Falling Plates

This video was shared with us at church today.

 

 

 

I wanted to share it with you.

I am thankful for the relationship that I have with Jesus Christ and that He has never let go of me through some of the most difficult times in my life. In fact, not only has He walked the path with me, He has, at times, carried me along it.

 

All you have to do to have a personal relationship with Him is open your hearts, confess the sin in your life, ask for forgiveness and receive Him into your life.

That doesn't mean tomorrow we won't slip up and sin again...we all do! But by His grace we receive forgiveness and the opportunity to start anew each day.

It doesn't make us perfect...I am far from it! But I can promise you, that a relationship with Him offers completeness that you never knew you needed...We all have a 'Jesus shaped' hole in our life that we fill with so many things that bring us temporary pleasure or happiness but ultimately we never find what we are really looking for...until we find Him.

 

Pray, talk to Him. He is interested in you, He wants to hear from you. He loves you.

 

John 3:16 says
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 14:6 says

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Puppy love

   We have a new addition to the family. A puppy called Mylo!

If I am being honest, I have never had much interest in dogs and certainly never thought I'd own one!

But a few months ago now, back in the Autumn, I remember watching a programme about Battersea Dogs home.
I watched with interest as we were introduced to all different breeds of dog, each with it's own sad story as to why it had ended up at the home.
People from all different walks of life and backgrounds came to look at the dogs to see if they could offer them a good home and some of the stories relating to this were quite emotional. To see dogs that had been neglected or mistreated going to a good home was so heartwarming and the dogs were so happy as well as their new owners!

The same night as I had watched the Battersea Dogs home programme, the girls and I ended up watching another programme about dog owners who walked their dogs on Wimbledon Common.
It was so interesting as each owner had a story to tell about their lives and also what the dog meant to them.
I was fascinated about the relationship that each owner had with their dog and how in tune they were with each other.
One woman had become homeless but the dog remained with her as she lived in a hostel and she shared that if it wasn't for the dog she didn't know how she'd get through the day.
Another couple had lost their son and taken on a dog because they knew it would be a focus for them, to help them through their grief and again they shared how the dog brought them happiness in what was a very difficult time.

Of course, the girls then started with their usual plea of 'Please can we get a dog...it will be no bother...we'll look after it!" and so on.
But this time, instead of fobbing them off and giving them all the usual excuses I felt that perhaps I was meant to watch those programmes that particular night and that night as I said the bedtime prayers with the girls, I prayed that if a dog was meant to be part of our family then so be it!

Some time later, my sister shared with me about a lady that comes in the bank where she works, The lady had a dog with her and when Donna admired the dog, the lady shared that she had suffered from extreme anxiety and nerves and was fearful of going out but since having the dog, her life had changed dramatically.
She shared how the dog was a great comfort to her and helped sooth her anxiety and fears and also helped her to get out the house because she felt she had a little helper with her all of the time.

As some of you may know, my middle daughter has been suffering with anxiety and fear and struggles to get out but the idea that a dog might help made me seriously consider it.
Could a dog be the therapy Laura needed? On the other hand would I be able to cope?!

Last year I bumped into an old friend and she was walking her new dog. He was a medium size black dog with soft curls and was so cute!
I asked her what breed he was and she told me he was a Cockapoo, a Cocker Spaniel and Poodle cross breed.

She told me how he didn't shed hair and was good for people with allergies and that he was house trained really quickly.
I saw her a few times after that whilst she was out walking him and always admired her lovely dog.

So, after seeing the programmes on television and then hearing Donna's story about the lady who came in the bank, it got me thinking about a Cockapoo...would that be the right dog for us?
And I would have to convince Phil... He wasn't too keen on the idea when I'd mentioned it previously.
But he didn't take too much convincing! Whilst we were watching a film at new year he admired a dog in the film 'I bought a Zoo' and said how nice it would be to have a little dog sat next to him as he watched the film...I sold him the idea of a dog quick smart! His heart softened and he opened his mind to the idea and agreed it might be a good thing for our family and for Laura.

I came home from work one day to find Laura had been looking up Cockapoos on the Internet and she had come across a breeder near Burnley in Lancashire who bred not only Cockapoos but Labradoodles too. They are Labradors crossed with a Poodle.
The website stated that they had a litter of Cockapoos, 4 boys and 2 girls, ready to go to their new homes from the 5th of February.
There was a link on the website to a video taken of the puppies at around 6 weeks.





When we looked at the video we really liked the look of a little golden, boy pup who was very lively at the front of the litter, peering into the camera! And so I sent an email to the breeder and she confirmed the same day that he was available for us to reserve with a £50 deposit... and so we did!

I knew in my heart that it was meant to be. I had prayed about it and felt like the jigsaw puzzle of stories, programmes and bumping into old friends all told me something...Get the pup!

The girls were so excited and started thinking of names for him. They scrolled through pages of dogs names on the Internet and jotted the ones down that they liked.
It was Sarah that came up with the name Mylo. The girls love the band 'Coldplay' and their latest album is called 'Mylo Xyloto' and so Mylo was added to the list. It didn't take long for them to all agree that Mylo was the name they all wanted to call him and so Mylo it is! And I think he really suits his name.

The breeders lived on a farm in Nelson near Burnley and we planned to go to see our pup on Saturday, 2nd of February.
We got some things in ready for our new arrival. A dog bed, a puppy crate and some food, bowls and a few toys.
That Friday, Phil my husband rang me to say he was really unwell and there was no way he could come home that weekend...
The girls were desperate to go and meet Mylo and so I decided I would have to make the journey down the motorway even though I'm not keen on motorway driving! There was no way the girls were going to wait until the following weekend!
However, my very kind brother in law, on hearing that Phil was ill, offered to drive us down there and I must admit to feeling relief at that!

On the Saturday morning we all woke pretty early, unheard of when it comes to my girls and excitedly got ready to meet our new puppy! It was a beautiful sunny day and I felt peace with the decision we had made to get a dog.
Sadly, Laura didn't feel able to come with us. Her anxiety was too much that day, even though she couldn't wait to meet Mylo, so she stayed at home with my sister, her Auntie Donna.
So, me, my brother in law, his youngest son (my nephew) and my girls, Sarah and Eleanor all travelled down  the motorway, eager to meet Mylo.

