My "new me" journal

Do you remember this book that I bought to make notes on a "new me".........





Once or twice a year I spend say 20 minutes thinking about where I'm going and what I'm doing with my time and how all this fits into what God's plan for me might be.



This all sounds selfish but, honestly it's not meant to be. I consider what I have been praying for and how I feel my prayer may be being answered - the direction perhaps I should be taking. I then make some notes on what I would like to try next. I put in ideas that might bless my family, ideas of how to give back in fellowship with others etc.



So a couple of weeks ago I made my list in this gorgeous book that I bought at the charity shop.



I made a list of 8 ideas and set to work.

One of the items was to get some church gardening done - and I did do this so can tick it off my list and keep it going as stuff needs doing :)

Another was to just accept that no-one is going to be church treasurer so, at least for this year, I must continue. And it's a whole lot more pleasant to do it with a good heart and not inwardly groan each time I look at a spreadsheet - lol!

And another I have been working on was to work with the children & teens at church. I have avoided this like crazy in the past but I accepted that may be I should be using my teaching experience and hey presto I became a partner teacher with the teen group and loved it and the teenagers thanked me for my help :)

Alex and I are helping with the holiday club too.

I have to say, dear bloggy friends, I am scared to death (so if you can spare a prayer - well you know the rest -lol) but I do feel that this is what I should be doing. I also feel that is the answer to the "show me what I should be doing, Lord" prayer that I have prayed so often since leaving full time paid work.

So that leaves 5 other projects that are "works in progress"............................................!!

It's funny but the stuff I feel may be "God's plan" have all just come together easily, and I've enjoyed it. Meanwhile stuff that was maybe my plan haven't come to fruition.

I am trying with all my heart to just trust.
I'll let you know how it goes :)

L.x.

And another................

Thursday thrifting

With an all clear at the hospital this morning I felt in the pink and went thrifting.

I bought this lovely rose sugar bowl which now sits in the pink corner of my desk and makes me smile :)



Another charity shop find today was this bowl that just sings out colour -



Filled with guest soaps it now sits in the downstairs loo reproaching me for not finishing the rest of the make-over planned for that room - but it will be done... soon... hopefully ;-0


And when Daley picked up his books ordered at the library one of my reserved books was there too........ yay!



So a cup of tea and an early night methinks.

Hope you are all ok.
Much love,
L.x.

Our church is having a strawberry cream tea fund raiser at the end of July.

Many of the congregation go to art classes (we didn't know this until we all got chatting -lol!) So as well as the usual fun & games there is also going to be an art exhibition.

This time last year Steve & I had never held a paintbrush but we have been asked for some exhibits alongside many accomplished artists of many years standing - gulp!

I am busily going through our art workbooks and picking up frames from the charity shop.

Steve will be fine he has lots of good paintings to offer and I have the time to frame them up for him whilst he is at work.

But me?

I figured that my work is "naive" (ie rubbish ) so I am putting mine in "scripture frames" in the hope of spreading the Word whilst distracting the audience from my work - lol!

Storing up the sunshine........

When I saw these sunflowers at the weekend they really caught my attention but I said nothing - £1 a stem seemed a lot of money but Mr C bought them anyways :)



Sunflowers always make me smile - they remind me of "weed" in the flowerpot men (a programme for toddlers when I was a toddler!) She was a sunflower or daisy type plant with a huge smiley face - happy days !



As I ironed today, I admired these blooms next to me and let my mind happily wander - praying for people I know who could do with a prayer or two.



Now I know this might seem a bit whimsical but I thought about how these sunflowers were blooming in my vase in the midst of a dark & rainy day today.



I thought how they have soaked up the sun, warmed themselves in its rays, grown strong and tall and finally flowered bringing a little bit of sunshine to my dark weather day, cheering me as I ironed.



This is just like our faith, don't you think?



In calm sunny weather we soak up the sun, we soak up God's word , we warm ourselves in his
love for us, we grow strong and tall and our faith flowers; bringing us sunshine, stamina and sustenance for when the poorer weather times come.

I heard last night of two deaths - a cousin and a favourite family friend. I wrote about my cousin's Mom, Ada and our friend, Maud in May 2008. Both were true Proverbs 31 women whose home & family management have influenced me enormously.

Am feeling a bit sore so I shall take refuge in my home-making and my voluntary work and let the pain pass.

God bless them both.x.

Crazy conversations

Alex opened this week's Radio Times magazine today - a Saturday tradition that we (Alex, Steve & I) sit down and do the crossword.



You know all the ads, free catalogues you get in them - well Alex usually checks before he puts them in the recycling bin.



"Do you want a set of saucepans?" he asked with the advertising booklet held over the recycling bin in readiness to drop.



"Not unless they've got something to hold them," I answered as I tidied.



"What like?" he asked.



"A chef?????" I replied - lol.