TruFit

Well, here I am, once again with my leg in a brace following knee surgery. It seems to have been the story of my last year or so - but hopefully this will be the final op for some time. For those of you who might want technical details, I've had osteochondral grafting to my left kneecap - or 'Trufit' (which more accurately decribes the scaffolding type substance that has been hammered into the bone to fill the hole in my kneecap). It really is a very painful op - this I know because it's the same one I had back in August on my right knee. But it's done now and things, as they say, can only get better.
Or at least they will once things get a bit easier with the terrorist called a physio!!! She is a really lovely lady but oh my goodness does she know how to inflict pain.
Still, tis true what they say - no pain, no gain.

Watoto

Earlier this week Sawyers Church hosted the most wonderful bunch of people from Uganda - the Watoto Children's Choir. And on Wednesday night we went (that is, Paul, myself, Jess & Ellie) to see them sing at Shenfield School.
What a wonderful, inspiring evening. I really don't have the words to do it all justice but we came away so amazed at their joy, peace and motivation. These kids literally had nothing but now, with changed lives, they quite simply shine the light of Christ to the world - the most valuable gift of all.

Heaven!!

For as long as I can remember my favourite dessert has been profiteroles - I even had them as the dessert at my wedding about a million years ago (well, 21 and a bit years ago!!). I love the gorgeous little bundles of sweetness and delight.
But then last night, something happened. A 'Marks & Spencers' Meal for 2 for £10 to be exact! And the dessert we chose was their Millionaires Shortbread.
Oh my goodness! How marvellous, how wonderful, how completely gorgeously delicious.
Profiteroles have a serious contender!

Diana

On the last 2 Monday evenings, we've all been watching a programme on one of the digi channels about Princess Diana (I think it's called The Diana Years - or something like that).

It seems really strange watching stuff which has been so much a part of mine and Paul's lives and yet the girls really don't know much about her. So they've quite enjoyed seeing all the footage and hearing all about her.

It's been lovely to see - but sad too. She was such a beautiful woman - a real 'gift' to us, the general public. She loved people and communicated wonderfully by just a word or a touch or a look. Someone on the programme (can't remember who it was - a designer I think) described her perfectly. He said that if you took each part of her separately - her face, her hair, her figure, her voice, her intelligence etc etc, then there was nothing much to write home about. BUT, put it all together and the result was a stunning lady.

Wonder what she'd be like now and what she'd be doing........

Normality.........whatever that is!

And so today we have returned to a kind of normality following some of the coldest, snowiest weather I can ever remember - certainly since living down here in the sunny south-east anyway. School was all over the place last week which meant, of course, the girls were all over the place. And I was basically trapped indoors. I really hate driving in snow and ice at the best of times and my car is completely rubbish in it all too - being rear wheel drive and having quite wide tyres. They might look kind-of cool but on a practical level score about 1/10!
I am also a bit wimpish about going out in this weather too as I am scared of slipping - especially with my dodgy old knees and particularly because I have been advised to do everything I can to avoid causing inflammation/swelling before my next op which is in 2 weeks time.
Hmmm......big op = leg brace for 6/8 weeks = immobilisation = little bit anxious!
But I have to keep giving myself a reality check. I'm not ill - just in a bit of pain and in the big scheme of things it's nothing. There are many, many more far worse off and I know that God will be my peace and strength through it all.....

Welcome 2010

Happy New Year! Well, let's hope it is anyway! 2009 wasn't my favourite year with far too much sadness and too many physical aches, pains and restraints for my liking.
I'm not really one for making resolutions because I believe they put pressure on me that I really don't need or want and, in any case, who needs a new year to change a habit, routine or attitude that wasn't particularly healthy in the first place?
But, all in all, things look far brighter now than they did 12 months ago. I still have no idea where God would have me or what, specifically, He would have me doing, but I do know that He only has my best interests at heart and that His timing is ALWAYS perfect.
In about 3 weeks I'll be undergoing another horrible knee operation which I know is going to be painful and leave me pretty immobilised for a while, but I know in the longrun it is for the best and I will look back and be very grateful for the skill and patience of the surgeon and physio as they nurse me back to some kind of fitness.

I am blessed because I trust in the Lord - my confidence is in Him
I am like a tree planted by the water and sends out roots by the stream
I will not fear when the heat comes and my leaves are always green
I have no worries in this year of drought and will never fail to bear fruit.......

Thank you my Lord and Saviour