littlelaughalot
Friday, September 29, 2006
A-HA!!!
Morten, Morten, Morten!!...Sorry Thomas...I always told you that you were my first love...but unfortunately there was someone else......I absolutely drooled over Morten Harket from A-HA from the tender age of 10 upwards. Like most youngsters I had posters everywhere in my room and I will never forget seeing A-HA's video for "Take on me" for the very first time on GMTV before I went to school, and I was hooked.
Morten was of course my favourite...the other two .....sorry they didn't get a look in! And do you know that even to this day I still absolutely adore them. I never get fed up listening to them. They are still releasing albums and they still have that unusual sound that just sets them apart from everybody else.
Morten wore the leather thongs (NO...NOT AS IN UNDERWEAR!!!) but you know...those things wrapped around his wrist and neck...and so as a true fan...I too wore them on most occassions. I had A-HA wrist bands too and I thought I was the bee's knees. I was always faithful to my group and my man! Others strayed from the path of A-HA and got lost somewhere around DURAN DURAN...aaauuuuugggghhhhhh! How could they? I mean...no comparison.
Surely you good folks out there will agree with me that for 1985 this video of "Take on me" is still one of the best even today. The shivers still run down my spine when I watch this....it takes me right back. Anyway...enough of this childish drooling and lets get on with watching Morten...er I mean... A-HA!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Delirious
I have been lovin' listening to Delirious' album "World Service". What a fantastic album.. It's never off in the car,...so much so that the girls know pretty much all the songs and enjoy singing along to and from school most days.
We have had for a while the album which features Hillsong and Delirious,..."Unified Praise" and I have to confess that I've only listened to the first few tracks and didn't think too much about it. Today I put the album on a left it running on itunes while I was busy with my cards and as each track went on it got better and better. What a blessing I have had from listening to this. It features the absolutely amazing song "Majesty" and the interaction with the crowd in other tracks is just fantastic. Try and grab and copy and let it play on past the first few tracks and be prepared to be uplifted and challenged.
Sincere apologies for neglecting the blog! The last week and a half have been HECTIC!!! Last week most nights I was door to door collecting for The Salvation Army's Red Shield Appeal which we collect for annually. So with work in the mornings, then Miriam to get from school at lunch time (still only in for a half day at school!!!) ...housework and seeing to the girls in the afternoon, and any spare moment making my cards... then making dinner...eating it very quickly so that I could meet up for 6 o'clock for collecting...get back at around 9ish and finish off more orders on my cards until about 1 o'clock most nights...or should I say morning.......unfortunately I couldn't even find the energy or thoughts to blog.This week I've just been trying to catch up on things. The card making has really taken off and I am making Christmas cards by the dozen. Next week we will be out collecting again so who knows what will happen next week.
Anyway...seems like a good opportunity to say "thank you" to all of you who have read my blog and have left comments. It's really been encouraging...so "Thank you".
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Thomas
Was looking at some photos on our computer, and came across this one from a few years back at our Planned Giving Dinner with our church. I couldn't believe the length of my hair and the lack in length of Thomas'!
Sunday's are usually quite hectic for us, and for the last few weeks extra band practises have been slipped into to an already busy schedule due to the recording of our next CD in a couple of weeks! This morning after our morning's service I was told that sadly there would be no practise, as alot of folks weren't able to manage!
I was so excited because it meant that I could chill out a bit in the afternoon....and that's exactly what we did. Thomas and I fell asleep for a good few hours...while thankfully the girls played on their computers! I really enjoyed spending quality time with Thomas, even if it meant we were sleeping...but it was just what we needed after a busy week. I know it's a bit sloppy for everyone else to read ...but hey...I love you Thomas!
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Rubberfrog
Ink cartridges are so expensive....and I have alot of bother getting the right cartidges for my printer! It would cost me over £40 for a black and colour cartridge...and I really grudge that...as my ink doesn't seem to last long. I went online and came across a website called "Rubberfrog" that were selling compatible ink cartridges for £1...yes £1. They sell loads of cartidges for lots of different printers. I thought there was no chance that these would work....I ordered one black and one colour cartirdge firstly just to try them. It cost me just over £2 for the cartridges and £1.99 p&p.
They sell bulk packs as well at unbelievable prices.
Well....the package has come in.....the ink really works...and I am well chuffed.
Check them out....[link] ...what a saving!...and those who know me, will know that I love a bargain.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Around the cross.
