Than spending the mornings & afternoons walking & running along the beach. Time spent reflecting, praying and wondering what 2010 will bring….
The perfect end to a day at the British seaside - an evening spent watching Pride & Prejudice, sipping tea from a favourite mug! Oh Mr Darcy, I do so love you 
I hope your Christmases were lovely!
Posted in Around Devon
Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat Mother Teresa
After I wrote my Thankful Tuesday post yesterday, it dawned on me how much it was focused on me, just how easy I have it and at times just how selfish I can be. While I have certainly had some significant challenges this year, it is easy to keep going when you know the reality is you will find a job, you have a parent and friends who would always take you in and you have the skills to get support if you ever needed it. I happened across this ad last night that I would ask everyone who reads this to watch. Solving complex multifaceted problems is not easy, there are no magic wand, no pixie dust, no secret words you can say to make the problem go away, what we all can do though is begin to care. I’ve found the more educated I have become about the reality vulnerable people face, the more I care, the more I want to find small daily ways to help, the more I want to spend less so I can give more. Right now there are thousands of children living on the streets, thousands of children in horrific situations that are unimaginable to most of us and I would urge everyone reading this to think about ways you can help and start, however small it may feel, just start. Okay, I’m off to phone a few places and volunteer some time! I mean if the future King can spend a night sleeping out as a homeless person in minus 4 weather, there’s something I can do to! While we are all busy in the lead up to Christmas, it can be as simple as a phone call to a charity to make a donation, giving money and/or food to someone who is homeless or committing to volunteering some time. Small steps do really add up!
“I hate to see complacency prevail in our lives when it’s so directly contrary to the teaching of Christ” Jimmy Carter
“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one” Mother Teresa
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9
Posted in Do something, Get Busy!, Oh so Blessed, Purpose Driven Life
I have so much to be thankful for this week! Thank you again for letting me share it with you!
“”There is no formula for success except perhaps an unconditional acceptance of life and what it brings” Arthur Rubinstein
What are you thankful for 3 days before Christmas?
Posted in Oh so Blessed
Lately I’ve heard a lot of people moan about Christmas being materialistic and plain indulgent. I don’t dispute that for many that may be the case. But I would also suggest looking at other areas in those people’s lives and if you look hard enough I would imagine you’d see a trend; it isn’t Christmas that is the problem it is the attitude towards wanting, having, buying and self. Many of my Christian friends have started not celebrating Christmas after reading books on Christmas celebrations not being based on Christianity. Most of those people do not send cards, do not decorate, do not give or receive presents and do not attend any family events, parties or meals. Many of these friends have encouraged me to do a bit of soul-searching about this holiday, to look closely at the problems that exist and to perhaps choose not to celebrate this year. Only the more I soul search, for me, the more of a blessing I see that this holiday is.
I do not deny that there is a horrible state of materialism that can surface during the holiday season, but for me, with the choices I make there is also a wonderful simplicity that defines not only who I am, but how I approach the holidays.
For me this Christmas will include:
I am very thankful that my friends asked me to examine how I celebrate Christmas, I did enjoy the process of reflecting on Christmas and how I celebrate. My conclusion is that I’m not threatened by the celebration of Christmas, because for me Christmas is purposeful, it is a time where I can really put others ahead of myself, show love and bask in the celebration of what my King did with His birth, life here on earth and death. Nope, Christmas isn’t all bad in fact I’d say it’s pretty good
Posted in Holidays/Vacations, Purpose Driven Life
Having traveled back to the family home for the holidays, I’m especially looking forward to this weekend because it means I’ll be enjoying some much wanted influx of media having suffered through enjoyed a 6 week media fast! Most of my friends are away for a wedding this weekend, so it will be a calm relaxing and quiet weekend before Christmas.
Saturday plans include an early morning run on the beach (see above photo) followed a homemade breakfast while watching the best tv chef, Mr James Martin’s Christmas special. Isn’t he d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s?
For lunch I plan to make my favourite light lunch, grilled feta on a spinach & rocket salad
The evening will be spent catching up with knitting friends, listening to Coldplay and watching Strictly Come Dancing finale!
Sunday will be a day spent admiring the beauty of beach huts
And staring at the sea
plus finishing the last of the Christmas cards (I’m a wee bit behind!)
Happy Weekending Friends!
Posted in Around Devon, Reclaiming Simple Sundays
Taking a break from Financial Savvy Friday’s today. I may post a Financial tip tomorrow. Just because
In the meantime, I have to share that I am having no trouble saying no to trips to the shops (5 days of no spending in a row at the moment!) because how on earth could I stop snuggling this beauty to go out in the cold to shop? Maybe that is a financial tip in itself, want to shop less, get a cat!
p.s. Thanks for the encouraging comments & emails about yesterday’s post!
Posted in Financially Savvy Fridays, Frugal Living
This is me, shortly after finally being allowed out of an incubator for a short visit (oops, might not have been me and instead my parent’s old friends baby! lol). A comment by the lovely Anna, has made me think a great deal about how our life pans out. This week I had some very disappointing and upsetting news, news that has stopped me in my tracks and makes me want to pull in all the more. Thoughts are currently rambling through my head about the choices I’ve made, the life I’ve chased that in fact I may not really want or need.
I was the good girl raised to understand and value the importance of education, to never expect anyone to pay for you or help you financially (including the government), to work hard, climb the ladder and contribute on all levels to society. I had an early first-hand lesson in loss, in understanding why we need to make good choices financially and seeing just how plans can fall apart. My mum didn’t plan to become a widow with child, but nonetheless she did. She returned to work full-time six weeks later and continues to be an inspiration to me and a good example in the value of being a hard worker who puts others before herself and never expects anything from anyone.
There is something about Christmas that makes one reflect on where they are in life and in society, for some this may bring incredible feelings of success in how they define success, for others they may wish things were different and put a lot of hope into the new year. As I see friends around me who made different choices to myself, it can at times make me ponder where I went wrong and make me feel the need to dissect how my life got to this point and to this place. There is little I know or understand about life, but what I do know is questioning can be helpful as long as we don’t take away the element of choice (good and bad) and replace it instead with feelings of being the victim or feeling entitled to something else, something bigger or something we define as better. As I sit and write this I may feel sadness, disappointment and fear over what lies ahead, but I also must find a way to remember what I don’t feel is starvation or destitution so really it isn’t half that bad.
I don’t know what lies ahead, I don’t know all of the places I’ll go, but I do know I’m bound to make mistakes along the way and have no choice but to yet again pick myself up, dust myself off and find the strength to continue. Under the guidance of the King my life may not be working out how I’d like or planned but I’m surrounded by love and even when it all feels so hard, so disappointing and incredibly sad, I’m still surrounded by grace in abundance.
I won’t be putting a full stop where God puts a comma; my story is not over!
There is something about this season that makes me want to spend more time in peaceful contemplation, giving quiet thanksgiving, seeing the beauty & grace that surrounds. I’ve enjoyed three days in a row of much-needed hibernation, snuggling with a cat, enjoying coffee while watching the rain fall around me (quietly hoping one day my view includes that homestead which is never far from my thoughts), enjoying making meals for people, listening to the radio and baking with an extra ingredient called love. There is something incredibly special about finding a place in your soul which allows you to believe in contentment, to exude peace and feel the abundance of beauty around. Evenings like this are a stark reminder of the gentle pull towards simplicity which defines my life and fills my soul.
I’m almost done answering the list of questions people have asked over the last few months. Before I finish I thought I’d see if anyone else had any other questions they’d like to ask, speak now or forever hold your peace
Posted in Uncategorized
