Life is so daily

Christmas Eve

2011-12-22T22:32:00.001Z

One of the most precious times of the year for me is Christmas Eve. For me it is a time of reflection, expectancy and excitement. Every year we have our Christmas Eve family service at our church and we are never disappointed with our special Christmas programme and the input from our children’s church. When we get home from that we usually attend the Watchnight service in the village church. I love singing the traditional carols and hearing the familiar Gospel readings on the birth of our Saviour. It is a bonus if we have a white Christmas and experience the sound of our boots crunching the snow as we walk home. After a cup of tea we retire to bed and get up on Christmas morning ready for the family coming over for a huge dinner and the gift exchange.

I like to think back on my childhood Christmases and the joy we used to have in opening our presents on Christmas morning. We always checked that Santa had eaten his biscuit and drank his milk. We didn’t think to leave anything our for the reindeer! Our stockings were stuffed with fruit and perhaps a chocolate bar. We got a Dandy or a Beano book, which was read cover to cover by all in the house. Christmas was much more simpler then and not as celebrated as our Scottish New Year.

Let me know what you remember best about your Christmas past. I would love to get your feedback.

Have a truly wonderful Christmas and let be full of peace and joy.

God bless you

Nan

Born To Shop

2011-12-06T15:50:00.002Z

We now have 18 days left for our Christmas shopping, so there is no need for panic.

We are still within the time zones for shopping on the web, M & S food ordering, and Post Office deliveries.

This is most reassuring to us all and perhaps a reminder to get it done this week!

To those who still like to shop retail store or high street, the shops are looking for customers and are putting on some great deals to entice us in and spend our money.

Personally, I like the shopping days when the shortbread and freebies are being handed out.

I like the smells of Christmas, cinnamon and spiced apple. I'm in to carol singing, Christmas trees, school Nativity plays, store Santas, It's A Wonderful life, White Christmas and all the stuff that comes with this special season of celebration.

I know that for some it can be a difficult time but we can soften that for people by embracing the spirit of Christmas, peace, joy and goodwill to all.

Choose not be get stressed out, or burned out, but rather enjoy every moment, and take the time to smile and greet folks with a word of life and encouragement.

It took the ghost of Christmas future to soften the heart of old Scrooge.

With all the hopelessness around, I want to give people something that they can look forward to.

We can all remind people the reason we celebrate Christmas is that there is a God in heaven who loves them and gave His Son, so that they could have a future and a hope.

The Christmas message is a simple one, peace, hope faith, joy and love, all wrapped up in swaddling clothes, and placed in the manger.

I wish you all the best for this Christmas season and extend an invitation to join me at the Bridge Church this Christmas Eve as we get together around that wonderful gift of life.

www.bridge-church.com

Hope to see you there.

Nan

Putting Up With

2011-09-24T09:20:00.000+01:00

“Putting Up With’ is an expression we hear often. It amazes me the stuff people ‘put up with’.

You live with what you allow!!

I put up with his/her moods!

I’m putting up with my mother-in-law!!!!

I’m putting up with my broken washing machine.

I’m putting up with sleepless nights. (If you are up feeding baby, this is only a phase. They do grow out of it.)

The list goes on and on.

You can define putting up with in two words, long suffering.

I heard a man say that due to his marriage, his face was long and he was suffering!!

But that is not the correct definition.

To me, long suffering is bearing up with difficult people or situations, with good will and forbearance.

You can put up with something gracefully, or not!

In the economic climate of the now, there are things we may not want, but we are going to have to learn to make the adjustments.

There are people who can be difficult, (you may be married to one!!) but we have to with grace and make allowances for their bad behaviour.

Nelson Mandela was imprisoned in Africa for 27 years.

He did more than ‘put up with’ this and used his experience to bring a nation together.

Although he had every reason to be bitter and full of resentment, his words to us are,

“Do not react, respond.”

Life is so daily, but we can make the best of a bad situation by putting up with, gracefully.

Nan

Weddings

2011-08-29T18:50:00.001+01:00

Weddings

Traditionally, summer is wedding time here in Scotland. We live across from a hotel where they have weddings nearly every day in the summer. We are serenaded by the skirl of the bagpipes as the piper pipes in the bride and groom. Mharie’s Wedding is the most popular tune and very appropriate for getting the toes tapping. Our Scottish weddings are very colourful, with the men mostly in kilts in all the different tartans. The guys with skinny legs, however, opt for tartan trousers or a tuxedo!

I like to see the bride and check out what the guests are wearing. Many ladies wear hats and of course the ‘fascinator’ which is a hair clasp with feathers and bling! Some of them look like a bird had made a nest in their hair, but they don’t care. They are there to enjoy themselves.

Weddings are for family and you get to catch up with folks you haven’t seen for years. All great stuff but spare a thought for the father of the bride. He’s the guy who has his bank manager sitting across from him!! I have seen many of these Dad’s grow pale when they are handed the final bill at the wedding’s close!

But it’s all so worth it to see the look of joy on the bride’s face. We only had one daughter who is married now 17 years. Has it really been that long?

I am thankful she has a wonderful husband and I look back to her wedding day with joy. Marriage is a covenant between two people and is a stabilising force in our nation. It’s great the couples are still getting married and long may it continue.

Life is so daily and means so much more when we share it with our spouse.

God sets us in families and marriage was His idea, so celebrate with those couples who are not afraid to commit and enjoy the ceremony and the dancing!!

Nan

2011-07-28T09:46:00.000+01:00

Mistakes

We all make mistakes either by word or deed, intentionally or unintentionally. Some of the mistakes I have made were brought about by stupidity, but I am getting smarter by the day due to all the wisdom I am learning through all the mistakes I make! If wisdom was measured by experience through mistakes, then I would out shine Solomon himself.

The hardest thing about mistakes is admitting you make them. It’s always easier to blame someone else or an inanimate object. When you blame someone else it can come back on you, as they tend to speak up and let it be known it wasn’t them but inanimate objects can’t talk so that’s the best route to go down. For example, if you are late for an appointment you could always blame your stupid car that ran out of fuel. It should have known to drive itself to the garage and get filled up. When you mess up the dinner you can blame the oven.

Businesses have their mistakes taken care of big time. It’s all computer error!! Give me a break. You just know that at the other end of the telephone there is someone fudging on the reason you have paid the same bill six times by direct debit. It was the computer that took your money! Try getting the computer to refund it and see what happens.

I have found that the best thing to do when you make a mistake is to quickly admit it and then move on. I do get fed up with myself when I keep making the same mistakes but I am not perfect, only forgiven. Most of the time I get things wrong trying to get them right. Does that make sense to you? I am not a bad person nor a stupid person but I do sometimes say or do things without putting thought into it and even though my intentions were good and pure, it doesn’t always come out that way.

My long suffering husband is quick to show mercy towards me for which I am thankful. Life is so daily as is mistakes, so be forbearing and remember, we all make them!

Nan

Just because & We'll See!

2011-07-01T10:43:00.000+01:00

1st July 2011

I wanted to follow up from my last blog on holidays with some more thoughts on how to stay sweet with the children. This can be a challenge, especially when you lead a busy life and want to get things done.

Scenario, they want you to take them to the cinema. You don’t want to explain to them that you don’t have the time or money to do so.

The standard pat answer they get is, we’ll see!

We’ll see doesn’t cut it. They think, it’s never going to happen. They’ve heard it all before.

It’s better to give them an answer.

I can’t take you this week but next week will be better for me.

Make a time, and make sure it happens. This gives you more credibility with them and also something they can look forward to. You can also get leverage with it, like, any more attitude and no cinema!! No threats or intimidation, just a gentle reminder!

What about, ‘because I said so’, or ‘just because’.

Now that’s not an answer.

I ‘fess’ up to using this with my own children when they were small.

But again, this is not an answer. It’s better to give them the reason for denying them whatever it is they want.

Scenario, they want to sleep over with friends, but you don’t know who they are or met their parents.

They have said that ‘everybody else is going and they are the only ones not going’.

They put on that downtrodden, hang dog expression! You know the one, you’ve seen it often.

Rather than say, ‘because I said so’ give them your reasons.

We need to speak with their parents first.

We are having our own family get together that night.

You’re still grounded because of the last episode!

Children get discouraged when parents come with the ‘just because’ or we’ll see.

They see it as a maybe or it’s never going to happen.

You can enjoy the next six weeks or you can be miserable. It’s your choice.

Life is so daily and it’s good to get the opportunity to do something different with our children. I would love your feedback and your ideas on good ways to fill the holidays.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Nan

Holidays

2011-06-27T19:28:00.001+01:00

The schools in our area break up this week. Parents are geared up for it and the children are looking forward to it. Hopefully, the weather here will be dry and sunny, and if it is hot, that’s a bonus! Those families who are going overseas to warmer climates aren’t too bothered about the weather, but those who are not, are very bothered about it. How do you amuse children when it’s pouring with rain? You don’t want them to be in front of the TV all day, or maxed out on computer games. Is UNO an option for today’s children???

