From our weekend away in Southampton, visiting S, S and D!

We enjoyed great company, lovely food and a beautiful stroll along a pebbled beach.

As for me, I find other peoples approval a distraction. Richard and myself took LV for a walk last night as we are constantly thinking about our parenting choices. Both of us, grew up in an environment where we felt that we need meet with our parents approval, it is funny to think that we spent so much of our childhood being 'good', as adult's we have kicked back and watched God take us on a journey that began healing our mental grids of who we are. The truth is that we have resigned from trying to meet with their approval as our life choices are so different from eachother. BUT since living here, we feel like we are going backwards. I often come away from hanging Richard's Dad, with the feeling of his doesn't approve of my laid back role of being a 'wife'. Sometimes, I feel like he doesn't like me, which wouldn't bother me, if I didn't live here. It is hard facing someone each day who you naturally do not click with. I like me, which is easier to enjoy in a less Stifled home environment.

With the weather being so beautiful, LV and myself have made the most of being outdoors. Surrounded by flowers, birds singing and the sun against my skin, it got me thinking about God's Glory. What does it mean to Give God Glory? I prayed for a friend this morning as she is being interviewed about her new salon opening and I felt that this place of business would give God glory. So for Rich, LV and myself, we are going to try to have a thankful heart and praise on our lips as we want to give God glory for this new beginning.

It is so tempting to get carried away with the excitement of buying stuff for our new home, but I want to remember we believe in being resourceful in living and that a creative home does not need to come with a huge price tag. Also I hate being precious about things, especially as LV has a beautiful disregard towards things, most times she subjects them to a bashing or throws them to the floor....

The hardest thing about being in limbo, is not being able to establish new grounds for life long friendships. One of the hardest things about moving to West Sussex, is starting a new, we know a few people down there, and visiting the Point, every few weeks, have confirmed that this is right place for us, but we are not taking our nearest and dearest with us. Although I am confident that we will manitain a strong friendship over a distance, I cannot help but feel that things will alter. Already we are seeing how friends, are moving into new friendships and how things have already changed. It's a natural course, but hard to adjust to. Mr & Mrs M and CS have been so constant, we love their way of making us feel, like this is no big deal, they'll still be around. Ten/Eleven years of living 'just around the corner', has an impact of losing the geographical distance. Also it didn't help that Rich jested about what if we don't like people down there...not the case as everyone seems lovely and genuine, but thoughts like these do cross our minds!

At the point yesterday, I couldn't help but observe the way that people took time out of their agendas to make someone else feel at home, feel like they belong, feel welcomed. There is something inside of me that knows that this will be a time of discipleship, we have just ordered the LICC imagine DVD, and hope to watch it over the next couple of weeks. For a long time it's been our time, but after a long and difficult road, I have this conviction that it's now God's time.

Found a blog that caught my attention, emma's blog is concerned about social justice, her time in nepal and faith in God. She quoted a monk.

You know the way, just start living it!

Things are starting to settle and feelings of peace have come flooding back. This is a new stage and we are not sure of the big picture, but we trust that God will open doors and change our hearts as we lean on him at this time. The thought of making new friends, seems a little daunting, but since LV so much has changed. Going out needs to be finely tuned-organising a baby sitter and mustering up some energy seems to be the main thing. It's simply not as spontaneous as it used to be. I am intrigued to see how things change, because sometimes it feels that there is so much change, that I can barely catch my breath, then there are years, that a slight dent of change subtly appears, and if you blink you'll miss it.

Not really able to put my finger on it, but today is one of those days, when I am longing for my own home, own space. I guess living at my in-laws, creates this strong feeling that I have to find something to do outside their house everyday. Basically today is a day when I just want to potter, without feeling I am in the way of their routine! Also I have this urge to spread out lots of cuttings and make a huge mood board of ideas for the new house. I'm thinking clever storage solutions, injection of colour amidst the white theme we'll have going on and garden views...Anyway Richard and myself keep hoping that this last stage would speed up, as it has been dragging on for a while now.