Life's adventures

Driving through the Midwest and Southern USA and seeing family

My work schedule changed again and I was working full days so didn’t have much contact with anyone at home. Work was busy but loads of fun and laughter. I enjoyed meeting with the parents each day when I picked the children up. On Thursday I only worked until 2.30 as I was getting ready for my trip to see my in laws, due to my father in law now receiving hospice care.

I hired a car, booked it online and then went to pick it up, it was very different than the last time I hired a car.

You could not go into the building
The person came out to you wearing a mask
All the questions were answered outside it was extremely informal
I could understand what the lady was saying as on the previous occasion I couldn’t understand a word the man said, had to get Alex to translate for me.
I ordered a compact car and got a Nissan Versa which is more my idea of a saloon but USA has a different idea of compact lol
I was able to ask the lady questions this time as the last time I couldn’t think of any until later eg Does it take Petrol (gas) or diesel, the last time I had to read the car manuel to find out the answer.

I drove off in the car and it was great to drive a car that was really smooth. I spent the evening getting all organised for the trip, made chicken salad wraps, bought banana, dried fruit and nuts, air dried crisps, carrots and some food for my stay eg cereal and rice milk. The suitcase was packed you would have thought I was going for a month instead of 9 days.

While I was doing all the packing I was chatting with my father in law and he was in great form, joking and carrying on, which was great to listen to as before this he had been quite depressed and very negative. So he was definitely looking forward to seeing me, I was looking forward to seeing them both and praying that it would go well.

I really enjoyed driving through Kentucky and West Virginia, the mountains, trees, rivers, gorges were stunning, it made the journey go quicker as I was praising and thanking God for the beautiful creation that he had made, it also made me wonder what heaven would be like. My return journey was straight through the whole of Kentucky so saw more of God’s creation and masterpiece around me. I actually turned the radio off so I could focus on the beauty around me.

On the way home there was an magnificent thunderstorm, the clouds had been getting darker and darker in the distance you could see lightening piercing the sky, the wind started getting really strong that my car was being pushed over to the far right so I had to slow way down, the rain came, the lightening came closer, it seemed to be right in front of the car, the rain and wind was so bad that I and a few other cars stopped at the side verve with our lights flashing until the rain had gone down a bit. I started up again, drove slowly and eventually got through the storm. It was an amazing storm and I did enjoy seeing it even though I was praying that the car wouldn’t get damaged.

As I was driving through the storm it made me think of the storms that I have in my life, how I need to go through the emotions, pain and hurt to get to the other side where the sunshine is.

While away at my in laws, I spent time with them chatting about life, Charles, family and God. We listened to a lot of sermons, the Gaither’s singers, old time Gospel singers, Bluegrass and Michael W Smith concerts, which I was singing along to when I knew the words. I got to spend time with other family members, laughing and joking, having fun with the different words that I say compared to the USA words such as “wee” which makes them smile and want to say it, “half past” this one has caused lots of weird looks from people so I have to remember to say 30 instead. I am very thankful to God for making a way for me to go and visit my in laws, as this week was a busy one in work, it was the last week of the school year and I also did not have enough leave created for all of those days.

Leaving yesterday morning around 6.30 am, hugging Ronnie was hard as I was wondering to myself if I would be doing this again on this earth, yea, I know this sounds morbid but its how I felt. Arrived home last night, was driving for around 14 hours, did 3 stops for the bathroom and gas, I had made wraps and bought fruit, nuts, crisps and fresh fruit drinks. I kept myself alert by listening to Christian radio stations, eating, drinking and looking at the scenery. God really was with me throughout the journey as at times I was relying on Him to get me through. Praise His Name.

Here are some of verses that I heard spoke about or read during my travels:-

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8 v18

Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power. Psalm21v13

Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God; for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 2 Samuel 7v22

Teacher Appreciation Week

Excitement, treats, gifts, dressing up, food, encouragement, helpfulness, sadness and tears are words for this week.

This week in work has been a fun week, it was teacher’s appreciation week so we had items we could dress up for each day.

Monday We could dress in our favourite colour.
Tuesday We could dress up in our favourite character from a children’s book
Wednesday We could dress up as our favourite children’s movie
Thursday We could dress up in a t-shirt of our favourite team
Friday We could dress up to represent our favourite holiday

On Monday I dressed up in red as this is one of my favourite colours, it’s bright and cheery and reminds me of the gift of salvation that Jesus gave to me for dying on the cross for my sin.

