Long silence
I realise that it's been a while since the last post on this blog. I'm not sure how many of you are still reading it, but just in case you're still out there and you've begun to think we might have dropped off the face of the earth, rest assured that we are still here.
The purchase of the big warehouse for our church is going ahead. We expect to be moving in during May. I suspect we're in for an interesting period ahead! We have been meeting in the sports hall of the boys' school for a couple of years now, but for the next three weeks, we're havig "sardine Sundays" in our old building, to contrast with the new one when we get there. Our cell group is leading the Alpha course that starts this week. It should be interesting when we have to cope with the move in the middle of it, but I'm sure it will all work out fine. After a long stagnant period, our cell group has begun to grow quite rapidly, and some of the people need a fair amount of support.
Björn continues to grow apace and is now around 174cms tall. He is hoping desperately to make 6 foot (180cms), but isn't confident that he will make it. I reckon his chances are pretty good. He is closing in on some pretty important exams, which have him completed unfazed (surprise, surprise). He is still doing his paper round and enjoying the benefits of the extra money. Perhaps once he's 16 he can get a better paid job. He still has another year of GCSEs to go and then he'll be staying on for his A levels. He is really keen to do a gap year after that, and we're looking into some options for him. He's quite keen on the idea of the working on a game reserve in Africa for a year, and there are organisations that offer these, but John knows a guy who owns an upmarket resort in a reserve, so we thought we might ask him if he can arrange something. Although he hasn't had lessons for some time now, Björn has been playing his guitar quite a bit again lately. Recently a guy with a prophetic ministry visited our church and said he saw Björn surrounded by music notes. Just that day he had been writing a song! He has joined a band with two friends, but we'll have to see if it amounts to anything. At this age, they tend not to stick with things that long. Torvy's band broke up a while ago. Now that the better weather is here, he's enjoying the return to the athletics track.
Torvy's voice is beginning to break, and he has become quite truculent at times. Sadly, my affectionate little boy has disappeared to be replaced by a moody teenager who just wants to be left alone. I am suffering from cuddle-withdrawal! However, he is doing very well at school. He is also doing a paper round, but he had a bit of trouble recently with threats and intimidation from some neighbourhood bullies, so he switched to a different round. The lad who took over Torvy's round is the son of a lonely man we have been befriending in the area (his wife died a year ago), and he told us that his son had been punched by these kids the very first time he did the round. The same prophetic speaker as I mentioned earlier took one look at Torvy and said that his love of drawing and sketching was going to be something that God would use. Unlike the rest of us, Torvy has never been a reader or a sportsman. In many ways, he has felt like the odd one out in this family, but he has always been able to sit happily drawing for hours on end. If I were to come up with a name for what he does, I would call it narrative art. His pictures are often incredibly complex stories. I think it made a huge difference to him to her about this from a complete stranger.
John is going for a job interview tomorrow. This time, the guy called him. The business has just undergone a failed new implementation and the FD and IT manager have just walked out, leaving the owner flat. John was recommended by a consultant. He's keen on the challenge, but he's only prepared to take it on under the right circumstances. PLus there's the little matter of John's 3 month notice period and the guy's urgent need. Hmm. Pray, folks, please! He's enjoying his hockey, and has remained injury free for a while. He's looking forward to the cricket season, which is just getting underway. The prophetic guy said that John was moving into something new, something big. He said leadership, and mentioned eldership, but said he couldn't be sure that John was going to be an elder. I also have my doubts on that score: eldership within this church movement is a different prospect from what we're used to and involves preaching, something John has never shown any inclination towards. This is a confirmation of what one of the elders spoke over him a few months back.
Then we come to me. One of the reasons I have been so "quiet" lately is that things haven't been going great guns for me. I have been overstretched with all my commitments, and have received a pretty raw deal at work recently. I have had little time to get any exercise, so my weight has increased, too. I have passed one module with merit on my MA course, submitted my assignment for another, and start the third on 8 May. I am busy with two mandatory modules that run sporadically over 2 years, as well. My thoughts have begun to turn towards my dissertation, and I have had some ideas, but still need to get some guidance from my supervisor (who has yet to be appointed). I am still short of one module, but there isn't much else on the Education prospectus that appeals or applies, so I'm looking to do something from another award and transfer the credit over. Hopefully this will all happen soon. As to the work thing, we have had a major restructure since the last one I mentioned and it's really damaged the staf morale. My boss looks as if he's been hit just as hard as we have. Nevertheless, there was a new role being made available. I asked my boss to let me have the role and, having told me that I was a very good fit for the role, he has given it to someone else. The someone else has asked me for my help because he doesn't have the skills to do the job. Great, huh? Talk about a slap in the face for someone who keeps hearing how valuable she is to the team, how much her skills are admired, yadda yadda. I've since then applied for two jobs, neither of which are really in the area I want my career to develop, but I need to make a move - my motivation levels are rock bottom.
Anyway, it's not all doom and gloom. We are enjoying the great weather. We spent a great day with the Carter-Smiths today. We recently spent a lovely day with the Mitchells. The boys are well and thriving. I'm enjoying my studies. My professional blog is gaining me a reputation in the global community. Great things are happening at church. I am making great progress in leading worship. People have begun to realise that John has something valuable to bring to the table. However, we don't get enough sleep and every day is too short!
