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.

A lesson for living

2008-02-06T22:45:00.001+01:00

I found an old pile of Reader´s Digests from the year of the Ark´s landing and found this article which I felt to be very fitting for me at this time and thought it might be an encouragement to you. ...... enjoy!!

Condensed from PLUS: The magazine of Positive Thinking by Ronald Reagan
(Found in Readers Digest Magazine May edition 1990)

"Everything happens for the best," my mother said whenever I faced disappointment.

"If you carry on, one day something good will happen. And you´ll realize that it wouldn´t have happened if not for that previous disappointment."

Mother was right, as I discovered after graduation from college in 1932. I had decided to try for a job in radio, then work my way up to sports announcer. I hitchhiked to Chicago and knocked on the door of every station and got turned down every time.

In one studio, a kind lady told me that big stations couldn´t risk hiring an inexperienced person. "Go out in the sticks and find a small station that´ll give you a chance."

I thumbed home to Dixon, Ill. While there were no radio-announcing jobs in Dixon, my father said that in a sports department they were looking for a local athelte to manage it. Since Dixon was where I had played high-school football, I applied. The job sounded just right for me. But I wasn´t hired.

My disappointement must have shown. "Everything happens for the best," Mom reminded me. Dad offered me the car to drive 70 miles to the Tri-Cities. I tried WOC RAdio in Davenport, Iowa. The program director, a wonderful Scotsman , told me they had already hired an announcer.

As I left his office, my frustration boiled over. I asked aloud, "How can a fellow get to be a sports announcer if he can´t get a job in a radio station?"

I was waiting for the elevator when I heard the director calling, "What was that you said about sports? Do you know anything about football?" Then he stood me before a microphone and asked me to broadcast an imaginary game.

The preceding autumn, my team had won a game in the last 20 seconds with a 65 yard run. I did a 15 min buildup to that play, and the director told me I would be broadcasting Saturday´s game!!!!

On my way home, as I thought of my mother´s words: "If you carry on, one day something good will happen - something that wouldn´t have happened if not for that previous disappointment."

Feb 1 blessed us with a new niece!

2008-02-05T11:41:00.001+01:00

I have been made an Aunty once again! A new daughter for my dh´s bro was born on Feb 1st... and here are the fotos!

Update on Karen´s Mum

2008-02-05T11:05:00.001+01:00

I wanted to thank you on behalf of dear Karen, for your prayers and comforting words during this difficult process she is going through with her mum. (see my previous post) She wrote an email yesterday and I thought it would be good to share it with you and solicit your prayers again...thanks!

........" Today the doctor attempted to extract liquid from Mum’s lung to be able to analyse it and diagnose what the swelling in the lungs is. Unfortunately, she was unable to extract any liquid at all and is reluctant to try with a thicker needle. She has requested another chest x-ray to check on the amount of liquid in the lung. There is a danger of an infection returning if the liquid remains there for too long.

They are now hoping to discharge her this week, but she will need to be on oxygen at home and will continue to use the inhalers. Today we encouraged her to walk a bit further (she can’t go too far as she is attached to the oxygen on the wall) and she ventured out into the corridor, turned around and walked back to the chair. She did this twice.

She has now had the catheter removed so we are attempting to retrain her bladder and bowels – she was not incontinent during the day before hospitalisation and only of urine during the night. The staff don’t seem too confident that this is possible as she has been in diapers for five weeks now. This makes it difficult as we are constantly struggling with them to at least try. It would obviously be much better if we could get her retrained in this area before coming home.

Once discharged, Mum will come to my house and a physiotherapist will visit her for rehab. I will have to try and get a GP assigned to her at the local health centre to follow up her progress.

There is also the question of the possibility of the lung cancer having returned. At the moment, Mum is not in any condition to return to the UK and see her specialist there and the waiting list in Madrid for a specialist is very long. I am going to try and get the hospital to assign her a specialist before we leave, although I don’t know whether this is possible. It also means putting Mum in the picture about the cancer possibility whereas at the moment we haven’t told her but are concentrating on getting her mobile enough to come home.

So it is still very much up and down. I don’t know how I am going to cope once she is home, even with the help of a dear friend who has offered to come every morning to help get her up, washed and dressed. It will obviously mean a tremendous change in our lifestyle and for an indetermined period. We can only trust the Lord in all of this and look for His provision. We are all very tired but appreciate all the practical help we are getting from friends and family.

With love,

Karen "

Retreating with DH

2008-02-05T09:45:00.001+01:00

For just over a week now, my DH has been off work, which has been a real blessing.

Uually we take this "extra" days to go away for a few days, but this time it hasn´t been financially possible, so we have been enjoying the open fire in our chimney and taking a few trips here and there but making sure that we are back when the kids got out of school.

These are the moments when we really catch up with each other and enjoy some long talks and praying together. We took advantage to update our worship songs repetoire both in German (we have been invited to lead worsip at a marriage retreat in Germany at the end of this month) and in Spanish which has been a project left pending for way too long.

It does require time to sit down and embrace the new songs and learn them, but it has been a really blessing to allow God to minister to both of us... especially me. There are some new songs that I could really identify with and seem to be "annointed" for the moment.

Looking at the German songs has been a challenge as we have not led worship in German for over 15 years!!! You can say that fast, but boy it´s a long time and it's easy to feel a little overwhelmed and insecure getting back into it.

We made a head start but we still need some more time to really feel free and flow in these things.. God is gracious and treats us so tenderly.

God´s tenderness amazes me every time....catches me by surprize and humbles me. When you feel most vulnerable God meets you with His tenderness and not judgement, with grace and not critisism, and with love and not rejection. It´s the father meeting the prodigal son as he sees him "far off" and runs to meet him. Isn´t that so beautiful?

I am so glad he weighs the motives of the heart. He sees my feeble attempts to reach out for Him and stretch out for new things He meets me right there. He doesn't expect perfection before allowing me be used.... I feel that I am bathing in this truth more than ever before.

I am enjoying the fact that, as I mention in a previous post, I don't have the energy at present to worry about what people think or trying to impress anyone.... a weakness I will probably struggle with all of my life until I am completly free in heaven!!!!

I have been so tired from events that happen before Christmas, that it has left me without fight in me to prove myself if you know what I mean... which naturally is very good.

It´s what Paul talks about when he says... "...may He increase and I decrease" .... May God be more evident and real that any of my talents and abilities... which He gave me in the first place!!!!

A few days ago "Word for the day from UCB" they have been talking about gifts and character. Here is an excert taken from the daily devotion for Feb 1st:

Scriptural keys to success in life (1)
01 Feb 2008

" 'A man's gift makes room for him.' PROVERBS 18:16
Your giftedness will get you noticed, separate you from the rest of the pack

and give you a head start on others...................

"Mega-best-selling author Stephen King asserts that,

'Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented

individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.' Much of

that work takes place in your character and your private world.

Haven't you known people who should have risen to the top but didn't?

They had all the talent they'd ever need, but they didn't succeed.

Their talent made them stand out but their lack of integrity made them sit down.

Their friends, families, coaches and bosses saw their giftedness

but wondered why they kept falling short of expectations.

Their talent opened the door but their wrong choices shut it. " "

God is more interested in my character than in my gifts and talents... I want my charcter to be able to hold up my talents and this requires hard work, much purifying and heaps full of humility and recognizaton that:
without Him I can do nothing that is of value but WITH Him I can do all things! Only in God can I and do I become all He has dreamt me to be!

..have a banana!!!!

2008-02-05T09:41:00.001+01:00

You Are a Banana

You are mellow, easy going, and a total softie on the inside.People find it really easy to get along with you. You suit most tastes.
And while you're very sweet, you're not boring or ordinary.You have an attraction to the exotic, and you could show up anywhere... doing almost anything!
You are spirited, energetic, and a total kick to be around.You're also quite funny. Your sense of humor is on the goofy side, and it fits you well.

http://www.blogthings.com/whattypeoffruitareyouquiz/%22%3EWhat Type of Fruit Are You?

Son Nº Two has birthday!

2008-01-31T15:25:00.001+01:00

My Son nº 2 turned 15 yesterday!!! Amazing! We went for a walk down memory lane through the foto albums and found some really cute baby pics of him!!!! I thought you would like to see them!

Me.... a grandmother!!!

2008-01-30T15:58:00.001+01:00

I just love to catch your attention and I am sure that if I didn´t catch you with that title, the foto definitely did!!!!

Yes I have become a grandmother!!!! How? Through our dog Lady, who is now owned by dear friends who live in the North of Spain (click here for the whys and hows of THAT story!) She had four puppies: 3 girls and 1 boy! I just wanted to sahre the news and fotos with you!!!

Please Pray

2008-01-26T18:57:00.001+01:00

I can not believe that I havent considered doing this before now...but as the proverbial saying goes... "better late than never!"

Karen, a dear and beloved friend to me, has been really going through a tough time lately, (click here for more details.) and I wanted to solicit your prayers for her.

Her mother, who normally lives in England, was visiting her here , but has been in hospital for almost one month! As you can imagine this has placed a tremendous stress on her and her family. There was one day when the doctors gave her mother just hours to live.

Now she is doing much better and those of us close to her have been helping out by making food, visiting and spending the nights with her mother to give Karen a break. Nonetheless I would like to ask you to pray for her and to encourage her by dropping her a comment on her blog. I am sure she would so greatly appreciate it. After all that is what the Body of Christ is for... right??

Vistors leave, a bout of tummy bug and a birthday poem

2008-01-26T18:12:00.001+01:00

Well the last of my visitors left on Thursday morning. It was a great time. As always, hanging out with firends does good to the soul. Now it´s time to get back into a normal rythmn and catch up on things that were left undone while one enjoys the guests!

This is not a space module or far away planet, but a microscopic view of the winter"vomiting bug" that is sweeping over Europe.

Of course life wouldn't be normal if not affected by the local and foreign germ colonies and our house was no exception! A tummy germ aftected most of our inhabitants ...except for me and son nº 2!!! So that always keeps you on your toes! Especially for No 3 as she missed alot of school with "sever´s disease" last semester which put her behind a bit. This time I wanted to anticipate that and so I went to the school to pick up homework for her. I felt sorry for her because it´s so hard to concentrate when you have been throwing up and you know...the other end too! It always seems unfair to me that you have to do that when you are feeling yuk ...but hey there was no other way to keep up. She was a real trouper though... and we didn´t miss a beat and are still on top!

