A couple weeks ago, we were at my in-laws house and the family tree was pulled out. My nine-year-old daughter was fascinated by all of these people who came before us on this scroll of many names. My mother-in-law’s father had roots back in the Netherlands and we enjoyed conversations about what their lives would have been like and speculated about what propelled them to … Continue reading Our Spiritual Tree
“Your Future Is In Safe Hands.” I’m sure that is some insurance company’s slogan or at least it sounds like one! However, I’m not writing about insurance today but rather God’s assurance that He cares for us and our futures. I recently had a catch up with a dear friend and although we’re in different seasons of life, God has beautifully blessed us with the … Continue reading Your Future Is In Safe Hands
For the last two spring seasons, the children and I have been planting sunflowers. First starting in the grow box as seedlings, we then transferred and planted them in a particularly sunny patch of our garden. One poor sunflower has seen more snail attacks this season than any of the others planted. This one straggly looking plant spent most of the spring and summer seasons … Continue reading Learning Resilience From A Sunflower
This week, England experienced a heat wave and I have loved seeing our happy sunflowers delighting in the continuous sunshine! Having grown them from mere seeds in an egg carton, it’s so encouraging to see them shining out their joyful presence in our garden. With some of the dead flower heads removed, I have been drying them out to save the seeds for the next … Continue reading Garden Lessons – Part Two
Have you ever started to recognise a behavioural pattern within yourself? And in certain circumstances, you keep reacting the same way? Over the last weeks, I’ve noticed an unexplainable pattern of anxiety brewing deep inside of me every time I drive to my children’s school to collect them. I’ve tried praying before showing up at the school gate, having a snack to make sure I … Continue reading Slow Growth Is Still Growth
There’s a quirky children’s book series by Jez Alborough that I’ve read to my kids, about a duck in his truck. Duck’s driving mishaps are quite funny and I admit that I have often felt like Duck driving in England! Eleven years ago, being a newlywed and having just landed in Charlie’s homeland, there were lots of adjustments to make especially in that first year. … Continue reading Driving… On The Left Side Of The Road
Hearing certain old songs can really stir my heart, especially when I haven’t listened to them for ages. Charlie and I were watching some video clips of the kids from two years ago and goodness, how they have grown! It makes my heart both happy and filled with a bittersweet sadness at the realisation that they are growing so fast. And then comes the further … Continue reading These Are The Days
My lovely friend Charlene is an encourager. She is a seeker of God’s heart and humbly listens to the Holy Spirit working in her life and in others. We’ve had great conversations and there is an openness and freedom being sisters in Christ together. We were recently at her youngest daughter’s birthday party (before lockdown!) and to my surprise, Charlene’s eldest, Charlotte had made me … Continue reading Charlotte The Encourager
Over the last few days my kids have been playing nonstop in the garden. In particular, they found a snail, who was quickly named Mr. Snail! He’s spent his last days curled in his shell on a frisbee with a few leaves. Each evening he’s been released but has been found in the same general area each morning. The kids had been wanting to see … Continue reading At A Snail’s Pace
If I’m really honest, my heart and soul have felt downcast lately. I know I’m far from the only one. Life as we’ve known it, is changing rapidly. In the UK and globally, the Covid-19 coronavirus has been dominating the news. Hand sanitiser and toilet paper have been virtually unavailable for weeks. And for a first in my lifetime, certain aisles at the grocery store … Continue reading He Lifts My Soul
Joy A. Mead 