ζωη (Zoe)

This week has been full of so many things - life as a cadet has definitely not been boring over the past 7 days!

On Sunday we headed to North London to lead the meetings at Chalk Farm Corps.  We went there for an observation Sunday a few weeks ago and had a lovely day there so we are looking forward to visiting them again, although a little nervous as this was the first time we’d led a meeting together since arriving at college.  It went ok, I think it’s safe to say we were both pleased with how it all went and the feedback we got was positive :-)  The girls both like it there too so that of course makes it much easier for us!

The next day was a tad different!!  We woke up to a white William Booth College.  It meant 2 crazy days as Sian was off school and Abigail was only in nursery for one morning.  Graeme and I were able to take it in turns to go to lessons and look after them.  As you can imagine it was a little hectic, especially keeping track of where Sian was on the college campus as she played  with the other college kids!

Wednesday saw us all return to normal, which I have to confess was great!  It’s strange before coming into college I could manage the girls, family life, home etc etc and then when you come to college you accept the fact that you now have to work around a timetable and so you fit in with it and get on with it!  Then when it disappears you don’t know where you are!!  I think that’s called being institutionalised!!!!  After just 5 months?! Argh!

Yesterday we met another deadline by handing in our meeting plan and sermon for our next visit to Chalk Farm.  We also got our first ‘review and evaluation’ back after the Review Board met to discuss our progress so far in college - specifically our spiritual development.  I’m pleased to report that it all went ok and we’ve not been asked to pack!

Then to today…I have to confess to not starting the day off so happy as it was snowing again and for a few minutes I thought I’d be home with the girls with all the ‘fun’ of snow!  I know that must sound terrible and that I don’t want to be home with them, which is of course not true it’s just kind of hectic with lessons, deadlines, etc still going on…but…school and nursery were open and in fact the snow is almost all gone now.  So today I’ve met in a small group to discuss the arguments for and against the existance of God.  Then I was filmed reading ‘Guess How Much I Love You?’ to look at how well I communicate, how to improve my public speaking etc.  Had the afternoon and evening doing bits and bobs, being with the girls etc and this evening I’ve started planning my next essay which is on Evangelism and Mission!  An interesting and varied day!!

So now it’s off to bed and see what the weekend brings, hopefully not too much snow as London just doesn’t seem to cope well and it seem to rub off on me which is most annoying!

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Time is short unforuntaley but I wanted to post as the last few days have been a little different at William Booth College!  Yeap, it got a lot of snow dump on it!!

The result of that is that there have been a lot of snow ball fights and snowman building by everyone.  Classes have been canceled and rearranged.  The children have been home from school and basically life have been a little chaotic!  Unfortunately we still have the same deadlines so I have to confess to have gotten a little stressed and worried over the past few days

But it has been lovely to have some snow and watch the girls having fun!

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Happy New Year to everyone!  I thought I should write a post seeing that my last entry is entitled ‘Fed Up’ not quite in tune with the New Year spirit!!

We’re almost at the end of our Christmas break and it’s been a busy but good time.

The first week we packed up the car and headed off to see all the family.  We spent 4 days down in the South West and for the first time in 24 years (I think) I spent Christmas day with my dad!  We had a lovely day with him, Di, and Pauline (Di’s mum).  We stayed at my Mum & Malc’s while we were down there which meant we spent time with my Gran and on Boxing Day Jonathan, Hannah & Oliver came up which was great.  Oliver is so cute and we all loved spending the day with him.

Next we headed North to Lincoln for a couple of days.  It was a busy few days but once again good to see everyone.  The girls had fun with their big cousins and Sian got to play on a Wii which made her happy!!

We made it home on Monday and I have to be honest and say I was pleased to be back.

We’ve had a quiet week really, spent time catching up with friends (including some special ones from Riga!! ) Today I’ve been on a bit of a mission to get the flat straight - well as straight as it can be with Sian & Abigail around!!  It would be nice to know that we could start the next tern with a clean, tidy flat…but we’ll see!!

It’s strange being away from the study for 2 weeks you soon forget what you were doing just a few weeks ago, but then on Monday we’re be back in the classroom and all will feel ‘normal’ again!

So…here’s to 2009 and all that comes with it!  Being in college you’re more protected from what’s going on outside in the world which is not nescessarily a good thing…but anyway hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas and that you have great 2009!

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This is going to be a short post as I really should be getting on with my New Testament essay that’s due in on Friday but I just wanted to share with the world that I’m fed up!! Why? You may ask!  Well for the past 7 days I’ve been looking after a sick family!  First it was Graeme and Abigail, then at the weekend Sian got it and has not been home since.  For the past 2 days we’ve thought she’d be ok to go back to school but when the morning comes we discover she’s not!!

Some how I’ve managed to escape getting it but I’m not holding my breath as most people in the college have or have had something so the likelyhood is…!

It’s not a great way to spend this time leading up to Christmas and I know it should mean we’ll be done by Christmas but that’s just not the point (see I really am fed up!!! )

Well, I guess I’d better get on and do some more work!!

