Merry Christmas

Today has been a different day. It was the first Christmas that me and Will hosted, with both families together. It was a little weird, as we are two quite different families. It seemed to work and all seemed to enjoy themselves.

The food was cooked - the veg was a little cold but nevermind.

Pressie giving was a little odd as a lack of money on our part, and my family not knowing if or what they should get Will's family.

We played Buzz which was quite cool. Got my mum+dad playing. Mum was glad she didn't come last, and thats only cos she stole some points of dad.

We got to see Strictly Come Dancing and Doctor Who. Very cool.

Background

Ain't it cool?
Its a little but broken but should be fixed when Will has time

I have Will to thank for this. And I'm sure if any of you reading this would like something equally impressive then Will is waiting for your call.

Writing

Why does writing a letter hurt some times and things come out that you wouldn't have thought to write about?

Its amazing, well maybe not amazing, how writing to two different people who you know and love brings out different sides. I'm not sure how to handle it. But I won't stop writing, well I hope I won't. I'm hoping that writing letters will brin gback the creativity of poems, so far it hasn't, but I think it might in time.

Stuff

I just want to apologise to Rach for not writing her a letter lately. Not really sure why, but I haven't.

Moni has lost weight. Me and mum told Sylv on thursday and between us we are working on getting Moni to eat and trying to think/pray for the answers. Though she did eat most of her lunch on thursday, all of her dinner and most of her breakfast on friday. Hopefully she can keep it up.

Hug on thursday will be different, the plan is to stuff envelopes for FMT, hopefully, if we can get the giftaid forms sorted (waiting to hear from Roger). If we don't hear from him, Will is gonna get them printed and if Roger can't do them and get them to us then Will is. So I need everyone available on thusrday for envelope stuffing, please.

The rent has been sorted.... We will now be paying it on the 18th of every month instead of the 3rd. So that is good. We're getting there slowly. Willl opened a savers account and put £10 in and is believing by faith that it will multiply.

Trust In The Lord

I'm having to learn how to seriously trust in the Lord. We've hit a problem with money this month. We don't have enough to pay the rent. And Will's boss isn't bothering to sort his job description and money out. So Will's gonna apply for two different jobs which is more money. Please pray as we'renot sure what to do and we've got to work something out by the end of the week to tell our landlord.

Frustrations

I'm sorry if this comes out wrong, but i'm frustrated, generally with people or maybe its the way they act/don't act.

I dunno how to word all of this, so here goes.

I'm happy to open my house, and have people round, and I'm happy to feed people. But when people say they are willing to help pay for the food and don't I little a tad frustrated. I probably shouldn't, but I am.

Also, I've text people asking them s[ecific questions about food for a certain day, and have not got any replies, so how am I suppose to know what is needed or what they want?

I'm sorry if this if this is not kind, gracious and loving but I can't do that at this precise minute.

Went on a date tonight :)
Will took me to the Slug and Lettuce for dinner, and then to the cinema to see Fame. I enjoyed the film and had a lovely evening.
Dating is good fun.

Not alot of anything to say. But I'm going on a date soon. I've missed going out. Is that wrong?

Sleep

I'm tired. I haven't slept the last couple of nights, and i'm heading into a very busy week with at least 2 late nights. Prayer required please.

I currently am sat with a living room full of people who are watching the NFL. There is Mark, Will, Andy, Dan&Jenn, Marriott and me, and we're waiting for Dave.
Not sure if Jenn is enjoying it.

Tomorrow evening I am going to Latimer with Mum, Dad, Sylv and Moni. Hopefully I get to see my friend Richard. Tuesday I have Moni. Wednesday we're all going to Golders Green. Thursday there is HUG in the evening. And Friday I'm out all day with Sylvia.
Sleep is needed.

Tears

Today I have cried alot. Mostly because I spent the day watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition. This season they were honouring heroes. And boy were they heroes.

One lady created a business where she takes photos in the ICU of Preemie babies, some of which didn't survive. I just wish that if anything like that happens to my future kids someone will be willing to do the same thing.

The other reasons is because my friends are leaving. I've already lost one of them before, and am now trying to start again.
Letters will follow. The plan is i'm gonna write one ever 2 weeks. Thats the plan, dunno what I'll say if anything. But guys, know that I love you

Names of Jesus

1: Jesus - Matthew 1:21
• In Jewish tradition the father named his offspring. God was the father
• Means Saviour – He would deliver people from sin
• 600 years before He was born God let Isaiah in on a secret (Isaiah 7:144) Emmanuel means God with us

2: Man – 1 Timothy 2:5
• The Man – the greatest most gentle and most loving friend you can possibly have