The journey went well and we found the farm easily with the directions we'd been given.
Funnily enough, a good friend of mine was born and raised in Nelson, small world!
The farm was high up, looking over the town below. The houses below were terraced and were stone built and you just knew you were in Lancashire.
The farm was surrounded by fields and the sound of barking and horses neighing greeted us as we parked up. As well as breeding dogs, the farm owners owned stables and a saddlery and a horse and its owner were standing in the lane as we parked up.
There was a court yard and behind the gates a few dogs were roaming about. They came up to the gate and barked loudly which sent the owner to the front door.
She welcomed us in and asked if we'd had a good journey and if we'd found them with no bother, which we did.
We stood in a large open plan  kitchen/sitting room with tile floors and an open fireplace.
She opened a door off of the kitchen and in ran Mylo!

Oh, he was so cute and I knew that everything was just right. The breeder had said that if the connection wasn't right on meeting him or if we changed our mind then she would refund our deposit no problem. But our first meeting with our little pup couldn't have gone any better!
He was a little shy but playful too and the girls held him and stroked him whilst I had a look at the rest of the litter who were kept in a small building/barn attached to the main farmhouse. The rest of the litter were very sweet too but I know Mylo was the pup for us.
We also met Mylo's mum, a beautiful cocker spaniel with a brown and cream wavy coat and his dad, a black miniature poodle with a tight curly coat. It was obvious that Mylo looked more spaniel than poodle but as they grow their coat can change so I guess we will have to wait and see what he will eventually look like!

The breeder was very professional and gave us Mylo's family tree, details of his vaccination and when the next one was due and and she told us to get in touch if there were any problems.
It was good to see that Mylo had been well cared for and brought up on a lovely farm for the first 7 weeks and 4 days of his life.

He was great on the journey home and fell asleep on a puppy pad on Sarah's lap for most of the journey...that is until we were 8 miles from home. He suddenly got travel sick! But he was ok and thankfully we were almost home.
The sun shone brightly through the window of the car and Eleanor took a photo of him as he lay on Sarah's lap.
The suns rays shone around his head like an angel...our little blessing from Heaven...and he most certainly is. I felt so peaceful about bringing him into our home and just knew that he was meant to be for us!

As we arrived home, Laura met us outside. She had the widest smile and her cheeks were rosy with excitement. Her eyes were fixed on him and she smiled and laughed as she held him in her arms...I felt a bit emotional knowing that, for Laura, little Mylo could be the breakthrough she needs...
We got Mylo for the whole family but it was Laura that got us thinking of the idea to get a dog and the idea had come to fruition. Mylo was here now, with us, forever.

We all went inside and Mylo went into the kitchen and did a little wee on the kitchen floor! We laughed as he sniffed about and looked around.
My sister Donna and my brother in law were there with their boys plus me and the girls and so Mylo must have felt quite overwhelmed! And then my mum and dad came to see him too! So it was a day of meeting new people and settling into his new home.

A very tired Mylo!

 

Mylo at 9 weeks.

 

That night we put him in his new bed inside his puppy crate, with a blanket and a cuddly toy and he did cry for a good 20 minutes but settled after a while. We had been advised not to go into him when he cried, otherwise, just like a baby, he would cry and expect us to go into him all the time. It was hard leaving him to cry knowing he must miss his mum and siblings but he settled into a bedtime routine really quickly with lots of love and cuddles from us.

Phil was home the weekend after and he loves Mylo just as much as we do! Phil's good at rolling around on the floor playing with Mylo and runs him around the garden on his lead. Every weekend when Phil comes home he remarks how much Mylo has grown! He does seem to grow overnight sometimes. And now when Phil leaves on a Sunday he has one more member of the family to miss!

Mylo learnt to toilet outside really quickly and we only used puppy pads by the patio doors for a week just in case he didn't make it in time!

Mylo has four small meals a day at the moment of dry puppy food, which is what he was started off on but he is also partial to a scrambled egg! He knows when it's being made and it's coming...he stands by the microwave waiting for the 'ping' and gets very excited, wagging his tail and letting out a little bark!

He has already learnt to 'sit' and this week is learning 'paw' where he gives us his paw. He is adorable and if you are friends with me on Facebook you will have seen how I can't resist updating 'my status' about him, usually with a photo...or two!
He will have his second vaccination in less than two weeks and will be able to go out for walks a week after that.
I can't wait to take him 'walkies'! He has been practising on the lead in our back garden and is already getting used to it.
He loves walking in the borders and playings in and out of the heathers!

 

He also had fun when it snowed!

 

He loves the fuss and attention he gets from everyone and I think that he really is the cutest dog in the World!


I'd love to know if you have a dog and what your relationship is like with him or her or perhaps you had a dog growing up that meant the world to you...
Please share your doggy stories, it would be so lovely to hear about them!

I will no doubt write more about Mylo's adventures on this blog from time to time so you will get to know how he's doing and what he's been up to...hopefully nothing too mischevious!


And finally, a video of the Barron Knights singing, 'The Sit Song'. A spoof song about Barbara Woodhouse's methods of dog training from her days on the television back in the 1980's

My sister, Donna, thought it was was funny and shared it with me...It really made me laugh and I'm sure it will make you smile too!

For Valentines day: How we met...A true love story!

Let me tell you the story of how Phil and I met...

Well, it's not the way I thought I would meet my husband!
As many of you know, I was married before and sadly it ended unexpectedly for me. I really was heartbroken for a long time. I thought I would never be able to trust again, love again or feel love for someone again. And more to the point....would anyone love me? A single mum with 3 young children.

In 2007, three years after my first marriage ended, I was sat on the sofa one night enjoying a glass of wine, watching a movie and felt very alone. I felt overwhelming sadness that I was on my own. I loved my girls with all my heart and had so much love to give them but I knew that I also felt there was love in me to love another. What a waste it would be to go through life knowing that not only could I receive love but also give love and share love with another if only I would risk it...and it was a risk. I had been hurt, badly.
Did I want to put myself in that situation again? But then if I didn't I would never know.

But where would I find love? They say you find love when you are least expecting it but for me I wasn't out there to find it. My time was taken up with looking after the girls, the home and going to work. It was only rarely that I would go for a night out with friends.

So, my mind pondered all of this and I decided I had to be pro-active. If love wasn't going to find me, I was going to find it!

One afternoon I opened up Google on the Internet and typed in Christian Dating sites. As a christian, it was important to me that I found someone who shared my faith. But ultimately, as long as that person was kind, loving and caring and accepted my beliefs that was all I  wanted. He didn't have to be going to church every week,  just have good moral values and a kind and loving heart.
I wasn't looking for a husband, just friendship and romance and was happy to see if things would develop into more...little did I know!

A site came up called Link Christians. It told me it was free for the first month and how much success the site had had. It looked promising as I put in my details and it found matches for the criteria I had selected.

A few photos and details appeared but one photo and profile in particular really stood out to me.

