CONNIKA

GILEAD, HOME AND EMMA

Emma has just finished reading Home the sequel to Gilead by Marilynne Robinson.  She was so moved by the book, she has written an essay which you can download here Download Home - essay.

"...And then, there is the dying father, watching his son's suffering and unable to prevent it.  He says, "I can't enjoy the thought of heaven like I should, leaving so much unattended to here, I know it's wrong to think your mother's going to ask me about it...I was hoping I would be able to tell her Jack has come home."  Jack sat pondering his father, and there was something in his face more absolute than gentleness or compassion, something purged of all the words that might describe it.  Finally, (Jack) said, whispered, "I hope you will give her my love."  The old man nodded.  "Yes.  I will certainly do that."

And perhaps, this is, at its core the only certain thing - love, and that home is not a temporal thing where a parent protects a child from harm, but a psychological one;  where the child and the parent look at each other, despite their differences, frailties and failings with compassion and love.  This, in fact, is where we find grace, our destiny and finally, 'home'.  and this may be what Robinson wants the reader to understand about the nature of God's grace:  it is more absolute than gentleness or compassion, something purged of all words that might describe it." 

HELLO GRANNY!

   

Sinead and Finn when they were here over Christmas.

NOT QUITE TOILET TRAINED

  Freya and Liliane playing "dress ups"  Love the doll's dress on Liliane's head. 

LIVE IN THIS MOMENT

Read this this morning and thought it would be a good thought to begin the year with.  It's from RADICAL GRACE by Richard Rhor who is a Franciscan priest.

Allow the Lord, by his love and grace, to let you live in this moment.  Right now.  This moment is as perfect as it can be.  And God's call, the needs of the world, will make itself very apparent.  Just respond to the need that presents itself right in front of you, today, tomorrow.

I think many parents become very good and holy people because children literally demand love.  You can't legislate the times in which they can make demands on you.  They literally pull life and death out of you and call you forth into a now that you would never have chosen or recognized as Christ. 

LOOK GRANDPA!

 

David, Sinead and Merlin on the bridge above Cattle Creek.

ANCIENT PATH

One of the "family adventure walks" Emma, the boys and I took was this one which began at Little Missenden in The Chilterns.  Roald Dahl lived in this area and the walk includes a visit to his home and studio where he worked.  We didn't visit his home but did take a magnificent walk through the village and surrounding countryside.  Here is the beginning of the walk in what was described in the book as an "ancient path".  As you can see it has extremely high sides.  Emma, can you find out any more on this path?  I've tried through Google but nothing - although there were a number of wonderful looking books on walking in the Chilterns.

AN EARLY START

To say that we made the most of every moment we were in Nice isn't an exaggeration.  Here's our early start - street lights still on and the moon still up!

THE LONG WALK

Isn't this a cracker of a photograph?  I've decided to just pick out some photographs I took while away and let them speak for themselves.  Finding it a tad difficult trying to remember what I did when and where I was when!  This one's of wee Angus in the Long Garden at Cliveden.

RAINY DAY AT CLIVEDEN

Hamish and Angus in the beautiful grounds of Cliveden Manor.

SERVING ALE FOR OVER 900 YEARS

First day in England, we headed off to the ancient pub The Royal Standard in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire for lunch.  It was such a culture change from one day being in the cold, dry winter of Toowoomba to the warm English summer of Buckinghamshire.  The inside of this pub is just gorgeous and after lunch, we headed up the side lane to do a lovely walk - the first of many walks over stiles and through wheat fields.