What about the cinema? What cost to a day out visiting museums? Do they really want to drive around viewing our beautiful Scottish countryside? There are the caravan parks, but, if it’s raining, the prospect of being cooped up in a confined space is not to be borne! That could be like living out your worst nightmare!

If you are fortunate to have grandparents living near, you could always get them to ‘host’ them for a day and if not, it could work out even better. You could transport them to the grandparents for a week, or maybe even two!!

I am always impressed by those mothers who have everything organised and have the whole six week holidays structured. They have the children enrolled in the holiday clubs before they fill up. They have exchanged their Tesco vouchers for theme park tickets. They have saved the buy one get one free entry tickets. They have bought their passes for the best country parks, saving loads of dosh by not having to pay over the score daily tariffs. They go to the cinema on “Orange’ Wednesdays and buy the popcorn and sweeties at the supermarket. Aren’t you thankful that big handbags are in vogue!!

I am with the mothers, for the mothers and my sympathies go out to them. Many of them have parties, so happy are they when school reconvenes. Holidays are a necessary part of family life. Everyone needs to rest and take a break from the normal daily routine. My advice to all of you parents out there is, stay sweet, be flexible and enjoy the break. Try not to get on your children’s case constantly and choose to spend quality time with them. Ask them what they would like to do and do your best to participate. Children love wide open spaces, so you could always take them out and let them run the hills. We have plenty of them in Scotland! I can assure you, they will sleep well after that. Tire them out before they tire you out!

If all of this is too much for you then get on lastminute.com and see if you can get a cheap package holiday! Life is so daily and rain or not, the holidays are upon us.

Nan

Support

2011-05-17T08:38:00.001+01:00

Support is one of the ‘buzz’ words that we hear a lot, especially from our government.We

just had our Scottish elections last week so we have been bombarded with the policies,

purposes and pursuits of our politicians, who are full of rhetoric on how they are going

to make a difference and be a support to the elderly, the infirm, the unemployed, the

children, the vulnerable and to anyone and everyone that they are looking to influence for

their party. Whether or not they produce the goods remains to be seen but we all want to

believe the best of everyone. Lets give them six months and see if it was all talk!

On a personal level, I find myself supporting my husband through what is a difficult time

for him. Four weeks ago, while out cycling with our son, he had a sudden heart attack.

Thankfully, he was taken to hospital where he had emergency surgery, and got a second

chance at life. I will not go into an ‘organ recital’ about his heart, but sufficient to say that

he is in recovery and has to work within definite boundaries, which I have to at times

enforce. Not easy for me but I am determined to help him achieve his goals and get his

energy levels up again. A supporter is someone who undergirds with strength and holds

up another. I think this is a good definition of what a wife should be. Women have lost so

much when they wanted to be equal to men, not understanding that they were already

equal in God’s eyes. We are unique, and that is what we should strive for. We have the

ability to influence and to build up not only our husbands and children, but everyone we

connect with.

The hardest thing someone works through after a serious incident like a heart attack, is

depression. They can’t do what they used to do physically and they tire easily and this is

a challenge, especially to my husband who has a high work ethic and is energetic and

a ‘make it happen’ type of person. Thankfully, he is upbeat and sees himself fully restored

and able to get back his energy levels. I am in agreement with him on this, but it will be

my responsibility to see that he doesn’t push himself too much, too soon! And, when he is

well, to see that he paces himself and doesn’t overdo it. This is what it means to support

someone. You have to help them, encourage them and assist them in fulfilling their goals

and dreams. What an adventure we are on!!

We have to be able to speak the truth to one another without breaking the spirit or the will

of another. When you really walk in love, you can do this and delight in being there for

them. The truth spoken with compassion is awesome.

Don’t be like the woman who accompanied her very sick husband to the doctor’s office.

After the examination, the doctor asked the man to go out of the room so he could have a

word with the woman.

“Your husband’s condition is grave. If you don’t do the following, he will surely die.”

* Fix him a healthy breakfast every morning and send him off to work in a good mood.

* When he comes home, let him put his feet up and rest, making sure not to burden him

with any worries or household chores.

* Prepare him a warm, nutritious meal for dinner every night.

* Have sex with him several times a week and satisfy his every whim.

On the way home, the wife drove in silence. The husband finally asked, ‘Well, what did the

doctor say?’

“It’s bad news,” she replied. “He says you’re going to die.”

I have to attend the hospital with my husband to see the consultant, but we are confident

that whatever the report may be, with my support, we can overcome any circumstance and

work together in faith for a good outcome. Life is so daily, and we have to learn that we

are not alone, there is always a supporter in our corner, and we can be that supporter to

anyone who needs support.

Nan

The Royal Wedding

2011-04-14T15:30:00.000+01:00

Wedding fever has hit the nation as we gear up for the very Royal wedding of William and Kate. There is nothing like a wedding to take people’s minds off the negative economy and all the stuff that would cause anxiety and depression. What will her dress be like? What colour will the queen be in? Will William wear a kilt?!! Who knows? But I will be watching the ceremony on TV along with millions of others.

I remember the wedding of Charles and Diana. I was living in South Africa and all of us girls in the church congregated at a friend’s house in Witbank. She had a small holding and plenty of space for us and our children. We had refreshments laid on and there was a lot of speculation as to the dress etc. We were kept entertained by the filming of all the wedding guests arriving and the description of who’s who and what they were wearing, even down to the cost of the wonderful hats the ladies wore. Some of which were more than a month’s wages for many of us at the time! We sat glued to the TV for the duration of the marriage ceremony and watched as Charles and Di made their procession from Westminster Cathedral to Buckingham Palace. The open coach and the escort of the Queen’s guards all made for a fairy tale wedding and one we will never forget. Then of course, there was the famous ‘balcony kiss’! Will William and Kate oblige us all and delight us with more of the same? Who knows?

The wedding ceremony was traditional and in keeping with a Prince and Princess of the realm but there was one part that stood out for me. That was the reading of 1 Corinthians chapter 13, the famous love chapter. I want to lay it out for you from the Amplified translation of the bible. I have left blanks so you can fill the spaces with your name.

................................... suffers long and is kind: ....................................... does not envy:

................................... does not parade him/herself, is not puffed up: ...............................

does not behave rudely, does not seek his/her own: ........................................ is not

provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth: ...........................

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

This chapter was not written for weddings, but for all of us so that we can walk the love walk on a daily basis. We can apply these time proven principles to our lives, marriages, families and relationships and live life on a much higher level. Just think of all the grief we would be spared if we purposefully chose to love folks and look for the best in everyone.

Life is so daily and it’s too short to hold on to grudges, unforgiveness and bad attitudes. It’s the small adjustments we make that bring the biggest changes.

Enjoy the wedding!

Nan

2011-04-09T20:38:00.001+01:00

Stay Sweet

This blog is for all who have to keep children amused during school holidays when the weather is terrible. What do you do with the little darlings and the big darlings?

DVD’s, computers, PS and X boxes, TV, mobile phones etc are all very well, but in moderation. Left to their own, the children would stay glued to these all day and end up spaced out and anti social. So, what is the alternative?

Wednesday at the cinema is Orange 2 for 1 day, that’s if you can find a decent film you could take them to and one they would want to see.

You could take them swimming, but make sure you have ear plugs and anti bacterial gel with you to be applied before and after.

You could have a ‘craft’ day in house, but watch out for glue, scissors, frustration and paint! Make sure you have a first aid kit to hand.

Hide and seek at home is fun, but..................!!

Pray for the rain to stop and the sun to come out and enjoy sheer bliss.

You can get them out in the fresh air and get them to run, bike, skateboard, roller blade and generally expend their pent up energy. Just remember the first aid kit!!

Getting out the house doesn’t have to cost you and it gives you quality time with your children.

The older teens want to hang out with their friends, which is great, when you know who they are with and where they are.

I do believe in boundaries and children who have them are usually more secure. But there are times where you need to be flexible without compromising. It goes to keeping things sweet at home and for peace instead of tension.

Often the things that bring these things are not major changes but small adjustments. Just be willing to listen to your children and let them know they are loved.

Make the choice to enjoy the holidays and your children. They do grow up so quickly and you can’t go back in time, so don’t live with regrets. Life is so daily and so is bringing up our children. So, enjoy!

Nan

Fed Up!

2011-03-25T16:18:00.000Z

Fed Up!

I had returned from a two week ministry trip in South Africa and wanted to get the ‘cobwebs’ out of my mind. A good walk in the fresh air was what I needed, so I ventured out the house and began my three mile trek. It was dry when I started but after ten minutes a light drizzle fell, which developed into a steady stream of rain. You can’t get wetter than wet, so I decided to go ahead with the walk and enjoy the countryside. Head down and anorak hood up, I pushed onwards. I was passing a field full of cattle, when I noticed a solitary cow with it’s head hanging over a wall. If ever there was a picture of ‘fed up’ this was it. I started to laugh, to the consternation of the cow! The other cows were gathered together around the food trough, and also looked fed up, but this one cow had obviously had enough! Do cows get fed up? Yes, they do! Would you like to spend winter in a wet, muddy field with no shelter, heat and consume winter feed from a trough? No, of course you wouldn’t. Thank God I don’t believe in reincarnation! I would dread coming back as a cow!!!!!!

