Happy child

TGF boxing day mornings spent still in your jammies making Lego

God's beatiful creation

TGF innocently strolling along around Charnwood Water, chatting to God about how amazing everything looks under the snow (must stop doing that out loud incidentally), when something catches your attention by dropping snow on your head and loudly chewing his nuts! I stalked this little guy and his mate for ages.. they even let me change lenses. I had to walk back quite a way to retrieve my abandoned gloves in the end.

Handstands and hugs

TGF having my faith restored by Dogma.
TGF looking forward to getting a hug from god and maybe smelling the flowers and doing handstands on the grass with her.

Annie's Carols

TGF this version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Annie Lennox. I am loving the rhythm... must try it on the Djembe :-)

Progress

TGF Harvey Milk and all those who have helped to make this world somewhere we are gradually being accepted

Never alone

TGF looking after Lou today

Trust Him

TGF what could have been a nightmare day turning out better than I could have expected
TGF my tree working straight out of the box

Creation

TGF how beautiful sun and snow makes the world

Nose and toes

TGF the smell of a wood burner heated house and TGF red slipper socks

Baaaath

TGF singing carols in Bath Abbey and a lovely afternoon at the Christmas Market

Complete with toys

TGF having my own cosy bedroom at Em's cottage

Tubthumper

TGF ordering my dream e drum kit and TGF finding the money to pay for it... mostly from having sold lots of stuff at the car boot when I moved :-)

On the ball city!

TGF Norwich 4 Ipswich 1

Lazy yet productive

TGF Sunday morning in bed editing photos on the MacBook staying warm and waking up slowly with coffee

Snow :-)

TGF waking up to snow
TGF going back to sleep in a cosy duvet having read my bible
TGF asking God to talk to me then 'accidentally' finding the verse rach wrote in my message bible
TGF knowing that whatever else.. God keeps his promises
TGF my run round Charnwood water in the snow
TGF going back for my camera and getting pics at GCR
TGF the smell of steam trains
TGF a hot bath after a cold run

I am 5

TGF the first snow of the year :-)

Sausages on sticks?

TGF the party on heaven.. Cos a guy got saved tonight at beacon

Cosy

TGF being warm all day with regular cups of tea instead of being in a freezing sports hall with no break.

Rainbow trooper

TGF my new hat lol

Fun with flags

TGF waving my flag with thousands of others in the Royal Albert Hall singing my own words to Land of Hope and Glory (involving roast beef and gravy and tea)

Sent from the Albert :-)

Need balance

TGF making the right choice between tkd and watching footy.
TGF beating my target on the treadmill

Can feel my feet now

TGF the warmth of the sun (so much nicer than being in the sports hall)

Galaxy

TGF hot choc and a good book (Eragon) cuddled under the duvet

Dad's beautiful creation

TGF the skyline at sunrise on a frosty morning.
TGF God's handmade cakes hehe (am I gooey chocolate or baileys icing?)

Being noticed

TGF having someone that cares about me and listens to me and answers me.
TGF chilled Sundays.
TGF great finds at the car boot sale.
TGF going to sleep looking forward to Monday morning
TGF the tears that blot out the feeling bad and the guilt.
TGF Christmas cakes that are not supposed to rise.

Feeling God

TGF praying in a patch of sun

Blu is the colour

TGF Friday night films

Always the plan

TGF having a lounge that's suitable for hosting house group.
TGF Baileys and White chocolate chip cupcakes

You are?

TGF being a total star wars geek :-)

Can you tell I am work avoiding?

TGF sheep wellies (and TGF a nice day at the York castle museum a few weeks ago)

Fun at tiny tots

TGF bonfire biscuits

Legoooooo

TGF a morning spent in the world's biggest toy shop :-) (well, certainly Norfolk maybe not the whole rest of the world)

Yum

TGF a tummy full of treacle tart and custard
TGF running at lunchtime
TGF getting blown home from church... made the killer bike ride there worth it
Hmmm wonder if there is something spiritual in that

Zzz

TGF falling asleep playing UNO
TGF earning xbox time by finishing reports
TGF prayers having a real effect on someone.. Even though at the time you feel like a crazy weirdo

Abs of steel!

