Student days again

I am sitting in a friends home in Dumblane near Stirling.  We have done a house swap with them for a week as tomorrow I commence my Return to Practice (Nursing) course at Stirling University.  Feels really strange to be becomming a student again but I feel very blessed to be having the opportunity to be a nurse again.  I know that the Lord has a plan in this and really am trusting Him to take us forward and open up the way.
Had to upload a photo for my student ID card which really felt strange.

My clinical placement will be in the hospital nearer to home which means it will be easier for the family.  It will probably be in orthopaedics which I will enjoy!!
We went to the meeting in Bannockburn this morning which is very small.  We were asked out to lunch and  once again realised that it is a small world - people who know people. 
Last week my neice from Botswana came to see us for a few days and it was really good to see her.  I have such a special place for her in my heart - probably because she was there when 11yod was born.  We share a lot in common and she always seems to it in well with us.  It was lovely to see the developing relationship between her and 11yod.
18yos got his exam results last week and although some of them were really good, he didn't get the one he needed for his place next year at uni, so he will have to reapply and do some thinking.  He is working really hard at his summer job in the chocolate factory and has now got a new job as a lifeguard at the swimming pool so he is keeping really busy, if disappointed.

lots more catching up

It's a good few weeks since I posted and they have sure been busy weeks.  First we had 6yos's 7th birthday so now he is 7yos!!  It happened in a really busy week when we had lots of visitors one of whom also had a birthday.  He had a birthday cake at the holiday bible club he was at that week and we headed off straight after to York to pick up 13yos who was at summer school.  We stopped and had a nice picnic on the way down and had some of the rest of his cake.

  We were then home for a week, which turned out to be a really crazy week with me trying to get on top of conference planning and having steroid injections into my shoulder joint and getting a virus on my laptop which threatened to wipe everything off, and Rick not being able to fix my laptop keyboard which he had broken, all of which ended up with me feeling really frought and out of control.
Just the right time for our annual visit to the Keswick Bible Convention which was like a breathe of fresh air.  I felt really encouraged and fed by the Bible teaching and the children enjoyed their seminars.  Rick managed to fit in a 50 mile race on the Saturday and get a bit run down for a few days but he picked up towards the end of the week and enjoyed it too.  We camped in the usual field with Sheila and, although the weather wasn't brilliant, it certainly could have been a lot worse, as most of the rain fell at night.  Our 23yos was helping with the children's work which was hard work but good fun and I certainly came away knowing that I can really trust the Lord for the future in every sense and I only need to think about talking to Him and living for Him.  A great week again.

The organisers of the camp site/field had very kindly placed us next to the "singing" tent which made it a lot easier for me in terms of my arm. Also it meant that the children could attend the hot chocolate and singing in the evenings.

Rick spent a few hours sleeping off the effects of the ultra marathon he ran on the Saturday!!

Enjoying pasties from Greggs at lunchtime to make the week easier on me!  We also enjoyed our usual game of crazy golf and this time the children were very excited that Rick joined in.  Sheila is a great friend and very good at giving me some time off.  I appreciate her very much

Came home from Keswick on Friday.  On Saturday we had a 5k handicap which was good and I managed to run it without much pain.  On Sunday I went to Dumfries to pick my neice up from the train station as she will be staying with us for a few days.  It was good to have her to be with the children today so that I could spend some time doing conference things.  My nursing course commences next week and so I need to get all the conference stuff sorted and things in place for next week as well as tidying the house for the family we are exchanging with while I am there.
Exciting times indeed!!!