Everyone gets fed up at some time, but, everything is subject to change. The rain stopped and it cleared up. Blue skies up above and the scenery was amazing. I am sure, had I passed by the cow, it would have been looking up instead of ‘fed’ up! Life is so daily and even cows haven’t got it easy! But cheer up, even a bad hair cut is temporary. hair grows, rain stops, provision comes, relationships blossom, peace reigns and joy comes.

Always look on the bright side of life.

( That would be a great title for a SONG!!)

Dream Big

2011-03-03T09:28:00.001Z

Many people in our nation have lost their imagination

They are no longer the creators and inventors they used to be, which is sad. We used to lead the world with our cutting edge products.

For instance,

Tar for the roads. Notice it’s the older roads that have less potholes!

The great one eyed monster which every home has in the corner of their living room, or on the wall! The TV!!!!!!!!!! I will say no more on this, as it’s for another blog.

The best bridges and the best ships were built by our engineers.

There are many more but you are getting my drift!

Creativity has been stolen from the minds of people by hopelessness.

So many have no hope. Many young people have no prospects, even after studying for years and getting their degrees.

The media is pushing doom, gloom and despair and people are falling for it, seeking only to survive instead of pushing on to accomplish their vision.

It’s time to shake off the lethargy. It’s time to rise up.

Stop the stinking thinking and allow fresh hope and vision to fill your mind.

Every one of us has the capacity to dream big dreams and do great things.

Sometimes it’s not major change we need but just a small adjustment.

You can be a successful husband or wife, a successful business person, the best teacher etc, the best parent, the best student and you are the one who will attract the job, promotions, deals, contracts and whatever it is you do.

I strongly believe in connections. There are people for our lives. The other side of that is, there are people in our lives that don’t cause us to increase, but that is a decision for you to make. The right people can open doors for you and make things happen in your life, you just need to be open to change.

We do have a wonderful God who has given us directions in how to overcome hopelessness. Be sensitive to His leading in your life. He desires to see you living and having the best life yet.

Life is so daily, but how we see it makes the difference.

God bless you,

Nan

Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T19:57:00.000Z

What a perfect opportunity we have to show our love and appreciation for our spouses on this special day. It’s the one time of the year I am guaranteed flowers and a real sloppy card. Of course, we should be showing our appreciation on a more regular basis, but it’s always good to have a ‘set aside’ day to do so.

It’s also a good time for folks who are too timid to come out in the open with their feelings for someone. They can send a card and declare their undying love for them, anonymously!

They can write poetry and love letters and let their creative juices flow!

Even the postman gets his messages on the envelopes.

Postie, Postie, don’t be slow,

Be like Elvis!!!!!! Go Man go.

Postie, Postie, do your stuff,

Take this to my wee cream puff!!

Postie, Postie, don’t be late,

Take this to my awesome date!

Roses are red, Violets are blue,

And on and on..........

You will see by the above that I am still on ‘snail mail’ and at least 40 years behind the times, but we had so much fun swapping verses with our friends and keeping up to date with latest prose, some of which was not very complementary!

Today, the messages are sent by e mail or Facebook. There is no mystery now about who our Valentine is. Or perhaps you received a dozen red roses from a mystery man, or a big card addressed to ‘the hunk’!!

Dream on, it could have been your granny!!

Life is so daily and love is a big part of enjoying life to the full. Show your love by doing random acts of kindness. You don’t have to wait till the 14th of February!

Just a thought.

Hurdles

2011-01-23T17:37:00.000Z

Hurdles

I have heard people compare life to running a race. You have a start and a finish and you have to run your race in whatever way you can, but just do your best to get there. As a jogger, I set my course and whether or not I include for hills depends on how I feel that day! Sometimes I just want a nice and easy flat surface with nice views and no set time to get there and back. Life is not like that!

In the race of life there are hills to run up and many hurdles to overcome. We can’t retreat at the first sign of a hurdle. Life can throw things at you that you don’t expect, but problems can be overcome. Just like you jump a hurdle, so too you can get past your bad situation.

I enjoy watching the athletes who run the hurdle races. Have you noticed they get into a rhythm in how they jump each hurdle? It’s when they get out of sync that they stumble and fall, but even if they fall, they get back up and finish the race. When obstacles come your way, it’s not the time to run away, or play dead, it’s a time to stand firm and be determined to move on.

You don’t drown by falling into the river, you drown by staying there!

Maybe you need swimming lessons. Those runners have coaches who teach and train them how to be great runners and hurdlers. You have to consider who is speaking into your life and make sure it is someone who has a good track record.

My husband and I are life coaches for many young men and women and we just love to see them succeed as they apply the principles that we share with them.

You may have stumbled at some of the hurdles in your life, but get back up, get back on track and get to the finish line. The spectators always applaud those who fall and get back up as they come through, just as much as they applaud the winner!

Whether you know it or not, most people are for you and want you to succeed. Those who don’t have their own issues they need to deal with, but you keep your heart right.

Life is so daily, but remember, no matter what life situation you are in, it will change and you can go on to the finishing line, if you won’t give up.

Nan

Who Am I?

2011-01-12T14:49:00.003Z

Have you ever asked yourself, 'Who am I?'

Why am I here?

God knew you before you were born. He has a plan and purpose for your life.

If you will submit to His purpose for your life, you will experience great fulfilment.

We have been given a wonderful gift in a fresh start as we enter into this new year and new decade. You can't go back and relive your past but you can embrace a new beginning. Tomorrow's challenges are based on today's choices.

If you want to be a complete person then your words and deeds have to match up.

On a job application one question read, Have you ever been arrested?

The applicant printed the word 'no' in the space.

The next question was a follow up to the first.

It asked 'why?'

Not realising he didn't have to answer this part, the "honest" and rather naive applicant wrote, 'I guess it's because I have never got caught'!

The word integrity, is not old-fashioned or prudish. When you choose to live in integrity, you live a purpose, powered life.

Life is so daily, and can only be lived one day at a time.

Just a thought!

I wish you a productive and prosperous 2011.

Nan

2010-12-09T13:44:00.001Z

8th December Winter Wonderland

Winter came early this year and with it challenges which many were not prepared for! One of the biggest was transport. Main arterial roads were closed and many have been stranded in their vehicles for hours because they were gridlocked with nowhere to go!

Our son, who was in his vehicle from 6am till 9pm, communicated with us more in that one day than any other time. What do you do when you have nowhere to go, nothing to do and no one with you? We had great conversations and kept up to date with the weather conditions via radio, web and TV! Our wee granddaughter called him and gave him her rendition of the song from Madagascar ‘You gotta move it, move it!!!!!

Schools were closed, much to the children’s delight, and people couldn’t get to work. Shops sold out of bread because of panic buying. Fuel ran out because the fuel tankards couldn’t get to the garages and on it goes! Living in the Northern hemisphere, you would think we were prepared for winter, but I will say no more on that one! I still prefer the cold and frosty to the wet and windy, so I am not complaining, and the beauty of the snowcapped mountains, fields and lochs in incomparable. We are blessed with our birthright and I am thankful that even through the challenges, people went out of their way to be helpful. The spirit of community came to the fore and that always brings out the best in us, especially in the Christmas season.

We all have the opportunity to give what we can and to take the time to catch up with family and friends. This year our church in putting on a Christmas pantomime, The Best Gift. After last years success with the Nativity (featuring a real donkey) everyone’s expectation is up there for bigger and better. So be it!! I always look forward to the children’s input and they emanate true joy, which is infectious. We all need a good dose of joy, so if you want to catch some you know where to come, Christmas Eve, 7pm, at The Bridge Church in Irvine.

My expectation is that we will have a white Christmas full of the peace and joy that comes with the celebration of the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. May your cup be full and running over and remember, we have the best gift in our Saviour. Let your gift to others this year be to spread some goodwill, comfort and joy.

Nan

2010-10-18T21:43:00.000+01:00

Angels

I believe in angels. I believe that every man and woman born in to this earth has an angel that watches over them. Now when you saw the word angel, you may have formed a picture in your mind of what you think an angel looks like.

You may have pictured a female in a long dress with white angel wings, kind of like the old fashioned scraps we used to swap when we were little. Or you may have pictured a small cherub floating on a cloud playing a harp. Our perception of angels differs according to what we have heard and seen about them. There are many movies that portray angels in human form who come down from heaven to help people who are in difficulties. One of my favourite movies is ‘It’s A Wonderful life’ starring James Stewart. Who can forget Clarence the angel sent to help? He wanted to do his good deed so he could get his ‘wings’.

But, do angels have wings? I don’t believe they do!

When I think of angels, I see tall, manly angelic beings, minus the wings. The best place to research angels is the Bible. Whenever there was an angelic manifestation, people would fall down in fear and the first thing the angel would say is ‘Fear Not’ !

