2012 - A Year of Change

Well it's that time of year again, when we look backwards to what has been and start to look forward to what might be. As regular readers will know I have chosen a word for the year for the past few years and my word for 2012 was BE. Not an easy word as it turned out to be a year of many changes in my life and that of my family. Linked to this word BE was the word Trust and throughout the year I have put my Trust in God and He has not failed me.

So some changes in 2012...

The biggest change has obviously been a move to a different city, a different Church and a different house. Not always the easiest and certainly rather stressful. But now at the end of the year I think we are starting to settle here in Edinburgh.

Thankfully a new manse has been bought and we move into it mid-March. Reallly looking forward to finally getting settled (and getting all my craft stash out of storage).  Church life is going well and Andrew has settled into school well.

The other big change this year was that John left home to study at St Andrews University - I can't really believe that he is half way through his first year already! He is getting on well and enjoying himself.

One of the biggest highlights of 2012 for me has to be my graduation in April. I graduated from the Open University with a BA (Hons) in Social Sciences.

Holidaywise this year we went to Keswick in the summer and Amble in October - both good weeks.

Craftwise I have not managed to do very much, I have done some knitting and crocheting, but not as much as I would have liked.

Faithwise I had an uplifting and experience filled weekend at Clan Women in October and have also completed the Freedom in Christ course, which has given me lots to think about, but also helped me in my daily walk with God.

I think I have found it difficult at time during the year to BE - I am better at DOing, but I am learning and getting there slowly.

As for my word for 2013 - well you will have to come back later in the week.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

A Pause in Advent 4

We  are almost there, it is almost Christmas Day. For todays Pause in Advent I wanted to share this video clip with you:



The Real Christmas is tied up with Easter, Jesus came among us, born as a child in a stable, God with Us, so that He would die for us, to reunite us with God.

You can read more blog posts for A Pause in Advent over at Floss's blog

A Pause in Advent 3

Another bit of poetry for you today, this time by William Arthur Ward.

Christmas

Christmas is more than a time of music, merriment and mirth;
It is a season of meditation, mangers and miracles.

Christmas is more than a time of gaiety, greenery and gifts;
It is a season of wonder, worship and wiseman.

Christmas is more than a time of tinsel, trees and toys;
It is a season of preparation, prayers and peace.

Christmas is more than a time of festivities, family and friends;
It is a season of generosity, gladness and gratitude.

Christmas is more than a time of carols, cards and candy;
It is a season of dedication, direction and decision.

Christmas is more than Santa, stockings and surprises
It is Christ, care and concern.

You can find more entries for a pause in advent over at Floss blog.

Advent Journal

Yes I know we are almost halfway through December, but I have just finished sticking all the papers in my Advent Journal for this year.

I haven't done a journal for the past couple of years but wanted to do one this year as it is our first Christmas in Edinburgh.

My first page reads..

Christmas 2012
A new home, a new city, a new church..
Lots of changes..
New places for decorations, a new tree, new traditions..
But the real Christmas remains the same..
A time to celebrate the birth of Jesus...

Immanuel - God with us

Now to catch up with the other pages.

A Pause in Advent 2

Oops I am a day or two late in posting something for A Pause in Advent 2, but better late than never.

Following on from last weeks thought about The Real Christmas I wanted to share this, I cant remember where I first found it.

Corinthians for Christmas

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,
but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime,
but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity,
but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata,
but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn't yell at the kids to get of the way, but is thankful that they are there to be in the way.
Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.

You can find more thoughts on A Pause in Advent at Floss's blog

Hello Monday

As I have enjoyed reading hello Monday posts over at Rinda's blog, I thought I would join in today.

Hello snow - we have had our first fluttering of snow on the ground this morning, hoping we will not have more.

Hello Advent - as I have had a friend staying over the weekend, I only got started reading my advent devotions book today. This year I am using 'the time is now' by Amy Orr-Ewing.

Hello Advent journal - have decided to do an Advent Journal again this year, following a mixture of prompts by Shimelle and some of my own ideas.

What things are you saying hello to today?

A Pause in Advent - 1

Floss over at http://trocbroc.blogspot.co.uk/ is hosting A Pause in Advent again this year. Every Sunday in Advent I will posting some thoughts about Advent.

At Church this morning we were handing out a little booklet called "The Real Christmas". So what is Christmas all about for you. Christmas is the time we remember that the baby born in the manger is Immanuel, God with us. He is Jesus, the rescuer and He is the Christ. Jesus is God's real solution to the real problem with the world, our need for forgiveness. It is about God's genuine love for us in sending his only Son to rescue us. And about how we should respond to him.

So when you see a nativity scene how do you respond? If you know Jesus then the challenge is to be known as one of Jesus' people. If you do not know Jesus then why not take a closer look this year. Read one of the Gospel accounts, go check out your local church. Find "The Real Christmas".

AoG 4 - Time

Today's topic was Time - how do you spend your time, do you procrastinate? Well I need to be honest and say yes I am a bit of a procrastinator and tend to put off doing some things - especially the ironing! but I am working on it. I often leave things to the last minute before doing them, but again working on it!!

Todays technique was to use an embossing folder as a stamp - well as my inks and stamps etc are in storage I have done something different. I did the background using my Inktense blocks (which I am loving) then added the clock image from a napkin, and then added the words. I was quite pleased with these pages.

So are you a procrastinator?

AoG Day 3 - Creativity

Day 3 of Bernice's Attitude of Gratitude challenge was to look at Creativity and what it means to you.