TGF a hard but fun session at TKD.

No self discipline!!

TGF chocolate cupcakes when you get home from a crappy day at school.
TGF feeling like you earned the cupcake by running the furthest at the sponsored run at lunchtime :-)

Repeating himself

TGF the whoa moment where the psalm read out on Sunday crops up in today's bible reading : I am still confident of this, I will see the goodness of the lord in the land of the living. Wait for the lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the lord :-)

A little early I know but..

TGF posh Christmas blend tea from Taylor's of Harrogate (well technically wilkos of Loughborough lol)

A great Monday morning

TGF making a Duplo merlin's castle with Garrett and making a decapitated reindeer out of play doh hehe

One sheep

TGF having someone willing to sit next to me and willing to put their arm around me.

Yum

TGF sticky buns

Creation

TGF finding things in real life that you thought only existed in Enid Blyton books

So many

TGF a lovely day with my best mate
TGF all being hopeless at mario kart
TGF yummy cupcakes
TGF kicking leaves
TGF pasties on top of Beacon Hill
TGF a feeling of hope
TGF time spent with Lego not the bible cos maybe sometimes the bible is not what you need and maybe you need to stop trying to figure it all out and go play.

This one is from Emma

TGF seeing deer when you look out of the bedroom window.

Discoveries

TGF finding an even closer chippy and finding a video of me fighting on you tube hehehe

The right outcome.

TGF the problem at school being sorted out. An apology is too much to ask for!! Lol!

In the end

If I'm hearing him right... TGF knowing that it will all be worth it in the end :-)

At last

TGF ems finally getting the keys to her dream cottage :-)

With baileys of course

TGF hot chocolate and a Harry potter book

Better

TGF hot baths when you are ill.

Honesty

Dad. Please. Do something. I still just want to die. Why do none of your promises apply to me?

Wouldn't swap

TGF my five jobs (even though I am having a good mental rant about life on the other side right now)

Except rosebud

TGF films without a point (in this instance Gregory's Girl).
TGF galaxy minstrels.
TGF clean safe water from a tap.
TGF big fleeces and woolly hats.

Legend

TGF the life and music of Freddie Mercury. I hope I get to meet him in heaven.

Zzzz

TGF not having to get up when the alarm went off this morning.

Gulp

TGF a fab weekend away with family
TGF cuddles with Jay Jay
TGF inventing new species and wetting ourselves laughing playing articulate
TGF hoping that God changed things soon

Something beginning with BL

TGF traffic jams and the resulting 3 hours of I spy and cola cubes for tea :-)
TGF chips and curry sauce.
TGF how cute and tiny Jay Jay looks when asleep in his travel cot.
TGF playing late night card games with family

I wouldn't want to do it now

TGF not being in debt because of my university education.

Flippin obvious

TGF answering our prayers and so clearly having your hand on my day at school :-) was just chilled .. Dealing with crap from kids in a not fussed way and getting some brilliant work out of some that have given me stress every other lesson so far. Thanks dad.
TGF my home, my phone, having food, having good friends that aren't just my friends because of someone else, having a safe warm place to sleep, having a family to hang out with.
TGF having people that pray for me.
TGF being my Dad.
Oh.. And TGF sausage sandwiches hehe.

At last

TGF answered prayer about Emma's cottage.
TGF feeling welcome at a house group.
TGF hot chocolate when you've got the sniffles.
TGF being able to curl up in a big warm star wars duvet.
TGF knowing the God made me and he loves me.
TGF George's friend Brian on you tube reminding me of that.

Yum

TGF homemade apple crumble... Avec custard of course

Puff

TGF the steam in the sky as the trains leave the station
TGF knowing he has his hand on me no matter how little it feels like it

Food again

TGF Angel Delight.

Sam

TGF Sam. TGF having your hand on him from 6 months on.
TGF my easy childhood.

