Christian Aid Week

This week is Christian Aid week. We are off to the church coffee morning in a bit- the proceeds will go to Christian Aid.

On Saturday Julia and I took part in a sponsored walk in aid of Christian Aid. Four and a half miles through beautiful woodland in lovely weather- a real pleasure.

I have tried to add a link from Christian Aid but not sure if it has worked!!
It has! Just click on the above post!

South Pacific

Wednesday saw us in Torquay for the matinee performance of South Pacific! All part of our education! We were a bit surprised by the length of the show but managed to get back to Dartmouth in time for Guides.
Have been inspired by the warm weather and the garden to get some tomato plants, runner beans,a courgette plant and some 'cut and come again' lettuce. If I can remember to water and feed them we should enjoy the produce, it might also encourage the girls to be outside more. Maybe we will get a gazebo and a new picnic table to work outside on!?!

Jireh

Having mentioned Phil's birthday painting I thought I had better show you all the framed result!
I should maybe explain that 'Jireh' is a Drascombe lugger ( the second that we have owned- we sold the first to buy a settee!!). Before we ever bought the first lugger someone introduced Phil to the books of Ken Duxbury who(with his wife) took a lugger to Greece, sailed around the Greek islands and then back to England via the canals of France. He also sailed around the Isles of Scilly and some Scottish islands. All this appealed greatly to Phil, so the chance to have a painting of our lugger by Ken Duxbury himself was not to be missed! The painting shows her sailing out of the river Dart past Dartmouth castle.
If we can get a mooring 'Jireh' will soon be on the Dart ready to re-live the painting.

School or rather the lack of it!

It will soon be two years since we took the girls out of school! Moving house and planning to live on a boat gave a perfect opportunity to move out of the world of school. I can honestly say that I wouldn't want to go back, despite the huge adjustments needed.
I want to try and say a bit more about our educational endeavours in future posts.
Julia and I are going to the Home Service ay conference in Bath at the end of May, I am looking forward to a day out and a chance to meet some fellow home-eders.

A Busy Week

We have come to end of quite a busy week. Phil had a meeting at church on Tuesday, then we had the AGM on Wednesday! Phil is now a deacon, once again, with two others.He is pleased that the church now has a proper leadership team.Phil had more river training on Thursday then did a stint as River Officer on Friday to cover for sickness. Saturday saw him supposedly walking to Brixham with a friend- but I had to go and pick them up brfore they got there!
Julia has been trying out the small bedroom(she wanted a change) but has now been persuaded to stay in her old room after some remodelling! Phil is going to remove one of the beds, build a new bookcase and repaint. I'll post a picture of the finished room, once it is done!
Phil had to step in for the morning service at short notice- he did a family service with dance, puppets and sword drill! He is also taking the evening service. All in all, a busy week and weekend; perhaps this coming week will be a bit quieter!

More new things!

One of the fun things about reading other peoples' blogs is finding all the little additions that are available! So I now have a clock and a Bible verse on my blog.
I also revisited Elisabeth Elliot's website and found the following, which seemed so apt for our life at the moment!

Elisabeth Elliot's Daily Devotional
Title: No Evidence of Progress
Author: Elisabeth Elliot
At times nothing seems to be happening. So it must be for the bird that sits on her nest. Things are apparently at a standstill. But the bird sits quietly, knowing that in the stillness something vital is going on, and in the proper time it will be shown. It takes faith and patience for the bird, and such faith and patience never seem to waver, day after day, night after night, as she bides the appointed time.
Restless and doubtful we wonder why we have nothing to show for our efforts, no visible evidence of progress. Let us remember the perfect egg--unchanged in its appearance from the day it is laid. But while the bird waits faithfully, doing the only thing she is required to do throughout those silent weeks, important things are taking place.

I wait for the Lord. My soul waits, and in His word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning. --(Ps 130:5, 6 RSV)

Painting of Jireh.

From time to time Phil returns to his books by Ken Duxbury about another Drascombe Lugger called Lugworm. So when Phil had the chance to commission a watercolour of Jireh by the same Ken Duxbury he was very excited. Now gracing a wall in the lounge is a painting of Jireh sailing out of the Dart past the castle. A much appreciated 51st birthday present!