His Voice

In the valley His voice is loudest,
Resonates deepest,
Like thunder trapped between mountains.
There's no escaping,
No hiding,
You cannot be shielded from the voice of the Almighty.

Loving my friends!

Friends are wonderful, aren't they? They make you laugh, see you for who you really are, kick your butt, give you strength and courage to face whatever it is you happen to be facing...The last few weeks we've had friends staying with us and it's been so good!

Natalie, whom I haven't seen since Timo and I got married a year and a half ago, came all the way from Kelowna, Canada because "it was time". In some senses our lives 'look' so different from each others, and yet there is something so similar in our hearts - we connect and just seem to 'know' each other so well, despite the time and the distance. It's such a blessing and we conclude that it must be God, because everything He does is good! I love you. Watch this space for a trip to Kelowna...!

Then we had both Timo and my parents to visit. They get along so well, mostly Timo and I get to sit back and leave them to it! Our heart really was to have them with us and really honour them for being extraordinary parents, role models, friends - and whilst I think we did acheive this, they ended up blessing us so much more! We love you. That's parents for you, can't seem to out give them! Hmmm, sounds familiar....

We've just had some other friends from back in my home town with us. What a giggle! Andrea and Leo are some of the most chilled people...we basically did not a lot of anything, and had the best time! Plus, ever so domestic that they are, did all the washing up! Please come again! We love you.

And anyone who hasn't yet been... please come!

I-i-i-i-i-italy

A week in Italy and I'm still recovering from the sheer volume the Italians muster in simple, every day speech! It's incredible!

Anyway, it was a real treat to be there, at Lake Como, northern Italy for a week soley for Timo and I. We didn't do very much at all...walked a few paces from our tent to the beach, lay in the sun, read, slept, obvserved all the energetic people doing various water sports, turned over and slept some more...it was WONDERFUL!

In the evenings we had a bite to eat, sat on the beach drinking wine, read books to eachother, talked lots about everything and nothing. So romantic, just as all things should be in Italy. Oh, and we also became hugely addicted to playing spider solitar! Slightly less romantic but fun never-the-less!

We drove back through Austria and Switzerland, my first time to both, and I was gasping all the way at the absolute beauty. It was like a thousand unexpected joys dropping into my sight one after the other.

We spent our second week in Germany, catching up with family and friends and generally having a blast. It was so exciting to meet our new nephew Noah for the first time and also to get to know our niece Emily a little better. Might I mention that she can in fact say my name now...and not Timo's yet. Thrilling for me. Slightly distressing for Timo!

We were blessed with perfect weather for both weeks and are consequently sporting rather glorious suntans.

Perfecto.

Campfires & Cocoa

We have just come back from a few days away with some of our youth; time away to hang out with each other and explore a bit more of God. It was such a good time, tho we are totally wiped out (and back to work!) now. Our 'international speakers' Raymond from Ireland and Lukas from Germany, and home grown teaching talent Ben doing a most splendid job encouraging and challenging us to take God at His word...to knock, to seek, to ask..and surely He will step out into the light for us to see more clearly.

Talking about light, one of the highlights (probably as much for us as for the youth!) was our home made live flame torches and night walk! It was awsome, treking down the lanes of the Cheshire countryside with our torches held high... it felt like a prophetic declaration of the way we choose, to be ones who will not fear to hold the flame high, to carry the fire and head off into the darkness. Phew!

Good times, good times.

So, we survived the early mornings, late nights, the hyper kids on sugar overload and a few spots of rain! And although I'm back at work and Timo is looking after our new Intern Lukas who is with us from Germany, we are very much looking forward to our upcoming holiday to Germany, Switzerland and Italy next week! Yeah baby, we're smiling!

What a Mighty Good Man!

My husband astounds me! He really does. He treats me so well, like no one I know has ever treated me before. Like a queen, like his greatest friend, like someone he really does want to spend the rest of his life with! And so he invests in me - sometimes, I know, selflessly. It makes me smile and cry at the same time. He inspires me and makes me laugh out loud and behave in ridiculous ways that I only behave in around him. I wonder if he knows what a mighty good man he is?

(He's not here, twisting my arm...how could I type otherwise!?).

Beginning

I can't even keep up the pages of my own journal so I cannot promise to be a regular poster of tales, fables and romance! But you have to begin somewhere, don't you? Start as you mean to go on...Set your desire up with your intention!

So here we are, a small beginning. And welcome one and all.