All in a Tiz

Yet another year passes!

2011-09-26T03:34:00.005+01:00

Well as the title says it has been yet another year since I last blogged and yet again a lot has gone on.

Where to start?

Well since my last post I have finished my councelling and feel 'normal' most of the time.

That is apart from now which I will go into later.

Tirzah is now a beautiful 5 year and has just started in year 1 in primary school. She is really thriving, but also pushing boundaries - is there an age when they don't?

Johns job - well he got settled into it really well and then decided to push a push doors elsewhere and guess what God opened one for us just over 2 months ago, so we are on the move.

We have been here 6 years and that is a record for John!

Where we are moving to is about just over an hour away so not to far for us to visit friends here or for friends to come visit us.

It is still going through the motions of solicitors etc.. but we hope to be moved by October half term or end of October at the latest.

We will miss all of our friends here but it is time.

This is why I am low at the moment.

John has had to start his job before we have completed and is staying with friends - as some of you know I don't cope this well with John being away so for him to be away all week and be around on weekend is tough and if you noticed the time I started this you will see it is nearly 3.30am and haven't been asleep yet. It is only the first night so hope it gets better.

We thought Tirzah would be the one that didn't cope and I would but NO we have a role reversal!

So my biggest prayer at the moment is that everything with the move completes asap and we can be together as a family again or that someone has a house we can house sit for till our new house is ready for us to move into.

On a more happier note my brother and his girlfriend have had their baby - A boy whom they have called Logan William - wasn't sure on Logan but am getting used to it (I can't say anything about unusual children's names!!)

Him and his girlfriend are now engaged and plan on getting married in 2013 - they seem to get on really well so wish them every blessing.

I will not promise to blog more as I always seem to break this promise :-}

A long overdue update

2010-08-20T12:33:00.007+01:00

It's been nearly a year since I last blogged and the time has flown by.

It has been a year of ups and downs.

A few months after my last post I had a mini melt down - suffering from panic attacks, anxiety and mild depression - I had a breakdown about 7 & 1/2 years ago and thought after that I never wanted to go back there.
Fortunately, it wasn't as bad and I have wonderful friends and the most fantastic husband in the world who no matter what is thrown at him he copes marvellously.
I thank God for all the wonderful friends and family I have in my life.

I have been receiving councelling which I am near the end of and boy has it helped - my councellor is a wonderful lady who doesn't push me when I don't want to talk, lets me cry all over her and just generally supports and helps me puts things into order. Not once has she said 'it's your mothers/fathers fault' just linked things to a different time in my life.
I am doing a small cleaning job one morning a week and some typing for Johns aunty, which isn't too much pressure and makes me feel as if I am helping out at home.

Tirzah is now 4 years old and a proper girl with a good mixture of a tomboy which makes daddy very happy.
She can be very trying and pushes the boundaries with me, but also can be a very loving girl.
She is now riding her next size bike and is enjoying riding 'off-road' with daddy.
She doesn't go to school till January, so we have 2 more terms at pre-school. Pre-school have said she is ready for school, but as she is a June baby will have to wait.
We are learning letters, numbers and writing, with her doing the leading. She wrote her first word last week and it was mummy - we hadn't even got as far as m and u, but she wrote it just right and just in time for my birthday :-)

Johns job has been a rollercoster in the last year. He was told last October that his job was at risk and would have to re-apply for it. This didn't happen until May this year.
At the same time the team leader position became available and he got it - he is still learning the ropes, but is doing very well.

My brother shocked us about 8 weeks ago - he is going to be a daddy. It wasn't a planned one. He freely admits it was a drunken accident. They are now really pleased and baby is due next March.
He is feeling low a bit with mum not being around and he keeps saying 'mum won't see her grandchild', all I could say was welcome to my world.
I am hoping it will help him grow up a bit and take responsibility seriously. I have stressed that no matter what happens the baby is now the centre of his world and if he and his girlfriend ever split up he HAS to be there for the baby/child and not just in a monetary way.

I am going back to singing this Sunday at Church in the evening. It is a smaller congregation and our musical director V knows exactly where I am coming from with my anxiety etc.. and is very patient with me.

Anyway I will try my best to post more :-}
xx

Holidays nearly over, where has the time gone

2009-09-02T08:21:00.012+01:00

Well back again and it is coming to the end of the school holidays - Tiz is back next Monday.
It has gone quite quickly despite the everyday question of 'Can I go to school today?'.
She hasn't really understood why she needs so much time off from school and the difference between being on holiday and going away on holiday.