Boy night in

TGF Dame Judi and naan bread. Lol sounds weird like that.. Thanks for bond films and a tummy full of curry

Simple pleasures

TGF school crumble and custard.
TGF cool films on blu ray.
TGF prayers from friends at school when you really need it.

They were three!!!

TGF being old but not acting it.. Guys at Tae Kwon Do were complaining about Freshers.. one finalist thought he was quite mature and said that when he was a fresher the new guys were doing their GCSEs .... they were in playschool when I was a fresher!!!!

Maybe one day

TGF dreams

Happy

TGF sitting on a park bench in t shirt and shorts reading my bible in the sun... in October!

Easy like

TGF cosy Sunday mornings with duvet and coffee reading the bible.
TGF baking instead of car booting.. Not minding at all the fact that it's raining again.

Cost warm

TGF double duvets with clone wars covers

Loud!!

TGF going nuts playing the drums at the ark.. Four drummers and one piano.. Animal and my gang won hehe 8-)

John 3v16

This is how much God loves the world...

Yum

TGF learning to cook and the yummy food that results. Am determined to be ready.
TGF being with an abundance of food with such ease.
TGF not having wait for buses in the rain.
TGF all 5 jobs.
TGF looking forward to getting home and reading my bible after work everyday
TGF looking forward to winter weekends spent baking cakes and eating them while playing monopoly with wonderful company

Amazing

TGF being given the instruction to get up and speak at church today. Was too scared of the guy not to in the end!!
TGF the nudge from Sam when I was about to bottle it
TGF giving me the words to say.. Especially the tangent about the raindrops!
TGF having so many testimonies and healings there was no time for a sermon!
TGF knowing that he will keep his promise and knowing that he really wants to heal L.

Lovely

TGF hot fruit tea and bible study

Magic fingers

TGF the clever guy in the apple store who fixed my phone in about a minute

Ask and he gives

TGF the healings on Thursday
TGF how for once I obey that voice in my head and he honours that obedience with amazing results
TGF the power of casting out doubt
TGF knowing it will happen

Phew

TGF the sound on my TV working again

Powerful and Amazing God

TGF seeing him in action tonight
TGF him honouring me stepping out in faith last week. Can't wait to see what he does next :-)

Top bloke

TGF Dickie Bird... lovely man

Full tummy

TGF me and Delia combining forces to reprise a recipe I invented at school. Yum.
TGF Having more than enough food to eat.
TGF bring able to help a village in Uganda have enough to eat.

Day 10 reading

TGF promises fulfilled at the perfect time... just like God said he would

Lego rock band now

TGF all my toys :-)

Pow

TGF sermons where God seems to speak directly to you personally.
TGF afternoons spent playing with LEGO.

Scanning

TGF getting documents from my old life out of my new one.

Moby

TGF finding my dream car all those years ago. Still love little Mini Moby

Scanning old documents

TGF his help in selling my old house and sorting that settlement. Was such a mess but he guided me through

Places to pray

TGF curling up in a patch of warm sun.

Faith

TGF His help with casting out doubt and promised land thinking.

S' Troo

TGF prophetic camper vans

Yuk

TGF getting home Before it starts to rain
TGF new Bible in One Year book. Lets hope I don't get stuck in numbers again!

Rattle

TGF having been to a concert at the Albert Hall. Am watching the Simon Rattle prom and am reminded of how brilliant the Filmharmonic concert was and reminded of how fortunate I am to have such opportunities.

Chewie

TGF finding my perfect pet that will love happily in the flat.. Companionship without the wire nibbling

At last

TGF productive days
TGF not being last in a motoGP race on the xbox... Finally.
TGF just about having enough money for the bills and the odd treat for me and others.
TGF my fave Animal hoodies

Sent from my iPhone

Promises

TGF being able to stand on the word of God... "it is written..."

Casino royale opening sequence

TGF the amazing things the human body can do

Promises

TGF seeing this today..

9.11

TGF the good that can come from things that are so bad

Yum

TGF home made banana loaf for dinner

Never lose hope

TGF the miracles he performs every day... and how magical a cuddle can be

Not to be taken for granted

TGF being able to read

Fur

TGF haircuts.

