tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49473812630211566862024-02-20T22:09:49.005-08:00Rachel Ridler: Mum on a MissionA regular mum trying to follow Jesus' command to go and make disciples!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.comBlogger258125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-85070204337735277882016-12-18T11:57:00.000-08:002016-12-18T11:57:02.551-08:00Mummy Meditations - JOY Week 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week's Mummy Meditation write up is now live over on<a href="http://lifebynaomi.com/faith/mummy-meditations-joy-week-3" target="_blank"> Naomi's blog</a> so make sure you hop over and read it. You can also find out next week's verse over there (and its a Christmassy one so definitely worth a peek) as we would love for you to join us in pondering it together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For all previous mummy meditation posts <a href="http://rachelridlermumonamission.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/meditation" target="_blank">click here</a>.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-82144511573301746132016-12-15T11:01:00.000-08:002016-12-15T11:01:28.064-08:00Mum on a Mission - Nativity Treasure Hunt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3KgYqZ8g-HrcGhqanlrVTFBSTQ/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybe3V4XHiiLRimvU5grvjEg391iBEBIj9rd6_KzMVeB8jA5DThYCspDhQF7FwvI5yYFBU419KRnUFN2fPhaSVUrTT0cFhXKgEUNSyz52Vqql4VY9GxNiiUvkmVjuuX7D0apn4kcIunuih/s320/treasure+hunt+title.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The last few nights I have been working on a nativity themed treasure hunt that is suitable to use at our estate Christmas event. I want to bring some fun and games for the kids, but also bring in the real characters of Christmas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I was making it I thought perhaps it would be good to share with all my readers, as it would be perfect to use inside throughout your house on Christmas Eve, and you can make a lovely little sticky picture with it at the end. You can download the free printable nativity treasure hunt <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3KgYqZ8g-HrcGhqanlrVTFBSTQ/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a> - enjoy! </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-41239984415328576792016-12-12T13:31:00.002-08:002016-12-12T13:31:53.061-08:00Mum on a Mission Reviews - CBeebies Magazine <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2iyonVG9IQFQsFYTjKrZirGkYW3Z5tBY0sU4BbqH8uiPUR71JlV_h4kD0cHCp39pIJ2P6urzQBbi1VQrsOdmHkiGjSdlJk0-1RxZREAZco7LOOhfGE6jTIxFte8Amc_qWeGrYqH5SDb3m/s1600/cbeebies+review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2iyonVG9IQFQsFYTjKrZirGkYW3Z5tBY0sU4BbqH8uiPUR71JlV_h4kD0cHCp39pIJ2P6urzQBbi1VQrsOdmHkiGjSdlJk0-1RxZREAZco7LOOhfGE6jTIxFte8Amc_qWeGrYqH5SDb3m/s320/cbeebies+review.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't know about you, but I love a good kids magazine. It has the power to entertain your child for a good portion of the afternoon! But sometimes I buy magazines and they just don't capture my sons attention, so I was really excited to be able to review CBeebies Magazine and see how it fared in the "Sam" test! Here is how we got on....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well Sam was really excited when his package arrived, especially as the edition we got was a special colouring one so came with a big free gift of pens, pencils and crayons. We tried to wait until little brother Reuben was in bed to take a look, but the excitement was too much. One of Sam's favourite parts of magazines is when they come with stickers, and CBeebies magazine did not let us down. Sam immediately was drawn to a page about the Furchester Hotel where you could stick baubles on the Christmas tree (some were cookie shaped baubles for the Cookie Monster!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even little Reuben tried to join in with the fun! He was loving the pens and attempting to colour in and we had lots of fun doing it together as a family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of Sam's next favourite pages at the moment are the ones where he gets to practice writing letters and following mazes using his pen control. The Cbeebies magazine seems to have a really good mix of fun activities and learning too. These pages tied in really well with what we have been doing on the <a href="http://rachelridlermumonamission.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/mum-on-mission-reviews-alphablocks.html" target="_blank">Alphablocks Reading Programme</a>, and with what your children will be doing at nursery or school, so great secret reinforcement!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another great feature of the CBeebies magazine over a lot of other magazines is that each page has a little box for the adults to read, giving you tips of how to interact with your child on the page so they get the most out of it and more ideas of activities that tie in with the theme. Here are a couple of examples:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We finished off our day and review of the magazine by having some snuggly quiet time before bed reading the stories in the magazine. Sam loved that they included the characters from CBeebies and he chose to read the Charlie and Lola story. It was set out more like a comic with lots of pictures, and reinforced listening by asking questions during the story like this:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, the fun may only last for an afternoon, but CBeebies magazine gives you plenty of ideas on how to extend it. There is also a great mix of pages from stickers, to crafts, to learning, to stories, to colouring. Plenty for all children to enjoy whilst interacting with their favourite CBeebies characters. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can buy CBeebies magazine from your local newsagent or supermarket. I know I will continue to buy this for Sam - it definitely passed the Sam test and the Reuben test!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Disclaimer: I received a free copy of CBeebies Magazine to review, but all opinions and comments are my own. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-47274175022135774312016-12-11T11:49:00.002-08:002016-12-11T11:49:48.716-08:00Mummy Meditations - JOY (week 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you for joining me for the second week in our look at Joy. If you missed last weeks post and introduction, do hop over to <a href="http://lifebynaomi.com/faith/mummy-meditation-joy-week-1" target="_blank">Naomi's blog</a> to catch up! This week we have been looking at the following verse (but especially the last sentence):</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<b><i>Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.</i></b>" Nehemiah 8:10</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now I want to start off this week with a pretty provocative question that has been buzzing around my mind this week - What separates spiritually mature and immature Christians? Why do some Christians stay strong through everything, but some drift away so easily?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The answer to this is something that I really want to understand, because I for one want to be the person who stays the course - who finishes the race and gets the crown of being in heaven. I don't want to find myself in some difficult times and give up on God. I <b><u>want</u></b> to be spiritually mature.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And so, I think this verse is key and that this fruit of the Spirit is a really important one to develop and grow, because although love is the most important thing, if we have nothing to keep us going through the hard times then we will fall flat and not get back up (and bad things do happen to all people). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last week Naomi spoke about joy being a choice to see the bigger picture and that it is not just an emotion of being happy. Joy is knowing the amazing future that we have in heaven and it is having a Godly perspective on things. We can't always be happy, but we can always be joyful. And if we make that choice to be joyful even during the trials then that is pure strength - that is what gives us hope to keep going in it all because we know the joy that waits for us in heaven if we just keep pushing on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the passage in Nehemiah before this verse, the people had returned from exile and were having to rebuild everything. They were desperate to hear the word of God and learn more about him, as they hadn't had the scrolls and laws when in exile, but as soon as they heard them they felt convicted and started weeping. Why? Because they realised they were the cause of their own destruction. That their own sin and failure to live up to the law is what meant they had been exiled. This must have been a pretty low point in their lives. But instead of letting them dwell in their misery, Nehemiah tells them to celebrate this moment of realisation, and instead to focus on the joy that the Lord had rescued them and still wanted that relationship with them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don't dwell in the trials and low points of life. Yes you can feel the emotion, but try not to dwell on it. Instead focus on God and eternity with him and find your strength in that joy. To me that is what separates spiritually mature and immature Christians - those who are mature know that life will happen but choose to keep their eyes fixed on the joy ahead. Those who look down and forget that joy fall away as their strength has gone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I pray that I may continue to find joy in my Lord and that it will be my strength throughout all of life's trials - I pray that for you all too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u>NEXT WEEK</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">We turn our attention to James and the following verse:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">"<b><i>Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.