Christmas Eve & Traditions & a bit about Mary

Hello Almost Christmas. I know it’s close because my birthday has been, and gone. We really celebrated this year. Over the month of December. I’ve never done that before. And don’t think it will happen every year Thanks to all my family and friends and my little BBs for the love

I don’t know if I told you what my birthday present from Ryan was… well… It’s a Kenwood Kmix in Almond. It arrived at the beginning of December – and I was allowed to open it It is FABULOUS. It came with 3 attachments and I have used them all. It sits right next to my cream scales and on the other side is the recipe stand. It is a perfect addition to my kitchen: Welcome Kmix you will be used almost daily, and will make my friends & family happy with the cakes, cupcakes, loaves… and I’m going to try and make butter (one blogger said once you make it you will never buy butter/marg again, I would like to try that!)

So Christmas Eve. We don’t really have any traditions as a family for Christmas or Christmas Eve. As the Barnes family are in Christ Church – NZ (Which had more earthquakes and you are in our prayers…) we won’t be seeing them this Christmas – unless we skype So it’s a Baker Christmas. However, Beth will count the number of Bakers present (3) and then will count the number of BB’s present (4 or will she include baby bump!? 5) and then she will say who the winner is. She does this with girls and boys in a room. I think she likes to be on the winning team so doesn’t count certain items if she knows there’s less….

What do you do that’s become a ‘tradition’. Of course, we will sit down to eat a most delicious Christmas Dinner, we will go to our friends Church for the 11am service. We will open our gifts. We will enjoy playing with the children’s toys. And I hope that we will go for a little walk – to feed the horses? I’m so badly allergic to most animals, but I like going for a walk to let the children throw apples and carrots into the fields……

I will read the Christmas Story: The Bible Version. Every year when I read it on Christmas it feels more real than before. It’s as though my walk with God has deepened in a new way and I am thankful for his incredible Birth, his self-less Death and his miraculous Resurrection: From Luke 1 (read the rest of the story here )

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. ²⁸ Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!^[d]”

²⁹ Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. ³⁰ “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³ And he will reign over Israel^[e] forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

³⁴ Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

³⁵ The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. ³⁷ For nothing is impossible with God.^[f]”

³⁸ Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

There are so many things I could talk about from this passage. I know I will leave some out – not because they are not important, not because they don’t speak to me, but because I will only highlight some.

1. Mary was favoured. What was she doing? What was special about her life? How was her life different than EVERY other girl in the world at that time? Maybe she led a simple life of devotion and her actions were honouring to God. Maybe she always knew? Her life had destiny and purpose. A destiny and purpose that would cause her to be despised by others. That would see the very life that she nurtured crucified. [I feel silly to write this bit, but it must have been really hard for her as a 40 ish week pregnant Mama ride on a donkey FOR DAYS....... No wonder she gave birth when they arrived - I will remember this if baby 3 is late;) ]

2. Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. – Have you ever thought you’ve heard something from God: whether an Angel came to tell you or whether it was a spontaneous thought that appeared out of no-where? Being confused as to whether you made this up, or disturbed as to how the plan would work out… I can learn a lot from her. She hears from God – via an Angel. And then the natural mind seeks to understand. I love the miracle of the birth of Jesus. Here Mary is reminding the Angel that she is a virgin…. Her mind is telling her that it is impossible.

3. But she has faith: Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. The Angel left when his work was done. Mary speaks words of truth – she is the Lord’s servant (as we can all choose to be) And her words are so important as she says “may everything you have said about me come true”. This is significant also to our own lives. God has a wonderful plan for our lives – where destiny meets purpose and you live life with clarity, knowing your place in the world………. We can use the phrase in the same way as Mary to let the Masterplan for our lives unravel. Rather than speaking negatively and almost criticising the things that God has destined for us or for others.

This leads onto a verse that I awoke with a couple of mornings ago: I pondered on the words ‘how vast are your thoughts for me’ (It is from Psalm 139). I had paraphrased it in my mind, but that’s ok! Anyways, I lay there awake, in the dark, in the stillness – I was the only one awake – like usual And I began to think of God’s thoughts for me. I got to about 10 and then my mind wandered off and I got out of bed to make a pot of coffee…

I am reminded this morning of that verse once more, Psalm 139 – see verse 17.

¹³For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb.

¹⁴I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well.

¹⁵My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery].

¹⁶Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.

