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The writer in me woke up. Full post in the bio.. Yesterday I was reminded to be kind to myself. To take things slow. To be gentle to these parts of me that other parts of me find lacking and in want. I am my own worst critic. I absorb the voices that say you should do better, you must be more, do more, push through this pain to produce and be a force for change in this world.Yesterdays shout, bang, clatter and cry day would not have made good pictures. Thankfully the joy returned and we found some wonderous beauty to fill our souls once more. Phew. Especially heartening to hear the youngest loving this world. He struggles so much to do the things he loves and it is music to my ears to hear his squeals of joy at rocks and streams. #bloodybridge #mournes #wonder #rocks #scrambling #joy #nature #getoutside #worthitClimbed my first ‘Slieve’ today. Slieve Meelmore is my new friend. First time out on the Mournes proper and it was an insanely pretty day. Stunning views and a perfect introduction to wandering around these hills I look at everyday from my window. The beginning of a beautiful friendship. #mournes #slievemeelmore #firsttime #mountains #blueskies #happy #hiking #discoverniOne of those January mornings where you discover Spring’s ‘I’ll be back soon’ notes. High right now on cold water, sunshine, good coffee at my destination, a chat with a brilliant friend and a long walk on a sunny Wednesday morning. #endorphins #dundrumtonewcastle #walking #sunshine #paddling #joy #grateful #wherethemournessweepdowntothesea #murloughbeach #murloughnaturereserveI’ve lived in Northern Ireland for 2 whole months today. This is the tree I walk past each morning and I’m looking forward to seeing how this tree will change over the coming year. Winter trees are, for me, signs of hope and proof that flourishing looks like so many things. Standing waiting, waiting for the right time for the buds already there to open, waiting for the warmth. Here we are. Flourishing as we wait for many things and flourishing as we hold steady, reach out in love and are recipients of love. Here we go into the next couple of months. #time #flourishing #wintertrees #northernireland #dundrum #love #movingSnowy park of wonder this morning. Apparently we are in the mess of deschooling. This looks like the eldest at home doing a coding course plus a walk with his Daddy. Me and the youngest had a coffee shop date and some fun trying to break ice. Mainly we are focusing on trying to regulate emotions and adjust to the move. On mornings like this it doesn’t seem so bad :) #snow #northernireland #montaltoestate #amazingpark #goodcoffee #deschoolingArchives
Tag Archives: joy
On being excessively gentle with myself.
Yesterday I was reminded to be kind to myself. To take things slow. To be gentle to these parts of me that other parts of me find lacking and in want. I am my own worst critic. I absorb the … Continue reading
Musing on 48 hours out of time..
Getting on a train again. Rucksack on my back. Just me. Just me. Sitting. Reading. Listening to music. Heading into what feels like a time vault. Time with friends who have known me the longest outside family. Who have lived … Continue reading
Posted in Life on the journey
Tagged Anna, friends, joy, Light, Sarah, thankful, timeoff
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Books I’ve read Feb-May 2021…
It’s been a while, but then again time feels slippery and swirly whirly at the moment so I think that’s ok. Here are the books I’ve read over these last few months. Queenie- Candice Carty-Williams Loads of people said how … Continue reading
On being extraordinarily kind to my soul
A good friend told me at the start of this week to make sure it was full of things that were extraordinarily kind to my soul. Which led me to a place where I wanted to write down all those … Continue reading
Posted in Life on the journey, Outdoor fun
Tagged joy, kindness, noticing, reading, rest, timeoff, walking, waves
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Books I’ve read Jan- Feb 2021
A Manual for Heartache- Cathy Rentzenbrink A lovely book, really helpful words on what helps when your world has been devastated or doesn’t look like you ever thought. Practical, earthy, real, hopeful and easy to read. The 10,000 doors of … Continue reading
Life in Lockdown 2 weeks 3-5
We could argue whether this is lockdown 2 or 3 but for us in the world of small children at home it’s lockdown 2 for sure. The weird fake lockdown that happened in November just doesn’t count, I could still … Continue reading
Posted in Life on the journey
Tagged andyet, binface, joy, lockdownlife, psalmwriting, writing
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Advent 23
I trace the wonder through the day: it was found in finding myself awake for a planning chat with my excellent colleagues, in getting out to some very quiet National Trust joy, in the blue sky and big clouds, in … Continue reading
Advent 8
The wonder today found in fun chats about some bonkers Christmas Day service ideas. Found in praying with lovely ladies around our firepit and having the feeling of being looked out for. Found in the very pastoral dog Dylan who … Continue reading
Advent 7
What’s the point of writing good stuff about Advent each year if it just gets lost in the dusty archives of my blog? Here’s one of my favourite Advent posts from 6 years ago just after son2 had been born, … Continue reading
Advent 2020. A different kind of Advent, same Emmanuel to walk with us…
And so Advent slowly silently slips into the room. Yesterday we put our Christmas Tree up, I think the earliest we have ever done that. Yesterday I shed tears for the lack this year, for the grief, for the difference … Continue reading
The Long Walk Home 