funky doo

1st September - where did that come from??

A return to normality begins today as we return from Greenbelt (hubby) and parents into a half day of prep for school, work and nursery all beginning in earnest tomorrow.

It's been a great summer all in all - highlights include Falcon Camp fun, Soul Survivor B and being squashed, party hats, hen do, U2 360 tour, some great food and friends to share it with.

There have been some hard parts too - I'm still struggling with a remnant of a chest infection and don't feel particularly ready for the days ahead with work. Other issues, mainly involving our thinking and strategising about the priorities we live by and how we live more of a kingdom life not a life dictated by culture are a little harder to summarise here...but all linking back to my blog on Anglican identity, what it means to be church, how to live out the call placed on us by God and what we 'need' to do that...

So, there are decisions and changes in the offing in Smith world - not too much detail allowed here at present but your prayers are appreciated if you're that way inclined.

Will get back to Monday updates next week and hope that your return to the world of September is swift, flowing and not too traumatic!

Monday 29th June 2009

the weekend that was: I returned from my CEOP training on Thursday night and my dad arrived to stay soon after. Pops retired from the London Fire Brigade about 5 years ago and since then he has been indulging his passion for sailing (anything from dinghy's in a man made lake to Atlantic trips to Antigua!) as well as working in a wine merchants and doing various other bits and pieces like DIY for us and others. He's been away recently on a 4 leg trip from the south coast down to Croatia and he leaves on the final leg this week. He was having grand-daughter withdrawal symptoms so he came over and we had a lovely evening eating in the garden and catching up.

Friday, he and I and M went into Maldon and the Pirate Ship at Prom Park...whilst there I bent over to put something in the bottom of M's buggy and managed to do something to my back...Friday afternoon was interesting - put M down for a nap and realised that I really couldn't properly move or bend down at all...Popped some pills and sat down for an hour or so but by the time Andy came home, I was quite immobile and very frustrated.

Saturday was an unplanned day off - the leaders training which was due to take place with the Sophia Network had been cancelled due to lack of numbers so we were planning a lovely family weekend in the garden, pottering about and catching up on time together - but it was not to be. I was laid up in bed, M fell down the stairs, bashed her nose and was so exhausted by the whole thing that she went for a nap just at the point that A was going to take her swimming! In the end, we all just crashed out for the day before A went out to Prom Park again to meet our friends E&K and daughter A and to bring them back here for dinner and a sleepover! I was feeling a bit better by then, got myself in (and thankfully, out!) of the shower and we enjoyed a Malaysian Curry and some Mah Jong!

Sunday morning dawned, I was immobile again and realised there was no way I would make it there and back to Walthamstow for RevAP's ordination...which I was very gutted about. So, another boring, flat out day continued, with A & M at church I did some bits and pieces at home, but couldn't hoover or do the dishwasher or anything mildly useful! A was preaching at All Saints Church Maldon where they are piloting a new monthly informal evening service on Sunday nights, so he was busy preparing for that during the afternoon while M napped. When he got back we caught up with the season finale of CSI:New York- OMG! Brilliant and cannot believe we have to wait until the next series to find out what happens...

It's now Monday morning and my back is no better - so called the doctor out who said I have pulled muscles all along the base of my back and a number of trapped nerves, so he's prescribed Valium (!) and some anti inflammatory drugs as well as telling me I shouldn't sit or stand for longer than 20 minutes at a time, shouldn't drive or lift M! Brilliant! This could be an interesting week!

where i am at the moment: in the dining room. Having got downstairs initially this morning, and had the consultation with the doctor, I can't get upstairs again so I'm on the youth lap top instead of my work one!

on my to-do list this week: the to do list has slightly changed from this morning! I'm now organising cover for me for this weekend's Bradwell Pilgrimage as I won't be able to be as active as I'd hoped. Thankfully I have a team already lined up of amazing youth workers and volunteers so we should be alright - I'll just have to sit on the sidelines and bark orders! I'm also taking the opportunity of immobility to catch up on some admin tasks, get a few jobs done for Falcon Camp and various other little bits and pieces - but only for 20 minutes stretches!!

