I popped into town last week to buy a birthday card after my dwindling stash at home was unable to come up with something "right" for that person. Whilst I was browsing I overheard this conversation:
Youth 1 to Sales assistant: "So what's the most popular thing for Mother's Day, what are people buying?"
Sales assistant shows him some items that are selling well....
Youth 1 "Yeah, she'd like that, what else is there?"
Youth 2 " not exactly original though is it, like you've thought much about it" or words to that effect...
I felt SO sad, not just because it seemed to be a case of "Oh it's Mother's Day, I need to buy stuff, something, anything, just to make her feel like I've remembered, yeah, she'll like that...", but because he could do something that would mean so much more to her.
This is what I wanted to say to him:
"Okay, how about this, tell your Mum, you are going to do something different this year for Mother's Day. Tell her your gonna take her out for coffee and spend some time with her, buy her a Danish Pastry and tell her you love her. Tell her that despite the fact that you may drive her crazy at times, actually you really appreciate everything she does for you and you may even try to do this again in the future, just because you want to, not because you feel under any obligation. She will probably have a little cry which she will try and conceal unsuccessfully, but she will probably tell her friends, it was the best Mother's Day present she ever had, even surpassing the first one you ever made at Pre School"
Yep, that's what I'd say to him....but then I'd have to turn that around because it works both ways and I know I still have much to learn too.
A quick disclaimer, this is a detached remark and in no way reflects my own feelings towards my boys and Mother's Day!
Monday, 8 March 2010
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
One more sleep!
This time tomorrow, the cases will be packed and I will be doing the neurotic note writing ritual that begins any trip where I am leaving someone at home...or will I, poor N. has heard it all before, perhaps I should simply leave him be this time...
One thing that does need to happen is "Chicken Patrol initiation". Where is Ramzi when I need him, Ramzi, chicken protector and egg collector?
My India switch has been almost permanently on this week, partly because I am excited to see my Indian friends again, but also because there are 15 of us going on the team, 11 have never been before and who will see Asha's inspirational work for the first time. I know each one will be impacted by what they see, only having heard it secondhand from us...for the last five years. Five years....little did I know what a 2 week Tearfund Transform Team would result in back in 2005.
I just know we are going to have such fun, hilarity will abound, we have a great team and I know the blogspot we have set up will give a "full on" account of what has happened every day through different eyes, so to speak! So if any of you are interested in popping in and seeing what we are getting up to here is the link:
http://asha2010.blogspot.com/
You will hear/see how Harry the monkey (puppet)has been holding court in Tigri
Can Stuart manage to sleep...even in an auto rickshaw...?I think Tim did a couple of years back...
Who will spot the first elephant/monkey/camel/cow?
Will I really get a sari made up and wear it?
Can you tell I am just a little bit excited now? I've just re read our last blog from 2008 and laughed out loud when I read how Dennis had taken his kettle, plus all the other exploits of the week!
http://asha2008.blogspot.com
Just 1 more sleep.....
The question I will leave you with is: Will D and I get upgraded?!!! A standing joke amongst our friends....I'll let you know!
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
"Going with the flow, and trying to keep up!"
Well it has been a funny old week so far, everything has exceeded expectations and I am beginning to realise that "going with the flow" can actually mean moving at quite a pace! I am learning to step out of my comfort zones, knowing that He is in this day with me.
Yesterday,three of us from the team going to Delhi, met up in our local toyshop to spend some vouchers they had donated for us to buy toys for the children in the slum we will be visiting next month. The manager and her staff were really helpful and allowed us to be photographed with them in the shop with our purchases. I then went home and D and I prepared a press release about our trip, what the team would be doing, what part the shop had played, that sort of thing. The photo was duly attached and everything emailed over to the press office.
This afternoon I have a message that a journalist has phoned and wants to interview me to hear more about our trip and the local volunteers who will be part of the team. Now I am apprehensive, hoping I do Asha justice by saying things clearly...
The school presentation went well today. D&I spoke to 2 classes comprising of 52 9 year olds, who were delightful and had LOADS of questions! I have a sneaky feeling we may be doing more of these in the future. If anyone finds a baby doll which looks Indian could they let me know, I think I need a prop box now for these sorts of talks....may have to review the pillow case pregnancy kit too....
The backpack picture is something I have been asked to share at church on Sunday. Again I need to think about how I do this simply as it is supposed to be, especially as all the children will be listening too. My church family, how I have grown to love them!
Thankfully, the fact that my home looks a little scruffy this week, hasn't perturbed me too much. Samar has cooked most nights which has released me to work late (looking at fragility fractures in the elderly). We will all miss her when she goes, not only for her culinary skills! We could have taken out shares in garlic and lemons, the girl can do dressings with panache...oh and freshly ground black pepper!
The chickens have started laying again, the apricot tree and gooseberry bushes are in, the marmalade was an unqualified success, my first attempt, and all is well with the world....
I just need to keep up!
Yesterday,three of us from the team going to Delhi, met up in our local toyshop to spend some vouchers they had donated for us to buy toys for the children in the slum we will be visiting next month. The manager and her staff were really helpful and allowed us to be photographed with them in the shop with our purchases. I then went home and D and I prepared a press release about our trip, what the team would be doing, what part the shop had played, that sort of thing. The photo was duly attached and everything emailed over to the press office.
This afternoon I have a message that a journalist has phoned and wants to interview me to hear more about our trip and the local volunteers who will be part of the team. Now I am apprehensive, hoping I do Asha justice by saying things clearly...
The school presentation went well today. D&I spoke to 2 classes comprising of 52 9 year olds, who were delightful and had LOADS of questions! I have a sneaky feeling we may be doing more of these in the future. If anyone finds a baby doll which looks Indian could they let me know, I think I need a prop box now for these sorts of talks....may have to review the pillow case pregnancy kit too....