There are messenger angels and warrior angels and if we could see into the spirit realm, we would see that they are all around us.

In the book of Hebrews we are told that they are ministering spirits sent to help God’s children. We are even instructed to be hospitable as we could be opening our homes to angels while being unaware of who they are. Now there’s a thought!

During the war in the former nation of Rhodesia, there are many testimonies of how people escaped death by the help of angels. My husband was saved from a car wreck while driving in South Africa and he is convinced that it was by the help of angels.

Now let me share my car story. I was low in petrol and stopped by the garage to fill up. When I got to the pump there was a sign letting me know that it was out of order. I got back in the car but couldn’t get it to start. Oh no, had I ran out of petrol? So near and yet so far! Parked in front of me was an RAC van. I walked into the kiosk and asked the RAC driver if he could help me. He came out, pushed my car into an open space, backed his van near my car and charged my dead batteries. The car started first time.

Now my question to you is, was he an angel? Well, to me he was. Just because he had RAC on the back of his jacket doesn’t mean he wasn’t!

Psalm 91 is a powerful promise that we have angels looking out for us. They come and go and we are not even aware of their influence and assistance in our lives, but whether we believe in them or not, they are always there. Isn’t that reassuring?

Life is so daily and there are times we get ourselves into some difficult and dangerous situations, but thank God for His angels.

Nan

Mountains

2010-09-18T16:44:00.001+01:00

Mountains

Whether spirit, soul or body, growing and maturing is a process. There are no shortcuts in life. Believe me when I say that, because if there were, I would have taken them!

I have learned that you can’t go from the bottom to the top immediately.

Life is a process.

When you undertake to build something lasting, it is a process.

Of course, you can do something real quick by taking shortcuts, but it will not last, it will not stand the test of time. I have seen so many crumbling lives., marriages, businesses and churches, all started with the right motives, but because there was no proper and solid foundation they have crumbled. I am sure you can think of many instances where you know this to be true.

The highest mountain in the world is Mount Everest. The first men to get to the top successfully were Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. Since then over 1000 people have made it, but many have failed and some have even lost their lives. God doesn’t want you killed on the climb!

To get to the top from the bottom they had to go through a process. They weren’t going to do this in a day. One reason for this is, your body has to adjust to the thin air and lack of oxygen, in a short period of time.

Bernie and I were in Colorado one time and we went for a walk. Now we are fit and healthy, but after a few hundred yards we were puffing and panting. We wondered what what going on and then we realised the air at 10,000 feet above sea level was much thinner. Our bodies needed time to adjust before we could think of doing any strenuous exercise. We lived in Johannesburg for twelve years where we were 6000 feet above sea level. When we returned to Scotland in 1987 our lung capacity had expanded and we could do so much more. Now after twenty three years in the UK living at sea level our bodies are not used to thin air. Use it or lose it!

To get to the top of Everest, the climbers had to do it in stages. They went from lower camps to higher camps and sometimes they had to stay at camps for weeks at a time until their bodies adjusted to the higher altitudes. To discipline yourself for this climb takes passion, focus and determination. It is not for the faint hearted or the half hearted! Whatever the climb is is your life, you better know that you are up for it. Don’t tackle your mountain unprepared.

The view from the top of a mountain is always better. You can see past all the things that keep you down at sea level. This brings a new perception and renewed vision. One thing I enjoy so much about mountain climbing is the quietness and stillness around me as I get nearer the summit.

Maybe you need to take some time out and do some climbing. Start with a wee hill and build up. Climbing brings us closer to God in so many ways and gives us great satisfaction.

Life is so daily and it’s easy to get into a rut, (a grave with the ends kicked out!) but as we climb up the ladder of life remember that we are going on to higher ground.

Nan

Consistency

2010-08-04T19:47:00.004+01:00

We all have the desire to keep up the good habits we start when we are involved in changing something we are not happy with. For example, it may be we want to begin exercising, or watching what we eat. We mentally make the decision to start on such and such a date and then we go out and get everything we need so that we are well prepared.

We buy the keep fit gear, the running shoes, the bike or we pay for the gym membership.

We go out and buy the low fat, low calorie food, fruit and loads of vegetables. Some have even been known to purchase state of the art juicers and a ton of carrots and apples for the liquid only diet they are about to embark on. Sad but true. Peek into their cupboards and you will see the expensive electrical appliances stored on the top shelf, brand new and hardly used. The carrots and apples tossed into the bin because they had gone off!

The exercise bikes, cross trainers & cycles for sale on E Bay! The stylish Nike gear with it’s ‘go faster’ stripe folded neatly in the bottom drawer. All the ready made pasta meals stored in the freezer, for we all know that ‘pasta makes you fasta’!!

Unfortunately, the direct debit for the gym membership can’t be cancelled for you have been tied into a year’s contract!

My, my, my, my, my!!!

I do my best to exercise consistently. All I need to motivate me is the thought of how difficult it is to get back to a decent level of fitness if I fail to keep it up. Start small, but make sure you keep going with it. An exercise partner is good. When I don’t feel like running, I call my daughters and ask them to run with me. They come past my door at 6.45am and I make sure I am up and ready for them. When you have someone coming for you, you won’t turn on your side in bed and go back to sleep!

All we need is consistency. The dictionary definition of consistency is as follows: Conformity in the application of something.

The achievement in the level of performance that does not vary greatly in quality over time.

I like that one. ‘Does not vary in quality over time’.

We need to continue as we meant to when we began.

We need to continue in our marriages, our parenting, our jobs and our businesses.

We need to continue in our churches and in our faith in God.

Don’t give up when things get hard. Stay committed and constant and you will see the change you wanted when you started.

There is so much inconsistency in the world today. We see it in our government, local authorities, schools and even in our relationships.

I value consistency in my relationships whether family or friends. Everyone wants loyalty and faithfulness but sadly, these virtues are seldom found in people today. The media is full of celebrities who have no concept of consistency in their lifestyles and sadly these people can be the icons that the young and easily impressed tend to follow.

Be determined to be consistent in whatever you are involved in. It’s well worth it and all the ‘stuff’ you bought will be well used and you’ll feel much better for it.

Life is so daily and there are some things we need to be constant in.

Keep up the good work!

Nan

Running On Empty

2010-06-14T12:08:00.000+01:00

When the fuel gauge in my car shows under a quarter of a tank then I get myself to the nearest petrol station and replenish the tank. I don’t like running on empty and I definitely don’t want to run out of petrol and be stranded. My husband however, waits till the needle on the gauge goes into the red and keeps driving past the petrol stations assuring me that there are plenty miles still in the tank. To say this makes me nervy and agitated would be an understatement! Eventually he will pull in and fill up and off he goes again. Invariably, the needle is in the red whenever I use his car. This means I have to first get to a petrol station before I can do anything else. I call this hassle!

It’s the same thing when we travel anywhere by plane. I like to get there in plenty time. I compensate for slow traffic, accidents, long check in lines, longer security lines, getting a Starbucks and going to the loo at least twice. It doesn’t bother me if I am early. I can relax, browse the shops and generally check the boarding status regularly. You will by this time be getting my drift! I err on the cautious side. My husband leans towards the ‘get there by the skin of your teeth’ side! Perspiration, exasperation, imagination, exclamation, (constipation!!) are just some of the symptoms I experience when running on empty or late, and this is not an exaggeration! I will not go into any of my ‘travel’ experiences, as love covers!

The question I put to you is, Is this just me, or is this a woman thing?

Please get back to me on this as I value your input.

In the same way as we run on empty with our cars and our time, so we can also be depleted in ourselves. The consequences however are much more serious. If you run out of petrol you can always get help or call the RAC or AA. If you run out of juice and burn out it’s not so easily fixed. Your body also has a gauge that lets you know when you need to rest and replenish your energy. The problem with most people is they either can’t or won’t read the gauge. They don’t listen to what their body is telling them. They keep pushing themselves and end up tired, weak, listless, anxious, depressed and sick. If this is you, then I urge you to stop right now and take a long look at your schedule. Be honest and acknowledge that you can’t fix and do everything. You have 24 hours in your day you need to make time to rest, replenish, relax and be at peace with yourself and everyone else. Don’t wait till you are sick, but rather make adjustments now. Don’t keep putting off the good things you know will help you live a long, full and peaceful life.

You can’t run on empty and because life is so daily, you need to to daily take care of yourself. What you do today will affect your tomorrow.

Just a thought!

Nan

Doctors

2010-05-11T23:00:00.000+01:00

Doctors 11th May 2010

We are thankful for our doctors and nurses and we all have stories we could tell, good and the not so good! Now you may have some issues with the National Health Service, your local surgery or hospital, but compared to other countries we are extremely blessed. I have been places where there are no doctors, hospitals, medicines or even basic health care and believe me, be thankful for what you have. I am a very healthy person, I do however, on occasion, have to visit with a doctor. I take the advice, the medication, the injections (Usually for overseas trips where inoculation is compulsory) and for the regular tests which are recommended for the over 60’s!!!! (On that subject I would like to ask the person who ‘set me up’ with Saga chair lifts, orthopedic beds, free loft insulation, hearing aids and the other stuff I have been getting through the post, please get me off the mailing list!!)

