This week has been half term for everyone in our house..... everyone except me:( I've been working every day (and in work four of them) and while I have got lots of work done I have missed spending the break with Ruth and the children- one day I left at 7am and returned at 8pm- this job was supposed to help with the family. I know it generally has- it just means I need to get better at planning my holidays and make sure I take at least two days every time the children have a week off.
Other than that- it's been busy- dentist (a trip with six people!!!), a new tyre (great news!) and other bits and bobs. We have our Stake Conference in a couple of weeks so I've started planning the two talks I need to deliver that weekend; this time is slightly different too because Ruth is speaking in the Saturday evening session.
Bizarre family prayer- normally our morning scripture study and family prayer takes place at 705 before I leave for work, but this week no one else has wanted to get up- so I join in by phone- it's then I realise how much activity there is during this morning devotional. I can hear Martha and Gideon making strange noises- and moving around- it's strange when I'm there in person it seems completely normal and reverent- amazing when one sense is taken away (sight) how much the other compensates.
Friday 30 October 2009
Monday 26 October 2009
An eventful weekend...
...began on Friday evening with Stake 5 a side football (this is where all the Churches in the area send one or two teams to play 5 a side). Ruth thinks this is where people who don't play football for a year skirt the boundaries of sanity by running round football pitches for a night (after this year's I might begin to agree with her). In the first minute of the first match my friend Pete overextended and tore his achilles tendon (5 hours in a&e and a cast for 6-8 weeks). In the third match I made an amazing save (with my face)- it hit with such impact that it blurred my vision in my right eye (if only I wasn't already blind in my left one!!!). I went off, because I couldn't see the bottom half of my visual field! I tried to wait it out- but it wasn't going so 1/2 hour later I had a blessing (crouched in the dark outside the fire exit) which seemed to calm me and ease the blurriness (though there was still a bit). Stupidly I thought I'd play another match- and did... decided it wasn't a good idea and waited for it to settle. I think everyone thought I was fine apart from a bit of blurriness, but inside I was panicking I would lose my vision. It got to where only baout 10% of my vision was blurry- so I drove home (I know- another stupid decision), where I got a bit upset while telling Ruth she had to take me to a&e. 2 hours later and I was discharged- all was fine (I didn't have a detached retina as one person suggested and I worried about).
There was a slight bit of comedy in my visual field test- I was asked to read a chart- but the Dr had sat me in the wrong chair (underneath the mirror)- so it was like reading Russian- she said not to worry, just read it backwards!
Saturday passed in a blur (no pun was intended because the blurriness has dissappeared by Staurday morning), we had Pete and Sara round for dinner (the missionaries had cancelled through illness); I went to chaperone a youth dance in the evening; and then it was Sunday.
I was due to speak for 20 minutes as the final speaker at Church.. I was left with 3 minutes... so I took 3 minutes (which a couple of people complained about- I should have gone on), I feel it important that sacrament finishes on time. The Bishop was very apologetic... I was a bit fed up at one point, but then decided as I was talking about the Holy Ghost it might be beneficial to have it with me and so quickly repented:) I actually changed some of my presentation at General Priesthood last night to utilise some of it. I used 2 Nephi 4: 25 to talk about the enhanced vision the Holy Ghost can provide if we utilise it (and then used D&C 76). A fun weekend
There was a slight bit of comedy in my visual field test- I was asked to read a chart- but the Dr had sat me in the wrong chair (underneath the mirror)- so it was like reading Russian- she said not to worry, just read it backwards!
Saturday passed in a blur (no pun was intended because the blurriness has dissappeared by Staurday morning), we had Pete and Sara round for dinner (the missionaries had cancelled through illness); I went to chaperone a youth dance in the evening; and then it was Sunday.