Tonight we held an Alpha prayer night at our church, The Salvation Army in Bellshill. It is absolutely essential that before we run the alpha course, that we pray for it and for the people that hopefully will come along. And so that's exactly what we did. We didn't have a large crowd.... some of our usual homegroup members were on holiday....but we had about a dozen of good faithful people...and we had a really beneficial night together, not just in the praying for alpha but for us all individually.
Usually on a Monday, Thomas's mum and dad would be through, but tonight they couldn't make it due to being on holiday...(Poor excuse!!) My mum and dad were involved in their housegroup and so we didn't have any babysitters. I had seen this as a great obstacle for tonights proceedings. Praying means peace and quiet and my girls don't really do that very well! The intention was that I would play the worship songs and then when we went into our prayer time that I would sit with them for a while and then Thomas would sit for a while.
We had set up several praying stations around our hall....each with a specific topic of prayer. And also at the front we had placed a really large beautiful wooden cross and candles were lying at it's feet waiting to be lit.
So after the worship I went to sit beside Miriam and she was behaving quite well and was colouring in. I sat and watched as people circulated round the many different prayer stations and found myself praying just where I was...there beside Miriam. I then felt that I really would like to go to the cross and kneel and just get myself right first with God before I prayed for others, and so I looked and Miriam was quite content. I whispered to her..."will you sit nice while Mummy goes and speaks to God?"....she nodded.
Then the most beautiful thing happened. I went forward...lit my candle and prayed that God would forgive me for the lack of time that I have spent with Him lately...and for the lack of time as a family that we have spent with Him. And as I lay kneeling on the floor...I heard the shuffling of little feet behind me. And there was Miriam...she sat at the cross beside me and started praying for children who had no food and for the family of the "Crocodile Hunter". She's five....I was so humbled. Then Dayna came over and she prayed privately...and then wrote a list of all those who needed prayed for.
What a beautiful moment. How blessed I felt...my two girls were sitting at the foot of the cross beside me praying.... yet at the same time I was reminded of the huge responsibility that we have...that I have as a parent...as a mother...to be a good example...a Christlike example to my two beautiful girls. They drive me nuts at times....but what a priviledge to try to bring these children up knowing that God loves them and that God has a purpose for their lives.
I have always felt as if I had lost out when it comes to being in the workplace, making friends and letting them know about what I'm all about. I have been at home since Dayna was born in 1999....and sometimes wish that I could do more for God...be able to tell others about Him and what He has done for me. Yet here I am....with these two precious little girls....and surely there is nothing better in life than to be with your kids, and to be the best example you can be for them....to care, love and support them in all they do.
When I tucked them into bed, I said to them that it was really important that we spent time each day with God in prayer as well as reading the bible, because we need to keep close to Him. I took one of Dayna's devotion books and opened it at today's date. The verse the thought was taken from was Acts 2:28
"You have shown me the way of life, and you will give me wonderful joy in Your presence."
The thought went on to say...wasn't it great to be around those that you love and how it makes you feel safe and warm. Well that's how it feels to spend time with God it went on to say...warm and wonderful.
This devotion from a child's book...said just what I had been saying to Dayna and Miriam just moments before. Thank you God for the reminder...that as a shepherd you gently call us...your sheep... back closer to you..and of course I am even more thankful that you are always watching the little lambs too!
I am so proud of them both...and I don't think I'll ever forget.....as I think back tonight of the both of them kneeling beside me at the cross...praying.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Great weekend!I don't know about you...but I've had a great weekend! On Friday, Janey ...who has been a friend of mine and Thomas' for a long time... came over to stay. At night we went to our Church to have a B.L.O.C. practice, then afterwards we drove to the Glasgow Fort to visit T.K.Maxx and to have a beverage in Starbucks. In T.K.Maxx, Roscoe, (Janey's fiancee) saw a leather jacket he liked and was going to get Jane's opinion on it, but unfortunately the both of us had nipped off to another shop...funnily enough where Jane bought a jacket for herself!
When we were walking to Starbucks, Roscoe was absolutely sure he definately wanted this jacket and so he was going to get up nice and early and go to T.K.Maxx and purchase this desired coat...so we were all having a laugh at his determined nature... he was going to get it even if it meant coming back for the doors opening in the morning.
When we arrived at Starbucks, we noticed at the till that they were selling their water bottles at a reduced price from round about a tenner to £3.95. So Thomas rather fancied the orange one...(couldn't find a pic of orange). When I was being served the girl had trouble getting the correct price on her till...£4.95 was coming up instead...and so she had decided that since she couldn't change the amount she was just going to ask me for £4.95........eh...NO! I don't think so. So I picked up another bottle to check its price and that one said £2.95....and so I actually managed to get his orange one for £2.95 as well. So that was great!!!
