Morning Lord!  Back to the café for me this morning.  I must say that I do feel a bit like a person on the verge of some great revelation today.  Of course I’ve got no idea what that revelation might be but the feeling of a light finally being visible at the end of a long, dark tunnel is strong with me today.  I think it is because there are some signs of positivity that have been sadly missing in my life over the past few months.

For starters, the big news that Caroline has successfully secured the property she was interested in (four bedrooms, close to her parents, fully fenced and within her price range) does seem like a miracle straight from you.  And, to make matters even better, it’s a miracle with icing on top since the property is currently vacant and she can start moving in as early as this weekend.  Whether this desirable property is somehow tainted is another matter (I keep thinking of things such as leaky home syndrome, that someone died there etc) but Caroline says everything is on the up and up, and is excited about the prospect.

She did say that she will really miss me, and indeed I do wonder how she will cope with trying to get the girls to school, shop and any number of hundreds of tasks that Christian could easily turn into a living nightmare, but I guess all hurdles can’t be leapt at one time.  And, with Caroline’s parents so handy at least she will be able to call on them in times of need.  I just don’t think her parents yet realise how often that might be.

The other very positive thing is that I’ve noticed how much better Nathan is doing at kindy with Andrea gone.  He is loving going, has made new friends, seems more willing to try new activities and has even received praise from the head teacher for his improved attitude.  I must say that it seems clear to me that a person can quite easily live up to an imposed reputation (either good or bad) that has more to do with implication than truth.  Andrea thought he was bad – therefore he was bad.  People now see him as a reformed person – therefore he is no longer bad but good.  It’s more like some sort of weird self-fulfilling prophecy than truth.  The truth is that he is a young boy, full of energy, with a sense of humour (and mischief) and while as capable of good as bad, is essentially a good kid.  It just reinforces to me the need to imbue our lives with people who will believe in us and lead us forward (as you do) than with people who try and raise their own reputations at the expense of another’s.

I pray you would bless our household, Lord, especially over these next few days as Caroline prepares to leave us.  Thank you for your amazing provision for her.  I pray for both of my children, that you would bring into their lives strong friends to lead them on in positive ways, and that you would give me the wisdom I need to raise them well.  I continue to also pray for their salvation.  I lift all before you in your precious name…Amen

Morning Lord!  This will be the world’s speediest coffee and prayer time this morning as I’ve promised Caroline I will be home from school(s) and kindy drop-off as soon as I can manage.  She (as you know) thinks she might have found somewhere suitable to rent and needs to be at the real estate agency by 10.15 to meet with the agent in question.  As always another mysterious interested party has suddenly entered the picture so Caroline is keen not to miss out by being late.  Nevertheless, I figure that gives me at least a small window to spend some time with you.

I pray that your hand will be on her – and her parents – as they go to sort out all the formalities.  I pray that if this is not the property for her that something will transpire to prevent things from going through…although given how pleased I will be to see them move out I figure there must be something crazy going on in my head to pray this way!  I also pray that you would give me all the strength you can spare as I look after Christian in her absence although, thankfully, he seems easier to control than he once did.  Whether that’s due to the treatment programme or some familiarity between us I don’t know.  It just makes the prospect of a couple of hours alone in his company not quite so daunting.  Vigilance is still key, though.

Finally, I pray that you would work in and through me today for your good purposes and pray you would bless our household in your mighty name…Amen

Morning Lord!  Well, it’s back to the café for me this morning – peace, glorious, peace!  Thank you for this opportunity to spend some time with you, collect my thoughts and ready myself for the day to come.  Of course I could do with readying myself for the day before I actually set foot out of bed but somehow that just never seems to happen.

Thank you for the good things about yesterday.  The children really made such an effort to be sweet all day and the absence of the Wests for the majority of the day was also a welcome treat.  Thank you for a good time at church and for the message you gave through Daniel.  He talked (as you know!) on Colossians 2 and challenged us all to think about those things or principles by which we abide simply because someone told us to do so.  Daniel said (and I agree) that there are many things we do or believe because that behaviour has been ingrained in us – both in and out of Christian circles.  Daniel encouraged us to bathe ourselves in Scripture so we might better discern what is from you and what is merely Christian rhetoric.

I must say that while I do manage a fairly decent average on the prayer front I am not so good at spending time in your word, Lord.  I sort of cheat, relying on either Daniel’s preaching or Bible Study to supply me with my regular doses of Scripture.  This does mean that I don’t, as Daniel recommends, see for myself what’s in your word, which I guess means I limit my chances of further understanding you or of being open to your still, small voice.  I pray you might prompt me, Lord, to dive into the Bible.  I guess I could also benefit from some sort of routine to help with this, since routine has more or less seen me keep a steady course where my prayer journal has been concerned.

On the down side of yesterday was managing both sets of parents in the same house over a period of a number of hours.  I’m not quite sure what goes through their minds before such occasions but it seems to me as though each of our four parents sets out to be as deliberately obnoxious as they possibly can.  Mum wears her worst outfit, says provocative things and seems to enjoy looking and sounding batty.  Dad, usually the sane and reliable one of the two, also does his best to say things I know he doesn’t even believe himself simply for the joy of getting a rise out of Claire and William.  Meanwhile, Claire dresses herself as much like Queen Elizabeth as she can, right down to the lemon-peel expression, and William just looks incredulous, as though suddenly transported to a lunatic asylum from which there is no exit.

