Saying goodbye......

I've just said goodbye to some dear friends who are emigrating to New Zealand. Ray and Eunice are going to work with Father Heart Ministries and are flying out there on Wednesday.

They have been an awesome blessing to me through their love, guidance, support and encouragement in so many areas of my life and I'll truly miss them.

Saying goodbye reminds me that there are seasons to our life that God has planned; and though our hearts do not want to say goodbye and for the friendship to change into something different we know that there is a reason for it and that God is moving us into another time, another area, another blessing in life.

Anyway here is a picture of myself with them. I pray that God will bless them mightily in their work in New Zealand.

A great day

So I had a really fun day today....though am truly exhausted now!

I was able to have Gareths children for the day, Osian and Lowri, and took them to Park Hall Countryside Experience near Oswestry. These guys have had it really tough over the past few weeks as Gareth has been in and out of hospital and as that issue is still unresolved I thought that the kids could do with a fun day away from it all. What was great was that the kids group from church were also going so it meant that they had other children to play with and we're able to just fool around and play all day. They petted rabbits, fed lambs, played in sand pits, went on a tractor ride, petted pigs, played in the parks, bouncy castles and on the minature tractors......it was great to see. Osian made a friend, Kathy's son William except Osian couldn't say his name so kept saying "lilliam"! So cute!!

Anyway all praise to single mums, especially those with more than one children.....I felt like I needed eyes in the back of my head!! From Lowri getting car sick after travelling up the Nant-Y-Garth pass to the constant toilet breaks Osian needed, to how much they were allowed to eat, to where Lowri had managed to escape to at that moment. Am truly exhausted now, but they were wonderful and it was such a great day. Anyway here are some photos!

~blessings~

Lowri in the 'playbus' eating wotsits!

Osian stroking the Shire horse called Charm

Osian and his friend "Lilliam"

Lowri spent about 1 and 1/2 hours on these little tractors (there were bigger ones for the older children) and was so content in her own little world!

So ready for bed now!!!

Stick jokes!!

Someone sent me these by e-mail and I just find them hilarious......hope that you also enjoy!!

I read this on Monday morning in my quiet time. It's taken from the Daily devotional book "At his feet" and just really struck the chord of where I've been over the past few weeks. I need to take my eyes off my problems, situations, workload and instead have a heavenly focus and spiritual eyes. I need to have a hunger to see, above and beyond anything else, God glorified in every situation..............will I strive for this is the question.........or will the "me" attitude return?


For His Glory
“This happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life” John 9:3

IN WORD It is in the nature of man to ask why. We see tragedy in our world and we ask why. We encounter hardship in our lives, or suffer loss, and we ask why. We want to know the reason for it all, the unifying purpose behind this strange, needy world. Jesus reminds us: It is all for the glory of God. The universe exists to display His splendour.
We can see many specific examples in scripture. The Israelites were kept as slaves in Egypt in order that God might be known as Deliverer (Exodus 11:9). He led them to near disaster at the edge of the Red Sea in order that He might gain glory (Exodus 14:4). Many Psalms of David would never have been sung if not for his persecution. This man in John 9 was blind for his entire life “that the work of God might be displayed.” Paul suffered in order that Christ’s power might be seen (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
But we are slow. We can’t help but think this universe is about us, and when life is hard on us, it doesn’t make sense.

IN DEED If we remember that it is all about Him, we begin to see. It all makes sense. By our captivity He is known as Deliverer. By our sin He is known as Saviour. By our weakness He is known as powerful. Next to our hatred, His love amazes. Every evil we can think of has the potential of being a platform for the goodness of God. It’s all about Him.
Do we suffer and questions God’s goodness? Do we complain about our hardships? If so, we have forgotten that the universe is meant to glorify God, not us. Consider how His power might be known in our trials. Redirect your prayers not to improve the situation but to have your situation demonstrate His glory. Thank him for making Himself known.