More napkins

Some more of the napkins that I have received in the Napkin Swap - they are all really lovely.

Cake & Napkins

 At school today Andrew made this lovely cake and it tastes lovely! He is definately making the Easter cake this year now!!

As part of 52 Playdates a Napkin Swap was organised, which I thought was a great idea. These are the first two lots of napkins I have received. Most of  the other participants are from either the USA or Australia so I am looking forward to received lots of different napkins to the ones I can get here.

Pause for Lent Week 4

As I am sticking to the list as prepared by Floss for my reflections in A Pause for Lent this week's thoughts are on Diligence: Pursuit of Ethics. The dictionary definition for diligence is "constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind".


Do I always try to accomplish everything I do diligently? No I don't. I often start of with great intentions but easily and quickly fall by the wayside or let things slide. This can so often happen in matters of faith, I do fully intend to read and pray each day but ......., I do try to live my live in a manner that is pleasing to God but ...., I do intend to prepare for Sunday School, SU group fully and in advance but ....... There is often more buts in my life than diligence. 


Thankfully God is patient and forgiving. Hebrews 6 has these words

"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.  We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised."

So my challenge to myself this week in Lent is to pick myself up again and continue in His way with diligence and to rely upon His Spirit to help me on my way.

A lovely time

Gordon and I had a lovely time last week at Pitlochry. This was the view from our bedroom window. The weather was great, so we walked around the gardens.

The hotel itself is great, we had lovely food in the restaurant, then sat in front of the log fires to relax.

 We walked into Pitlochry itself and found a great tea-room - Hettie's The cakes were scrumptious and tea was served in china cups.

When we arrived back home my sister, Mum and the boys had a lovely surprise waiting for us. Presents, cards, cake made by Andrew and some bubbly!

All in all a lovely way to celebrate our Silver Wedding - here's to the next 25!!

A time to escape

Gordon and I are off to the Atholl Palace Hotel, Pitlochry for a couple of days this week. It is our Silver Wedding on Wednesday and we are off, just the two of us, for some time quality time together in this lovely hotel, leaving Auntie Karen in charge at home!! We are looking forward to it.

A Pause in Lent 3

Following the list that Floss prepared this week's topic is Liberality - Pursuit of Will. I was thinking about our will and God's will and was reminded of these verses from Mark 14, when Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane in the lead up to the events of Easter. Jesus prays

Abba,^[f] Father,”he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Here Jesus is committting himself to the will of God. As Christians we can spend a lot of time trying to work out what the will of God is for our lives, what jobs we should have, where we should live, sometimes we can torment ourselves so much we are afraid to do anything in case it is not 'God's will' and I am sure that it is not what God our Father wants. I have come to think that knowing the will of God is tied up with trusting in God, if we walk with him daily, reading and praying and trusting in him, that is what he asks of us. Certain circumstances in my own life and work at the moment have caused me to question and to seek His will and I believe that I am being asked to TRUST in him at the moment. These verses from Jeremiah 29:11 have a great significance for me at the moment.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

As you pursue God's will for your life remember to Trust in Him.

The book passes to...

I used my own version of Random Number Generator - I asked my youngest son to pick a number and he said number three, which is Scrappyjacky. So if you could send your address to me at fionak445@gmail.com I will get it in the post to you this week.

Zentangles

As if I don't have enough to do in the way of hobbies, but I have seen some striking examples of Zentangles, so I thought I would like to have a go. These are my first two tries at some Zentangles.

Of course when you start something new, what do you need? That's right a book - so I bought one. This is a very thin book but has lots of basic zentangle designs in it, which I hope will kickstart me on the way.

Of course you can't just buy one book - well it would be lonely on its way to me! So I bought a companion for it - Traci Bautista's Doodles Unleashed. I really enjoyed Traci's recent workshop at Strathmore Online Artists so I bought her new book.

Now all I need are some more hours in the day - any suggestions on how to do that?

Pass the Book

As part of Pass the Book Year 2 I have read this book, Tantalizing Textures and am now ready to pass it on. It a super book with lots of pictures and ideas for using different textures on your scrapbooking pages. If you would like to receive this book leave a comment and on Friday I will choose the next recipient of the book.

A Pause in Lent 2

The next virtue on the list for A Pause in Lent is Generosity: Pursuit of Charity. We read in Deutoronomy

Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
Deuteronomy 15:9-1

We are called to give generously to those who are in need. I was reminded very much of that this week as we held a Prayer Event for Tear Fund's One Voice Prayer Week. Tear Fund works in many different countries around the world in partnership with local churches to bring relief in disasters, to tackle poverty and injustice whereever it occurs.

The challenge for us who have so much is how to respond to this. 

And what does the LORD require of you? 
To act justly and to love mercy 
   and to walk humbly^[a] with your God Micah 6:8

If you have not heard of Tear Fund then I ask you to go check out their website and be challenged. http://www.tearfund.org/en-sc/