This is a big Birthday month in my house... 3 to be exact... The first is my dh on the 25th.

The nice thing was that on the very day the kids had no school and so we were able to go out to eat lunch all together after a nice long lie in!

It´s always a challenge to find a suitable present for my honey, and even more so when finances are tight. I wanted to do something special and decided on some prose.... Would you like to see it? Is that a yes I hear??? Okay... here it comes....

What you are to me….

You are like the sunshine in my garden
The morning dew on fields of green

Like the fragrance of freshly cut grass
You bring out the best in me

You are the moonlight in my darkest night
Forcing my fears to take their flight

You are the peacefulness that reigns at dawn
Shedding rays of colour on my way
The calming breeze on a summer’s day

You are the constant, steadfast rocks
Amidst the roaring seas of change

Oh handsome and brave stallion
How I love to ride with thee

How could I not love thee?

By AjB
Birthday 2008

So that´s what I have been up to during my absence. I continue to hold on to the Lord in the midst of present trials. Some prayers take years to get answered.... I am learning the art of holding on and not being like a spoilt child who doesn´t get want she wants when she wants. I am learning to draw nearer, nearer than before... to continue to believe and hope and to look for God in unexpected places.

The Daily Dose

2008-01-17T15:33:00.001+01:00

I was given this award by my cousin Karen @ Karen´s Ramblings and Maria @ Freetofly and if I remember correctly maybe Sharon too.

The award was originated by Xandra from Heart of Service, and here are her words for this award:

"...it's for blogs that I must read every day without fail . . . They make you laugh, cry, think and feel connected every time you read a post. They give you a thrill as you see them loading into your browser and you get an equally satisfying thrill when you see that they have commented on your blog."

I want to offer this to everyone on my blog roll... I find you all to fulfill the requirements for this award. Thanks for being great friends and for praying for me during this difficult time.

I am blessed!

More visitors!

2008-01-16T15:34:00.001+01:00

As of tomorrow I will be having more visitors so I will be busy again for a couple of days! Maybe that is why I got soooooooooo inspired today.... the creative juices were flowing to make up for the silence that will come!

For those of you visiting the blog to see my family pics...just keep going down... I added a few more posts right after I did that and that is why they are not at the top!!!

Simplicity

2008-01-16T14:42:00.002+01:00

(Translation:
I delight in simplicty
In the fullness of God´s love
And I face each day with serenity
and trust.
Simplicity)

I read this story in an old 1990's Readers Digest that I have in the bathroom.....hahaha! I just had to share it with you:

"Working at a College with a preponderance of non-English speaking students, my sister sometimes had difficulty in communicating with the newly arrived.

Once as she was enrolling a young man, she reached a standstill at the question of birth date. No matter what words or motions she used, the young man remained puzzled. Finally, a Chinese student standing nearby asked my sister, "What do you need to know?" After my sister explained, the Chinese woman turned to the young man and hummed the first few bars of "Happy Birthday to You."

His eyes lit up in recognition as he exclaimed, "May 12, 1955" The helpful student shrugged and said, "Same song, every country.""

Isn't it true that we complicate things that could be so simple? I know I do. Often I find myself trying to solve something using the most difficult approach.....like the girl trying to find out the birth date of the student. After trying all she knew to do she was at a loss...who knows what she tried before she gave up? The student who helped solve an apparently unsolvable problem, did it by singing the classic Happy Birthday to You song. So simple.

I am sure there are lots of moments when we think that there is no other way to deal with a certain difficulty and God comes along and sings "Happy Birthday to You!"

As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness. ~Henry David Thoreau

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~Leonardo DaVinci

The greatest truths are the simplest: so likewise are the greatest men. ~Augustus William Hare and Julius Charles Hare, Guesses at Truth, by Two Brothers, 1827

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. ~Hans Hofmann, Introduction to the Bootstrap, 1993

Broken Objects

2008-01-16T14:28:00.001+01:00

When the Japanese mend broken objects,

they aggrandize the damage by filling the cracks with gold.

They believe that when something's suffered damage

and has a history it becomes more beautiful.

~Barbara Bloom

Is God filling my cracks with gold when I get damaged? Does He believe that I become more beautiful after I have suffered?

Voice Of Truth - Casting Crowns

2008-01-16T11:20:00.002+01:00

For those who haven´t heard the song or for those who wanted to be reminded!!!

Casting Crowns - Voice of Truth

2008-01-16T10:44:00.003+01:00

It´s no secret to to the child of God that the "truth shall set you free" rather the secret lies in believing that truth when everything around you SCREAMS the opposite.

This song I am sure is known to most, if not all of you, and God gave me the grace to be able to translate it into Spanish and we have be able to share it on many occasions.

This past Sunday we were invited to lead worship for two services.

As you know, this is not my best moment or finest hour! To lead out when one is totally weak and hanging on by a thread is both a challenge and a blessing. A blessing you say? Yes, precisely because you have no energy left in you to worry if it will work out, or if you can do a good job! I had just gotten my voice back after the flu, so confidence in my capacity was zilge. I had no fight left in me. Whatever happened was going to be God. It was up to God.

Anyway, my DH wanted to sing this song and I knew I was going to be singing it to myself. Yes in capital letters and in red ink. I needed so badly to hear this song, more than anyone sitting there.

As I presented the song, I shared my own struggles and my desperate need to chose to believe the voice of truth rather than the screaming lies that were raging through my head. I felt naked before each one of them as I weakly pointed the way to a God who desperatly wants me and them to believe that what we are living right now is not a definition of who we are or His truth about us.

I felt nothing magical, no trumpets resounding or angels singing. I just obeyed. I just chose to sing the truth that I was not feeling. I am just hanging on ... The rubber meets the road right here and inspite of myself, God is with me. I have to stand firm in what I know to be true. This is a battle and I have to use my armour , my belt of truth to STAND FIRM. Obedience is a strong weapon in this fight.

Eph 6:13

Therefore, put on the whole armor of God,

that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and,

having done all, to stand.

family visit in fotos

2008-01-14T14:34:00.001+01:00

These fotos are from New Year´s Eve with

My darling hubby's Sister & her Hubby and other sister

in our place!

This is me pulling one of my wacky faces!

There is a really fancy Hotel called the Hotel Auditorium
on the way to the airport where they have a pianist who plays nightly all the jazz songs my dad (and his dad before him)used to play in his band. I love going there just to listen to him play and my mum and brother wanted to go too. It´s a beautiful setting for a trip down memory lane.

We all got dressed up to fit in with the 4 star standard, even the boys!

Here we all are ...the whole lot and yes there is a piano behind us somewhere!!!

Even though both my sister-in-law and I were both full of flu and cold symptoms,we made the effort togher with the others to dress up as pirates, clowns and tramps for our family Christmas party! Here are my bro and my mum! Isn´t my mum the best Charlie Chaplin you ever did see?This is at my sister´s place.

Aye mi hearties! Beware a crowd of dangerous pirates just got off the ship for some rum!!!! You can see in this pic I am totally out of it! My sister looks like a combination of Charlie Chaplin and Goldilocks!

A Holmes gathering would not be the same if it didnt include a jam session singing all the Beatles songs!

Inspite of onsuing coughs and sore throats, my sister in law and I joined the family up in the mountains for some hair-raising fun sliding down the snow.

You can see here my sister in law is not feeling so good, but she put up a good fight!

Even my mum slid down... that´s something at 75 ... I hope I will be like her!
The best bro a sis could ever have!

Holding on Part III

2008-01-10T17:00:00.001+01:00

Some more good advice that I have received during my holding on process is to get the bad stuff out of my system. Say what is going through my mind because God is not afraid to hear it.

Certainly David, who was known to be a man next to Gods heart, did not mince his words about how he felt. In many a Psalm he accuses God of abandoning him, of not hearing his cry and leaving him in the pit!

I used to do a little example about this when leading worship sometimes. The proverbial glass of water is full. It is full of all my pains, worries, anger and disappointments. Can I fill it up with Gods love and peace when it is already full? No I can't ..there is no room....not until I first empty it out and then refill it.

Likewise, I need to empty myself of my "ugliness" so that God has room to put in his peace, grace and love and most importantly....His hope. I have to make an active choice to do this....

I know that often in these situations one has not even the energy to pour out the stuff...but God in His grace and love helps to even do this.

It is the same with a festering wound. One has to make an effort to clean it out well.... purify it of puss and dirt so that it can begin with the healing process. I am right there folks. It needs a firm and yet gentle touch.

Holding on Part II

2008-01-10T16:17:00.001+01:00

When I am experiencing difficulties I naturally ask myself if there is anything I could have done to have avoided them!!! Who doesn't? That is why it is so easy to find the fault with myself!

In my present state I find myself asking the Lord to give me something to hold onto. Something practical. Even without putting words to this prayer, Naomi who left a comment on the Tulips post encouraged me to hop over to another blog. This blog belongs to my pastor back in Guernsey, who even though I have lived many years away from the island and am no longer in his congregation, continues to be a source of encouragement and support to me across the miles! His friendship and example are a great influence in my life. Eric has suffered with physical pain for the last 10 years so he knows what he s talking about when it comes to suffering. He knows what he is talking about when it comes to holding on.

Click on this and you will find some very practical, clear counsel to walk through your pain or struggle just as I did yesterday.

Here is a little quote to wet your appetite:

The phrase 'a little while' is a poignant one for me. Years ago I felt that God spoke to me and promised that after I have suffered 'a little while' then He himself will step in and heal me (see 1 Peter 5:10). I am finding that God's idea of a little while and mine are very different. So I thought I might revisit a sermon that I preached on the subject of 'God's Little While' a little while ago!
Here is the outline of what I said: In John 16 Jesus used the phrase “a little while” 7 times. He was referring to the 3 days and nights He would be in the grave before the resurrection. In Ezekiel 11:16 the phrase means 70 years. So it appears that a little while in God’s economy may not be to with a quantity of time, but rather a quality. What are the Marks of God’s Little While? · A Time When God is at Work no Matter How Dark it Appears. This was true of the dark days when Jesus was in the tomb and the years that Israel was in exile. God was working out His purposes. When we submit to God’s timetable, He is at work.
· A Time When God is Looking After His People. In Ezekiel’s day God said He was being a “sanctuary for His people”, even tho’ their own sin had led them there.
· A Time that Ends Only When God Determines. It only ends when He says it is over, but we can be absolutely sure it will end. This will come to pass.

