Roland and Joan....

Meet my Mum and Dad...



...they are exactly how they look in this picture (only Joan is slightly smaller thank she looks here)..they are fun loving, smiley, 'love everyone' kind of people. They have an amazing gift of hospitality which has been a blessing to so many who have not had a family around to give them Sunday lunch, a place to say for a couple of months, a cup of tea here and there. They take joy in seeing other people satisfied and gain energy and joy from just hanging around with us 'young one's. If anyone has ever had the pleasure of meeting them then I am sure they would join me in thanking them for everything they do for people. I have learned so much off my Mum and Dad about how to treat people, how to provide comfort for people (not just in practical ways) and how to always be available to help no matter what the cost. I have witnessed so many people over the years pick up the phone for a chat with my Mum and Dad simply because they want to be cheered up, turn up our doorstep knowing that there is a cup of tea and a listening ear on the other side of the door and many have adopted them as their surrogate parents because they feel so loved by them. My Mum and Dad are the type of people you want at a party no matter what the age group is because they are so fun loving and add so much to any group they are in. I cannot say enough how much I love them and I cannot believe that in a world where so many people grow up without a family I have been so blessed with such an amazing set of people who directly influence my life.

Mum and Dad have touched so many lives and continue to do so. I am so chuffed to have them as my parents and my friends and I just want to say thank you for doing such an awesome job in this world.

My 3rd Blog

So I am getting to a point now where people are reading, commenting, thinking about my blog and so this morning as I was walking to work I was thinking about what to write for my long awaited 3rd blog. The first one was easy as it was an introduction to my blog style (which you can tell because the colour and font are different as I was going through my experimental phase - really don't know how to change it back). The second one was just me writing down a jumbled mass of thoughts and confusion which was on my mind...thanks to everyone who has commented, chatted through this with me, I have some very wise friends! But now I come to this crucial third blog and I know that there is some expectancy about what I am going to say next...

I could talk about my weekend just gone and the young leaders training programme that I went to which was awesome and so inspiring...can you imaging a bunch of young people giving up their precious weekend simply because they are hungry to find out more about their ministry and how to serve best within that...awesome!

I could talk about my friends from Chelmsford (don't feel left out anyone else it is just these people are on my heart at the moment) and how I feel so loved by them all. God has placed some of the most genuine, thoughtful, supportive and hilarious people in my life and I am constantly blown away with how challenged I am by them (and sometime how challenging they are to be around...Glyn and those grapes...grrr).

Maybe I could talk about what God is doing in my life at the moment, moving to Essex to start a new job, move into a new house(another example of how my mates are so supportive-Jon and Laura giving up their spare room for 6 months so that I can stay -wow) a marriage to look forward to, a great Church to dive into.

Or perhaps I should chat about work again and keep you all updated on my struggles, testimonies, beautiful moments and laughs.

TO be honest though all of that doesn't quite seem like it is hitting the spot. In truth the only thing I really think I need write is a question that has been the subject of many a discussion and one which has never quite been answered in a way that has brought enough satisfaction to my life. In fact I would say that whenever I ask this challenging question it is always answered awkwardly and with a guess. I am so sick of people just guessing the answer to this, I am at a point in my life where I need substance! So please for all those thinkers, visionaries, discoverers out there....

How do Maltesers dry?

How the mighty fall...

As many of you (well the 5 who look at my blog) will see, I have stated in my little welcome speech that I love everything and am generally happy. Well...today I am not feeling so great. I have had a really tough situation to deal with at work, one that is completely testing my morals, values, teachings. How do people cope with the tension of living as a Christian at work and having spiritual 'truths' that sometimes conflict with the values of work? There are some issues that I think I know my mind about and am confident about but then I am presented with a situation that blows all my 'values' out the water. I know this post won't make any sense to most of you who read it (well all both of you) but i just needed to write my muddled thoughts down.

How do you live as a Christian in a world where there are so many options to take the easy way out?

A Whole New World

Wow...so this is what it feels like to blog...liberating.

Me and Matthew were having a discussion the other week and he mentioned how (in order for me to connect more with his 'ways') he thinks I should start writing a blog...so after a few weeks of careful consideration (Do I have the time to fulfill my blogging duties? Can I commit to such a permanent...er...committment? Do I have the kind of content that will keep other people interested?) I decided...what they hey...I am going to do it. So here we are. A whole space dedicated to my thoughts.

Bloggin Brilliant.