I was due to speak for 20 minutes as the final speaker at Church.. I was left with 3 minutes... so I took 3 minutes (which a couple of people complained about- I should have gone on), I feel it important that sacrament finishes on time. The Bishop was very apologetic... I was a bit fed up at one point, but then decided as I was talking about the Holy Ghost it might be beneficial to have it with me and so quickly repented:) I actually changed some of my presentation at General Priesthood last night to utilise some of it. I used 2 Nephi 4: 25 to talk about the enhanced vision the Holy Ghost can provide if we utilise it (and then used D&C 76). A fun weekend
Wednesday 21 October 2009
Where does time go?
It's a week since I posted, and I thought it was just yesterday! Things don't get much quieter- all the children's activities continue- report cards for the middle two yesterday- both of them did remarkably well- Gideon was a bit worried before Ruth opened the envelope. Eleanor decided to be a bit of a rebel today and wear a bit of mascara to school- less than a month and my baby girl's 12.
We went to our Bishop and Liz's house for dinner on Sunday- we ate and talked lots. The children played so nicely together- Martha was moaning all the way home that she wanted to stay at Lucy's. Even though he's only been Bishop 10 days I'm grateful for all he does- it's not an easy call- and being a bishop's wife is much harder. I guess I am in a privileged position, as I was involved in the process of calling him, and felt a witness of the Spirit as we forwarded his name to the First Presidency. I also got that same witness though when he was called.
Change tack altogether- I was at work until about 8pm last night- there was an Intercultural drama workshop run by the Professor of Drama Education and a Japanese lady. The students (and me- I went because of the Shinto link) were taken through a piece of process drama (I'd not seen this before) and explored the space between life and death, and aspects of spirituality. It was amazing- there were so many links with what we do in RE- maybe for the first time I can see a really good use of drama in RE (beyond act out this story we're reading). I'm looking at starting a Master's course in RE next year and am trying to create some modules for students to do- maybe I'll do RE and the Arts as one of them- don't have to decide until Christmas- but I have to make them appealing so people will want to do the course (it's for me to teach and run not study for).
We went to our Bishop and Liz's house for dinner on Sunday- we ate and talked lots. The children played so nicely together- Martha was moaning all the way home that she wanted to stay at Lucy's. Even though he's only been Bishop 10 days I'm grateful for all he does- it's not an easy call- and being a bishop's wife is much harder. I guess I am in a privileged position, as I was involved in the process of calling him, and felt a witness of the Spirit as we forwarded his name to the First Presidency. I also got that same witness though when he was called.
Change tack altogether- I was at work until about 8pm last night- there was an Intercultural drama workshop run by the Professor of Drama Education and a Japanese lady. The students (and me- I went because of the Shinto link) were taken through a piece of process drama (I'd not seen this before) and explored the space between life and death, and aspects of spirituality. It was amazing- there were so many links with what we do in RE- maybe for the first time I can see a really good use of drama in RE (beyond act out this story we're reading). I'm looking at starting a Master's course in RE next year and am trying to create some modules for students to do- maybe I'll do RE and the Arts as one of them- don't have to decide until Christmas- but I have to make them appealing so people will want to do the course (it's for me to teach and run not study for).
Tuesday 13 October 2009
A busy weekend
My goodness- this weekend went in a blur- home from work on Friday to Gideon's birthday part- 8 boys all aged 7 or 8- man are they loud! All the old favourite games came out- fluffy bunnies; cereal box; the flour game; the chocolate chopping game and so on. It was possibly the loudest 2 hours of my life. Then came the clean up and a collapse in the chair.
Up at 530 on Staurday morning to catch the bus to catch the train to London. Funnest event of the day- getting stopped by the police at 530am to see if I was alright/ a terrorist/ a drunk- who knows why? Boy- was the meeting long. meanwhile Ruth took Eleanor to dance festival, Gideon to taekwondo (he passed his grading with flying colours), then cleaning Gideon sick up from the car, then to Morrisons, then to Costco and home to make tea!!! Think I got the better end of the deal.
