme over at my cos Karen and thought it would be a good one!!!

1. WHO WERE YOU NAMED AFTER?
My name is Alison and I was named after the Alison on a show called Payton Place that my Mum loved to watch!!!

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

During a prayer time with my 4 favourite ladies.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?

Yes actually I do. I believe that a person´s handwriting reflects alot about them. I don´t know what I think about doctors!!!!
I remember that my handwriting changed so much when I was at school that I feared I would never be able to write anything the same or even do a signature the same twice in a row to obtain a bank account!!!!

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?

I would say Lamb I think!

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?

Yes 3. Two teenage boys and a 9 yr old daughter who thinks that she´s a teenager!!!

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?

Yes I think so.... I can be quite a lot of fun!!!!

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Nope...but I do enjoy a bit of Irony in jokes or for the sake of emphasis...hahah

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes I don´t like parting with any kind of body piece!!!!

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?

I would like to be that brave, but I know that I could never take the jump!!!!!

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE CEREAL?
Hmm..... Muesli or anything along that line.... I especially like porridge though!

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?

Yeah of course... couldn´t get them off other wise.....

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?

Yes I think in some ways I am strong.... I mean I have been through natural childbirth 3 times and have had several root canals.... that must make for something! I have learnt 2 foreign languages and have lived in different countries.... that makes me a little bit strong I guess!

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ICE CREAM?
Now this is easy.... I just LOVE a good vanilla icecream! Yes I know you scream with horror especially with all the available flavours under the sun...but hey..it´s the truth!

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Their people skills.

15. RED OR PINK?
neither... give me brown or black any day!

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVOURITE THING ABOUT YOU?
I often see the glass half empty.....and I can be quick to imagine the worst!!!

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
This obviously requires the person to not bet around. so I would say my Dad. I really miss him and I miss my mum and brother because they live in Guernsey! I miss my cats too.
This is laila

18. WHAT COLOUR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?

I am wearing black jeans and slippers!

19. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?

Porridge!!!

20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?

Classical guitar CD

21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOUR WOULD YOU BE?

brown!!!!

22. FAVOURITE SMELLS

Vanilla, the sea, the ground after the rain!

23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?

My mum!

24. FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH?

I like ice skating and gymnastics, but I love a good team sport...footballl, basketball, pretty much all those kinds of things

25. HAIR COLOUR?
brown...but usually ends up going redish!

26. EYE COLOUR?
Brown

(what brown again..??? man this is getting repetative)

27. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No. And it´s a good job too because I just can´t stick anything in my eye for love nor money!

28. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS
Happy Endings.

29. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

The other Boleyn Girl. Loved it... man that Henry VIII was an interesting and fickle character.

30. WHAT COLOUR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?

Black

31. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer (but I'm more of a Spring/Autumn kind of girl)

32. HUGS OR KISSES?

Actually I have renamed my hugs... squeezes.... I am a big fan of giving a good squeeze and sing Squeeze as I do so!!!

33. FAVOURITE DESSERT?
Hey I am not fussy.... I am pretty much a gonner to most deserts!

34. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?

The Five love languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman

Overcoming Life´s Disappointments by Harold s. Kushner

When it pours He Reigns by Holly Wagner

35. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Lufhansa Cargo advertising!

36. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? the news and a travel programme ( boy do I sound like a real hip perosn!)

37. FAVOURITE SOUND?

The Sea lapping on the shore, the whistle my honey makes when he walks through the door!,A kettle boiling ready to make tea and the phone ringing when my favourite friends call..

38. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?

Oh definitely the Beatles. I grew up on this music and played it with my bro and dad in our own band.....great memories!

39. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Hawaii.

40. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Making people laugh

41. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Guernsey Channel Islands.

Photos to bring us up to date!

2008-03-22T16:10:00.009+01:00

FEBRUARY

This hotel, in the heart of Germany, was the setting of a couples retreat that took the risk (!!!!) to invite my honey and I to lead the worship in February from 22nd-24th! Why was it a risk? Because we hadn´t lead worship in German since we left 17 years ago and it was a major challenge for us to get back into the German songs etc. God as always came shinning through our weakness and it was a time of real blessing.We reconnected with a part of us that had been "dormant" all these years and also rekindled some very dear and precious relationships.

