Monthly Archives: January 2011

Not the end of their love

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There are a few people my blog readers ‘know’ well, just because I’ve asked you guys to pray. In the last year 2 people I’ve really being pretty much bashing down the door of the heavens for are Eva Markvoort (who died a few days before her 26th birthday last March) & baby Oliver Gill (who died on Christmas morning just past).

I just wanted to let you guys know how their family & friends are continuing their legacy. They are not going to be forgotten.

Firstly, Oliver’s parents are setting up the Love Oliver trust.

This trust is going help raise funds to practically support families in Ward 2 at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (aka Sick Kids Hospital) in Edinburgh, where Oliver spent a lot of time during his treatment. It will also be used to help fund research for children’s cancers. It was incredible to see how Oliver touched people all over the world with his smile & resilience, shown by the sheer number of comments that filled Oliver’s Blog on facebook.

Find out more about the trust here, and you can also make donations here.

And there is the #4Eva movement.

The makers of the documentary Eva starred in during her wait for transplant in 2007 have continued to work to spread the word of 65_RedRoses. One of Eva’s wishes was for the 65_RedRoses to be shown in the USA and that is finally happening!

It has been picked up by the Oprah Winfrey Network & had amazing support from Oprah, and Rosie O’Donnell. You can find out more here – Philip & Nimisha actually got to meet Oprah in person at the Sundance Film Festival last week!

I just wanted to share  - they may have left this earth, but their legacies are most definitely living on. As Eva said, ‘this is the end of my life, but it’s not the end of my love’

Things I learned (this week)

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1. The inner-Community Education worker in me is fighting to resurface. One look at our church’s new building and my mind explodes with visions of Parenting Courses, support groups, toddlers and the rest. Until I remember that I’d have to be a pastor. boo.

2. On a Monday morning, you’ll find more babies in the Filmhouse than you would in a maternity hospital.

3. That I can come up with some weird analogies when getting into theological discussions. According to me spiritual gifts are like electric whisks. And Law = mirror, when sin = a giant spot on my face.

4. The reason pretty much all my clothes (minus 1 pair of trousers & 2 tops I bought with Christmas money) don’t fit is because I’ve put on almost 2 stone in weight since May 2007.

5. My Mum pointing out that it might make bra shopping easier does not make me any cheered up.

6. Apparently the snow was a blessing in disguise. The day I couldn’t get to inter:act because of the snow they showed a video clip which would likely have had this emetophobic screaming out the room. I’m not so mad about the snow now.

7. There’s an organisation called the Energy Ombudsman. Sarah and I might be contacting them tomorrow.

8. I should never leave pancakes lying around in our kitchen in preparation for a early morning grab breakfast & run out the door…because someone might eat them.

9. It’s lovely to have Rob Bell do my job for me. At least for 12 minutes.

10. People in my church really love cake. And therefore, I realise that I need to make more to help my fellow Inter:act team members fundraise for their upcoming trip to India.

God can speak through Mma Ramotswe too

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So…I created a bit of a stir with this tweet this morning…

I admit, yesterday I had some buttons pushed when I was interviewed for some research (namely ‘Define mission’ – gah! If I hear that or ‘missional’ being spoken one more time I may scream. Or just have another rant). And you know I do read Christian books. I’ve recommended Christian books that I’ve found very thought provoking and enjoyed reading.

But I do get seriously depressed by seeing multiple invitations to Christian event after Christian event on my facebook, and the endless promotion of ‘I’m reading all these Christian books’ on Twitter.

Does everyone seriously just go to church, do outreach and listen to Christian bands and read Christian books?

Because you are really missing out.

And you are going to struggle to explain anything of your faith or the reasons of why you live your life without occasionally dipping into the culture that is out there.

Our ability to create is so related to our muses – how we get inspired.

Yes. I read Christian books. Yes. I sing as a backing vocalist at church and local youth worship nights. Yes. I listen to Christian music. I even own a few NOOMA DVDs.

But you know what I also read? Alexander McCall Smith & Jodi Picoult & Paullina Simons. Sometimes I throw in a bit of Steinbeck and I can’t wait to have time to dig into Richard Yates, Nicola Hulks & Fran Brady! I’m also a complete Harry Potter geek. I listen to my Tim Hughes, Brooke Fraser and Matt Redman (mainly to learn new songs or reflect on things God has been talking to me about). I also listen to Lauryn Hill, Alexi Murdoch, Nada Surf, Oasis, Death Cab for Cutie, Ben Folds and Jack Johnson. Just occasionally I might dance to Madonna. And I love going to the cinema on Cheap Tuesdays and chatting to my friends about films we’ve seen.

So though I love to hear it when you’ve read a book by Donald Miller (who’s writing really inspires me by the way), I encourage you to share about something else you read or heard or seen that wasn’t created by Jesus loving hands that inspires you.

Do you honestly believe that Christians have a monopoly on creativity? Can God not use any means to draw something to your attention?

And I’m encouraged by some of the responses from my friends…(and this is probably why I feel like I know these folks on twitter/blogosphere. They don’t just share about the ‘spiritual’ parts of their lives).