Not TGF being so darn confused. God tells me one thing.. People try to tell me another. Do I go with faith in God.. Or learn the lessons life wants to teach me?

and another

TGF.. these pics

Great Stumbles

TGF...

Little things not big circumstances

TGF good coffee and good book (David Attenborough autobiography)
TGF how God uses circumstances and "coincidences" to make great things happen (as evident from only the first three pages)

Stars

TGF His creation.. Via blu ray

The Ark

TGF playing djembe to God
I miss being able to worship on the drums. Can't wait to die then I can do it all the time.

Just when you thought it was all over

TGF sitting in the sun with a lolly and a good book.. Especially when you thought you'd be working at a computer staring out at the rain

More cool cars

TGF the nice guy who let me look inside his CV today and gave me a pile of old CV magazines.
TGF the 30 mins x box reward at the end of the day
TGF having gainful employment even if it does mean an 8am to 10:30pm working day sometimes

My all time gave

TGF cool cars (the new head has a Lotus Elise)

Distractions

TGF toys.. That I am champion of the universe at.. And ones I am too scared to try cos I know I will be awful (dining table ping pong and motoGP.. In that order!!)

Whiled away the hours walking

TGF I Spy
TGF the warmth of the sun
TGF haribo

Nits for pets

TGF outnumbered clips on you tube

Sooo tired

TGF the last lie in

Size ain't everything

TGF ping pong and pub quizzes.
TGF all the guys getting round the MotoGP safely

Duds?

TGF chewing nuts.. Which don't actually contain nuts.. Which you would know if you'd been scoffing them all afternoon

Bringing up Baby

TGF the perfect excuse for questionable fashion choices

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A8U6aUPW48&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Sent from my iPhone

Creation 2

TGF ... That's powered by big clumsy feet

Creation

TGF beautiful grace

The bloomin obvious

TGF finding little things very amusing

Don't understand

TGF the weird ways God works... above and beyond understanding.
TGF faith the size of a mustard seed that can move a mountain

Hammer Pants

TGF utter silliness.. When all else fails: Just Dance

Wed: TGF the smell of the lavender bush in the rain

Hurt

Think this one is my favourite.TG that I still feel.

Hurt - Johnny Cash

TGF someone knowing how I feel

Simple pleasures

TGF reading Calvin and Hobbes in the sun

Thanks Chalkie

TGF Lego AT-ST models. And the mini fig ewoks are just the cutest!

Creation

TGF the perfect combination of purple and pink in a fuschia.

You gotta have

TGF faith... the size of a mustard seed.

Answered Persistent Prayer

TGF healing Chris. Please keep on healing him, make his heart strong now and make sure his head is ok. Thank you so much for keeping him alive. Thank you that his wife was able to save his life and thank you for protecting that life and bringing him back.

Thank you Father.

Time to give up

Apparently I got it all wrong. Can't trust anything from or about God now.

Thursday

TGF seeing the first Butterfly of the year.

At long last

TGF Tim's new job

Faith and Love

TGF Jesus' faith in his Dad's promise that it will hurt now, but it will all be good in the end.

TGF Mary's faith in her son... being with him through today.. she must have really known who he was and why he had to do this.. and somehow she found the strength to be by his side.

Happy Auntie Harley

TGF being able to cuddle such an adorable little bundle..

Nnnnnnnnisabel

TGF my first cuddle with the baby Raptor :-)

Zzz

TGF finding things you need at the car boot sale.

TGF naps on a sunday afternoon .. esp after having been woken up by the alarm at 4.15am.

So cute

TGF the safe arrival of baby Isabel (known to me and Pete as Meg hehe).

So Sweet

TGF how cute my washing is today. The sight of these tiny clothes drying in my house is so cute. Its making me cry.. half with hurt, but half with gladness that at least I get to do this, even if I don't ever get to be a Mum.

Just wait..