We had 2 weeks away in the middle of the hols - first week with my aunt (mums sister) and the second in Tenby - a lovely welsh seaside town.
Weather was very kind to us and we only really had 2 miserable days of rain.
We got to go swimming in the sea at Tenby and Tiz has found a whole new confidence of water which she never really had before - so we are really pleased.

My birthday was slap bang in the middle of the two weeks away and John bought me a lovely ring which was part welsh gold and part silver with a white topaz stone.
For the rest of my presents I always get money, so that has gone towards more of my Denby China collection which I am slowly building up.

We had a friends wedding last Saturday and it was lovely. I had the priviledge of lacing the bride in. So thank you K for letting me be a part of your special day.

I went to the hospital for my appointment before the holiday and the consultant decided that he needs to do a laperoscopy to see if it's endometriosis. I haven't had the pain now for 3 months, but he wants to be sure.
I have a day surgery appointment on 28 September. I am very nervous to say the least as it's under general, but I would rather that than being awake.
Please pray it goes well.

When Tiz goes back to Pre-School she goes 3 full days - Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I don't need to find a job, but it would keep me from twiddling my fingers for those 3 days. I qualified as a teaching assistant last year, but here they are cutting ta jobs instead of hiring, so not sure what I will do. Ideas welcome.

Anyway here are a few pics of our summer

On the beach at Bosherton

Eastbourne

Elan Valley

Mwnt

All Calm and Update

2009-08-04T09:29:00.002+01:00

Well it's been a while again since last posting.

I have calmed down a lot since my last post and just to say about my brother is that I texted him to say that I would give him his space. All that I am worried about is that if he leaves it too long he will find he won't be able to find the courage to contact us.

We are off to Wales for a long holiday in a couple of days. Firstly to my aunts in Mid Wales, then off to Tenby.
We have got Tiz a wet suit as the sea in Tenby can get really cold and last year after 10 minutes in the sea she started turning blue, but refused to get out.

I am off to gynae tomorrow as my periods are just getting so painful, so much so I am either sick or pass out from the pain - so docs decided I needed checking out.
I am very nervous to say the least. I am worried what they will find.
Our friend E is having Tiz so that John can come with me. We are blessed with such good friends :o)

Tiz has been off for 2 weeks from pre-school and so far she has been really good. When she goes back in September she will be going 3 full days - Mon, Wed & Fri. The pre-school has said she would manage more, so perhaps we will increase after a couple of terms.

I have to find a job - it's not urgent at the moment, but if the right one came about, who knows what will happen.

Exciting news is that Tiz rode her big bike on Sunday for the first time. She has always had a balance bike, (no pedals/stabilisers) so I think that has helped a lot as she can balance really well, all she needed to do was get to grips with pedals and she has.

Anyway will try and get on tomorrow and update as to how I got on at the hospital.

Rach xx

My Brother

2009-07-08T18:56:00.003+01:00

Excuse this blog but I have to vent.

It has been 8 weeks since I last heard from my brother. I (and my aunty) have been very worried, the worst things have been going through my mind, seriously injured, even dead and they don't know who to contact etc...

Today after much pestering him by leaving message after message on his work and personal mobile phone, I get a text basically saying he is alright, but doesn't want to be bothered with family at the moment.

This has really upset me partly because I need an explanation why and partly because when mum was dying we promised her we would always be in contact and be there for each other.

I don't know what to say or do - all I have done is texted him back and told him that he has really upset me. So the ball is in his court.

I know we as in dh and I have upset him for being in contact with my father, but he has to realise I only have 1 parent left and he has said sorry for the way he treated us and mum.

My basic instinct is that he needs to grow up and realise he is nearly 27 years old, that he has a very easy life, most of it handed to him on a golden platter and what he is missing out on - A gorgeous little girl, who misses her only uncle and a loving family.

He thinks his friends fill all of this gap and we don't 'understand' him and I know we live very different lives, but I love him and he is my 'little' albeit 6ft 2" brother.

I apologise for this rant, but needed to make some sense of it all.

Rach xx

Letter to my Mum

2009-06-04T07:25:00.004+01:00

Dear Mum

It has been nearly 5 years since you left us and not a day doesn't go by when you are not missed.
You were taken from us too early, but I know God had other plans for you.

I never got a chance to tell you how much I love you and to thank you for the great job you did raising me and Jon even through the hard times.
I know we argued, we were both stubborn and at times I didn't make your job easy. You were only watching out for me and caring for me as mums do.