</i></b>" James 1:2-3</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Naomi will be writing about this one so make sure you look out for it over on <a href="http://lifebynaomi.com/" target="_blank">her blog</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-74229347552548748432016-12-10T08:55:00.002-08:002016-12-10T08:55:20.150-08:00Make your own Christmas Eve box for FREE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFugyLrooTE0f4Ua5gHGktnpd7v8T29Z0z3Twmg0rADPEEk8_S3ZubCtS_kxMWNS4Ch3a7xrvfOFK5zbl0n8nTxMVB-zeYI81GuaE68OGrpjH3yRXXYTmKnik-Tg8kfErO_KYT5MXAriO/s1600/christmas+eve+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFugyLrooTE0f4Ua5gHGktnpd7v8T29Z0z3Twmg0rADPEEk8_S3ZubCtS_kxMWNS4Ch3a7xrvfOFK5zbl0n8nTxMVB-zeYI81GuaE68OGrpjH3yRXXYTmKnik-Tg8kfErO_KYT5MXAriO/s320/christmas+eve+box.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Christmas Eve boxes are all the rage at the moment - another thing to spend money on to make sure Christmas is magical for your kids. And I do get it - it is all about anticipation and planning fun things that your kids will remember. But sometimes all these "Christmas traditions" just add to the expense of this time of year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is the first year I am going to make up a Christmas Eve box, partly because my son is old enough to understand it now but also partly just to give him something to do on Christmas Eve when we arrive at the grandparents super excited!! But I am not going to order one online or spend lots of money on it. I am going to put in free or cheap things that we would probably have done/used on Christmas Eve in previous years anyway but it just keeps it all nicely together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here is my contents list:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Clean pyjamas</b> - no I am not going to go out and buy news ones. Just normal PJ's are fine everyone!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Stocking to hang up</b> - we already have these from previous years</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Reindeer food</b> - Sam made this at nursery, but if not you can make it easily with oats and glitter. Lots of fun for sprinkling on the grass outside so the reindeer can see your house....</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>A colouring in "Santa Stop Here" sign</b> - I am using the one I got sent in our <a href="http://rachelridlermumonamission.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/mum-on-mission-reviews-letter-from.html" target="_blank">letter from Santa</a>, but you could easily find one online to print out or get your child to make their own</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>A book for bedtime</b> - this could be a new one if you want, but if you haven't got the budget just add one in that they haven't read for a while or ask a friend to do a book swap. We have a great charity locally called Re-Read that gives out free books so have a look around to keep the cost down.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>A paper plate to decorate for Santa - </b>some people like to buy an expensive santa plate, but this year I am going to get Sam to decorate his own plate to leave out for him. This could prove tricky given that he wants to leave out chilli con carne (apparently Santa needs a proper meal!) but then each year he can do a new one.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Cookie Mix/chocolate log/gingerbread house</b> - baking is one of the best Christmas related activities, so a good way to keep the kids occupied on Christmas eve is with baking. You could put in cookie mix in a jar, or in our house we always iced and decorated a chocolate log (chocolate swiss roll with chocolate butter cream all over). Use up whatever ingredients you have left in the cupboard and it should be a pretty cheap endeavour</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Christmas film</b> - I might put one of these in, as we a film lovers in the house anyway. The only one I have on DVD is NATIVITY! Again, I might see if some friends will do a christmas film swap so we can watch something new. If I have a bit of spare cash the week before I might even spring for some treats for whilst we watch it (but I might not!)</span> </li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am going to put all of these things in a cardboard box that I got some of my online shopping delivered in wrapped in wrapping paper and there you have it! A pretty much free Christmas Eve box. Here is the photo so far:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKOislA3z63brtsPKrt9YYK1Nfh9ItXRZsTT1t-GGRCWbpU4SPpFLFlNQXuapREPDC9wXF78vhWVz2_YWCWhKMrsOaYBJAhsKYJiyGNi1qCmQFyENr5xU5wpZPcGpRd_i13e-bplwtSn3/s1600/WP_20161210_15_59_34_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKOislA3z63brtsPKrt9YYK1Nfh9ItXRZsTT1t-GGRCWbpU4SPpFLFlNQXuapREPDC9wXF78vhWVz2_YWCWhKMrsOaYBJAhsKYJiyGNi1qCmQFyENr5xU5wpZPcGpRd_i13e-bplwtSn3/s320/WP_20161210_15_59_34_Pro.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do let me know any other free or cheap ideas you have for your own boxes by commenting below.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-15502746019498151482016-12-07T01:11:00.002-08:002016-12-07T01:11:49.768-08:00Candy Cane Bombing!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEH44OPi9_t36PNWGtHjrkGhPFUiLgwS1mzLGQhC9CIpGQ9VS9IiTt3iSl_SwtBPCLYCk25-e_Frdrt-aRIjuKfMpxpUXizc1xlBqtXPu2xRTadMNfDCdidgiW3sfWEfjib4B9EUzTusHo/s1600/candy+cane+bombing+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEH44OPi9_t36PNWGtHjrkGhPFUiLgwS1mzLGQhC9CIpGQ9VS9IiTt3iSl_SwtBPCLYCk25-e_Frdrt-aRIjuKfMpxpUXizc1xlBqtXPu2xRTadMNfDCdidgiW3sfWEfjib4B9EUzTusHo/s320/candy+cane+bombing+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So I am feeling rather festive at the moment after weeks of preparing everything at work and now the decorations have gone up at home. It got me thinking about how I am going to bless those around me this year. I have done numerous things in the past - leaving secret hampers for neighbours, having an open house - but this year I wanted to do something fun! So I have chosen to do some CANDY CANE BOMBING!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My friend mentioned this on social media last year, and it felt a bit too late to do it then, but this year I am on the ball! Basically, you get some candy canes and all a little message (see below for my free printable sheets). Tie it all together and then hook them on to the handles of cars so that when the driver comes back they get a little Christmassy treat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To tie in with our <a href="http://rachelridlermumonamission.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/meditation" target="_blank">Mummy Meditations</a> theme of joy I have chosen to put the following verse on my cards to go with the candy canes:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">" Luke 2:10-12</span><br />
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3KgYqZ8g-HrTk5fTE1RLWU1cWc/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPUZzGqJwwyWu3Tr1zXUzpXY4Ltjh4g-qVA6VmLLyO8v0S2LfvdxHnMcfL3YrEbjb3D2B9FZoi-S0aYK7_tZW5MaIESfjGEoZq_fm0sw6ims1xQfI-YyzF-ED-aFqgQ4Lq1K17MKVhWFC/s320/candy+cane+tags.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To get your free printable pdf version of the candy cane bombing tags and have a go yourself just <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3KgYqZ8g-HrTk5fTE1RLWU1cWc/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">click here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why not share some photos of where you have been bombing on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rachelridlermumonamission/" target="_blank">facebook page</a> or tag me one twitter (@ace_rach) - I would love to see!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-5056340693696002932016-12-07T00:13:00.001-08:002016-12-07T00:19:33.475-08:00Mum on a Mission Reviews - Letter from Lapland Mailroom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTn7a5KDnTn8IC8BgY92_c1fhHwb-0SYopErWIC-L8ioUbt45nLJFaZIJC2q_R1XUf4PGP-GwTJns1HQ8elFNkOlKCrFUlf-dOjy9Nmqje25RQx_mN64klHPlJcyLezT6BV8bhBFSG5gW/s1600/lapland+mailroom+review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTn7a5KDnTn8IC8BgY92_c1fhHwb-0SYopErWIC-L8ioUbt45nLJFaZIJC2q_R1XUf4PGP-GwTJns1HQ8elFNkOlKCrFUlf-dOjy9Nmqje25RQx_mN64klHPlJcyLezT6BV8bhBFSG5gW/s320/lapland+mailroom+review.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am not sure what your position on Santa is - there are many valid arguments both for and against letting your children believe that Santa is real. I am going to assume that if you are reading this post then you are "PRO-Santa!" and so would love to hear about a great way to bring some more magic to your kids Christmas!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is the first year that my son has been big enough to write a proper letter to Santa, and so in November he wrote down that he wanted a mud kitchen (not sure he's going to get that but hey!) on his bit of paper and gave it to daddy to post to Santa. He was reasonably excited, although not as excited as mummy, when he got a letter back:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbX45fZwfaxwb1kCFK0NFiP_8_nsqxMmyh7gzqzA2XUubBHaDWGiLUkfa5xG08Gh0VHtwgH8mYQSAj_wqRFVJXHlrRrBp8zPdu9stqPXO9g1edg_WF6xu3SE3bqplk21dYQtQeGzhvrtDw/s1600/WP_20161202_16_31_21_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbX45fZwfaxwb1kCFK0NFiP_8_nsqxMmyh7gzqzA2XUubBHaDWGiLUkfa5xG08Gh0VHtwgH8mYQSAj_wqRFVJXHlrRrBp8zPdu9stqPXO9g1edg_WF6xu3SE3bqplk21dYQtQeGzhvrtDw/s320/WP_20161202_16_31_21_Pro.