Some people complain about the length of time they have to be in the waiting room, but I don’t mind that, it gives me the opportunity to zone out with a magazine, even if it’s last year’s issue, and It’s amazing what you hear while you are in the hospital or local surgery waiting area. Many people, bless their hearts, are eager to share with a complete stranger, about their sicknesses, operations, near death experiences and the like! These conversations are not for the squeamish or the faint hearted and if the sight of blood, even if imagined, causes you to hyperventilate, then I suggest you find a quiet corner and hook up with your ipod!

Apart from having our children, I have only been in hospital twice, and both times for surgery. My experiences were not unpleasant and I quickly recovered and have never felt better. I am not someone who takes delight in rehearsing all the different ailments they have. I do have compassion for people who are working through difficult and painful things in their bodies, but there are those who seem to revel in their infirmities. There is a Proverb which says, A merry heart does good like a medicine, but heaviness rots the bones. I do believe that laughter is one of life’s healing balms and it has no unpleasant side effects!

Some things which were spoken over unconscious patents while in surgery.

Better save that. We'll need it for the autopsy.

Wait a minute, if this is his spleen, then what's that?

Oh no! I just lost my Rolex.

Oops! Hey, has anyone ever survived 500 ml of this stuff before?

Everybody stand back! I lost my contact lens.

Seriously, I thank God for all those dedicated doctors and nurses who help us to stay alive and give us the best care they can. Life is so daily and we need to be thankful for good health. Do what you can and trust God to do what you can’t.

Mothers-in-law

2010-04-15T13:13:00.001+01:00

Mothers-in-law 14/4/10

Traditionally, they are seen as intimidating figures in a pinny, wearing curlers, clutching a rolling pin and with a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp! That may have been years ago, but not so the ‘new’ mothers-in-law. They are much more subtle in their looks and demeanor. They attend gym, go to beauty parlours, wear fake tan, dress stylishly and subscribe to Saga magazine! Or not!

You either love them, or not!

It all depends on on how much they tend to interfere in the lives of their family.

I am blessed with a great mother-in-law. In the forty three years that her son and I have been married she has never interfered. She has only done me good. My own mother, who passed away this year, was also great and never interfered.

Are we the exception?

I would like to think not.

Being a mother-in-law myself, I have done my best to be there when needed without being

a pain! I do hope this is the case, of not then, all I can ask of our children is mercy!!

There are many advantages to having me around, like babysitting. I do my best to help out with the children when I can. Sometimes I sit with the grandchildren in their own home. This has added benefits for the parents, as it includes for general tidying of the ‘hoose’ and also the following:

Washing machine emptied and clothes dried.

Clothes folded and put away.

Dishwasher emptied and stacked.

Rubbish gets put out.

Children are asked to tidy room. Now this has great benefits, as they are more likely to comply with Grannie than Mummy and it can save hours of arguments, bad attitudes, stress and all the stuff that comes with asking your children to tidy their rooms! If you have children you know the deal!

Children get fed, washed, and dressed for bed. Depending on time parents return, this could also include for bedtime snacks, stories, prayers and hopefully will fall sound asleep.

What bliss.

The alternative is watching them at my home.

The benefits with that are as follows:

I don’t have to sit and wait till the parents get back before I get to bed.

I feed them and stack my own dishwasher!

I get them ready for bed, so all the parents have to do when they get home is send them straight upstairs.

Now, a very special benefit for the parents is, if they are returning home very late, it usually is easier for me to put them to bed here and get them picked up in the morning.

The parents really, really like this one.

And again, what bliss.

I am also close to my two daughters-in-law and am so blessed that they are married to our sons. They take care of them well and I am a friend to them. I have learned not to give advice until it’s asked for. This is very important. I also can ask the right questions, in the right way to help when I feel it’s needed. If it’s not needed then I back off real quick. I don’t want to be one of those interfering in laws whose visits are dreaded.

My husband and I are ever grateful to our son-in-law, who is a great man. He looks after our daughter well and is great with the children. My husband says he has saved us so much money by marrying our daughter!! Some people comment on how our daughter looks like me, so he has the added benefit of knowing what she will look like in twenty years time! Scary stuff!!

He was heard to comment once that he hadn’t spoken to me in 18 months, because he didn’t want to interrupt me!

The last time he took me to the airport, he referred to it as a pleasure trip!!

He can always tell when I’m coming to stay. The mice throw themselves on the traps!!!

I do hope you know the above are some mother-in-law jokes.

There are more, like,

I took my mother-in-law to Madame Tussaud’s Chamber of Horrors and one of the attendants said, ‘Keep moving her sir, we’re stock-taking!

We got a new car for the mother-in-law. That government scrappage scheme is great!

The statistics are 47% of men said they didn’t like their mother-in-law and 53% said they loved her. Love her or not, she is part of the deal. So guys, before you commit make sure you get on with the mother-in-law.

The myth that you are marrying the girl and not her family is not so. When you marry the girl or the guy, the family is part of the package, so make sure it’s workable.

Now if you do have an interfering mother-in-law, then I commiserate with you. It’s not everyone who is nice and sweet like me!

Perhaps you could do something nice for her, or send her a card to let her know she is appreciated. Remember, there are great benefits in having her around, if even occasionally!

Life is so daily, just like those visits from your mother-in-law, so stay sweet!

Nan

No. 10 The Sun

2010-03-22T10:18:00.003Z

The Sun 20/3/10

I have just returned from two weeks in South Africa, where I lived from 1975 to 1987, twelve years. The purpose of my visit there was ministry with my husband and also we took some time to visit with friends.

After the hard winter we have had in Scotland, the sun and heat was most welcome. It is the first thing that hits you when you get off the plane. I lifted my face to the great fireball in the sky and basked in the warmth of it. Then I remembered all the warnings about how bad it is for your skin and also how dangerous it can be!

More wrinkles, I do not need!

I bent down to get the wrinkles out of my tights and realized I wasn’t wearing any!

So, I had made sure I had plenty of sun screen rubbed on every day, in every way!

Years ago, we did not have the information available to us, that we have today and no doubt about it, we did some stupid things in our ignorance. I remember lying in the sun and smearing myself with baby oil to get a better tan. Talk about a fish fry!

You could always tell a new immigrant or tourist by the red legs and the patterned socks under the sandals!

Kidding aside, I am thankful that we now have the knowledge of just how damaging the sun can be and we have great sun screens and block out lotions that can keep us from getting burned. They work well, if we use them, but the tendency is to ignore the warnings and run out and overdose on the rays. Can we be blamed if we feel the need for some vitamin D which we get from the sun and for the wonderful heat on our skin. Did I mention the feeling of euphoria you get just by being somewhere without rain, wind, grey skies, etc, etc, etc.?

You will probably have heard of the ‘SAD’ syndrome.

S Seasonal

A Affective

D Disorder

Apparently, the further north you live, the more people suffer with this malady. We have shorter winter days and longer nights and have the driech grayness and drizzle which comes with the beautiful and rugged Scottish scenery.

But......... hiding behind the clouds is the great fireball. The sun. Winter is but for a season and be sure that Spring will follow, bringing the daffodils, crocuses, snowdrops and the cherry blossom. What an awesome sight to behold.

Yes, I did enjoy the great weather in South Africa and the outdoor lifestyle, but, I am thankful for my birthright and when the sun shines here, what a beautiful sight. And it lasts in the summer from 4 am to 11pm! A golfer’s paradise! You can still see the ball at 10 in the evening. I could say more about golf but I will leave that for another blog.

When we came back home from South Africa, in 1987, we made the decision that we were not going to complain about the weather here. We chose to get on with life whether or not the sky was grey or blue, or it was wet or dry, hot or cold.

You can choose to be sad, mad, or glad.

Choose glad and you wont let life pass you by and you will enjoy everything, regardless.

Summer will soon be with us. Bright colors, ice cream, children out playing and we can make the most of it, or count the wet days and miss out on the dry ones.

Life is daily, but so is the sun.

It rises in the East and sets in the West, and it is always there, even when you don’t see it.

See beyond the scene (seen) and you will enter into a new dimension filled with good stuff.

And even if we don’t get much sun this summer, there is always fake tan!

Nan

No 9. Appearances

2010-02-23T23:32:00.003Z

There is an old saying which I have proved to be right many times and that is ‘ you can’t judge a book by it’s cover’. Or, you can’t judge a person by how they look on the outside.

There are some people who look really scary but when you get to know them they are quite gentle and caring. There are others who may seem very personable but are devious and deceitful. So how can you tell who to cultivate friendships with and who not to?

If you give people enough time, what is in them will eventually come out. In other words, you will know them by their fruit, or lack of it!