Your grand-daughter Tirzah was 3 yesterday and I am saddened that you will not be around to be the great nanny I know you would be and to see her grow up and blossom into a beautiful young woman with hopes and dreams.
You would be on hand to offer advice when I am struggling with her and when I am being silly to say "Oh Rachel" and oh boy do I need both sometimes.

Even after 5 years I still go to pick up the phone to tell you something exciting, to get some advice or even just for one of our chats, but then realisation sets in and I remember you are not here and I will never be able to share with you, ask your advice or just chat again.

I know you are in a far better place, no longer in pain and are cancer free.

I miss you so much every day and Love you with all my heart.

Love Rach xx

Race for Life, down on the farm and scooting along

2009-05-25T20:04:00.009+01:00

I had my mole removed and it went well. It was very sore, but has healed very well and the stitches are out. I haven't had the results, so I am working on no news is good news.

I did my Race for Life yesterday and it was a very hot day. I did it in 40 mins, 10 mins better than last year

Above is a pic of the 4 of us who did the Race.

On Saturday we went to a lovely place called Blackberry Farm with some friends for her sons birthday. We had a lovely day and the 2 kiddies were exhausted.

Here they are feeding some chickens.

Tomorrow we go to one of Tizzie's friends 3rd birthday party. She is the first one of our friends whose little ones who turns 3.

Tizzies birthday is next wednesday, she will be at school for the morning, then dh and I will take her out for dinner. On the Saturday following Tizzie's birthday we will be going to London for the day with dh's parents, aunt, cousin and 1 of Tizzies friends.

After the party tomorrow we go to Dh's parents for a couple of days and then on Friday we go to the New Forest for the weekend.

I will leave you with a very short video of Tiz scooting on her balance bike

See you when we get back :)

Rach xx

Success, Goodtimes and Nerves

2009-05-12T16:54:00.006+01:00

I am back again - time flies doesn't it?

We have potty training cracked - day and night - Hoorah!

Our first baptism preparation class went well last Thursday.
Our second class is tomorrow night and we are going through the different services they can opt for - Thanksgiving, Blessing, Christening, or even full infant immersion.

Last Saturday we went to Kew Gardens. We met up with John's parents and 2 of his aunts. We had a lovely day and were blessed with lovely sunny weather.
They now have a treetop walkway (over 100ft in the air). I hate heights, but Tiz asked me to go up with her and daddy, so I went as not to show her I was scared. I was okay to begin with, then as we got halfway around it started swaying and to make it worse some boys were making it sway more, but I managed to stay calm and made it all the way around without panicing.
Tiz was a star all day, not one tantrum and she ran around for nearly 6 hours - boy was she tired when we got home!

This Friday we are going to Legoland - it is Tizzies early birthday treat/present from us. They have a special offer on at the moment for certain dates - £15 per adult, although only 1 adult at a time, so John and I will have to go in seperately to benefit and Tiz goes in for free - she will love it as she just loves Lego/Duplo.
On the subject of her birthday John's parents have bought her a trampoline - she just loves bouncing and it holds up to 100kg, so even adults can go on it :o)

Tomorrow I am off to the docs to have a mole removed on the back of my neck - it has become rather red and is bleeding. To say I am nervous is an understatement. I don't think the doc helped by telling me exactly what they will be doing and that 2 needles will be involved. John is coming with me to hold my hand - he is a star.

Rach xx

Hospital visit, Success & Good News

2009-04-28T08:23:00.006+01:00

Well what I thought would be a quiet un-eventful week turned into a eventful week.
After seeing the doc last wednesday who confirmed what the first doc said that my mole definately has to come off, I spent a lovely couple of hours with my friend E and her son D, it was really nice getting to know then a bit better.

Went to bed as normal and come 10.30pm I was in absolute agony, it was worse than labour. So much so I was sick a lot with the pain.
John rang out of hours doc who said I definately need to be seen. We had to wake Tiz up and take her with us and considering the time she was very wide awake and very good.

Out of hours docs said after examination that I needed to get to Surgical A & E as they thought it could be my appendix.
Got there - I think the doc I saw was a trainee, she just coulldn't get the needle into a vain without it collapsing, so know I look like a very bruised pin cushion.