The backpack picture is something I have been asked to share at church on Sunday. Again I need to think about how I do this simply as it is supposed to be, especially as all the children will be listening too. My church family, how I have grown to love them!
Thankfully, the fact that my home looks a little scruffy this week, hasn't perturbed me too much. Samar has cooked most nights which has released me to work late (looking at fragility fractures in the elderly). We will all miss her when she goes, not only for her culinary skills! We could have taken out shares in garlic and lemons, the girl can do dressings with panache...oh and freshly ground black pepper!
The chickens have started laying again, the apricot tree and gooseberry bushes are in, the marmalade was an unqualified success, my first attempt, and all is well with the world....
I just need to keep up!
Monday, 18 January 2010
Day 5 and the Wake Up call continues!
The Challenge:
To practice being a better listener...to hear His voice..
The Dilemma:
I want to set aside time to do this as a purposeful act as well the "everyday conversations" I normally have, so how to practice this without becoming all legalistic about discipline, ritual and planning when I know it is all about going with the flow, at the moment.
"The Spirit is willing...but the flesh....."
After an initial struggle on the first morning having spent 10 minutes or so wrestling with the desire to stay in bed. I could hear this voice in my head, 20 minutes Julie, 20 minutes? I remembered the words of songs I had sung recently "I surrender all...." and "All I am is Yours", and here I was begrudging 20 minutes...hmmmm, so up I got and He spoke and I thought "I should do this more often" and so off we go...
The Deal:
We make a deal...If He wants me to wake up earlier to listen and pray, then could He wake me without the alarm clock?
Request 2... I'm going to have to take baby steps, so from 6am is okay and then we review it at some point.
So I wake up the next morning, turn to look at the clock....05.59 and then clicks into 06.00 before my eyes...I grin, God has a sense of humour. I am reminded of GroundHog day when the guy has this happen, day after day....
My ritual is, get the washing machine going, unload the dishwasher, get the chickens out, make a cup of tea, grab my Bible, find the throw and wrap it around me, sit and wait for God to speak or prompt me to read or pray for someone, whatever...I sit and sip my tea and the day begins!
So 5 days in and it is all very exciting! Only ignored the "wake up" on one day and then felt so disappointed that I'd missed out, notice, not beating myself up for turning over, just the same feeling you get if you arrive somewhere and you realise your friend has already been and gone and you could have had a good time together, that sort of feeling.
In Soundbites:
Yes I am hearing Him speak to me about a variety of things!
I am finding it a helpful discipline.
Listening is important for 2010.
The mornings before everyone gets up, works well for me.
Dick gets coffee in bed every morning at the moment, instead of taking turns!
If I don't get woken up, I won't fret, it just isn't for THAT day.
It is a small start, but God just wants me to want to be there!
I'll keep you informed!
To practice being a better listener...to hear His voice..
The Dilemma:
I want to set aside time to do this as a purposeful act as well the "everyday conversations" I normally have, so how to practice this without becoming all legalistic about discipline, ritual and planning when I know it is all about going with the flow, at the moment.
"The Spirit is willing...but the flesh....."
After an initial struggle on the first morning having spent 10 minutes or so wrestling with the desire to stay in bed. I could hear this voice in my head, 20 minutes Julie, 20 minutes? I remembered the words of songs I had sung recently "I surrender all...." and "All I am is Yours", and here I was begrudging 20 minutes...hmmmm, so up I got and He spoke and I thought "I should do this more often" and so off we go...
The Deal:
We make a deal...If He wants me to wake up earlier to listen and pray, then could He wake me without the alarm clock?
Request 2... I'm going to have to take baby steps, so from 6am is okay and then we review it at some point.
So I wake up the next morning, turn to look at the clock....05.59 and then clicks into 06.00 before my eyes...I grin, God has a sense of humour. I am reminded of GroundHog day when the guy has this happen, day after day....
My ritual is, get the washing machine going, unload the dishwasher, get the chickens out, make a cup of tea, grab my Bible, find the throw and wrap it around me, sit and wait for God to speak or prompt me to read or pray for someone, whatever...I sit and sip my tea and the day begins!
So 5 days in and it is all very exciting! Only ignored the "wake up" on one day and then felt so disappointed that I'd missed out, notice, not beating myself up for turning over, just the same feeling you get if you arrive somewhere and you realise your friend has already been and gone and you could have had a good time together, that sort of feeling.
In Soundbites:
Yes I am hearing Him speak to me about a variety of things!
I am finding it a helpful discipline.
Listening is important for 2010.
The mornings before everyone gets up, works well for me.
Dick gets coffee in bed every morning at the moment, instead of taking turns!
If I don't get woken up, I won't fret, it just isn't for THAT day.
It is a small start, but God just wants me to want to be there!
I'll keep you informed!
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Going with the Flow....
Well, Little Miss Structure is quite surprised at herself, so far...she is not only coping without a set pattern to her day, but is also feeling quite "chilled out" about the whole thing! It's all very odd, I feel as if I am on holiday....weird and yet so so releasing in a "it is well with my soul" sort of way. There is an inner contentment and calm, the day seems to have a rhythm and everything gets done, sometimes faster, sometimes more slowly and thoughtfully. People pop in, phones ring,interruptions happen, yet none of this seems to interrupt the flow of the day. I can't explain it, except to say I have an inner peace that seems to hold it all in place. I am not writing in the dust yet and I am cooking and sewing and knitting, studying, thinking,listening, going off to work, reflecting, meeting up with friends and praying, yep, the first fortnight has been a good beginning...
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