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvtUkUnedMe7pCDmW6K6jNAfYoBDBbI6hbwnU5pk0DZWykyoRtImLUOB97TgG3Us35tD6YfALCDWgikK1p1dgkXiYlilsr70bnQVTZi-tGQ_Ajjg0XxLyqaYOuI-2XUTXu0FjsvnFVpIk/s1600/WP_20161202_16_30_54_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvtUkUnedMe7pCDmW6K6jNAfYoBDBbI6hbwnU5pk0DZWykyoRtImLUOB97TgG3Us35tD6YfALCDWgikK1p1dgkXiYlilsr70bnQVTZi-tGQ_Ajjg0XxLyqaYOuI-2XUTXu0FjsvnFVpIk/s320/WP_20161202_16_30_54_Pro.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We ordered his letter from Santa from <a href="http://www.laplandmailroom.com/" target="_blank">Lapland Mailroom</a> this year and it was interesting to be able to compare it. In the past I have had letters from the NSPCC, which is a lovely way to both support charity and get a little keepsake for your kids. Now with the NSPCC you do just get a letter (which is lovely don't get me wrong!) that has been made with a very basic mail merge (so it has his name it in but most of the rest of it is generic) for a suggested donation of £5. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The letter package from <a href="http://www.laplandmailroom.com/" target="_blank">Lapland Mailroom</a> is obviously more expensive (£7.95 or £8.95 with an activity pack) but I think it is worth that extra bit. The letter itself is much more personalised with details about what happened last Christmas (I was able to put in that Sam left out mashed potatoes for Santa) so brought a lot more joy to Sam when I read it to him as he remembered last year. You also get a nice child certificate with the child's name on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The activity pack is also really good quality (and I think worth the extra £1) as you get a card, a door hanger, a "santa stop here" poster, a christmas decoration and an activity sheet to colour in, all on good quality card. I am going to add the poster and door hanger to a Christmas Eve box so that we can colour them in and put them up ready for Santa. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In my opinion, the pack is definitely worth the £8.95, and <a href="http://www.laplandmailroom.com/" target="_blank">Lapland Mailroom</a> can guarantee delivery of it before Christmas if you order before the 20th December. There may be other cheaper or free letter from Santa services but this is definitely the best one I have seen yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can use this code to get 10% off your letter from Santa - "lapland10" at <a href="http://www.laplandmailroom.com/">www.laplandmailroom.com</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Happy Christmas everyone!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Disclosure - I have been sent a free letter from Santa from Lapland Mailroom to review on my blog, but all opinions are my own. </i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-10850524632814175212016-12-05T13:54:00.001-08:002016-12-05T13:54:33.284-08:00Mummy Meditations - Joy (Week 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqJn4qbN7BiSLnQ1mcLdkeHHkmdLa_tEpwZXuxYrkekEOJopPlaYkPZ6zvt_yekLEX6HE6QZyqV5qV4Fje6Oe32F4NsyEEhgpDM1bgqF-6OxioGEcf-8GvvJIZ2kedQMhFexaCPc_kwH-/s1600/joy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqJn4qbN7BiSLnQ1mcLdkeHHkmdLa_tEpwZXuxYrkekEOJopPlaYkPZ6zvt_yekLEX6HE6QZyqV5qV4Fje6Oe32F4NsyEEhgpDM1bgqF-6OxioGEcf-8GvvJIZ2kedQMhFexaCPc_kwH-/s320/joy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Super excited to be starting our new theme for December of JOY! The first week's post can be found over on <a href="http://lifebynaomi.com/faith/mummy-meditation-joy-week-1" target="_blank">Naomi's blog</a>, but do check back here next week! </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-15212419844002448472016-12-02T12:07:00.003-08:002016-12-02T12:09:29.657-08:00Mum on a Mission Reviews - My Cupcake Toppers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYgxkcg3g-576bfQICXOcSiQxd9uZ47aDqoHQ0yaZ2tWe7jDc7_EHZnPQhyphenhyphenTS8YaFZ-fKDnZA3JqbWvMqGDzH9g0KwJbnai9vuHRzh5ncsp4v89GQ1xl4_DgDpjqO7eWOHQHYxeyjGKKI/s1600/review+cupcake+toppers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYgxkcg3g-576bfQICXOcSiQxd9uZ47aDqoHQ0yaZ2tWe7jDc7_EHZnPQhyphenhyphenTS8YaFZ-fKDnZA3JqbWvMqGDzH9g0KwJbnai9vuHRzh5ncsp4v89GQ1xl4_DgDpjqO7eWOHQHYxeyjGKKI/s320/review+cupcake+toppers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I love cake. I am pretty sure that most people who know me are aware of this fact! And so when I was given the opportunity to review <a href="https://www.mycupcaketoppers.co.uk/" target="_blank">My Cupcake Toppers </a>I jumped at the chance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also love baking, and its an activity that I have started doing with my 3 year old son. His favourite part is decorating the cakes, and he loves those kits that you buy in the supermarket with his favourite TV and film characters on. Only they cost a lot, have only half the ingredients in them and you end up with tiny cakes that taste of paper. Not good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I bake, I bake good cakes (my mum taught me well!) but I'm not so great at the icing. So to have rice paper or icing toppers that can make them look pretty is definitely a good idea. I ordered from <a href="https://www.mycupcaketoppers.co.uk/" target="_blank">My Cupcake Toppers</a> a selection of different toppers for different occasions including some for my son (Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Inside Out themed toppers), some to put on free cupcakes at my estate Christmas event (think santa, penguins and general christmassyness) and some for other outreach activities (new home and thank you designs).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXx8A4vFpxTm_yuUmjTsEs_hQieWtqtnrgpKGGfLQHJUuXyQY7-BOxVRIUwpMQ9odNNwk4S0tbUd19r3nMJILPRpJpChmOhPLEFSF6KHmEbmE_7bKN8m4yZMrQmmJ3zv_JqUn_HsglU-4/s1600/cupcake+topper+images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXx8A4vFpxTm_yuUmjTsEs_hQieWtqtnrgpKGGfLQHJUuXyQY7-BOxVRIUwpMQ9odNNwk4S0tbUd19r3nMJILPRpJpChmOhPLEFSF6KHmEbmE_7bKN8m4yZMrQmmJ3zv_JqUn_HsglU-4/s400/cupcake+topper+images.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I decided to try out the rice paper toppers as they were the cheapest - coming in between £1.20 and £2.70 depending on the quality of rice paper and whether you wanted them pre-cut. I varied my options but decided that normal quality rice paper was perfectly fine and that pre-cut was definitely worth the extra 50p!! It meant you could get straight on with decorating without standing for half an hour first cutting out circles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sam loved choosing which cakes to put his Beauty and the Beast toppers on, and they tasted great with the icing. I have ordered cupcake toppers in the past off Ebay and the print quality has not been great, but these have excellent detail. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQccYfAzuprtNTJUXRcGnz5FAewzGKq5XnCnW2t540YreH98CdL9NLLMaex1TXbh8T1gc-y-_V8Orsci3Lj3GMuXBqW20SngG1CSb5K1hcaifY7WBhk6maiOxTBndZYC8bvRJKBvqAgPr_/s1600/WP_20161125_10_47_08_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQccYfAzuprtNTJUXRcGnz5FAewzGKq5XnCnW2t540YreH98CdL9NLLMaex1TXbh8T1gc-y-_V8Orsci3Lj3GMuXBqW20SngG1CSb5K1hcaifY7WBhk6maiOxTBndZYC8bvRJKBvqAgPr_/s400/WP_20161125_10_47_08_Pro.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The best thing is you can also design your own - whether its a photo of someone, a charity logo or anything else you can submit it to be printed. In the past I got Reuben's face printed on edible icing for his dedication day so I would definitely look at <a href="https://www.mycupcaketoppers.co.uk/" target="_blank">My Cupcake Toppers</a> to do this in the future. The range of ideas and options is endless, and for £1.20 it definitely beats the cake kits from the supermarket!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am looking forward to using my christmas cupcake toppers to spread a little joy this Christmas on my estate (especially after the rough year we have all faced). What could you use them for?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Visit <a href="http://www.mycupcaketoppers.co.uk/">www.mycupcaketoppers.co.uk</a> and browse their library of cupcake toppers and more</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Disclosure: I was sent free cupcake toppers to review by My Cupcake Toppers, but all opinions are my own. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-12516428892003928522016-11-30T00:07:00.001-08:002016-11-30T00:07:10.324-08:00Free Christmas Bible Resources for families<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRdD8KlXH8U5QWR2Mh4JxyVDqA9Om9rWzWqrJqqusiNj-6Rpdq0B7Mk2Bm5PPvCYJ-qem3LjeckCEUKI288rNyFIYYgpYO7CRnOaPywAmGC40UTsYK3mE-FqqRyQ7QO3rGToGqYsP8Ypq/s1600/free+christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRdD8KlXH8U5QWR2Mh4JxyVDqA9Om9rWzWqrJqqusiNj-6Rpdq0B7Mk2Bm5PPvCYJ-qem3LjeckCEUKI288rNyFIYYgpYO7CRnOaPywAmGC40UTsYK3mE-FqqRyQ7QO3rGToGqYsP8Ypq/s320/free+christmas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are so many great resources out there to help you and your family make the most of the Christmas season in learning more about Jesus and his birth and what it means. Here are just a selection of free ones that I have found (as I am sure we are all strapped for cash just about now!)