His face was kind and he had a twinkle in his blue eyes. I found him attractive and as I read his profile felt that I should send him a 'smile'. This was the way you let someone know you had viewed their profile and liked what you saw!

His name was Phil and he was in the Army. He shared a little bit about his hobbies and interests and mentioned that he had worked in a special needs school for about 6 years before changing careers and joining the Army.
I am a teaching assistant and so this interested me. It would be a talking point and it was obvious that he liked children which is what I was looking for in a  partner.
He also said that although he was brought up as a christian he hadn't been actively going to church anywhere for quite some time but the foundations were there and he still held onto his beliefs.
I felt ok with that and could understand that army life isn't perhaps the easiest place to be a christian.
He was also from the North west of England, although based in Suffolk with the Army but I thought it might be easy to meet up when he was home. To be honest, I had been on my own for so long, I felt that if he was working away during the week and we saw each other on the weekend, that would be fine for me!

I checked in on the site the next day...and the next day, expecting him to have responded to my 'smile'. But nothing.
The more I looked at his photo and profile I had this feeling that I needed to contact him so that we could establish if there was any interest on his part because there certainly was on mine!
God spoke to me through this strong feeling that Phil was going to come into my life in a big way so I wasn't going to let this opportunity go!

So, I told my twin sister Donna what I was up to.
I had Donna help me put a message together something along the lines of I thought that we had a few things in common and how much I liked his profile. In fact I think Donna typed it for me and sent it because I felt a bit nervous.

Well, I kept checking in on the web site for a few more days but still nothing.
I did receive a few 'smiles' and messages from others though, which helped my confidence and gave me hope that there were actually men out there, that after reading my profile, were interested...even with me having 3 children!

But the guys who got in touch, although very nice, didn't 'float by boat' the same as Phil!

Finally, after nearly a week I checked in on the website and found that Phil had left me a message!
I can't tell you how excited I felt! I had butterflies in my tummy and felt a bit giddy that he'd responded but what did his message say...?

I opened the message and was relieved to find that he liked the look of my profile too and had decided to leave me his email address so that we could exchange a bit more information about ourselves.

I can't quite remember but I'm sure I will have hurried off to tell Donna my big news! She is always the first to know when anything good or bad happens in my life!

We sent each other a few emails and Phil shared with me why he'd taken so long to respond.
He had signed up for the months free membership like me but when I had sent my 'smile' his free membership had expired and he would then have to pay the £12.00 a month to access the site.
He'd received my 'smile' but couldn't see my details and so debated whether or not to sign up again so he could view my profile. Eventually, he paid the £12 and accessed my profile. I'm so glad he did!

We exchanged emails and went on online messenger and chatted for a bit and then after about a week decided we should phone each other.
We decided on a day and convenient time. I remember the excitement I felt at the prospect of hearing his voice....

The girls were tucked up in bed when the phone rang. I answered it.
'Hello Marie, It's Phil',  I heard on the other end of the line. How exciting! He sounded very nice, well spoken and he sounded pleased to hear my voice too.

We must have spoken for a few hours! He was so easy to talk to and I remember liking the way he said 'because' ...more like 'becorrs' and he said my voice was deeper than he expected and not so northern...well I guess I have my southern parents to thank for that!

In that conversation we must have covered nearly every aspect of our lives. Our childhoods, family, relationships and ...Cillit Bang!

Yes, very strange I know! But we must have gotten on to talking about cleaning ( I know, what the heck?) and we must have mentioned products we use and ended up talking about the latest product on the market at the time, which was Cillit Bang! I don't even use it...perhaps I tried it, but honestly, what a thing to talk about!

But it didn't put him off! We phoned each other a few more times and then decided to meet.

The date was set, Saturday 30th June 2007.
I couldn't wait to meet him. I woke up that morning feeling quite peaceful about it all not nervous as I had expected.
Phil drove up the motorway that morning to meet us. I say us because it wasn't about just meeting me, it was about meeting the girls too.
I had asked them if they wanted to meet my new friend who I had been emailing and they said they were fine with it. I explained that his name was Phil and he was in the Army and I was excited to meet him. It was important to me that the girls were all ok with it and I would have waited a bit longer to meet him if necessary. But there was no point him just meeting me alone without the girls beacause if the relationship was to develop, the girls were going to be a big part of his life along with me.

I got a phone call  to say he'd set off and then I got another phone call when he was only a few minutes away. He rang to check the directions to the house.

So, knowing he was only a few minutes away I waited by the front door.
My middle daughter, Laura, was playing out in the street with a friend and Phil slowed the car down and spoke out of the car window to her telling her that he was Phil and recognised that she was Laura. They smiled and passed a few words between each other and then he pulled on to the driveway.
I felt excited. He was smiling at me and his blue eyes were twinkling, just like they did in the photo I had seen of him.
As he got out the car and walked towards me, my youngest Eleanor got passed me to say hello first and asked if he did piggy backs!
Phil obliged and Eleanor climbed onto his back! He was stood in the hallway saying hello to us all but with the girls there, I didn't give him a hug or a kiss...not until later!

Looking back it must have been quite overwhelming for him! But he coped very well.
I guess I was very aware of how the girls would react to him and so was careful not to show too much affection but I knew that even prior to meeting him, I had given him a little piece of my heart!
What I did notice was that he didn't hold much eye contact with me. He kept looking down or away when he was talking. I was a little unsure why but he told me a while later that he felt 'overwhelmed by my beauty' and thought 'how am I going to impress her?!'
Ha ha! Honestly, he needn't have worried...I was worried he would think I wasn't what he thought I was in the photograph!
He looked just as I'd expected him to but was a little shorter than I'd thought. He'd said he was 5"11 on his profile when in fact he's probably more like 5"9 and half!
He also commented that I was taller than he thought but I'd been accurate and said I was 5"6, it was just that he was shorter!
I remember he smelt of coconuts too! It was the scent of the toiletries he was using at the time but I liked it.

He also met my twin sister Donna that day...It was important he passed that test, which he did!

And so we all went out together to have lunch and then went to the cinema to watch Shrek.
I sat next to Phil and we sneekily held hands and whispered to each other how glad we were to have met one another. And we had a little kiss too when the girls weren't looking!

At the end of that afternoon, we were very keen to meet again and we arranged to meet the following week because he was on leave. This time, whilst the girls were spending time with their dad, I shared some time with Phil, just the two of us...and love blossomed.

Within a few weeks we were saying I love you to one another...in fact it I think it was Phil that said it first!
Later that summer I met Phil's family.
It was lovely to meet them and I didn't underestimate how they may have been slightly apprehensive about Phil finding love with a divorcee with 3 children but they seemed to accept me and the girls and showed me much love and kindness. In fact it was Phil's brother and sister in law who had encouraged him to go on the dating website to begin with so I have a lot to thank them for!