Add to this mix the appearance of Ashley and Cameron and you’ve pretty much got a recipe for disaster.  However, as you know, a surprising thing did happen.  Just when Claire and William were about to get to their blustering, outraged best and were getting ready to storm out, James and Jasmine showed up, at which point Nathan and Emily announced they had prepared a special Mother’s Day play that everyone had to watch.  Quite where they got this idea from I’ll never know but they decided to act out Little Red Riding Hood complete with clothes from our wardrobe and terrible fake accents.  They were simply so hilarious and innocent and adorable that the whole family killed themselves laughing (even Ma and Pa Copeland!) and somehow that broke the ice between Ashley and her parents.

Of course things are far from fixed but at least they might have taken a giant leap in the right direction.  Oh, Lord, those two children of mine might drive me to distraction at times but they are very special.  Above all today I want to thank you for the blessing they are in our lives, Lord, and for your continued hand to be upon them.  I pray for their salvation and that the talents you’ve given them might be used for your service.  I pray all in your mighty name…Amen

Morning Lord!  It will be a very speedy little prayer time this morning since I am totally out of time.  Mother’s Day has at least started well with the kids being very sweet.  Nathan and Emily had both made their own cards and Andrew obviously did the shopping since I got the book I was after and some of my favourite chocolates.  I’m sure breakfast would have also benefitted from his supervision since the toast Emily made was on the pale side of charcoal…but it was great to see them make an effort to do something nice for me.  Their little faces, eager to please, were all the present I really wanted.

We’re off to church shortly so I pray that you would be with us through the service.  Be with Daniel as he speaks to us, be with Libby as she works with the children, and more than anything else I pray you would be with us through lunch with the olds afterwards.  I pray for your spirit of peace to permeate our household and that, if possible, some reconciliation might occur between Ashley and her parents.  And, as always, I pray you would make it right between you and me too, Lord, so that I might enter your house with a light heart and a clear conscience.  Work in and through me today I pray…in your mighty name…Amen

P.S.  Author’s Note:  Happy Mother’s Day to all my readers!

Just a quick prayer time this morning, Lord, because even though I’m running behind schedule I don’t want to miss two days in a row of spending time with you.  Weirdly, now that Christian’s sleep has really improved we are all sleeping better but in a strange way I miss my pseudo alarm clock!  At the very least it did give me the opportunity to have my regular prayer time.  I guess that’s human nature for you – we really are a contrary lot.

Yesterday involved more baby-sitting for Caroline while she checked out some more possible houses…and while Christian’s night time behaviour might have improved his daytime behaviour still leaves a lot to be desired.  I felt as though I hovered over him all day just in case he:  a) smashed things  b) ran away  c) ate banned foods  d) had a meltdown or  e) all of the above.  All in a good cause, I guess.

On today’s agenda is Madison’s birthday party.  Jess has invited both of my two to go together with some children from Madison’s new school so it will be interesting to see what Jess has concocted as party fare and whether my two get left on the sidelines.  Needless to say, I won’t be leaving them but will hang around to ensure there’s at least a little bit of adult supervision.  I could do with being home, though, so that I could get on with a few pre-Mother’s Day things since both mothers are coming to our house for lunch tomorrow.  We’ve also invited Cameron and Ashley so it will be interesting to see what transpires.

Mercifully, Caroline is taking her children to her mother’s house so, unlike me, she might actually get waited on hand and foot.  There’s definitely a strange pecking order to Mother’s Day and while I am a mother I am also both daughter and daughter-in-law, a fact that seems to inconveniently preclude any chance of me being spoiled to the degree to which I would desire!

Just one last thing, Lord, before I dash off.  We talked on Thursday at Bible Study about the verses in Titus 2 that discuss the idea of mentoring younger women.  As Libby says, the verses do sound archaic to our modern ears, but the principle is as sound as it was in Paul’s day.  The verses say:

“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands so that no one will malign the word of God.”

This got me thinking about who I could mentor in the spirit of Titus 2.  I know I’m no expert or shining example but I could at least share some of the things that I’ve learned in the past twelve months or so about living a life of dependence and obedience.  If there is someone I could mentor, I pray that you would help me to know who that might be.  I commit myself to you, Lord, and pray you would work in and through me for your good purposes.  I pray in your mighty name…Amen

Morning Lord.  No coffee for me today due to the fact that Caroline has asked me to look after Christian once again, this time while she goes out to look at a couple of prospective rental properties that might be suitable.  Christian is currently absorbed in watching (over and over again) an episode of Thomas the Tank Engine so I thought I would take advantage of a lull in proceedings to spend some time with you.  Meanwhile, I pray that you would be with Caroline as she looks at what’s out there, and that you would lead and guide her.

It’s Bible Study day again so (as usual) I did want to find some time to make sure things are straight between us, Lord, that you would forgive my sins and speak to my heart today.   Teach me more about you and about your truth I pray.  Be with Libby as she prepares to lead us today.

