Let the light shine

Well summer has arrived and with it the start of the celebrations for this year's sporting events.  The Olympic torch made its appearance in Swindon and was carried by that well known Swindonian (not!!) Didier Drogba.

Both the boys went on a school trip to see a retired teacher from their school carry the torch through Marlborough (Mr Perkins from the PE department).

We enjoyed the fruits of the vegetable patch and have shared our harvest with family.  The salad crop has come along really well and the broad bean, peas and potatoes are continuing to grow well.  With the summer weather coming into its own in the evening we managed to eat in the garden once this week and Lasagne just called for salad accompaniment.

Salad leaves, spring onions and parsley

We had our own celebrations in the family this week as well when Jacob was awarded the highest award in scouts - his gold Chief Scout's award.  He received the badge at his troop night and will receive the certificate from the mayor later in the year.

Jacob receiving his Gold Chief Scout's award

The heat has really suppressed my crafting this week, but I have started a craft ready for the Queen's jubilee celebrations next weekend, currently though it is just a few pieces of paper waiting to come together.

Work on the house makeover has moved on again this week with the installation of new doors throughout upstairs and a couple downstairs.  A school friend of Andy's came and fitted the five doors in one day and would have been back to fit the remaining three - had they arrived in the country but we will have to wait until the end of June before we can have the doors for the lounge.

Before - with no doors
(Andy could manage that part himself)

New Doors in situ

This week we start meetings for holiday club in the summer holidays.  Having changed churches we are adapting to a new way of working and have a core team to meet with and share ideas and hopefully some of the work.  As we are in an Olympic year we are having a sporting theme and are going for "more than gold".

Josh has been off sampling life in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary on "RFA Mounts Bay".  A leader in his Explorer Unit is serving on the ship and arranged for them to come down and visit.  They got to hold rifles but were not allowed to fire them as it may have upset the windsurfers!

The bible verse for this week is Isaiah 59:19

He will attack like a flood

    in a mighty windstorm.

Nations in the west and the east

will then honour and praise

    his wonderful name.

Our prayer as a family for this week is for all churches who are preparing for this summer and the opportunities the Jubilee, Olympics and other events present us to show God at work in the community today.  May we stand as beacons of God's love and reflect his glory to those around.

With God's blessings from my family to yours,

Jo x