Now isn¨t that inspiring? It gave me hope and I encourage you hop on over there and read the whole thing.....

Holding on part I

2008-01-10T10:17:00.001+01:00

I am holding on!!!! I am not kidding anyone that everything is "peachy keen", but I have been reminded during this storm, of several things. I thought that talking about them could be
helpful too.!!!! Maybe I will just get to one now...

I want to reiterate that it is always better to talk and get what is bothering us off our chest. There is a time for this...but whether it takes longer or sooner to get there...we must surely come to a place where we pour out our hearts to those near to us.

I was hurting so bad that I just could´t talk for fear of continual break down if you know what I mean. I had been crying all time and the thought of exposing my pain all over again felt like I was opening up the wound and the blood was gushing out. This was a serious state of affairs.

I thought that if I am tired of going over the same problems, my friends will be too.... they can´t help me anyway, so why bother? I just want out.... away ... a safe place alone. I didn´t want to talk about this pain any more, I had had enough and I was signing out, resigning from life....

I want a free ticket please to anywhere but here!

In cutting myself off I don´t allow those who love me to help or express their love. Yes, I know that they can´t always help change anything at that point, but they can love ON me and remind me that I am not alone.

A wounded dog will seek out a safe place to hide so that it can recover. In his pain it requires a special kind of someone to approach them as they will lash out. It´s similar with us, but the worst thing that can happen to you is to be left alone. Not only do you sink deeper into your misery, you end up dying. Seriously! You just give up. Humans need humans to survive whether we like it or not! It´s the only way out and up.(obviously God is a key player here too, but I was just exposing the human factor here!!)

I am glad I have a husband, kids, sisters, and dear friends that have pursued me, but who have also needed to know how to wait for me to come round. It´s important to know when to ask and when to simply hold still and just be by my side. It´s a hard balance and there are no 3 easy step formulas. It takes lots of love and patience, but it works!

When I opened up = it did help. It did ease the ache. I think we convince ourselves of the opposite so quickly. This is a clever strategy of the enemy whose only desire is to see God´s chosen destroyed. Yes see us dead physically, emotionally and spiritually. Any combination is fine!

Once you are alone and singled out, you are easy prey just like in the animal kingdom... That is the strategy the lion uses to pursue his prey. He seeks out the strays, the young and weak or the unprotected...those away from the herd.

It´s true that our friends and loved ones can give no easy answers, no quick deals, no one size fits all solutions.. but they can give support, understanding, comfort and company. There are little acts of kindness that can break the monotony of frustration and pain, and bring a spark of hope. That´s what the white tulips did for me. It´s crazy, but it´s true. And if God can do that for me...He will do it for you.

My friend Karen from Karen´s Korner has a quote on her blog that says, "Share the gospel and if necessary use words. " A truer word could not have be spoken. In these moments, often words are surplus. There are actions that can reach beyond the words.

I have learned again that I need to open up and reach out, especially when I am hurting. Let others love on me and care for me even if it doesn't actually change any of my circumstances or eradicate my pain. I need to know I am not alone.

White Tulips

2008-01-07T16:13:00.001+01:00

I love white tulips! A very dear friend went to great lengths to send me some because she knows I love them. She knew it would cheer my heart. It did. It still does when I look at them.

Isn´t it amazing when all around you seems dismal, a little touch of thoughtfulness can go a long, long way.

Not much in my panoroma has changed, some pain still remains. There has been a change in perspective about some things.

Sadly new struggles have appeared on the horizon for others that are close to me. Their pain far exceeds my own. This is always good as it gets the attention off oneself!!

My family has come to visit from Guernsey which has bought a lot of comfort. Sadly both my sister in law and I have been sick with the flu!

A very big thank you to all of you who have written emails of concern and for all of your prayers. They are greatly appreciated!

High Speed Train

2008-01-02T09:30:00.001+01:00

Christmas and New Year´s have passed me by.

It´s as if a high speed train would pass in front of me and I would stand there watching it from a distance only to feel a deafening silence and emptiness once the train had disappeared out of sight.

Here I stand, enveloped by the silence of the vast openess that surrounds me and all I am aware of is the ache of disappointment and resignation that resides in my heart.

An overwhelming desire to escape consumes me as my logic can no longer battle against the pain in my heart. It finds no sense to continue and no reason to fight. Year in and year out all my efforts have been futile and my results wanting. How long can the heart withstand? How long can the soul fight failure?

The Bible talks about a hope deferred making the heart sick. My heart is sick. I have not abanonded ship, but the storm is in process. I am waiting for God. I need to learn how to live with this disappointment and not let it steal my hope...although right now .....it feels like it has! Each day gives me the chance to, little by little, grasp on to God inspite of my present state of mind and soul.

I would have like to have been more my jolly self and inspire you over Christmas with light and life, but I am being true to my present state. I am trusting by faith that maybe in a few tomorrows´s my inner self with live up to God´s reality in my life.

The Canary

2007-12-30T19:38:00.001+01:00

I have never owned a canary, but my sister has one. He is your classic yellow bird with a tremendous capacity to make a lot of noise! He squeeks, squirks, sings and throws his seed all over the floor -a truly enjoyable pet!

His cage is happily situated in the kitchen where we often sit having a cup of tea and a chat. Naturually we often find ourselves engrossed in different topics of conversation only to discover that our yellow companion joins in! More often than not the bird tends to "out talk" us becoming loud and squirky or simply singing at the top of his lungs! Often we only realize this when we have raised our voices to such a pitch as to hear ourselves over the bird!!!! It´s quite funny actually even though we mutter a somewhat frustrated "shut up" under our breath!

One day, not so long ago, our dear canary friend was strangely quiet. He was still and silent inside his cage and did not join in our conversation or burst into song.

Canaries stop singing for several reasons. They may not sing if they are in the cold or if they are ill. But one of the causes that really caught my attention was that they also stop singing when the molt. This usually happens once a year during the summer and can last between 6 - 8 weeks.

The canary is loosing it´s plummage .... and stops singing. It is stripped and doesn´t find anything to sing about.

Right now I find myself feeling like that molting canary. I feel "stripped" and discouraged and have lost my song.

I wish that I wasn´t writing such a "low" post, but I can't muster what isn´t there into being and felt I needed to be transparent! I am hoping that this time of molting...which I do believe that God is using inspite of the present pain and discomfort I am living... will soon pass.

Susan Branch´s art

2007-12-18T18:31:00.001+01:00

I was sent this via email by a really good friend of mine and if you would like to see it bigger and like the artist you can click on the title to go to her web page.

God wants to help!

2007-12-18T17:03:00.001+01:00

During the Sunday Service, we were once again reminded that God wants to help us!

Doesn´t it sound basic, straight forward and simple? Yes certainly! But is it not a hard and subsequent difficult action for us to actually count on God´s help for every situation? I know that it is for me! So often I shift back into "Sara mode" and off I go to start looking for a Hagar to get pregnant and get my problem solved and the show on the road!

Isaiah 41: 14 goes on to say:

Do not be afraid, O worm (hey...what kind of an adjective is that?) Jacob,

O little (hmm...what are we trying to say here????) Israel,

For I myself will help you.

Declares the Lord,

Your Redeemer,

the Holy One of Israel.

(oh my god is sooooo big...does anyone out there remember that children´s song???)

Is this not comfort and assurance enough? Why is it that we so quickly fall into doubt and despair? I really wish that I could get this once and for all... you know, like not go round the proverbial mulberry bush again and again because I don´t get it in my head!!

God not only "has" to help me.... he wants to help me and he backs it up with the full weight of His name, His character and His very existence!

It doesn´t take too many guesses to discover who would love me to forget God´s goodness. Who wants me to doubt His love at every turn. The bible teaches us:

Yet, even considering the reality of the spiritual battle that longs for me to deny God I am free and able to turn to God´s word and see for myself what the truth is and reach out for him. I know that God´s help is there for me today and in every and any situation. Whatever I am facing, I am not alone and God wants to help me.

Not according to my conditions, but rather according to His love and my wellbeing at heart conditions! They are always the best condtions!

If I look back over this past year, I can see how God has helped me. No it hasn´t always been void of pain and tears, but I have never been alone. God has ALWAYS been with me. In retrospect I can see that actually God made ways where I thought there were none.

1 Sam 7:12

"Thus far has the Lord helped us!"

Has God not indeed, helped us until now???? Can you not agree and look back with me and see that truly the Lord has helped you thus far????

God does not hand life to us on a silver platter. I don´t know where we get this idea that all things should slide like silk in our lives, it just isn´t biblical. God not only warns us of trials and tribulations he tells us not to be surprized when they come. He didn´t give the promised land to the Israelites without teaching them first to fight the giants! With God´s help they conquered numero battles that logically they should have lost just based on numbers!!! God doesn´t want wimps he wants warriors !!!

He promises to be our personal trainer and help us!

He trains us and purifies our characters, humbles and hunes us where we still think that somewhere along the road we know what we are doing or trust in our own strength and capacity.

Only in complete surrender are we strong and secure and only in trust and confidence do we rest in His everlasting arms.

Whatever your giant today.... remember that the Holy one of Israel will help you!

Saturday Night Gospel Concert

2007-12-17T19:13:00.001+01:00

(this photo is from google!)

On Saturday night my husband, daugher and I attended a gospel concert and I was just so blessed.

I have always had a very great admiration for the wonderful gift of music and annointing God has bestowed on our Afro American brothers and it doesn´t cease to stirr my soul when I hear them sing! Not only is there power in their voices, there is power in their spirits. How can one remain seated and keep still when they start to sing? Nope...not me!

The special guest singer to join the gospel choir for this Christmas Concert was Charrisse Nelson-McIntosh, and if you click on the title you will be lead to her myspace and there are several songs and videos you can hear for yourself!

There was a guy called Amos who also lead out in some songs He was inspiring not just to hear but also to watch! He was smiling and moving... just like the bible says with body, mind and soul, he was giving his everything in song to the Lord. You know they have these amazing eyes and capactity of expression that few, or better said, no white people possess!

