daily bread

I know I probably should say my Sermon on the mount class, but the best part of my day was probably when I realised that the 4th season of Lost starts tomorrow night. Very exciting, especially as there has been a dearth of good Tv while the screenwriters strike is still on. And it’s a 2 hour special. I may even put the knitting down for it, I think my stitch tension may suffer with all the excitement.

Also had a great chat with my co-worker Amanda about the philosophy of Soup (we take things very seriously here at Regent) and feel envisioned for my new job and its scope. Hey, even soup can change the world.

A few signs of goodness and mercy from today…..

• I had my first day of work today. It’s a long story, but the gist is that I am now a Soup TA. Which means I help my friend Amanda cook soup for 350 people every Tuesday.I just thought I’d be chopping veggies but it’s a bit more frantic and complicated than that. I get to boss volunteers about and manage the kitchen while Amanda, the soup genius, casts her soup spells into large bubbling cauldrons. It was good to be a grown up and not be characterised by the 2 children hanging off me. I got to do stuff I think I’m good at (specially the bossy bit) and the satisfaction of watching 350 people tuck in and enjoy the fruits (or vegetables?) of your labours.

• We had a big snow today. Got to stick on my stripy wellies and crunch through the snow. It was so beautiful seeing the world transformed into a steely winter wonderland.




• My knitting is getting better.

Today I am, for the third and final time, learning to knit. It’s time and anyway it’s weird here if you don’t knit.

I clackety clacked my way through Pan’s Labyrinth and my hands breathed a sigh of relief at once again having something crafty to get stuck into. 

Met one of my Wise women who I haven’t seen in a while at a Regent event. She was talking to a group of Regent mum’s about how to take care of ourselves. If I could summarise what she said in one sentence it would be ‘Lose the guilt’. I need to hear it. Perfectionism and parenting are not a healthy mix for me or them. I’m not always going to do it right and neither will they.

Grace abounds.

We finally got to eat our xmas dinner tonight. The timely arrival of norovirus on xmas eve meant our juicy steaks were banished to the freezer and I finally remembered what that odd looking brown parcel in the freezer was and hoked them out to thaw.

I marinated them (tamari sauce, apple cider vinegar, olive oil and a bit of maple syrup, for those that are interested) borrowed a gas barbeque and for once didn’t drastically overcook them. Served with diced potatoes roasted with garlic and red onion and a spring salad with goats cheese and balsamic vinegar dressing.

seriously scrummy. 

Utterly exhausting day, to the extent that I very nearly didn’t go out tonight. But then I remembered what I was going out to……

If 365 were really 12, then this would be the highlight of my month. For once I sat and drank it in, let myself be moved and let the tears flow (damn the mascara). To spend 3 hours with MJ is to find yourself steeped in beauty and truth, laughing and crying and tasting the kingdom.

Thanks Martyn.

Making peace with a big disappointment.

There is still some longing left, but I’m slowly starting to see the alternative as a gift. I raged a bit, shook my fist and asked God if he lost the memo I sent about the great plan for my life. It’s hard for me not to be in control, but I’m clinging to the extraordinary faithfulness of He who cherishes my life and my dreams. Today, it is enough.

I’ve switched classes after much deliberation and I think my new one will really be soul food.

It’s looking at the Sermon on the mount and today we did ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom’. Here’s what Darrell had to say:

‘The poor in spirit stand before God in utter helplessness, waiting empty-handed in God alone for their hope and deliverance. It is the spiritually inadequate that get the kingdom. They know they neither have it together or can get it together. They are ready to receive. ”

Sigh of relief all round.

Crazy day but with plenty of highlights.

Being pestered to take on a job because some friends want to hang out with me.

Meeting with Mary, getting to the heart of some confusion and seeing a way forward. It’ll be tough and painful, but it still leads to hope.

Having our friend Joh for dinner, a weekly date. Loving her advice and wisdom and the priveledge of being trusted with her heart.

And hey, you can’t beat the mountains.

Mercy, I beg you. My kingdom for a full nights sleep.

As I was sticking the kids in Bob (AKA the Double Buggy) heading out for a walk for everyones sake, Lydia was just back from doing the same with her two, took pity on me and lent me her ipod. It was baltic but sunny, I could no longer hear the harmonising whines of my kids and ears full of song my mood lightened a little.

I’m too tired to think of anything else, an episode of west wing then bed methinks. (No more spoilers Shazzie, I promise!)

One more thing to cheer us all up…..