God created me to do him some definite service.
He has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another.
I have my mission.
I may not know what it is in this life but I will be told in the next.
I am a link in a chain a bond of connections between persons.
He has not created me for nothing, I shall do good, I shall do his work.
Therefore I will trust in Him.
Whatever I do, wherever I am, I cannot be thrown away.
If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him.
If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him.
He does nothing in vain, He knows what He is about.
Cardinal Newman 1801-1890
Edited: I have been attempting to write this post since last Sunday, so here goes third time lucky!
Sunday 13th October
Edited: I have been attempting to write this post since last Sunday, so here goes third time lucky!
Sunday 13th October
Cardinal Newman is being canonised today; he was an outstanding thinker and writer of his time. His writings were easy to comprehend and his spiritual incite for everday difficulties is still applicable today. I have this excerpt in front of my knitting chair and whenever I am doubting the current situation, it speaks volumes in the silence of the heart.
It was a year ago yesterday that we moved into this home and the day before that we celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary. Mum and Dad very kindly sent a treat via BACS transfer so we were all able to enjoy a yummy takeaway Indian meal courtesy of the Booths chiller cabinet!
My silence here has not been due to sickness per se but rather a case of blogging fatigue and the computer always in use by another family member! I have remembered to document some of our days courtesy of the phone camera so will share them in the following sections. One thing I would like to say is that thanks to blogging I have made some precious friendships, so when I read that Eva's mum was seriously ill in hospital I did not hestitate to pick up the phone, 11pm our time, 6pm hers. It is in times like these that I am glad that I continue writing and sharing here as best I can :-)
Other News
Beacon Fell Adventures
We have kept up with the monthly home ed forest school meetings. September's challenge was to build some shelters and last week it was all about whittling:
Confectionary Badge
Rhoda and Andrea who run the activities, are looking into the possibility of the kids working toward the John Muir Conservation Award starting in January.
Arts Award
Pip has almost completed her bronze award, she has attended the weekly sessions, gave her review on Jarrow Hall including making a booklet with the help of Dad and she also used her artist inspiration adding her own twist of converting the image into a collage. The only remaining task is to share a skill with the group. The Thursday meetings are a real highlight to our week and we have found some lovely friends too.
Confectionary Badge
Pip is working towards her confectionary badge at Guides. Yesterday she made 'frighteningly fabulous fudge', which she has shared with neighbours and some waiting to be gifted to family.
Today's task is to prep the puff pastry for the apple turnovers and to make Bakewell Tart. We are attending a theatre production celebrating Diwali on the 28th so there will also be some sweet treats to celebrate. By the time she attends Guides on the 29th this badge will be signed off and completed :-)
Other News
Dave has been accepted on phase three of the statins trial relating to reducing the damage associated with secondary progressive MS. It is a double blind trial so neither us nor the team at Preston hospital know if he is on the drug or a placebo. We have asked everyone to pray that he actually gets the drug. The trial lasts for three years and during that period they track his walking, general neurological functioning and blood cholestrol levels.
I have been candida symptom free these past ten weeks which is a major breakthrough! Still sticking with the diet, taking probiotics and grapeseed extract which is an anti-fungal. I am having ongoing issues with my spine and trying to tackle the pain with osteopathic manipulation, tai chi and pilates exercises. It is a slow process attempting to realign the body. All my crafting work doesn't help and I'm having to remind myself to get up, move around and stretch in between working. I have finished another pair of socks for me and been working on some items either for a craft stall or folksy shop, some Christmas owls and cochet washable make-up remover pads:
It is half term in these parts, so no college and our arts award class isn't running. However we have two lots of hospital appointments, continued arts and badge prep, an afternoon with friends and a meet up with family and our ususal football training at UCLAN on Thursday. A friend from prayer group asked me how things were going and my reply, " Bonkersly Manageable!!" It can definitely be chaotic at times but we are still smiling so that is a good sign.
11 comments:
San, I'm so glad you were able to find the time and computer availability for writing a post :-) lovely to be able to catch up with you. Sounds like lots of positive good things are happening, which no doubt help balance against the health challenges. My prayers are with you, and Dave too.
I've got Newman's Selected Sermons, Prayers, and Devotions sitting here :-) I've just added it to my Morning Prayers Prose readings this week when it came in on hold for me at the library. Serendipitous timing :-)
Yes that is interesting timing! Have missed making connections so hoping I can grab computer time on a more regular basis :/). Thanks for the prayers they are appreciated, prayers for you all at your end xx
Lovely to hear what has been going on with you and yours. We are working on the Arts Award here too, my too have been really enjoying it. C has also been doing the John Muir Award we are on the last level with him, it is great fun but a lot of hours at this stage, we have chosen to do it over a much longer time otherwise it can take over and be all that you do. Hope Pip enjoys it as much as we have. Glad to hear that you are doing a little better, I hope that continues to be the status quo x
Thanks for the heads up re the conservation award, I am sure we will work on it bit by bit :-)
I'm glad you were able to blog! I'm having to share CBC's computer at the moment so I am also finding it a little harder to get on and comment etc! I am glad that Dave has been accepted onto the trial- I HOPE and pray he IS getting it! Very glad to hear your Candida symptoms have been absent- that is fabulous!
Pip's Arts award and Guide awards are both great things to be doing! The fudge looks amazing! Hope that she continues to do well with these!x
What is a BACS transfer? I am so glad to have you as a friend! Your call meant a lot to me. Are those forest meetings monthly meetings? Pip looks happy! Is she an outdoor person like Sarah? Is the confectionery badge for girl scouts? Her fudge looks good! And you wrapped it nicely. Congratulations on the arts award. I hope the candida will stay away! Your owls are cute. I also have pain in my spine, in the very end of it, but that is because is is degenerated. I fell once on my back when rollerskating as a young girl and then had several really hard beds while giving birth. That ruined it! I do some yoga movements, but there is not much that can be done. It is the bone that is bad. I hope that Dave is getting the real drug and that it is helping! There is too much sickness in the world. So hard to believe that you have lived in your new house for a year already. Congratulations on your anniversary! Love to all of you!
I can't believe it's a year since you moved! Then I remembered we moved around the same time didn't we? Time flies. Pip's fudge looks amazing! Might have to make some for the family this weekend :)
Is Pip back home for schooling?
Yes she is :-). She will likely attend the same college as Ben once she is 14. It is just down the road from us and has a good track record in working with home school families x
Aw thank you Eva you are a very dear friend, I will never forget you guiding me through Waldorf lessons for Ben and being such a loving support over the years. BACS is an electronic bank transfer. Yes the forest school meetings are monthly and Pip is definite an outdoor gal like her big sister Sara. I think I spoke to soon... the candida beast is back 😂 I had a few slip ups the past week, forgetting to take my unsweetened soya milk when out for drinks and succumbing to a nut bar one afternoon when on the run. Ah well it will clear and it is a reminder to me that even the smallest slip ups are a big hiccup 😜 Sending love to you and continued prayers for your mum and dad ❤️❤️❤️
Dear San, Happy Anniversary to you and Dave! I think you are very busy in a good way. The activities sound fun with so much to learn. My girls did a little whittling, but could have used a more educated guide. It's so wonderful that you have the forest school meetings. Thank you for the writing by Cardinal Newman. It's nice to read about him. Would you and Pip share the fudge recipe? It looks incredibly yummy . . what flavor was it? Your owls are adorable. I hope Dave has been doing well and he is in our prayers for getting better on the special medicine. Take good care, I wish you strength on your diet so you can feel well and happy. With lots of love, Dorina xoxo
How is your candida by now?
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