Was told I had to be admitted for observation, well observation lasted 2 days and whilst there I had a ct scan and a ultra-sound scan.
I was told all the way through this was because there is such a high cancer rate in my family, so they had to rule everything out, which was really good and I can be relieved there is no cancer anywhere in my stomach etc..

I am soooo pleased to be home. Firstly I missed John and Tiz and secondly I actually would have something to eat - thats right the whole 2 & 1/2 days I was there all I got was a sandwich and water.
Mind you I did loose a few extra pounds :0).

Tizzies potty training is going well - I think we have cracked weeing and yesterday she was dry coming out of pre-school, thats twice now. Pooing on the other hand is still hit and miss.
The other thing is for nearly 2 weeks she has been completely dry waking up in the morning and goes straight on the potty.
Everyone says I should go for it and take nappy off at night, but I am a bit nervous :}, but I suppose I have got to do it at some stage, so perhaps I should just bite the bullet and do it.

Had some good news, my friend K is getting married - Yay. It will be end of August at our local registry office.

We have finally managed to organise the first evening of the Christening preperation class, it's 7th May with only 2 couples as the third couple decided to go to a different Church. Please pray it will go okay and they respond to what we tell them.

Rach xx

New Friends and Success (I think)

2009-04-18T10:11:00.004+01:00

We are on day 4 of the dreaded potty training and I think it's going well.
We have only had 2 wee accidents and that was in the first 2 days, so hopefully this is it. The real test will be next week when Tiz goes back to pre-school. I am amazed that she has got it so quickly, but I think the bribery is working - Lol!!

John was on his 9 day fortnight day off yesterday. We were planning on going cycling at Bedgebury with some new friends, but the weather had other ideas. So we went round their house instead, which was lovely. It was really nice getting to know them. They have 3 lovely children and Tiz loved playing with the daughter, C and the middle son C.
In the afternoon Peppa and George Pig were at our local shopping centre, so we went in to see them - Tiz loved them, but she refused to give them a hug 'cause they are too big'.

I had to go to the docs as my heel has been giving out and has been very painful. Well she thinks I have a weak achilles heel and need to strengthen it. She says I should hopefully be okay to do my Race for Life, but if it is still giving out nearer the time, might be best advised to give it a miss :(
Also I have a mole on the back of my neck which has been itching and bleeding lately, so she advised having it removed as it's a lot darker than it should be - I really worry about this as the history of cancer in the family on my mums side is sooo high (everyone who has died has had cancer including my mum).

Weather was supposed to be warm and sunny today and so far it cold and grey. We are off to Knowle Park and Castle in Sevenoaks.

Rach xx

Been on our hols and new challenges

2009-04-14T19:39:00.005+01:00

Well it's been 2 weeks since last post and that's because we have been away for nearly 2 weeks.

First week we went to Cornwall with some friends and stayed in a gorgeous converted upside down barn. Bedrooms downstairs, living area upstairs.
We had lovely weather and spent the time walking, cycling and visiting various national trust properties where we were forced to drink copious amounts of tea, with the odd cream tea throw in for good measure. Mmmmmmm.

We only had a couple of incidents with Tizzie. Firstly, she lost her beloved Rusty, (he is a small cuddly brown spaniel), whom she has had since she was a tiny baby. She has a replacement called 'Spotty', but she sobbed her little heart out for 2 hours solid the first night, it was heart breaking.
The second, was extremely funny, but naughty. There was an unopened tub of sudocrem (nappy cream), which is supposed to be child proof (well I have difficulty getting into the tubs!). We thought Tiz had gone to sleep relatively early for her, but the next thing we knew there were little footsteps on the stairs and low and behold there stood a sudocrem covered Tiz and I mean covered, hair, face, every part of her body. Only John managed not to laugh, our friends and me were crying with laughter. Our friends took pics, so when they send them through will post.
It took 2 days to get rid of it properly, soap and water didn't touch it.

Our second holiday was to Bury St Edmunds with John's parents.
We had a lovely time despite my FIL being his usual horrible self, but he did play with Tiz, so thats an improvement. My MIL is soooo lovely and is great with Tiz.
John and I had a night out and I had a day off, which was lovely.

It's Tizzie's birthday in June, so we thought we had better get our thinking caps on because family are already asking what she wants.
Grandma/grandad and John's aunty are paying for her to have a new bike. She has a balance bike (without peddles and brakes), which she loves, but the only problem with it is that it is too small for her. She only had it for her last birthday and it's supposed to last her till she is at least 4.
We have got her a first computer, reduced by £30, to £9.78, so a bargain.

