At the moment trying to be more positive about everything in life. I read something today which made me realise God wants us to be more humble and receptive to change in life, because He will make us as He wants, when He wants. And despite our impatience, if we're not ready yet, we won't go in the right direction.
Anyway, Tom was away in Oxford the past weekend with his history group. He returned tired and very bruised from being in 'mock' battles (they do still get thrashed despite precautions!) but he enjoyed it. However he decided not to crash over in the village hall for the night and instead managed to get my parents to collect him and look after him!
We took both Rusty and Bruce to a new vet who was very impressed with both of them! He said they were very healthy, very alert and comfortable with people, and Rusty was the healthiest bearded dragon he'd ever seen. We were obviously thrilled to hear we're doing a good job with them and they are in good health.
Monday 30 January 2012
Monday 23 January 2012
Peaceful morning
It's 11.34am and I'm still in bed! But not in a bad way. It's my day off and Tom's gone out to carry on making his Saxon clothing at his mentor's house. Before he left he brought me a coffee and poptart on request then we read the news/ looked at someone's bird photos on Tumblr together. Since then I've done the online shopping and only had to get up to grab my purse from the living room!
Decided to take a few mins whilst I had the peace and motivation to play some songs and pray to God, something I haven't done 'properly' in while. Though I pray a lot, it's mostly one-way traffic with me talking and not listening. It was nice to have some time away from distraction to listen to worship music and just wait in peace to hear anything He said.
There's an old joke about the man whose house was flooding and although two people came past and offered him a place in their boats and one in a helicopter, he replied each time "Don't worry, God will save me!" The man then drowns and goes to heaven. There he asks God, "Why didn't you save me?" God replies, "I sent you two lifeboats and a helicopter, what more did you want?!"
Terrible jokes aside, though I know that you have to actually make the effort to provoke change in life, God expects you to exercise common sense (a blessing often overlooked by some people!) Sometimes He also wants you to wait in a situation instead of rushing off. We all want things NOW in life, regardless of whether it's the right time or not.
So whilst I don't think spending all day at home with the curtains drawn and your fingers in your ears saying "If God wants me to have a job He'll show me!" is the right path to take, likewise perhaps in our position grabbing the nearest thing that is plausible and possible, but perhaps not quite right, is unwise.
Thus whenever Tom has been in touch about a job but declined it (this has been on maybe only two occasions) his reasons of refusal make more sense than the jump to accept anything - for example the jobs he applied for turned out to only be temporary in a town some miles away that with the pay he would be spending more money getting there and back than actually bringing in for home. You don't always get given these details in the adverts so he wouldn't have known until someone got in touch with him.
God will provide, but keep your eyes open.
Decided to take a few mins whilst I had the peace and motivation to play some songs and pray to God, something I haven't done 'properly' in while. Though I pray a lot, it's mostly one-way traffic with me talking and not listening. It was nice to have some time away from distraction to listen to worship music and just wait in peace to hear anything He said.
There's an old joke about the man whose house was flooding and although two people came past and offered him a place in their boats and one in a helicopter, he replied each time "Don't worry, God will save me!" The man then drowns and goes to heaven. There he asks God, "Why didn't you save me?" God replies, "I sent you two lifeboats and a helicopter, what more did you want?!"
Terrible jokes aside, though I know that you have to actually make the effort to provoke change in life, God expects you to exercise common sense (a blessing often overlooked by some people!) Sometimes He also wants you to wait in a situation instead of rushing off. We all want things NOW in life, regardless of whether it's the right time or not.
So whilst I don't think spending all day at home with the curtains drawn and your fingers in your ears saying "If God wants me to have a job He'll show me!" is the right path to take, likewise perhaps in our position grabbing the nearest thing that is plausible and possible, but perhaps not quite right, is unwise.
Thus whenever Tom has been in touch about a job but declined it (this has been on maybe only two occasions) his reasons of refusal make more sense than the jump to accept anything - for example the jobs he applied for turned out to only be temporary in a town some miles away that with the pay he would be spending more money getting there and back than actually bringing in for home. You don't always get given these details in the adverts so he wouldn't have known until someone got in touch with him.
God will provide, but keep your eyes open.
Sunday 22 January 2012
Just a reminder...
"I want some place to put my opinions and thoughts without hideous consequences, and maybe just empty my mind along the way"
These words are at the top of my page. If you are reading this (or anything on here) then this line needs to be considered. If you do not like what you are reading, leave. It's that simple.
I started this blog mainly for my own benefit but also so people could follow what was going on in my life - mainly people I know like Toni who also keep blogs. Whilst everyone is welcome, I will delete comments I feel are hurtful, unkind, offensive or unnecessary.
