The Royal Wedding

Wedding fever has hit the nation as we gear up for the very Royal wedding of William and Kate. There is nothing like a wedding to take people’s minds off the negative economy and all the stuff that would cause anxiety and depression. What will her dress be like? What colour will the queen be in? Will William wear a kilt?!! Who knows? But I will be watching the ceremony on TV along with millions of others.

I remember the wedding of Charles and Diana. I was living in South Africa and all of us girls in the church congregated at a friend’s house in Witbank. She had a small holding and plenty of space for us and our children. We had refreshments laid on and there was a lot of speculation as to the dress etc. We were kept entertained by the filming of all the wedding guests arriving and the description of who’s who and what they were wearing, even down to the cost of the wonderful hats the ladies wore. Some of which were more than a month’s wages for many of us at the time! We sat glued to the TV for the duration of the marriage ceremony and watched as Charles and Di made their procession from Westminster Cathedral to Buckingham Palace. The open coach and the escort of the Queen’s guards all made for a fairy tale wedding and one we will never forget. Then of course, there was the famous ‘balcony kiss’! Will William and Kate oblige us all and delight us with more of the same? Who knows?

The wedding ceremony was traditional and in keeping with a Prince and Princess of the realm but there was one part that stood out for me. That was the reading of 1 Corinthians chapter 13, the famous love chapter. I want to lay it out for you from the Amplified translation of the bible. I have left blanks so you can fill the spaces with your name.

................................... suffers long and is kind: ....................................... does not envy:

................................... does not parade him/herself, is not puffed up: ...............................

does not behave rudely, does not seek his/her own: ........................................ is not

provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth: ...........................

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

This chapter was not written for weddings, but for all of us so that we can walk the love walk on a daily basis. We can apply these time proven principles to our lives, marriages, families and relationships and live life on a much higher level. Just think of all the grief we would be spared if we purposefully chose to love folks and look for the best in everyone.

Life is so daily and it’s too short to hold on to grudges, unforgiveness and bad attitudes. It’s the small adjustments we make that bring the biggest changes.

Enjoy the wedding!

Nan

Stay Sweet

This blog is for all who have to keep children amused during school holidays when the weather is terrible. What do you do with the little darlings and the big darlings?

DVD’s, computers, PS and X boxes, TV, mobile phones etc are all very well, but in moderation. Left to their own, the children would stay glued to these all day and end up spaced out and anti social. So, what is the alternative?

Wednesday at the cinema is Orange 2 for 1 day, that’s if you can find a decent film you could take them to and one they would want to see.

You could take them swimming, but make sure you have ear plugs and anti bacterial gel with you to be applied before and after.

You could have a ‘craft’ day in house, but watch out for glue, scissors, frustration and paint! Make sure you have a first aid kit to hand.

Hide and seek at home is fun, but..................!!

Pray for the rain to stop and the sun to come out and enjoy sheer bliss.

You can get them out in the fresh air and get them to run, bike, skateboard, roller blade and generally expend their pent up energy. Just remember the first aid kit!!

Getting out the house doesn’t have to cost you and it gives you quality time with your children.

The older teens want to hang out with their friends, which is great, when you know who they are with and where they are.

I do believe in boundaries and children who have them are usually more secure. But there are times where you need to be flexible without compromising. It goes to keeping things sweet at home and for peace instead of tension.

Often the things that bring these things are not major changes but small adjustments. Just be willing to listen to your children and let them know they are loved.

Make the choice to enjoy the holidays and your children. They do grow up so quickly and you can’t go back in time, so don’t live with regrets. Life is so daily and so is bringing up our children. So, enjoy!

Nan