a bit more!

I've always been a bit of a 'thinker' and 'reflector' so it's no surprise that over this last few weeks I've thought alot about memories. Some of them just come from nothing particular where others are a bit more specific. I'm no different to anyone else, in that I have so many that its hard to find them all instantly and as I've got older I find I need people to prompt me with them!!

So...they started with one (as you do!) then there were six..

Stephen, me, Philip, Ruth (nice hair), Rebekah (even nicer hair) and Dave (who had a bit more hair)..anyway, thats just a wee reminder of all of us..as regards a bit more...

A good place to start, since it was only a couple of weeks ago is bonfire night. We thought we would have the first party of many. The kids thought it was great fun, although I think they are assuming that it's party time ALL the time now..not sure we can keep that up, but we sure will give it a go. Any excuse for a gin and tonic (donations of gin more than welcome!!).

Pre party photo..

I remember the excitement of bonfire night when I was little. We used to go to the Baptist church and there was always Mrs Baxters treacle toffee, she used to wrap it in little pieces of grease proof paper, then there were toffee apples, and mummy always made fudge. Ruth tells me that mummy attempted to make toffee too but it turned out badly...she was only over the other week and already I've forgotten the story! I think they used to bake potato's in tin foil too. It was always good fun, probably because we were allowed to stay up late and got to eat whatever we wanted!!! I loved the smell of the fire , the sound of it crackling away, and everyone enjoying themselves.

It makes me think now about the time and effort that those people put in to all those events, and over 30 years later, those memories (for me) are still there. Mrs Baxter made us all little over the shoulder purses for sunday school, and every week gave us a written out bible verse. John 3 16 was the very first. Its made me also think about the importance of saying 'thankyou'..such a small word but one that has a big meaning. It would be lovely to say thankyou again to people who are no longer here, for the influence they have had on my life, and for the time and effort that was invested and the love that was expressed to me. Since I can't do that...I'll make sure that I say thankyou in abundance to those that are still here!!!!

So..I'll just slip a thankyou in now, for the prayers, messages, words, loving gestures, acts of kindness..keep them coming x

Anyway, we thought some of the traditions should continue, except thorntons have provided the toffee and the fudge and we haven't quite got to the toffee apple stage..all those sticky fingers ( Rebekah wouldn't cope with them all over her house! ) Next year...I shall attempt to make my own treacle toffee and fudge. If anyone has a tried and tested easy to make treacle toffee recipe, send it on to me.

 

The above was consumed only by myself, who Rebekah has named daddy pig (yes, from peppa pig)  and Rebekah who Richard Brown has named freaky kid..accurate name for her!! Though a bit like pot calling kettle black, don't you think Richard?!!

 

 

 

 

 

 I think Rebekah enjoyed the marshmallow game more than the kids, certainly Emma liked teasing her with it! 

 

 

I wish I could remember,

 The words that I just heard,

The tune is very lovely,

I'm such a silly bird....tweet tweet (sung with hands on hips!!)

 

Couldn't resist adding that little song, Kotie came home from school today, got onto the step in the kitchen, that we call 'the stage' and sang it for no other reason than she had learnt it at school and wanted to share it..

 

She followed it with this..

Kotie: 'mummy, Lily is still my best friend and I love her, but I have a boyfriend now too, he's called Nathan, did you know that?'

Me: 'Err, no, I didn't know that, what is it you like about him?             

Kotie: 'Well, he's kind and funny'                                                           

Me: 'Thats nice, how did he become your boyfriend?'                           

Kotie: 'Never you mind'                                                                          

Me: 'pardon?'                                                                                           

Kotie: 'Well, I might just tell you after the christmas holidays how it    happened'                                                                                                

 

Thats all for now!!!

                                                                                          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can see a bit of heaven

I'm not too good at this...am I supposed to start a new page for everything?! Its kind  of fun and keeps me occupied.
Thought I'd share a 'heaven' moment...
We were driving back from my good friends house last monday, I was feeling a bit tetchy and nervous. I knew that Rebekahs results were coming and I'd started to have odd 'feelings' about it all. We left his house and set off into the gloom. It was cold, very grey and rainy and the kids were annoying each other in the back of the car.
We'd been driving about 10mins when silence fell in the car, after a minute or so we arrived at the brow of a hill, as I came over the top I looked straight down onto a tree lined road. It was incredible...the whole road was sun filled, the trees bursting with light but the rest of the sky and all around that point was dark. A little voice (actually not so little!!) shouted out from the back....'mummy, I can see a bit of heaven..can you see it too'
I knew what he meant and it made me feel happy and sad all in one thought..
It reminded me of the sheer innocence of children, especially when he followed it with...'is that where your mummy is? and your daddy? and your granny? and your grandad? Has Jesus made them alive up there...
Wonderful in so many ways. Yes, they are alive now and I'm so glad that I know that.

Life for the mells tribe!!

This is so so clever (blog stuff that is..not me doing it!)..I am not a writer nor have I ever done anything like this before, well, unless you count the endless diaries I've written in my lifetime. Ah..they would be funny to read..I'll get them out at some point and perhaps share one or two bits.

So, I decided to join the blogging world after the latest shattering blow.



Rebekah rang last monday, the cancer is back...my amazing sister and lifelong friend facing the future with a limit on life. Who knows what that means or for how long we her. Devastated is an understatement. I'd never really allowed myself to think about whether it would come back. I foolishly believed that perhaps this was 'our time'. Afterall...had we not been through enough and had our share of rough times? 

Life doesn't see it that way...with so much of it there are no choices...you get what your given and somehow whatever the hand, you have to try to love, laugh, give to others and enjoy the amazing blessings that are around us. 
I've thought alot about healing and believe that miracles can and do happen...yes, we'd all like one of those!!!
Some aren't healed though, and many people have been touched by situations where God did not heal despite the faithful prayers of His people. It is not always Gods will to heal us physically. Ultimately (since we all have to die of something) our full physical healing awaits us in heaven..where there will be no more pain, sickness, disease, suffering or death!! YIPPEE..that would be amazing! I remember at my mum's funeral some years ago we sang the song..'there's a place where the streets shine' What fabulous assurance, to know thats where we're going....but come on everyone...lets be real too!

I am 40yrs old, mummy of two...have watched grandparents, both parents, nephew, aunties and uncles die one by one. I've had a husband walk out on me and our two adopted children and now I am facing this. Yes, I have fear and sadness...but thats because I am real and honest and I so don't want to lose my sister. It doesn't mean that those fears won't be conquered or that I believe any less than anyone else...
I've no doubt that some reading this will think I lack faith or hope....I don't! I have oodles of it and I KNOW that God is bigger and better than all things.  
I've thought for some time about journals, memories and the general make up of life and after hearing her news earlier in the week, have decided quickley to start 'getting it down' in some form.
So join me in this chapter of our lives, it may not always be pretty but it will be real and honest and full of positive stuff too, you may even laugh at some of the stories and memories I have.
There has never been a 'me' without Rebekah and vice versa..40 years we have shared so far and what a journey.
Its so hard to know where to start as so many things spring to mind.

I love this picture....mainly because for once I look a bit more photogenic than Rebekah does!!!!!! This doesn't happen often...this was taken on a beautiful beach in Portugal, we'd met up with Brendan and Elspeth (old friends of Rebekahs)..it was magical, the sun was setting, the waves were crashing onto the rocks and the bugs were out in force!!!!!