The only problem is that I have a pile of Christian books I have to read for inter:act (best cure for insomnia ever as it turns out…) and for work. And now I want to run to the library and get stuck into some of the suggestions above!!

Let’s hope for a sunshiney summer of reading in the garden. I can almost guarantee Wayne Grudem & Bruce Milne won’t be joining me with my ice lolly.

Be gentle with those who are grieving…

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Last year, I began looking further into grief and loss – trying to find anything that may prove to be something that a client can hold onto as they journey through their grief. There can be no time limit on grief. It can come in fits and bursts, all shapes and forms. Somehow, I was led to this poem on an old website created by a family who had lost a child through SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

I shared it with one of the miscarriage support trainers, and we’ve discovered it has resonated with clients both within our centre, but also with friends who have lost loved ones in other circumstances that have no connection with our centre.

Please Be Gentle

Please be gentle with me for I am grieving.

The sea I swim in is a lonely one

and the shore seems miles away.

Waves of despair numb my soul

as I struggle through each day.

My heart is heavy with sorrow.

I want to shout and scream

and repeatedly ask ‘Why?’

At times, my grief overwhelms me

and I weep bitterly,

so great is my loss.

Please don’t turn away

or tell me to move on with my life.

I must embrace my pain

before I can begin to heal.

Companion me through the tears

and sit with me in loving silence.

Honor where I am in the journey,

not where you think I should be.

Listen patiently to my story,

I may need to tell it over and over again.

It’s how I begin to grasp the enormity of my loss.

Nurture me through the weeks and months ahead.

Forgive me when I seem distant and inconsolable.

A small flame still burns within my heart,

and shared memories may trigger

both laughter and tears.

I need your support and understanding.

There is no right or wrong way to grieve.

I must find my own path.

Please, will you walk beside me?

-Jill B. Englar

Quite frankly, I don’t think I’ve seen it put better anywhere else. So thank you Ms. Englar for articulating what so many people who have loved and lost are trying to navigate through.

Australia Day: Adam Hills, Jimmy Barnes & London 2012

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You know, next year the Olympics & Paralympics are coming to the UK. London 2012 people.

And you know, our friendly rivals downunder (we like to invade each others countries with backpackers on ‘gap years’) are pretty decent when it comes to sports.

I think it’s because they have that season…what’s it called? Oh yeah. SUMMER.

I was thinking on the lead up to Australia Day…what would I pay to have Adam Hills come out and sing his Jimmy Barnes version of the Australian National Anthem when the first Australian wins a gold medal?

What do you reckon?

Happy Australia Day!

 

Travelling Tuesday: The Giant Stuffed Koala

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Last year, I posted this picture on Australia Day but I didn’t actually ever tell the story behind this picture…

Most readers will know (or maybe if you are new around here, you don’t!) that in March 2007 I felt I was being ‘called’ back to Edinburgh for reasons unknown*. A few days after I made that decision, my friends Kate & Vikki called me up from Los Angeles and said ‘Why don’t you come meet us somewhere?‘

Somewhere turned out to be Sydney, Australia.

3 weeks later. The day after I packed up my flat, handed the keys to friends about to be homeless and dumped a suitcase and many boxes in my Mum’s house. I had no idea where I would live or work or go to church on my return from Australia.

Because I flew out on Easter Monday, my Mum was able to take me to the airport, but on my return (a Friday afternoon) my Mum would be working so I needed my Dad or Step-Mum to pick me up from the airport.

“We’ll pick you up only if we have proof you’ve hugged a koala while you’re in Australia” was their response.

You have to understand that at the time my sister was 16 & my brother was 11/12 and they gave me my marsupial nickname. So when they heard Big Sister was headed to Australia – home of koalas – they were pretty excited.

So when I arrived in Australia, Kate & Vikki had asked what were the things I really wanted to do – and my answer was simple. 1) Hug a Koala and 2) Learn to surf !

On my 2nd or 3rd day in Sydney, we took a trip to Taronga Zoo where we’d been told that you could have your photo taken with a koala. However, when we got there, we discovered that you didn’t get to handle the koalas, but you just stood below them for a ridiculous price – at least in our potentially unemployed when we get home to Scotland opinion.

So we went for the next best thing – the giant stuffed koala next to one of the gift shops!

It got e-mailed back to Scotland and it made my family laugh, but they didn’t think it counted enough to be picked up from the airport in May.

Thankfully a week later I got a picture next to a koala in the wild when we drove down the Great Ocean Road, and then later I got to hug a koala on ANZAC Day at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane. I had picture proof, they got it, and my Dad did pick up his very jet lagged daughter from the airport.

The nice appendix to this story was that last year I got back in contact with one of my Dutch friends (from a high school exchange programme) and he had been travelling in Australia, and indeed he has a picture with the very same stuffed koala in Taronga Zoo. :)

It makes me wonder who else has a picture like this one….!

PS It’s Australia Day tomorrow!!

PPS It’s Burns Night tonight…

*Unknown = to work in a pregnancy resource centre that I didn’t know existed. Yet.

Things I have learned (this weekend)

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1. If there’s a sudden rise in teenage pregnancy within the next year, it might be my fault.

