Kid Connections

Wonderful week ...

So it's been anther busy week!  Last Saturday we had a wonderful Fischy music concert at church.  Awesome!  Then the launch of our first Growing Leaders course with many young people who have signed up to pursue the course and develop their leadership skills.  The week was filled with planning, re-organising, sorting and storing as we prepare for the building work at church to commence.  Then today a trip to the beautiful St Andrews to lead a training workshop with a dear friend on 'Encountering God' followed by a scrummy lunch!  On the way there we had to sit in traffic for almost 2 hours though -due to the air show!!  But all in all a great week.  Looking forward to our 'Together' service at church tomorrow!

Busy days ...

It's been a busy day with pleasant interludes!  It took almost 2 hours for me to drive in to Glasgow this morning!  I left home at 8.30am and hit a 6 mile tailback of traffic on the M77.  By the time I got in to town my left leg was is pain from constantly using the clutch and having to drive in 1st gear most of the way, and I had a thumping sore head.  Once I eventually got in to town and up to the west end I had a really good day - first our Thursday parent and toddler group followed by a lovely lunch with two of the mums and their darling babies, a bit of office chat, catching up with some other work and then driving back home just in time to pick up No 3 daughter from school.  I'm out tonight with two friends to see Fiddler on the Roof at the Motherwell Concert Hall & Theatre.  I'm not much of a theatre goer but I'm looking forward to it nonetheless.  Hubby is off today so has been spending time with the two little ones after a long day yesterday.

It's the school's October week next week so kids are off and I'm having some time off work to be with them.  There's lots of stuff needing to be done in the house but it's so miserable outside that I can't really be bothered!  I really want to be lying on the sofa with some nice nibbles, some decent coffee and either watching a good movie or reading one of the books I'm trying to get through just now.

I've been reading Moltmann's book In the End-The Beginning: The Life of Hope.  He shares a great deal of interesting stuff on childhood and children.  Part of the editorial review says, 'Debunking the classic images of Christian apocalyptic scenarios, the final struggle between God and Satan, Christ and the Antichrist—Armageddon—Moltmann instead shows that Christian expectation of the future has nothing to do with these but everything to do with new beginnings and a horizon of hope. Three parts explore three particular beginnings: birth (childhood and youth), rebirth (failures and defeats), and resurrection (death, judgment, afterlife).  This brief volume promises to be one of Moltmann’s most personal and compelling books.'  I'll share more if I get a chance but if you are in to theology books then it's well worth a read. 

Service with a smile!

I went out for dinner with a friend tonight (and to be honest between meeting folk for coffee, lunch or dinner over the last few weeks I've probably put on half a stone or more but it's one of the best ways to spend concentrated time with folk).  The food was very good but the waitress needed some basic lessons on customer service!  Her manner and attitude were appalling and she gave the impression that she just couldn't be bothered.  Did we leave a tip? ... Only that she should remove her frown and be a tad more polite to customers! 

Let there be food, let there be laughter, let there be ... dancing!!!

It's been a hectic few weeks with so much partying and celebration.  We had an amazing night at Konaki's as we celebrated a friend's birthday on the 19th.  The food was delicious, washed down with a few tasty glasses of red wine, and to top the delightful conversation as we dined we were treated to some Greek dancing at various points in the evening - amazing!  There was a real feeling of celebration and the dancing added something quite special.

Our youngest daughters seem to have the dancing bug too as they have really got in to Christmas party mode.  They have danced around in their princess nighties and had great fun singing along to their favourite Disney songs.  They thoroughly enjoyed Christmas day with early morning present opening followed by a big breakfast and an even bigger Christmas dinner - opening Christmas crackers was the highlight though as they had been on the Christmas tree for over a week and they were desperate to open them.  They were made (by me) with personal gifts for each of the family as traditional crackers seem to be a bit pointless when most of the contents end up in the bin.  My mum stayed with us for Christmas, which the kids were thrilled about as they love having Grannie around.  I love to see the expressions on my kids faces as they delight in the surprises they get at Christmas but I was a bit overwhelmed with the amount of presents in our home.  I have to say that it does cause me to think of those who have little or even nothing and is the source of a bit of a black cloud over the festivities for me. 

God may you comfort those who are alone, those who are in places of need or danger, or who are far off from knowing your peace and joy.  Amen

Chiquito!!!

I went out for dinner with some friends last night (a usual monthly treat we share!!), while my poor husband looked after the kids and did lots of housework after having a busy morning at work and hearing a difficult Children's panel in the afternoon.  [Thanks sweetheart you are amazing!]  We went to Chiquito at the Quay in Glasgow and it really feels like we're well into the Christmas festivities now.  That's the second time we've been there and the food is just amazing - if you like Mexican food that is!  My dear friend Cathy would most certainly approve [did think about you Cathy while we were enjoying our delicious meals].  Desserts are amazing too ... deep fried ice-cream!  The atmosphere is really good, very party like without  being too noisy, and the staff are great.  I had the baby with me and he soaked up the attention from staff and fellow diners as well as his two special aunties - he's such a good baby and definately doesn't like to miss anything.  Check out Chiquito's if you are looking for a place to dine over the festive season (or any time!) - I recommend it.  Next week it's Greek food at Konaki's for a special birthday party .. can't wait!