littlelaughalot
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Halloween!Another Halloween has come and gone again. Dayna was dressed up as a spider and Miriam was a ladybird.
Here they are along with our neighbour, little Elly dressed as a pumpkin! We are exhausted after our trek around the streets, and with carrying the heavy bags of goodies. Unfortunately Thomas couldn't go around with us tonight as he is away to hear Shane Claiborne, but Janey came down to help me go around with the girls. We then went up to Jane & Ross' where we spend a lovely night along with Ross' Mum and Dad dooking (don't know if that's how you would spell it!!) for apples......
.....having a halloween quiz, and strangely enough showing off some of the strange things we can do!
Jane was lifting Miriam up with her feet, and then went to try to lift Ross at which point Ruth nearly had kittens.
Miriam was as per usual HYPER and was jumping on top of everyone.
A good time was had by all...and a big thank you to Ruth and Jim for the lift home.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
"Hosea's Wife" ...Brooke Fraser I just spoke silence with the seeker next to me
She had a heart with hesitant, halting speech
That turned to mine and asked belligerently
"What do I live for?"
I see the scars of searches everywhere I go
From hearts to wars to literature to radio
There's a question like a shame no one will show
"What do I live for?"
We are Hosea's wife
We are squandering this life
Using people like ladders and words like knives
If we've eyes to see
If we've ears to hear
To find it in our hearts and mouths
The word that saves is near
Shed that shallow skin
Come and live again
Leave all you were before
To believe is to begin
There is truth in little corners of our lives
There are hints of it in songs and children's eyes
It's familiar, like an ancient lullaby
What do I live for?
We are Hosea's wife
We are squandering this life
Using bodies like money and truth like lies
We are more than dust
That means something
That means something
We are more than just
Blood and emotions
Inklings and notions
Atoms on oceans
If we've eyes to see
If we've ears to hear
To find it in our hearts and mouths
The word that saves is near
Shed that shallow skin
Come and live again
Leave all you were before
To believe is to begin
She had a heart with hesitant, halting speech
That turned to mine and asked belligerently
"What do I live for?"
I see the scars of searches everywhere I go
From hearts to wars to literature to radio
There's a question like a shame no one will show
"What do I live for?"
We are Hosea's wife
We are squandering this life
Using people like ladders and words like knives
If we've eyes to see
If we've ears to hear
To find it in our hearts and mouths
The word that saves is near
Shed that shallow skin
Come and live again
Leave all you were before
To believe is to begin
There is truth in little corners of our lives
There are hints of it in songs and children's eyes
It's familiar, like an ancient lullaby
What do I live for?
We are Hosea's wife
We are squandering this life
Using bodies like money and truth like lies
We are more than dust
That means something
That means something
We are more than just
Blood and emotions
Inklings and notions
Atoms on oceans
If we've eyes to see
If we've ears to hear
To find it in our hearts and mouths
The word that saves is near
Shed that shallow skin
Come and live again
Leave all you were before
To believe is to begin
from Brooke Fraser's album "Albertine"
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
In us I believe
I don't know how you feel about weddings and newly weds but they always help me to take stock of what I have in my life. Jane and Ross, as you may know already, got married a month ago (can't believe that...already?). Since then I have never seen two people smile so much. We see each other regularly but when I was over last night after our bible study Jane and I chatted for a while. Ross was upstairs doing something and Jane was just casually chatting about how great it was to be married and how it just felt so natural and right to come home to Ross and to be man and wife. When Ross came downstairs both their faces lit up and it was just the most amazing thing to witness. I have known Jane for many years...she is my dearest friend. She has known many heartaches in her life, the worst being the loss of her mother. To see that she has found true happiness in someone who has become special to us over these last few years is just such a blessing.All of this and seeing them so in love has been in my mind these past few weeks. There is nothing like falling in love, when everything is new and fresh and exciting. It's only the start of hopefully a lifelong journey together and with relatively little to worry about at this stage, you can really just wallow in the love that you have for each other.
Naturally this has all been getting me thinking about Thomas and I. Remembering with fondness way back 10 years ago when we had just got married. Remembering the times when we didn't have many things to worry about...remembering coming home to one another after work and just cuddling up together and just soaking up the opportunity to be in one another's company.
Over the years as children come along and the stresses of life come too, finding time like in those days to just cuddle up, is sadly at times just a memory. I don't think I am alone in feeling this way, I think it's a reality for most married folks. However I don't want to look back and feel a sadness because things aren't the same now as they were then. My love for Thomas has grown stronger through the years...he is the father of my two beautiful girls...we have been through and shared so much together. I simply couldn't be without him.
I really don't ever want to take what we have for granted. I don't want life to pass us by...I want to cherish every moment. So Thomas, I know we may have lost that freshness of love that once we had, and we can't really get that back and on thinking about it I don't suppose we should want it back because our love has matured and grown into what we have now.
I heard this song from the new Ryandan album while you were out at Songsters tonight. And I wanted to let you know that "In us I believe"
At the first sight of you
I knew that you were special
Oh you left me warm but confused
I loved you so that I
Could not breathe
Because in us I believe
When we are apart
I still can feel you with me
I can trace every line in my mind
You are etched all over the heart of me
Because in us I believe
And we have all the time in the world
You and me
Because in us I believe
Yes, in us I believeThomas......I love you!
These last few weeks have been so busy, what with work, house, kids, church, card-making etc...it's been really hard to find much time to be on facebook or the blog. A few weekends back we had the return visit from Croydon Salvation Army band.
Our two billets for the weekend were a delight to have....one of them being of course the lovely Johnny Laird who along with his beautiful wife Jeanette and two gorgeous kids Mia and Noah looked after Thomas and I when we were down at Croydon.
We also had the priviledge of meeting Darren Luff who was just so at ease in our company (at least I hope so anyway!) and ours with his instantly. Miriam loved it when Darren lifted her up on his shoulder....he is quite tall, so she was well chuffed to be up so high.Unfortunately I never made it to the Saturday night concert at the Bellshill Academy as I was helping in the kitchen at the Army Hall to feed the band before the concert. By the time we cleared up and I got home to change it was too late. I did however thoroughly enjoy both Sunday meetings. The speakers on these two occassions were very challenging and I felt really encouraged.
We decided that because we only had a short space of time between the march of witness that we had and then getting back for the afternoon meeting, that it would be better time spent chatting if we went out for dinner. So off to Nando's we went.
Jane and Ross came too with their lovely billet Carolyn McDevitte. Followed with a hot beverage from Starbucks, it was pretty much the perfect afternoon....just didn't get long enough with Darren, Johnny and Carolyn.On the Monday morning unbeknown to Dayna and Miriam we were off to Scarborough for a few days. I had booked the holiday a while back and thought it would be great to keep it a surprise. So when they were sleeping on Sunday night, Thomas and I got packed, and in the morning after we had the girls fed and dressed we sprung the news on them. They couldn't believe it.
We had the best time. Pippin thoroughly enjoyed the beach, the weather was fantastic....
......the donuts were to die for....
......and the company was as usual just so special.Check out our photos on flickr.