I contemplated the history of slavery as they sang, how these men and women suffered, yet still they found Jesus. Not only did He comfort them, but He was able to make them free within their bondage. Free to be content within the circumstances until at last indeed they became real free men. Boy are there some truths in there for us.

Not only do I enjoy this style of music, it goes deeper than that. When I left I felt like I had been renewed from thei nside out!

Intelligence Finally Explained!!!

2007-12-17T19:07:00.001+01:00

The Wedding!

2007-12-08T09:24:00.001+01:00

Ten Things Meme

2007-12-07T13:50:00.001+01:00

You are probably all wondering where I had gone! Well it´s been a busy 3 weeks and I thought that by answering this meme... I might cover might cover most of it!!!!

Ten things I did this weekend

Attend my Sister-in-Law´s wedding. Actually we have been building up for this wedding for the last couple of weeks!!!! (buying clothes, etc....)It was a beautiful wedding...fotos next post!!!
Drive down and back to Sevilla for the wedding (6hrs there and 6 hrs back!!!)
Pack and unpack for trip (including snacks and wedding outfits...and not forgetting the iron just in case the shirts needed a touch up!)
Arrived in Sevilla in time for the "meet the in laws" meal. We were 18 I think Including 4 kids and 3 pregnant women!!!! That was really fun!
Sing two songs during the wedding cermony!
Get dressed up and do a skit with my sister for the wedding party!
Co-ordinate other entertainment at the wedding party.
Act as translator into german and host for a good friend who attended the wedding!
Clean up house where we were kindly able to stay during the wedding, leaving a thank you card and gift!
Enjoy!

Nine things on my agenda last week

Prepare the house for visitors ( a friend from Germany and Stephan´s bro and family from the USA) downstairs in guest apartment: cleaning, making beds etc

Major clean up in our home!

Prepare and practice skit with my sister for the wedding

Prepare meals for visitors

Keep up with the kids homework

Wash and iron clothes to be worn at the wedding

Enjoy visitors! Especially our little niece who is 2 who came from L.A.

Grocery Shopping

Take kids backwards and forwards to their activities

Eight shows I've watched

Not had much time to watch shows really but if I did have a bit it would be:

I watch Westwing
I love Lucy
Home Improvement

Ratatouille (recently attained in the USA!)

Seven things I cooked

Ikea Meat balls with sauce, roast potatoes and peas

pizza

Spaghetti

Zuchinni Soup

Pumpkin Soup

Salads

pancakes!

Six things I read

The bible
Tim Taylor´s book... (I don´t recommend it as it´s quite rude... a big disappointment)
Mosiac by Amy Grant... I am a little disappointed in the book (man am I negative today or what??!)because I thought it would be more of biography, but it is just little anecdotes really. I guess it wasn´t what I expected
My friends blogs!
Morning and Evening Daily Readings by C.H. Spurgeon
Emails!

Five reasons to be happy

All my basic needs are well taken care of
I have a husband who loves me and tells me all the time!
Family
Friends
Tea exists!

Four things I need to buy

Not much....finances are tight!!! Just the bare necesities!

Three people I saw this weekend

Wow I saw about ten million people at the wedding! Is that good enough???

Two things I am thankful for right now

To have my little niece from America here with her mum and dad! That´s like 3 things...you guys are going to be wondering about my mathematical skills!!!

One person I'm tagging:

Sharon!!!!

Sever´s Disease, Visitors and a Wedding

2007-12-05T18:42:00.001+01:00

What do all these things have in common? My life these past three weeks!!!

What is Sever´s Disease?

It started two weeks ago with visits to the doc for Nº 3's heel that was getting worse rather than better. She had been using crutches for over a month! After several visits to the pediatrician, 2 visits to the hospital and 3 different diagnosis.. we now fianlly found the real problem. She has Sever´s Disease.

It sounds bad, but in laymans terms it is called the growing disease. The bones grow at a faster rate than the surrounding muscles, tendons etc thus causing tension and lots of pain. It seems that this tends to happen to active children, but not always. It´s like acne I guess..some get it and some don't but we all pass through puberty ! The heel bone is the first bone to finish growing and often is one that causes most issues, although it can happen in the knees too. The good news is that it isn´t serious, the bad news is there is nothing they can do except to give anti-inflammatories and time!!!! Like until she is 15!!!!!!

It was thought at one point she had a calcuim build up of sorts that was rubbing against the bone. This would have needed to be removed surgically. So emotionally, we have gone up and down... plus all the time running around to docs and hospitals and waiting for hours has been very draining.

Visitors

Due to the wedding we were excited about having family and friends visit on their way to the wedding which was taking place in Sevilla. This implied of course cleaning up and preparing for them so that their stay would be as enjoyable as possible.

A WEDDING!

My dearest Sister-in-law was getting married ! Yahoo! We are all so excited that this long awaited event had finally arrived! All dressed up to the hilt and enjoying a wonderful celebration of their vows under the beautiful Seville Sun in the heart of Andalucia, Southern Spain! Fotos to come!

Hey Bonnie, guess who I´m with!

2007-11-19T14:13:00.002+01:00

These are Bonnie´s parents for those of you who don't know! They are lovely people and always have us over when we visit our friends in Denver! It´s easy to know where Bonnie get´s her cooking skills from and the sense of humor...her Dad!

We had a lovely time there celebrating Jimmy's birthday (2 years in a row now!!) and wished Bonnie could have been there too! I can´t believe how good this foto turned out because I was totally jet lagging at this point!

Another quiz

2007-11-18T18:41:00.001+01:00

Alison - 2 heaping tablespoons of romance - 2 teaspoons of humor - 1/4 cup of sensitivity Serve hot.
'What is your personality recipe?' at QuizGalaxy.com

The 5 things Meme

2007-11-15T16:11:00.001+01:00

1. Five things found in my room (I have changed this to 5 things I love in my house!!!!)

A winter's supply of wood!

I love teddies!

photos and Knicknacks

Autumn colours!
My Bed!!!!

2. Five things I have always wanted to do

White water rafting
fly a bi-plane
Travel (yes more!!!)
Sing jazz with my own band for a living!
Write for a living!

3. Five things found in my bag(purse)

ibuprofen tablets
Big red chewing gum
keys (even though I can never find them!!!)
lip balm
notebook and pens

4. Five things in my purse (wallet)

money (hopefully!)
Medical insurance cards
drivers liscense
bank cards
video club membership

5. Five things I'm currently into

The Westwing Series( just got it 2nd hand and I'm really getting into it!!!!)
Enjoying nature
Reading Amy Grant´s book Mosiac
Reading "Meet the Mertzes" the other I love lucy couple
Drinking Tea!
Spending time with friends!

5 people I am tagging:

Beating the System

2007-11-14T16:10:00.001+01:00

One of the perks of my dh's job is that we can fly with discount.

The not so wonderful part of the deal is that we have to travel standby. That means that you travel if there is space. It means that you never really know if you are going to get on the plane until you are actually sitting in the seat and have your seatbelt fastened!!!
You learn to check for the emptiest flights and fly when everyone else is NOT! Reality is though, that all of a sudden a plane can get full and as well as a full plane can get empty from one minute to the next, so you can plan but that plan can change in minutes. (this reminds me of the verse that says that man plans his way but it is the Lord who charters his course!!!!) Naturally paying customers have priority over us!!!! When we flew to Denver, the other day, we were the last 5 people to get on the plane and had to sit in the remaining seats that were dotted all over the cabin. I did manage to persuade the passenger in the seat next to my daughter to change with me, but that isn´t always possible.

The boys are older and are aware that this can happen and it doesn´t bother them so much, but no 3 is still too young to be on her own on a 10 hour flight!... It goes without saying that travelling all together in the same row is a luxury that seldome occurs!

Now on our flight back home we were also the last five on the plane. In fact, just before the flight took off, we were deciding what to do in the case not all of us could get on. Who would stay and who would go. This kind of decision making can add alot of stress, especially for the kids.

Not knowing when, if or how something is going to happen, makes the waiting that much harder to bear. Add to this that standbys must check-in as soon as the check-in is open yet and wait until the last passenger boards, makes for a long waiting time.
This also poses a big challenge for our suitcases! Very often they don´t make it with us! Standbys are not entitled to the same rights as paying passengers on luggage reclaim. Another perk!

Let's get back to our flight home.

Just minutes before the plane was to depart we were told that there was room just for three of us. We had already decided that I would stay with no 1 and travel the next day. (tomorrow´s flight was more oversold than this one...not good!!)

So we gave each other a quick hug only to discover a few seconds later , that we could ALL fly as two passengers had not shown up . Talk about being flexible!

We proceeded to run down the gangway to the plane, gasping for air and trying to decipher what number our seats were! It´s all rush, rush, rush!

In the end, you are just glad you made it on!

We arrived 8 hours and 40 mins later in Frankfurt (9:30am local time) only to find out that our connecting flight to Spain had been cancelled! The next flight would be at 4:00pm. The problem was that we knew that because of the cancellation, all the passengers from that flight would be put on the 4:00pm flight and we would most likely be bumped to the 9:00pm flight.

To cut a long story short, (this was getting longer that I had wanted anyway!!!)my hubby managed to get us on another airline and we had to run (again!) to catch that flight, because it had been delayed (don´t know why) and had almost no passengers.

Usually we are not allowed to change airline, but given the situation they made an exception with the agreement that we were aware we would probably not get our luggage due to the quick change. (and hey who knows where the luggage was at that point!)

Truth being it´s hard enough to have your luggage travel with you anyway, but changing airlines is almost a guarantee of not getting it. We resigned to the fact that we would probably have to make another trip back to the airport to get it. At this point we just wanted home, as by now, it´s like 4:00am for our bodies although the clocks said 11:00am!

To our great surprize and wonder, all 7 of our suitcases made it with us. Against all the odds, against the system and against all logic! It really was a miracle!

This whole series of events spoke to me that God works so many times against all reason, out of the box and inspite of "the system. "

God beats the system.

He is not limited to our time, our protocol or even our understanding. He can choose to use our excuse for order or systems to do His will, or He can do it outside of all these things. Ater all He is God. He is the creator and author of all things.