Heigh-Ho Heigh-Ho it’s off to work I go (I’m playing the part of Grumpy this evening, hopefully tomorrow I’ll be Happy instead!)

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This was the question that Sian, along with the other children at Deptford were asked on Sunday during the meeting.  With it being the first Sunday in Advent a theme for the season was introduced.  This year it’s ‘4 candles’  which included us watching the very funny sketch by the ‘2 Ronnies’.  Anyway the theme of this meeting was Hope.  Earlier we’d all been asked to draw what we were hoping for this Christmas.  Then the children were asked to go away and draw what they thought God would like for Christmas.  My mind started racing: what could Sian do? How could I help her understand? etc etc.

So before she headed off I grabbed her and asked if she knew what she was going to draw and did she want any help?

‘No!  I know’  was pretty much the response I got.

‘Oh!’ came my reply, ‘what are you going to do then?’

‘I’m going to draw God and the world.’

‘Right!  Great!  Off you go then!’

And off she went.  When she’d finished she came and showed me what she had drawn.  When I asked her what it was about, why had she drawn God and the world etc (trying all the time not to coach an answer out of her) she said these words: All the bad people are being good now.

Can’t argue with that really - not that I’d want to especially when it comes from the mouth of my 5 year old!  I often worry that I’m not doing the best by her as far as her offering her the best start in her faith, but on Sunday God (& Graeme) gave me a big reminder that she’s getting it and she’s ok!

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but instead I thought it was time to wrote a post - just in case any one is still checking my blog!

As you can imagine life’s been pretty hectic recently and it’s only going to get worse (at least until we break up for Christmas).

So much is going on it’s impossible to write about it all so here are a few highlights from the pas month.

Those of you who read Graeme’s blog will see that we went to Faith House for our social placement week.  We had a brilliant time and learnt loads!  I was excited and a bit nervous as we started the week as I’d heard loads of things about the centre and so it was a little hard to know what to expect.  Throughout the week we had the chance to meet and talk with many people who have very challenging lives.  It was hard only being there a week as of course you need time to get to know people and to build trust between each other but people we’re very welcoming towards us.

I’d love to say that it’s helped me work out a little more about the direction my officership might go in but unfortunately it didn’t!!  What it did do was reinforce how important it is to create a place where anyone can come and feel welcome.  Also that I need to be there to meet all the needs of people - whatever it is and that through serving them in that way I’m, hopefully, showing them a glimps of Jesus.

Before the week had started the week was over and we found ourselves back in the classroom!! It was strangly nice to get back to normal - it’s amazing what you end up calling normal!!  We’re currently having hand in an essay a week.  It started last week with a seen doctrine test which was hard but it’s done and handed in!  I managed to get ahead on one essay which means I’m currently working on next weeks essay which is Old Testament!  Had a tutorial today and I’m on the right track which is always good to know so I need to get my head down and start writing soon!

In amongst all this Sian turned 5 last week!!!!  Hard to believe that our ‘baby’ is now 5 but it’s true!  She had a good day, although we didn’t see her for much of it as she was at school and then at the college kids club JAM.  Saturday saw her party, we just had a few friends ’round but she had fun which is all that matters!  I’ll post some photos when I finally get them onto the computer.  Strange how I’m not so organised with these kinds of things at the moment!

Abigail hasn’t been too well over the past week.  She doesn’t get sick very often, which is wonderful, so when she does she really doesn’t like it!!  Thankfully she seems to be over the worst now and is pretty much back to her cheeky self!  She’s now 19 months and over the past few weeks has been starting to talk!  We currently have: Daddy, ‘Arn’ (Sian), Mama, juice, cheese, apple, yes, and down.  As you can see she’s mastering the important things: family and FOOD!

Well, I guess I should do a bit of reading!  I’ve never read as much as I have over the past weeks!  Oh, life as a cadet

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Abigail finally has her first clear word and what is it????  You’ve guessed it ‘DADDY!’

She first said it about 3 weeks ago but hasn’t really said it again since but over the past 2 days she’s starting to repeat it more and more.  It’s great!  Just trying to get her to work on Mummy now as she says ‘Mama’ at the moment!  The fact that she can only say Daddy though could have it’s advantages!!

She turns 18 months tomorrow which is amazing although she is ready for this milestone if you know what I mean! Here she is in action at the welcome weekend 3 weeks ago!

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Graeme and I were talking last night about blogs and I said how I’ve wanted to blog on a few things but it’s finding time to be able to getting everything I want to say into a post!  As I have a ’spare’ 30mins before I need to go and get Sian I thought I’d have a go and these thoughts we not be in any particular order, just to warn you!