procrastinating about: nothing, I feel as though this week is going to be the complete opposite - all the things I need to do I can't do, rather than putting them off!! I am not good at being bored, but as some of my lovely Hub youthworkers have already pointed out, I need to learn from my own teaching about Deep Rest! Seriously, I know how bad chronic back pain can be and I am going to do my best to rest well and get properly better otherwise I know this could be a recurring problem. 

book i’m in the midst of: Fortune's Rocks still from last week, also started Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell which I have had for a while but it got nabbed by A and he's only just given it over (after reading 3 times!) so that's a good review. A also bought me Marie Claire and it came with a free novel so I might get into that this week to ease the boredom!

music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: enjoyed Glastonbury on TV this weekend, particularly the Ting Tings and Blur's comeback...

next trip: nothing until Falcon Camp in 4 weeks time arrrrrgggghhhh!

stuff I'm into on TV/films right now: CSI I've already mentioned and when one series ends, another begins! Sky+ is set to record CSI: Miami from Tuesday night. Also watched the first in the Revelations series on Channel 4 last night, all about the Alpha course. Maybe I'll blog about that later this week...but the presenter irritated me a lot!

Youth work done/upcoming: Bradwell Pilgrimage this weekend, engaging with young people at this annual family event, as well as Giraffe on Sunday night and visiting two youth groups next week, hopefully the back will be better by then.

What did you eat this weekend?? Malaysian Curry (Gordon Ramsey's), Linguine with Broccoli and Stilton, Ploughman's lunch with lovely local ham from Buntings (our new best friends, they have just started doing online orders and delivery! yay!)...and I made the breakfast seed bars from Phil Vickery's Gluten Free cooking book which are yummy. Did them with condensed Caramel which made a change, very moreish!

the weekend that was: I returned from my CEOP training on Thursday night and my dad arrived to stay soon after. Pops retired from the London Fire Brigade about 5 years ago and since then he has been indulging his passion for sailing (anything from dinghy's in a man made lake to Atlantic trips to Antigua!) as well as working in a wine merchants and doing various other bits and pieces like DIY for us and others. He's been away recently on a 4 leg trip from the south coast down to Croatia and he leaves on the final leg this week. He was having grand-daughter withdrawal symptoms so he came over and we had a lovely evening eating in the garden and catching up.

Friday, he and I and M went into Maldon and the Pirate Ship at Prom Park...whilst there I bent over to put something in the bottom of M's buggy and managed to do something to my back...Friday afternoon was interesting - put M down for a nap and realised that I really couldn't properly move or bend down at all...Popped some pills and sat down for an hour or so but by the time Andy came home, I was quite immobile and very frustrated.

Saturday was an unplanned day off - the leaders training which was due to take place with the Sophia Network had been cancelled due to lack of numbers so we were planning a lovely family weekend in the garden, pottering about and catching up on time together - but it was not to be. I was laid up in bed, M fell down the stairs, bashed her nose and was so exhausted by the whole thing that she went for a nap just at the point that A was going to take her swimming! In the end, we all just crashed out for the day before A went out to Prom Park again to meet our friends E&K and daughter A and to bring them back here for dinner and a sleepover! I was feeling a bit better by then, got myself in (and thankfully, out!) of the shower and we enjoyed a Malaysian Curry and some Mah Jong!

Sunday morning dawned, I was immobile again and realised there was no way I would make it there and back to Walthamstow for RevAP's ordination...which I was very gutted about. So, another boring, flat out day continued, with A & M at church I did some bits and pieces at home, but couldn't hoover or do the dishwasher or anything mildly useful! A was preaching at All Saints Church Maldon where they are piloting a new monthly informal evening service on Sunday nights, so he was busy preparing for that during the afternoon while M napped. When he got back we caught up with the season finale of CSI:New York- OMG! Brilliant and cannot believe we have to wait until the next series to find out what happens...

