Bathroom work, weekend, and update on Granddad

We are having our bathroom done finally.  But it's not been easy.  Our plumbing is old and complicated and our bathroom is small.  But in around 10 days all the work should be done.  I'll post some photos when it's all finished.

I'm blessed to have my mum and dad living close by so that we can use the shower and also just be at their house because it is SO cold at home because the heating has been turned off whilst they work.

Boots (the cat) is not impressed AT ALL.  All the banging and strangers in and out of the house has totally stressed her out.  Poor puddy-tat.

So right now I'm at my mum's, I've just done some ironing, had a shower and put a load of washing in her washer.

G came back yesterday from a trip to the Lake District for a friend's stag do (that's a bachelor party for my USA friends).  They did clay pigeon shooting, carting, paintballing, walking and biking.  He was exhausted, LOL. But he certainly got plenty of exercise! :)

Chatterbox has gone back to school today after time off sick.  Poor thing.  She's still not 100%, but well enough to go back I think.

I visited Granddad yesterday.  I didn't take the girls up to see him because of Chatterbox being poorly.  I waited in the hospital café whilst my mum and dad went up to see him. The plan was for mum to come down after a while and sit with the girls whilst I then visited Granddad.  It was quite cold so I ordered a coffee for me and hot chocolates for the girls.  They came in those cups with lids and stupidly I said to the girls to take the lids off so that the hot chocolate would cool quicker. Instead what happened was Squidge spilt hers all over the table, Chatterbox, the floor and her hand. It scalded her hand.  So I ran over to the chap behind the counter and he got me some iced water and some napkins to put on her hand.  I cleaned up and tended to Squidge's hand and it soon was fine again.  After about 15 minutes Mum and Dad turned up to take me to see Granddad.  I said to them, "You'll never guess what L's just done?" And with those words I demonstrated...far too well.  I spilt my coffee everywhere, including all over my new coat!  Well, we did laugh.  I said to the chap running the café, "I bet you rued the day we came into your café!"  Hoist by my own petard. LOL

Anyway, Granddad is not doing great, his chest is awful.  He has a drain fitted.  He's also not eating.  He looks so frail and he's so tired.  Please continue to pray.  Particularly for his salvation. Even if he comes through this he may not have many years left.  I'm so grateful for your prayers and love

So, that's where I am up to with things.  How was your weekend?

For prayer

Please pray for my Granddad.  He's been taken into hospital with severe stomach pains. He has a blockage in his intestines and needs an operation. It's his 95th birthday tomorrow and he's quite frail.  Please pray for complete healing, safety through his operation, comfortable respite, and also that he come to know that love and peace of Jesus Christ.

Thanks.

Distressing times

Hillsborough Memorial, Flickr

I do cry easily, if I see someone else crying I cry.  If I watch a programme where people are distressed I cry.

The Hillsborough Disaster occurred on 15th April 1989, 96 Liverpool Football Club fans were crushed to death at the Leppings Lane end of Sheffield Wednesday's Football club's ground (Hillsborough).

I remember watching the images on TV, where I couldn't breathe for distress at those poor people, many of them were children, being crushed behind those big metal fences that football grounds used to have.

Hubs was going to go to that match with a friend and his dad, but his mom said no at the last minute and so he didn't.  The one time a young lad is glad his mother said no.

Today thousands of government papers are being released and an independent inquiry's report into those documents will be revealed.  The families of the victims are still unhappy with the accidental death verdict. As yet, no organisation has been held to account, though reports have shown that the disaster was at least in part caused by a lack of police control...and those awful metal fences penning people in like animals.

So painful for those families who cannot find peace.  And that's my prayer, that justice be done (whatever that may be, for God knows all), and that these families are able to find peace and resolution at long last.

9/11 Memorial

Yesterday it was 9/11.  This is another human disaster that sticks in my memory so clearly.  I was at my mum's, with my tiny baby Chatterbox, when the breaking news came.  Even now when I watch programmes about it I can barely breathe.  The human cost both to the victims and their family and friends.  So distressing.  I've been praying for those families and friends of the victims - and those who escaped from the falling towers but still suffer physical and psychological sickness as a result.

Oh, a day is coming...