He was at a point in his life where he had had some long term relationships but none of them had worked out and he was starting to wonder if he'd ever find love and get married.
Phil has said, that he was looking for love in all the wrong places... until I came along!

Phil started coming along to the church I attend. He had been honest with me at the start and said how he'd not been to church for a long time. I'm glad he was open to coming along to my church and before long he was coming every Sunday, getting to know new friends and enjoying the fellowship.
I know since we have been together that his faith has grown as a result of this and my faith has grown in that time also.

Things were going really well and we were very careful to include the girls in all our decisions.
It became obvious that we were meant to be together and we did ask the girls how they would feel if we got married and they didn't have any objections. They got on with Phil so well and he was great with them.
Phil would come up from Suffolk every weekend, driving the 600 mile round trip to spend time with us.
And in March 2008 Phil proposed marriage and I said yes!

I never thought I would marry again after the heartbreak I had been through in my past but I did. I trusted Phil, I loved him and knew it was God's plan for us to be together.
On a beautiful, sunny day, on the 31st of July 2009, just over 2 years after we first met, we became husband and wife and got married at the church we both attend.

It was such a very special day which we celebrated with friends and family.
Sarah, my eldest daughter, walked me down the aisle that day with Laura and Eleanor walking ahead of us. I felt thankful that I'd had a second chance at love, that I could share my life with someone and know true love.

I know for sure God played a part in bringing us together.There is no way we would have met under ordinary circumstances. I lived miles away from Phil and he had no reason to come to my part of the country.
Phil was an answer to prayer. I would never have met him if it wasn't for the internet! How it has made the world a smaller place and a place I now share with Phil.

My Mum and Dad recently celebrated 55 years of marriage...something I aspire to even if that will mean Phil and I will be 90 when and if we get there! But I have seen the way their love for one another has changed, grown and deepened over the years. They really have worked at their marriage and been there for one another in the good times and bad. They are a real inspiration.

Phil and I celebrate 4 years of marriage in July and we have shared many happy times together and created some beautiful memories but I will be honest and say at times it's not been easy. Every marriage has it's ups and downs and we have certainly shared some tough times together along the way, especially during long periods of separation, when Phil has been away in Afghanistan but our love and God's love has brought us this far and I pray it continues to.

I dedicate this blog post to you Phil.

Phil, you are a wonderful, caring, kind and loving husband who is always there for me and I am blessed to have you in my life.


I love you! xxxxx

It's a Twin thing: Part 2

Being a twin means you always have someone in your life to share the good times with but also someone to turn to when the going gets tough and Donna has been the most supportive, loving and caring sister I could ever wish for through the bad times.

When I was around the age of 14 I became quite ill. It was Donna that urged mum to get me to the doctors to get some tests done. She is the one who observed me and spent time with me almost 24 hours a day and she could see that I was unwell. I was eating us out of house and home but losing weight. I was sweating and had a tremor and my heart would race and I'd have palpitations. The blood tests I had revealed an overactive thyroid gland which was affecting my heart and metabolism.
Thankfully, I was quickly put on tablets to help me to feel well again but throughout those teenage years I was quite unwell at times and I was thankful to have had a loving and caring twin sister to support me through it all.
The doctors were concerned that Donna would develop the same problem being my twin but she was ok until after the birth of her first son when she started with similar symptoms and ended up receiving treatment.

Ultimately, my thyroid never stabilised and I ended up having it removed at the age of 20. I remember feelings of relief to get it removed but I know Donna was so worried about me and must have felt quite nervous on the day of my operation. Thankfully there was no 'twin thing' going on that day when the surgeons cut into my neck to remove the gland! I looked like Frankenstein afterwards with about 15 staples in my neck which has left me with a scar to this day but after the operation, Donna spent lots of time with me and helped me on my road to recovery.

The teenage years saw us becoming more individual although remaining close.

We both met our first boyfriends at a similar age, aged 17-18 and by that time, although we still remained very close it felt right to embark on our own journeys of love and later, marriage. Yes, we both married our first boyfriend...
In fact, Donna married a twin! Her wedding photos were great...Donna and her new husband and me stood next to his brother! I always thing they look very alike, although like Donna and I, you can see differences.

Sadly, after 9 years of marriage and the birth of our 3 daughters my husband decided to leave to start a new chapter in his life with someone else. We had been together from the age of 17. I was now 30 and had spent 13 years of my life with him.

Devastated and heartbroken I could not have come through this time without my twin sister Donna.
It seemed so unreal to me. The future I had always thought of was suddenly taken from me. I had no idea who I was as a person.
I had grown up with Donna and then met my first husband at the age of 17 so had always lived my life with someone. Never on my own. I was a young wife and mother, never just 'Marie'.
The months that followed the separation left me feeling emotionally and physically exhausted. The girls were 7, 5 and nearly 3 when their dad left.
I fell into a deep depression and felt so much anxiety about how I would manage to cope with 3 little girls and run a house on my own.
And I felt the pain of rejection. I was no longer loved...not by him anyway.
But I was loved by so many others and Donna most of all.
She helped me every single day to get out of bed and live another day. I remember I used to say,
"I can't do this anymore" and she would say, "But you are doing it Marie, you are doing it and you can do it."

I struggled on...but aswell as Donna being there for me, God was there for me.
He never, ever let go of me throughout it all.
It is when you are in the deepest of pits and in the darkness, when you can't see any light that God shines His light into the darkness and reaches His hand into the pit and lifts you up.
I really felt His protection over me.

He never took my struggles away or the pain I felt but He did use it to mould and shape me into the person I am now. And I completely and utterly put all my faith and trust in Him, always.

My faith grew stronger because of my experience and my relationship with Donna was made stronger too.
I remember talking about my problems over and over...and over again with her but she would just listen and listen and help me some more.
She must have been saturated in my problems but was always there for me even when she had her own things going on and probably had nothing left to give. She not only supported me emotionally but physically and practically too. She looked after the girls if I was having a particularly bad day. She would give me a break when I needed it most. She was the 'cavalry' arriving at my front door when I had no energy or motivation to carry on. She helped carry the load when I felt I couldn't any more.

God and Donna made a great team and helped me through one of the most difficult times of my life.
In fact, I feel God used Donna as a vessel to speak His words directly to me at times and to extend His love and compassion through her. It was no mistake I was born a twin.

Facing this new chapter in my life, I needed to establish a new career as I needed to support my girls financially as well as emotionally and physically.