Tomorrow is another milestone with Tiz. I am starting Potty Training - Arrrrggghhhhh.
It's got to be done.
We sat her down tonight and explained there would be no more nappies in the day and that if she wanted to wee or poo she had to use the potty and if she did that for a whole day she would get a suprise - we have got (from ebay) snow white and the seven dwarfs. She will get a dwarf a day (if she suceeds) and snow white at the end.
And I said I would NEVER use bribery - Ho Hum!

At Church we are now part of the baptism team, so we get to meet lots of people who want their children christened. We take them basically through a mini Christianity Explored course and explain what baptism is and then give them the option of Christning/Blessing or a Thanksgiving service.
We are really excited, but also very nervous as this is the first time we have ever done anything like this.

It's good to be back.

Rach xx

Long time no post and what glorious weather

2009-03-18T18:52:00.004Z

Well the time has flown by since my last post.
Nothing really eventful has happened since my last post.

I have had my official Race for Life pack through now, so no backing out now - but must get my training started.

What glorious weather we have been having this week - it lifts the spirits no end.

Last week Tiz was quite poorly again with a temperature of 105 - this seems the norm now when she is ill. It was just her back teeth coming through, but it wiped her out completely for 4 days, but by Friday no temp and she was asking to go back to pre-school, so dh and I decided to send her, she ran straight in and loved it.

On the weekend we went to Bateman's, which is the home of Rudyard Kipling, then on the way back we called into Bewl Water for Tiz to have a runaround at the play park there - she loved it.

This week is all back to normal, pre-school, Church etc..

On Friday we are off to dh's parents for the weekend.
It's Mother's Day on Sunday and at dh's parents church they have a special service, which will be really nice.

Rach xx

Peace and Quiet at Last & Doing the Race for Life

2009-03-09T08:04:00.003Z

My brother has gone back and in some ways I am sad, but others relieved.
My brother is 26 and single, so has no one to care for, only himself, so in some ways has a selfish life. Hope that doesn't sound mean. Let me explain.
When he comes to stay his interaction with us and especially Tiz for the first couple of days is great, but then he disappears to his room and we see very little of him, only really for evening meals. He doesn't help out at all as it's his 'holiday' and thinks he deserves a break. This time however he claimed he was ill and couldn't come out of his room for 6 days. In fact he looked perfectly normal and when we went out he ate a lot, despite saying he couldn't eat anything - does he think I am stupid and don't know what food I bought and what has gone. I have little tolerance of faked illness, especially from the males in my family as my dad is a major hypcondriac, so I kinda switch off.
On his last night he actually emerged and spent the whole evening with us and even ventured over the park with John and Tiz.
When taking him to the station he said he would come visit in the summer, so I suggested a long weekend instead of 12 days like this time.
I do miss him especially since my mam died, but do enjoy the peace and relaxation I feel when he goes home.

I have registered to do the Race for Life again this year, to raise money for Cancer Reasearch. I do it in memory of my mam and all my other relatives who have died from cancer and believe me there are a LOT.
I put the suggestion forward that my wednesday bible study group might like to do it aswell and most said yes, so that is great. Some have registered for the local one, on 24th May, literally 2 minute walk from my house in Dunorlan Park and a couple have registered for the previousweek in Maidstone. Hopefully it will be fun and we will raise money for Cancer Research.
So if you feel you would be able to sponsor me there is a link at the top right of my blog, which you can click and donate on.
I will say A BIG THANK YOU in advance if you do sponsor me.

Rach xx

Decorating & Verses

2009-02-27T21:49:00.007Z

What a lovely sunny day it has been today - It felt almost summery.

Today has been a day of decorating the small bedroom. As my brother is here and he is tall took advantage of him and got him to do the cutting in at the top.
We had to do a white paint coat before the actual colour because the room was quite a bright pink, so neede to block it out.
The colour I chose was called 'driftwood', it's kind of a very pale grey/white.
The only annoying thing is that the colour tin of paint should of been plenty, or so the tin said, but I ran out, so now have to buy a second 2.5 litre tin and only use probably not even a 1/4 of it.

I have ordered some gorgeous vinyl Bible verses for this room, our bedroom and Tizzie's room. I was inspired by a friend of mine who also has bought some vinyl lettering sayings and they were gorgeous.

