WHAT A MOMENT THIS IS!!

This has brought tears to my eyes...

Train of thought?

Yesterday, walking towards the school to drop the kids off the conversation went like this:

Kidofmine: Why do we walk down this side of the road?
Me: Because we use the Lollypop lady at the end of the road and she's on this side.
Kidofmine: But after school we walk back along the other side of the road...
Me: We utilise the Lollypop lady but down the road a little to cross to the other side of this road since we turn left at the top of the road because that's where I normally park the car.
Kidofmine: Why do cats lick their bottoms?

Over designed or what?

Saw this whiteboard eraser thingy this morning at preschool and had to take a photo. Someone designed this, and they really need to get out more.

Take a look:
1. Aerodynamically optimised.
We've all suffered the embarrassment of air resistance at the whiteboard surface slowing us down.
2. Lifted nose for even smoother operation.
No more getting stuck upon impact with a particularly thick line.
3. Extra grippy grey stuff ensuring no slipping mid stroke.
Forget seeing the eraser flying from your hand through the window.

Where would we be without great design like this?

Hmmm, interesting...

I went to Countess Mountbatten Hospice today in response to a request in our weekly newsletter for drivers. They need a few more people to transport patients, relatives and small bits of equipment. As our four (incredible) kids have got older my role as a Homedad has changed and I have more time freed up for other things - in October our youngest will be all day at school so loads more golf. Erm, I mean work...

Anyways, towards the end of the meeting I was asked if I'd had a close bereavement recently and, as you may know, my Dad died last October. Now, they don't allow anyone to help in this way until 2 years after a close loss. So I can't do it. This is a good rule but I hadn't thought about that so it was a bit of a, "Ah, right..." moment.

It's made me think hard today (even harder than normal...) because when I saw the request for volunteers it felt right and I could see how I could be a help in the community.
But I can't do it.

I think God said, "No, not now Mark." He's made his point and I wouldn't have got it without being turned down. I think he's asking me to concentrate on the things he has given me to do. My stuff at church is increasing, we're in a new season, and I know this will take significant time and energy. And let me not forget I am a Husband and still a Homedad. I think he's also said, "Just do what I give you as well as you can. Focus your energies on these things."

In the "Battleship surrounded by fishing vessels" picture I knew straight away that my primary place was on the battleship - this is where my energies will be concentrated. After this morning I feel as though I've been given "permission" to do just that: concentrate on the things he's given me and do them as well as I can with what he's given me, and stop feeling so guilty about not doing things he's not given me to do.

Minority sports,,,

Just been listening to Radio 4 on the way back from school pick up - they were talking about speedway. a reporter had been to a match to sample the experience. He was making the point that, as with other minority sports, the fans are utterly devoted. Perhaps the smaller fan base makes you feel a bit more special? Maybe. There was also a piece about the Tour de France which will be starting in London. Hang on a minute... London? Tour de.....?? Anyway, the guy was expounding the benefits of cycling and how it was becoming more and more popular in this country...

We are wired to be devoted to something and to promote that something. Hence, a fan of a particular minority sport, given the airtime, will become quite evangelical about his or her particular sport - we should all be doing it. But to what end, I ask myself? I was reminded of this, Psalm33:

17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.

Sport is also a vain hope for deliverance, despite all its great wonders it cannot save. To hear some going on about their particular sport, you'd think it can.

Oh, and when is the Olympics coming to London? I'm not sure y'see, I can't read the Flintstone/Street logo...

My joke of the day :-)

My friend Duncan was telling me about the gun culture in the States - you can go to a supermarket and buy breakfast cereal, milk, coffee, a gun, ammo...

So my joke of the day was: "So when you get to the checkout, do they ask if you'd like help with your packing?"

I thank you, I thank you...

Here you go, Mum...

My Mum's having trouble with her email connection so I'm posting pictures of the "boys" here :-)

Top is Boots (black nose) and the bottom one is Socks (pink nose).

Puuuurrrrrrrrrrr...

We have, as of last Thursday morning, two kittens!

They are sooooooooooooooo cute :-)

They're called Socks and Boots.
The kids wanted Socks and Pants but I had to say no to that...