Donna and I both gained good exam results on leaving school and both did work experience in banks which later led us to a career in banking.
Donna is still working for Barclays bank nearly 22 years later but after having my girls I left banking and with the change of circumstances in my life I decided to train as a teaching assistant, a job I knew I would love. I now also do the administration at school too and enjoy the balance of working with the children and working in the office.

We both work part time and more recently Donna completed a Humanities degree specialising in Literature and gained a First Class Honours Degree! I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of Donna's achievement! She obviously got more brain cells when the egg split! I cried when she told me her results and she so deserved it after 6 years of hard work, dedication and determination to succeed.

Donna has 2 sons and I have 3 daughters. Donna is so good with my girls and is more than an auntie to them...especially as we both live in the same street and the cousins are often getting together in our houses.
We both moved to the same new housing estate within 6 months of each other but lived in different streets. However, as Donna's family grew she decided to look for a larger house and found one in my street that suited!

And we aren't always in each others houses...I promise! But we do see a lot of each other. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Our husbands are very understanding!

As I have said before. I know why God gave me a twin sister because I couldn't go through life with out her. It is such a special relationship that we have. She truly is a blessing in my life and has never stopped being there for me, through the good times and bad.
We often joke about being old ladies together and the things we will get up to!

Just recently we shared a birthday and bought each other the same birthday present, an owl cushion! We hadn't even mentioned owls or cushions and just happened to buy the same thing.
Yet another 'twin thing'. Even we were a little freaked out by how weird it was!

It still amazes me now when I see another set of twins. I try looking for the differences and wonder what sort of relationship they have. I look at young twins and fondly remember our unique and special childhood and the happy times that we shared.

We will forever be sisters with a special bond.

It's a Twin thing: Part 1

I am often asked what it's like to be a twin or how it was growing up as one.
All I can say is...I know why God gave me a twin. I could not have come through some of the most difficult times in my life without her!

Donna and I were born on Thursday, 31st January 1974.

That's Donna on the left of the photo and me on the right.

Our older sister Lisa was by that time ten years old and Mum and Dad were happy with their 'only child' and not planning on any more children when they got the news that another baby was on the way.
It wasn't until seven months into the pregnancy that Mum had it confirmed that she was having twins. But Mum had a feeling and had to convince the midwife that there were two babies. She thought she could feel two heads and unless there was something seriously wrong, the only explanation was twins! So they did a scan, which wasn't routine in those days, and Mum was right...she was having twins. Even though Mum had a feeling it was still a bit of a shock all the same!

They say twins skip a generation but that wasn't the case in our family.
Our Grandmother  (my mum's mum) had twins, Mum had twins (us!) and our older sister went on to have twins.
So it is a wonder that we didn't have twins especially as Donna married a twin!

We were due around Valentine's Day but came 2 weeks early.
I was born first, a breech delivery and then my sister followed 15 minutes later.
They probably wouldn't even consider a normal delivery these days if one twin is breech but back then I guess things were different. A Caesarean section would probably be offered now as a safer option.
We each had our own amniotic sack but shared a placenta which means that we are identical twins.
I think we were alike when we were little but our looks have changed over the years and I think you can tell us apart easily now, although we still get mistaken for each other even now!

Dad wasn't at the birth. It wasn't the done thing back then and he just dropped Mum off at the Maternity hospital. Of course, Dad was at work on nights when Mum went into labour and our sister Lisa had to run up the road to use a neighbours phone to call Dad and let him know.
Dad and Lisa learnt that Mum had given birth to two healthy baby girls the next morning.
Lisa was very excited to tell all her friends!

It must have been hard work in those early days for Mum but she did have a helper in Lisa who was more than happy to help out as a little mother! And of course Dad did what he could but had to go out to work.

Not sure I should share this...but I will!
Lisa was a fan of the Osmond's at the time...Donny and Marie Osmond were very popular at the time with their TV show...you know where I'm going with this don't you?! Yes...so now you know. But initially the first born was to be called Donna and the second born Marie. But when the midwife showed us to Mum for the first time she showed the second born twin first and so Donna was named Donna and I got the name Marie!

We slept together in the same cot for a long time and even if Mum put us top to tail, we would soon crawl up the other end to be cuddled up together.
We had a  large Silver Cross coach built pram and sat together side by side and no doubt drew a lot of attention when we were out and about.
Mum said she was often stopped and asked how she could tell us apart.
But mum's know these things and even though we are identical there were slight differences in the shapes of our faces and our little noses and features.

Mum bottle fed us so that others could share the responsibility of feeding us and we were brought up on watered down Carnation milk...no SMA back then! No wonder we were chubby babies. I think because we were 5 and a half pounds each at birth, Mum thought she needed to fatten us up a bit so the Health Visitor could see she was doing a good job of looking after us, which of course she was!

I remember becoming aware of this 'other person' who was always with me when I was a toddler I suppose.  I was rarely on my own and would play with this 'other person' all the time, sleep in the same room with her, eat and drink with her and go everywhere with her.
I kind of understood that she was my sister...but it was other people that made me aware that we were twins because they would say, "Aren't you two alike!" or "Which one's which?"

So I slowly realised we were 'the same'...we were twins.
And Mum always dressed us the same. Some 'twin' mums want to encourage their children to find their own identities and encourage them to grow up more as siblings than twins but I'm glad that we did dress the same and even when we had the choice as we got older, we didn't want to be different. Why should we? It was all we had known and we were comfortable with it.

                                            

I am on the left of this photo and Donna is on the right.

It is fair to say that Donna was the 'talker' in our younger days!
Mum says that people would offer up the question, "What's your names?"
And before I had chance to open my mouth Donna would say, "My name is Donna and her name is Marie!"
Yes, she did most of the talking and I was happy with that. I guess she was more confident and there is always one twin who is a little more dominant. Well that was the case when we were little.
I suppose as we've grown up and developed our own lives and had our own families, we have become our own person and equally as confident... and I can confirm we certainly don't dress the same now!

We reached milestones together. We learnt to walk and talk at the same time and got teeth days apart. We even lost the same teeth days apart too!
But unlike some twins, we didn't have any secret language...well not that I remember. We conversed normally but we were always very in tune with each other and would often come out with the same words at the same time and still do! Or Donna will start a sentence and I'll finish it!

                    

Donna is on the left of the photo, me on the right.

We were in the same class at primary school and would usually sit together. I always had to sit on the left side and Donna on the right because I am left handed and she is right handed and so to avoid clashing our hands and elbows together whilst writing, it was best to sit that way round.
But even walking together, I always felt more comfortable on the left hand side with Donna on the right...the other way round didn't feel right!