</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.stewardship.org.uk/be-inspired/advent-wonder---sign-up-for-family-resources?utm_source=Stewardship&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=7741861_Generous%20November&utm_content=Family%20Resource" target="_blank">Advent Wonder, The Gift</a> - with activities, wallcharts and prayers there is plenty to keep your family busy during advent with this free printable resource. This will encourage you to have bible time as a family. There is special advent bunting for you to make and tick boxes for activities so hopefully this will keep kids engaged. I think it might work better with slightly older children, but we will give it a go!! Its the last chance to download it this year so print it off even if you might not use it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://godventure.co.uk/product/print-your-own-godventure-advent-pocket-cards/" target="_blank">Godventure Print Your Own Advent Pocket Cards</a> - if you have one of those pocket advent calendars that you are filling with your own chocolates, then why not download and print off these verses to go inside them too. Victoria from Godventure also includes some more great ideas on how to use them at the bottom.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/get-involved/christmas/" target="_blank">The Well Good News of Jesus</a> - The Bible Society have a selection of resources including a story book for kids, a pop-up nativity resource and free stickers for your christmas cards.</span> </li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you have found any other great free resources then please do share below</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-66050250625043367082016-11-27T10:16:00.001-08:002016-11-27T10:16:22.851-08:00Mummy Meditation - LOVE (Week 4)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjef0zR_LeJgRwAdA2PnuBausNbcDbNQvaVluzLOtIjYF_X9yah8mWyF-Upx0thqgMl9ozvLJGrhziR-FShP4nUdUFGV8jPL6ijYJiBv2aZwGc2b5jFvsxQlKnKmTCtzP_rJmz6dxUgycfG/s1600/mummy+meditation+-+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjef0zR_LeJgRwAdA2PnuBausNbcDbNQvaVluzLOtIjYF_X9yah8mWyF-Upx0thqgMl9ozvLJGrhziR-FShP4nUdUFGV8jPL6ijYJiBv2aZwGc2b5jFvsxQlKnKmTCtzP_rJmz6dxUgycfG/s320/mummy+meditation+-+love.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Welcome to the final Mummy Meditation on the theme of Love. If you missed last week's then do hop over to <a href="http://lifebynaomi.com/faith/mummy-meditation-love-week-3" target="_blank">Naomi's blog</a> to catch up as it was a really powerful post about loving our spouses. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Throughout these last four weeks we have had the joy of digging deeper into what this first fruit of the Spirit actually is and to come out with a greater understanding of it. I don't think that it is at all a mistake that love was the first fruit listed, and it really ties in with this week's verse: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<b><i>If I speak with the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal</i></b>" 1 Corinthians 13:1</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You know, there are many denominations of Christianity. I for one have been involved in a few of these throughout my life, including the Church of England, Evangelical, Independent and Pentecostal denominations, and whilst there are disagreements on various things and differences of opinion on minor issues, the one thing that unites us all is LOVE. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Love is the common theme in Christianity (whether it looks like that some days or not!). It was through God's desire to love that he created the world. It was because of His love for us that He sent His son down to rescue us when we were broken. The two core commandments that Jesus gave us were simply "Love God" and "Love your neighbour". If you cut a christian in half, running through the centre should be love. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Love should be the first manifestation of becoming a christian and of having the Spirit of God in your life - that is why it is listed first. By giving your life to God, He pours His love into you and the result is that it will start to overflow out of you and into others around you. You just can't help it! When you truly understand the love of God, then it bursts out with no way of stopping it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now here is the tricky bit. This week's verse suggests that there are some people who have lost this. Who aren't overflowing with love. And even though they might be speaking in tongues or showing other gifts of the spirit, they haven't got that love anymore. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we as christians lose sight of how much God has filled us with his love and it stops overflowing out of us, that is when we start to become those annoying christians that people don't want to listen to - we are well and truly a clanging cymbal! We become that annoying drone in someones ear telling them to "turn or burn". That is not what God wanted. He wanted a family of loving people, those who would cascade down His love for us into our communities and our world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now I'm not judging here - I am sure all of us would say that at one time or another we have lost that feeling of love towards the world. That it stops being second nature. When that happens, instead of carrying on being the clanging cymbal, why not choose to spend some time with the one who fills us to overflowing with His own love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u>NEXT WEEK</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We move on the the second fruit of the Spirit - Joy. So please join us over on Naomi's blog as we meditate on the following verse:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<b><i>And Mary said:</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>“My soul glorifies the Lord</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i> and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>for he has been mindful</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i> of the humble state of his servant.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>From now on all generations will call me blessed,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i> for the Mighty One has done great things for me—</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i> holy is his name.</i></b>" Luke 1:46-49</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-3769219633596753682016-11-23T13:54:00.000-08:002016-11-23T13:54:03.629-08:00Mum on a Mission Reviews - Morse Toad Chocolate Cards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigobqllYZ0LqcFP8BhTE7Y0lQaK4cy6Ub7mMjkoru7xTvFVH4cfAIUt_5jkYB8KUw1KZgOmVsImh3U-aaNYMDtz4iLo0GYB7KiTHYH8Rvn01E2bbQAIZ9FCjq9CfGPhEbVAL3inFNRs7Ga/s1600/review+-+morse+toad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigobqllYZ0LqcFP8BhTE7Y0lQaK4cy6Ub7mMjkoru7xTvFVH4cfAIUt_5jkYB8KUw1KZgOmVsImh3U-aaNYMDtz4iLo0GYB7KiTHYH8Rvn01E2bbQAIZ9FCjq9CfGPhEbVAL3inFNRs7Ga/s320/review+-+morse+toad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am always looking for new ways to surprise and delight people - I love to give presents to new neighbours, send chocolates and cake to those with a new baby and even just cheer up presents to those who are feeling a bit low. So when I got the chance to review a new product called "<a href="https://www.morsetoad.com/" target="_blank">CHOCOLATE POSTCARDS</a>" from Morse Toad's messaging service, I was very very excited (Reuben was too when it arrived - he tried to steal it)</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKVN8K1EUgPh4ULMZsol987-Uk1xgorauZ1kcF81jNAys16qWC95n0RQFla5J41jL9lSz7mlSQQWSdrSxffNUUbLjpok-lMZsKjjLMIGcrm2VwHv9MsS8GIVNE0ZIq_U39SEOiQRojAle/s1600/WP_20161123_15_50_04_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKVN8K1EUgPh4ULMZsol987-Uk1xgorauZ1kcF81jNAys16qWC95n0RQFla5J41jL9lSz7mlSQQWSdrSxffNUUbLjpok-lMZsKjjLMIGcrm2VwHv9MsS8GIVNE0ZIq_U39SEOiQRojAle/s320/WP_20161123_15_50_04_Pro.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not only did it have one of my favourite things in the title - chocolate - but it was also something that I could easily order online to be sent to any address. A real bonus when you are busy and don't have the time to put together a nice care package or hamper of goodies yourself. There are some great ideas on the website for funny or nice messages you can send (I chose the message "Sod the diet, its winter" as a nice surprise for my friend!) but you can also choose your own message as well to be enshrined in chocolate. Typical postcards cost between £15-£18 depending on how many chocolates are needed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As well as the chocolate message, you can also choose a typed message to go inside the box, which is handy if you have a lot to say. You can also pay a little bit more to include a picture, which I think is a great idea when you are sending a surprise to someone who isn't expecting it. I am going to drop off my postcard to my friend tomorrow so we shall see if she likes it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also ordered a stocking filler (only £2.75) with 7 chocolate letters included which is great value for money. Why not order your kids names in chocolate instead of the usual chocolate coins this year? If you want to try out <a href="https://www.morsetoad.com/" target="_blank">Morse Toad Chocolate Postcards</a> then you can use this code to get 10% off your order "<b>HappyToadmas</b>" (expires Christmas Day). I for one am so glad to have found this service and will be using it for future messages!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(<i>Disclosure: I was given free products from Morse Toad to review, but all opinions expressed are my own.