We were so happy that time allowed us the privilege to drive past the apartment we lived in 20 years ago during our 3 year stay in Germany! Our one bedroom apartment was right underneath the roof the two windows on the left in this house, which accommodated 4 other apartments and both a pharmacy and a bakery! Very practical right!!!

MARCH

March 1st National Day of Prayer in Madrid Centre and we were there... It was a powerful time.
Me and my dear friend with our dark sunglasses and prayerful hearts!!!

Paella Picnic in our back garden on Sat15th with Karen´s family (you have been praying for her mum who recently passed away) and my sister´s family... It was such a lovely day!

This is the Paella Dish that my wonderful hubby prepared on Thursday 20th for our Bernabé Team Meeting (a retreat we help organize for Pastors and S. American Missionaries working in Spain) together will all our kids.... 20 in total!

This is us after enjoying the Paella and fellowship in our back garden....(the kids had vanished!!!!)

Well just a little taste of some things we have been up to!

All to Jesus I Surrender

2008-03-13T13:41:00.001+01:00

oopps erased it by mistake!!

He leads me beside the quiet waters

2008-03-11T13:37:00.010+01:00

He leads me beside the quiet waters, He restores my soul

Ps 23: 2b,3a

In spite of struggles, pain, questions and failure, God continues to be GOOD and to be GOD!

In the midst of my failures, my sin, & the failures of others, I can only come back to the truth that God is good all the time.

Life sucks... it sometimes stinks and stings, but I can see God´s hand because these very things have forced me to focus on Him. To reach out for Him as focusing on anything else leads to despair and desperation.

I have reached places in my soul, in my life and experience which I have so feared to reach yet here I am. I can do nothing but just drop everything and reach out to HIM.

In this place of death to self I become free. I am bound to only be concerned with what God thinks, His expectations and for His will to be done in me and those I love.

If only I had reached my end before now. I would surely have discovered this sweet place sooner! "He leads me beside the quiet waters....He restores my soul..."Yes, indeed, the road that lead me here was painful, but I have re-discovered a priceless treasure , I have re-discovered God.

I have embraced afresh my first love, that I had lost somewhere in trying to reach my plans and dreams. In this place of surrender I have seen God plant seeds of hope. How can this be? It makes no sense and has no logic. How can pain lead me here?

Because I have found delight in God alone. How simple...how sweet. To once again hand over the keys of my heart and give up controlling my world. I am
singing with the hymnist:

I surrender all
I surrender all
All to thee my blessed saviour
I surrender all.

Check out video above.

Karen´s Mum

2008-03-03T21:33:00.004+01:00

I just wanted to let all of you who have been praying for Karen´s mum, that she sadly passed away today at 3:00pm (15:00) in a hospital in Madrid.

The last few weeks have been very tiring for Karen with her mum being in and out of hospital and all that that entails both physically and emotionally. Karen and her sisters/family will continue to need your prayers as they walk through the mourning process.

Sadly, Karen lost her Father barely two years ago, so these have been very intensive months/years culminating in her mother´s passing. I´m sure she would greatly appreciate your prayers and comments of comfort and support.

Thanks so much to all of you.

There are no ugly women!

2008-02-25T22:06:00.004+01:00

This photo was taken at a competition in June 2006. The competition was between 9 women for best makeover. They had every possible beauty treatment available to them over a period of 12 hours before the contest.Conclusion - there are no ugly women * (see below), only poor women.... If you had the money....Good Grief!!! The woman 2nd from the left won the contest.

click on the picture to enlarge.

***** Added later

I am like most of you and go for the natural look myself....but the reason I liked this so much is because you can see that ordinary people can look like movie stars after all the make up and air brushing..... Remember not all what we "see" is real and we must not let ourselves be influenced by these images. Our self esteem and worth are based on other things......

Growth

2008-02-19T15:47:00.003+01:00

Learn from Nature. Patience and perseverance brings its own rewards

I believe

2008-02-19T10:27:00.003+01:00

I have a new bloggy friend Debbie where I found this lovely prose and just had to share it with you. She says she found it on the web!