The ones I have ordered are

Small bedroom - And now these three remain, Love, Faith, Hope and the greatest of these is Love - 1 Corinthians 13 vs 13

Main Bedroom - Love is patient, Love is Kind etc... - 1 Corinthians 13 vs 4, 7-8

Tirzah's Room - For this child I have prayed and the Lord has granted the desires of my heart - 1 Samuel 1 vs 27

The top 2 are a couple of my favourite verses and the verse going in Tizzie's room hit me because we prayed for many years for a child even after being told we would never have children and God did grant our hearts desire.

Anyway it's late now, will post pics of when room is completely finished with the verse.

Oh and on a quick note have had to remove my playlist as it was causing me problems accessing my blog -Bit sad as liked sharing some of my fave songs with you all.
Rach xx

New Boots, Visitors & A Girls Night Out

2009-02-25T15:39:00.004Z

Well we made it back safely.
We had a lovely time, but dh and I came back ill. We think food poisoning as Tiz escaped it and hadn't eaten what we think caused it.
We spent all day Saturday in our room with Tiz hairing around the place whilst we supervised from our bed and only got up when necessary.
By Saturday evening we felt loads better and by Sunday we just fely washed out, so ventured to Church, which was lovely.
I missed our home and was pleased to be back, which is a first for me since moving here.
It was lovely seeing our friends, but with 6, yes 6 children hairing around the place it is tiring.

Monday Tiz was back at pre-school and she was soooo exited to be back, she ran into the buildin without a secod glance back. I spent the morning with K, I haven't spent much time lately with her 1 to 1 as both hers and my little one have been ill.

Tuesday had to go into town to get a pancake pan and boy did they make good pancakes last night.
Tiz had her hospital appointment to collect her boots, she has a slightly wonky foot and is completely flat footed, so the boots, which are like Kicker boots, pull the foot into the correct position and with the built up insole give her an arch. She loves them, they are bright pink, with a black heart on the side. The man at the hospital wouldn't let me order blue or black. I do wonder how long they will last the lovely clean pink colour.

In the afternoon my younger brother arrived to stay for 12 days, which is lovely as he dotes on Tiz and Tiz dotes on him.
My brother is 10 years younger than me, but is nearly a foot taller than me, which is not fair!!
Since my mum died nearly 5 years ago, we have become closer and even closer since Tiz's arrival.

Tonight I am off out for a girl's night to a friends house to watch (and probably sing) Mamma Mia. Can't wait. It's been ages since we as a Bible study group had a social.

Anyway I can smell that the cakes have made are nearly done, so need to check them.

Rach xx

A Good Weekend & a Poorly Tiz

2009-02-17T11:22:00.008Z

A good weekend was had by all - I think.

Only thing was Tiz, who was and is slightly under the weather. She has decided that she doesn't want to eat anything hard this has been coming on for about a week, but on the weekend she only wanted milk or icecream. Docs have given her a/biotics just in case, but as soon as she is getting back on track we are to stop them. She is still her bouncy lively self with bouts of quietness.

A & her son C came round this afternoon, always nice to see A, but C is a very trying child and likes things his way and no other - when C & Tiz get together they ALWAYS end up fighting.

We did go for a walk over to our local park and it was really nice to get some fresh air and see it snow-less.

We are due to go away tomorrow to visit friends for a couple of days, but am awaiting a reply as to whether they want us to visit with Tiz being like she is. Hope we can go as it's been over 6 months since we last saw them.

They are Tiz's Guardians and will see a big difference in her. They also have 5 children, so Tiz will be kept occupied and she will love being with them.

If we do go will be away a few day, so won't be blogging until the weekend.

Rach xx

Blessed and Dreams

2009-02-13T15:02:00.005Z

Have added a playlist to my blog, so if you feel so inclined, why don't you listen to see what type of music I like - Mandy Moore has just an amazing voice and I just love her song Hope.

What a nice couple of days I have had - spent most of them with friends and it was GOOD.
Yesterday met up with K and her dd C, then in the afternoon spent it with V and her darling girls and lovely son.
Today spent the morning with A - it's a pre-school morning, so we were child-less. We went to the Nutmeg tree, which is a little old fashioned tea-shop. A has decided to re-vamp her image, so we went clothes trying on and she was amazed she could get into smaller sizes and different clothes she wouldn't normally choose.
I found a top/dress (not sure what it was) I loved and it looked lovely(even though I do say so myself) in Next and thought it would be on-line, but no it wasn't - It costs more than I would normally pay for a top/dress, so really have to think about it.
After pre-school V came over with girls and had lunch and a chat.
I am so blessed with friends and I think at last am beginning to settle in here, which I thank God for :)

Tomorrow is our 11th Anniversary (yes on Valentines Day) and dh's parents are coming for the weekend, they are babysitting, so we are going to see 'He's not that into you' Looks great and has had good reviews - really looking forward to it and the popcorn :) Mmmmmm!