TGF him completely turning around a situation. Two weeks ago it had me on my knees sobbing, wondering why this world was so unfair, why being a good and generous person just gets you taken for a ride...

Yet he turned it around.. he gave me the ability to fight this for myself.. and now the outcome is so different.. I don't know how He changed it.. but He did.

Thank you God.

Albeit more slowly

TGF still being able to run...

TGF Love.. however painful

Love is an unconditional commitment to an imperfect person - (Bishop Eddie Long)

Biggest decision ever made

TGF the great news I got today. Have been praying and praying its the right path. Really feels like His plan is coming together at last.

I have plans for you... for a hope and a future...

Is He keeping His promises at last?

Don't throw sticks Harley

Could have been a lot worse

TGF His help today. TGF hope for the future.

Rips my heart out

Am absolutely gutted that I'm not part of the Music Team at Emmanuel anymore. I really can't believe that this is what God wants. I'm so ready to give up even believing he is there. Have suffered too much at the hands of Christians to believe in a loving God.

Poster on my wall says "I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope"

Absolutely no indication from my life that that verse is true.

Where are you?

So why did God make me different so that people hate me for what I am?

And why in a school that 'Says no to Bullying' are those adults with the most power the worst bullies?

Why am I going through all this crap at the hands of others? I know Jesus said it wouldn't be an easy ride.. but this is not because of my faith.. its because others have all the power and can get what they want.. where are you God?

Scream

TGF time away from this flippin house.

TGF the hope that He is finally leading me away from here.

His Plan

TGF the thought that maybe God is making everything so hard and so crap now .. so that when HE sorts it all it will feel all the more wonderful (e.g. knowing that nobody will be able to turn up and walk into my house at midnight... staying for the sole purpose of bullying me and trying to wind me up, trying to make me so miserable that I cave in)

Calm

TGF no nasty suprises when I got home, unlike yesterday. TGF coming home to an empty house. TGF being hopeful about moving somewhere nice. Is the start of God putting my life back together?

I've had enough

TGF not having to do DIY when I got home from school.

However... no TGF for having a viewing sprung on me.. estate agents apparently couldn't be bothered to tell me.. I got an email from Mr Gauvain. Don't mind me.. I just live here. Oh and I'm the one who cleans and tidies and tries to fix all the damage caused by Mr Gauvain. Scream.

So easy

TGF being able to just nip to Tesco to get some tea.. so easy.. guess you only know how easy when you have something like the trip to Tanzania to compare it to.

Laughter the best medicine

TGF finding some hilarious photos and videos this afternoon that cheered up our Emsy.

Please look after her Dad.. let her know you're there.

Close

TGF having just enough paint left to finish the stairs.

Earned

TGF nice hot bubble baths with candles and a book.

What mums are made for

TGF virtual hugs over the phone from mum.

At last

TGF God taking care of Tim and finding him a job.. seems like one where he will really be appreciated and be able to use all his talents.

P.U.S.H. ... I'm still praying God will keep his promises to me.. but my heart has lost faith.

Autism has its uses

TGF being Aspie... only an Aspie could be this happy making lists of collections! At least its absorbing my brain and stopping it from thinking very bad things about God and life.

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeelp!

TGF being incredibly silly with incredibly intelligent and normally sensible best mates hehehe

Oh no.. there's a fire at LEGO cottage!!!!

Aspie food

TGF cereal when you're hungry. TGF cereal after a run. TGF cereal anytime really.

Any chance God heals treadmills?

Maybe I got it all wrong

Maybe I had it all wrong from the start. Maybe it was all lies.

If I have been hearing God wrong this past year.. why is He not telling me the truth now?

If I hear Him right... why hasn't He come into my heart... so that I KNOW it's right, and I can tell my doubting self to just shut up?

Nunc Dimittis.

Please take me now. My heart can't take anymore.

Father.. hear my cries.

Creation

TGF the light in the sky Tuesday night. It was like an orange glow.. but uniform all over the sky... and quite bright.. you could see outside clearly.. snow everywhere... eerie.. but beautiful.