We had the same friends because we were in the same class I suppose but we usually orientated towards the same children and would visit  their house together.
I look back on my primary school days with fondness. We both learnt to play the recorder, then the flute and we loved to sing. Donna would sing melody whilst I sang the harmony!
And we made some lovely friends who helped create those happy memories too.

We didn't really want to move onto secondary school to be honest. It was a real wrench to leave our happy days at primary school behind.
Secondary school seemed so big and 'grown up' in contrast and for two girls who were happy being 'young' it was a difficult transition.
Sometimes the kids at secondary school would pick on us for being 'posh'. Our accents weren't as northern as theirs because we had southern parents and they would make fun of the whole 'twin thing'. We often fell into step whilst walking together and that often caused someone to make unkind remarks, usually boys, who called us 'twinnies'.
Quite a contrast to primary school where we were accepted and popular.

But I didn't have to face that difficult transition alone. I am thankful that on the days when I just didn't want to go, we would 'do it together' and then run home from school and go back to 'our little world'.

I guess that even though we had friends we did have our own little world of sorts. It was something that others weren't part of. We would happily play together and forget about the 'outside world' because it sometimes seemed such a scary place.

Yes, we led sheltered lives. We weren't exposed to difficult times. Not then. We had a happy childhood and wanted those days to last forever.

It took a long time for us to start dressing differently. It was when we started secondary school and in a way we were forced into it. I don't think 'we' were ready, it was 'society' that dictated what was acceptable and I suppose once you have moved onto secondary school you should show everyone that you are growing up and becoming your own person. So we did dress differently but it took a while to adjust and we would sometimes wear the same clothes in different colours. But it was a massive milestone.

We adjusted to life at secondary school eventually and enjoyed doing the annual 'Musical Extravaganza' shows together. It was fun singing and dancing on the stage and we often used to entertain friends and family with the songs we had learnt.
We made a few different friends at secondary school because even though we were in the same form we did have some different classes. We wore name badges and would swap them and play tricks on the teachers and have a giggle behind their backs!

We did argue sometimes. I remember we used to get into some physical arguments too, especially when we were playing music together...if one of us didn't play it right...well, it's a wonder my flute didn't end up looking like a saxophone because I definitely remember hitting Donna over the head with it!
And I stabbed her on the back of the hand with a pen once in a lesson because she was being annoying! It left a 'tattoo' ink spot on the back of her hand for years.
Donna was quite competitive and would get in a grump if I was winning a game and that often resulted in arguments! I do remember mum suggesting she'd get some boxing gloves for us for Christmas one year!
But on the whole we got on really well...and still do.

It was during a sewing lesson when we were about 13 that I remember the first time I felt a 'supernatural' twin thing happen.
Donna was sewing on the sewing machine and managed to....*turn away now if you're squeamish*... put the sewing machine needle through her finger! Ouch!
I was on the other side of the classroom but felt a pain go right through my index finger...What made me turn to look at her I don't know but I knew instantly that she had hurt herself.

Thankfully it had not gone right through the whole finger, just the nail, but the point is, I felt it!
How strange.

We often knew what each other was thinking with just a glance at each other or a nod.
We always knew how each other felt and through testing and difficult times that has been a good and bad thing. Good-because we have great empathy and understanding for one another. Bad- because you wish you could take the pain or sadness of a situation away knowing how distressing or bad things are.

And we have shared difficult times over the years...I'll share more next time and tell you how Donna helped me through them...hankies at the ready, there will be tears!

Snowflakes

With all this snow about the country, it got me thinking about the beauty of snowflakes.
There are no two snowflakes the same. They are all unique. I think that is amazing!

 

In the Bible, Job 38 verse 22 asks,

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow?

 

Wilson A. Bentley (1865-1931), was a scientist from Vermont, New England, USA, who focused his studies on the snowflake and although he was a 'man of science' he was also a 'man of God', and the above verse inspired his studies. It made him want to know more about the 'treasure' that is snow.

 

He quotes:

"Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated., When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind." 

He captured more than 5000 snowflakes during his studies and never found two the same.

 

When God created us, He never made two of us the same (...she says being one of a twin!)

But even twins are not exactly the same, having different fingerprints or birthmarks.

I believe God is our creator, the author and designer of our life and He makes us all unique. He gives us different gifts and uses us in different ways to fulfill the plans that He has for our lives.

He breathes life into our soul and He also knows the number of days we will walk this earth.

Just like the snowflake we are all a masterpiece of  His design, never to be repeated. And just like the snowflake, once our life is over and our soul departs, the beauty of our life is gone...

But unlike the snowflake we can leave a legacy behind. We can leave the memories and we can leave an impact on this world.

I recently wrote about Alice Pyne and the beautiful inspiration she has been to me and so many others. Her days on this earth just weren't long enough...but the legacy she has left behind is far reaching and beyond amazing. 

The other day I posted this quote by Corrie Ten Boom, on my Facebook page:
The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation.

How true.

 

My sister  recently shared a poem with me called 'The Dash' by Linda Ellis.

Basically, 'The Dash' is a poem about the little line between the date you were born and the date you die. The poem states how it's not important when we were born or when we die, it's what we did with the time in between those two dates, marked by a dash, that matter.

Due to copyright I am unable to publish it here but if you click on the words highlighted above it will take you to the poem.

The poem asks if there is something we'd like to change in our lives. Could we be living life differently? With the new year now underway, perhaps it is a good time to ask that very question...will we live life differently or will we go about things the same way as we did last year? What difference could we make this year not only in our own lives but that of others?

It doesn't always have to be a big thing or a big deal to make a difference!
Sometimes something as simple as saying hello to an elderly neighbour or an act of kindness, for instance helping someone with their shopping, can make all the difference to that person.
 The impact you will have made on that persons day could mean so much to them.

And it may not be in life that we make a difference...it may be in our death....

About a year ago I decided to become an organ donor, which means after my death my organs may be used to help others live.
It is a very personal decision and something you should make your family aware of if you decide to do this.
My sister has a friend who received new lungs from organ donation and her story is what prompted me to sign up. Her life was saved and she continues to do well. She has had a second chance at life which she would not have had if it wasn't for organ donation.

If this is something that you think you might be able to do if you haven't done so already, please click the link below to find out more.
http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/

The snowflake fades and melts away but we have been given another day...
Make each day count. Make a difference.

I hope the coming week is a great one for you and you get to enjoy the snow if you have some!
God bless.
Marie xx





 

 










 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Beautiful inspiration...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alice Pyne

 

I feel so sad today after hearing that Alice has passed away, aged 17 years old, from Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

She has been such a beautiful inspiration to so many and will never be forgotten for her courage and bravery throughout the journey she has been on.