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
(Revelation 21:1-4)

Come Lord Jesus!

(Scriptures from NIV)

For Prayer

I would be so grateful for prayer.  So many things are going on that I'm struggling to cope with, I guess I'm just vulnerable right now.

You know that we recently left our church of many years (in fact for me it was the only church I'd ever been a member of), and I am still dealing with the emotions and pain that come from leaving.  I could write a four page rant...but bitterness is not a Jesus-like quality (and I do so want to be more like him)...I might share when things aren't so raw so that I can express things more objectively.

I feel confused, conflicted, emotional, sad, and slightly lost.  But snippets of joy slip through here and there.  Little drops of grace.

Please pray that the love of Christ carries us through.

My mum and dad are struggling with a heavy workload related to the care of my grandma (my mum isn't in the best of health always).  We love Grandma so much, but caring is tiring and all consuming and all they want is for her to be happy and comfortable.  The government don't make things easy for the carer or the elderly - everything is far too complicated and takes far too long when time is short.

Please pray for my grandma's care - that she is happy and contented.  Please pray for mum and dad that these years of retirement are not bogged down by worry, strain and stress.

My granddad may have ear-cancer.  We are waiting for results.  It doesn't look good.

Please pray for my granddad for his healing and that he finds God in all this.  I'm so worried about him. I love my granddad.

Thank you dear bloggy friends.

“God never asked us to meet life's pressures and demands on our own terms or by relying upon our own strength. Nor did He demands that we win His favour by assembling an impressive portfolio of good deeds. Instead, He invites us to enter His rest.” ― Charles R. Swindoll

For Prayer and Rainy Day Photo Safari

Please pray for the residents of Hebden Bridge a town about 9 miles away from us, they've been hit for the second time in recent weeks by awful floods: Flash Floods

We've had a goodly amount of rain, here's pics from a recent walk:

The lake has filled up nicely.

Lake overflow is overflowing :)

The stile is a waterfall

Almost to the roof of the bridge

River almost to its limit.

River bursting its banks.

The lane is a river

Which is river and which is path?

Shall we swim to the gate?

A bit soggy.

Prayers

Such tragedy...

My prayers tonight go out to the families of the victims of the awful events in Norway. So shocking. To think that the perpetrator claims to be Christian is sickening. I also pray for those who survive that they are comforted and healed.

My prayers also go out to the family of the singer Amy Winehouse who has died so, so early at the age of 27. It is thought that it was a drugs overdose. Unbelievably sad that her life has been destroyed at such a young age.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Update

Hubs has just got back from visiting our little niece in hospital (a few hours drive away in Oxfordshire). She's doing fantastic, you wouldn't even know she'd been ill!!

She's being kept in until Monday.

Thank you so much for your prayers and praise God that she's so well.

Hugs and blessings!

Desperate need for prayer

My husband has just rung me from church. His brother's two month old baby has been taken into hospital with meningitis. Please pray for that little girl and for hubs' brother and his wife.

Many thanks.

Edit to add: We've since heard that it is suspected viral meningitis, which is not as dangerous as the bacterial type. She's being kept in for 48 hours for observation. Please continue to pray, but thankfully, praise God, it doesn't seem as desperate. Hugs!

For prayer

My husband has asked his blog readers to pray for his cousin Michael who lives in California:

Please Pray

He has had a stroke and been diagnosed with two brain tumours. Please pray for healing and for peace for his wife and children.

Poorly sick

The girls and I have been suffering with a horrible flu-like cold - aches, fever, upset stomach, shivers, etc. Hopefully we'll be back on top-form soon.

Please pray for the girls especially, Squidge has had this since Saturday night and Chatterbox is now quite poorly. They both have fevers. Chatterbox had hallucinations the other night, poor little mite.

Hugs.

Thank you so much for all your love and prayers. My Nan passed away this morning. Please continue to pray for our family, particularly my Granddad, my Dad and my Auntie.

Update

Thank you so much for your prayers.

I had my ultrasound scan yesterday and praise God my gall bladder, liver and pancreas are fine. So it's just the hiatus hernia that is causing me gyp*.