3: Light – John 8:12
• In the days of Moses God lit up the sky with a pillar of fire
• He is the pillar of fire leading people of all nations to God
• Light is also associated with freedom
• Jesus, our light, came to win our freedom from the darkness of living without God
• Peter described becoming a Christian as coming ‘out of darkness into his wonderful light’ (1 Peter 2:9) to be in the light is to be in a place of great freedom and joy

4: Way – John 14:6
• God used pillars of cloud and fire to show Moses and the Israelites the way (Deut 1:33)
• Jesus called himself the Way, He was stating that He was the only way to God
• Jesus – Way to God, Way to Life

5: Alpha and Omega – Revelation 1:8
• The Greek alphabet starts with Alpha and ends with Omega, like ours starts with A and ends with Z
• Its saying He is the First and Last
• First because He was there at the beginning of things creating our world and everything in it
• Last because He is in control of all events in the future and will reign with God over a new heaven and earth (Revelation 21, 22)
• He is out ‘A’ because He is with us from the beginning of our lives, even knowing us before we are born (Ps 139:13-16)
• He is our ‘Z’ for if we believe in Him, when we die we shall go to live with Him
• With Him as our A-Z we need never feel lost for He can show us the right way ahead
• A-Z – our past, present and future is in His hands

6: Truth – John 14:6
• Means nothing is concealed
• Carries a label marked 100% genuine
• He is truth
• He is trustworthy, straight and reliable
• A friend who cannot and will not let you down
• Another 5 letter word you can substitute for Jesus – Jesus is Truth, Truth is Jesus – Inseparable
• We can rely on all the Jesus says

7: Gate – John 10: 7
• The only entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven
• You cannot be forgiven and enter the security of God’s family without meeting Him first (Acts 4:12)
• Jesus didn’t say He was one of the ways to God but ‘the gate’
• The sheepfold is not meant to be a holy huddle for Christian mutton heads – verse 9 Jesus says His sheep will go ‘in and out’ into the world and live for Him there

8: Resurrection – John 11:25
• Means to stand up again
• He had power over death
• His promise is that all who believe in Him will live even though they die – when Christians die it is not the end
• He is there to see we ‘stand up again’ in heaven with a new body and eternal life
• Proof – He rose from the dead. Greatest event in world history. Its evidence that He can carry out His promise to give new life to all who believe in Him

9: Bread Of Life – John 6:35
• Bead is the staple diet of alot of people in the world
• In poor areas it is a matter of life and death
• To Moses and the Israelites God delivered ‘bread from heaven’
• 7 times He said He came down from heaven (Verse 33-58) not to fill stomachs but to fill lives

Thanks

I would just like to say thanks for following me Dave.

Anyway, I still need some inspiration as to what to write about. No forget that, I think I might have something... But you will have to wait and see

What to do?

I have no idea what I should do. Do I go to India in January... Or not?

Prayer

Some serious prayer is required if anyone reads this.

Moni hit me about 10 times today, most of it in the space of 10 minutes, and then she bit me on the hand - another full set of teeth.

There was no reason for any of it and so we don't know what to do with her. Sylvia has already said to her if she comtinues she won't live with Mummy anymore and she wouldn't live with me or mum but with some complete stranger. But dunno with that is gonna make a difference.

But if she continues something is gonna happen, and if she bites someone from Crossroads who knows what could happen.

Alaska Update

Hi lovely family,

We are now in Anchorage, Alaska, on solid ground.

Cruise was awesome, saw lots of glaciers, mountains, whales, sea lions and other assorted wild life.

Food was wonderful, there was 1 dining buffet which was open 24 hours a day so you could eat anytime you liked.

We are wandering around Anchorage at a liesurely pace, visited a market and lots of shops.

We set off for home early Tuesday morning, arriving Wednesday lunchtime.

Hope you are having a great time in March.

Lots of love Mum and Dad

Cruise News

Heya Steve,

We met up with your parents today, and had a great day with them - it was really great to spend some time with them, showing them around town, and going to the event put on by the conference they're on :)

They asked for me to let you know that they're doing well, having a great time on the cruise, really enjoying themselves :) The internet access on the ship is really expensive, so they asked me to let you know! Can you update the rest of your family too for them? Thanks!

Take care dude,catch you soon :)

Alex and Bri

Msg from Canada

Hi all,

Arrived safely in vancouver after a very long flight, it was 9 hours from Amsterdam, so I think it was about half past two London time when we got to the hotel.

Did some sight seeing yesterday and a bit more today. Cannot give details so thar Carol can put all the stuff in the postcards.

Hotel is very plush, we are on the 24th floor. Most of the shops seem to be hidden underground which is really odd.

Carol is happy because we visited Tim Hortons, for their donuts that Carol has had a thing about since she was 16, and even better it is 10yards from the door of the hotel.

We found out where we have to go to get the cruise ship, its about 10-15 minutes walk so I think we will get a taxi there, I don't fancy dragging the suitcase that distance.

