It's been many months since I've posted any comments on this blog. Family life has been in a constant whirl since April. Contact (the spouses' group at college) has been a lot of hard work but very successful so far but is has put a strain on the family.
College has been going through a very public and traumatic time which is taking it's toll on us. We're struggling here as the atmosphere is quite deadly and there doesn't seem much point in being here (sounds terrible but it feels like that quite a lot!).
I think God is breaking us a little too. We feel under a lot of pressure and have various deadlines on us all the time (essays, Contact, birthdays, Rich off to Uganda to name some) so we feel tired. I am nearly always lonely, not really unusual for me but every now and then I hope that will go away and it doesn't.
The great thing is that we've found a really good curacy - a job for Richard that will be stretching and exciting. Unfortunately, we won't start that until June but as long as we know that God is dealing with us here, we can wait.
I feel as though theological college has changed me (even though I'm not the ordinand). Richard has survived almost intact but I do feel that I've come under whatever is hanging out here. I feel more inhibited, less content, more 'conservative', less 'charismatic' - basically confused about things but I'm trying to ignore it all and I'm expecting it to all fall off me once we've left Oxford. Some things I'm allowing to sit with me as God is using them to speak to me but generally I'm not losing sleep about them.
I think basically, I need a holiday.
Thursday, 22 November 2007
Friday, 13 April 2007
Photos from the last few months
Imagine cries of, "1, 2, 3, Cinderella," as Emily flies down this slide!
Joannah was poorly when we took this photo
Swimming on holiday
Spring flowers in our front garden
Joannah was poorly when we took this photo
Swimming on holiday
Spring flowers in our front garden
Saturday, 17 March 2007
Six months in at Wycliffe Hall
So, we're six months in and at the stage where we realise it's not going to get any worse and probably not going to get any better (although, who knows what might happen with this documentary filming). We've got a year and a few months left but really, things dial down in about a year's time.
I'm the Chair of Contact (spouses' thing) and Rich is in charge of a charismatic thing in college & he's the New Wine rep. He's about to do his summer placement at Holy Trinity, Cheltenham and needs to decide where to do his 2nd year placement, possibly at Radio Oxford or in an asylum-seekers' detention centre. We also lead worship at church, do the occasional kid's group, teach a bit of Lifeshapes in and out of college and we still manage to do a bit of travelling the country speaking/networking on the back of our St. Thomas' reputation.
So there's plenty happening and, unsurprisingly, Rich has fallen behind in his work this term.
Before I suddenly became what has been called "high-priestess" of Contact, I was feeling a bit frustrated and D2-ey. Is this it? Are we wasting 5 years of our lives (training + curacy)? I know we have to do it; the time is definitely now. But I've been thinking about how apostolic people have an almost felt need to influence and determine their surroundings; they have to instigate things!
I was thinking about Mike Breen's "The Apostle's Notebook" (incidentally, now selling on Amazon for £65!) and the things in there that, when I first read them, made me cry with frustration, mostly because I hadn't the capacity to fulfil my dreams! That's how I've been feeling - like, what is there to do, to really grab hold of and shape and change and make happen here? In fact, I was feeling that need so badly and then, almost overnight, I was made Chair and I had something to do!
Contact's not a big deal - at all! But, I have a team (we scrapped the term "committee"!), some people to lead and loads of grace to do it with, so I'm happy.
I'm the Chair of Contact (spouses' thing) and Rich is in charge of a charismatic thing in college & he's the New Wine rep. He's about to do his summer placement at Holy Trinity, Cheltenham and needs to decide where to do his 2nd year placement, possibly at Radio Oxford or in an asylum-seekers' detention centre. We also lead worship at church, do the occasional kid's group, teach a bit of Lifeshapes in and out of college and we still manage to do a bit of travelling the country speaking/networking on the back of our St. Thomas' reputation.
So there's plenty happening and, unsurprisingly, Rich has fallen behind in his work this term.
Before I suddenly became what has been called "high-priestess" of Contact, I was feeling a bit frustrated and D2-ey. Is this it? Are we wasting 5 years of our lives (training + curacy)? I know we have to do it; the time is definitely now. But I've been thinking about how apostolic people have an almost felt need to influence and determine their surroundings; they have to instigate things!
I was thinking about Mike Breen's "The Apostle's Notebook" (incidentally, now selling on Amazon for £65!) and the things in there that, when I first read them, made me cry with frustration, mostly because I hadn't the capacity to fulfil my dreams! That's how I've been feeling - like, what is there to do, to really grab hold of and shape and change and make happen here? In fact, I was feeling that need so badly and then, almost overnight, I was made Chair and I had something to do!
Contact's not a big deal - at all! But, I have a team (we scrapped the term "committee"!), some people to lead and loads of grace to do it with, so I'm happy.
Taking over the world!
Hi there. I don't know if you've missed me but I've certainly missed you. We haven't had internet access for a few months, meaning no TOM website and no blogs. Had my life not been a whirlwind of activity, I could've been quite lonely!
We've done just about all the things listed below and term ended a few days ago with the Englands having another bout of vomiting.
Emily's first term at nursery has been great and she's loved it, though she's so independent and outgoing - wonderful but a constant challenge. Joannah learnt to walk and then forgot after an illness. She also started crawling the other day but she doesn't really do either and is nearly 17 months!
Lifeshapes has been interesting. We've been processing it in the Church's one small group on Wednesday nights. Time will tell as to whether or not people want to take on the values. We had a great time speaking at Greg's church in Bristol too.