On Tuesday I was off and worked on one of my courses – The USA Constitution – I did Lectures 4-7 as well as each test so was very busy and tired at the end of the day but I felt brilliant. I also sorted out what I was going to dress up as on Wednesday.

On Wednesday I dressed up as a March sister from the movie and book “Little Women”- I had bought a dress that was in there style in the late 1800’s, I didn’t have a blouse so put a white polo jumper underneath and as I didn’t have a jacket used my blue bolero as a jacket, the adults and the older kids loved it and thought I looked cute. LOL One person thought that I was Mary Poppins. LOL

On Thursday I dressed up in the Kansas chiefs t-shirt and a see through shawl that I had worn earlier in the year when they had won the Super Bowl.

On Friday I dressed up in a black and white dress with a poppy from home and a pin with a soldier and a poppy from here in the US. Can you guess what my favourite holiday was? It was Remembrance Sunday/Day which I had to explain to everyone, it used to be called Armistice Day here but they changed it to Veterans Day. It is always good to remember all those people who gave up their lives so that we could have the freedoms we have. I think it is always good to take time to remember in all areas of our lives as we have so much to be thankful for.

We got a lovely bag, (similar to a toiletry bag at home)from our employers, mine was navy and white and it had treats in it which I enjoyed and post-its. The parents also sent in treats for all the teachers as a thank you, I enjoyed the blackberries and strawberries. There was donuts, biscuit cake and sandwich in a bread rolls (this is the best way I can describe it). They were all eaten and some was taken home by everyone, I got some of the fruit home and had it on my breakfast cereal this morning. Yummy. One of the parents gave me a card personally for me which had a gift token for subway, I was really surprised and very thankful for this beautiful gift.

Do I skim along the surface of life? Do I take time to be still, to rest and to sleep? These are a few of the questions from my women’s Bible study. Here are some verse that were are real encouragement to me and made me very thankful that God understands us and sees what we need. We need rest and He give us a day to rest, we need sleep and He promises us sleep and he asks us to be still so we can know God as it is in the stillness that we can see the beauty of creation around us.

1. 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

²And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

³And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. Gen 2 v1-3

2. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep Psalm127v2

3. Be still and know that I am God Psalm 46v10

I sit here writing this blog looking out at the beautiful trees, the flowers that are growing, the birds singing and at night I see the sun setting which is awesome – these are my times of stillness, it is a time to be thankful for the beauty that God has created around me, for being able to live in such a beautiful setting, for His goodness, love, mercy, grace and faithfulness to me each day.

I long for your precepts, in your righteousness give me life! Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise. Ps119 v 40+41

Guardrails and Thankfulness

Thankfulness, Love, laughter, exercise, Painting, breaking, these are some of the words to describe this week.

This week my schedule and times had changed, I was working 8-12.30 and was in every classroom so I got to know all the children a little bit in the school. I also got to help in the kitchen and do a little cleaning which I really enjoy doing. I did miss spending time with my friend from work as she was doing the afternoon session but I had a lively time with the children, colouring in pictures, making jigsaws, reading and singing. In the 1 – 2 year old class we have been doing about spring, the time I was in that class they were listening to songs and poems while waiting for lunch to come. One of the songs was 5 green and speckled frogs, I was jumping around like a frog, eating the delicious bug, jumping into the pool and some of the children were wide eyed watching me and others were laughing, I even got a smile out of this really serious baby (he has only been at the school for 2 weeks). There was a song about 5 ducks and of course baby shark. God is good, giving me times of fun and laughter.

Last Saturday I did some painting in my room, I have finished painting the 3 walls a light green and the trims I have painted cream. I was so pleased that I got this completed. I still have behind the bed to do yet in teal but as I am rarely looking at that wall I forget about it. I have great pleasure coming into my room, it makes my whole body just relax and smile. I am very thankful to God for giving the idea to Jo and Alex and that I was able to get the paint at the beginning of the social distancing so it gave me something to do and I am now really enjoying the benefits of it.