¹⁷How precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!^(E)

¹⁸If I could count them, they would be more in number than the sand. When I awoke, [could I count to the end] I would still be with You.

God has more thoughts about us than the number of the sand, and I got fidgety after numero 10…! These are thoughts about our future, about the plans He has for us, about the destiny awaiting to be unravelled. Imagine if I’d have got to even 20 – it would have set me up for the day. If I was thinking about what God thinks towards/about me, then honestly 20 good thoughts verses say 1 negative comment from someone else (say) that comment would have NO impact as I would be so secure in God’s thoughts for me. Go on, try it

And finally: The very reason for Jesus’ Birth – not for my traditions, not for a delicious dinner – though it may all be part of celebrating the Messiah’s Birth I must leave you with this: John 3:16

¹⁶For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (^[a]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

Thank you God for prizing the world, for prizing me and my family and friends (and the rest of the world who I don’t know! I sound like Beth when she says grace ‘thank you Lord Jesus for all the people in the world, I love them all and thankyouformydinner amen”!) that you would give your son for all.

Thank you for giving your most precious gift to the world. Help us to trust, cling and rely on you in a new way as we remember your Son’s glorious birth that made a way for our eternal life. THANK YOU Jesus for your life, and your sacrifice. AMEN xoxoxox

ps I’m feeling Christmassy now…. In a new way once more – maybe it’s ok we don’t have exact traditions: but people we can share the wonderful news with. Does that sound a little anti-commercial? Sorry… I did buy presents for my family and friends, I really did But I’m also glad that Christmas isn’t just about the presents and tinsel and turkey but a much deeper relationship – one that changed history and my story FOREVER x

Christmas Cheer and Happy 2 years in my house :)

This year I completed most of my Christmas Shopping in November. I went to a play centre with a Christmas Gift Guide (and used it as inspiration…!) The children played for an hour or so, I drank a latte and by the end of their play session my list was complete. So I shopped and ticked off each item Now it’s December and ALL I have to do is wrap them. WAIT it’s 9 days to go and I still have to wrap them and buy little Ben’s 2nd Birthday Present.

WHICH IS NEXT WEEK….. Our birthday’s are just SEVEN days away. I’m celebrating this coming weekend in a French Themed Party. The pics should be incredible. It’s my first BIG party…… I am so excited for it I told Ryan I wish the week would hurry up – which was met with ‘don’t wish your life away’. I’ve never been this excited for a birthday party…. Most of my Birthday’s were lovely family affairs – often me and my sister would have a joint party More often it would be cancelled due to snow. I guess this is what happens having a birthday before and a birthday after the 25th December Sorry Ben, you will get people saying they can’t make the party due to ‘family parties, christmas parties and too much snow’… but little Ben, you were 11 days late so it wasn’t ALL my fault (heehee!)

OK back up two years….. to the DAY.

We moved house. Ahhhh I am about to cry with delight And the EXTREME faithfulness of God… Did I already write this story? I don’t think so…

In May of 2009 we put our cute 2 bed terrace up for Sale. (we were 8 weeks pregnant with Ben at this point). We had quite a lot of interest etc, and then nothing. nada. no-one. It was October with no interest for 5 months… It was after one of my most desperate prayer times – oh and I had found all these prayers on ‘how to sell a house’ and I tried them. I only stopped short in following the Catholic tradition of burying a small saint in my back garden, basically it’s because we had patio so I would have wrecked the garden, and because well, I’m not really into idols (in any religion).

And after praying I found peace (LOVE IT!) and we were chatting together – Ryan and I – about 34 weeks pregnant and I said “It will be okay, we will have the baby here. I am ok with it now.” Honestly, we were about to take the house off the market until the following year. Before we made that call, one dark, dreery monday night in mid October a mother and son came to view our home. Later that evening we got a call “they want to buy your home – let’s negotiate”. Now the negotiation was harder for me than I thought; I would have been as good as my dad – had I not been pregnant and really emotional that we could get a new home… and felt like I would sell the house for as little as possible just to move…….(So Ryan dealt with it all !)

So there we were: October – plan was sell the house and my parents agreed we could stay there until we found a new home. Two weeks later we found our ‘dream home’ and thankfully it still is We viewed it on a Tuesday lunchtime and by teatime on Tuesday we had bought it. Now we had 6 weeks – or so they say until completion. They said six weeks, so I went for it. My baby was due in 4.5 and I got everything in place. The mortgage was fab, the searches were done, all the paperwork was arranged and ready to go.