As we are made in the image of God and God is a creator, then I think that everyone has creativity inside them. Creativity can express in many different ways in different people. For me I enjoy scrapbooking, art journalling, knitting, crochet, baking and these are ways in which I can be creative. Art journalling is something I am just learning and hope to do more of once I get all my paints etc out of storage. The same goes for scrapbooking as all my craft supplies are in storage. I did however keep out my wool for knitting and crochet which is what I have been doing more of lately. I am thankful that I have these different creative outlets and also thankful that I have a family who are understanding and supportive of these hobbies. On several occasions the children have been known to pose for photos - you can tell they are scrapbookers children.

What creative outlets do you enjoy?

A New Name

I have just finished reading this book by Emma Scrivener. It is a very compelling and honest account of her struggle with anorexia and how she eventually found strength to deal with her disorder. It was only when she was at her weakest and most defeatist time that she let Jesus into her life and found real help there, this was despite having been around various church groups throughout her life. She is very honest about her struggles and how her disorder has affected and still affects her life today. A book I would recommend.

Attitude of gratitude 2 Today

For day two of Bernice's journal challenge the topic was Today. How do we make more of the moment - a challenge indeed in this crazy world where we always seem to be rushing about doing things. So yesterday we took some time to go and visit a Picasso exhibition that was on and we took the time to stand and look and appreciate what others had done.

Interestingly the technique for day two was to use circles or squares.

I am thankful for being able to visit galleries and see the work of artists. Also thankful today for books as we went to a bookshop to get a bookstall for after Church on the next couple of Sundays.

When out grocery shopping this morning I couldn't resist buying this little fellow made out of bread.

Attitude of Gratitude Day 1

Today is the first day of Bernice's Attitude of Gratitude Journal, you can find the details here.  Today was about Wholeheartedness and the challenge was to use a colour you would not normally use. By now you are probably expecting to see my completed page - well not yet - you didn't really expect me to have done a page on the actual day did you???

Three things I am grateful for today -

The beautiful colours in the trees outside my house.
The health and opportunity to go the gym - yes I started today at the gym!
My family.

What things are you thankful for today? Are you joining in with this challenge?

Waves

Some more holiday photos to share with you. We went down to the harbour to watch the waves which were very dramatic. I love watching waves crashing and these were very impressive!

While publishing this I have just been watching the effects of the storm on Manhattan and New York and was thinking that while my waves were dramatic they were never going to be dangerous to me, whereas the waves that have been hitting the east coast have been very different and have caused great damage. My thoughts and prayers are with those who have suffered and are suffering due to this superstore.

Bird watching

When on holiday we went to Hauxley Nature Reserve to try and see some birds. It was a great place, we saw lots of geese, a heron or two and some smaller birds at the feeders. Andrew enjoyed taking lots of photos, thank goodness for digital photography, unfortunately we hadn't taken the big camera with the long lens and tripod with us, maybe next time.

A walk along the beach

Last week we were on holiday at Amble on the Northumberland coast, near Alnwick. We had a lovely time resting and relaxing. The weather was not surprisingly a bit mixed, but we did manage some walks along the beach. There are some lovely beaches in this part of the country.

A walk

A couple of weeks ago I went for a walk along the Water of Leith walkway which runs past our house. It is really a lovely place for a walk. I took some photos

Trial

This is a trial post for the blogger app

Help

As you can see from my previous post I need a little help. I have just got a lovely shiny IPad, which is great, so I thought I could use it to update my blog more regularly. Problem is I was trying to upload a photo taken on the IPad, using copy and paste. It seemed to work but then when I come back to my blog later the photo is no longer there. If any of you use an IPad to update your blogs including photos can you please give me some guidance on how to do this. Thanks

View from the garden

This is what I can see every day from my garden and when I'm sitting in my sun rom. It is really lovely at the moment to see all the changing colours of the trees. A reminder of the beauty and majesty of Gods creation and reminds me to praise Him for it.

Oh dear

I didn't realise I hadn't blogged for just as long. Where has the time gone - I don't really know!! I must try and get myself a bit more organised. Perhaps this project will help.

My friend Bernice is running an Attitude of Gratitude event in November and I am hoping to join in in some way. You can find all the details here.

A visitor





 

In our new house we don't seem to have many birds in our garden, despite having lots of trees around us, and I do miss watching them. But we do have a frequent visitor - this little chap. He is getting rather bold and came right up to the window today while I was typing this - which is OK so long as he stays outside.

 

 

Flying the nest

All packed up and ready to go. On Saturday we took John to St Andrews University where he is going to study Theology. And of couse Buzz had to come too. We unpacked and help him settle into his room.

Buzz needed a new place to sit as well! Then of course we had to and buy the college tie and scarf.

Then we had to leave him - and I will admit to a few sniffles on the way home. But St Andrews is not that far from us now and he seems to be settling in fine so far - mind you they don't actually start working until next week - this week is all fun and games and getting to know people.

What else has been happening as it seems ages since I  blogged. Well I had a bad dose of gastro-enteritis which knocked me for six. Most of  the time really has been getting John ready to leave.

Andrew now has his music sorted out - a trumpet! Peace and quiet is now shattered.

Wool-tastic

On Sunday afternoon my sister, mum and I visited the National Museum here in Edinburgh to see the Wool-tastic event that was advertised. I had expected something bigger, it was really just some people sitting around knitting, but there was this knitted tree and we got to try finger knitting.

I don't think finger knitting is something I will get into in a big way but it was fun to try it. I am not sure what you would do with what was knitted.

A new teenager

Oh no I now have another teenager in the house. Andrew was 13 on Saturday! Only seems like yesterday he was a baby!

Andrew and his two aunties!!

As we found out on Saturday though it must be true what they say about teenagers being like toddlers as he mistakenly put the memory card in the wrong slot on his new PS Vita and it got stuck and won't come out. Only way to get it out was with tweezers which has damaged the console - ho hum!!! I thought it was toddlers who put things in the wrong slots!!!!

Despite the drama of the morning we had a good day.