Hmmmm.
Well, I've never done this blog thing before, but I'm hoping it will clear my head a little to get recent events down on (virtual) paper... Maybe then, it will all seem a little clearer.
OK. Finances. Paying 2 mortgages for 10 months has stretched us to the limit. Having a buyer for house number 2 should take the pressure off considerably, and enable us to clear all our debts. What a huge relief! God is so gracious, and He has taught us much through these trials. Wondering if we'll ever see the money the courts awarded us against our non-paying tenants? I'm not hopeful, but £4.5K is a heck of a lot of money to lose...
Holiday. I SO desperately need a holiday. We haven't had so much as one night away as a family all year, and I'm desperate for a break. When we get some of this money through (in next 2 weeks?), I can book a weekend at Center Parcs. We'll keep it as a surprise for Rebekah. I'm hoping it will be the weekend of Nov 9th (the day after our anniversary) - that'll be an extra special treat, and we will get to spend the day with Jane & Simon, as they're down there during the week before... Next year will be a year of holidays for sure! We want 2 weeks snowboarding in the Alps, and Phil also wants to go to Scotland in May. It would be great to go back - it's such a relaxing & beautiful place.
Work. I seriously need to stop working so much. I would really like to stop altogether, but we can't completely afford that. But God knows, eh? I just know I need to focus more completely on my family, and my growing commitments at church. i want to be serving God & my family, not working to pay bills...
School. I am enjoying homeschooling Rebekah, and I can see that she is benefitting. It was a huge boost to get such positive feedback from the Home Education Officer. She was lovely, and helped my confodence no end...I DO know what I'm doing and she will be better for it by the end of the year. It is also a HUGE relief to have decided on a Secondary School. I feel greatly blessed to have such a terrific school on our doorstep. I feel confident that she will flourish there, and I'm excited about all the possibilities for me to get involved.
Family. I'm still coming to terms with the extraordinary change in my relationship with my in-laws. God has done an incredible work, and I'm so very happy, but also a little disconcerted by the suddenness of it all. It is all good though. I must make a point of keeping in contact more with my aunts. I feel guilty for not giving them more time, but it's hard to change the habits of a lifetime. I hope & pray that I can get better in this area though...As for my parents...well God knows all about that. In my own wisdom I can't see them ever changing, but I know God is a God of miracles, so I never give up hope...
Us. We need more time together. Our relationship is so good, and so strong, but we are a little out of sync with being so busy lately. We keep saying things will get easier when we've sold the house, and I hope that's true. Certainly being able to have more holidays & breaks away together will help. And it will be lovely to get the house straight - all the clutter does get me down. I'm enjoying downstairs being more organised, so getting the rest done will be fab!
Health. It's now 10 months with this depression. It's a long time, and it's not been completely unmanageable, but I do get frustrated by my limitations. I am trusting God more all the time though, so it's all good in the end. I currently have a stinking cold & period pain, so I feel worse than usual, it's true. It will be nice to not be quite so run down - roll on holiday!
Well, it's been a mad year! God's been in it all & teaching us plenty. Who knows what next year will bring, eh?
Well, I've never done this blog thing before, but I'm hoping it will clear my head a little to get recent events down on (virtual) paper... Maybe then, it will all seem a little clearer.
OK. Finances. Paying 2 mortgages for 10 months has stretched us to the limit. Having a buyer for house number 2 should take the pressure off considerably, and enable us to clear all our debts. What a huge relief! God is so gracious, and He has taught us much through these trials. Wondering if we'll ever see the money the courts awarded us against our non-paying tenants? I'm not hopeful, but £4.5K is a heck of a lot of money to lose...
Holiday. I SO desperately need a holiday. We haven't had so much as one night away as a family all year, and I'm desperate for a break. When we get some of this money through (in next 2 weeks?), I can book a weekend at Center Parcs. We'll keep it as a surprise for Rebekah. I'm hoping it will be the weekend of Nov 9th (the day after our anniversary) - that'll be an extra special treat, and we will get to spend the day with Jane & Simon, as they're down there during the week before... Next year will be a year of holidays for sure! We want 2 weeks snowboarding in the Alps, and Phil also wants to go to Scotland in May. It would be great to go back - it's such a relaxing & beautiful place.
Work. I seriously need to stop working so much. I would really like to stop altogether, but we can't completely afford that. But God knows, eh? I just know I need to focus more completely on my family, and my growing commitments at church. i want to be serving God & my family, not working to pay bills...
School. I am enjoying homeschooling Rebekah, and I can see that she is benefitting. It was a huge boost to get such positive feedback from the Home Education Officer. She was lovely, and helped my confodence no end...I DO know what I'm doing and she will be better for it by the end of the year. It is also a HUGE relief to have decided on a Secondary School. I feel greatly blessed to have such a terrific school on our doorstep. I feel confident that she will flourish there, and I'm excited about all the possibilities for me to get involved.
Family. I'm still coming to terms with the extraordinary change in my relationship with my in-laws. God has done an incredible work, and I'm so very happy, but also a little disconcerted by the suddenness of it all. It is all good though. I must make a point of keeping in contact more with my aunts. I feel guilty for not giving them more time, but it's hard to change the habits of a lifetime. I hope & pray that I can get better in this area though...As for my parents...well God knows all about that. In my own wisdom I can't see them ever changing, but I know God is a God of miracles, so I never give up hope...
Us. We need more time together. Our relationship is so good, and so strong, but we are a little out of sync with being so busy lately. We keep saying things will get easier when we've sold the house, and I hope that's true. Certainly being able to have more holidays & breaks away together will help. And it will be lovely to get the house straight - all the clutter does get me down. I'm enjoying downstairs being more organised, so getting the rest done will be fab!
Health. It's now 10 months with this depression. It's a long time, and it's not been completely unmanageable, but I do get frustrated by my limitations. I am trusting God more all the time though, so it's all good in the end. I currently have a stinking cold & period pain, so I feel worse than usual, it's true. It will be nice to not be quite so run down - roll on holiday!
Well, it's been a mad year! God's been in it all & teaching us plenty. Who knows what next year will bring, eh?