On Monday of this week I decided as I really enjoyed studying last week that I would look up some online courses I could do, my work has given me a year’s subscriptions on this education/learning site so I downloaded 3 courses and started one immediately, I finished the course and the quiz on Wednesday. I downloaded a free online course from Hillsdale College on the Declaration of Independence and the USA Constitution, I have completed 2 lectures and 2 tests, there are 12 lectures so I will be busy for a little while especially as there is a big test at the end so hopefully what I am learning I will be able to keep in my memory. I went to the Our Daily Bread University and downloaded a Biblical Course (this is not free) but I am looking forward to starting this. You can see that I am planning to keep myself busy and hopefully by next week I will have completed a few more lectures and maybe finished one of the other courses. Watch this space!!!!!!!!!

Please find some pictures below of my baking and the lovely lunches/dinners I made this week.

This week the Women’s Bible Study was on the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, we spoke about one defining moment in our lives that had a big effect on us and what did we learn from it. What I got from the study was about being thankful even in the midst of the difficulty, I know I have probably said this before but when I focus on all the things I am thankful for it takes my mind of all the things I think I should have or that are missing. As you know April is a difficult month for me but I am thankful for it because I have the birthday of one of my sisters who I get to speak with frequently as well as her husband and children who make me laugh and help me not to be so serious. I also have a nephew and niece who are born in this month, one of whom is a real show off and also makes me laugh. It is usually the month that we remember with thanksgiving and joy what Jesus did for us on Calvary so that we can know forgiveness for our sin, hope, strength and courage for each day and a home being built in heaven. While studying this I looked out the window beside me (it had no glass in it as I broke it trying to kill a fly) what was buds on the trees 2 weeks ago is now a tree filled out with many leaves and branches, everywhere life is springing up – seeing flowers blooming, grass growing and the constant song of the birds (here there is such a wide variety) – which reminds me of God’s care of me – it is great to be alive. God is so good. So even in the midst of sadness of missing Charles and my babies I can have hope, I can have joy and I can be thankful.

We got the news on Thursday morning that the county that I work in (Johnston) is keeping the stay at home order until the 10th May so that means that only children of essential workers can come to my work. In the evening we heard that the county I live in (Wyandotte) is also keeping the stay at home order until 10 May but some of the businesses that were closed are opening up in the rest of Kansas on Monday 4th. In work more parents are sending their children to the school so I am working 3 full days (8-5) and one half day (8-12.30), which is great as it will help me to transition back into when I am working full time again, although this week will still be a shock to the system from being home around 3 for three week to last week being home at 1. It will be different as I will be staying in the 1-2 year old classroom for the whole week so I am looking forward to it although a bit nervous as there are a few kids who natural do not like the change and it takes them a while to accept new people.

We have restarted our Friday night home group on Facebook Video chat, we are doing a study on the need to have guardrails or what i would say boundaries in our lives. One of the things I heard in the study was, we don’t plan to wreck our lives, our marriages, our health or harm other people with our choices but this is what happens when we fail to put guardrails or boundaries in our lives. In the culture that we live in it is frowned on to have guardrails in your life, our culture says to do what you want, when you want, buy what you want, and do not be concerned about the consequences or how it affects other people. I remember when I was at home hearing about Mike Pence (Vice President)in the USA he has a guardrail of never being alone with a female unless it is his wife, he was ridiculed for having this guardrail but I think it is a very wise one. It reminded me of the guardrail that my grandmother and mother taught me from I was very young about finances- if there was something you needed or wanted to buy you saved up the money before you bought it and do not live on credit (Owe no man), another guardrail that the Bible has that my father really emphasised to us, was if we were Christians ( we had asked Jesus to forgive us from our sins and we were trying to live as God’s Word teaches us each day) that we were not to get married to someone who did not believe this. I am thankful for these guardrails. I wonder what guardrails you were given or do you have any?

Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk – not as unwise people but as wise – making the most of the time because the days are evil. So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is and don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions but be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5 v15-18

Give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you. Philippians 1v3

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:15-16

Resources, Storms and Baking

Thunder, lighting, children, laughter, cutting, studying, growth and new skills these are some words to describe last week.

