just another morning here

This post links with one of the journals that we’re doing in our church life group; finding God in the things we do every day. I have written something there as well and I *was* going to include an iPod with these tracks on in my journal entry, but someone has used my shuffle and now it seems to be lost. Anyway that’s beside the point.

I consider myself so lucky that the regular (not quite daily, but almost!) ‘school run’ that I do is to collect boys from evensong – and if I can make it there in time, I attend the service – I actually love evensong. The ritual, the ceremony, the music, the space, the time for contemplative thought and prayer – it is easy to find God in the words of psalms, anthems, and the readings too.

Anyway. Last night was a mayoral service and Josiah was honoured to be chosen to sing a solo in the first performance of the Magnificat by Jonathan Lee. Definitely a proud parent moment.

Other clips from the service are here too …

Today some of the Cathedral Choir were shipped out to Darts Farm for some busking. They sang well even if they were a bit squashed! Hope they will do it again next year, it was a good place to go

We were at evensong tonight; I often go on a Thursday and Friday anyway but Steve joined me this evening because Josiah had told us that he had a little solo. Just one line but he sang it beautifully … listen for the running down ‘holy is his name’ at about 1min09s.

In other news – I didn’t get shortlisted for a job that I really wanted. Perfectly happy where I am though so no worries really, just marginally disappointing and very annoying to not even get an interview. Kids all fine; Anna went out busking with school/choir tonight and had a nice time, Abbie is planning birthday events despite the fact that she’s had a birthday treat already, Josiah’s just chugging along with choir and school. Steve’s thinking of new ways to make a million, as usual … and Suzie is enjoying having a new catflap to the big wide world outside. She still comes to give me a cuddle every morning though – and hasn’t brought me any special gifts yet thank goodness!

I played the piano for my school’s tree decorating assembly today which was fun as ever, and we went out for a team Christmas meal this evening; I love Christmas, I really do. People think I’m mean for not really doing decorating at home, or presents at home, but I don’t think my children are going to suffer that much, honestly

Yesterday the four of us (without Josiah, as he was still on chorister duty) got up early and drove to Oxford, in time for church at OCC on Easter Sunday. We got there stupidly early – there was NO traffic on the road at that time of day on a bank holiday weekend! Met most of my family at church, and caught up with some old friends there too, an added bonus. Good service, then home to my parents’ house to see the rest of the family for lunch and the afternoon.

As usual it was a fabulous meal cooked by Lorraine, then we just had a lovely time hanging out together; we went to the park and some people played frisbee while others sat around and chatted. Back at the house, the true Thomases (Anna & Abbie included in this!) played cards, while the spouses were left to chat- really not quite sure why they all seem to think that they can’t keep up with us! I would like to add that I won Photos are here

Cups of tea were served, along with some rather strange cake made by Esther – apple, raisin & walnut, with a layer of goats’ cheese in the middle. Turned out to be a bit like Marmite, either you loved it or you hated it. I want the recipe!
Eventually left, not that we really wanted to … home and bed.

Today we did separate things. Abbie and I went geocaching with my friend, while Steve did some food shopping and fiddled about with a Toyota Starlet, and Anna spent most of the day making a birthday present for a friend. Abbie and I found 32 caches today, and were still home by 4pm! The first of them had a ??5 FTF prize in it so that paid for our post-caching ice creams Others included a ring where we had to build up the digits for the bonus using a stencil – the numbers were like digital clock numbers so each stencil added a few more lines, which was a very inventive idea, I thought. The bonus was a safe, which had been embedded into a stump, so you had to collect the combination for that on the way round as well – definitely worth a favourite point on the Geocaching site. I kept trying to take photos of Abbie’s hair as it looked particularly nice today but she wasn’t really helping …

So, we got home for ice-creams and a quick shower; Steve got home in time to sling a shirt on before we headed to the Cathedral for evensong – Easter Monday is when the choristers are joined by the Old Choristers Association, so it was a full house and a massive sound, excellent. Then we scooped Josiah up and most of his possessions from his time boarding – I say most, as he always leaves *something* behind He’d had a brilliant time, as usual – he thinks it’s one big holiday, which it is, for him. I’m glad the chorister thing is so positive for him and that he doesn’t resent it at all. We missed him, especially yesterday with family, but he didn’t mind at all. There was more chocolate at the boarding house, too
So, home for pizza & salad. He then had to catch up on Dr Who as they hadn’t watched it!

Bedtime now. I don’t feel at all ready to go back to work tomorrow, but at least we have a short week ahead.