I would never in all my wildest dreams, have expected to see our suitcases there on the baggage reclaim turnstile, but against all the odds there they were: all seven of them.

Likewise, against all natural logic, God is able to do a miracle in my life, my circumstances and my struggles. He is the God who revealed himself to Abraham and Sarah as the one who says, "Is there anything to hard for the Lord?" He gave them a son when against all the odds and nature itself, that was impossible.

I encourage you today, to believe and have faith for your situation. This very God who so loves you and cares for you, is working on your behalf! Take Heart!

My baby is NINE!

2007-11-13T15:32:00.001+01:00

Here is my kid No 3, my baby.... who you see here celebrating her 9th Birthday in Chuck E. Cheese during our visit to the US.

Isn´t it amazing how the years fly by since the day God gave her to us on November 12th, 1998.

She was a wonderful completion to our family unit. Here she is just 5hrs old!

Her two big brothers were very happy too!

After almost giving up on the idea of having a girl, what with the strong male genetics in operation, this precious girl that God gave me brought alive that femine side in me which had become dormant admist the action man dolls, stars wars legos and superman outifits!!!

ONe thing I really enjoy about my daughter is that she is very secure in herself. She knows what she wants and likes and naturally what she doesn't. She has a great sense of humor.

The good thing about growing up with brothers is that she is not afraid to hold her own and knows how to rough around. She is actually 9 going on 16 really as she joins in with her teenage bros in music tastes already as well as in her way of dressing! Here she hardly stands out amongst her bros peers!

She is a wonderful person to have around. I enjoyed her pink days, but now I am enjoying her growing up as well. I love you no 3.

Lost in the beauty of the Colorado Moutains!

2007-11-12T18:50:00.001+01:00

This is our friends cabin in the moutains!This is just one of the many views around there!

Now we are back home ad catching up on the daily grind! We had a lovely time....hope you enjoy the pics!

We are away!

2007-11-03T14:13:00.001+01:00

I just wanted to let you know we are in Colorado, US. Yes, the whole family together. It's a quick come and go thing, but it's worth it for each of us.

We arrived after 24 hours of travelling and will be here until Saturday, so I don't know if I will be blogging for those days.

Before we left, I have been reorganizing our office with new bookshelves and general tidy up (fotos to come later) and No 3 has been to the hospital to discover she has tendinitis or Aquilles Heel and has to use crutches for the next 3 weeks at least!! So hence the silence!

We were travelling with wheelchair assistance which helped speed up the check in and passport control processes a great deal. A real blessing in disguise. So much so, that the boys commented on breaking a leg EVERY time we travel so we can have the privileges or wheelchair assistance!!

Love and miss you guys in blogland!

My neck of the woods!

2007-10-31T16:24:00.001+01:00

Wordless Wednesday!

2007-10-31T15:39:00.001+01:00

This is our dog "Lady" in her new habitat....Galicia, northern Spain. Our friends who adopted her sent us these and well it says it all doesn´t it!!!!

Feline Finale

2007-10-30T12:26:00.001+01:00

Yesterday was another day of letting go...another stage...another level. Yes it´s like that preverbial onion with layers. Each layer gets closer to the heart....

Our final stage in "letting go" of the animals concluded yesterday taking the 3 cats to a new home. It didn´t quite work out as we had planned.... God definitely knows best and I wanted to share what happened with you!

To start off with I have only one cat carrying case. At a pinch, one could squash two felines in there but there was't room for three! So our first challenge was making a comfortable and functional carrying case of sorts for the two remaining cats.

There´s is nothing like that kind of challenge to get the creative juices flowing and we came up with a perfect solution that provided both air conditioning (lots of vents) and space. This was a combination of washbasket and plastic box that was then taped up with duct tape.
So that initial problem solved, actually the distraction of having to think of something else helped to not dwell on the reality of what we were doing, we were set to go. We packed the lovely pussies into the car serenaded by a meowing conchierto of, "where are you taking me!" Needless to say, Deb and I are trying our best to maintain a postive outlook.

We headed out just after 10:00am in search of the animal shelter. Naturally this wasn´t our first option, but due to the reality of how difficult it is for older cats to be adopted, especially in Spain, we found ourselves after one month of trying sadly at the option of shelter. (I have to add here, that almost all of our aqaintances have cat allergies too)

So here we were driving around desperateratly trying to find the animal shelter we have been given directions for (very vagues ones I might add). You know how difficult it is to drive and look for something that you have no idea how it´s going to look (often these places don´t have signs either on the road or at the shelter) with 3 cats in the back seat crying on and off and just feeling plain sad????

Well, naturally, we stopped at several places that looked like animal shelters but weren´t and ended up like good navigators at a petrol station to ask for directions. Meanwhile the clock is ticking! Of course the helpful chaps who were disappointed not to fill the car up, had never heard of such a shelter in that area and took their animals into Madrid!!! (about 45 mins drive away!!!)hmm so now we were back to square one. We had already been driving for 45 minutes up till that point.

So what to do? Head back to the vet thinks me and recieve new directions. This we did...another 30 mins pass.... and she gives us yet another set of directions but in the other direction and to a different shelter. She had apparently never heard of the one we were trying to find.... Naturally she didn´t have any telephone numbers or cards of these places.... and she did hasten to add that there was no sign to see from the road. (why did this sound familiar to me????!!!)

So off we trundle again. The cats had somewhat calmed down and were sleeping now much to our delight. Only when we went round corners did they all begin in chorus again! I am beginning to feel progressivly sadder and guilty about the cats and their fate. Debee and I try to maintain an upbeat conversation as we drive along.

It goes without saying that we are again looking for something that will have no signs from the road and be diffcult to spot so we have our eyes peeled each on our own side!

"Quick, stop! I think that was it!" Big sis says as she thinks she has seen a dog sign. We turn the car around, because of course she she noticed once we had passed.!!! We find ourselves standing outside something that looks like it could be an animal shelter. Clues? Dogs barking!!!!

We ring the doorbell and wait. I throw the cats in the back of the car a glance and begin to wonder what they must be thinking. I am pulled away from my thoughts as a lady appears at the gate.

"What do you want ?"she growls, "You've probably come to the wrong place!"

Not the best first liner I have heard that´s for sure.

Feeling a little threatened we sheepishly say we are looking for the animal shelter. She sighs and gives us the look, "I told you so." and begins to explain how everyone shows up at her door looking for the animal shelter.

Not only that, they also start accusing her of being unhelpful and demand that she take their animals. She tries to explain that this is her home and that the animal shelter is further down the roadbut they pay no attention.

She also goes on to tell us that the animal shelter they wouldn´t take them and that there´s all this hype on the news about how they take animals...but it´s all just a moneymaking business!

Sadly many people drive off leaving the animals abandoned right outsider her front door anyway. Having the big animal heart that she does, she takes them in: cats, dogs, and even birds right there in her garden...

Recognizing we had not come to verbally accuse or abuse her, she began to calm down and asked us what our situation was. I told her that my husband had developed allergies/asma to our pets and that even though we had been able to pass the dog and one cat on to friends we still had 3 cats left. She agreed at how almost impossible it was to find homes for older cats even though they had been sterilzed.

She asked to see the cats in the car and offered that she would even take them. I was touched by her willlingness to do so. She did though, want us to try and take them to the shelter so that we could see for ourselves that what she had said was true.

She was right. They wouldn't take the cats and gave us all kinds of excuses. There were no signs either.

So we drove back to our new friend. Actually I wondered if she was trying to give us the slip too, but she answered the door. Much friendlier this time too!!!! She just wanted to prove her point about the animal shelter. Sadly it was true.

She opened up the gates and let us into her secret garden of dogs, cats and exotic birds. All very healthy looking and well taken care of. She took our cats out of their boxes and said she hoped that they would settle soon.

I wanted to somehow recompense her for what she was doing for us and asked her if she would please not be offended if I offered her some money, even if it would just be towards food. She refused out flat and showed me all the food she had in storage for them.

Just as we were leaving we asked her for her name. She said her name was Remedios and gave us her card and telephone number so we could call and check on the cats.

Remedio means Remedy in English. Big sis and I looked at each other and we knew she had been God's remedy for our cats.

The First Fire

2007-10-24T18:28:00.001+02:00

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth,

for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire:

it is the time for home. ~Edith Sitwell

It arrived

2007-10-24T16:00:00.001+02:00

Like cold water to a weary soul,

So is good news from a distant land.

Proverbs 25:25

Yeah it finally arrived Karen!!! It was post dated 7th October and today is the 24th...hmm 2 weeks and 2 days. But you know what? It arrived safe and sound. Not a break and not even a rip in the paper, no melting ...nothing... perfect!

Here I am with shaking hands from the sheer excitement of receiving a package and wanting to know what is it inside it!
And it is ..............(drum roll please...)a fantastic bar of chocolate with kiwi fruit from my fabulous cousin in NZ!

Hmm let´s see what is in this wonderful bar of cacao .. ... food of the gods!!!!

Surrounded by screams of delight and lots of "this is great"...we reach for more!!!

Hmmmmmm simply delicious!

Wordless Wednesday!

2007-10-24T15:36:00.001+02:00

Ps 30:5 Weeping may last for the night....

View is from my balcony! Click on post title to trace back where Wordless Wednesday began!

Tuesday´s Tribute

2007-10-23T19:30:00.001+02:00

My tribute today is to my big sister.

She is the oldest of us three siblings, I am the youngest, and well we have a brother right smack bang in the middle! Man isn´t he the lucky one!!!!

It may sound corny, but I wouldn´t want to even begin to guess where I would be today if it wasn´t for my sister.

Not only was she there to take care of me as a new born due to my Mum´s paralasis, (click here to read more about that) but at the tender age of 10, she sat on my bed and led me through the prayer that made me a newborn into the Kingdom of Heaven!

She has travelled with me along this road we call life from the very beginning, and has been with me in the good and rescued me in the bad. Yes... in very essence I don´t know what would have been for my life, if she hadn´t made herself available to be instrumental in God´s hands to reach me!

My sister and I are soooo alike in some things and sooooooo different in others. We share many loves: one of them is humour. We love doing skits, laughing and making jokes.

This is my sis and me doing a funny skit during our 1920's Party!

I so appreciate having an older sister because I always feel protected just knowing she is around. She is very selfless and has always looked out for my bro and me.