I had a new schedule when I arrived into work, for the majority of the time I was with the children from 3 years upwards which was a lot of fun. I especially enjoyed being with the boys and girls from Kindergarten (5-6) and Grade school (Primary school) we got to talking about Northern Ireland and the varies words that we say differently eg we say trousers you say pants, we say pants when you say underwear, this made them laugh a bit. The teacher does Geography with them when I am in the class so they were learning about the 6 states and territories within Australia, on one occasion we discussed about all the places we had visited, all of the children had only been in the USA but the teacher had been on a school trip to Europe to do with World War 2 which I found fascinating. She was fascinated that I had been to Kenya and Uganda as were the children. So I am hoping that maybe I can get my photos downloaded and show them some of the people and scenes from these marvellous countries.

Studying Love and Logic online course was a work requirement which I really enjoyed doing even though it was a Parenting course but it was definitely very helpful and the course made me laugh often. It was in 6 parts so I did one each day of the week and completed the questions and emailed it to my boss but as we had until the 22 May to complete it I haven’t heard how well I did with the questions.

For work this week I had to send in an activity or a resource each day, so was picking the brains of my siblings as I know they have been doing activities with their children, so

Monday – I sent a link for the Hope for Youth Assembly for children
Tuesday – Resource to create a picture of flowers using a toilet roll or kitchen roll holder
Wednesday – I downloaded Spring pictures for the children to look for while out for a walk and tick off when they found them.
Thursday – How to make Elmer the Elephant
Friday – Recipe for Truffles

It was great fun and I was thankful to my siblings for all their help. Please find below Elmer the Elephant created by my niece with help from her parents.

During this week there was quite a few thunder and lighting storms which I absolutely loved and enjoyed. I love listening to the thunder and watching the lightening flash across the sky and the forks are really bright and last longer here compared to home. One night I was on my own with the dogs and it started to thunder, the dogs started barking so I went down to the kitchen and living area with them and spoke with them to help to keep them calm. I think I put the television on to help the noise not to be so noticeable. They did calm down and sat beside me until Jo and Alex arrived which started them barking again of course LOL. One morning I drove to work with the thunder and lightening going on around me, that was fun, seeing the beauty of God’s creation around me as I drove, being reminded that just as the physical storm only lasts for awhile before the sunshine reappears so when we go through storms in life there will be an end and the joy will appear.

I also did some bread making – I found a simple recipe online and have been using different types of flour and using my rice milk which has made me have to improvise a bit with regard to the recipe but I love doing this anyway. Please find a picture below, it tasted delicious which was great.

I enjoyed the week as I was kept busy and normally wasn’t finished with all the work at home until 6. God is good, as I have been praying about keeping busy and trying not to eat so much at night and I noticed that as I was occupied I wasn’t eating.

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55 v12

The whole earth is at rest and is quiet: they break forth into singing. Isaiah14v7

I choose the above verses because I have been listening to a lot of hymns and songs this week and singing along to them at the top of my voice as there is no one to really hear me but God my Father. I always find joy flowing my soul when I sing hymns and songs even when tears flood my eyes. Here is some verses I pray for all you that read this.

Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. 2Thessalonians 3v16

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John14v27

Anxious or thankful heart and Kenya

I think I mentioned that I had been invited to a Facebook Women’s group from a colleague in work, it has been a real blessing to me to be part of the study the last 2 weeks. The first week was on worry and anxiety, we first looked at what having an anxious heart does to us –

Proverbs 12:25 An anxious heart weighs a man down but a kind word cheers him up.

We asked ourselves who has been cheering us up, for me my work colleague really cheered me up on Charles’s anniversary, which made me feel like God was reminding that He was with me in the midst of my sadness. Who has been cheering you up? Why don’t you let them know?

We then studied a variety of verses, which reminded me that even though I was sad, grieving or fearful that I do not need to be, I can leave my cares, worries and burdens with my Heavenly Father, I can pray with thankfulness for all God’s love, care and faithfulness to me each day. I need to take control of what I am thinking about, am i focusing on what is true or on what is false or am I spending time listening to the world’s ideas instead of spending time with what God and His Word. Am I focusing on the negative instead of the promises of God. God gives me a promise that when I pray with thankfulness he will give me a peace that passeth all understanding. Phil 4 v6+7

This was extremely helpful to me as it was the 5th year anniversary of my first miscarriage on the Sunday and for some reason I was overwhelmed for a few days with grief, I was extremely tired emotionally but spending time in God’s Word really has helped me to get through it. God is good. I am in Awe when I remember what he has done for me, He went to the cross, he went through so much pain and suffering for me, He loved me so much that he was willing to pay the price for my sin, to be my sacrifice so that I could go free. I am so thankful for my Saviour Jesus, He defeated death by rising again so even though Charles and my babies are gone I know that I will see them again so there is comfort and peace for me in the midst of the grief and pain.