Reduced to tears yet again

TGF this child and her brother. ... found this on the NAS website.

I love him more than anybody in the universe

My brother Dan with the head of hair.
He is a firework, bursting off in all directions -
When happy a grinning balloon, when released making loud noises and chaos.
A bird, flapping hard, taking to the skies
Bursting with fun, laughter and sometimes food!

When he is agitated
He is a war, explosions going off all the time.
I get hurt, but he doesn't mean it
However many sore patches there are.

When sad he is a sobbing heap
A deflated bouncy castle.
But I can cheer him up
With a few big hugs, a tickle, and a kiss.

He is a lucky dip
You never know what you will get.
But although he's autistic and quite badly too
I love him more than anybody in the universe.

by Olivia Kersey, age 10

Prayers working at last

TGF his help in the meeting today. He kept me calm. I didn't cry or get angry. Even managed to explain myself apparently. Thanks Dad.

Beautiful

TGF the photo that just came up on my random desktop. A beautiful picture from one of the best days of my life.

Still struggling

TGF wise words from a friend last night.. backed up by the bible this morning.

I hate how much I doubt and how little faith I have. Maybe life these last few years has beaten it out of me.

I think by this stage the only thing that will really convince me beyond anybody's doubt is if an angel came and sat down next to me in church so everyone could see, and told me straight out what God's been saying.

If anyone reads this, please pray that God will give me faith in what he is telling me, and be able to live day by day really knowing it in my heart.

The journey

Is it all linked?

On thursday my GPS led me on a 3.5 hour ramble to get to Manchester. I had only 2 hours to get there. I managed to resign myself to the fact that when I finally got there (Airkix) I would be told that I was too late and would not be allowed to fly, then have the long journey straight home again.

That day I thought I was supposed to learn two things from this. That sometimes the journey is the reason.. and that things work out for the best in the end.

I was allowed to fly, and ended up being with a great instructor and some lovely other people. It was amazing. Also the GPS took me through the Peak district, on little roads that wound their way through snowy hills and valleys. It was beautiful. So beautiful I decided to go back the next day to get pictures. The next day was lovely too.

Today in church David started talking about GPS. He said that their only limitation was that they only take you the shortest most direct route. They don't take you on the most picturesque route (I wanted to contradict him at this point) or on the route where something good might happen, or the route that leads you to be able to help someone.

Do I TGF God for yet again answering my pleas for his guidance? Is he trying to tell me that I'll get there in the end? The destination is still the same.. and it will be great when I get there.. but there are some things to do on the journey?

I so badly want to give up on my journey. Even when God reassures me and guides me time and time again... I can't believe that its true.. I end up thinking that He can't exist.

God give me faith.

Postcode lottery

TGF where I was born. I've just been reading Graeme's blog from Brazil (I know, I'm a tad behind the times) and he talked about the effect he hoped the trip would have on him. I think one of the effects of going to Tanzania for me was being more aware of how much I have to thank God for. I think I have got much better at thanking God, at the time, for little things. There are also big things that I have to thank God for. One of them is how being born in the UK has made such as difference. I'm editing photos from my brother's 30th birthday album that I scanned over the holidays. I came across this picture...

..it reminds me of something from Tanzania that definitely had a lasting impact on me. My eyes look amusingly dodgy there, but I'm mostly chilled about how they are now, despite kids at school trying to wind me up about it. Thats because I met a child at one of Sister Sarah's clinics who had the same eye problems as me.. short sighted and a lazy eye. However, because he was born in Africa and not the UK... he was nearly blind.

Things God wants you to hear?

TGF stuff that just seems to stick in your head.. when you weren't really listening.. or when you are pleading for God to tell you the truth..

Radio 2 Jan 1st. Whichever religious leader it was on the Pause for Thought slot (really should iplayer it and find out)

"If you want to make God laugh.. tell Him your plans" along with the reassurance that God really does love you and care for you, and things are done according to his plans and his timing, not your own.

Cranford. Part 2. Watched on Jan 1st.

"Faith is the key to all things"

"Love. That is the final word"