It's now Monday morning and my back is no better - so called the doctor out who said I have pulled muscles all along the base of my back and a number of trapped nerves, so he's prescribed Valium (!) and some anti inflammatory drugs as well as telling me I shouldn't sit or stand for longer than 20 minutes at a time, shouldn't drive or lift M! Brilliant! This could be an interesting week!

where i am at the moment: in the dining room. Having got downstairs initially this morning, and had the consultation with the doctor, I can't get upstairs again so I'm on the youth lap top instead of my work one!

on my to-do list this week: the to do list has slightly changed from this morning! I'm now organising cover for me for this weekend's Bradwell Pilgrimage as I won't be able to be as active as I'd hoped. Thankfully I have a team already lined up of amazing youth workers and volunteers so we should be alright - I'll just have to sit on the sidelines and bark orders! I'm also taking the opportunity of immobility to catch up on some admin tasks, get a few jobs done for Falcon Camp and various other little bits and pieces - but only for 20 minutes stretches!!

procrastinating about: nothing, I feel as though this week is going to be the complete opposite - all the things I need to do I can't do, rather than putting them off!! I am not good at being bored, but as some of my lovely Hub youthworkers have already pointed out, I need to learn from my own teaching about Deep Rest! Seriously, I know how bad chronic back pain can be and I am going to do my best to rest well and get properly better otherwise I know this could be a recurring problem. 

book i’m in the midst of: Fortune's Rocks still from last week, also started Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell which I have had for a while but it got nabbed by A and he's only just given it over (after reading 3 times!) so that's a good review. A also bought me Marie Claire and it came with a free novel so I might get into that this week to ease the boredom!

music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: enjoyed Glastonbury on TV this weekend, particularly the Ting Tings and Blur's comeback...

next trip: nothing until Falcon Camp in 4 weeks time arrrrrgggghhhh!

stuff I'm into on TV/films right now: CSI I've already mentioned and when one series ends, another begins! Sky+ is set to record CSI: Miami from Tuesday night. Also watched the first in the Revelations series on Channel 4 last night, all about the Alpha course. Maybe I'll blog about that later this week...but the presenter irritated me a lot!

Youth work done/upcoming: Bradwell Pilgrimage this weekend, engaging with young people at this annual family event, as well as Giraffe on Sunday night and visiting two youth groups next week, hopefully the back will be better by then.

What did you eat this weekend?? Malaysian Curry (Gordon Ramsey's), Linguine with Broccoli and Stilton, Ploughman's lunch with lovely local ham from Buntings (our new best friends, they have just started doing online orders and delivery! yay!)...and I made the breakfast seed bars from Phil Vickery's Gluten Free cooking book which are yummy. Did them with condensed Caramel which made a change, very moreish!

weight update

well, despite 3 weeks in America with little or no thought to restraint, I managed to maintain my weight. I also, amazingly lost a pound during Falcon Camp where my main diet was porridge, cooked breakfast, sandwiches and crisps and a full cokked dinner with chips and stuff on the side. I think the nervous energy of keeping an eye on 22 tweenagers and 10 leaders probably helped. So, I'm now at 14 stone 9lb and starting afresh with the new academic year!

We had an amazing time in America, such a great time away with one another as a little family of 3 and also with great friends and making new ones. We loved New York, but everyone does really (I've been before and it was fun to show Andy round) but we really loved Tennessee, which was a bit of a surprise. Beautiful scenery, river, cool dinky city of Knoxville and lots of culture with food, arts, history and music abounding.

It really was back to earth with a bump last Tuesday, especially as I had picked something up on plane and am suffering with the after effects of sinusitis which is pretty pants and I feel like my head is full of tissue.