Despite her illness, Alice helped promote the importance of finding a bone marrow match for people in the same position as herself and she managed to get thousands of people to register in the hope that they might be able to save a life.

If it is something you think you could do please visit this link:
Anthony Nolan Trust

She had her very own Bucket list of things to do before she died and thankfully she achieved many of the things she wanted to do, for instance to go whale watching, which she did in Canada and meeting Take That!

Alice was recently awarded a Pride of Britain award for her courage and she was also awarded a British Empire Medal for her services to charity in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List last year, along with her sister Milly, 14.
Together they raised more than £100,000 for charity and she set up the charity Alice’s Escapes, which helps parents with a seriously ill child go on holiday.

Alice achieved more in her short lifetime than most of us will ever hope to achieve.
I know in my heart that God had a purpose and a plan for Alice's life and she must have accomplished all God had in mind for her to achieve in her life before she went to be with Him.
Had it not been for Alice, the 40,000 donors who signed up to the Anthony Nolan trust may not have ever done so. If it were not for Alice, there would be no Alice's Escapes that helps so many seriously ill children have a holiday.

But the heartache, pain and sadness her mum, dad, sister Milly and her family and friends must feel today must be so devastating and overwhelming because their loss is so great.

Lord, I want to pray for Alice's family today, for her friends and those who knew her.
Please draw alongside them. Help them feel your peace and comfort them this day.
Surround them with your love and help them know you are there in the midst of all of this pain.
Thank you Lord for Alice and the beautiful inspiration she was and I pray the work she started will continue to grow and support others in their time of need.

Amen.

Thank you for the beautiful inspiration that you have been to me Alice. Safe in Jesus' arms now and one of Heaven's most beautiful angels.

The birth of a blog...

I thought I'd share a bit about how this blog came about...

A few months ago we had a new roller blind fitted in the hallway.
I took a picture of it on my phone and sent it to my sister to show her how it looked ( because that's the sort of thing we do!)  and right there and then, I felt a whisper in my ear to start writing a blog and call it My window on the world.

Now, I had been toying with the idea but this whisper felt pretty loud for a whisper!
In the photo you will see that my neighbours boat was parked in their driveway which also meant something to me.
A long time ago I read a christian book called,
 'If you want to walk on water, You've got to get out of the boat!'

It was all about trusting God and stepping out of your comfort zone.

I looked at the boat as I stared out of the window and whilst hearing the whisper knew that it was a sign to 'step out of the boat' so to speak and share some of my life, my experiences and my thoughts with others in the hope that it might touch their hearts, mean something to them or just interest them!

Why call it My window on the world?

Well I guess the blog is about how I see things from my perspective, how I perceive the world and what it looks like to me from where I'm standing.

Life can be seen from so many angles and even if you are sharing the same experience as someone else for instance a holiday, the way you remember it and perceive it can be quite different from the way they experience it.

I have been reading blogs for a while, truly inspirational ones and have gained so much from reading the heartfelt stories...expect they aren't just stories, they are real life.
Someone is 'living' the life I read about.They are on a journey that they want to share with others, with me. And I am thankful and feel blessed to have come across the people who are willing to share their lives through a blog. They have touched my heart and inspire me.

Stephanie Nielson, the author of  Nie Nie Dialogues blog, was burned over 80% of her body in a plane crash and survived...She is so inspiring and courageous and has an amazing blog! She will never really know what impact she has had on thousands of readers, although I'm sure she must get lots of emails telling her. Her faith, although different to mine, has helped her on the road of recovery and she gives God the glory in it all. She is so thankful for the life she now has even though she still struggles with pain and will face many more operations to come. An amazing lady, who is also a wife and mum to 5 children!

My life can seem pretty boring at times...in fact some days it really is Groundhog day!
But throughout the day I am often inspired about something I have read, seen or heard. Sometimes it is just a mere observation that makes me think deeply on something. Sometimes it is a memory, the emotions and feelings that go with it.
A blog allows me to verbalise my thoughts and write them down and share them with others. It also gives me the opportunity to share my faith which is a huge part of who I am. It is something I didn't share readily before writing this blog but find it easier to do so in this medium. But now, I feel more able to do so on a personal level too. It is something I intend to share in more detail with you at some point.

Some blogs I read are 'mummy' blogs. Some are 'christian' blogs. Some are 'lifestyle' or 'craft/home-made' blogs.
I don't think my blog has any clear theme, it is just my life and the things that mean something to me.

What kind of blogs do you like to read? I'd like to know what interests you!

I do hope that what I share, you will enjoy reading and perhaps you will identify with in some way. Or with regards to my faith, you may feel God speaking to you through the words He gives me and feel a need question it further or discover more for yourself.

I hope to share more of my life story with you and the experiences I've been through and also write a bit about the people who inspire me because there are many!

Whatever blogs you read, happy reading!

A New Year on the blog...

Happy New Year to you all!
I hope 2013 will bring you much peace, joy, happiness and memories to look back on in years to come.

I'm not sure how I feel about it to be honest. It doesn't feel like a new year, just a new day, which I guess it is. Why is it we wait until a new year comes to change things or make a fresh start anyway?

A few days ago we watched the film, 'We bought a Zoo', starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson.
The film is based on a true story and follows a widower who has two young children, and in the midst of his grief, after losing his wife, he starts looking for happiness, looking for a new start in life and he decides to ...buy a Zoo! I don't want to spoil it so won't share too much of the plot.
But one thing he said really touched my heart.

Whilst talking about life and making the most of it he says,
"It only takes 20 seconds of courage."
And he is right. How many of us wait until the 'right time' or 'put things off' and miss an opportunity which could turn out to be a huge blessing?

I remember hearing a speaker at church once say, that God brings us opportunity like a river...the river flows past us and if we don't jump in at that very moment in time that part of the river keeps on flowing and the opportunity we had just passes us by and will be missed forever. It takes courage to jump in! 20 seconds of courage may just change the course of your life! If you can find 20 seconds of courage, God will find the rest.

I want to share with you that my middle daughter, Laura, has been struggling with severe anxiety and nerves and at the moment things are so bad, she has not attended school for the past few months.

It breaks my heart to see her like this and I just keep on praying that God will bring her through it...and He is...baby steps. We have finally managed to get some help for her and she is seeing someone to help with her problems but ultimately she knows only she can make the change and find the courage to turn her life around. The last thing I want is for her to look back on her teenage  years in years to come and regret being sat at home, not leaving the house, not going to school, not living life to the full but merely existing. My hope for 2013 is that she will gain the strength and courage she needs to face her fears head on.
I have shared this verse with Laura,

John 10 verse 10 says:
...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

It is not want God wants for her life. He wants her to live life to full abundance!
I have every confidence that Laura will overcome this and with God's help, come through the storm she is passing through at this time in her life.

