The wish bone

I used to love being given the wish bone if mum cooked chicken. The story goes you take the bone and share it with someone else by both taking one side and wrapping the bone around your little finger then making a wish before it breaks.

But sometimes , just sometimes, I feel like I AM the wish bone.
Being broken in two - torn apart by conflicting elements of my life.
Everyone demanding a bit of me, and a bit of my time.
As I am torn apart, I am silently screaming - stop, please stop.

R & R

Its amazing what a little R & R can do.

I was fraught, work was killing me, my house was still not sold and my life seemed soooooo black last week.
I took time off work, spent quality time with friends and family and returned to work today refreshed.
Oh and with a change of hair colour too!!



Lets see if anyone notices................

Vibrant , and alive. And glad to be in this world.

Ty

Oh to be young again and enjoy the simple pleasures of snow!!

A fantastic photo.

church family

I had never experienced the joy of a church family until I came to my latest church.
To feel loved and cared for is really comforting at times, and to know there are people who are interested in you as a person, not in a superficial way like at work, but in a deep and meaningful way, is wonderful.

Family

My Dad

Soon my dad will be 85- wow!
He continues to amaze me with his sharp brain and although he can sometimes be a pain to be with, he has always been there for me when I have needed him most.
Always.
He cares in his own way. He just doesn't always know how to show emotion.
But I love him so very much.
And I couldn't imagine my life without him.
xxx

In you my soul is well

Though the struggles have been many
And the flesh inside me weak
Lord Your grace and truth have taught me
My soul is well
Though I 've wandered in confusion
I have seen enough to know
Where I tread Your goodness follows
My soul is well.

In You my soul is well.

joy

I recently watched 'The Bucket List' again - a great film with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson.
I run a film club and although I have watched this film before, I wanted to see it again to refresh my memory and enjoy the wonderful moments in the film.
I forgot how sad it was!! SO I ended up 'blubbing' through most of it.
A good 'blub' is a healthy thing to do every now and again.

Its self indulgent and makes you feel so alive all at the same time.

Anyway, the film has several serious messages.


The one I remember most is ' Have you experienced joy in your life?'
I guess the answer to that is yes.
The greatest joy for me has to be the day my son came home from hospital.
I knew then he was meant to be in this world.
And he was here to stay.

Where I go to

Sometimes I can't cope with my life.
So I go places in my head instead.
I imagine a time when I was happy.
I imagine a place where I felt calm and stress free.
Sometimes you just got to let life pass you by and wash over you.
You can only deal with so much stress at a time.

So I know if I go places in my head noone can harm me, or disappoint me, or put pressure on me, or give me grief.
It's just a lonely place to be.
But its my safe zone.

Where was God?

Where was God when the earthquake hit Haiti?
Where was He when the aid workers were turned away again and again at the airport?
When people lay dying , trapped in the rubble for days?
With no food or water or possessions, or shelter?Nothing.

When finally help did arrive , Doctors were performing amputations on children and adults with minor broken limbs, but who had , by the time they were rescued from the rubble, now got infections and who would die unless their arms or legs or both were amputated.
They amputated without anesthetic, without any pain killers.
Nothing.

Barbaric conditions.
So where was God??

I have no idea what to say when asked this question.
God has a plan for all of us.
I just can't accept this was His plan for the people of Haiti.
Can you?????

When things don't quite turn out the way you'd planned

Yesterday was such a day.
I had a great morning visiting a new church and enjoying worship in a different way, which is good to do every once in a while. Meet God in a new place that is.

After lunch I went to meet friends to go for a walk in the nearby National Trust Park which is beautiful on a crisp January afternoon.
The snow had gone and the day was cold but I had planned for that and worn several layers.
But.. I wore the wrong boots which were cosy and warm and trendy ... and totally useless on a slippy afternoon!!
I fell , not once but twice.
I hurt my pride and little else thankfully but such a mess! I had mud everywhere!
Then I chose a route which involved negotiating a steep hill, and undeterred, tried keeping up with said friends only to discover I soon ran out of puff!!( Not good on hills - my body can't cope with them)
SO i had to do my usual stopping to catch my breath and pretend it was a scenery stop.


To end the day I had a row with my best friend. Well we fell out several times.
I came home battered mentally and physically.

Of course next time I will wear the right footwear and choose flat walks to go on, or better still, meet everyone at the cafe after they have been out walking.

Life sucks sometimes!
Just sometimes I wish I could do what so many normal people can do and not get tired, or feel ill going up a hill, not have to stop and feel awkward with friends, and just enjoy being out in the fresh air with good company.
But I don't have a perfect body and I have to accept that frustrating as it is, its the only one I've got.