Young women seem to be more susceptible to falling for the wrong type of men. They are so caught up in the ‘falling in love stuff’ and in hooking him in, that they don’t pay too much attention to character. Charisma wears off but character remains and believe me when I say that men of character are to be highly prized and sought after. He may look like a real hunk, but take a photo, things change through the years! Don’t rush into any relationship based only on appearances and you wont get burned. Take your time and get to know the person and let your relationships be built on a good, true and open foundation. This also applies to work, business, family and friends.

In today’s world, beauty is a highly desired commodity, but physical beauty alone can’t buy happiness. Ask any film star, model or TV personality and they will confirm that to be the truth. Now you may not score too high on the beauty side but it is what is on the inside that counts. You also have to understand that many of the photos of the models on the magazine covers you see have been airbrushed so what you perceive is really not what that person looks like. This is the age of computer generated photos and films, plastic surgery, botox and all sorts of stuff to make you look younger, taller and slimmer! I am five foot one, so unless I wear 8 inch heels, I am never going to look taller! Rather than break a leg, I have chosen comfort and safety and won’t wear higher than 2 inch heels. I did have a rush of adrenaline to my head one time in Macy’s, New York. I bought shoes with very high heels. I have worn them on occasion but they slow me down and I have to have a handrail or wall to hold on to. Not a pretty sight! Don’t internalize the messages magazines and media send out and you won’t be preoccupied with your looks and attaining the perfect body and owning ten pairs of Jimmy Choo shoes!

Maximize your good features and your wonderful personality. You are unique, one of a kind, so stop comparing yourself with others. Just be yourself and enjoy life. Sounds like a good idea to me!

Dress to flatter your shape. I see so many people, men and women, wearing clothes that don't have enough cloth in them to cover! If you have huge thighs and a big stomach, tight leggings with a short tee shirt won’t do it for you! The same is true of you are skinny. The tight jeggins emphasis your bony body!

Use make up. Thank God for Estee Lauder! Believe me when I say, you don’t want to see me without my makeup on. Not a pretty sight! I wear a foundation called Double Wear. Like ‘Single Wear’ wont cut it with me. I need coverage. If my wrinkles get any deeper I will need to get a quotation from a cement company to fill them in!

Physical beauty fades but a good character makes us beautiful. Realize your self worth comes from God and don’t look for the affirmation of others before you can be happy. If you do, you will never be happy. You are not a mistake or an accident. You are special and you do have a great purpose.

Don’t get scared when you see a crowd of young people with scary faces and weird style. We have many of them come to the youth nights we host at our church and underneath the make up are some of the most caring people you could meet. I just love to be around them. They gladden my heart. Don’t judge by appearances. Not every young person who wears a ‘hoodie’ is a hooligan!

Don’t cross the road when you see them. They may be our church youth, or maybe even my grandchildren!

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised.

Now, in everything there is a balance. First appearances do count, especially at job interviews, so use wisdom and make a good first impression.

Sparkle wherever you are and choose to shine and stand out in any crowd. You are unique, and you can make the difference to someone by just being yourself and not consumed by self!

For myself, I make the best of how I look, but I concentrate on my inner self too. I choose peace over unrest. Joy over heaviness.

Appearances do matter, but in the whole sphere of life, it’s what is on the inside that will determine your destiny and your happiness.

Life is so daily, so make the most of it. Squeeze all you can from it and be a blessing to everyone, regardless of how they look.

Nan

No 8 The Leisure Club

2010-01-21T11:14:00.004Z

Across the road from our home is a hotel with a leisure club, of which I am a member. The dictionary definition of leisure is ‘the use of free time for enjoyment’. I agree that the people who use the club facilities are using their free time, but as for the enjoyment part, you could never tell it by their faces. The grimaces, grunts, and groans which is displayed in the gym defies the dictionary definition. Sometimes some of the people are grumpy with it! The fitness gurus tell us we have to punish our body. No gain without pain! Yeah, right!

I prefer getting out on the road for a wee two mile run. But, when the weather is inclement, (nice word for miserable!) I resort to the gym and the treadmill, if I can get on one.) There are three running machines, so I thought I could just go over and get the stuff done. Uh, uh. I had not provided for the fact of it being January, the busiest month of the year. Everyone from sixteen to sixty and over have made their New Year resolutions. (See blog No 6, Good Intentions). They have totally pigged out over the Christmas season, they sat in front of the one eyed Cyclops (TV), and now they are franticly working at reversing it all in a week! You can see the look of grim determination in their faces. The guys come in with the muscle shirts, the towel round the neck ready to sweat it out over the equipment and everyone who happens to be in the near vicinity. I dread the long haired ones, for when they shake their head you get the sweat right in the face, not a good experience. Of course, they are all trying to out do one another in how much weights they can pump and how fast and long they can last on the treadmill. Posers!!

Then you get the ladies. Ah, the ladies. They have gone out and bought the latest in keep fit gear, all colour co ordinated of course. Everything matches, from the shoes to the sweatband and their lipstick. The sweatband is obviously just for show! Now they are ready to go for their wee walk on the treadmill. (Even the name sounds like an instrument of torture) They set the miles and the speed, which is usually a leisurely shopping pace, switch on the ipod and away they go, for the next hour! Hence the reason I couldn’t get on the treadmill. These ladies seem to come in two’s or three’s and they love to have their conversations as they walk. Bless them, they really do seem to enjoy it and conform to the dictionary definition of leisure.

When I did eventually get on the treadmill,I ran off two helpings of Christmas pudding, three bowls of trifle, a tin of Quality Street and some other stuff! I must say, I really did feel the benefit of the exercise and with a bit of effort, I can see my way to getting slim, trim and energised. I won’t go into the logistics of diet and exercise now. We’ll look at that another time. I am sure you are thankful for that!

I have now sussed out when the best times are to go over to the gym so I can get on the machines, but the weather is getting better so I will be able to get back on the road. No glamour there, just Ron Hill trackies, yellow jacket, beanie hat and red face.

At this time, let me mention a wee incident that occured on one of my two milers. A lorry driver gave me a whistle. He obviously saw me from the back with my blonde hair sticking out from under the beanie hat and thought he was whistling at a much younger woman! That'll teach him. The cooncil workers are however a great encouragement. While digging their customary holes in the road,, (Which usually can take up to a year on the same hole) they will shout "You're doin great there, just get the knees up and legs pumping"!! They see me from the front, and obviously think I need the encouragement. Bless their hearts!

Anyway, it is nearly the end of January and all the grim determination over in the gym will have dissipated. The keep fit gear will be laid to rest in the bottom drawer, the gym machines freed up, no sweat will fly about and all will return to normal. What bliss.

Life is so daily, just like exercise, should be...............

No 7 The Weather

2010-01-07T23:55:00.001Z

One of the great benefits of living in Scotland is that one can always open a conversation by commenting on the weather. Complete strangers will enter into a prolonged dialogue based on our ever changing weather patterns. When out walking, people greet you with a good morning, great weather or no good morning and just, miserable day!

My husband says that if we had tropical weather here, the country would sink as all the people who left, would return.

I have also heard all the jokes about how God compensated for the bad weather by making Scotland such a beautiful country. Hawaii is also a beautiful country but enjoys great weather, so that settles the compensation issue.

After all, it only rains here twice a year. Once for five months and once for six months!!

We know it’s summer here because the rain gets warmer.

We are so used to the drizzle. (A good descriptive word for unceasing rain that soaks through to the skin and falls straight down, causing everything to take on a grayish hew.)

This year we were blessed with a white Christmas and it was like a winter wonderland. The trees were bedecked with snow and ice. The hills and fields were blanketed with snow and the road and pavement surfaces glistened and sparkled with frost.

It looked like a Dickens Christmas card and the countryside took on a golden glow, which looked so tranquil and peaceful.

“Oh how beautiful” you say. Yes it is, but with it has come some challenges, especially for our local councils, who have run short of grit for the roads. The pavements are very slippy and some people have had falls and broken bones. This makes for even longer conversations on the weather. And there are those who don’t want to be outdone when it comes to the hardships, accidents and deprivation caused by the coldest weather we have experienced in fifty years, or so say the weather forecasters.

Even if you haven’t fallen yourself, you know someone who has and by the time your story has been passed on, the sprained wrist has turned into a corpse that can’t be buried for four weeks because the ground is frozen and the hearse can’t get up the cemetery road because the council ran out of grit, and they’ll be voting differently next election because the government isn’t coping with this cold spell, etc, etc, etc........

Of course I have my own woeful tale to tell.

Are you sitting comfortably? Good, now wait till you hear this one!

My plastic wheelie bins have not been emptied for over three weeks now. Uh Uh. Yes, the blue bin for my recycled rubbish is full and overflowing with Christmas paper, crackers, empty selection boxes and all the other paper and cardboard we seem to have in abundance during the gift giving season. The black bin is full of gunk and all the stuff that hopefully decomposes. Fortunately, there is no smell because it’s all outside and frozen.

Why have your bins not been emptied you ask?

No, it’s not because we didn’t give the bin men their Christmas tip. They haven’t been near to get one and it’s not just our bins but all the bins on our road lie outside absolutely full.