My sister is very detailed. She loves theories, explanations and sudokus. She always has systems for why and how things work, which saves me having to think about it! A classic first born trait if ever I saw one! (read the birth order book and you will be amazed and every enlightened...i just love that book)

I´m so glad she lives just down the road and not hardly a day goes by when we don't see each other. Sis, I love you. Thank you God for giving me the bestest big sister a younger sister could ever have.

More of Him Mondays...

2007-10-22T13:10:00.002+02:00

By Samuel Smiles

Our pastor shared this quote on Sunday. One thing that I really enjoy about him is that his preachings are very down to earth. Not hairy fairy or pie in the sky unattainable spirituality. Yesterday he shared a practical piece or reality but one which I felt was very spiritually powered!

Of course Samuel Smiles didn't hit upon this great principle on his own did he? We all know that the bible teaches what we sow, we reap. (Gal 6:7) But I was especially moved by the truth behind this quote and the challenge it presents us with. a Question of the heart.The reality of this principle is not only life changing, but it´s ramifications are beyond comprehension.

Today's message is that all roads,with varying types of moral and value, lead to Rome. They would like us to believe that each walk of life each with it's individual expression is equally valid and all of which ends in peace and happiness!!

Although this philosophy is wide spread and very much rampant amongst our youth, would you not agree with me that it is blatantly evident that certain choices embarked upon today propose nothing but disaster and destruction for the future? Is it not true that there are roads that lead to anywhere but the proverbial Rome, peace or happiness?

God´s word clearly teaches us that there are decisions we make that have the ability to convisgate a future of hope and peace. There are choices I can make which will not give me a happy end, which the philosophy of, "Everything goes...it will all come out in the wash anyway?" so eagerly promises.

Yesterday I was challenged to weigh my choices and decisions 0f today. As Ps 90:12 says, "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. "

How desperately I need the Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth and not to trust my every so wandering heart which is is wicked above all things. (Jeremiah 17:9) It´s in the heart that the seads of thought are sown. Only God can test the heart (Ps 26:2) and only He is able to give me a pure heart (Ps 51:10)

I can help my heart from being deceived if I hide His word in my heart(Ps 119.11) I need to guard it because it's the wellspring of life! (Prov 4:23)

P.S. Click on title of this post to link to the blog where More of Him on Mondays was originated.

Ahhhh ....sweet!

2007-10-21T22:01:00.001+02:00

Take the 100 Acre Personality Quiz!

Letting go III

2007-10-17T17:33:00.001+02:00

She´s gone.

Just an hour ago her new family came to pick her up. As Shakespeare said, "Parting is such sweet sorrow...." It is rather a a bitter sweet experience. Lady was a dear dog, but also a very nervous one with not all wonderful traits. But as much I got frustrated sometimes... I miss her... I really do. I´m in a real letting go phase... the animals are just a reflection of this I guess.

Next I have to face saying goodbye to the cats... oh boy...then the house will REALLY feel empty.

More of Him Mondays...

2007-10-17T16:02:00.001+02:00

Okay, so I am a bit behind (again!) But I did still want to do this one because I have been inspired by Sharon . I have just gotten to know Sharon through Blogging and I have been encouraged by her openess and transparency and downright honesty... check her out... I am sure you will be drawn closer to God for sure! In sharon´s post about enough what sprang out to me was:

For you, O God, tested us; You refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us to a place of abundance (Psalm 66:10-12).

"God's economy of abundance often has little to do with material blessing. In God's economy, abundance is often measured in wisdom and knowledge of Himself. It is then that we are truly blessed. Wisdom cannot be gained through intellectual pursuits.

Before we come to our place of abundance maybe God has to bring us through some other stuff... I am feeling like the part: "you let men ride over our heads!!!"

Pls go back and read the whole enough post...you will be blessed. I have printed it up because I know I will need to go back and read and re-read it several times before it starts to really sink in!!!!

Wordless Wednesday!

2007-10-17T15:42:00.002+02:00

Tuesday´s Tribute

2007-10-16T14:32:00.001+02:00

This is an initiative from Bonnie!and I think that´s it great so I am joining in. If you want to get on the band wagon go to Bonnie's blog and let her know you are getting involved...

I want to give my first tribute to my Honey! I have known this wonderful man for 24years and we have be married for 20 of those! He is German, (but he doesn't have a square head!!) although he came to Spain when he was 8yrs old, he learnt English when he was 14yrs and married a weird and wonderful Brit when he was 22yrs! what a combination eh!

I like so many things abut him... one of those is his sense of humour. He must have one because he married me!!!! He also has a terrific smile and sensational laugh! If I can make him laugh....my world is complete! Often we compete to see who can make the other laugh with the wittiest comment!!

He is very gracious and merciful. I admire the fact that he can always see the best in others...and especially in me... where it can be quite hidden at times.

He is a peacemaker and bridgebuilder tres magnifique! He has been blessed with "a way with people" that few I know possess.

When I get locked up in the tower of math homework, he is my knight in shinning armour and rescues me from the numbers hell. He doesn't let me feel dumb or weak for needing to be rescued!!!

He has a wonderful voice and plays the guitar wonderfully! I love singing with him and enjoy the music we make together.

He is upright and trustworthy. Qualities that don't go unnoticed in the work place and ones which bring him honour.

He is a committed provider to his family and is always giving up his desires for the sake of the rest....

Above he is my friend. He is there for the good, the bad and the ugly.... The ugly is more visible as the years progress!

I love you Honey Bunchi!

Crazy 8's Meme

2007-10-14T17:59:00.001+02:00

Well here I go, just because I love my cousin... because it´s hard work to answer all these questions!!! hahaha... That means the rest of you get to enjoy it too!

8 things I am passionate about

God

My hubby

My kids

Friends

People in general

Planes

Music

Travel

8 Things I want to do before I die:

Travel around the world visiting all my friends and all the countries I haven´t seen yet!

Fly a biplane

Get my own album out maybe write a book (oops that´s kinda of two together isn´t it!!!)

Fly in a parachute that is being pulled along by a speed boat!

Have Grandchildren

Do the swimming with Dolphins thing together with Bunny Girl!!!!

Buy a house in Colorado in the mountains!

Do white water rafting!

(I am deliberately NOT being spiritual here...that´s a whole different dimension that could have more than 8!!)

8 things I say often

Where are my keys?

When did you say you were going again? (oops old age showing here!!)

Have you done your Homework?

Did you clean your teeth?(proverbial answer yes)..then................. With toothpaste!!!

I can´t find my keys again! (she says panicking just about to drop the kids off at school!)

I love you (to all in my household!)

Recharge your mobile.

Be you they ? (a quote from an I love Lucy episode)

I don´t think so Tim (quote from Tool Time!!!)=

8 books I have read recently

The Bible (dah)

The Fingerprints of God - Nancy Hoag

Holiness in Hidden Places - Joni Eareckson Tada

Bringing up Boys - Dr. James Dobson

(and that´s the ones I still have in my pile... the others I have borrowed and have given back and can´t remember the titles!!) mostly novels

8 Songs I can listen to over and over

Who am I ... Casting Crowns

The voice of Truth .. Casting Crowns

String of Pearls --- Glenn Miller (My Dad´s favourite)

The girl from Ipanema

You are not alone .... Michael Jackson ( I imagine it´s God singing)

I will always love you...Whitney Houston

Go put your records on ... Corinne Bailey Rae

Classic Hymn, "Great is thy Faithfulness"...... always break out in tears with this one!

8 things that attract me to my best friends (and in no particular order!)

Loyalty

Sense of humour

fun loving

understanding

compassionate

constant

honest and real (no lack of transparency!!!)

Willing to put up with me!

8 things I have learnt in the last year

That my husband still loves me

God is still on the throne and he STILL loves me

Giving up doesn't always mean you are weak;
sometimes it means that you are strong enough to let go.
Author unknown

That I still struggle with being a perfectionist

God still has dreams for me

Not putting peoples expectations before God´s

Keeping your mouth shut is almost always the best solution!

Live each day to the limit...you never know how much time you have left!

Okay.. I think I deserve a treat or at least a scooby snack eh!!!!???????????????

A story to Inspire

2007-10-14T17:56:00.001+02:00

I was just sent this by email from a really good friend and was soooooooooo touched by it I just HAD to make it available to you!!!

This is a story about a guy, a guy like most of us, common, questioning his existences, measuring himself to others, never believing in his abilities or his worth. Then one day, his passion outgrew his fears as he stepped onto a stage, a stage that took him to a place beyond his self imposed prison. Watch the faces of the judges as this guy walks out on the stage. You can almost see what they're thinking as they pre-judge this guy based on his looks and the fact that he's a cell phone salesman. Maybe this guy stopped believing in what people told him for so many years and ultimately started listening to his passion.

Click on the Link Below:http://www.maniacworld.com/Phone-Salesman-Amazes-Crowd.html

Yesterday´s day out in the boat!

2007-10-14T13:48:00.001+02:00

I´m am proud to say that I was the photographer .... some nice shots here eh! I invite you to enjoy this day with us!

This fishing rod isn´t going to get her much...but hey it was fun to make with the rushes that surrounded us!

What a view!

The kids having fun!

This view is what flooded our eyes (and not our boat!!!!).... what colours ....what joy! I love autumn colours!

Here are the 2 queens of the boat, leisurely enjoying their ride down the river.

This is the professional at the oars!

This is me at the oars! I tell you...my back hurt today!!!! Boy I am just soooooooooooooo out of shape!

This is what the boys do when we are out on the river without them.... now tell me...haven´t we all done this? I guess it´s just like the Bible says... there is nothing new under the sun...hahahaha! I love this pic!

Letting go II in verse and images

2007-10-12T17:46:00.001+02:00

All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.

~Havelock Ellis Sunday

Maybe part of loving is learning to let go.

~From the television show The Wonder

Giving up doesn't always mean you are weak;

sometimes it means that you are strong enough to let go.

Author unknown

There are things that we don't want to happen but have to accept,

things we don't want to know but have to learn,

and people we can't live without but have to let go.

~Author Unknown

Click here to read the poem

Third Day - Tunnel

2007-10-10T16:47:00.002+02:00

This goes to all of you who find yourself in a tunnel

A time for everything

2007-10-10T13:42:00.001+02:00

To everything there is a season,

and a time to every purpose under heaven:

Ecc 3:1-8

A time to be born,

and a time to die;

a time to plant,

and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sow;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate a time of war; and a time of peace.

