We came back from a week’s holiday in Scotland late yesterday afternoon. We couldn’t get the car on the drive to unload it as the drive is full of skip for debris from the attic renovations. So we parked near the back gate so we could take our stuff in through the back door. Tired and happy, we planned to unpack as fast as possible and get everyone into bed ready for school and the start of a busy term.
As soon as we’d emerged onto the pavement, just next to the churchyard, we realised things might take a while longer than we hoped. The half dozen or so kids playing there were very excited to see us and wanted to fill us in on all the things that had happened whilst we were away. The most prominent episode had been some naughty kids hopping into our garden over the wall and causing some damage to one of our (thankfully) cheap plastic tables. All the kids wanted to tell us the same thing at the same time and transmit their information in those squealy high pitched voices they save for important communications.
It took a while but we managed to convince them that we’d soon come to terms with our loss. After we’d unpacked. Our kind neighbour was also annoyed on our behalf about the vandalism and garden invasion and came to tell us the details. We were just relieved that the Vicar had packed the trampoline away before we left for our holiday, as we’d have been quite sad to lose that. When we go away in the summer we pack away the monkey swing too. Maybe that’s what attracted the cheeky table-destroying monkeys into the garden in the first place…
One of the speakers on the Walk of Witness in the tow-un yesterday reminded us of how we are all part of that crowd that called for Christ to be crucified. This clip from Igniter Media highlights how the cross redeems us – how we can be forgiven for our part in the crowd.
This lovely animation of Luke 22 comes from Sand Bible – they have sand animations for Easter and Christmas which are worth checking out. You can buy a set without the narration if you want to use a different bible version.
We’ll not be watching this at our Passover supper, as we already have plenty to watch and do. Will be showing it to the kids beforehand though.
It has been a crazy day in the Vicarage. The lads upstairs have made some impressive progress on the attic. The Queen had a friend come over. A lovely friend came over to help me with the Passover meal and we made a selection of eclectic purchases at Morrisons. (Matzohs, strawberries, creme fraiche, spring greens, plain yoghurt etc – all in bulk). Our old MT from Wolverhampton days, Gambit, was here on a visit. The Vicar had a wedding rehearsal. Oh, and the Vicar and I had a lovely evening out at a comedy club, The Laughing Sole, that has just launched at The Public. A local monthly laugh night – we’re very pleased.
Anyway, here’s some pics of the upstairs at the end of today. It’s looking quite neat and organised, I think.
This morning work officially began on our attic. Rocky has moved all his stuff downstairs to the spare bedroom and the space is clear for renovations. Thanks to a local trust, we are able to convert the four rooms into a much more usable Ministry Trainee space – two bedrooms, a living room/dining room/kitchenette and a shower room.
So the house was rather full today – four workmen in the attic, four kids (mine plus a bonus one) and then the Vicar, Rocky and me. Thankfully we were able to spread out on three floors. And after taking a few snaps so we can remember how it looked ‘Before’, I escaped out to fetch the lamb for Thursday’s Passover meal. The workers will be back at 8am tomorrow. Hopefully they won’t be drilling immediately…
In my search for help on the Passover meal I’m catering for church this Thursday evening (over 40 folk signed up – eeek!), I visited Ann Voscamp’s beautiful blog the other day. Through her I was pointed to Willow of Wonder, another artistic blog where there are free Easter poster downloads available at the moment. I’ve printed one out for our kitchen noticeboard this week – there is a selection of colours available. Willow has an Etsy shop with some great scripture prints for kids which can be shipped to the UK (and some can be downloaded).
I shall be looking at this regularly to help me keep my catering panic in perspective.
The brilliant Tim Hawkins has some advice for those who are unused to the more exuberant type of contemporary worship. I confess that I don’t get much further than ‘Carrying the TV’ myself. I am Anglican, after all…
It took a while but we managed to convince them that we’d soon come to terms with our loss. After we’d unpacked. Our kind neighbour was also annoyed on our behalf about the vandalism and garden invasion and came to tell us the details. We were just relieved that the Vicar had packed the trampoline away before we left for our holiday, as we’d have been quite sad to lose that. When we go away in the summer we pack away the monkey swing too. Maybe that’s what attracted the cheeky table-destroying monkeys into the garden in the first place…
The Vicar's Wife 