No, it’s not because the lorry couldn’t get up our road because of the ice. It was seen going up and down two weeks ago.

We did call the refuge department yesterday and were informed we are priority one. Sounds important but the bins are still lying outside full to the gunnels.

I won’t even go down the road of ‘What do we pay council tax for?’

No, I am exercising forbearance and mercy. I am sure there is a reason we have been overlooked and in the larger sphere of things, we have had no burst pipes, our house is warm and comfortable, none of us has fallen and injured ourselves and most importantly, it’s not raining!

Wonder of wonders!

I can look out my window and enjoy the beauty of the snowcapped mountains of Arran.

Look at the sheep as they graze in the fields, clothed in their wooly coats.

I can see the children enjoying the snow.

I can stay indoors and do some of the things I have been too busy to do.

Read the books I have always wanted to.

Make soup and hot chocolate.

I am thankful for my birthright and choose to enjoy my life regardless of the weather.

And anyway, it will soon be spring, daffodils and bluebells.

Followed by summer, roses,purple heather and yellow gorse.

Then Autumn, golds and reds.

Then full circle, winter.

All with a wee bit of rain in between!

Ah, life is so daily, just like the weather!

No 6 Good Intentions

2009-12-28T23:38:00.002Z

It's now three days after Christmas and thankfully the left over turkey, Christmas pudding, trifle and the like is finished. I consumed more food than usual but I do intend to get myself back on to my moderate eating habits. It would seem that at the end of each year we use the word 'intend or intention' more than usual.
The dictionary definition of intend is to have a course of action as one's purpose or objective.
The problem with intentions are that you can die being full of them and never actually do anything about them.
It's the same thing with resolutions. Especially New Year resolutions.
A resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something.
Now to me 'a firm decision' carries more weight than simply having a course of action. You would think that having made a firm decision it would be a done deed. Sadly, this is not the case. Resolutions just like intentions, are not always carried out and brought to a conclusion.
I could give you a run down of all my failed attempts at keeping resolutions but this is blog not a novel!
Actually if I started I could probably get at least a trilogy out of it and a workbook and study guide complete with six part DVD set.
When I look back over old journals and notebooks and read the list if things I'm going to change and have not, it pains me. Some of the 'firm decisions' have been carried forward for years.
My, my, my!!
Well, a new year dawns in four days and it's carry forward time. But, it's also carry out time and I'm not talking about a Chinese meal! I'm talking 'bite the bullet and get on with it'.
See it through, be a completer, finish what you start, don't wimp out and the like.
Let me encourage you not to give up on your good intentions or resolutions but rather stay full of them. The world would be in a sad state if people did not have good in their hearts and the desire to be better, do better and make a difference.
Yes, it will take effort but it's worth it and I have learned some things that helped me keep my resolutions.

1) Write them down
2) Be accountable for them
3) Set a completion time
4) Get help if you need it. (You don't have to do it by yourself)
5) Enjoy the experience
6) Remember that all change is a process.

You may have something you would like to share so please get back to me.

As a wee addendum!!
Re the Nativity. The donkey did great and didn't drop anything it shouldn't have!
There was a moment when it looked like it wasn't going to leave but a pull on it's tail got it going.
Mary and Joseph looked like they liked each other. The angels sang like angels.
The children were wonderful and we were totally blessed and left thankful for the greatest gift of all. A Saviour who loves us and came down to earth for us.

May 2010 be the best year yet for you and may all your dreams and desires be fulfilled.

Nan

No 5 Christmas

2009-12-21T19:05:00.002Z

Christmas, a time for family, friends, food, fun and the time when I attend the grandchildren's school nativity. I always look forward to these events and do my best to let the children know I am there for them. All the effort of getting there early for the best seats are rewarded when they see me and give me a big wave.
This year was no exception. The inn keepers were there in their best dressing gowns, the shepherds with mum's coloured dishtowels on their heads,the angels with dad's white shirt and silver tinsel halos, Mary in her lovely blue curtain, Joseph in his dressing gown and dishtowel and the wise men with their coloured hats. The scene was set and we sang Away in a Manger with gusto. The children brought the readings from the scripture and the nativity was re enacted before our eyes. As always we were entertained. On stepping up to do his reading, wee Jimmy hit his head on the microphone. The scenery backdrops collapsed and wee Jeannie forgot her lines, but oh how we applauded and talked about how it was the best yet.
We always do our church Christmas production on Christmas Eve. This year we decided we would do The Nativity.
Mary and Joseph were chosen, the shepherds, wise men, inn keepers,stable animals and angels were enlisted. No one was left out.
Mary had a problem. She informed her mum that she wasn't going to be Mary and wanted to be an angel.
"Why not?" mum asked.
"I'm no marrying him" was the reply.
She was assured that she didn't have to marry Joseph and it was only for one night she had to be Mary, but still she refused.
Joseph also had a problem. He informed his mum that he wasn't going to be Joseph and he wanted to be one of the wise men.
"Why not?" asked mum.
"She doesn't even like me" was the reply.
His mum assured him that indeed Mary did like him, (That was stretching it a bit) and that it was only for one night but still he refused.
One of the ladies in the church keeps horses and also happens to have a donkey, and yes, we have the donkey as part of our nativity this year. Now when Mary and Joseph were informed that the mode of transport to the stable was a real live donkey their eyes lit up and suddenly they were best buddies.
A very good source told me that Mary, whilst on or in the toilet, was singing "Little Donkey, carry Mary"
Groucho Marks said you should never work with children or animals.
I disagree and look forward to a great nativity production this year.
We have planned that the donkey will drop Mary off at the stable and we hope that is all the donkey will drop off!!
I do hope it's 'church trained'.
I'll let you know how it all pans out and if you would like to come along and join us for the event you are most welcome.
Christmas Eve, 7pm at The Bridge Church in Irvine.
Check www.bridge-church.com for more details.

I want to take this opportuntiy to wish you a peaceful, joyous and blessed Christmas.
May Jesus, the Prince of Peace fill your heart with His love which He does on a daily basis, if we let Him.

God bless you,

Nan

No 4 Your Children

2009-12-19T12:45:00.001Z

I didn’t have much patience or forbearance with my children when they were young. As a very young mother (totally unprepared for parenting) I was kept busy with the two boys and our daughter, the baby of the family. I kept a clean and organized home, cooked, all be it not very well and did my best to keep on top of washing and ironing. I won’t go into the methods and machinery I had at my disposal to keep house. That is for another day.
Whether sweet shop or toy shop, I gave the children maximum 10 minutes to pick what they wanted, otherwise they got nothing. “Hurry up, for goodness sake make your mind up,” was my usual instructions to them. Fortunately, our children were easy pleased and didn’t whine about getting their own way all the time. A squeeze of the hand or the ‘wait till I get you out of this shop look’, sorted that out.
We now have 8 grandchildren and it amazes me how my husband and I have totally changed . When we take them into a sweet or toy shop we can spend an hour easy looking at all the different stuff. ‘Take your time’, lets see what’s on the next floor and do you want to try somewhere else?
What makes the difference I asked myself? Self immediately answered the question.
It’s because of the regrets about time not well spent with our children. You get another chance to do it right with the grandchildren. It’s wonderful and you get to enjoy all the great stuff you missed out on the first time round.
Now if you are a young parent, you can make the change now. You don’t need to wait till the second time around to enjoy your children.
A research company did a survey and asked parents what their biggest regret was. It was not that they spent so little time at work but that they spent so little time with their children. You can’t take ‘stuff’ with you when you die. There is no pockets in a shroud! But you can leave precious memories with your family. Make the time and make memories. Even some of our family disaster holidays are the subject of laughter as we look back.
Another reason we have more patience is that as you mature, you mellow.
I am not as intense as I was when I was a young opinionated woman. I know now that I don’t have all the answers and I am not always right. Close mind you, but not always!
I am more gentle, long suffering, forbearing, peaceful and am a better listener.
I was not the best listener with my children. I would listen with one ear when they were telling me something and usually I was doing something at the same time. My mind was on something totally different.
The result was when they needed something for school I would berate them for leaving it to the last minute.
Of course they had informed me in plenty time but I was not listening.
My husband still accuses me of not listening but he forgets to tell me things!
Have you ever had one of those “I told you ages ago” conversations with your husband?
I wonder how many times he has told me and I wasn’t listening, or he really did forget to tell me.
Perhaps we could practice the art of listening, especially to our children and young people. Think of all the wisdom and experience we could pass on to them if we could gain their ear.
To do that we first have to give them our ear.
Life is daily and tomorrow we get the opportunity to do better.
Just a thought. Nan.

No 3 Mistakes

2009-12-13T17:18:00.003Z

The problem with mistakes is that you have made it! You have either said the wrong thing, done the wrong thing, or whatever it was that you didn’t do right ,now you feel bad about it. Once it’s out there, that’s it. Sometimes I want to cut my tongue out, or maybe even amputate from the neck up! Most of the problems we have are a inch under our nose. How many times have you said, Oh if only I could do it again’? You think we would learn from our mistakes, but that is not the case. I do believe however, that there does come a time when we understand that if we take our time, stay cool and be a wee bit more discerning, we won’t make so many mistakes.

