Advent 19 (well not really anything to do with advent…)

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Kath

2 years ago today I promised to love someone through the storms of this life, for better, for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, he promised the same. We gave each other all we had. We gave each other our bodies. We entered into the mystery that is marriage. We knew it wasn’t going to be a walk in the park but we held each others hands tight and set off into the adventure of the rest of our lives.

This year the storms have gathered, the rain has set in and we have trudged wearily on. Sunny moments have come, the view has been a good one at times but there have been painful weary moments along the way. Marriage is not easy. Loving someone unconditionally whether they deserve it or not is not easy. Believing that someone loves you in such a way is not easy. Thankfully we’ve been part of a bigger story, we’ve had a God who has held our hands as well. We’ve had a story that teaches us how to forgive and show grace to each other. We’ve had a story that has given us hope in the darkest of times and we’ve felt Him literally hold us together as the night set in.

It’s been a hard year but there is no-one else I would have rather lived through this year with, I’ve seen more develop in Husbandface’s character than ever before this year, I have been incredibly proud to be called his wife, I’ve been bowled over by his bravery and strength, I’ve loved laughing with him, crying with him and walking through the storm with him. We’ve been shaken but through it all we’ve known together the one whose foundation is firm and who will never ever ever forsake us. I love that we’ve known more of that heavenly love woven into our lives and weaving us closer together.

Grab a glass of Mulled wine and raise it to Husbandface. He’s a good one.

(I figure I’m allowed one soppy post a year right?)

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Advent 18

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Kath

Two years ago we walked/skipped back down the aisle to this song, excited to be married and delighted to share the day with our friends and family. We were also delighted to be part of the overflowing Joy of the Lord who has come, who rules the world with truth and grace and who has wonderful love for us. I don’t care if it’s cheesy, I love this Chris Tomlin bouncy joy version.

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Advent 17

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Kath

I love this song by Paul Simon, not just because it’s about Christmas but for the exposure of what we are getting ready for, the power, glory and story of Christmas day. The day this year may be like any other but it is good to stop and remember that this isn’t just a story reeled out each year in the hope of raising the economy as we desperately try and find the perfect present for the people around us. There is power and glory in the manager.


“Getting ready, getting ready
Getting ready for Christmas Day
For the power and the glory and the story of Christmas day.”

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Advent 16

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Kath

We’re off to Cornwall for the next few days, advent reflections will still appear here though, as if by magic… Or the power of scheduled posts. Enjoy.

Dory the fish might just have stumbled across the greatest spiritual truth of all. Throughout my life I have lived the story of wondering who I am, what makes up Kath. When things change around me I get all confused and forget who I really am, I forget what I’m standing on and I worry, I try and cling onto people to define me, roles to define me, helping others to define me or despair to define me. I listen to music from my childhood to remember my narrative, I wonder where my story is, I get lost. I go down rabbit holes, I stray from the fireplace and the one who is telling the story that I belong to which is bigger than just little old me.

And then he comes and finds me, he battles through the thickets of the things I have become (a phrase nicked from Adrian Plass) and he finds me, he holds my hand and leads me back to the old old story that has been woven into my life for so long, the story that does not change, and I gaze on his face, and I gaze on his face and I remember. I remember that when I look at Him, I am home.

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Advent 15

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Kath

Last night I experienced another one of those evenings where I was eternally grateful that I live in Brighton. The Beach Hut Advent Calendar is back this year and I had the joy of hanging out with the delightful Mandy as she prepared for her one and set it up last night. The theme of the hut was sheep, in keeping with the overall theme of looking at characters from the Nativity throughout the 24 days of Advent. In the weeks before a group of us from church had spent some happy hours over a vat of mulled wine knitting rectangles of fluffy wool together. These were then installed in the Beach Hut as sheep out on the hills.

Howling wind and sheet lightning over the sea provided an atmospheric backdrop as we admired the scene and interacted with where the installation was taking us.  We were encouraged to reflect on the Lost Sheep, musing on the verse from the poem, “The Lord’s my Shepherd”: “Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, but yet in love he sought me, and on his shoulders gently laid and home rejoicing brought me.” There were even a couple of lost sheep to be found around the hut. Morris dancers helped warm along the proceedings and local poet Katrina Quinn  gave us some words to warm the soul. Head here to ponder on some of her reflections on the lost sheep.

All in all another quality, if chilly night out in Brighton. The huts continue until Christmas Eve, check out the Beyond Brighton website for which hut will be opening on each evening. As the crowds drifted away we made an attempt on the a how many people can you get in a beach hut record. 14 fitted pretty comfortably and more importantly provided some warmth at the end of proceedings.

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