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| Poppy after her operation. |
Good timing!
Let me take you back to the week before...
My parents said that they were hoping to come and visit us at some point during the week beginning the 15th April. They had several plans for the week and did not know when they would be able to get up to Liverpool.
We really hoped that they would be in Liverpool Monday to Wednesday to help out with all of the appointments that we had... but instead, they were able to come and see us Wednesday night to Saturday morning.
Little did we know that while Mum and Dad were travelling up to see us, Poppy was booked in for an operation and we would really be needing their assistance while we were in hospital.
Good timing!
Once my parents left Liverpool, Harry was picked up by Uncle Adam and Ruth for a weekend of fun at the beach and at Grandma and Grandad's house. This freed Amy and I up to attend the Wedding of Adam and Jodi.
This was a welcome break from the hospital and our home and gave us something to look forward to after a busy and hectic few days.
Good timing!
On Sunday 21st, after Church, we drove to a Restaurant near Amy's parents home to celebrate Amy's Dad's birthday (and also to pick Harry up from his weekend of fun!)
In February we had planned a holiday to Center Parcs and chose Sherwood Forest, Nottingham from the 22nd to the 26th April. We chose this particular Center Parcs because it was the closest to a Paediatric Hospital in case Poppy needed emergency medical attention!
We decided to invite Amy's parents to join us on the holiday because it would enable Amy's mum to have some time to get to know Poppy better and to become more familiar with PEG feeding etc.
We were and are very grateful that they came with us and that they paid for the holiday too. I think they now realise how much effort is involved with looking after Poppy and Harry!
Harry and I spent every morning turning into shrivelled prunes in the pool! We had loads of fun playing and going on the slides. Poppy and Amy joined us for some of the time, but Poppy needed to head back to our Lodge for feeds... Grandma came along a few times and Grandad even made an appearance on the last day! (He had lots of work to do and we were glad that he was able to have the time away from work to get it done. Amy was even able to assist with some 'medical chat'!!)
The holiday was perfectly placed just after Poppy's operation and provided us with a little respite from total care of Poppy.
Good timing!
I completed my fifth assignment in time... in fact I finished it a week early!
My second term lectures were:
- Interacting with non-Christian religions and cults (2000 word essay)
- Theological Reflection (Reflective diary and Supervisors report)
- Practical Apologetics (2000 word essay)
- Foundations of Philosophy (1500 word essay) &
- Pastoral Epistles (2000 word essay).
(I have included the assessment in brackets by each lecture)
I had planned all of my assignment writing and had blocked out sections of my diary to write the essays and do the research and reading. I had changed the actual hand in dates to a week before the actual date, hoping to trick myself into getting them done early, but only managed to get them finished on time!
My last essay, however, was completed at about 3am on the Monday that it was due in, but I had doubled tricked myself and by accident put the deadline date 2 weeks in advance - so I had actually completed it a week early!!
I had the essay finished on the 14th April but it was not due in until the 21st April!
The astute readers amongst us will already have worked out that the week beginning the 14th April was our worst week (as far as Poppy is concerned) and I would never have found the time to write an essay that week, so I am glad that I tricked myself!
Good timing!
You will have noticed that I have written "Good timing" several times as I have recalled our activities for this month to you!
What I actually mean to say is in the title of this months Blog.
Amy and I have seen God's perfect, providential provision and planning in our lives this month (and throughout our whole lives!).
God knew that Poppy would be having an operation on Thursday 18th April and ordered events perfectly for that to happen and for us to still fulfil other activities in our Diary.
We really (thought that we) needed my parents to visit us Mon - Wed, but God ordered it so that they came when we REALLY needed them!
God knew that I NEEDED to have my essay finished a week early because of Poppy's appointments and operation!
God knew that we would value a break away from home the week after Poppy's operation!
We have also been provided with 2 meals from friends at our Church who simply gave us the meal without asking. How great is that. (Good timing too!)
Looking ahead to May 2013
I am very much looking forward to the Northern Men's convention on the 4th May. This year the theme is "Being Men who change the world".
Jesus chose 12 disciples to be ‘Men who change the world’ and in order to equip them for this task he challenged them among other things to: Listen to him, Lay down their lives and Love others.In a world where a multitude of voices are calling us to listen; where self-preservation and self-promotion are seen as key issues and where love of self so often trumps love for others, we believe that Christian men being serious in these three areas will make a real impact in home, work, church and indeed every area of daily life.
May 5th - 11th is International Cri Du Chat awareness week. We will not be holding any events during this week but hope to be posting different pieces of information throughout the week. My parents have asked if we can put an information pack together for their birthday celebration guests to help raise awareness.
Maybe you could get involved too? Take a look at this You Tube video:
1. Tell 10 people about CdC and how the syndrome affects you or someone you love.2. Include a mention of your support for CdC Awareness Week 2013 and a link to our website or video in your email signature.