Now if you are one of those people who never make mistakes and always get it right, then you are to be commended. I am not there yet but I am further on from where I used to be. It’s a process which gets better with practice. Don’t beat yourself up every time you make a mistake. Take the experience, learn from it and determine to do better next time. Thankfully, there is a next time and if you admit you were wrong, say sorry, and ask for mercy then hopefully, you will be granted absolution.

There is a principle which governs our lives which many people are unaware of and that is the law of sowing and reaping. Whatever you give out will come back to you. It’s like, treat others the way you want them to treat you. If you forgive people their mistakes against you, then you will get their forgiveness when you get it wrong against them. It works for all of us whether we believe or not, want it or not or think we are immune to it. In my part of the world we say it like this. What goes around, comes around.

It’s no good praying for a crop failure, what you sow is what you reap.

Bearing that in mind I purposely extend love, kindness, compassion goodness, long suffering, forbearance as much as I possibly can, even when it pains me. Now, I am not perfect and I don’t always get it right, but as I said I do as much as I can on purpose. I can say that when I do get it wrong I don’t do it on purpose. Have you ever got something wrong trying to do it right?

Life being so daily and all, we get the opportunity to practice this sowing and reaping law all the time. We can only get better so be encouraged. You are a work in progress. There is a Psalm that says that God will perfect that which concerns us. I truly believe that.

I heard a story once of a minister who was preaching on the scripture ‘There is none perfect, no not one’.

‘Can anyone in this church say they are perfect?‘ he asked the congregation.

A man at the back of the church put his hand up.

‘Are you saying you are perfect?‘ said the minister.

‘No‘ said the man. ‘I’m standing in for my wife’s first husband’.

For , For, For Give! Forgive. It’s a good habit to develop.

No 2 - to do list!

2009-12-12T19:55:00.003Z

I awoke this morning to the familiar sound of wind and rain. Well, it’s familiar to this part of the world. I quickly made the decision that I would work from home, a luxury that I am very grateful for and do not take for granted. I am so thankful that I have a nice warm study to work from. I have internet access, the new mobile and a landline. I am contactable and usually have fewer distractions, so I can get a lot more work done. I can then work through my to do list. This list can be found in my filofax, post it notes, my small pukka pad, on the back of opened envelopes and Branflakes packets. Every so often, out of sheer frustration, I will rewrite my to do list on one A4 sheet of paper. This, however causes me to be completely overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the to do list. How can I, on my own, by myself, with only me to do it all, get through this whole A4 page of things (some of which are very important) to do? Sometimes the list has to be continued on the other side of the page. This can lead to great, and I mean great, trauma! When this takes place I want to offload on someone. Preferably a sympathetic person. One whose gifting would lean towards mercy and grace. You know the kind. You just love to be around them, as they are so comforting. They will offer to help too, which is usually declined but gratefully appreciated.
Now, that certain person may not be available and I have at times offloaded my trauma of the to do list to the wrong kind of person. Like, one of those, ‘well you eat an elephant one bite at a time’ kind of person. ‘So get on with it’ and ‘what’s your problem, and ‘so what do you want me to do about it’ kinda, sorta, person.
I tell myself, ‘self, bite the bullet and get on with it’
I look at the list, and make a start. Starting is 50% of the battle. All of you who have ever made the decision to go on a D--T,(four letter word which can also cause great trauma) know what I mean about starting!
Once I have completed a task I tick it off. Oh what bliss. If you have never ticked off a task I highly recommend it. It is one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences. You can also put a line through the completed task as well as a tick. This takes the whole experience to another level which I cannot put into words. You have to experience this for yourself.
Up till now I have not been able to get through my list in a day. Some of the listings have WPB (Will phone back)next to them. Some, LM (Left message) and WOT (Waste of Time). Now there are two things you can do with an unfinished list. You can keep it and start a new one which you staple to the old one, or you can transfer all the unfinished tasks to a new list.
If you do this you will not be able to look at the ticks and the scored through tasks. So think carefully before you make any hasty decisions regarding the old list.
I like to hang on to my old lists for a time as it helps to remind me of what I have achieved on my own, with just me doing it all, by myself and no one to help me.
Today I got through quite a lot of tasks and my to do list is full of ticks. I am a happy person.

If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the tasks you have to get through, I want to share this with you.
I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.
Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.

Life is so daily but it is wonderful.
Nan

No 1 - my first blog

2009-12-12T19:51:00.002Z

Good day to you. Hope you have had a good one up till now, now being 4pm. Normally I would be chilling on our couch but the rugby is on TV so I thought it expedient to move myself to my study which is warm and quiet. My day has so far been quite eventful. It started with me slipping my foot out from under the duvet to test for coldness. I then placed one foot on the floor which was quickly followed by the other, put on my very warm and thick dressing gown and felt around the floor for my slippers. I got up later than I wanted to but it is Saturday and I had no set appointments so I didn’t feel bad about it. I should have mentioned that when I slip out of bed I peek through the curtains to see what the weather is like. This morning it was dry. Wonderful, I could go for a run. After my porridge, toast and caffeine fix I got my running gear on, braved the elements and headed north for what was to be my normal two miler. Not today it wasn’t. I had a sudden rush of adrenaline to my brian and decided to go the scenic route which added a mile to my run. A lorry driver blew his horn at me, obviously he saw the blonde hair sticking out from under the purple beanie hat but had not observed the mature face attached to the blonde hair. The last mile of the run I had the wind in my face and it started to rain. As is usual on the west coast of Scotland, we are not talking here a light westerly breeze. No, we are talking gale force wind with rain which is soaking and stinging. It was like running up a mountain, but I had no choice. I had to keep going to get home and thankfully the rain stopped. Hubby was finishing his annual before winter tidy up which was late this year because we had been away.

After showering, sorting the face out (mine, not hubby’s) I made a pot of soup for lunch. I always make a big pot as we never know when our family will pop in for a visit. They like to have food along with their visit. This fulfills the granny and mother in me which wants to shove food into their mouths whether they need it or not. This is the most awesome soup and I thought I should share the recipe with you. (I watched the Julie & Julia movie about French cooking on the plane!) This is a very healthy and economical recipe and it takes 25 minutes to cook.

Red Pepper & Lentil Soup.

1 carrot
1 stick of celery
1 small leek
1 onion
Cut into small pieces and add to the pot with a little olive oil and simmer for 4 minutes
1 red pepper. Cut and add to pot. Cook for further 3 minutes
Add a can of chopped tomatoes and salt & pepper to taste
Add 3 pints of stock, either chicken or vegetable.
Add 250 gram of red lentils washed and drained.
Simmer for 25 minutes stirring occasionally and serve with crusty bread.
What a feast!

After the lunch our daughter called us from Glasgow. She was at the Apple Store. Let me clarify this one. I am not talking fruit here but I am talking the BIG A!!! The Apple Computer store to which I am led to believe all the progressive and cool people frequent. Now if you are a ‘PC person’ please don’t be offended. You may be equally cool and progressive but Apple people do have the edge. Yes?
The reason for the call was to do with my saga with my new mobile phone but that is for another day. There is not enough time left in this day for me to relate the chain of events that have robbed me of days, not hours, days of my time. Actually, I believe I can say that I have lost nearly a week on this and would not be exaggerating. The calls to a certain network, just the colour ------ is enough to give me flashbacks, so that’s enough on that for now.

I will have to leave you for now. Some of the family are coming and I will be throwing hamburgers at them. Run of the mill stuff for the grandchildren. (One of whom is patiently waiting for my old mobile phone as soon as I get the new upgrade up and running) Forgive please, as you can see, my traumatic experience with the new phone is still very raw. With time I will get better.
We adults will be feasting on venison burgers which I am told are healthier, being lower in fat! If you are a Bambi lover, again, forgive, I really am not a prolific meat eater and prefer fish. That’s another story for another blog.

I once read part of a book called Chicken Soup for the Soul. I always find that chicken soup can be a wee bit insipid. If I was to write a book about life I would title it Scottish Broth for the Soul. You see Scottish broth has substance. It’s rich, hearty, thick. You could stick a spirtle (A wooden implement used to stir porridge, one end of which has a thistle carving if bought in a tourist shop) in it and it would stay upright.
My life has substance and I hope yours does too. I have actually made a decision about all the aggro with the mobile. I am not going to be stressed out and lose my peace over an inanimate object. I refuse to get angry and upset with people. Sometimes stuff happens which no one has control over. So be happy and lighten up. I do want to bring joy and life to others as much as is possible and while doing that I intend to make the most of my time. It is the one commodity that you can’t get back. Use it well.

There is a Proverb which says, A miserable heart means a miserable life, a cheerful heart fills the day with song.

That’s it about life. It’s so daily, so make the most of it and enjoy.

Nan