*gyp
n
Brit and NZ slang severe pain; torture his arthritis gave him gyp
[probably a contraction of gee up!; see gee1]

I love words.

Anyway...

My nan isn't improved. Now they think her hip has come out of its socket. It's causing her great pain, she can't sit up now. She could go for an x-ray and then go through the pain of having it reset. But, they believe that the cancer is causing her bones to soften so it would simply pop right out. My nan is terrified of hospitals, so for now they are treating her with pain killers.

My poor granddad is really down about everything, he needs lots of prayer too.

Chatterbox is still sad about losing her best friend, although they do seem to be on speaking terms now. Squidge is doing better at school and hasn't cried when I drop her off at school for three days now. Praise God!

I do have an additional problem that there may be hours cut and even maybe redundancies at work. But I feel peace about that.

I know there's a lot to ask you all to pray for but I would be grateful if you would also keep my husband in your prayers. His knee is playing up. The other day he bent down to pick up something from a shop shelf and it seized up causing him great pain. It's been bothering him for months now.

*sigh*

Thank you so much for your prayers and good wishes, it really blesses me and my family. If there's anything you want me to pray for then just ask.

Hugs.

Difficult times

I'm really struggling with things at the moment, it seems everything has come at once.

Ever since I had that gastroscopy my stomach's been worse. Now I have a weird virusy cold. Couldn't eat my tea last night - urgh the smell of it cooking was yukky-, was in bed by 7pm. I feel so tired and down at the moment. I think part of it is a virus, but I think part of it is stress. Next Tuesday I'm going for a scan on my gall bladder, I pray fervently there's nothing wrong with it, because right now I could really do without it!

Both my kiddiwinks are having a hard time at school right now, every morning Squidge doesn't want to go to school and I have to leave her in the classroom crying every day. I've been meeting with the teacher about it, I've even been to the doctors', but she's still unhappy. It breaks my heart. She just tells me the work is too hard, but she is doing absolutely fine.

Chatterbox has been suffering recently too, her friend has been taking things off her and because I rang her mother about it she's taken some pens from Chatterbox and won't give them back and has now fallen out with Chatterbox. Chatterbox is so open and friendly that sometimes she gets taken advantage of. My little treasure. I hate to think of her breaking up with such a long time friend. I spoke to her teacher too, I'm not sure why this has suddenly happened.

My nan is worse. We had a phone call this morning from my auntie that neither of her legs will work now. She can't get out of bed, she can't stand and she can't make it to the commode. We are wondering if it is time she went into the hospice as she needs proper nursing care now, but nan is frightened of hospital environments, so we are not sure how she will take it. Added to that my granddad fell last night at 3 in the morning.

My grandma (my mum's mum) has also fallen recently and can't bend one of her legs, so she is struggling too now.

I know I need to get close to the Rock, my Saviour, and as I said in my previous post He is with me and within me. I just need to stay focused on that.

I would covet your prayers right now not just for me, but for my family.

Thanks xxxx

Chilean Miners

Rescued miner's prayer of thanks

As I write this, 16 miners have been rescued from their underground prison. It is so moving and emotional. I cannot imagine what life has been like down there, trapped together in the dark and the heat. I pray that the next few weeks will not be too overwhelming for them.

BBC News Live Coverage

Floods and landslides

Today has been quite the adventure. I haven't had chance to visit my Nan and Granddad (if you remember I asked for prayers as Nan is ill and Granddad is struggling to cope). So my Mum and Dad were going to visit them today and I went with them because I've been unable to get to them for a couple of weeks.

So we set off. As we enter a local town we are stopped by police, there's been a landslide. So we decide to head over the 'tops'. We hit flood in the valley towns. So we head right up to the top of the moors and wind our way over the tiny roads and finally 2 and a half hours later (it should be a 45 minute drive) arrive at my Nan and Granddad's.

I wouldn't like to be living in these bungalows. Also see this swollen river picture.

Here are a couple of videos of the local rivers:





In the following video you can see the park filling with water as it is a designated flood relief area:



Anyway, my Nan is doing OK. She was cheerful and comfortable. They are getting plenty of help and care. There is lots to do and they need even more help than they are receiving but as a family we're on the case, as it were. I would still appreciate lots of prayer. For my Nan, for her pain and for my Granddad who is worrying about her and he also has a bad foot causing him a lot of discomfort.