I think our Solicitors began dreading my calls. The agents definitely did. I’m sure both of them screened my calls. I didn’t call everyday – but I would have done…. I figured I was paying for a service so let’s get a move on…… Heeeheeee…. My persistence paid off. We exchanged contracts and booked our moving date. And it was 6 weeks – like they promised. We moved in on Friday 18th December 2009 (Ben was 6 days over at this point!) And he stayed put until everything was unpacked – which was only the next day (then he stayed another 5 just for fun!!?)  Ryan and our wonderful friends came to help and stayed really late… Friends brought food and treats and so much help. THANKYOU.

So two years ago we left our little home and moved to my favourite home I am still overwhelmed by the faithfulness of God, His Kindness to me and the way that His plans are always better than mine – because I don’t know about you, but sometimes I think my plans are incredible and wonder why they don’t always work out – let’s just say that His grace surprises me – in the most beautiful ways. Like that Psalm, where it says ‘He hems me in’:- protected and secure. Thankyou.

Two years  later and I love it. I am blessed and find it intriguing that only when I came to the place where I was content in my little terraced house did God open the way for the house to sell. Maybe there were other things at work, like we had more savings the longer the house was on the market? Oh and the house that we bought only went on the market the day we viewed it – so we were in the best position to buy… I hope that this story inspires you with whatever you are going through in your life. I’ve been in the waiting room for the next chapter of life to begin and sometimes you can get down with it and forget to look up – don’t forget! A heart bursting with thankfulness  A xoxox

Me: a reflection

What a beautiful few days I have spent with my family. Thanks to teacher training days = days at home Bethany and I have been baking mince pies (totally delish ones) and peppermint creams with dark chocolate. Yummy. Benjamin has been learning to talk. And real words too. Like ‘luv woo’. Yep my boy says that he loves me And so many other things, really cute in his gruff boys’ voice ‘hank woo’ is thank you but a few octaves lower than one would usually talk. He is adorbs!

Bethie stayed at mums and Ryan and Ben did the gardening, so I could do what ever I wanted. So I went to the hairdressers. I didn’t have my usual girl as I wanted an appointment TODAY…. But my new hairdresser was equally lovely. After a few chats and styles she blurted out ‘you love your life don’t you!’

Yes I totally do. What a beautiful reflection on my life. As I sat there looking in the mirror watching her cut the dry ends and restyle my fringe I was delighted that ‘my life leaks’ for the good. I wasn’t putting on a show. I was just being me. And enjoying the moment of being pampered.

We are now only a month away from my big thirtieth birthday (party) I am so excited to enter my next decade. My (gorgeous) husband has bought me THE best present ever. And he said I can open it when it arrives. Ahhhhh I cannot wait. It arrives 1st December, what a fabulous start to my birthday month  You want to know what it is don’t you? Well. I can’t tell yet. I don’t want to ruin the surprise!!! (yes, of course I know what it is. Ryan said I’d been wanting one for a long time…. I had no idea I had. Well, I do remember seeing one in a shop window in August and saying ‘ahhh I would love one of these. One day…!’ And then an old lady near me pointed out the price tag and said that I could probably find a better one. But a more beautiful one? I wasn’t sure. But I did…. I mean, we did!)

And then we will spend a couple of days away together – sans children – first time since we had two… We are really looking forward to the ‘birthday break’ and enjoying coffee shops without having to ask for it to be poured into a ‘to go’ cup (see, we won’t give up on our faves!). We will enjoy walking the river, browsing shops, shopping perhaps, but mostly completing our conversations in the daytime. Lovely interruptions happen just when I’m about to make a big point – ahh Ben’s in the fish tank. Or just as Ryan is telling me an answer; Beth needs attention right NOW. Can’t wait. I wouldn’t have it any other way. But for 2-3 days we will enjoy alone time

This weekend has been great, although I have an early meeting at Church… early… I am ready. And so excited for the coming weeks. Then it will be Christmas. Beth went into the garden and brought in some really long branches, and I popped them in a vase (they are just sticks with buds no greenary) and they look quite trendy in the vase. Funnily enough Beth is refering to this as her ‘Christmas Tree’ awww I think we’ll have a proper one too my girly! In the mean time, I might just put some twinkly lights on the branches…

Hope you had a great weekend too. Love a xox

The end of the first month of 2011

1-2-2011

That is tomorrow. That is FEBRUARY.