The purchase of the big warehouse for our church is going ahead. We expect to be moving in during May. I suspect we're in for an interesting period ahead! We have been meeting in the sports hall of the boys' school for a couple of years now, but for the next three weeks, we're havig "sardine Sundays" in our old building, to contrast with the new one when we get there. Our cell group is leading the Alpha course that starts this week. It should be interesting when we have to cope with the move in the middle of it, but I'm sure it will all work out fine. After a long stagnant period, our cell group has begun to grow quite rapidly, and some of the people need a fair amount of support.
Björn continues to grow apace and is now around 174cms tall. He is hoping desperately to make 6 foot (180cms), but isn't confident that he will make it. I reckon his chances are pretty good. He is closing in on some pretty important exams, which have him completed unfazed (surprise, surprise). He is still doing his paper round and enjoying the benefits of the extra money. Perhaps once he's 16 he can get a better paid job. He still has another year of GCSEs to go and then he'll be staying on for his A levels. He is really keen to do a gap year after that, and we're looking into some options for him. He's quite keen on the idea of the working on a game reserve in Africa for a year, and there are organisations that offer these, but John knows a guy who owns an upmarket resort in a reserve, so we thought we might ask him if he can arrange something. Although he hasn't had lessons for some time now, Björn has been playing his guitar quite a bit again lately. Recently a guy with a prophetic ministry visited our church and said he saw Björn surrounded by music notes. Just that day he had been writing a song! He has joined a band with two friends, but we'll have to see if it amounts to anything. At this age, they tend not to stick with things that long. Torvy's band broke up a while ago. Now that the better weather is here, he's enjoying the return to the athletics track.
Torvy's voice is beginning to break, and he has become quite truculent at times. Sadly, my affectionate little boy has disappeared to be replaced by a moody teenager who just wants to be left alone. I am suffering from cuddle-withdrawal! However, he is doing very well at school. He is also doing a paper round, but he had a bit of trouble recently with threats and intimidation from some neighbourhood bullies, so he switched to a different round. The lad who took over Torvy's round is the son of a lonely man we have been befriending in the area (his wife died a year ago), and he told us that his son had been punched by these kids the very first time he did the round. The same prophetic speaker as I mentioned earlier took one look at Torvy and said that his love of drawing and sketching was going to be something that God would use. Unlike the rest of us, Torvy has never been a reader or a sportsman. In many ways, he has felt like the odd one out in this family, but he has always been able to sit happily drawing for hours on end. If I were to come up with a name for what he does, I would call it narrative art. His pictures are often incredibly complex stories. I think it made a huge difference to him to her about this from a complete stranger.
John is going for a job interview tomorrow. This time, the guy called him. The business has just undergone a failed new implementation and the FD and IT manager have just walked out, leaving the owner flat. John was recommended by a consultant. He's keen on the challenge, but he's only prepared to take it on under the right circumstances. PLus there's the little matter of John's 3 month notice period and the guy's urgent need. Hmm. Pray, folks, please! He's enjoying his hockey, and has remained injury free for a while. He's looking forward to the cricket season, which is just getting underway. The prophetic guy said that John was moving into something new, something big. He said leadership, and mentioned eldership, but said he couldn't be sure that John was going to be an elder. I also have my doubts on that score: eldership within this church movement is a different prospect from what we're used to and involves preaching, something John has never shown any inclination towards. This is a confirmation of what one of the elders spoke over him a few months back.
Then we come to me. One of the reasons I have been so "quiet" lately is that things haven't been going great guns for me. I have been overstretched with all my commitments, and have received a pretty raw deal at work recently. I have had little time to get any exercise, so my weight has increased, too. I have passed one module with merit on my MA course, submitted my assignment for another, and start the third on 8 May. I am busy with two mandatory modules that run sporadically over 2 years, as well. My thoughts have begun to turn towards my dissertation, and I have had some ideas, but still need to get some guidance from my supervisor (who has yet to be appointed). I am still short of one module, but there isn't much else on the Education prospectus that appeals or applies, so I'm looking to do something from another award and transfer the credit over. Hopefully this will all happen soon. As to the work thing, we have had a major restructure since the last one I mentioned and it's really damaged the staf morale. My boss looks as if he's been hit just as hard as we have. Nevertheless, there was a new role being made available. I asked my boss to let me have the role and, having told me that I was a very good fit for the role, he has given it to someone else. The someone else has asked me for my help because he doesn't have the skills to do the job. Great, huh? Talk about a slap in the face for someone who keeps hearing how valuable she is to the team, how much her skills are admired, yadda yadda. I've since then applied for two jobs, neither of which are really in the area I want my career to develop, but I need to make a move - my motivation levels are rock bottom.
Anyway, it's not all doom and gloom. We are enjoying the great weather. We spent a great day with the Carter-Smiths today. We recently spent a lovely day with the Mitchells. The boys are well and thriving. I'm enjoying my studies. My professional blog is gaining me a reputation in the global community. Great things are happening at church. I am making great progress in leading worship. People have begun to realise that John has something valuable to bring to the table. However, we don't get enough sleep and every day is too short!
posted by karynr at 10:13 pm
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