Thanks.

Twenty Questions...

I came across this via Claire@Battlement of Rubies: Twenty questions for an abortion provider that wants the taboo removed. The letter is addressed to Marie Stopes International. The letter was sent in May, he quickly received a 'holding' letter, but has not received any answers to the 20 questions. I think he asks some good questions.

I pray that the debate is de-politicised and is opened up honestly.

New teapot and for prayer

Had a busy day today. Swimming. Shopping. Bought a new teapot today. Chuh! It pours terribly. Oh well. I've cut out coffee for a while so it's cups of tea all round. :)

Notes containing prayers in the Western wall, Jerusalem

On a more serious note, I'd be grateful if you could keep my Nan in your prayers. She's been diagnosed with lung cancer. We don't know the full details because my Nan and Granddad have chosen not to know everything. The hospital have told them that the only treatment they recommend is pain medicine. My Nan and Granddad are in their 90s and my Granddad does everything, despite the fact he is unsteady on his legs.

I'd be grateful if you could pray for healing and pain relief for my Nan and that if they need help that they will accept it. My Granddad is wonderful, so independent, but we worry that he will take on more than he can cope with. I love them both so much.

Thanks. Here's hoping you all have a wonderful weekend.

Please pray

Lol I'm havin' a stress.

We have a viewer for our house on Saturday! Hurrah! However, I am out on a course for church that I can't really get out of because it's all arranged. Sasanfasanrasan! It's in Southport which is 50+ miles away so I can't really nip back during the lunch break or anything.

Hubs is visiting his father (biological father - it's complicated) who he hasn't seen since before Christmas - so it's pretty important that hubs visits with the girls. I can't get hold of hubs today because he's on a course and has switched his phone off and I'm havin' a stress.

Oh, and I'm ill with a horrid cold and have pulled a muscle in my stomach. How am I going to get the house ready?? Oh and the garden too, which needs the grass mowing and a general tidy-up!

So would you just pray. a) that we'd find a suitable time to please the buyers; b) that I'll manage to get the house and garden presentable; and most of all c) that I'll stop this silly stressing when God is in control! Oh and d) that the house will sell :)

Thank you so much, I realise this is a very tiny problem as problems go - I know I need to rest in God over it!

Update: My Granddad is feeling a lot better, however, he still needs a hospital appointment about the cancerous growth on his hand. Thank you so much for your prayers for him.

Happy Easter and For Prayer

Happy Easter everyone!

Thank you so much for your prayers for my stomach, I'm not 100% better yet, so if you could carry on praying I really appreciate it.

I would also be grateful if you could pray for my Granddad. He's had an awful time at the dentist. He went for a routine visit and ended up having a wisdom tooth out, the tooth broke and he needed 6 stitches. He was so shook up by the whole thing (he's 91 and not in the best of health anyway). He's been suffering from gout and now has also been diagnosed as having a cancerous growth on his hand.

I would be so grateful if you would pray for his total healing, but most of all I pray that he come to know the Lord. I know God doesn't want any of His children to suffer but most of all He wants all His children in His Kingdom - real healing, peace and joy. My Granddad is waiting for an appointment at a local hospital.

I love my Granddad it's awful to think of him suffering. And I am so grateful for your prayers, I pray for you all too. xx

Anyway, what have I been up to?

Well, we went to the cinema yesterday to see How to Train Your Dragon in 3D.

It was such a great film, Chatterbox loved it. It's about a Viking community that are besieged by dragons attacking their village. The mark of a strong Viking is to kill a dragon. However, Hiccup, after bringing down a dragon, befriends him and...well I won't tell you any more in case you've not seen it yet.



After the film we went to Frankie and Benny's 'New York' restaurant - the blurb claims that the restaurant chain was started in New York by some Italian American friends. Well the blurb is a load of old cobblers, the chain was actually founded in Leicester - so don't believe the hype! :) We had a lovely time though.

Hope you are all having a wonderful Easter - He is Risen!

We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

(1 Thess 4:14-18 NIV)

Come Lord Jesus!