Imagination

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It's Woody, Jessie and Buzz against the law breaking Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head and an oversized pig spaceship. Things don't seem to be going the right way...and then you realise none of it is really happening. 

OK. So, maybe you realised that when I mentioned Mr. Potato head. All of the action in the opening of Toy Story 3 is the imaginings of a young boy. And to him, in that moment, they are real. Very real. And exciting!

I have been thinking a lot about imagination lately. 

In Ephesians, Paul wrote:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us

Ephesians 3:20

And in the gospels we read:

Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'

Matthew 19:14

As adults, we know how to ask. But we've forgotten how to use our imagination!

Children know how to imagine. 

What if part of bringing the Kingdom of heaven to earth is learning to use our imagination? Learning to dream wild dreams and crazy plans.

God can do immeasurably more than we can imagine.

We can't out imagine God!

How exciting would it be to imagine our wildest dreams and hopes for our friends, our families, our cities, and watch God do something even better?!

Source: blog.design-seeds.com via Lindsay on Pinterest

An update...

As you can probably guess, things are a little crazy round here but we're surviving!

I don't really have the time to blog which is a shame cos I've got lots of things floating around in my head that I'd love to get out and share. Thanks to the wonderful gift of a kindle, I've read quite a lot since Noah & Samuel were born. But it's probably a good thing I don't share about some things yet as it might spoil some Christmas presents!

So, while I process some of the things in my head, and wait until after Christmas to elaborate, here are some of my phone photos from the last few weeks...

Ping!

They're here!
Noah James English born at 20:20 on 26th October weighing 5lbs 4oz and Samuel Phillip English born at 20:35 weighing 4lbs 8oz.

Both boys are gorgeous and doing very well and my heart could not possibly hold anymore love, even when they keep me up all night!

Expansion of the pod

We had another scan on Monday (we'll be having one every two weeks from now on) and this picture made us think of two peas in a pod...

I didn't take bump photos a few weeks ago but to give you an idea of the growth of the babies, one website has compared their sizes to fruit...so here is weeks 14 and 15...

...plus, it gave me an excuse to bake Mary Berry's St Clement's muffins...yum!

Now, an actually bump photo at 16 weeks. Not the most glamorous but you get the idea!

Being an oven for two...

I would say the only major difference for me so far in this pregnancy has been the speed at which I have start to sprout a bump. This, of course, makes a bit more sense now that we know there are two people taking up residence in there!
The sickness has been pretty bad, but it was with my first pregnancy so that didn't seem any different. And I assumed I was feeling extra tired because I was running round after a toddler as well as being pregnant.

I shall endeavour to produce bump photos as I did with Ethan but this time they will need to start sooner...as I have a bump already! I can't believe that at just under 14 weeks my bump is about the same as it was at 20-22 weeks with Ethan. I only have bump photos from weeks 19 and 23 last time but I have included them below for comparison with this bump. It's not the best of comparisons as the outfits and zooms are different, but you'll get the idea!

I'm now curious/slightly freaked out by just how big I'm going to get over the next few months!

The Bakery

Hello!

Sorry I've been a bit quiet for the past few weeks. I've been a bit busy doing some baking.

Only this time, I have two buns in the oven not just one!

Yes...we're having twins!

Happy Wednesday x

Happy Birthday Ethan!

Wow! Where did the last two years go?!
They say times flies when you're having fun...well, time has whizzed by while we've been having a blast!

Ethan, Happy 2nd Birthday!
This last year it has been amazing to see you grow and learn and express yourself in so many ways. I love your chatter and especially your singing! And your jumping is getting better by the day!
You are so kind and gentle and love to share and make sure everyone is included and involved.
We love you lots and lots and lots,
love mummy and daddy xxx

Here are some highlights from your birthday week!

You showed your Scottish side at Grandma's wedding!

And made your mummy and daddy very proud!

We went to the zoo...

...and you tried to join the animals!

And loved the slide!

12 in 2012 - February

I'm a little behind on this 'ere blogging thing! So, let's try and get all caught up...


Two months of 2012 have now passed and I'm still trying to aim (rather ridiculously) high!
So,...how am I getting on? Well...