Sunday- I was due at Church at 915am. We had a new Bishop called today, and I needed to interview and call his two new counsellors- that was really nice. Rob Lord is our new Bishop- he and his family are really nice and good people and I look forward to him being my, and my family's new Bishop. Couple of interviews after Church, a short meeting with Bishop Lord then home- back out 1/2 hour later to set up for Gideon's baptism.
Wow- what an event was that- there were over 100 people there (family, friends, ward members)- we had invited a number of people who are not members of our Church and over 20 of them came- it was really nice that they could share the evening with us. It was such a nice service, with great talks (Pete and Vicki); songs (Liz and Primary) and it was just so lovely. It is always an honour and a privilege to baptise and confirm people; but probably doubly so when it's your own children. As we stood in the font and watched people file in- and then with each of the ordinances we felt so close to each other as a family and to the Spirit.
Home and bed!!!!! An amazing weekend- but one whose busyness we don't want to repeat too soon. Having said that- the week so far just seems a continuation of that with work, activities, meetings and the like!
Up at 530 on Staurday morning to catch the bus to catch the train to London. Funnest event of the day- getting stopped by the police at 530am to see if I was alright/ a terrorist/ a drunk- who knows why? Boy- was the meeting long. meanwhile Ruth took Eleanor to dance festival, Gideon to taekwondo (he passed his grading with flying colours), then cleaning Gideon sick up from the car, then to Morrisons, then to Costco and home to make tea!!! Think I got the better end of the deal.
Sunday- I was due at Church at 915am. We had a new Bishop called today, and I needed to interview and call his two new counsellors- that was really nice. Rob Lord is our new Bishop- he and his family are really nice and good people and I look forward to him being my, and my family's new Bishop. Couple of interviews after Church, a short meeting with Bishop Lord then home- back out 1/2 hour later to set up for Gideon's baptism.
Wow- what an event was that- there were over 100 people there (family, friends, ward members)- we had invited a number of people who are not members of our Church and over 20 of them came- it was really nice that they could share the evening with us. It was such a nice service, with great talks (Pete and Vicki); songs (Liz and Primary) and it was just so lovely. It is always an honour and a privilege to baptise and confirm people; but probably doubly so when it's your own children. As we stood in the font and watched people file in- and then with each of the ordinances we felt so close to each other as a family and to the Spirit.
Home and bed!!!!! An amazing weekend- but one whose busyness we don't want to repeat too soon. Having said that- the week so far just seems a continuation of that with work, activities, meetings and the like!
Thursday 8 October 2009
Trying again
Why do my good intentions usually come to naught? I'm going to try and be better at this, even if it is just a couple of lines every other day. Lots has happened since last I wrote- I now have a new job at the University of Chester training RE teachers- I work with post graduates training to be secondary teacher, and undergraduates doing a BEd degree. I am about 6 weeks into it and so far am loving it.
The first two weeks were a bit odd- I was nomadic for 10 days with no office (I was waiting for someone to move out), then setting up the office and getting ready for the students to arrive. This really was the clam before the storm- three weeks of teaching 830- 4pm. Ok, so I may not have been on my feet for that long but it sure felt that way. I have a group of 24 who have just gone out on their first placement (first day back in University tomorrow)- so we'll see how they got on!
I have delevered sessions on "What is RE?"; "Spirituality in the Secondary School"; "Pedagogies of RE" and the list could go on. I am really pleased with the feedback that I seem to get from them- especially as some of them are modelling teaching techniques that I hope they use in the classroon- a far cry from my University days of sitti ng listening to a lecture and taking notes.
Family life has moved on too- Eleanor started secondary school and after a bumpy couple of weeks seems to be enjoying it- she's joined teh choir and is singing at the Young Voices Concert at the MEN arena in December. Martha has started playgroup two mornings a week and loves it; Abi is in Year 5 and continued the family tradition of representing the school in the book quiz (all 60 Y5 students attempt a quiz and the top 4 get chosen for the team). Gideon turned 8 two days ago and is preparing for his baptism on Sunday.