So, we're back with renewed vigour, ready to take on the challenges of life, work, church and all that God has in store! It's good to be home (but we quite liked America too!!)

weight watchers....bring it on!!

I have finally done the deed and joined weight watchers. Since having Matilda, I have used the excuse of baby weight to justify the tummy and the jelly legs and other unnecessary excesses. But for various reasons I can't hide behind that anymore (not least cos she is 18 months old now and I'm still eating like I'm pregnant!) so despite it being a bad time of year with kids camps and holidays in America looming, I've just got to get on with it and change my eating habits.

So, I intend to give a slightly different angle at times to this blog and just chart my journey to my ideal weight - hopefully. I am realistic enough to know it's not going to be easy but if I don't want to write about it I won't. But I think it will help me to be accountable to anyone who reads this (does anyone??!) and to myself when I read stuff back.

The initial weigh in was 14 stone, 12 lb. Horrific but not a total surprise as I had been subtly weighing myself at home, but telling myself the scales weren't accurate! My first goal is 10% off, getting down to 13st 6lb.

So far so good, I haven't felt hungry and even when I've had a couple of dodgy moments at a staff lunch on Tuesday (which was Day 1 of WW!) but I can trawl it back with dinner which is a bonus. I am point counting, which I think is good for us as we do cook a lot from scratch so can keep a check on the added extras and sauces etc. - and not use them! I'm trying to cut down on the caffeine, gradually and eating more fruit. Milk is my biggest problem so far - I hate skimmed milk! I'll get used to it but I don't drink a lot of milk anyway...The advantage, as far as I can see at the moment, of WW is that you don't have to cut out everything. I had half a choc cookie tonight with my cuppa and that was enough - and only 2 points. My cuppa and a treat is something I look forward to at the end of the day so knowing I can still have that is positive, feeling deprived is not likely to help me stick to a diet!

Check back on Tuesday when I get weighed again and I'll let you know how I get on!

Todd Bentley, Florida revival?

I've been tuning in on and off recently to God TV and watching the meetings led by Todd Bentley...in the surface, some amazing healings, words of knowledge and incredible sense of outpouring of the Holy Spirit. People have been boarding planes and heading out there, similar to scenes during the Toronto Revival in the 90's.

I've felt the Spirit of God undoubtedly through watching these meetings at a distance, particularly as you hear people's testimony and see them healed...questions about medical authentication are rising up in different places but it's a little early to dismiss everything Todd is doing on account of that.

Have a look at what other people are saying about these meetings...

Connexion

Mark Byron

The thing that particularly strikes me about what I'm seeing is that God appears to be moving in a practical and demonstrative way and changing people circumstances in front of our eyes. With Toronto, the focus seemed to be on refreshing and being soaked in the presence of God, and I know people who got addicted to that experience but it didn't seem to have any marked difference on their lives as time went on. With the current focus on Hope '08, servant evangelism, social action and community impact, we need to embrace aspects of such a move of God which empowers people to do His will more effectively in their worlds - and if they are healed and better able to do that, surely it is something we should rejoice about?

My wise pastor SUsie spoke at our church about it today and I believe her main concern is that we know about this outpouring, that we pray to God for Him to show us more and we believe that God will change and move us on when He reveals himself more fully to us...God wants us to know Him more...

It's been exciting to watch Todd Bentley coupled with today's live broadcasting of Global Day of Prayer, worldwide coverage all day on God TV again...really amazing to join with millions of other Christians to pray for our nations. As I was sitting in my lounge with a poorly Matilda and feeling a bit hot and bothered with the heat wave (!) I sensed again a move of the Spirit in my own self, a tingling, an awareness and sense of God being 'just there'. Particularly when Wendy Alec was praying for our nation, little, tiny Britain who sent missionaries across the world and had amazing revevalists like the Wesley's and Smith Wigglesworth and others...now we need missionaries to come to us.

Restore, O Lord, the honour of your name in our land.