3. Tweet a photo of yourself with the sign "I love someone with CdC" using the #cdcawarenessweek hashtag
Or do something similar on Facebook.
4. Contact a local newspaper and tell them about CdC Awareness Week and the event you have planned using the media top tip resources available on our website.
5. Hold a coffee morning for your friends to explain more about the syndrome.
6. Donate an hour to CdC - this can be anything from the equivalent of an hours wages to the group, an hour of babysitting for friends/family with a child with CdC or even an hour on social media promoting the group.
7. Wear your CdC gear. Bracelets, shirts, magnets, and other items are available from 'Laura Bodle Castillo', or on our cafepress site. Remember this is an international site and the money raised from the shop goes right back into awareness week.
I will be quietly celebrating my 34th year on the 9th May, please don't feel like you have to buy me a massive gift... (You can visit my gift list on Amazon for ideas!!!) I hope to be using up the range of vouchers that I have been sent for restaurants across the North West, so if I invite you out for a meal, I will probably be getting a free dinner as long as you pay for yours!!
We will be heading to Suffolk at the end of May to celebrate with my parents as they enter their 60th year! (Dad on the 21st May and Mum on the 5th June)
What I have learnt
During April Jodi, Sydney and I have been reading the book of Colossians. One of the verses that has stood out for me is this one:
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
Colossians 3:2
This month could easily have sent our gaze to the things of this world.
"It's not fair, another operation"
"Why do we have to make extra plans for childcare"
"Amy should be back at work by now, we didn't budget for this long!"
...but we have tried to set our minds on things above.
"God is in control"
"God has a plan"
"In heaven, everything will be perfect, no more tears, no more sadness, no sickness or death, and we will have a new body"
"This world is not my home, heaven is my home"
Sydney reminded us of this in his sermon from Luke 5:12-26 on the 28th April:
"Instead of comparing ourselves to others we should compare ourselves to Jesus.
We look around and compare ourselves to others - we seem to be okay or even good. We are only comparing ourselves against other sinful people, we have become complacent with sin. It is only when Jesus walks into the world that we see how filthy we really are. Compared to Jesus we are filthy rotten sinners.
The GOOD NEWS is this - Jesus came to be the friend of sinners. He came to seek and save the lost."
I need to remember:
- Remember that I am a sinner.
- Don't look around and compare myself against other sinners.
- Look to Jesus for a comparison to realise how perfect He is and how much I need forgiveness.
- Do not look to this world for anything because it will always let you down, but look to heaven for a future because of what Jesus has done for me.
- I should therefore forget about (or put to death) the things of this world and remember (put on the new self) the things of heaven as Jesus renews me into His likeness.
Prayer Requests
We are so very thankful to God for all of His excellent provision in our life this month. God is so good to us.
We thank God for our family, friends and Church.
We thank God for every demonstration of His goodness, grace and mercy in our lives. We know that He has given us so much more than we have seen or acknowledged.
Join with us as we thank God for giving us our family and friends and for putting us in the situation, circumstances and place that we are in.
Jamie:
I have 7 assignments to complete this term. One of them is a 3000 word project.
Please pray that I would have wisdom to make a gospel centred decision regarding my training.
Pray for my self discipline as I seek to grow spiritually and develop my gifts. Pray also for opportunities to test my gifts and receive wise guidance.
Mostly I want to be a godly husband and Father, leading my family well. (Colossians 3:18-21)
I recently read a great Blog post about family Bible reading (and much more) that I would like to share with you:
Amy:
Please pray for the various preparations for Amy returning to work.
The plan at the moment is to start work on the 4th June.
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| Thanks Mike, Becky and Ella for my Tigger bouncer |
Poppy:
We would like Poppy to continue to feed orally and to improve her weaning.
Poppy was weighed in at 13lbs on the 30th April (That's good by the way!)
We pray that the operation was successful and would ask that she would not need another operation on her Larynx unless it is necessary.
Poppy will spend her first night in her own room on the 30th April. Please pray that she will be able to settle well and that we would sleep too (Oh, and that the miles of cable and £'s of technology would work so that it feels like she is still in our room!!!!!!!!!!!!?)
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| Sleeping with ALL of his toys at Center Parcs |
Harry:
Please pray that Harry would continue to develop and grow, that we would have the time, energy and effort to nurture him in the right way.
Every morning Harry says that he doesn't want to go to school, but every day he loves school and enjoys what he has done, please pray that he would grow out of this morning ritual.
Harry is asking really good, deep and searching questions about the Bible, Church, Heaven and other things that we have been teaching him.
We would like wisdom to answer his questions and the ability to lead him well.
In September he will be starting school full time in reception class and we hope that he will manage that change well.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Our greatest desire is that you would know Jesus like we know Him, that you would know the difference between life with Jesus and life without Him.
If you don't know Jesus... why don't you get in touch with us and ask us why Jesus is the most important relationship that we have.