1. To read my Bible more
This has been very up and down. I have continued to read my Bible-in-one-Year at bedtime, but with an endless list of craziness going on this last month, bedtime has often involved my head hitting the pillow and zzzzzzzzzzzz!!! 

2. To memorise Scripture
I need to try much harder here. Nothing else to say.

3. To pray more
I would say my prayer life has increased and has gone through a bit of a journey. I still haven't been journalling my prayers, partly because they tend to be random bits of conversation throughout the day, and partly because life and prayer has been hard recently and it's not the sort of stuff I've wanted to take time to write down. But I have seen some great healing and answers to prayer this last month. God is good!

4. To be more thankful and content
Once again, if I'm honest, the being content thing is still not going well! In fact, I've found myself with no words other than 'argh' to express how I've been feeling about stuff. Spending time with great friends, and away from tv/magazines/media/unattainable images has helped in some ways.

5. To watch less tv
I have spent more evenings away from the telly box this month which has mostly been due to lots of other stuff going on...but hopefully I can maintain the abstinence.

6. To read more
Reading has been slow (read sssllllloooooooowwww) this month. I am still chugging on with quite a heafty book. It's a great book and totally worth it, but I will be grateful to finish it and move onto something new.
7. To take more photos and craft more
I have done more of both of these this month. Crafting for a fundraiser, creating for an afternoon tea hen-do and taking photos of both plus other activities. Hopefully there will be more evidence shortly.
8. To bake more
I'm still exceptionally good at the consuming of baked goods...and I have baked two cakes and pancakes for the inter:act team! Hopefully there will be more on the horizon!
9. To encourage and uplift the women in my life
I hope I am doing better at this. I am certainly enjoying spending time with the women in my life.

10. To compare myself with others less
Not much change from last time. Once again, lets just say...'could do better'.

11. To wear a dress or skirt at least once a week
I'm still going to blame this on the extreme weather. Cold temperatures and a strong breeze are not skirt wearing conditions for me. But I did wear a dress to inter:act the other week. Hopefully as the weather gets warmer (even milder will do) I'll get my pins out a bit more!

12. To do more stuff with my hair
I got my hair cut...and had about 3 inches taken off...which very few people noticed!!!
It was needed, but now I have less hair to do stuff with...so it's either down and straight (weather dependant) or tied up. I feel that I might have regressed in this area a little. Maybe some hairband or accessories would help?!
So, February came and went. And we're half way through March already! 
2012...please slow down a little!

Off to India...kinda

I spend my Tuesdays with a lovely bunch of people. We learn together, we dig deeper into God's word and try to figure what it means for us to follow Jesus and be a disciple. It's a good job we're all such nice people cos some of that stuff is hard, and emotional, and challenging. But the team is very good at supporting each other as we journey together through the course.

Well, in seven day's time the rest of the team will be embarking on an adventure to India!
While in India, they will be supporting ongoing work with local dalit families and helping to teach young people and children. It's going to be an amazing time for all of the team.

Unfortunately I will not be joining them on this adventure. But I will be their correspondent back at home, enabling them to keep in touch with friends and family by updating a little blog. If you'd like to know a little bit about the team and what they're up to while they're in India check out http://interactinindia.wordpress.com/ for more information.

Happy Wednesday!

12 in 2012 - January

After one month of aiming (rather ridiculously) high and trying to encompass 12 things into life...how am I getting on? Well...
1. To read my Bible more
I started off well with this and picked up my Bible in one year...which was still bookmarked at April from the last time I attempted to read the Bible in one year! Although I haven't been doing it every night, or even most nights, I have been reading a day or two once snuggled up in bed before switching off for the night. And I am enjoying reading parts of the Bible I would probably never otherwise read.

2. To memorize Scripture
If I'm honest, I have not even attempted this yet! My brain is currently a total mush and I nearly flooded the bathroom the other night because I forgot I'd started to run a bath! Hopefully next month I will start to post verses up around the place to help with this.

3. To pray more
I haven't really been journalling my prayers, but I have been praying more. The walk home from work provides a great opportunity to chat some things through with God...or just listen to Him. But it's not so easy to write and walk...although making notes in my phone has been useful, as long as I still remember to watch where I'm walking!

4. To be more thankful and content
Establishing a habit of saying thank you prayers with Ethan before his bedtime has helped a little with this. Some of the things he thinks to say thank you for are great reminders for what is actually important (although I'm not sure beards is one of them). But if I'm honest, the being content thing is not going well at all!

