Kelly and I watched 'Hairpsray' last night, I think its a great film. I saw it at the cinema and also saw the stage production a few weeks back with Cheryl. Michael Ball was superb in it, I'd love to see it again. Kelly didn't find it as funny as I thought she would. She's working long hours at the minute and trying to get the money together for her gap year. She's also off to a summer camp next week for a fortnight, So it's going to be really quiet at home! Amy's coming round on Sunday evening and hopefully we can sort out something for their 18th birthday that's fast approaching!

When John and I were in France, we went for a walk and came across this door in the village. It looks like it hasn't been opened for a while.

It reminds me of a verse in Luke.

For everyone who asks recieves; he who seeks
finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Well now, last week we signed up for a month's free trial to 'love film', so last week we had to make time to watch 2 films, Music & Lyrics and Walk The Line. So that's what we did on Friday, Walk the Line was really good and I didn't know that I knew as many Johny Cash songs as I do!

After church on Sunday morning we headed back towards Tunbridge Wells and went down to Eridge so that John & Hamish could climb at Bowles. We took our picnics and had a great relaxing afternoon reading the papers etc. Cheryl and I took backgammon, set the board up ready to play and realised that the dice were missing, so we improvised, as all girls can, and made some out of paper! We only played one game, it took too long and wasn't quite the same!
Back to the church for the evening service which was a youth service, very enjoyable and John joined Kelly and her friend Rachel in singing a new song to the Church, he's hardly a youth!!!! Still, he got away with it!

"Our joy is complete when we express it in praise." - CS Lewis

"I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation." - CS Lewis

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.  Romans 5 1-5

Friday night was spent at the Church's end of term 'Parent v Children' Socca Boppa Event at the park followed by a barbq - the rain held off for which we were all very grateful. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves which was good.

Today, was another good day at Church. Good solid teaching and a reminder of God's glory from Daniel's vision. Lots of new songs and good worship too.

Saturday we had a great day celebrating the marriage of friends. All especially lovely and all too emotional. The sun shone, lots of nice things were said to various people present and everyone pulled out all the stops for each other and really made it a very special day. It was lovely to catch up with so many good friends and share together.

Kelly has made a momentous decision this week. She's waiting for her A level results and has now decided that regardless of what they are, she is going to apply to do a minimum three month gap year break over in Uganda! The results will determine how long she goes for before starting at uni, either three or five months. Wow! She's so excited, and has always since the age of 7 had a heart for going abroad and serving God there looking after people and sharing the love of Christ. It actually may soon happen, John and I are obviously very happy and proud. She now just needs to get the funds together!

Time away always gives time to think:

I am
a
Mother
Wife
Sister
Sister-in-law
Aunty
Niece
Great Niece
Cousin
Friend
Employee
Colleague
and Neighbour

but most importantly, I am 
a
Child of God
1 John 3v1

In the future, I may possibly become:
a
Grand Mother
Mother-in-law
Great Aunty

but, I will definately be
an
Heir of Christ
and
 a
Citizen of Heaven.

What a great thought!!!!

While away,I kept thinking of this verse and several things I read kept pointing me to it:

What a great verse, what a great God, what it is to know or see the glory of God!

We had a good week away despite some unexpected wet weather - we really thought it was going to be hot. It had been warm at home and the first two days were really warm, I got burnt as usual and then the weather turned. We still had an enjoyable time away, no phone, no TV, just time to chill a bit and catch up with some reading. We went to the beach a couple of days but they were abandoned - no one there enjoying the waves - just lots of wind and wet; but still lovely. We did a couple of bits around the house and garden as usual, weather allowing - I think theres always going to be things that you get on and do even though you wouldn't usually when its a holiday home of your own, but it was good to go and not have to do them!

My desire is that I might 'really know' God more and more and to have a closer relationship with Him, to know Him completely, if this possible whilst here on the earth. I remember hearing someone recently say - "if you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus." Well, I want to look at Jesus, see what he is like and get to know God more intimately.