A few weeks ago we had our welcome weekend and those of you in the Army world that read the Salvationist might have seen the write up about this.  We had a great weekend for many reasons.  We had 5 family members join us which made it all very special - kind of reminded me of the last time family gathered at the college 9 years ago for our wedding!  The Saturday night meeting was the ‘biggy’!  Where we have to march in, sing our sessional song and I, along with 3 other people, had to share their testimony!  I was so nervous about it that in the 24 hours leading up to the evening meeting I didn’t want to eat!  Yeap it was that bad!!!  My 3 minutes actually went ok which was definitely down to God!  I remember at one point during the meeting looking out at the congregation (cos we were sat on the platform) and seeing so many people - friends, past officers, & family members that are part of my life and spiritual journey! There were of course people on the platform that had played their part too!  It was really special!

Once the weekend was over we were straight into classes!  We’ve now had 3 weeks of lesson and it’s been good to finally start the study and leave all the inductions and study skills behind!  The lessons cover so many topics as you’d expect and there have been times when you lose track where you are and what you’re supposed to be studying!  This morning we went from basic counseling skill in Understanding People to The Trinity in Doctrine!!!  Quite a mix!

Last weekend we went to the Willow Creek conference but instead of actually going to Willow Creek it came to us via DVDs!!!  It was the Global Leadership Summit.  I didn’t really know anything about it and so didn’t know what to expect.  Once you got past the fact that we were sat in the Assembly Hall watching a DVD on a large screen it was actually very good.  The speakers were excellent and gave me TONS to think about!!  It was very challenging!

In amongst all this are the girls!  They are doing well, all things considered!  Abigail has now settled very well into nursery, in fact she loves it!  We have to get a kiss from her before she runs in :-)  It’s great.  She’s learning so much so quickly.  It’s hard to believe she’s still only 17 months, although only for 4 more days! Sian is taking a little longer but then I guess that’s only natural.  She seems to be getting used to the pace of life now with school and JAM club (the college kids club) and so isn’t as tired as she was.  She’s doing well at school and has now started bringing reading books home for HER to read which is amazing.  They may only be 8 pages long with very short sentences on each page but she’s reading them and she loves it!

The other evening when we were putting Abigail to bed we were about to pray and said to Abigail ’shall we say prayers?’ and she put her hands together!!!  BIG  AHHHH!  It was so sweet.  When we finished and said ‘Amen’ she she gave her approving nod and her noise for yes!  Now when we say ‘grace’ she does the same.  It’s great that because of the nursery she’s going to she’s having this amazing start to her experience of God.  Next week Toddler Church starts so that should be fun!!

On the same subject Sian and I had an interesting prayer time the other evening when she was asking me loads of questions and adding her sentences in as I prayed.  It was wonderful.  The bit that really took be back was when she was talking about Jesus and finished her comment by saying ‘…and then Jesus runs into our hearts!’  Can’t argue with that can you

As those of you who read Graeme’s blog will have seen we’ve been told where our two placements are.  I’m especially excited about the social placement as it’s just going to be SO different to anything I’d done or seen before!  I’m sure you’ll hear all about it!

This weekend is free which is great!  Not sure what we’re going to do yet but it’ll be lovely to be together (as long as everyone behaves!?! )

So that’s the highlights of our last few weeks! x

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This morning my alarm went off at the unearthly hour of 6am (for the morning doesn’t start for me until after 7am!) and it doesn’t normally, you see this morning was special!!

It went off because I had the crazy idea to join Hanna in the Rec room for an hour of aerobics!  Yeap..me!!  So I got up crept around the flat hoping not to wake my sleeping family and headed out with my towel, bottle of water and a cup of tea!

It was actually good fun!  (I am a changed person clearly!!)  It was just Hanna and I and I really enjoyed the time together.

It’s now 10.30pm and I’m feeling a tad sore but hay..no pain no gain!!!

So Hanna, not sure this was the best post in the world but like a good first year cadet I followed the instructions from a second year cadet

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Thought I’d write another post before we start getting busy and let you know what we’ve been up to!

Sian’s now into her second week at school and although she’s so tired she’s doing really well.  Abigail’s feeling very much at home and enjoys having new people to carry her around!!  She particularly likes the men…hum might need to watch this one!!  Tomorrow the nursery is open for a few hours so we’ll be taking Abigail in so she can have a play around before she starts full time on Wednesday.

As for Graeme and I we attended the first of many inductions today.  It was the family induction this afternoon so nothing too difficult.  Just the do’s and don’t for college families and about the nursery and JAM club, so that’s all fine.  On Wednesday we finally get started lots of inductions, study skills lessons, music and matching rehearsals plus a few interviews!!

At the weekend we had our Divisional Farewell down in Southampton.  It was a long day which I think the girls are still trying to recover from but it went well.  It was good to see some friendly faces and to be given an ‘army’ send off!!  So now we’re officially farewelled and at the college!!

I thought that some of you, especially those of you not on Facebook might like to have a nose around our flat!  We’re all unpacked and ready to go!  You’ll see it’s not spic n span but hay it’s home!!  Looking forward to seeing some of you at the welcome in just over a week - we’re in House 10 Flat 2 so look forward to seeing you at some point!

Enjoy…

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