Tiz has been really good this week, but it's the last week before half term and she is really tired. We have noticed recently that she is stuttering on certain words, but this week she has gotten worse, so much so others have begun to notice. Fortunately, her pre-school is have a speech therapist in after half-term, so they will ask her to listen to Tiz and see if she is just thinking too fast to get her words out or if there is a problem.

I am sat here typing and looking out of the back window and the sky looks like snow again, we had a flurry overnight, but it soon disappeared, so perhaps we are in for more.

On Sunday am singing in Church in the choir, I really enjoy it despite being apprehensive about it as I can't read music, but I just LOVE singing.
I am not the most confident person, but when I sing my nerves just disappear. I don't even mind singing on my own as long as i know the songs.
TBH if we could afford it I would really love lessons and to record some of the lovely Christian songs/hymns I love (Only for my ears, not others) - it's something I have ALWAYS wanted to do - we can all dream, can't we?

Might not blog over weekend what with the in-laws arriving - hence me writing what's in store for the weekend ahead.

Rach xx

Loving God and Things that make you go awww

2009-02-11T18:04:00.006Z

Tiz was in pre-school this morning, so when she is on a Wednesday morning I go to my Ladies bible group - WWW.
It is always good and I always come away having learnt more about God, which always makes me happy.
We have a very lovely lady leading it and the ladies in my group are 'normal' and we can relate to each other as most of us are mothers to toddlers or mothers with older children and we just seem to get on.
Quite a few of us have or do suffer with depression or is in a struggle with life and one of us usually ends up crying in our session. The rest of us don't judge (well I hope we don't come across like we do) as most of us know what it feels like.
To be honest I sometimes feel like that although I have been depressed/struggled I may not be giving them the right kind of support IYKWIM.
We are on a break now for a week as it's half term next week, but when we come back we are doing '40 Days of Community' by Rick Warren. Should be good if his '40 Days of purpose' is anything to go by.

Picked Tiz up and she asked for dippy boiled eggs - a new discovery! She saw me using my grandfathers (he has passed away) egg timer that I bought him when I was about 5 and asking what it was and who's is it. I tried to the best of my ability to explain whose it was and showed her a picture of my 'gramps', to which came the reply "I love your grandad mummy", which made me cry - awww.

Went into town as need a 1 piece swimming costume - what a nightmare - could I find one that wasn't bright pink or green and without padding - No - so not sure what to do now.
Tiz was a star - she asked to walk around town and held my hand the whole way around and then she walked the whole way home - so must have walked about 1 & 1/4 miles without any "mup." - mup is a Tizzie abbreaviation of me up.
So I am very pleased mummy.

Dh and Tizzie have gone swimming, so I can get on with the ironing was supposed to have done last night - so should really get on with it.

Rachxx

Oh, What a lovely day

2009-02-10T19:49:00.003Z

Had a good day with my friend and her dd, C. Tizzie and C played really nicely together.

We went to our church to a parent and toddler session. We haven't been in over a year as Tizzie didn't like the noise level, but today she loved it, so may go back. They had a soup and roll lunch after with a lady of our church giving a talk about how she had Post Natal Ante Natal depression, unfortunately I didn't get to hear a lot of it as Tizzie wanted to play instead of sitting quietly.

John came home earlier than usual and took Tizzie over the local park for a run around whilst I did tea and sorted things out - he is so good with her and good to me :)

I have started loading some of our photo's onto facebook as our computer crashed a few weeks ago and we were fortunate not to loose any, but thought I had better transfer some to a safe location.
I had forgotten what we had taken, so it was nice to see them.

My favourite task beckons - the ironing :}

Rach xx

Turnip Bashing and Potty Frustration.

2009-02-09T19:57:00.004Z

Another rainy day here in sunny Kent!!

Tirzah was at pre-school this morning, so I spent the morning catching up on little tasks that needed doing around the house aswell as making a stew for tonights dinner.
Why do turnips always have to take a "bashing" so I can cut it up? They are one of the toughest vegetables to cut. It takes all my strength to cut them.

