Rhythms of life

Sometimes in life you have a rhythm and life just flows along.  Then at other times things throw that rhythm out.

Cheney Craft - word of the month Spring

We have had illness in the family which has really thrown us out of our daily rhythm.  Each of us has had a flu-like cold in turn and then caught it a second time round.

On top of that we have had school holidays and now we are moving into exam season.  The normal rhythm of the Vizor household is completely out and in a time of flux.

Swindon Tennis Club Practice

So this post is really a catch up of what have managed to get up to recently.

Both boys are playing for the Swindon Tennis Club this season and they played together in the first match for the Men's C team.

Swindon Tennis Club Practice

The vegetable patch is starting to put up shoots and we have had our first crop of rhubarb already this year.

We took the boys and their revision down to Spring Harvest in Minehead, so we could combine some spiritual refreshment with mental refreshment in the sea air.  We were led in worship by Graham Kendrick each evening and came away revitalised for another year of inspiring God's people.

Fun in the sun at Spring Harvest 2015

I've completed the Bowl full of lemons Home 14 week organisation challenge and the house has really benefited from a top to bottom clean and organisation.

Being the organised sort that I am, I have also managed to make some of my Christmas cards already.  The plan is make 6 per month and I am nearly keeping up with that.

Getting ahead for Christmas 

Jacob has continued with his fundraising for his trip to the world scout jamboree in Japan this summer.  This week he and Josh had the opportunity to be part of democracy and raise funds, by acting as runners at the count for the General Election. They were trained by a team from Sunderland, who hold the record for the fastest announcement of results and the training paid off as Swindon were fourth to announce their first count, behind the three results from Sunderland.  Well done boys!!

Our prayer as a family this week is for all those who work with the poor and the marginalised, that they will be inspired by God in all they do and God's kingdom will come through their work.

This week's Bible verse is

From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, 

which are able to make you wise for salvation 

through faith in Christ Jesus.

—2 Timothy 3:15

With God's blessings from my family to yours,

Jo x

Mothering Sunday

Happy Mothering Sunday!

Cheneycraft - Spring decoration

We have had a busy few weeks with Jacob's tennis recently, but this has led to him finishing his qualifications as a tennis coaching assistant and gaining enough wins to  go up a level in the ratings system.

We have had a nice family celebration of Mothering Sunday today and the boys helped me to cook dinner for 8, as my parents, Andy's Mum and Aunt joined us.

Having cleaned, purged and organised my craft storage it has been a pleasure to craft and much easier to get things out and see what is there.  Here are the fruits of my labours:

Cheneycraft - Mothering Sunday cards

We have also had a trip to London to the Good Food Eat Well show, to get ideas for nutrition particularly for Jacob's tennis training and competing.We had a consultation with a nutritionist from Eat and Think and we are starting to implement her recommendations for fuel before training sessions.

Cheneycraft - Pre tennis snack
(bagel & peanut butter & chocolate spread)

Cheneycraft - Pre-tennis snack
(vegetable sticks, pitta bread & dips)

One of the things I do to help save time is to menu plan and so these new snack items have been added to my non-menu shopping list to ensure we keep the cupboard stocked.

The Bible verse for this week is a reminder in times of trouble that our salvation comes from God, and we should not seek to justify ourselves through our own actions or possessions, but we are saved through God alone.

then know this, you and all the people of Israel: 

It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, 

whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, 

that this man stands before you healed. 

Salvation is found in no one else, 

for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind 

by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:10,12

Our prayer as a family is for the work of Comic Relief both here and in Africa, bringing hope to those in poverty and a friend to the lonely.  We pray that the money raised this weekend and in the past 30 years will be spent wisely in places it is needed.

Cheneycraft - Spring decoration for Red Nose Day 15

With God's blessings from my family to yours,

Jo x

From Cheneycraft...with love

It's half term already and Christmas is well and truly behind us and the promise of Spring is beginning to show in the garden.

Cheneycraft word of the month - February

We have been busy with tennis tournaments and exam revision in recent weeks.  Jacob has his first tournament win of the year and is just one win away from moving up a rating level.  Both boys are deep in revision, Jacob had mocks, or more importantly titled this year "pre-public exams" and Josh is getting ready for his A-levels.

In the post-Christmas tidy up I am following A bowl full of Lemons - 14 week organizing challenge and I am half way through.  I have tackled the master bedroom, kitchen, pantry, utility room, lounge and office area.  The challenge is a great way to focus on one area at a time and deep clean, purge and organize.  The facebook group is supporting and encouraging as well as inspirational.Before and after pictures from those following the challenge are also on Instagram.  Here's my tidy coffee table after the cleaning of the lounge.

Cheneycraft coffee table - #abfolorganizechallenge

This week I'm cleaning the bathroom, which is very small so I will use the time off work to get a head start on the conservatory, which stores all my craft items.

For Valentine's day I crafted using pintrest as inspiration.  Andy's gift of "a few of his favourite things" was wrapped up as a "brown paper package tied up with string"

Cheneycraft Valentine's gift - Brown paper package

Cheneycraft - Valentine butterfly

I also make the boys a Valentine gift each year and this year it was a Malteser Butterfly

Cheneycraft Valentine's gift

I wasn't sure if they would still want a gift from me, but the disappointment on Josh's face that there wasn't one at breakfast told me all I needed to know.  So while he was coaching at tennis I made these.


This week's Bible verse for reflection is also a reminder that God is with us:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 

Shall trouble or hardship or persecution 

or famine or nakedness 

or danger or sword? 

No, in all these things 

we are more than conquerors 

through him who loved us.

Romans 8:35,37 NIV

Our prayer as a family this week is for God's guidance through Lent. As we and many others give things up, may we be reminded of God's faithfulness to us throughout history and his promise to be with us through the trials of life, having been there before in his son Jesus Christ.

With God's blessings from my family to yours,

Jo x