I was just going to put in the first verse of this very well known passage, but the more I read it the less I wanted to separate it at any point ...so you have the whole thing!!!

On the weekend we finally closed up our pool for the winter. It´s a big job because you have to make sure the pool is completely clean and then put a special chemical in it for the duration of the winter. Once that is done, you have to proceed screw in all these screws which are placed at regular intervals all around the pool, and then attach the awning to cover it as you can see.

This is a pretty straight forward and uncomplicated procedure but one that is nonetheless time consuming. It's always good then, to do it when the whole family is together and as the saying goes..., "many hands make light work!" thus making the amount of screws one has to screw in limited to about 8 or so instead of 50.

It also means that lifting the awning is also divided by 5!!! This can be a pretty fun thing to do because you have make sure you all move at once and quickly attach parts as you go so none of awning ends up in the pool! Quite some feat I can assure you. Not that having it fall in the pool is the end of the world, but if it does happen, (and you can tell at this point that I speak from experience!!) you have to pull it out and repeat the whole process again, but now with the added weight of the water....nothing to sneeze at I can assure you!

This whole procedure brings conclusion to our swimming pool activities until next year. The time to cast away our swimming togs and inflatable swimming rings and grab for our jumpers and jackets has come! It´s letting go of one to grab the other...

As I was mulling these ideas around in my head I was reminded of yet another song I had written back when I was travelling with Noah on the Ark... well...you know what I mean... a while ago . It´s a little chorus, short and sweet and the lyrics are:

Let go, let God, Let Jesus have his way with you (x2)

For He has created you

He knows what is best for you

And He wants what is best for you

So let Him have his way (x2)

Now I can just see you standing up by your computer and pointing your proverbial fingers at the screen, heads tilted to one side, saying.... "Hey Ally, you did this before... You shared a song, promised a recorded version and WE ARE STILL WAITING!!!!!"

I could almost hear you guys saying it as I wrote down the lyrics... and of course...you are right... Sadly I have not been able to fulfill my promise because of technical difficulties... I know that sounds like a classic excuse, but it is true.... The microphone is broken and until now we haven´t be able to get a new one.... So to answer you question...it is still in the pipeline and YES I will record this one too (Do I hear a "yeah right" complimented with the rolling of the eyes here???!!!) when I do the Open hands song that I promised back in July... Man is it really that long ago???

Any way, is there something that God is asking you to pack away and then reach for the new?.. Is it time for you to "cast away" and embrace a change of season? These are tough moments but we can´t enjoy the new season if we don´t allow the old season to pass.

For me it´s a time of embracing a new season... scary,new, and uncharted territory which inspires in me both fear and excitement all at the same time!

More of Him Mondays

2007-10-09T19:43:00.003+02:00

I know that this should have been for yesterday, and even though I started it yesterday, I just didn´t get to finish it as I had planned so you will just have to pretend (like we did for Bonnie on her blog the other day!!!!) that it's Monday... okay guys...

I´m am taking part of Diane´s initiative called "More of Him Mondays" where she encourages us to share a specific piece of scripture that has spoken to your this last week. Share what you feel God is telling you through that passage and how you wish to apply it to your life. If you wish to take part, just click on the link and let her know.

"You shall have no other gods before Me."

Wesley's Notes

20:3 The first commandment is concerning the object of our worship, Jehovah, and him only, Thou shalt have no other gods before me - The Egyptians, and other neighbouring nations, had many gods, creatures of their own fancy. This law was pre - fixed because of that transgression; and Jehovah being the God of Israel, they must entirely cleave to him, and no other, either of their own invention, or borrowed from their neighbours. The sin against this commandment, which we are most in danger of, is giving that glory to any creature which is due to God only. Pride makes a God of ourselves, covetousness makes a God of money, sensuality makes a God of the belly. Whatever is loved, feared, delighted in, or depended on, more than God, that we make a god of.

God has been speaking to me about the fact that I have given some people, and what they think and say, a higher place that they ought to have... and sometimes I have feared, delighted and depended on them more than in God. God in his mercy showed me this recently and I was prompted to ask forgiveness and felt that God has replaced this "fear of man" with a new found freedom.

Please don´t misinterpret here that therefore I am not in agreement with the need for counsellors and looking to those respected in the faith for wisdom, just as it teaches in Proverbs. But I think you can all relate to my struggle that moment when I knew it had passed a limit where it concerns me more what these men think that God himself. It´s the Holy Spirit that reveals this to you and you do know it when you have crossed the line.

This also reminded me that God says that the reason for this is that he is a JEALOUS God.... he doesn´t want to share this intimacy he has with me with anyone one/thing else.

This reminded me of my dog Lady who now is in her last days with us before she leaves to go with her new family. She is so funny ...like all animals we often see things reflected in their actions that make us laugh or, believe it or not, teach us something.

Lady is our nervous Fox Terrier who is overly excitable and affectionate about everything. She likes to know that she is loved and cared for and literally fights for attention both in good and negative ways! She likes to be in my face and on my lap....she likes to be WITH me.

She has a interesting habit of whenever I call or love on any one of the cats she perks up and chases after the "named" animal as if to say to me, "Hey...don´t forget me...!!! I am the one you like best...remember? You don´t want to love them... !!"

She is highly envious if I give even a smidgen of attention of love to anyone else...even my kids get this treatment! If she see us hugging or kissing she wants to be right IN there knowing that she is special too. She feels threatened and insecure if she sees me directing any attention to others.

God, unlike lady, is NOT insecure or threatened in himself, but the bible does say He is IS Jealous of my affections being put in anybody or anything else. Also because God in His love, KNOWS that when I have HIM as number one in my life and affections (where your treasure is..there will your heart be also) I am complete and at peace with myself. There is nothing as freeing as being one with God and with yourself.

I saw this cartoon on my travels and although God´s jealousy has nothing to do with envy I thought it was funny!

Another one of those tests!

2007-10-08T09:08:00.001+02:00

You Are 45% Left Brained, 55% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning.Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others.If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic.Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet.
The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility.Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way.If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art.Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

http://www.blogthings.com/areyourightorleftbrainedquiz/">Are You Right or Left Brained?

This is fun!

2007-10-05T08:01:00.001+02:00

Hey this is pretty good!

2007-10-05T07:54:00.002+02:00

Your Scholastic Strength Is Developing Ideas

You can take a spark of inspiration and turn it into a full fledged concept.You are talented at brainstorming, visualizing, organizing, and independent thinking.
You should major in:
Natural sciences
Computer science
Creative writing
Math
Architecture
Journalism

http://www.blogthings.com/whatshouldyoumajorinquiz/">What Should You Major In?

10 things that make me smile from Dianne

2007-10-04T14:14:00.001+02:00

I thought that this would be a good one to do today!!! Now let´s see... Here are 10 things that make me smile:

1. Watching toddlers

2. Beautiful scenery

3. Watching my kids doing activities.

4. Getting normal post in my post box! If it's a package... I'm estatic!!!!!

5. Watching I love Lucy on the tele.

6. Shopping for clothes and accessories!

7. Meeting good friends/family at the airport arrivals lounge... (the departures Arden´t quite so happy!!!!)

8. Watching my cats licking each other and cuddling together!

9. Seeing someone's face when they open a present that you KNOW they are going to like!

10. Watching funny home videos when funny things happen to people... actually that usually brings more than a smile...it´s

usually roaring laughter!!!!!

What´s hot and what´s not!

2007-10-04T10:35:00.002+02:00

I don´t know if my cos Karen started this idea or if it was someone else, but today it felt like a good way to cover what´s going on with me! Whoever it was...it´s a great idea!
1. I was able to help a neighbour and mother of one of No 2's friends. Her sons have moved back to Ecuador and they will follow soon. She is unable to drive and needed to urgently do some paper work to legalize her son´s education back in Ecuador.

This implied driving between 2 different locations, both in opposite directions and half an hour away from the centre point: our home! I spent both Monday and Tuesday mornings doing this because they seemed to always forget a paper or need someone else to sign something. It was a bit of a run around but I am really glad that I was able to help her and show her God´s love in this manner. The last day, God really answered prayer about getting a paper quickly without yet again returning to point B before going back to point A. I told her that I had prayed and I believed God helped us.... It´s in these simple things God can reveal himself eh!

2. Yesterday I picked up one of my best friends and her family from the airport, after being away for 4 months. I´m so glad she is back and I´m looking forward to having our times together after this long interlude.

3. For my prayer friends and our weekly get together.

4. No 1 getting a job teaching English to small kids for 4 hours a week. He is helping missionary friends of ours who are involved in after school activities in a town close by.

5. Things seem to be going well so far at school for all 3 kiddies.

What´s not cool......

1. I´m off the beaten tract on my healthy controlled eating habits and I´ve been pigging out on chocolate etc... which leaves me feeling guilty and condemned as well as fat and ugly!!!

2. Haven't had much time to keep up with stuff in the home due to alot of running around... it´s like if the house is a mess...my life feels like a mess. I don´t like this, but´s hey it´s where I am at!

3. I´m anxious for the day when all the animals finally leave the house and how that is going to affect kid no 2 especially. (as well as the rest of us)

4. I´m finding it hard to wait on the Lord to confirm my job situation and balance that out with all the other responsibilities in my life.

5. I´m feeling very low and no...my period isn´t about to start!!!!

All my awards!!!

2007-10-04T09:29:00.001+02:00

This is like way overdue..... but as the saying goes....better late than never....

1. This award was given to me On Sept 14th (by my wonderful, patient cousin!!) hence the better late than never phrase!

The author of this award said the following:
.."the thing that I love most about blogging is that I learn so much about a person just by reading their blog. I have met MANY wonderful people with wonderful stories to tell, and I am grateful every day for each person that I have the pleasure of crossing paths in life with. I wanted to create something special for the top ten people who have inspired me through their blogging; the stories they tell, and the lives that they lead with grace and dignity. I visit their blogs for inspiration and encouragement."

