WAG 2016

Women and God weekend at Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick Derbyshire was a weekend of fellowship, fun and foliage!

I have written a blog on the spiritual inspiration I received from the weekend and you can read about it here: accessorise!

It truly was an inspiration, encouragement and challenging. The ladies and hosts were friendly, helpful, and kind, it was lovely to meet new people. This was my first time at such a conference. The first session on Friday was Be blessed! And after the evening meal session 2 was Add Hope! After which we went to watch the Disney film, Inside Out, I thoroughly enjoyed it, it made me stop and think!

Aside from the worship and prayer times there was also fun. We learnt to play the ukulele on Saturday afternoon and managed to play a couple of Christian songs. I think we hit all the right notes, but I’m not sure they were in the right order. However we played at the worship on the Sunday and I believe the Lord was pleased to hear our praise played on the stringed instruments. Saturday afternoon we also learnt the art of book leaf folding and made a heart in the old discarded Salvation Army songbooks. 

They have new ones now so it was good to put them to use. There were other crafts in the afternoon but I didn’t go to this, I was pacing myself.

I did however go down to the lakes for a walk, it was raining but it was so peaceful, and as the rain refreshed the ground so my soul was refreshed thinking on the words of the Lord from scripture, and talking to Him in silent prayer. I had taken my camera so I also got some lovely shots of the foliage and the wildlife, insects, butterflies, birds, waterfowl, it was so lovely. 

 I didn’t manage to get a shot of the fish as it came out of the water to eat the insects skimming the surface, I’m just not quick enough. I did however get a lovely shot of a blackbird collecting the family’s dinner, 

they sure would have been well fed, as were we. The food was delicious, and cooked well, and served well, the staff were courteous and helpful.

Saturday evening was a hoot. First we were entertained by the Appalachian Feet First Dance Troupe, which to me looked like a mixture of line dancing, clog dancing, and river dance ;) 

we were then invited to learn a dance, I think I must have shuffled up my feet because I kept getting the steps wrong, but we enjoyed it none the less. After which came the Auction with Major Val Mylechreest as the auctioneer and an excellent job she did too, very entertaining whilst raising money for the Helping Hands Appeal, wonderful.

We sang some wonderful songs over the weekend in praise and worship to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ and we give Him all the glory. I pray the army officers and helpers who worked so hard this weekend may continue to be a blessing to others as they seek to serve the Lord. God bless you.

Chosen by God

Tune Be Thou My Vision

Chosen by God – I am loved as His own,

A daughter of God – by my name I am known.

Each morning your love comes as fresh as the day,

It guides me and guards me as I walk in Your way.

Gentle, compassionate, patient, meek, kind;

Wearing Your loveliness true life I find.

Accepting of others – I choose to forgive

So in Your great mercy and peace I might live.

Called to be holy, I seek now your grace,

Help me more fully Your will to embrace,

Show me how living for you sets me free,

As I surrender my all just for Thee.

Noah goes to Butterley Railway

Noah (my soon to be five year old grandson) and myself had a day at Butterley Railway on Wednesday. I went to pick him up and then we caught the bus straight through, I hadn't told him where we were going so it was a lovely surprise. Of course I had forgotten it would be busy because of the holidays. When we got on the train first things first out came the camera, the battery had gone so after much searching I found another one and put it is only to be greeted with the message, no card, argh. Noah bless him keeping everything in perspective, it's ok mama you have your phone. 

The train started and off we set, we rode all the way to Golden Valley and then came back and got off at Swanwick Museum. We had a look at most things but didn't realise they had a beach until we were on the train coming back but it didn't matter because there was plenty to see and do, I did as Noah suggested and used my phone to take photo's.

One of the first things we did was to go into the children's play area 

and then up into the signal box, I have to admit I didn't like the steep metal stairs. 

Next we went into St Saviour's church which is called the ‘Tin Tabernacle’ and has been rescued from the railway village of Westhouses.  It was built in 1898 to support the village of Westhouses  and moved to Swanwick Junction when it fell into disuse. It was built with support from the original Midland Railway Company for worshipers in this railway town. 

By this time we were both feeling a little hungry and headed off for a cuppa and a cob, they do a lovely picnic bag for the youngsters and they could choose ham, egg or jam sandwich, Noah chose jam, it also had an orange, a pack of quavers, a cake and a small bag of sweets, plus a fruitshoot drink, Noah had already had a banana on the train and half a large apple when we got off, I think he must have hollow legs :) 

Having refueled we set off again to explore and went into the sheds with the old trains in, it was fascinating, Noah had a great time, there was a box with free train magazines in so he tucked one under his arm. I think the only thing we both found difficult was the smell, a combination of grease and soot, old wood and metal and leather, not forgetting the rust and dust. Even so we went up and down all the isles. 

We went and had a look at the model railway, I had to pick Noah up so the he could see, and he really like it. There was certainly a lot of work gone into it. 

Then we came out and got onto the miniature railway that goes through the park for about a mile.

After that we went up the the Princess Royal shed but didn't go in as I think the smell was too overpowering for Noah, he just poked his head in and said "It's ok mama" but coming back down the path we spotted some teasel and some bulrushes, Noah felt the teasel and was surprised how prickly it was,

I pulled down a bulrush for him and his face lit up when he felt how soft it was. Noah called it a sausage plant, (sausage is his favourite food besides jam).

My favourite part of the day was seeing a Weasel, then I really missed my camera. It popped up between the slabs in front of this shed and then disappeared under it. We watched it for quite a few minutes as it ran over the tracks under the slabs and popped up in between them. 

It was time to head back for the train to take us back to Butterley station. But the day was not over and we headed for the Reservoir and had a walk around, there was quite a lot of men fishing, (I'm wondering if that was because it was the school holidays and the menfolk had come out of the way). Noah talked to the cygnets but we didn't have any food for them so they didn't stick around. 

It was getting towards teatime and so we headed to my home, what would you like for tea Noah "Soup", :) yet another favourite. Tomato soup and cobs, then fruit in jelly with yogurt a lovely way to round off the day, especially when you can suck up the last bits with a straw. 

As soon as we came in Noah said he had something to do in the kitchen when I went in he had written a message on my fridge.

I have had a really nice time.

Me too Noah.

I am so thankful for a lovely family and the time I spend with them. God blesses me in so many different ways each day.

Lamentations 3:

22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,

     Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
     Great is Your faithfulness.

Thank you Lord.