Surprise! Surprise! My trip to Kenya has been postponed or cancel depending on what I decide to do. I can go at a later date but will need to liaise with my work, the mission organisation and ask God for direction. I would love to just postpone it until next year as I still I have a strong desire to go but will be praying for direction and I ask you to pray with me for this.

I have done a little bit more painting but still have not finished my room, this week I have been making items for work, baking bread and looking for resources to send to the children and their parents while they are at home.

Today, listening to the sermon this morning, it was on Gideon, how that even in the midst of the darkness that he was living in God had a plan and he used Gideon to make it come to pass so what does God want me to do? What is his plan for me in the midst of this pandemic, one of the things they are doing in church is to ring at least one person this week. Here are 4 steps to Hope and Peace that the minister stated from this Bible lesson,

I need to up my listening game
Give my fears away
Be radical and obey
Stand back and watch God shine

Hope you all have a blessed week and stay safe.

Week of the child

Sunshine, children, laughter, tears, family, friends and food, these are some words to describe the last 2 weeks.

I am thankful to be able to work, to be able to get up a bit later, having time to spend with my Lord, on a few occasions I have been able to do the first half of Joe Wicks, which has really helped my motivation and chats with my siblings. It has been fun being with the children, on Friday I was with the 4 year olds for 30 minutes and one of them asked me why did I talk funny? which made me smile, so they got an impromptu geography lesson, I explained that I come from a different country, I showed them on the map on the floor and the wall where I came from and how I got to Kansas – so there will be some children in America who will have heard of Northern Ireland. :-0 It has been lovely being with the babies getting lots of hugs and dancing with them has been loads of fun.

This week was The Week of the Child:-

Monday – Ocean day

I dressed up in blue for the sea – I had blue jeans, blue top and blue t-shirt and even blue shoes

Tuesday – What you wanted to be when you grew up

I dressed up in Kansas City Chiefs t-shirt – to be an American football player

Wednesday – Dinosaur Day

I didn’t have anything with a dinosaur on it – while discussing it with my brother-in-law, he gave me an idea so I got cardboard and cut out plates/spikes to be a Stegosauras (see the picture above) I got wool and tied it to top spike, then put it through the back of my grey t-shirt and tied it to the bottom of it. The children loved it.

Thursday – Cookery Day

I didn’t have anything to do with cookery, no apron, chef’s hat but Jo and Alex had Sebastian from Little Mermaid hat – so I took it to work and put it on my head, everyone laughed or smiled that day when they saw me which was fun, a few of the babies were a bit wary so I took it off but the older children loved it. I had to be careful as I kept hitting the eyes and antenna on the doors and my colleagues.

Friday – Superhero Day

I was boring because I didn’t have anything just my normal clothes, I don’t do superheros I do not have anything at home with a superhero on it.

O Love the Lord, all ye his saints; for the Lord preserveth the faithful and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. Ps 31 v23-24

Experimenting with recipes

The last month has had many excitements good and bad but I also did other things during this time. So I am going to do some reminiscing about the various activities that I did.

I went through a phrase of making bread every week using a variety of different types of flour, wheat, buckwheat, millet and all purpose gluten free flour. The majority of the breads were eatable and were similar to soda bread depending on how much I kneaded them how dense they were. I usually had to toast them. I like experimenting so as I wanted to use up my ripe bananas I put it into the mix but it made it too moist so had to add more flour, so I am learning as I go along. LOL. I did make a few that ended up in the bin. Last week I made chocolate brownies and I do not know what I did wrong but they were flat and not very nice so they went into the bin.

While I was visiting with my father in law, I made banana bread and blueberry muffins. I asked my mother in law if I could cook as I wanted to use up my ripe bananas, and she said, no problem, go ahead and if you want I have a blueberry muffins box you can cook as well. I looked online for a banana bread recipe without eggs of course, so I made it and it turned out pretty good. While is was baking in the oven I made the blueberry muffins and they were delicious.