The last few weeks have taken a surprising turn as, after not being that bothered about the spouses' activities (called "Contact") at Wycliffe and not really wanting to be on the committee for this next year, I'm now Chair of the whole thing!! God made it all happen - I really felt him calling me to do it, which is weird 'cause it's not really a big deal. I suspect he's just continuing to stretch me as I knew he would while were here at college.
Then, on the last day of term, Wycliffe sent round an email saying a film company wants to do another vicar documentary following ordinands in training and they need ordinands to volunteer in the next few weeks (that's during the Easter break, so there's no way for us all to process this sudden announcement!). So, of course I immediately dismissed it out of hand and made Richard promise he wouldn't volunteer, then spent all night awake trying not to hear God suggesting we should do it!
You know when you get that sinking feeling as you realise God's giving you peace about something you don't want him to! ...
We've done just about all the things listed below and term ended a few days ago with the Englands having another bout of vomiting.
Emily's first term at nursery has been great and she's loved it, though she's so independent and outgoing - wonderful but a constant challenge. Joannah learnt to walk and then forgot after an illness. She also started crawling the other day but she doesn't really do either and is nearly 17 months!
Lifeshapes has been interesting. We've been processing it in the Church's one small group on Wednesday nights. Time will tell as to whether or not people want to take on the values. We had a great time speaking at Greg's church in Bristol too.
The last few weeks have taken a surprising turn as, after not being that bothered about the spouses' activities (called "Contact") at Wycliffe and not really wanting to be on the committee for this next year, I'm now Chair of the whole thing!! God made it all happen - I really felt him calling me to do it, which is weird 'cause it's not really a big deal. I suspect he's just continuing to stretch me as I knew he would while were here at college.
Then, on the last day of term, Wycliffe sent round an email saying a film company wants to do another vicar documentary following ordinands in training and they need ordinands to volunteer in the next few weeks (that's during the Easter break, so there's no way for us all to process this sudden announcement!). So, of course I immediately dismissed it out of hand and made Richard promise he wouldn't volunteer, then spent all night awake trying not to hear God suggesting we should do it!
You know when you get that sinking feeling as you realise God's giving you peace about something you don't want him to! ...
Wednesday, 10 January 2007
Getting back into the swing of things
Rich started back at college this week. He has a study week (a whole week devoted to one subject) this week on sex and marriage and yesterday followed the story of Peter, the vicar who became Pauline, or something like that!
It's been exhausting getting used to single-parenting again. That's the downside of the long holidays. I get so used to Richard being around and so dependent on him and then term starts again!
This term feels quite busy for us. My wives' small group want me to do a session on worship with them. Rich and I will be teaching the Circle when our church does Lifeshapes for Lent. We'll lead worship there a few times and probably do the under 3's group. We're also going to Greg Sharples' church in Bristol to do a weekend teaching on worship and something else, can't remember. I've been asked to sing with one of our friends, Toby, at a bar night our church is running which is something completely different. So, I'm not doing my evening course at Wycliffe this term - too much!
This weekend, we're back to Sheffield for the first time since we left. Going to catch up with friends and go to the TOM inductions on Saturday night.
Bring it on ...!
It's been exhausting getting used to single-parenting again. That's the downside of the long holidays. I get so used to Richard being around and so dependent on him and then term starts again!
This term feels quite busy for us. My wives' small group want me to do a session on worship with them. Rich and I will be teaching the Circle when our church does Lifeshapes for Lent. We'll lead worship there a few times and probably do the under 3's group. We're also going to Greg Sharples' church in Bristol to do a weekend teaching on worship and something else, can't remember. I've been asked to sing with one of our friends, Toby, at a bar night our church is running which is something completely different. So, I'm not doing my evening course at Wycliffe this term - too much!
This weekend, we're back to Sheffield for the first time since we left. Going to catch up with friends and go to the TOM inductions on Saturday night.
Bring it on ...!
Thursday, 4 January 2007
Growing girls
Welcome 2007 and Happy New Year!
My first post of the year celebrates the occasion of Emily starting nusery today. We walked through the park and across the bridge (can't believe I've got to do that twice nearly everyday for the forseeable future!) - took about 10 minutes. She had a great time and stayed the full two-and-a-half hours without me, not that that's a huge milestone for her. I was a little sad to leave her but got home to find our friend Yann chatting to Rich, so he was a welcome distraction. Emily was pretty exhausted for the rest of today. I'm planning on jumping right in there and making her go every day but we'll see how she goes!!
Joannah is 14 months and is beginning to stand unaided. In fact, she took her first step today, though I wouldn't call it walking. It was nice to spend some time with her just the two of us; she deserves some of my undivded attention.
My first post of the year celebrates the occasion of Emily starting nusery today. We walked through the park and across the bridge (can't believe I've got to do that twice nearly everyday for the forseeable future!) - took about 10 minutes. She had a great time and stayed the full two-and-a-half hours without me, not that that's a huge milestone for her. I was a little sad to leave her but got home to find our friend Yann chatting to Rich, so he was a welcome distraction. Emily was pretty exhausted for the rest of today. I'm planning on jumping right in there and making her go every day but we'll see how she goes!!
Joannah is 14 months and is beginning to stand unaided. In fact, she took her first step today, though I wouldn't call it walking. It was nice to spend some time with her just the two of us; she deserves some of my undivded attention.
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