I believe - A Birth Certificate shows that we were born; a death certificate shows that we died; pictures show that we lived!
I believe - That just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.
I believe - That we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change.
I believe - That no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I believe - That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
I believe - That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.
I believe - That it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
I believe - That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I believe - That you can keep going long after you think you can’t.
I believe - That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
I believe - That either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I believe - That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I believe - That money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I believe - That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up.
I believe - That sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

I believe - That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.
I believe - That it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I believe - That no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn’t stop for your grief.
I believe - That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I believe - Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different
I believe - That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don’t even know you.

I believe - That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.
I believe - That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
I believe - That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.
I believe - The happiest people don’t have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

“The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.”

How Can I Keep From Singing?

2008-02-18T14:47:00.002+01:00

This song has been a real blessing and I wanted to share it.... A dear friend has just introduced me to Chris Tomlin!!!

Another update on Karen´s mum

2008-02-17T22:50:00.001+01:00

Just a quick note to those who haven’t heard yet that Mum is back in hospital. The GP thought it would be good to rule out the possibility of a blood clot on the lungs and sent us to A&E yesterday. They decided to keep her in as she has a lot of liquid in her lungs, low oxygen levels in the blood, and is very tired and short of breath. The emergency doctor said the worst thing at the moment is her heart.

She has been put on the Medical Oncology ward and will have another CAT scan on Monday and a test to see whether she has a blood clot on the lung, although they don’t think this is likely.

My sister Suzanne arrives here tomorrow evening with some documents from Mum’s chest specialist in the UK. Marilynn is due to arrive next Friday, but is wondering whether to change her flight and come earlier. It is difficult to know really.

Love Karen

THanks for your continued prayers and support.

Update on Karen´s Mum

2008-02-11T14:49:00.001+01:00

Here´s an update from Karen´s Mum:

My Mum came home form hospital on Friday evening. She has had a bad cough over the last week and the Dr said she would be better off at home as she could catch a bad infection at the hospital. This afternoon she was breathing much better.

It has been very tiring looking after her so far, and initially I really felt I couldn’t cope. It isn’t just the practical side but also the emotional as she keeps saying how bad she feels, which then makes me wonder whether it is the cancer. On the last day in hospital I saw the oncologist, who was not very encouraging. She has looked at Mum’s CAT scan and informed me that there is fluid accumulation and swelling of the lymph glands in the right lung and fluid in the pericardial sac (around the heart). The oncologist’s initial diagnosis is that it looks malignant and Mum’s current state of health would rule out chemotherapy. However, in order to correctly assess the situation, the oncologist needs a complete case history with copies of the scans and x-rays. Specifically she needs to know what type of lung cancer was initially diagnosed and why chemotherapy was ruled out. I have to try and get all this information from the UK.

The oncologist did say she thought it would be better for Mum’s own specialist to see her, but given the other circumstances I don’t know that this will be possible – i.e. that she needs to do physiotherapy to regain mobility after the hip replacement op and that in the UK she was living on her own, which at the moment would be impossible. Also, she is still on oxygen so I would imagine that would make travelling difficult even if her general health would enable her to travel.

She has been through a lot these last five weeks and the Lord has been gracious and has spared her life. My prayer is that His purposes would be fulfilled in her life and that she would be truly aware of His presence.

Thanks again for your continued prayers, Karen.

Thanks guys for keeping Karen in prayer... she has greatly appreciate your support and comments....

The Love of Friendship

2008-02-08T16:30:00.001+01:00

I just visited my friend at her blog and came across this wonderful post and just had to share it with you!

The Love of Friendship

One day a woman's husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't anymore. No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more "just one minute." Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say good-bye, say "I love you."

So while we have it, it's best we love it and care for it and fix it when it's broken ... ... and heal it when it's sick. This is true for marriage .. and old cars ... and children with bad report cards and dogs with bad hips and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away or a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what.

Life is important, like people we know who are special. and so, we keep them close!I received this from someone who thought I was a 'keeper'! Now I'm sharing it with the people I think of in the same way.

Suppose one morning you never wake up, do all your friends know you love them?I was thinking...I could die today, tomorrow or next week, and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that needed rekindling or three words needing to be said.Let every one of your friends know you love them.

Even if you think they don't love you back, you would be amazed at what those three little words and a smile can do.And just in case GOD calls me home .... I LOVE YA!!! I'm sssoooo glad you're my FRIEND!Live today to the fullest because tomorrow is not promised.