5. To watch less tv
So...I'm writing this while the tv is on in the background...which it tends to be most evenings! But I have managed to avoid getting 'sucked' into watching things I didn't want to, which has helped with some of the items below.

6. To read more
As I mentioned in my recent reads post, I was quite productive on the reading front over Christmas. I am still plodding on with a couple of books at the moment but they're a bit hard going. I've also been trying to read at lunchtimes at work, rather than wander round the sales or browse the internet...but then I struggle to put the book down and go back to my desk!!!

7. To take more photos and craft more
Hopefully the photos and posts on this blog will testify to my efforts in this area. And I did make some lovely napkins for my brother and sister-in-law...but I forgot to take any photos of them before I handed them over! Fail :(

8. To bake more
You've seen the biscuits, and I made cake too, but I do need to pick things up in this area. In terms of consuming baked goods...I've been amazing at that!!!

9. To encourage and uplift the women in my life
I'm not really sure that I'm the best person to review this item, but I have tried to listen well and encourage when I have an opportunity. I have been trying to not just think about doing something encouraging, but to actually do it...and if I do it when I think about it I'm less likely to forget!

10. To compare myself with others less
Lets just say...'could do better'.

11. To wear a dress or skirt at least once a week
I'm totally going to blame this on the extreme weather. I did wear a dress on our girly day in York, but I came home with cold knees! I'll definitely make more of an effort from now on.

12. To do more stuff with my hair
I have decided that I really need to get a hair cut. After 7 months, I think it's about time. I have been trying to vary the styles and methods of tying my hair up...but getting photographic evidence has been a little more problematic. But I have witnesses if anyone is really that interested!

So, that's January over already...I think I'd also like to find a way to stop time whizzing by so fast. Any ideas?!

A day away with the ladies...

All in all a lovely day with lots of girly chat and catching up with friends.
This is something I need to do more often...tea, cake and chat are definitely gifts from God!

Quick update - 18 & 19 months

So, I haven't posted for a while. Things have been a little busy over the last few weeks but everything seems to have calmed down now.

I'm well ahead with the Christmas shopping...just 3 presents left to buy!

And I've now (almost) completed my study response for this term for Inter:act.

I have a few posts in the pipeline (in my head) but for now I thought I'd just update you with a few photos of the cutest wee man in the world (I am biased of course!) and some of the things we've been up to recently.

Tickles with daddy...and yes the paper bunting is from the 1st birthday party nearly 8 months ago!!! I'm sure it will come down soon for Christmas decs to go up!

Compulsory applause after everything!

"Come on Grandpa! Come on Daddy!"

Trying to eat all the raisins at once!

More fun in the park...

We love our local park.

Especially the swings...

Swinging like a monkey on the bars...

Climbing on everything...

Weeeeeeeeeee.........

Parks are fun!

So, you know it's been a long time since you've blogged when your mum tells you off for not supplying more up to date photos of her favourite grandson!

The last few weeks have been a real mix...and I haven't posted anything because for a lot of the time I haven't known what to say.

It's been a real journey of faith, hope and grace.

Learning to have faith in the one who is always faithful.

Learning that we can have hope in the one who knows us in detail.

And learning to live in grace and by grace.

I have been blessed beyond believe to be able to take part in this!

It is something that has been on my heart for a while...a long while. But God has supernaturally and extraordinarily provided for us as a family so that I can do it this year! Blessed doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about this! Blessed, expectant, excited...and slightly anxious in an unknown future kind of way!

Anyway, less chat and more photos I hear you say!

Having a wander at the newly opened National Museum of Scotland...note the huge whiskey still on the left...he's definitely his father's son!

Digging up dinosaur bones...

Exploring the 'imagine' zone...

An Andy Goldsworthy sculpture on the roof terrace...seeing this in the flesh made me really happy...I've wanted to see a real life Andy Goldsworthy for a long time!

Seriously mother! Stop taking photos of me!!!

Too busy to sit and do the jigsaw!

Taking Larry for a ride on the bike!

Hope this has made up for the absence...I hope to be back to regular-ish posting again soon once I settle into our new weekly routine!

Happy Monday x