2. You can’t trust your male friends with your home address (and I’m super thankful that when I got an unexpected visit I wasn’t in my pyjamas).

3. I really and truly suck at the Nintendo Wii.

4. After observing my friend’s 6 year old daughter play a few games of Mario Kart – I’m definitely sure I wouldn’t want to be a passenger in any car she is driving. But I would definitely want her on my ten-pin bowling team.

5. I shouldn’t write things on twitter I wouldn’t want my Senior Pastor to see. (Like saying I wanted to punch him after his sermon last Sunday).

6. Apparently God likes to prove that what my Senior Pastor says is right when he is indeed right. Making me very glad I didn’t actually punch him last weekend.

7. Wannaburger has turned into a fast-food restaurant. The burgers are now rubbish compared to the wonderous gourmet ones we once knew and craved…

8. I’ve only got a month to stalk “Alf Stewart” with my blogging friend Rebecca before he goes back to Australia.

9. I can’t be trusted to remember anything right now.

10. I love pancakes maybe a bit too much. But man, are they good with nutella and banana!

Time invaded

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I’m currently sitting back on my bed and enjoying my Saturday (well, actually one of the beds in my ‘brothers’ room – I fully confess that I’m so pathetic that I still haven’t managed to work up the courage to sleep in my own bed since the spider incidents. Mainly because said spider has not been found & disposed of).

Last week was awful on many levels, and this week has been extra busy partly due to things carrying over from the previous week.

I was exhausted and as soon as I finished work yesterday (struggling to stay awake on the motorway driving back from Dundee) I crawled into my bed.

Part of the problem why I was so tired was that I was still doing work at 11 p.m. on Thursday night. Every fibre in my being wanted to sleep, but I knew that leaving things to the morning would be a mistake. In theory getting up earlier and getting it sorted seems a good idea, but 26 years of living with myself knows that it is the worst idea in the world.

I was challenged this week by a blog post by Donald Miller. I think he is a pretty wise person, and his writing often inspires me and encourages me to think more deeply, openly & widely.

Working in Community Education is an anti-social business. My work phone had to be on because I was a keyholder for the centre, and a lot of community education happens in the evenings. Several times – even when I was off sick with flu – I would have to answer my phone as one of my employees called to tell me of some kind of incident. One of the worst being when newspapers arrived to report on the opening of a village youth drop-in and the entire youthgroup plus 2 youth workers managed to lock themselves out of it when checking to see if the cutting ribbon was ok.

In the end me & another youth worker had to call our boyfriends to come down with ladders so we could basically climb in through a second storey window. I’m surprised none of  the locals called the police.

But as I’ve got texts and calls at the last minute, people texting wanting immediate answers, trying to arrange meetings and favours I’ve felt my heart pounding, my mind flustering & panicking.

Because it’s not only texts or calls. It’s message inboxes on Facebook or Twitter. I quite like e-mail because it doesn’t require me to respond immediately. I can put a wee holiday response to say ‘I’m off the clock, I might not respond until X day’.

And at a time where I’m struggling to stay on top of everything, I’m finding that a simple life is much needed.

So I’m wondering…should I be switching my phone off?

Is it selfish to do that?

 

The recipes

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You might remember that my ‘one word‘ for 2011 is better.

One of things I want to be better at is trying new things. After some…uh…interesting… moments* that got me banned from kitchens by my friends in church & the Aberdeen University CU, I’ve pretty much avoided that whole cooking thing ever since until just over a year ago. I can’t remember why or how I got started making cupcakes, but it stemmed from there!

I have a little bit of an issue one of my body’s many quirks is that it doesn’t always react to well to foods. So far we’ve worked out that caffeine, coffee, beta-carotene colouring, garlic, spicy foods, wine and meat from 4-legged animals are a no-no.

Anyway, I’m hoping to share more recipes that I try out with you as the year goes on, and you are welcome to share yours with me too! I’d love to hear of things you’ve tried.

* This is not an exclusive list, but some of these moments include: flooding a church kitchen, blowing up a toaster, trying to hand blend an orange and coating the surrounding walls with it and trying to cook a pizza with the oven turned off.

Video Update

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I slept on Sunday night, and so very cheerfully made this video on Monday night as I’m still not my usual self (but very very happy to have had a full night’s sleep…my first in a while!!).

January 2011 Update from Brunette Koala on Vimeo.

My main frustration at the moment is my struggle to remember things or to concentrate, plus the permanent dull headache. I thankfully did make it to inter:act today, despite having only had a few hours sleep (and sleeping through 5 alarms…) and some road users who seem to have forgotten the Highway Code. I knew it was a Tuesday too but did put the date as being ’18/1/09′….

Hope you’ll excuse the lack of profound thought on this blog. Really my main aims at the moment are: sleep at night, be awake during the day, eat healthily & keep my schedule and commitments to a minimum while ‘Zombie Koala’ is present.

Tomorrow is my ‘sabbath’ (ie my diary is kept empty) and will no doubt be spent doing laundry, washing my hair and might try to make some meatballs with turkey mince.

Because that is the super-cool exciting life I lead.