Coping

Ian has been away since Monday and we are coping well. Coping seems like a pretty negative word really. Much better to be thriving and we have been pretty close to that too. Being a classic introvert I have been enjoying the novelty of having the evenings to myself when I eventually get the kids into bed. That novelty is beginning to wear off as is the joy of living like a bit of a slob as I don't have to tidy up in the evenings but can let one day roll into the next - or rather, I don't have Ian here to tidy up after me at the end of each day! It's been a wet and cold (well, only 18 degrees) week. I ordered 2 m3 of firewood to see us through the winter. It is piled up on the driveway and I am having to wheelbarrow it round the back in between rain storms, naps and feeds. Not easy. I have managed about 10 loads so far and have barely broken the back of it.

We had a very busy day today spending time with friends in Titirangi. I caught up with friends from our old playgroup in the morning then headed to another friend, Katherine's house to have lunch and pray with her and another woman called Tracy. I always used to have a couple of prayer partners in England and i have missed that since i have been here. We three plan to meet up fortnightly and share about stuff that has been happening in our lives and pray together. We had a great time today. Ethan and Tracy's little girl were kept quite happy in front of a DVD. Katherine is English but has been here about 10 years. She isn't much older than me but has 5 kids aged 6 - 18! I have really clicked with her and hope to spend loads more time with her. I have found that she has been thinking about things or going through stuff that God has also been speaking to me about or laying on my heart - she lent me the Organic Church book, and like me, is passionate about doing marriage and family well and maybe teaching about that one day. Perhaps more will come of that in due course.....

Tomorrow is the end of term. We are off to the zoo with our playgroup. In the evening our annual women's conference starts and continues all day saturday. I haven't managed to find a babysitter for tomorrow night but will be able to drop Ethan and Imogen at a friend's house. Please pray that Ethan will settle enough to sleep as I have never left him to go to bed anywhere other than home without me. Immy is still a very easy and placid baby so I'm sure she will be fine.