If you are not mature or respectful enough to be able to communicate in the comments section without keeping to the boundaries of courtesy then you are not welcome.
I have had to delete a comment on my previous post by an unknown individual which I felt was inappropriate, hence this rather dry entry. Great as it is to think people are coming across my blog and reading it, I will not have comments that are disrespectful.
These words are at the top of my page. If you are reading this (or anything on here) then this line needs to be considered. If you do not like what you are reading, leave. It's that simple.
I started this blog mainly for my own benefit but also so people could follow what was going on in my life - mainly people I know like Toni who also keep blogs. Whilst everyone is welcome, I will delete comments I feel are hurtful, unkind, offensive or unnecessary.
If you are not mature or respectful enough to be able to communicate in the comments section without keeping to the boundaries of courtesy then you are not welcome.
I have had to delete a comment on my previous post by an unknown individual which I felt was inappropriate, hence this rather dry entry. Great as it is to think people are coming across my blog and reading it, I will not have comments that are disrespectful.
Friday 20 January 2012
Dentist
Today I had to go to the dentist.
Despite years of braces and taking good care of them, I hate having things done to my teeth.
It turns out that there is a small cavity that will need to be sealed up/ filled ASAP so now, joy of joys, I have to go back for some treatment.
The day has not been the best: I became a bit snappy trying to process this news and not burst into tears about it and as a result had a falling out with my mother for a few hours. Just like being a teenager again.
I am totally grateful for all the privileges in my life, such as in this case to have such caring parents and to have access to a dentist because without either of them I'd be stuck. But because my mum didn't realise how upset I was about my teeth she pushed me too far with questions then ended up all offended when I wasn't too nice to her. We calmed down later and sorted things out but it was all a bit crap.
Back home now feeling rather deflated about everything. I think one of the main reasons the cavity upset me so much is the dentist explained eating between meals (and eating anything sugary) will exacerbate the problem. With all the stress I am still trying to cope with my diet and eating habits have gone haywire. One thing to help your digestion is to eat 'little and often' which I try and do during the day. I also struggle to eat much of anything but as I am more partial to sweet things I will take something like a pastry for breakfast rather than have nothing at all. So I was frustrated to find out what was progress in one area was becoming partly detrimental in another.
I simply cannot cope with everything. I need to work but I need to not be stressed all the time. I need to fuel my body but my appetite and digestive system do not always appreciate that. I need to look after my teeth but cannot cut out the few remaining things I seem to be alright eating. I need to have a life but I've got no energy to live it. And there's no RESET button in life; you have to try and change things as you go through them instead of just wiping away all the bad stuff and starting again. Change is hard. Improvement does not always follow when you hope it will.
God help me.
Despite years of braces and taking good care of them, I hate having things done to my teeth.
It turns out that there is a small cavity that will need to be sealed up/ filled ASAP so now, joy of joys, I have to go back for some treatment.
The day has not been the best: I became a bit snappy trying to process this news and not burst into tears about it and as a result had a falling out with my mother for a few hours. Just like being a teenager again.
I am totally grateful for all the privileges in my life, such as in this case to have such caring parents and to have access to a dentist because without either of them I'd be stuck. But because my mum didn't realise how upset I was about my teeth she pushed me too far with questions then ended up all offended when I wasn't too nice to her. We calmed down later and sorted things out but it was all a bit crap.
Back home now feeling rather deflated about everything. I think one of the main reasons the cavity upset me so much is the dentist explained eating between meals (and eating anything sugary) will exacerbate the problem. With all the stress I am still trying to cope with my diet and eating habits have gone haywire. One thing to help your digestion is to eat 'little and often' which I try and do during the day. I also struggle to eat much of anything but as I am more partial to sweet things I will take something like a pastry for breakfast rather than have nothing at all. So I was frustrated to find out what was progress in one area was becoming partly detrimental in another.
I simply cannot cope with everything. I need to work but I need to not be stressed all the time. I need to fuel my body but my appetite and digestive system do not always appreciate that. I need to look after my teeth but cannot cut out the few remaining things I seem to be alright eating. I need to have a life but I've got no energy to live it. And there's no RESET button in life; you have to try and change things as you go through them instead of just wiping away all the bad stuff and starting again. Change is hard. Improvement does not always follow when you hope it will.
God help me.
Tuesday 17 January 2012
Space
This evening instead of watching the latest X-Men film as lent to me by friends, I am watching Stargazing Live on the BBC. I'm not too sorry about this for a few reasons: 1) I actually find astronomy really interesting. I'm crap at maths and physics so don't think I could ever study it properly but I do think looking at the sky (day or night) is fascinating and beautiful; and 2) I've already seen the film. It was good.