And if you are struggling to find the courage then something I often say, not only to Laura but to myself is,

"Do it scared!"

And I have done that on so many occasions this year, one example being leading the worship at church. I sing in the worship group but had never led worship and when I was asked, every part of me was saying no, I can't stand at the front of church and do that but a quiet whisper in the depth of my soul said, yes, you can!  God was pushing me beyond my comfort zone but by doing so I have received so many blessings in return.


Even writing this blog has nudged me gently outside of my comfort zone...In the beginning I would press the 'publish' button and feel vulnerability wash over me.
" What if they don't like this post? " or " What will they think if they know this about me? " or
" Should I share my faith so openly? "
 But as time passes, I find pressing the 'publish' button easier and I know that my readers only come by this page if they want to and are interested. I've had a few followers saying some lovely encouraging things and so I've kept going! It's nice to know when I've touched someone's heart or said something to help another.


I like this quote from Mother Teresa:

Every day is a blank page in your book of life. What depth, colour or shading are you going to bring to that blank page? Will it be the start of a great chapter in your life?


I am changing. I am a work in progress. He has a lot of work to do!
I trust God and I have faith that He is bringing about change in me for a reason.
Ultimately, He wants the best for me and I know I can be better than this. He wants greater things for me but I have to keep trusting and hearing Him in it all.

I hope 2013 will be a year of opportunity. A year of change for the better for you and for me!

What are your New Years resolutions? Have you decided to make any changes in your life this year? I'd love to hear about them!

I'm going to be reading the Bible in a year.  You can follow it too by clicking on this link:
http://about.esvbible.org/resources/reading/

Last year I read the M'Cheyne one year reading plan. I just finished and decided to start all over again! I don't think reading the Bible once right through qualifies me in anyway to say I really know my Bible so I think I might have to do it every year!

I know of someone who has read the Bible through every year for the past 45 years! Amazing!

I encourage you to give it a go...It really is a blessing and God has spoken directly to me on many occasions whilst reading.


Hoping 2013 will be a wonderful year for you all and that it brings blessings your way everyday.
I intend to count mine as often as possible.

Love Marie xx

My African child...

As you know, I have 3 girls, Sarah, Laura and Eleanor. Back in 2004, I found myself in the new role of being a single parent and I have to admit that I found life quite a struggle back then. I love my girls with all my heart and found myself feeling a lot of sadness about the way family life had changed for me and for them, even though I hadn't wanted it to. I looked around me and seemed to see 'families' everywhere, doing the things we used to do as a family. My heart was truly broken and even though I was moving forward (I had no choice, I had to) I was also looking back, longing for the old times and holding on to memories that brought about a whole mixture of emotions.
Along with this emotional and physical change in family life, my finances changed too. At that time I wasn't working and had to go onto benefits. I had always looked after the finances and so knew how to look after the household budget but this change in circumstance meant I was now having to count every penny.
But during this time I really felt God put it on my heart to think of others in less fortunate circumstances even though I was feeling quite sorry for myself. I could hear God say,
"You have a roof over your head, you've eaten today, you have nice clothes and a comfy bed...there are people who are worse off...take a look around you!"

And so I did. A friend of mine had told me about Compassion, a Christian organisation which enables you to sponsor a child from an international country who is living in extreme poverty. Compassion partners up with local churches to address the child's spiritual, economic, social and physical needs. They present every child with an opportunity to become fulfilled Christian adults.
I felt God telling me that even though I was living on a really tight budget, I could do this, He would make it possible even under the circumstances. God was saying that if I blessed others, He would bless me accordingly.


And He did...with a lovely little girl called Metsehet!

 

 

 

She is 12 years old now and we have been sponsoring her since 2007. Here is a little bit about her:

Metsehet lives on the plains of Huruta in Ethiopia and lives under the care of her grandfather. Sadly, her mother is no longer alive and it is not known if her father is alive.There are two children in the family, Metsehet and a boy. Her home duties include running errands and cleaning.  For fun, Metsehet enjoys playing house and reading, She attends church and Sunday school regularly. She also attends school locally.
Huruta is home to approximately 15,000 residents. Typical houses are constructed of dirt floors, wood walls and corrugated iron roofs. The primary ethnic group is Oromo and the most commonly spoken language is Oromiffa. The regional diet consists of maize, beans and teff (local grain). Common health problems in this area include TB, HIV/ AIDS and water borne diseases. Most adults in Huruta work as day labourers and earn the equivalent of approximately £5 per month. This community has water, electricity and telephone service but needs vocational training centres and employment opportunities.
Sponsorship allows the staff of Huruta Mekane Yesus child development center to provide Metsehet with Bible teaching, hygiene and health education, health screening, supplementary food, recreational activities, picnics, field trips, educational materials, tuition, tutoring and counselling services.

I write regularly to Metsehet and she writes back some very sweet letters, usually asking about the things we have been up to and I remember her asking once if we have a 'Dry Season'! Not in this country, I replied!
I also get a copy of her school report and she is doing well, performing just above average.

The girls also like to write the occasional letter and my youngest daughter is just a few months younger than Metsehet.
What different lives they lead. It would be so good to meet Metsehet one day. I feel she is part of our family and I am blessed to have her in my life. We pray for her often and can only imagine how life is for her, but I do feel that because she is part of the Compassion organisation, she is getting the best opportunities available to her.

Sponsoring Metsehet has changed my life for the better. I have a 'daughter' living in Africa who means so much to me. She has made me see life from a different perspective. When I look back to the days when I was struggling as a single parent and finances were tight, things were so much worse for little Metsehet and her family. She was living in extreme poverty and had lost her mum...we were still a family, all be it 'changed' but the girls still had me providing them with love, stability and a nice home to live in. And as the years progressed my life would change again, for the better this time, with Phil coming coming into it, not long after I started supporting Metsehet!

I want to ask you at this time of year, when we look to the future and the new year ahead whether you would consider sponsoring a child like Metsehet? I know some people like to make New Year's resolutions to change their lives for the better, how about changing someone elses life for the better...not only changing their life but their future?
I know for a lot of us that the economic climate means finances are tight and when I started sponsoring Metsehet they were for me too, but I can promise you, the blessings you receive in knowing you are helping someone less fortunate are so much more than the financial commitment you make on a a monthly basis. Just knowing there is a little child out there, benefiting from your help, is enough in itself but you also receive letters and photos and the knowledge that their future is brighter because of your commitment in their life.

Love and prayers
Marie xx