Ooo… looks like the fascination with Thomas might be over now, so if I want what remains of my house to stay in one piece I had better sign off now.  Bless our household…in your precious name…Amen

Morning Lord!  Here I am at the café again, just having a quick coffee and time with you before I hit the shops.  Mother’s Day looms on Sunday so I need to find something appropriate for both Claire and my mother (shame you can’t buy an open mind for one and a sense of taste for the other!) plus a present for Madison, whose birthday it is on Saturday, plus the inevitable food shopping.

I must say it really struck home to me this morning how lucky I am to have the lifestyle I do, Lord.  Of course having Nathan at kindy does sort of shelter me (and other mothers) from the life some women lead who work full time and juggle everything all the time.  Because kindy only does half day sessions it really is only appropriate for those who work part time or not at all.  It seems to me (and I may have said this before) that there’s a strange divide between working and non-working mothers and I’m not sure either side is really winning.  Those that work full time are constantly managing their time and trying to balance the demands of others by some sort of priority scale, while those that don’t work often feel like some sort of spoiled second class citizen rather than a person who has been fortunate enough to choose making motherhood a priority.

Of course both sides have their downfalls.  We’ve lived on one income for seven odd years and I am wearing the same clothes I bought for last autumn.  We can’t afford luxury items or swanky overseas holidays.  Working families may have more dispensable income but that comes at a cost of dispensing with time, of always trying to fit just one or two things more into every day.

Anyway, I digress.  What I did want to bring before you this morning, Lord, is Caroline’s situation.  It sounds as though the meeting with Peter yesterday went really well.  Caroline came home full of talk of family trusts and custody arrangements and support payments and is going to spend some time today looking online at rental properties as a first step of reclaiming some semblance of a life for herself and her children.  Lord, I pray you would give her wisdom as she moves forward, and that you would provide the perfect property for her – somewhere safe for Christian too.

I’d better get moving!  I give you thanks and praise for all you have done for me, Lord, even though, like Jonah, I don’t always understand or appreciate the bigger picture.  Work in and through me today according to your will…Amen

Morning Lord!  Well, I’m at home and trying a Very Brave Thing.  I am trying to simultaneously write in my prayer journal and look after Christian at the same time.  Shocking, I know!  Anyway, if I depart in the middle of this and don’t come back, you’ll know why, Lord.

Caroline (as you know!) has gone with her parents back to see Peter to get some more lawyerly advice about the state of things and how this whole sorry situation can be moved on yet some more.  Caroline said both of her parents are in fighting mode and rejuvenated from a few weeks of swanning around Europe (completely unaffected by volcanoes erupting or otherwise) and are keen to wade in and do battle on their daughter’s behalf.  Good for them, I say.  Personally, I think I would also have much more of a fighting spirit with a few weeks in Europe under my belt as well – so if there’s any chance of this do send the free tickets my way, Lord.

In all seriousness, though, I pray for clarity of thought and swiftness of action and that some long-term solutions can be found for what remains of the West family.  I pray you would give Caroline an equally stout heart so that she can make the decisions needed to move things forward.  And as for me, I pray for all the help heaven can spare to assist me in getting through this morning.  I pray that Caroline would be back in plenty of time so that I do not have to worry about the appalling prospect of having to take Christian out while I go and collect Nathan from kindy.

Meanwhile, Christian has at least been sleeping better and seems in a better frame of mind for it.  He is, however, eyeing up the ornaments on my bookcase as I write, so I think I’ll sign off that this point, Lord, and intervene before eyeing turns to action.  Bless our household, Lord…in your name…Amen

Morning Lord!  Back to the café this morning!  Thought I would just take a bit of time out to spend with you.  I’m still feeling a bit tired so pray that either you or the caffeine would revive me sufficiently to make the most of the day.

First off, I want to thank you for yesterday and the nice day it turned out to be.  It seems ages since we’ve had the opportunity to be our own little family – just the four of us – and it was lovely.  Of course the weather helped, being a beautiful autumn day, with just a small hint of crispness to the air.  I can’t believe we haven’t had to turn the heating on yet so far because it’s been so mild.

Thanks too for the message Daniel brought to us which turned out to be a real confirmation of some of the things I’ve been learning and realising about my relationship with you.  Daniel (as you know!) has started a new short series on Colossians and he highlighted three verses that really underscore the whole message of dependence – not us working but you working in and through us.  I thought I’d write them down so as not to forget:

Colossians 1:11  “…being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience…”(not us being more enduring or patient but in fact us strengthened by you)

Colossians 1:27  “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”  (not us saving ourselves but you working in us)

Colossians 1:29  “To this end I labour, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”  (not Paul’s energy but yours, Lord)

How could I not have realised how full the Scripture is of this truth?  How have I always thought that all I really needed to do was try a bit harder and be a better Christian when in fact it is you – and only you – that makes the whole Christian life possible?

In consequence, I pray that it would be you and not the caffeine that strengthens me through this day, Lord, that it would be you who leads and guides me forward according to you will…in your mighty name…Amen