Lots of love

Mum and Dad

Holidays

I took mum and dad to the airport yesterday morning on the train. City Airport is small. Quite a straight forward journey, part from getting from the Central line platform at Bank to the DLR platform. They were excited to be going. Think they were really looking forward to it yesterday.
They should have landed in Amsterdam at 12.50 and then a couple hours later catch a flight to Vancouver, not sure when it was meant to land. So just waiting on an email from dad to say they've arrive.

Going on holiday a week from tomorrow. Will be interesting, will be fun. Should be a laugh whatever happens (I hope). I've got the shopping list sorted and the list of dinners ready. Just need to do a bit of shopping before we go. And get all the money together. Missing Dave's but get that tonight. Missing most of mine and Will's. Hopefully looking after Moni on tuesday, wednesday and friday next week will give me enough for the food. But lacking spending money. Never mind.

Tomorrow

I do not know how tomorrow is going to go. And quite frankly I'm not sure I want it to happen. As mum told Sylvia this morning things changed over a week ago and she's already said goodbye to Peter.

Blurgh

Spent the last 4 days with Monica and Sylvia. Its been tough.
Today is my day off, while Mum looks after Sylvia, but going back to theirs to move furniture tonight.
Tomorrow is mum's day off while I have Moni, but is available in case of emergencies.
Not sure how tomorrow is gonna happen has I haven't had Moni by myself for over a week since she bit me.

Bruising

Its been an interesting week so far. I had Moni on tuesday from 11 - 5pm. It was not the best day possible. Will had to skip a meeting in London (which I'm sure he was very glad to do). On Moni's behalf it was third time lucky. She managed to get a full set of teeth into my arm and hold on quite tight. So I have a nice big circular bruise on my arm and you can still see the teeth marks. So on friday at the photo shoot I'm gonna ask if they can cover it up with foundation.
Hopefully on friday she'll be better with mum.

Yesterday at the prayer meeting Peter wasn't in the best shape. He slept throughout the whole thing. Not quite sure what is gonna happen tonight with Sylvia coming out and Dan, Dave and Will sitting with him for 2 hours. Hopefully he will be much better today.

Mini Church

Took Moni home with mum this evening.
Peter was much better this evening than he was in the morning. We did mini church. Mum read Mark 1 and 2, Psalm 34, 27 and 29. Then we sang some songs. I carried Moni upstairs, got her ready for bed, and then we said good night to her mum and dad, and i carried her back upstairs in out her to bed, and when we left the house she was still there.

Peter has decided he's not satisifed with his life and is not ready to go home to glory yet. He wants to walk, run and ride his bike again, also to drive his car and look after his wife and daughter.

Today started off as a not so good day and ended with "I will fight the fight"

Bowling

Had Mum, Sylvia and Moni over for Ladies night. Was highly amusing. We did Wii bowling before we attempt real bowling. Sylvia didn't quite get the hang of it, but she still won.

Scores:

Sylvia - 162
Me - 156
Moni - 104
Mum - 99

Real bowling will be interesting, as we'll have Sylvia C and Mary with us as well.

Fostering?

On Sunday I was told I should consider fostering. Not entirely sure what I think of that. I don't think Will thinks much of it. But i just been looking it up, and yeah really not sure. Probably not.

Onward with job searching

A new week

A new week has begun. The weekend was different. Spent Saturday with Dave, which was a laugh. Sunday had mini church with Will and Peter and then stayed for lunch. Which meant we ended up looking after Moni while Sylvia sorted Peter out for nearly 2 hours in total.
Yesterday I looked after Moni for another 6 hours.
And today, Mum has her, but we're going shopping tonight with Dave at Westfield. Need ideas for Mother's Day pressies....

Work

I spent yesterday searching the net for a job, did not find anything, found some for Will. But ah well, will have to keep looking.

Sofa

Our new sofa arrived yesterday morning, only a couple of weeks early. Had a mad couple of nights making space for it.

My thoughts for today

As life seems to fall apart
One thing remains solid
My trust in You
You are bigger tan everything
I'm standing tall in You


I hurt to the core
But I refuse to be beaten



A glimer of light
Flickering in the darkness

The End

All good things must come to an end. Though I brought this on myself by saying no to the job. Ah well, tomorrow will be my last day at IMS, but Dave has said we'll go out for a slap up lunch, or the pub.

A week has turned into a month and half, which isn't bad, and I got paid more than i've ever been paid as a temp, so I'm happy.

Work

I got offered another job yesterday at IMS for a month. But i have decided to say no.

Also, Will said soonish to having kids (but did not specify what soonish means), ah well.

Not much to say.
Better start work.

Peter hopefully comes home on friday, and his new hospital bed arrives on thursday. Hug is going to be at his house tomorrow so we can get everything ready for him to come home to. There's loads to do, lots of furniture to move and the such like.