As we were heading back to the car, Thomas saw a trolley belonging to the Asda Living store way across at the other end of where Starbucks was...but fortunately our car was over that way too...and so in true Mathie fashion (with the chance of redeeming £1 by returning the trolley) Thomas promptly pops Miriam in for a ride and takes the trolley home... Dayna at this point is getting all excited at the concept of being able to possibly spend this £1 in Poundland!!
Two minutes later Dayna screamed out..."I've found money"...There on the road at an empty bus stop was a crushed up £5 note....then... when Thomas returned his trolley and got his well deserved £1 coin....he looked down and there was another £1 coin... All of us just could not stop laughing.....but what was funniest of all was that T.K.Maxx where diming their lights...and so Roscoe leapt over to see the opening times for the morning...there were still a few people being served...and so we dared him to run in and get the jacket as quickly as possible and buy it. He put his remaining coffee from starbucks on the ground outside the shop (as we had a take away) and bounded into the store and very proudly bought his jacket. I think the staff who were desperately trying to get home thought he was an absolute nutter.....Roscoe...you make me laugh!!!!
He was so chuffed....it was just hilarious
On Saturday we went shopping (to Poundland of course....can you imagine this...Dayna's stomach was churning with excitement in the morning because she was so excited to spend this money....IN POUNDLAND!!!). At night my mum and dad kindly looked after the girls as we headed out to celebrate Janey's 30th birthday.. Her birthday is on Monday but this was the best time for us to go out. We had the delightful company of obviously Janey and Roscoe, but also Kenneth and Sarah, and Lynn and Stuart. We had dinner at Ming's in Princess Square in Glasgow and I thoroughly enjoyed the Chicken teriyaki for starters..MMmmmmm!!!
Following that we all headed towards Beanscene and had such a laugh together for a few more hours. I so enjoy going out with great friends and just relaxing and being myself. So thank you all very much.....I really enjoyed your company.On Sunday morning Capt. Alec really blessed us with his message. I hung on every word he said....it was just wonderful.
On Sunday we had a barbecue at Roscoe's house for Jane...and so we had janey's family and Roscoe's family together which was really nice and Janey was presented with her bright pink message bible and a 30GB ipod....and...a pink case for it too. Yes....she does likes pink incase you haven't guessed! We had all put money together for these items...and she was really delighted.
At night, a great friend of ours.. Jon Godfrey.. came to lead us in our evening's worship and his message was just so right and so inspiring and challenging... if you would like to hear it as well as Capt.Alec's....well you can.....and I would certainly recommend that you download both from the [headphonaught's blog]. So thank you Jon and Alec....you really have challenged me, and you have given me plently of food for thought.
Afterwards we had our monthly installment of S.N.A.C. (Sunday night after church) where B.L.O.C. were leading worship....and I just have to say...Bobby I really missed you. You see, I play the guitar, but I am not amazing at it at all. Bobby usually consistenly plays...I thrash out the rythmn and play as much as possible while I am singing...but if I need to come off a chord or if I lose my place or whatever...it's no problem because Bobby is there always playing. Well...Bobby is in Las Vegas with his lovely wife Diane, and so I had to play the guitar on my own. Roscoe was kindly on bass....but I made quite a few mistakes. First of all I was nervous....we had been rushing about trying to get everything ready, and then I had bought a new plectrum and hadn't tried it out...only to find out while playing our first song...when it was too late...that my plectrum was too hard and I really should have bought a much softer one. So all of this didn't help because instead of just relaxing I started to think too much about what I was doing and well...you know what happens...if you think about it too much...something's bound to go wrong...So, needless to say...there were a few wrong chords....but I did the best I could Bobby!
Another thing that was really nice about today, was that I saw Alistair Smith, [link]who is just an amazing young man from the greenock area. This guy is so clued up on his faith and just has his head screwed on so well. If only I had been so in tune with God at his age....Alistair...you really are an inspiration to me. After S.N.A.C....we went home to release our very kind babysitters. Roscoe's mum and dad.. Ruth and Jim had volunteered to take the girls back to our house and get them ready for bed. So we really appreciated that too!
So it really has been a wonderful weekend. A weekend of laughs and blessings and challenges. Thank you everyone for such a great time! Oh and HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY JANEY...I love you!