I haven’t blogged because I have been so busy. Out of control busy. Can’t stop to eat busy. Just kidding. Not that busy!!!

We were so looking forward to Christmas, what with my £100 challenges, which, I (we) succeeded. And we actually LOVE so much that we haven’t stopped. Although, the £118 shop at netto. Yes. Indeed. How did we spend THAT much on one half-sized trolley full of ‘cheap’ stuff…. anyways, it adds up just fine as the previous week we managed to only spend about £35. Both cars still had petrol in, lots of meals cooked for us and I didn’t fancy a coffee so that’s been fun. When I say fun, I mean we have really thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. Friends have chuckled at me. Suggested other ways. Or told me it’s impossible. But we did it. Next month we might have to increase the budget for guitars……. pedals……. things like that. But how many pedals can you buy? I know. It’s like shoes, bags, dresses, socks, lipstick. I give up. Of course you can have more than one pedal Ryan, but 5 more? ha.

Christmas wasn’t the best. Or as Bethany says “not my best”! Bethany got so so so soooooo ill on 22nd december. She began to recover at snail pace, just in time for Christmas day to roll around and a 5am trip to the emergency doctors with little ben. Both had ear infections. Both screamed a LOT. Both were having horrid fevers. So, my mum came to the rescue with a Christmas Dinner – meals on wheels at 7pm Christmas day.

Yah. Yuck! Now I know why when everyone asks “How was your Christmas?” That I have deferred from answering EVERY TIME! Was going to apologise, but you clicked! Thanks xox

So before the second month of 2011 descends I had to blog.

It’s been fun so far. I love 2011. I love the symbolism in the everyday and dreams I am getting. Almost like the year is clearer somehow.

At a recent conference, Chuck Pierce spoke about how we needed to be aware of our surroundings and there is meaning within what God has given to us. Taking note of the smaller things is important – I’ve begun to look for God in unusual places and being spiritually aware makes the seemingly ‘small, unimportant’ things come alive, become vivid.

Would blog more but one of my bs has started coughing b-y-e x

£100.01 Challenge – week 2-

Last week I managed to spend £99.99. So instead of saving the penny I am adding it onto this week’s total. Well within budget! I was really impressed I had stuck to it and been out with the girls for a concert, 2 starbucks’ and petrol for the car.

I am starting the week on a Sunday – as we usually pick up snacks or treats for a Sunday Afternoon.

I have £73 left for the week after the snacks and nappy purchases on Sunday – and this week feels easier than the last.

I am not scrimping around for the money. I reckon I could have been spending a LOT more than £100 per week (shush!) but after completing our tax return where you get to add up everything – food, bills, clothes, necessary things and treats. Somehow my treats were accounting for a good  proportion of our income…. (again, shush!)

I’m keeping my money challenge as a way to account for my outgoings, it’s fine if I do spend over my personal £100 but as I save for Christmas and our birthdays it’s kind of fun to see how far money stretches. (family & friends don’t worry: presents are from a separate fund…..)

I was a little inspired by a book I read years back called something like ‘how i lived a year of my life on £1 a day’. I couldn’t do that as it’s only £30 pw. But x 4 people – is close enough to £100, and I haven’t even had to buy from the bargain bin out of necessity like she did- although I check it out, always have done, and always fall into the trap of buying something ‘cheap’ like the soda farls. They are not so nice but were less than half price. ha.

Have a wonderful week doing everything you love. xo

£100 challenge

As we are trying to save up for Christmas treats, gifts, two birthdays on 23rd december. Ryan and I have set ourself a challenge.

to spend £100 a week for the next month – not including dd.

That’s it. To spend (ONLY) £100 per week – on the following:

1. food (we usually spend £30-60 pw)
2. petrol (we have 2 cars so that’s about £10-£20 pw)
3. nappies (usually £13 a fortnight)
4. meals out/dates/coffee (this is going to hurt ME so bad…………)
5. days out with the bbs (£5 pw)

Okay. It is totally possible, even if I spend £60 at the shops and £20 petrol. It leaves £35 for coffee, clothes, fun. This could hurt some but if I do it and keep it up for a month then I will be celebrating with a night in a hotel (or two!). Which is more than worth splurges in primark, starbucks, playcentres, takeaways and meals out.  Send some love! xxx