I know a lot of scientists will shirk away from the idea of a Creator when they are studying and declaring the universe and how it works, but to me the two concepts don't have to clash. We don't know exactly how big the universe is, and have very little hope of ever actually exploring it because it's just so difficult to get there.
I admire how fantastic the natural world and beyond is, and it fills me with wonder and amazement for God. It's nice to see there is something still so big for us to think about which we humans can't really wreck.
I know a lot of scientists will shirk away from the idea of a Creator when they are studying and declaring the universe and how it works, but to me the two concepts don't have to clash. We don't know exactly how big the universe is, and have very little hope of ever actually exploring it because it's just so difficult to get there.
I admire how fantastic the natural world and beyond is, and it fills me with wonder and amazement for God. It's nice to see there is something still so big for us to think about which we humans can't really wreck.
Thursday 12 January 2012
January
I'm not one for New Year Resolutions because I think you should be able to start any new ambition on any day and not succumb to fads. So I have not set a measurable aim but want this year to be better than the last one!
Tom is still looking for work. Today he had an interview which went spectacularly badly wrong so that's the next hope gone, again. It seems these employers enjoy taking the urine (I'm trying to use the proper terms of profanity today) and wasting people's time. I won't divulge too much here but they took Tom from their offices to a conference which turned out to be in a different country, and on the way described the job in more detail. Tom decided he didn't like the sound of it and they dropped him off at the train station at his request so he can come home. Gah...
That annoyance and misery aside, I am trying to be more positive about, well, everything. Currently my health is struggling as I try and deal with all the stress of life at the moment, and I have to take each day as it comes and try to eat well and sleep enough to get through. I am also reading 'Questions of Life' by Nicky Gumble, the man who started the Alpha course. It's a recent addition so has some reflective points on the growth of Alpha over time, and is written carefully and encouragingly. I don't mind admitting I have lost some vitality and enthusiasm of my faith in recent times, and when reading the book the other day I actually seemed to reawaken a joy still in me for Jesus. Let's pray this will continue!
Tom is still looking for work. Today he had an interview which went spectacularly badly wrong so that's the next hope gone, again. It seems these employers enjoy taking the urine (I'm trying to use the proper terms of profanity today) and wasting people's time. I won't divulge too much here but they took Tom from their offices to a conference which turned out to be in a different country, and on the way described the job in more detail. Tom decided he didn't like the sound of it and they dropped him off at the train station at his request so he can come home. Gah...
That annoyance and misery aside, I am trying to be more positive about, well, everything. Currently my health is struggling as I try and deal with all the stress of life at the moment, and I have to take each day as it comes and try to eat well and sleep enough to get through. I am also reading 'Questions of Life' by Nicky Gumble, the man who started the Alpha course. It's a recent addition so has some reflective points on the growth of Alpha over time, and is written carefully and encouragingly. I don't mind admitting I have lost some vitality and enthusiasm of my faith in recent times, and when reading the book the other day I actually seemed to reawaken a joy still in me for Jesus. Let's pray this will continue!
Sunday 1 January 2012
Not so clever New Year
In a true act of starting as you DON'T mean to go on (again, ever) we had a NYE party at our friend's new place last night. It was mainly a session of eating and drinking and laughing, though I think polishing off most of a bottle of Asti at the end may have been a small mistake...
So with the biggest hangover of my life, my family arrived and our collective posse (five out of seven of us having drank a bit too much the previous night) wandered up to the racecourse and had a day at the races. Our other friends managed to join us later after they'd peeled themselves off their beds of pain and tidied the party leftovers up.
I've never been interested in horse racing but I'll admit that it was a pretty good day. I only placed one bet of £2 which of course I lost, and my sister had the most lucky wins of the day as usual. We have been given tickets for the Gold Cup races in March so this time we'll make some preparations: 1) no excessive drinking the night before; 2) bring snacks, warm clothing and an umbrella.
BTW, Happy New Year!
So with the biggest hangover of my life, my family arrived and our collective posse (five out of seven of us having drank a bit too much the previous night) wandered up to the racecourse and had a day at the races. Our other friends managed to join us later after they'd peeled themselves off their beds of pain and tidied the party leftovers up.
I've never been interested in horse racing but I'll admit that it was a pretty good day. I only placed one bet of £2 which of course I lost, and my sister had the most lucky wins of the day as usual. We have been given tickets for the Gold Cup races in March so this time we'll make some preparations: 1) no excessive drinking the night before; 2) bring snacks, warm clothing and an umbrella.
BTW, Happy New Year!
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