And Ruth is the glue that holds all of these different activities together. Thoughlast night showed her fallibility for once:- we were without children for an hour (Martha in bed; the others at Faith in God at Church). Ruth can't find her phone- it must have fallen off Eleanor's lap when she got out of the car at dancing class. We turn the car upside down- I go to the car park and search every inch of it using my phone as a torch (inclding under every car); go into the pub to see if it was handed in; search the car again. Get home an hour later- go upstairs and it's in the en suite!!!
The first two weeks were a bit odd- I was nomadic for 10 days with no office (I was waiting for someone to move out), then setting up the office and getting ready for the students to arrive. This really was the clam before the storm- three weeks of teaching 830- 4pm. Ok, so I may not have been on my feet for that long but it sure felt that way. I have a group of 24 who have just gone out on their first placement (first day back in University tomorrow)- so we'll see how they got on!
I have delevered sessions on "What is RE?"; "Spirituality in the Secondary School"; "Pedagogies of RE" and the list could go on. I am really pleased with the feedback that I seem to get from them- especially as some of them are modelling teaching techniques that I hope they use in the classroon- a far cry from my University days of sitti ng listening to a lecture and taking notes.
Family life has moved on too- Eleanor started secondary school and after a bumpy couple of weeks seems to be enjoying it- she's joined teh choir and is singing at the Young Voices Concert at the MEN arena in December. Martha has started playgroup two mornings a week and loves it; Abi is in Year 5 and continued the family tradition of representing the school in the book quiz (all 60 Y5 students attempt a quiz and the top 4 get chosen for the team). Gideon turned 8 two days ago and is preparing for his baptism on Sunday.
And Ruth is the glue that holds all of these different activities together. Thoughlast night showed her fallibility for once:- we were without children for an hour (Martha in bed; the others at Faith in God at Church). Ruth can't find her phone- it must have fallen off Eleanor's lap when she got out of the car at dancing class. We turn the car upside down- I go to the car park and search every inch of it using my phone as a torch (inclding under every car); go into the pub to see if it was handed in; search the car again. Get home an hour later- go upstairs and it's in the en suite!!!
Tuesday 5 May 2009
Back to work
I am absolutely shattered- I know that the nature of work is a similar routine each day; teaching is always different every day but the monotony of getting up at the same time, walking out of the door (often when everyone else is still in bed) and then coming home at similar times (though I know not as late as other jobs) sometimes gets me down. I don't know how people with office jobs cope- at least I have interesting children to break up the day. My timetable at the moment is mainly sixth form (16-18 year olds) and I love teaching them- bizarrely my timetable has become more psychology than Religious Studies but I'm actually enjoying it. RE is still my first love though.
I had the most incredible headache for most of work yesterday which wasn't helped by having to clean out the office fridge because a bottle of milk had been left in there since March. We had a meeting after work to decide on the curriculum next year (in light of the fact that we're having our time cut in years 7-9). I am really fortunate to work with lovely people who make work a lot easier.
Dash home- Abi to dancing- Ruth and Abi home- me to Stake PEC and a meeting with the High Council- Home at 10pm. The meeting was really good- we discussed planning for Helping hands this and next year. I gave a presentation on the Teachings for our Time topic for this month- it's using three talks about the Temple (mainly Elder Scott's). the presentation was in preparation for the hIgh COuncil talks which follow the same theme. I came across a quote from Elder Gary Stevenson of the Seventy that reflects a discussion Ruth and I have been having over the last few weeks as we search for artwork for our walls:
Recently, in a stake conference, all present were invited by the visiting authority, Elder Glen Jenson, an Area Seventy, to take a virtual tour of their homes using their spiritual eyes. I would like to invite each of you to do this also. Wherever your home may be and whatever its configuration, the application of eternal gospel principles within its walls is universal. Let’s begin. Imagine that you are opening your front door and walking inside your home. What do you see, and how do you feel? Is it a place of love, peace, and refuge from the world, as is the temple? Is it clean and orderly? As you walk through the rooms of your home, do you see uplifting images which include appropriate pictures of the temple and the Savior? Is your bedroom or sleeping area a place for personal prayer? Is your gathering area or kitchen a place where food is prepared and enjoyed together, allowing uplifting conversation and family time? Are scriptures found in a room where the family can study, pray, and learn together? Can you find your personal gospel study space? Does the music you hear or the entertainment you see, online or otherwise, offend the Spirit? Is the conversation uplifting and without contention? That concludes our tour. Perhaps you, as I, found a few spots that need some “home improvement”—hopefully not an “extreme home makeover.”