</i>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-25104436393163092482016-11-21T10:59:00.001-08:002016-11-21T10:59:15.138-08:00Mummy Meditations - LOVE (Week 3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The third week of Mummy Meditation on love is being hosted over on <a href="http://lifebynaomi.com/faith/mummy-meditation-love-week-3" target="_blank">Naomi's blog</a> so please hop over there to read her thoughts and to get next week's verse!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-45181452241374712752016-11-15T08:12:00.003-08:002016-11-15T08:12:59.923-08:00Mum on a Mission VS the train - UPDATE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, that's it. The announcement has been made. Chris Grayling's preferred route for HS2 is the one that goes through my house and I can now officially apply for compensation and sell up to the government. But I don't feel any better. Actually, the announcement made is not what I was expecting - its less clear and means another year of uncertainty for us all here on our estate. They are still undecided about the Sheffield/South Yorkshire part of the route and will be doing lots of consulting on this with a firm decision to be made in 2017. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This morning I have spoken to almost every news outlet on the planet and I am exhausted by it all - but I wanted people to see what the impact was on normal people like me - the stress, the uncertainty and the loss of community.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was chatting to some people at church on Sunday about how this is all like grief, but also not. People accept that you have to grieve when someone dies, but with news like this that you can't control it is not accepted that you might feel the same way. Why should you get as attached to a house and community as to a person? I feel the same emotions but its not acceptable to others to feel this way because I should just move on - after all it is just a house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But here are my five stages of grief over HS2:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>denial</b> - well this happened on the first day when I couldn't really believe what the letter through my door had said - there must have been some mistake that this was happening to me.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>anger</b> - I know I have certainly felt this at various times! Mostly angry that if this was ever a possibility that this estate shouldn't have been allowed to be built. Angry that we have no clear information. Many others on the estate are really angry at Strata for not supporting us more and at HS2 employees for putting us in this situation. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Bargaining</b> - I guess this is probably what the campaigning has been all about for the last few months - trying to grasp at any straws that might change this outcome and make it different. I think I have come to the end of this and entered the next phase</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Depression</b> - At the moment I feel completely hopeless with it all and resigned to the awful fact of having to move. I am not excited by this and the thought makes me really depressed. I am focusing on other things to try and get through this period.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Acceptance</b> - I know the day will come and I look forward to being able to accept what has happened, apply for compensation and start planning a new life somewhere else. But when there is still a small glimmer of hope that the consutation may change the outcome for us then I can't get here. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sorry this has been a slightly depressing post - as usual I write how I am and how I am is slightly depressed today. But I guess to finish on a positive - I still have the joy of the Lord in my heart, because I know that he will work this out to his glory - wherever we end up and whatever happens this has been an opportunity to get closer to God and closer to others on the estate and I will always love that. </span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-50376360414492501792016-11-13T08:07:00.000-08:002016-11-13T08:07:22.027-08:00Mummy Meditation - Love (week 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last week we looked at the first verse in our month on Love (do pop over to Naomi's blog to read the <a href="http://lifebynaomi.com/faith/mummy-meditation-on-love" target="_blank">write up</a>) and I took away from that a better understanding of how different God's love is to ours and that his love puts all other things into context in our lives. God's love is so powerful in our lives that our lips must glorify him for it if we truly understand it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This week we have been pondering a verse that asks us to look at our own love - are we really showing that fruit? Here is a reminder of the verse:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<b><i>Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen</i></b>" 1 John 4:20</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are so many verses about love in 1 John, but in learning to grow in our fruit of love I think this one is really important. You know, we don't have a God that is ignorant about our struggles. We don't have a God that sits up in heaven and goes " well this is how good I am at loving, why aren't you the same?". Initially it might seem like this passage is quite judgmental (I definitely thought that at the beginning of this week!), but by the end of my week pondering it, I think God is actually recognising how difficult it is for us to love something unseen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We have a God who came down to earth to experience life as a human being. God in human form, Jesus. Jesus experienced the same struggles and difficulties that we do, and I am sure that would have included struggling with loving those around him. With his twelve disciples we know he experienced betrayal at the hands of Judas, bickering amongst his friends as to who was the greatest, rejection through Peter disowning him and I'm sure much much more which wasn't documented in the gospels. Jesus lived real life with people, and spending so much time with others can be hard. But yet Jesus showed us that it is still possible to love in these situations. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God knows that it truly is hard to love your brothers and sisters (we are all broken people after all), but he also knows and understands that we are creatures who want proof. Just think about doubting Thomas - not believing until he saw the nail holes in Jesus' hands. Think about all those who believed because of the miracles that Jesus performed. Seeing is believing for us humans, but seeing is not always possible with God:</span></div>
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"<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.</i></b>" John 20:29</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To love an unseen God is hard as there is that element of faith, but when we see the work of his great love in our own lives how can we not? I think this week's verse is saying "hey, practice your love on the people you can see first! I know that it is easier to do it when things are seen. When you can say that you love others then I will believe you when you say that you love me too". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hate and love are mutually exclusive - like light and dark they cannot happen at the same time. So if there is any hate in our hearts for others then there is no room for love. God is telling us to sort out that hate first, to do the easier thing of choosing to love the seen and dealing with that, before then approaching God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well that is the sum of my random thoughts for this week! I would love to hear what you took from this verse, so please do leave your comments below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>NEXT WEEK</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We are back over on <a href="http://lifebynaomi.com/" target="_blank">Naomi's blog</a> talking about the next verse in our Mummy Meditation series on love, so do join us there: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<b><i>Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.</i></b>" Colossians 3:13</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-47951800157502458662016-11-12T02:44:00.002-08:002016-11-12T02:46:06.343-08:00November Monthly Inspiration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTAkIV5Q4gFarganHEgVEE1vQXqnZ8dkZTRN0dAc9yph5uRSC5z0f2sU6G_VYRWbyCthX3c3PdMyok7ZOi3wLB46aNKXbwJltEj5a93jO2Ld8ywPvt6Qug1Rpj_Lqv_NfTDfA-rAaJKjZ/s1600/monthly+inspiration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTAkIV5Q4gFarganHEgVEE1vQXqnZ8dkZTRN0dAc9yph5uRSC5z0f2sU6G_VYRWbyCthX3c3PdMyok7ZOi3wLB46aNKXbwJltEj5a93jO2Ld8ywPvt6Qug1Rpj_Lqv_NfTDfA-rAaJKjZ/s320/monthly+inspiration.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With Christmas fast approaching (yey!) I thought I would share with you all some of the things I am loving at the moment which might make good presents or outreach gifts this Christmas:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01LY9GUSW/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B01LY9GUSW&linkCode=as2&tag=racridmumonam-21" target="_blank">Hillsong CD Let there be light</a> - Now I don't usually like Hillsong albums all that much. I generally find them a bit too much style over substance, and I prefer to have music that includes more scriptural truths in it, but all the reviews of this album have been fantastic so I thought I'd give it a go! And I do love it. My favourite song is "What a beautiful name it is" but I could pick lots more that are my next favourites. Perhaps a few too many slow songs, but some great lyrics in there. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01I4I5XBK/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B01I4I5XBK&linkCode=as2&tag=racridmumonam-21" target="_blank">Casting Crowns CD The Very Next Thing</a>. Now I really do love Casting Crowns and I have about 6 of their albums to prove it! To start with the songs do sounds pretty samey to previous albums, but what I love about their music is the story and reason behind why each song is written. They will always be based on a scripture which is included in the cover and after a few listens you get a better understanding of that song. My favourite on here are "The very next thing" as it talks about that season in life where you don't know God has for you next. Plus their harmonies are amazing!!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.cheerfullygiven.com/" target="_blank">Cheerfully Given</a> - If you are looking for some Christian gifts handmade by others then this is a sort of etsy for Christians website! <a href="http://rachelridlermumonamission.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/a-cuppa-with-kate-dugmore.html" target="_blank">Katie</a> who is had a cuppa with a few months back sells her lovely jewellery on here and you might just get some more inspiration.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01ABTIR5O/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B01ABTIR5O&linkCode=as2&tag=racridmumonam-21" target="_blank">Room DVD</a> - now this is a strange one, but I just watched this film and was blown away by it. You do have to be in the right emotional state to watch it as it is quite moving, but definitely worth getting. It is all about a mum and son who are living life in one room, and what happens when they get out (not to give too much away!). If I need to convince you more it is under £5 on amazon so just do it!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/get-involved/christmas/christmas2016-colouring-calendar/" target="_blank">Bible Society Colouring Calendars</a> - I love these! I am always on the look out for new creative ideas to express my faith, and these calendars are a great way to do this. They are also only a 50p donation each so why not buy 10 and give them away to others?! The bible society also have some great little Christmas booklets for kids and other resources such as a nativity from scratch to help share your faith this Christmas. </span></li>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-52633793598590775132016-11-07T12:41:00.001-08:002016-11-07T12:41:36.398-08:00Learning to let go<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrT7V08Y3k7G_F1B8oehXu1rcpP56x_3wVFCaCwGuR9K4WbVWRQSCl5NplRfAMNk8tuNbEk2vVL5P4b-Vw0A01mMBgG9iXT8E50zpeIS_lL3LGypR2n8YZhK4c_umGTMKXEoAccBbJhWb/s1600/learning+to+let+go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrT7V08Y3k7G_F1B8oehXu1rcpP56x_3wVFCaCwGuR9K4WbVWRQSCl5NplRfAMNk8tuNbEk2vVL5P4b-Vw0A01mMBgG9iXT8E50zpeIS_lL3LGypR2n8YZhK4c_umGTMKXEoAccBbJhWb/s320/learning+to+let+go.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life sometimes feels like I am stood somewhere beautiful holding a big bunch of helium balloons. Every balloon is a responsibility I have taken on - being a mother, working part time, running a lifegroup, organising a Christmas party. It can be quite a big bunch of balloons that I'm holding! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most of the time, I only take on things that I know I can cope with, that I can stay grounded whilst doing. But then sometimes people come along and start thrusting balloons into your hand and there is nothing you can do to stop them. Sometimes you take on things when you are not in the right mind, and find that really you can't do them. And sometime things that you were completely fine with doing before, you now are getting stressed over doing - the other added responsibilities mean you are lifting off the ground. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Right now, I am starting to lift off the ground with the number of balloons I am holding. I am not grounded anymore. I need to let some of them go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But how do you decide which ones to let go?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is my problem right now, and whilst starting to float in the air I need to decide which things will help me get back to that grounded place. Which things will relieve the pressure enough to bring me back down to earth. There are obviously certain responsibilities that I can't (and wouldn't ever want to! let go of - being a mum and a wife and a Christian are the core of who I am and the number one priorities. After that comes things like work, because I wouldn't be able to do anything else if I couldn't pay the bills! But then there are a lot of things in my life which I do extra to that. Some are things I enjoy and that are expressions of my character. Some are things that I want to do to love and serve my community. Some are things that I do to love and serve my church. Some are things that have fallen into my path because of circumstances.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But you know what - letting go is against what I normally believe in. I am a true believer in committing to the cause, in not letting people down and in putting others before myself. I am not a quitter, and it feels unnatural to leave things or relinquish responsibility for any other reason than moving home or area. It is hard, and I hate putting responsibilities onto others who are also looking over-burdened, but I must trust that God knows what he is doing and will raise up others to fill the space. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My prayer tonight is that as I learn to let go of some balloons, there is somewhere there who is excited to catch them. Amen.</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-45474507027059954362016-11-06T05:59:00.000-08:002016-11-06T05:59:13.703-08:00Mummy Meditation - Love (week 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVWWButeGTC6-QcBbL4vhbmQntn2C-YwOjqF4y_Z_qXlESOzX77guHS_ktzdCBQq1luZy5tUFckLB3lXGt24swiEzKET-yS0ORh69kbj_bpw6mQJXveAK2O7yRjI3_Frd91cEhPgUt3Kl/s1600/mummy+meditation+-+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVWWButeGTC6-QcBbL4vhbmQntn2C-YwOjqF4y_Z_qXlESOzX77guHS_ktzdCBQq1luZy5tUFckLB3lXGt24swiEzKET-yS0ORh69kbj_bpw6mQJXveAK2O7yRjI3_Frd91cEhPgUt3Kl/s320/mummy+meditation+-+love.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well this is the first week of hosting Mummy Meditations joint with Naomi over at<a href="http://lifebynaomi.com/faith/mummy-meditation-on-love" target="_blank"> Life By Naomi</a>, so do pop over there to read her thoughts on the following verse (and to find out next week's verse that I will be writing about here next Sunday). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-9472267893116474262016-10-29T13:01:00.000-07:002016-10-29T13:01:35.683-07:00Two are better than one - Mummy Meditation Announcement!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<b>Two are better than one,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b> because they have a good return for their labour:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>If either of them falls down,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b> one can help the other up.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>But pity anyone who falls</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b> and has no one to help them up.</b>" Ecclesiastes 4:9-10</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Welcome to an exciting Mummy Meditations post! If you missed last week, all about clinging, then do <a href="http://rachelridlermumonamission.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/cling-mummy-meditation-week-20.html" target="_blank">catch it here.</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, I have been very vague about an announcement and I can now reveal that I have been working with fellow Christian Blogger, Naomi Lynas from <a href="http://lifebynaomi.com/" target="_blank">Life by Naomi</a>, to bring Mummy Meditations to even more people. Naomi loved the idea of focusing on a verse a week and saw how much I have been struggling to keep my idea going lately, so suggested that we carry on Mummy Meditations together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This really is a perfect example of this week's verse - two are better than one. I love how the Christian community is right there ready to help when I am struggling and to pick me up when I fall down. And yes, I am big enough to say that at the moment I am struggling - emotionally I am struggling to know how to deal with the potential loss of my house and how to carry the emotion of my neighbours' with me too. And when one part of your health is out of whack it starts to affect the rest of you. Physically I am exhausted from everything I am doing for the community, at work and whilst parenting two small children. Spiritually I am trying to cling on to my Father and trust that the will of God will be worked out through all of this. And mentally I am just trying to figure out how on earth there are enough hours in the day to complete every task on my to-do list!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So when Naomi approached me I was so happy that I wouldn't have to give up doing my Mummy Meditation posts (which I love!) but that we could share the load. I have been thinking a lot about the value of this verse, and the real value of living in Christian community in your local church (and online - there are some amazing online Christian communities). It can be such a blessing. So if you think that you can go it alone and still stay close to God, then I want to challenge you on that - here it clearly says that two are better than one (and if you can find a third then even better!), with such practical examples of why. Why do we think that this is less important spiritually??