There are soooooooooooooo many of you that make me smile and I am going to award this to the following who mostly likely have recieved it already but so that you know I do appreciate you all alot:

Bonnie

Bunnygirl

Demara

Karolee

Sharon

Dianne

Sweetmummy

The Beaufort Lookout

Terri

Heather´s Brain

2. The next award I received from lovely Sharon on October 2nd!!!

This award was designed by Mike At Ordinary Folk and was originally offered by Christy of Totally Fabulous. She says the award is for “bloggers who are fun, cool, and of course Totally Fabulous!”. I wish to pass it along to all of you one my blog roll...:

3. The third and final award which I received yesterday, I owe again to my Cousin Karen (who seems to shower me with these things.... I think she doesn´t realize that SHE is the best!!!!!)

I couldn't trace the origins of this Award, but it is clearly passed on to those bloggers who "Lift us Up"

All of you in the blogworld lift me up in one way or another but I would like to may special mention to

Karen´s Ramblings

Carin

Bunny girl

Karolee

Karen tagged me...

2007-10-01T16:15:00.001+02:00

Here´s another meme and although I like them alot...these thinking back ones I find difficult because I don't always REMEMBER what I was doing even yesterday....you know...water under the bridge...hahaha...

Anyway, enough blabbing and to the point... let´s see how well I do!

What was I doing 10 years ago

hmm... let´s see that would be 1997...

Well I was living in a different house half an hour away from where I live now....only had two boys.. getting pregnant with number 3 happened in '98. Was involved with the YWAM base leading and teaching on worship and being a sahm .

What I was doing 5 years ago

Considering moving house and looking around for possibilities and all the stuff I was doing 10 years ago!!!! I can´t think of anything else..but I am sure there is more! Sorry, I am not very interesting am I!!!

What was I doing 1 year ago

I began studying to be an auxiliary nurse to the elderly and disabled.

Yesterday

A pretty relaxed day. Having a cup of tea with my sister who lives down the road... my husband in a meeting with 2 other guys. watching a science programme with the kids on the tele... all in all a relaxed day!

Five snacks I enjoy

Hmm... like most out there chocolate...I saw that somebody else likes Greek yogurt with honey like me, that was fun. Most types of nuts. Digestive biscuits. English scones with cream and strawberry jam! ( there are more for sure, but I am limited to 5 here!!!!)

5 things I´d do if I suddenly had $100 million

1. Pay off my house
2 Take my family around all those countries I have been dying to visit and stay in really cool hotels!
3.Give away a bunch
4. Buy my mum whatever she wanted and pay off my brother and sisters mortgages...
5. Buy a Winnebago and or a house in Northern Spain!

5 locations I would like to run away to

Hawaii again that´s for sure
The Caribbean
Alaska
South America
NZ and Aussie to visit Karen and Bonnie!!!

5 bad habits I have

Jumping to conclusions about my kids!
perfectionism
forgetting the laundry in the washing machine like others out there!
Worrying
Forgetful!

5 things I like doing

Blogging
Reading
Watching I love Lucy , Home Improvement etc
Hanging out with friends
Going out to eat!
Baking ( I know that is one too many..but it´s an added bonus!!!)

5 TV shows I like...

I love Lucy
Home Improvement
Identity
Detective shows
Old movies

5 things I hate doing

Going to the Gynecologist
Cleaning windows
Cleaning up poop and throw up
Getting lost on the way to somewhere!!!
Having to watch what I eat all the time...

5 Biggest joys of the moment

One of my best friends in the whole world is coming back home this week after being away for 4 months
Getting into a schedule after the summer break
A cup of tea
My boys doing well at school
God´s tenderness with me

Most of you have done this meme so I will pass it on to
Karen´s scribbles

This is how to do it!!!

2007-09-27T23:28:00.001+02:00

For all of you out there that want to know how to do a signature here are the wonderful instructions that Karolee gave me to get mine...

Here is how to do the signature thing.

Go to this site for your signature:
http://www.mylivesignature.com/mls_menu.php

Click on Create Signature then click on Using The Signature Creation Wizard and just follow the directions. Then copy the Hmtl code.

Then go to your dashboard. Click settings and formatting. Scroll down to where it says Post Template and paste your Hmtl code for your signature in that. Save it and you are ready to go!

Thanks again Karolee! If you make your own don´t forget to drop by Karolee´s blog and thank her because she is the one that took the time to explain it to me!!!! She is also a wonderful person to get to know so a visit to her blog will be fun too!

Be true to yourself!

2007-09-27T14:08:00.001+02:00

To thine own self be true,

and it must follow, as the night the day,
thou canst not then be false to any man.

~William Shakespeare, Hamlet

This quote pretty much encompasses the experience I want to share with you.

Remember I shared with you how overwhelmed I had been with negative feelings about my practical after visiting the Nursing Home? Well I had another incident happen a few days earlier that confronted me face to face with that time too, but I had kept it to myself!

I was shopping with my sister in our local supermarket when out the corner of my eye I saw one of the ladies I had worked with at the Nursing Home. I am ashamed to admit this, but I avoided her and managed to do my shopping and leave the supermarket without her seeing me or having to talk to her.

What was I afraid of? I was scared to hear her say the words, "Well you didn´t last long did you?! It´s people like you who make this profession a laughing stock!!" or something along those lines.

As I was hiding behind the the boxes of crisps and the cleaning supplies, I tried to justify to myself why I couldn't´t handle talking with this lady and facing up to what had happened. The dreaded meeting never took place, but I left there feeling guilty and yucky inside.

Why? Because I knew I was running away, hiding and not facing up to what had happened. I didn´t want to admit failure and look blatant in front of her or anyone. I had stopped my practical... I couldn´t go on... and that was the truth... Why hide?...

I had nothing to loose really except my pride. Pride is pretending to be something that I am not... to be better than I really am.

I was like Adam and Eve in the garden hiding from God after they ate from the tree.

I was afraid of admitting I couldn´t finish what I had started... afraid of the consequences... Everything in me tried to convince me that being transparent was NOT the right way to go. What deceit!

I knew I was struggling with a false sense of humility....(which is pride ).... The Holy Spirit convicted me that I just had to accept and be up front about what had happened. To be honest and humble and in doing so I would find peace. To be true to God, myself and others. God would help me deal with whatever would arise as a result of the past.

I am ashamed now to say that I acted this way. I know that in hiding and running away you just magnify the problem and give room for lies to take over rather than lessen them.

I decided that I didn´t want to run away from it anymore... I wanted to face up to my failings and be humble and live openly with all that I am !

God in his mercy allowed me yesterday to meet yet another fellow worker from the Nursing Home while at the Market. I struck up conversation with her knowing that I could face all kinds of accusations. She was one of the few trained nurses in the Home and had always be helpful and caring to patients and fellow staff and towards me.

Inwardly I braced myself for the inevitable attack.....but you know what? It never came!!!!

She actually shared that she wasn´t working there any more because she had received a better offer to upgrade her studies and so took it. She even consoled me and confirmed the reality of some of my struggles!!! Talk about gob smacked!

It felt great!!! I felt great!!!

Not only because she had made me feel right about my decision at the time to leave, but also because I had decided to stand up for what I had done and be honest instead of running away and hiding. God gave me the grace to do it... and you know what.... I prefer that much more than running away!

I hope you would feel encouraged next time you find yourself in a similar situation to stand firm and be transparent and not run away..... ...God is faithful to help us with whatever might become of the particular situation we dread and to be at peace with yourself is well worth it! There is such a darkness that surrounds you when you hide and try and cover up.....which reminds me of one of my favourite verses that shows us the opposite :

Hey Karolee.... I got it to work! I did it again and realized where I had gone wrong....thanks a bunch for your help!!!!

Allergies

2007-09-26T12:32:00.001+02:00

Over the last three years my honey has been suffering with an allergenic cough and although he has submitted himself to a battery of tests nothing had come clear until this summer when the diagnosis revealed that it could be the cats & dog.

Upon discovering this and wondering why it had never shown up before (which the doctor couldn't really answer well, except just say sometimes these don´t show from one year to the next! and then all of a sudden yes!...lovely explanation eh!!) the allergies specialist (would that be called an allergist...hahahah!!!)said that she would conduct another test just specifically for cats and dogs.

Stephan new that this news would cause an uproar in our house and that´s why the doctor suggested to do this test and not to take any drastic action until we got the results, but we wisely did mention it to the kids back then that this was a possibility so they could be prepared.

Stephan´s allergenic cough has been complicated by the development of asma, which has shown a 23per cent decrease in his lung capacity . He now is using a "puffer" as part of the treatment (which is somewhat costly one I might add). The use of the inhaler will be re-evaluated again in 2 months time.

Monday evening was "D" day and the long awaited test came back and sadly confirmed our suspicions. We now had the daunting task of finding new homes for our lovely pets!

I started to get the process going and wrote an announcement for a local paper and started sending out a few emails. It´s been really hard for the kids because now this situation was no longer just a possibility ....it was a reality.

But God in his goodness has begun to answer our need in such a special way... it´s almost unbelievable. Just a day after receiving the news a real good missionary friend of ours got word of our predicament and was just "LONGING" to have a fox terrier like "Lady"!! He called me up yesterday morning and came over and got her that very evening!!!! He and is wife are over the moon and excited to have our Lady and we know that she in turn has found a wonderful new home with them. Isn´t God good?

Although it´s been a perfect solution, this morning felt a sadness and longing for Lady... all the kids are feeling it too. It will be a bit of an adjustment for sure, but I believe it will be worse when the cats are gone too..... but I´m sure that if God helped with the dog...He will do the same with the cats.

I am blessed that God is involved in the details of our lives even with these things!!!!

http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54485/301/1361143315D4BEBDB4EB8BB114A8D846.png

Hey Karolee...why does it not show the pic but this? I did exaclty what you said ...any ideas??? Anyeone???

A word of encouragement!

2007-09-25T17:31:00.001+02:00

Yesterday after I wrote my post about my struggle the Lord spoke this verse to me:

Isaiah 43:18-19
18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. (NIV)

18 "Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. 19 Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. (Msg)

I just so happens that sweetmummy and Carin and have done a post with the very same verses, so it´s interesting to see how God is saying similar things to us! My cousin Karen also has this as a special verse for her too.

God is exhorting me to forget and not dwell on what happened in the nursing home... that He is going to do a new thing. I feel hope welling up within me. Thanks for your prayers!