I had the most incredible headache for most of work yesterday which wasn't helped by having to clean out the office fridge because a bottle of milk had been left in there since March. We had a meeting after work to decide on the curriculum next year (in light of the fact that we're having our time cut in years 7-9). I am really fortunate to work with lovely people who make work a lot easier.
Dash home- Abi to dancing- Ruth and Abi home- me to Stake PEC and a meeting with the High Council- Home at 10pm. The meeting was really good- we discussed planning for Helping hands this and next year. I gave a presentation on the Teachings for our Time topic for this month- it's using three talks about the Temple (mainly Elder Scott's). the presentation was in preparation for the hIgh COuncil talks which follow the same theme. I came across a quote from Elder Gary Stevenson of the Seventy that reflects a discussion Ruth and I have been having over the last few weeks as we search for artwork for our walls:
Recently, in a stake conference, all present were invited by the visiting authority, Elder Glen Jenson, an Area Seventy, to take a virtual tour of their homes using their spiritual eyes. I would like to invite each of you to do this also. Wherever your home may be and whatever its configuration, the application of eternal gospel principles within its walls is universal. Let’s begin. Imagine that you are opening your front door and walking inside your home. What do you see, and how do you feel? Is it a place of love, peace, and refuge from the world, as is the temple? Is it clean and orderly? As you walk through the rooms of your home, do you see uplifting images which include appropriate pictures of the temple and the Savior? Is your bedroom or sleeping area a place for personal prayer? Is your gathering area or kitchen a place where food is prepared and enjoyed together, allowing uplifting conversation and family time? Are scriptures found in a room where the family can study, pray, and learn together? Can you find your personal gospel study space? Does the music you hear or the entertainment you see, online or otherwise, offend the Spirit? Is the conversation uplifting and without contention? That concludes our tour. Perhaps you, as I, found a few spots that need some “home improvement”—hopefully not an “extreme home makeover.”
What a weekend!
I’m not sure the complete list from Friday was covered but hey ho! The car came back (or rather I picked it up) on Friday evening and guess what? The price they quoted INCLUDED VAT- that is unheard of- it was still exorbitant but still.... (For those elsewhere- if there is anybody that reads this- VAT is 17.5% sales tax- which actually is reduced to 15% at the moment to reinvigorate the economy- think it might need a new Government rather than a 2.5% reduction to achieve that!).
Then to Church for an EFY fundraiser- they raised over £500- wow! The young women had gone to so much effort- we had dance performances and a rerun of the roadshow. Then an auction- we got babysitters for £10 and a novelty cake of our choosing and design at some point in the future for £20- it was more about donating to the youth than getting a bargain- hence one of our ward gave about £50 for two cakes!!! Last year I helped organise the Multi Stake Youth Conference in Manchester- it was such an amazing spiritual experience for the youth (and me) that really I would do anything to have my children to attend (not until they’re 14 unfortunately). Eleanor slept over at one of the Young Women’s house- and didn’t return until midday the next day. She had a lovely time- she can’t wait to get to YW’s- there is a countdown of weeks on the back of her door.