</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>NEXT WEEK</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So to usher in a new and exciting era for Mummy Meditations we will be starting a new theme. Each month we will be looking in more depth at one of the parts of the fruit of the Spirit as referred to in Galatians 5:22-23:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<b><i>But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.</i></b>"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So for the whole of November we will be taking a closer look at <b>love</b>. Me and Naomi will be alternating each week as to who writes up their thoughts on the verse (but I'm sure we will both be commenting with what we have gotten out of the week's meditations!), and we will be sharing the posts with all of our readers and followers each week so don't worry, you won't miss any!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the first week, Naomi will be writing up her thoughts on the following verse, so I hope you will join with me and Naomi in pondering this this week:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<b>Because your love is better than life,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b> my lips will glorify you.</b>" Psalm 63:3</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-86689773244641232002016-10-27T04:17:00.002-07:002016-10-27T04:17:48.644-07:00Precious time with my youngest boy <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week has been an unusual one. It has been the first half term when my eldest son hasn't been in nursery, as he has now gone term time only to help us save a bit of money! Because of this, he has gone over to Grandma's for a week of fun with her, and I have only had my littlest boy with me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been so lovely to spend some quality time with him, to play with him and give him my full attention all the time and to get to know him in a way that isn't possible when Sam is around. I have loved it!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It got me to thinking about how much that alone time with a child is really worth, and how valuable it must be to God for him to have alone time with us too. God loves spending time with us in the midst of our busy days and hectic lifestyles, but it is completely different when he gets that quality one-on-one time to just sit and chill with us. In a world of multi-tasking, giving someone your full attention is rare, but so so valuable. I need to strive to carve out that time with each of my boys in the future, but also to do the same with God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is a very small and blurry picture of my littlest one for you all to enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-18409984613776951172016-10-23T11:27:00.002-07:002016-10-23T11:27:14.816-07:00CLING - Mummy Meditation Week 20<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Welcome to week 20 of my Mummy Meditation series - if you missed last week about children being our heritage then do <a href="http://rachelridlermumonamission.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/heritage-mummy-meditation-week-19.html" target="_blank">catch up here</a>! This week I have been pondering the following verse, and I hope you have too:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<b>Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.</b>" 1 Timothy 1:19</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Children instinctively do it. When they feel scared or uneasy, they<b> cling</b> to the thing that they know to be safest - usually mummy or daddy. My Reuben does it. If there is someone new in the room he will nuzzle his face into my jumper and grab hold of whatever clothing I am wearing as hard as possible so that I can't pass him over. He wants to stay in that place of safety. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><b>What is our place of safety? </b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This verse says that we should <b>cling </b>to our faith in Christ, that it should be our place of safety that we never want to let go of. That in times of trouble, in the war of life, instead of doubting it and pushing it aside, we should cling on even harder. If something even scarier comes into the room, Reuben doesn't go "oh well, this is even worse so I'll give up on Mummy protecting me and find something else now". No! Of course he doesn't! He clings even harder and pushes his face even deeper into my clothing to make sure he is as protected as possible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Why do we think that letting go of our faith in hard times will make things better? Life will bring good times and bad times, storms and sunny weather (regardless of what we believe - that is just the world we live in!) but it is what we are holding on to that will determine how we are when we come out of that storm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At the moment our family are going through a rough time with the HS2 news, but rather than distancing myself from God and getting angry that this is happening, I am clinging harder and harder to the only place of safety I know - God. It is the only place of safety that I know. Are you doing the same?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>NEXT WEEK</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At the end of next week I will hopefully have an exciting announcement to share with you all about mummy meditations, so please make sure to watch out for that. In the meantime, here is next weeks verse for you all:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Two are better than one,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b> because they have a good return for their labour:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>If either of them falls down,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b> one can help the other up.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>But pity anyone who falls</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b> and has no one to help them up.</b>" Ecclesiastes 4:9-10</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-22337427980117139732016-10-21T02:39:00.001-07:002016-10-21T02:39:08.062-07:00Mum on a Mission VS the Train - Episode 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRE-hj-QCNrGrXJSTluCx_V9ry0kwyFGagjVmMbxYUQG0-o7lowUiw_NyrUrcMnMa7RUR5XmyeJTL0C3ZB7rlyEaEjx3k_kymE-WnOhz0zmziS3ApqQwaLnj2_KQc821F-XutEdJoVrehk/s1600/VS+the+train+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRE-hj-QCNrGrXJSTluCx_V9ry0kwyFGagjVmMbxYUQG0-o7lowUiw_NyrUrcMnMa7RUR5XmyeJTL0C3ZB7rlyEaEjx3k_kymE-WnOhz0zmziS3ApqQwaLnj2_KQc821F-XutEdJoVrehk/s320/VS+the+train+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the update this week is that there is no update. We are still sat in limbo, waiting for the Secretary of State for transport (Chris Grayling) to make his decision about the route for phase 2 of HS2. The word on the street is that this will be announced on the 22nd November, but who knows!! At least the last few weeks our group of campaigners have been able to get out and spread the word in the local community by flyering and doorknocking - it feels good to be doing something practical and helps me to avoid thinking about it all too much (plus have had some great times with my neighbours and friends out doing it!). There are plans to organise a peaceful protest march through Mexborough where I live, so I am sure I will tell you all about that soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week I was particularly reminded of the following verse:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<b>Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.</b>" Philippians 4:8</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes our thinking can spiral into downward negative thoughts, especially when we are surrounded by others going through the same awful time as ourselves. But Paul reminds us in his letter to the Philippians that our thoughts should be on higher things - than we shouldn't allow ourselves to wallow in pity and gossip and moaning, but that we should be praising and speaking truth and filling our minds with pure things instead. How great is that!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know it is hard (believe me I have bad days when all I want to do is cry, moan and gossip all day long), but it really can change your whole perspective on things. So this week I have been trying to think positively about the whole thing and praise God for the opportunities it has brought.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have also been reminded yet again to fight in the right way - yes campaigning is great and we all have our own ideas of what will get results (petitions, protests, letter writing etc), but unless I start with prayer then it is pointless. So this week I have made a point of praying for Chris Grayling - that God will give him wisdom in reviewing all the options for this route. I have been praying for Ed Miliband our MP, that he will have the strength and information needed to fight for his constituents in front of Chris Grayling. I have been praying for all the staff at HS2 who have to face the pressure of dealing with grieving and upset residents from along the route every single day - they are still people who have to go home to their families and I pray that as they try to pay the bills they wouldn't be persecuted. Would you join me in praying?