Tizzie really enjoys pre-school she does a lot of things there that she refuses to do at home - like sit on the toilet/potty.
I get quite frustrated about it really - everyone keeps telling me she will do it in her own time, but surely if she can do it at pre-school, she can do it at home??
She is 3 in 4 months, but she was an early cruiser, but late walker, so who knows.

Tomorrow we are off to see a friend whom we haven't seen for nearly 2 months due to us being out of action with illness for a month and then them for a month.

It's our 11th anniversary on Saturday and the in-laws are here, so an opportunity for us to go out - Mmmm, what to do? Probably cinema, there are quite a few good films out that we really want to see and wouldn't normally get the chance too.

Rach xx

What a quiet moochy day!

2009-02-09T07:42:00.006Z

Yesterday was a very quiet day for us - which is unusual. Usually we are at church in the morning, seeing people, but yesterday we didn't get to Church as I had been up most of saturday night coughing, so I only had about 2 maybe 3 hours sleep and was shattered.

So we mooched around the place, doing jigsaws - wondering how many times can you do a disney princess jigsaw, colouring and watching beauty and the beast video numerous times.

Dh was playing the piano at the evening service, so he leaves at 5pm for a 5.15pm to 6.15pm rehearsal. He is always nervous as he doesn't think he is that great, but at least he is using one of his talents for God. He always comes back exhilerated.

We have a new musical director and she is turning the music around. We now have a choir, (albeit only 6 of us) once a month and she is teaching us new hymns/songs.

We are so blessed with the musical talent we have in our church.

Tiz was a little monkey going to sleep last night, dh had told her he would come in and see her asleep when he got back, she interpretted this as she should stay awake and awake she was, waiting for her daddy to read her a story and to say prayers with her.

All the snow has gone now, all we are left with is a carroty nose and 2 potato eyes and the extra snow we were promised hasn't arrived, just rain.

Dd and us (if I care to admit it) it had a great time in the snow, we went over the local park sledging, building snowmen and a crispy walk around the lake. (shown below)

Isn't it beautiful :)

Rach xx

Cycling along

2009-02-07T19:34:00.003Z

In the end we went cycling, well I cycled and dh ran whilst pushing Tiz in her pushchair.
He says he needs to get his fitness levels up - YEAH RIGHT - ths is the guy who mountain bikes, runs and swims regularly and has done since his teens. If anyone needs to raise their fitness levels it's me - hence the cycling.
It's the first proper ride I have done in a while and it was on my new mountain bike, well new to me. I enjoyed it and the sun was shining.

Made some flapjacks when we got back, they taste nice, but are very crumbly, considering it's my first attempt, not bad - but if anyone has any advice as to how to make them less crumbly, feel free to leave a comment.

Tiz is now in bed as she was shattered and very crotchety.

Thought I would share a pic of where we go when we want a nice walk - it's a place called Bedgebury pinetum. It's also the place where dh goes cycling.

Here we go!

2009-02-07T09:36:00.004Z

Well this is my first time blogging. I thought I would give it a go to help me make sense of my day to day happenings.
Please bear with me as it may take a while to get into the swing of things.

Perhaps I should start with a little history.

My name is Rachel, I am married to John and we have a gorgeous daughter Tirzah, who is 2 years, 8 months.
We have been married for 11 years next Saturday, yes I know, Valentines Day.
We are both Christians who love God, but could do better.

I qualified as a teachig assistant last September. This is something I always wanted to do, but was always told I was never bright enough, but at last I have achieved it. Now all I have to do is find a job, but that will wait until Tiz is in full-time education.

Tirzah is our miracle as we were told from first being married we would never have children and to perhaps start considering our options - ie adoption/fostering.
We never felt that that was the route for us, so we settled into a life of childlessness, but low and behold we moved nearly 4 years ago and God decided he has other plans for us and we were blessed with Tirzah or Tiz/Tizzie as she is affectionately known.
She is a very active child, just like her father and most days needs constant occupation and to be stretched. She goes to pre-school 3 mornings a week which she thoroughly enjoys.

We go to a lovely Church and have some great friends near and far.

Well that is a bit of history, perhaps I should get on now with todays post.

Dh has gone to our church to a men's breakfast. The speaker is Henry Olonga, the Cricketer. I hope all the men attending are fed well physically and spiritually, inspired and encouraged.

So that leaves me and Tiz having a few hours to kill. So we baked a cake, one of my favourite past times and now we are chillin.

Not sure what the rest of the day holds for us, that all depends on the weather.

Rach xx