Saturday was spent writing a Buddhist textbook. Oh the joys!!! Ruth was such a wonderful support- I was basically left in my office to work all day while she did the Taekwondo run, Tesco shop and everything else that needed doing. Meanwhile- in my breaks I order the Miley Cyrus autobiography for Abi with her spends (£4 from Amazon) and the Beyonce CD for Ruth.
Saturday evening was Wolverine!!!!!!!!! Went with some friends (Ruth stayed at home- goodness me- she’s a put upon wife). It was amazing- and his name is Jimmy!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday was Presidency meeting in the morning followed by Church- Martha was a complete pain- I think Friday night was catching up with her. Sunday night was a Youth Fireside- the first half hour (when I should have been chairing a Youth Council) was spent fixing the audio visual stuff so the YW could watch Conference. Home at 10pm!!!
After all that we were very glad it was a three day weekend- I love Bank Holidays. Swimming on Monday morning- Manchester are allowing under 16s to swim for free- so it was much cheaper morning than we envisaged. It’s also really nice that our local pool is the Aquatics Centre which was built for the Commonwealth Games. Then shopping for some children’s clothes- Gideon loves his new clothes. Ruth watched Hannah Montana with the girls this afternoon.
Then Psychology revision notes all night!!!!!!!!!!! I want to stop working!!!!!!!!
Then to Church for an EFY fundraiser- they raised over £500- wow! The young women had gone to so much effort- we had dance performances and a rerun of the roadshow. Then an auction- we got babysitters for £10 and a novelty cake of our choosing and design at some point in the future for £20- it was more about donating to the youth than getting a bargain- hence one of our ward gave about £50 for two cakes!!! Last year I helped organise the Multi Stake Youth Conference in Manchester- it was such an amazing spiritual experience for the youth (and me) that really I would do anything to have my children to attend (not until they’re 14 unfortunately). Eleanor slept over at one of the Young Women’s house- and didn’t return until midday the next day. She had a lovely time- she can’t wait to get to YW’s- there is a countdown of weeks on the back of her door.
Saturday was spent writing a Buddhist textbook. Oh the joys!!! Ruth was such a wonderful support- I was basically left in my office to work all day while she did the Taekwondo run, Tesco shop and everything else that needed doing. Meanwhile- in my breaks I order the Miley Cyrus autobiography for Abi with her spends (£4 from Amazon) and the Beyonce CD for Ruth.
Saturday evening was Wolverine!!!!!!!!! Went with some friends (Ruth stayed at home- goodness me- she’s a put upon wife). It was amazing- and his name is Jimmy!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday was Presidency meeting in the morning followed by Church- Martha was a complete pain- I think Friday night was catching up with her. Sunday night was a Youth Fireside- the first half hour (when I should have been chairing a Youth Council) was spent fixing the audio visual stuff so the YW could watch Conference. Home at 10pm!!!
After all that we were very glad it was a three day weekend- I love Bank Holidays. Swimming on Monday morning- Manchester are allowing under 16s to swim for free- so it was much cheaper morning than we envisaged. It’s also really nice that our local pool is the Aquatics Centre which was built for the Commonwealth Games. Then shopping for some children’s clothes- Gideon loves his new clothes. Ruth watched Hannah Montana with the girls this afternoon.
Then Psychology revision notes all night!!!!!!!!!!! I want to stop working!!!!!!!!
Friday 1 May 2009
I am Rubbish
Here I am six months later and this is only the second post with little or no time to write it. Why does life never get any less hectic? We have a Bank Holiday weekend coming up and I will see if I can write some more then- we have a broken car to pick up (and pay for), efy fundraising activity to attend, child to deposit and pick up at a sleepover, taekwondo class, textbook tow rite, PhD chapter to edit/redraft, church to attend, meetings/fireside to attend, Wolverine and Hannah Montana to watch at the cinema, Conference to prepare for, revision notes to write, Tesco shopping and the list goes on. Most of those are very nice activities- but all in the space of 3 days- with no work (school or university) to be done on Sunday. A nice quiet weekend!!!! Rant over! The next one might be a bit nicer.
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