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-36443456840287699072016-10-16T12:35:00.000-07:002016-10-16T12:35:31.806-07:00Heritage - Mummy Meditation Week 19<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Welcome to week 19 of Mummy Meditation! If you didn't catch last weeks on the first part of this psalm then do <a href="http://rachelridlermumonamission.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/in-vain-mummy-meditation-week-18.html" target="_blank">check it out</a>, but if not here is the verse I have been looking at this week:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<b>Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him</b>" Psalm 127:3</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now lets get this out of the way - children can be down right tiring and pains in the bottom sometimes. There done! I said what most of us are thinking! But most parents would agree that the hard and challenging times are worth it for the joy that children bring. In seeing your little ones grow and learn. Nowadays, having children is a choice for most us - we can afford contraception and decide when we want to have children and how many. There are even many options for those who struggle to conceive - IVF has made huge leaps forward to allow previously "barren" women to be able to have their own children. Science really is amazing! (If you are going through your own troubles with conceiving a child then I really am praying for a miracle for you). So children are more an option, a choice and a decision than a blessing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>But in bible times, it wasn't like this at all.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Children were a huge blessing. Children meant that you had someone to pass on your business, your wealth, the protection of your family to in a world where you didn't know how long you might live. Children (and especially sons) meant that you had security for the future. This is what the word "heritage" implies. I think we have lost the value of this word, as it is now just connected with really old dusty castles (English Heritage members may not like me saying that!) or with trying to make old things sound cool (we have a "heritage" logo at work, which is just basically our old logo that we don't like or use anymore but don't want to get rid of all together!). Heritage actually refers to inheritance, it refers to kinship and it means that there is someone to pass all your goods, qualities and possessions to when we die. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">David, the psalmist, knew the pain of losing children (his first child born to Bathsheba died in early life) but also knew how important and blessed he was to have other children to be able to carry on his royal line. He also understood his adoption as a child of God. You see, w</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">e are God's heritage - we have been adopted into his family and as sons and daughters of the living God we will be in line to get his goods and qualities. Have we forgotten how amazing that is? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">So I want to challenge us all to think of our children in a different way this week - to not just think of them as something we decided to have because we wanted a cute baby or a "mini me", but to really see the value in them, the value that God sees in them and to cherish and nurture their potential. Lets make sure that they see as well that we are God's heritage, that they too will inherit the Kingdom of God and that they understand how important that relationship with God is to us, so that they can carry that on into their own future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><b>NEXT WEEK</b>:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Just for something different I have chosen this verse for next week!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">"<b><i>Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.</i></b>" 1 Timothy 1:19</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-42080730299303802272016-10-10T13:09:00.000-07:002016-10-10T13:09:35.096-07:00Choosing a school - am I a proper mum now!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The letter arrived last week - a slightly more exciting letter than others I have received lately! The one where they say your little baby son (or daughter) is now old enough to apply for a place at school. A place in Reception Class. I am filled with a mixture of excitement that my son is growing up and gets the chance to learn and grow even more, and dread about making the wrong choice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How do you make a choice like that? Maybe I am making this too big a deal. I feel like it is something that takes me from the ranks of baby and toddler wrestler into the ranks of proper parent. You know - one of those mums at the school gate. It will bring with it amazing opportunities but also new challenges, as I learn to support my little man through all the ups and downs of school life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So what I would like to ask all you school mums out there is this - what advice would you give me now? What things should I take into account when choosing a school? And what should I take advantage of whilst I still have my little boy at home with me? Tell me now so I don't miss out or mess up! PLEASE!!! </span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947381263021156686.post-53136015485496820582016-10-09T01:11:00.000-07:002016-10-09T01:11:02.549-07:00In vain? Mummy Meditation Week 18<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My Mummy Meditation verse this week has been tinged with sadness - the verse I chose was one that I read when we were <a href="http://rachelridlermumonamission.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/roots-part-3-of-our-moving-home-saga.html" target="_blank">buying this house</a>, one that I prayed over my new house in the excitement that this was the house the Lord had built for me and my family (and if you don't know the full story of my train related drama, do read the <a href="http://rachelridlermumonamission.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/mum-on-mission-vs-train-episode-4.html" target="_blank">latest update here</a>) and so it brings me confusion now. It also came to me at the start of this week when the builders on our half finished estate have started to take down scaffolding and actually STOP building (when there are still at least 15 half built houses that need finishing). What does that mean?! Have they been building in vain?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<b><i>Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain</i></b>" Psalm 127:1</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are three things that have jumped out to me whilst I have been meditating on this verse this week (and crying slightly as I see my beautiful estate and the hope of it ever being finished slipping away)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-<b>Partnership with God is essential - </b>I think the KEY thing this verse tells us (and is not just about building houses or churches or manual labour in general) is that whatever we do, we need to do it in partnership with God. We need to seek his direction in it and pray over it so that God is with us in our work and in our endeavours. This may sound really obvious in some things, but think about it for everything. This week I have just had my sons letter to apply for school and I need to try to remember to partner with God when I make that decision for Sam's future.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-<b>Fighting the right way - </b>your energy and work might be totally wasted if you don't think to fight in the right way. It might all be energy used in vain. We recently watched the film "War Room" as part of our ladies night at church. It is a great film to encourage and inspire you in your prayer life and also reminded me that it is important to first fight through prayer and to let God do the other stuff. I am taking this to heart at the moment in a fight where I can't do that much, but I can lift up the situation in prayer to God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-<b>Be the gatekeeper - </b>this image of the guard over the city has really come back to me this week. We should prayerfully be the guards and gatekeepers of our estates and streets. This means that we make sure nothing comes past us as the gatekeepers, that we are praying about everything that happens there and making sure nothing dark enters. Maybe if we took this role more seriously then our estates would be blessed beyond measure and people would start to ask why!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The builders on my estate had been building in vain, not knowing that this huge impending news of HS2 coming on to bulldoze it would occur. But we don't have to live like this. We can build something worthwhile and important by making sure we partner with God, build and fight in the right way and step up to be Gatekeepers in our local communities. If we do this then nothing can bulldoze what we build and nothing can plunder what God protects. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>NEXT WEEK:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I want to carry on in Psalm 127 this week and look at this verse, so please do join me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<i><b>Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him</b></i>" Psalm 127:3 </span>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08930167279047636147noreply@blogger.com4