Later that evening all the girls came round as it was my last night there with Ronnie, so they all tried the banana bread and they loved it, one of the grandchildren even took down the recipe. Ronnie tried a piece of the banana bread which I am now very excited about ,(as I do not think he had ever had anything that I had made before) he got to try some of my cooking before he went to be with His Lord and Saviour. The blueberry muffins all went as well.

When I came down for the funeral, on the Monday night after seeing all the American food I decided that I wanted to make some British/Norn Irish food, so I decided to make apple crumble. So on Tuesday I got loads of apples which were in the fridge, I pealed and cut a mountain of them and then made the crumble part. I actually made 2, as you see from the picture above it looks delicious.

One of my sister’s in law came down in the afternoon and I gave her one of them as she had family visiting her and I knew she would have people to help her to eat it although she did try a wee piece before she left and said it was yummy. My other sister in law came down with her children in the evening with their supper and a few of them had it for their dessert. There was half of it left and I asked them to take it home with them as their mother/grandmother had loads of food in her fridge to eat. I got a text the next day from one of them saying that it was mouth-watering with a plain yoghurt for breakfast before she went to work.

I really enjoy cooking desserts for other people, it is what I use to do when I was married and even before that I use to make dinner when I shared the flat with my siblings. I just remembered my siblings and I used to make the dinner when we were children. When I was married Charles made the dinner and I would make chocolate coconut American cookies, banana bread, rhubarb and apple crumble to name a few. It was a lot of fun so maybe I could start seeing what other things I can make here. I will have to go searching for recipes.

I took a break from writing as grief overtook me for a few days so was processing the emotions. On Monday of this week I went grocery shopping and got ingredients to make brownies. I had left over bananas that I wanted to use. I found a recipe and tried it out I used the bananas instead of eggs they come out a bit flat as it said to use a 8×8 dish and I only had a 9×9 dish but they still tasted great. I shared some with Alex and then had a few everyday and finished them on Thursday evening. I had taken a few to work for a snack during my break time. Please find a picture below.

Last night at around 8.20 I decided to make more brownies while chatting with my friend from Ohio, as I had 2 bananas I needed to use up and I didn’t want to make banana bread. My friend thought I was crazy to be baking at that time of night, but it is when I enjoy doing things after recouping from a long day at work. I got a different recipe, this one had chocolate chips in it which I didn’t use, I used diary free butter ( I found it in one of the stores I visited which is great as it meant I wasn’t using my avocado butter), I put in some baking powder even though the recipe didn’t say to, again used bananas instead of eggs. In preparing the tin I put tinfoil at the side to make it smaller and it seemed to work as the brownies came out a bit bigger. They finished baking after 9 o’clock so I covered them and left them to cool and went to bed. Alex put them into the fridge for me before she went to bed, I cut them this morning some of them I cut very small, I tried a tiny piece and it was delicious, if I do say so myself. They are now all ready for someone to come and eat them.

At the moment I am sitting listening to A Cappella Hymns on you tube the hymn they are singing is Trust and Obey,

Trust and obey, for there is no other way
To be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey

this is so true that if I want to live with true joy, peace and contentment I need to trust and obey my Heavenly Father and to do that I need to spend time in his Word to learn what he requires of me.

I have been doing a joint Bible study with friends the last couple of weeks so please find below some verses that have been a challenge, an encouragement and help to me the last couple of weeks.

But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved) Eph 2 v4-5

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 1Tim2v4, 8

Charity suffereth long and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own; is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth, Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth. 1Cor 13v5-8

Blessings and sadness, happiness and grief

Change, sisters, work, children, birthdays and sadness are the words to describe my week.

Last Sunday was a really blessed day for me, I went to church, (at the end of my bed to my desk and opened my computer) sang hymns and listened to a sermon, reminding me not to go into self preservation but be in self denial. Jesus came into this world to serve and not to be served so we are to be servants and serve one another. How can I serve those around me?

Our church has a pantry, On Monday and Tuesday of this week they were asking for us to buy extra food items and deliver to the door of the church as they were having a drive in on Thursday for needy families, they would drive up in their cars and they pick up the bag of food so no touching. This was a way I could serve.

Sunday was a blessed day because I found out I could chat with 3 other of my siblings at the same time, so I spent a couple of hours chatting with all of my sisters, it felt like being at home, it reminded me of years ago when we were younger and use to all sit around the dining table and talk. I also got to chat with Charles’s best friend and his wife. God is so good to me.

Sunday evening I was informed that my hours were going to be from 9.30-14.30 so now I would have 25 hours. God is so good to me. My week was fun, challenging and interesting. I really enjoyed getting up a bit later, it gave me more time reading my Bible and praying, I was able to spend time chatting with friends and family before heading to work. During the week in work my schedule changed but I still got to spend time with the babies. I enjoy the varies roles that I do in work, it makes it interesting and I definitely do not get bored. I was thankful to come home from work that bit earlier and not be totally exhausted at the end of the day. My car worked really well all week, as this is the first time I have used it every day for a whole week. God is taking care of me.

I woke up on Friday morning with what I can only describe as a profound sense of sadness, as it was the 3 year anniversary of Charles’s death. I had asked some of my siblings to pray for me as I was feeling a bit weepy. I was a bit surprised by it in one sense and in another not. I was sad as I miss Charles but I was content as I knew he was in heaven with our Heavenly Father and Jesus our Saviour. I am learning that you can just be overwhelmed with grief and there is nothing you can do but just keep taking the next step. I went to work knowing that God was with me, and that he would give me the strength and help that I needed. It was difficult at the beginning of work I was bombarded with people needing me to do something that I got a bit overwhelmed but was able to hold in the tears until I was on my own thankfully. My boss remembered and asked how I was doing at lunch time which was lovely of her, I was able to chat about Charles with her which was a great help. On the way home I chatted with my sibling for a few minutes and sang Happy Birthday to my nephew which was fun. I sang hymns and prayed to God telling him how I felt as I knew he was listening to me. During the afternoon and evening I chatted with my father in law and a few other people and I realised that the sense of sadness had disappeared. In the midst of the sadness God my heavenly Father was taking care of me, I had peace in the midst of the grief and pain.

Darkness will fall and tears will come
For all of these things comes to everyone
But in God’s Word, its promised to us
If you sow in tears you’ll reap in joy
Tears are for cleansing, stress and relief
Created by God just to gives us release
They’re not in vain, for soon will come peace
If you sow in tears you’ll reap in joy
Richard Smallwood

In these days of fear, anguish and sickness. I am thankful to have a Heavenly Father who loves me and is caring for me. I am thankful that Jesus came to this earth, died on the cross and took my punishment. I am thankful that I realised I was a sinner that I repented and asked Jesus to forgive me. I am thankful that I am a sinner saved by grace not because of anything of me but because of Jesus. I know it is because of Jesus that I have got through these last 3 years, He has been with me through the grief, pain, anger and hurt that at times was not pretty. He never left me or forsook me.

Painting and waiting

Last Friday Jo and Alex put up some shelves for me above my desk, while they were doing this they talked about what colours I would like for my room. I was thinking of varies colours of green and cream on the trims. On Saturday Alex and I went out and I got Teal for a feature wall, Dew Point (pale green) for the other walls and thick cream for the trims. I got 2 different brush sizes as well. I started on the wall on the left and got it all down except above the shelves last Saturday, during the week I have been slowly doing the second coat and completed it on Thursday. On Friday I did under the windows and today I have done the other side of the windows. I am really enjoying taking my take and doing it slowly, I find we are always in a rush to do everything but it is good to slow down, be still and rest in your mind. What does it mean to be still, for me it means, take a big breath, let it out, forget what is going on around us and look outside,

what do I see?

I see the beautiful trees beginning to bud,
I see the sun shining and giving me warmth
I see beautiful coloured birds flying from one tree to the next
I see cows mooing in the field
I see the daffodils blooming all around

What do I hear?

I hear the leaves and branches when the wind blows
I hear the birds chirping in the trees
I hear the cows mooing and the dogs barking
I hear someone mowing the lawn

All these remind me of God my heavenly Father, who made the trees, the animals and the birds. That as God is caring for each bird flying around me he is caring for me even in the midst of virus and other uncontrolled things around me. My Heavenly Father is in controlled, he is sheltering me under his wings and I do not need to fear.

Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouses nor barn; and God feedeth them; how much more are ye better than the birds.

What do you see around you?

Can you see the green on the walls? My sisters thought it was white at the beginning but if I showed it to them at an angle they saw the green.

Stay at home order

Challenge, change, choices, intense, tiredness, relaxing, chatting and fun. These are some of the words to express my week.

Last Saturday the Mayor of Kansas CIty decided to put a stay-at- home order for everyone except essential workers starting from Tuesday at 12.01 am, for 4 weeks, I actually didn’t know anything about it until I received an email from work stating that with this new rule that they had to look into whither they would be able to open on Monday as previously stated. I spent that day and Sunday being slightly anxious and praying about the situation, the more I prayed the more peace I got. “Fear not, for I am with you,” “I am your helper”and “I am with you always”. I got an email on Sunday stating that they were opening on Monday but only for essential workers children. I was so thankful. God is good. We were sent the list for the classrooms and we only had 2 children in our class. This was going to be very interesting.

On Monday it was great getting back into the swing of things, being with the 2 children was fun as you could spend quality time with them but it was also a bit boring as everything we normally do was completed a lot quicker. I did a lot of cleaning of toys, swiping tables, benches, door handles and light switches. I really enjoyed catching up with my work colleagues, hearing about what they did when they were off. Some of the classes only had one child.

On Tuesday there was even less children, so we were joined by 2 other classes and still only had 4 children, so the bosses decided that we were all to work a 3 day week so I was working Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and the teacher with me was working Monday Thursday and Friday. I went back to being an assistant for all the classrooms, doing breaks for the teachers, so I got to spend time with the babies, which I loved. Yippee!!!! We got sent an email that evening regarding next week, it was to inform us that unfortunately due to lack of numbers they would have to temporarily laid of staff until things got back to normal, we were given 4 choices. I said that I would prefer to work full time but knew that there were probably other staff members who needed it more so would be willing to work part time. The government has put in place unemployment benefit for those who had lost there job because of the coronavirus but I researched into this and I would not be eligible as I have not worked long enough. In the midst of this I was very calm and peaceful as I knew God was looking after me, I had shelter (a wee room of my own), thanks to Jo and Alex, I had food, clothing, family I could speak to and friends. God was caring for me. I did not need to fear.

Everyday that I was at work this week I was totally exhausted when I came home that all I wanted to do was go to bed, I did manage to stay up until 8 or 9 and went to bed. I am so glad that I have been able to go to sleep without any problems. God is so good. He is caring for me.

On Thursday I enjoyed having a lie in, I got to spend time on watsapp with some of my siblings and friends finding out how they were all doing with the coronavirus – all of my siblings are now at home, the majority of my in laws are working out still, a few are working from home and one is not working as business is closed at the moment. I cleaned and tidied living areas in the house. I heard back from work and I will be working part time from Monday until the stay at home rule is lifted. Praise the Lord, my hours are 10-2, I will be working with the babies ages 1-2 and a half and having a lie in. Yippee!!!! God is taking care of me.

On Friday I awoke around 4 o’clock, tried to go back to sleep but couldn’t, so I decided to read my Bible, I have had so much encouragement from reading my Bible and listening to podcasts. One of my friend’s is a Pastor in Wales and he has to stay at home at the moment but has been doing a thought for the day on YouTube, I have really been encouraged and blessed listening to these, I want to thank you David and encourage you to keep it up. I have hope in Jesus that He is taking care of me and I do not need to fear. On Thursday while I was cleaning I was listening to music and then a podcast came on about having faith in the midst of fear, he spoke about when he heard about the virus he became very fearful and a voice came into his head and said, Where is your faith? This challenged him, one of the things that he said that struck me was, that to stop being fearful he does not listen to the news all the time, the more time that we spend praying, reading our Bible and communicating with God our faith will increase as we are reminded about how powerful and awesome our God is, He is in control and we do not need to fear. I have found this to be true the more I spend focusing on God and His Word the less my mind thinks about the what ifs in life.

I made a chicken casserole with fresh vegetables and then found a recipe for the Amish Cinnamon cake so I decided to make it as well but my own version of it. The both were delicious as I had them for my dinner. I have enough to last me until next week which is great. I will need to get some more groceries although I do have some frozen vegetables I can use.

Last night Josiah and Alex came and put some shelves up in my room and today I bought some paint to redecorate my room. I am really looking forward to do this. I will let you know how it looks. Hope you are all well. Keep trusting and looking up. I will send a picture on my next update all being well, of my shelves and my room.

I will love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler and the horn of my salvation and my high tower. Psalm18v1-2