tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28133017859987282412024-02-19T02:54:16.220+00:00Sugar and SpiceElaine van Zonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813301785998728241.post-2255998520173737502013-07-28T17:33:00.000+01:002013-07-28T17:33:37.809+01:00Memories of Mother<h2>
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My Mother died fairly recently, just after Easter this year.She died of pneumonia in hospital and we had enough time to rush to her bedside to say our goodbyes. It seems right to record some memories of her by way of a thank you for her effect on my life<br />
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My Mum and Dad were married for 50 years, plus, and a great example of true love worked out in action. Theirs wasn't always an easy relationship having its fair share of arguments, moods and long silences.They were very different people in almost every way but their utter respect for each other meant that whatever was going on between them they only spoke well of each other to others. My Mum suffered from depression for most of her life and as someone who both has depression and has lived with someone with depression I know that can ruin the best of relationships but my parents still loved and grew in love for fifty years. On their 40th wedding anniversary , Dad made a card for Mother and had written inside "Even when I retreat into the depths of my own heart .....I find you there." That still brings tears to my eyes and seems to me to express as complete a love as humans are capable of. My Mother was not a romantic woman and I never really heard her show her love for Dad, either verbally or physically and on receipt of the card she merely said "He's alright isn't he? . I swear though I saw a satisfied and happy smile lurking , although she was at pains not to let me .!</div>
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As a Mother she was as loving, with as little verbal or physical demonstration of it. However in no way could I ever doubt it. I was a very nervous child, cried all the time and was a complete pain in the bum.[of course now I know I was depressed from childhood] . Along with this went frequent wetting of beds and knickers . I was used to being told off, shouted at and threatened by other kids mums ,which of course made it worse, but NEVER my Mother. She would get up in the middle of the night, change the sheets, change me , tuck me back in all without a word or even a look of reproach..When I was ill with measles she sat up all night at the end of my bed , and long after I was an adult , if I became ill I still wanted my mother to comfort me. </div>
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In my late teens I went through a horrid phase of blaming my mum for all my many problems! I regret this now but at the time my Mother was rather controlling and strict and consequently my life was very sheltered. Since then I have become close to people who's childhoods were so horrendous in terms of neglect and abuse that I can only be thankful for my loving upbringing. I was always safe, always knew I was loved and could always turn to my Mother in any hardship. I am so privileged to have had this.</div>
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Not only did I know that my parents loved me but I knew ,thanks to them, that God loved me. They didn't sit me down and teach me about God and his love but they made their own relationship with God so real, so in the here and now that Jesus simply lived with us. We talked to him and about Him in such a natural way that as soon as I knew anything at all I knew God loved me as I was. I didn't have to be "good" or perfect to earn it .This priceless gift I thank my parents for , as well as,of course my heavenly Father.</div>
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My Mother was crazy, in a good way! Totally hilariously mad! I think eccentric is probably the best way to describe her. She had no understanding of what and when to say things and would tell complete strangers what lovely skin they had. Now this may not seem so bad but at the time we lived in the south of England where to speak to a stranger was a mark of an escaped lunatic , never mind to make personal comments about them. She used her hands for dramatic effect which was an added embarrassment to a young teenager. But we used to giggle at nonsense together and her laughter and warmth lit up the atmosphere. Her eccentricity made mother a very endearing character and she was much loved whenever we lived.</div>
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Mother was a deeply spiritual character . Not just religious as in regular church going and prayer. She lived for God , longed to be closer to him and to do His will. Of the many examples of her love in action three stand out to me. She took in every tramp who called at her door , fed them, gave them a drink and whatever else was needed and filled their flask. It was in the days when there were tramps ie not homeless people but people who chose to walk without a home and their belongings on their back. Secondly she was unfailingly generous. She got a very small pension in later life and most of it she gave to others .:whichever person or organisation she felt God wanted her to . Lastly I was very close to a gay couple and spent much time with them over most of my 20s. My mother genuinely believed that to actively be gay was a sin but she welcomed them into her house with as much love and warmth as anyone and they had no idea she disapproved.. Now the people who read my biog will think this nothing special and indeed as it should be? I agree but Mother came from a legalistic and often judgemental religious background so I believe she was a triumph of God's grace over the hatred and prejudice of humankind.</div>
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Sadly before the end of her life Mother suffered from dementia. She also had many little ailments that made her life unpleasant and a drag.She was so grateful to Dad for his constant care but she'd had enough. She wanted to go home. By that she meant her eternal home with her heavenly father. Non of us believed she would die first .My Dad has had a heart attack and a stroke. It seemed natural he would go first and my Mother couldn't face thought of life without him. But God heard her cry and gave her her heart's desire. Her death was peaceful and gentle .She waited til the whole family were there and then instantly slipped away and now has no more pain or tears .</div>
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Dearest Mother, I'm sorry it took me so long to see what a treasure you were. Now I do and if I am half the servant of God that you were I'll be happy. Your life was a gift to God and your death was His gift to you.xxx</div>
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Elaine van Zonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813301785998728241.post-57020273740773135302013-01-03T16:13:00.003+00:002013-01-03T16:13:56.497+00:00Resolutions? Not for me!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This was a timely reminder to myself that I discovered.It brought to mind my ofttimes enthusiasm for change,in my life and in myself which then relapses into apathy :( . Timely ,as I am now writing this post and if I can write it when not feeling great,and even believe it , then I will so much more easily live it with Gods help and strength in the coming months .<br />
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New year .The time for reevaluating and for making resolutions.Lose weight, exercise more, work harder, stop moaning? I'm not going to though.Absolutely no resolutions this year .Resolutions tend to be things to do, maybe what you want to achieve, how you want to behave in a different way.Instead, I'm going to focus on <i>who</i> I want to be ..I read somewhere [out there on the Internet where I can't remember and therefore I'm sorry, but I can't credit where I got it from ] about asking God to give you a word for the year ahead A word that focuses on being, not doing,, on relationships with God and people ;that will, through prayer, become a natural part of who you are and will reflect Christ to the world in a way that is specific to you I have my word from God ...;its HOSPITABLE<br />
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By hospitable I mean so much more than welcoming visitors to my home, inviting people for meals and offering food and drink. I am currently studying t he rule of life of the Northumbrian Community as a novice and hospitality is an important part of being available to God and others . My current module describes it as not only the open door "but the open heart offering acceptance and love,it is the open mind ready and willing to listen , to receive and to exchange insight" Powerful stuff! powerful as it's challenging and exciting . I am discovering, with God's help what this means for me personally.<br />
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Mt primary calling is to be hospitable to God. It sounds strange but we do need to be hospitable to Him .He doesn't force his way into our lives. I will endeavour to welcome my Lord into my daily life, hourly, in fact by practising His presence . I will see how much of each day I can grasp for God by remaining open to His loving presence.. I will also spend quality time with Him daily.I have found that this daily time with God is the main way I can manage my depression as He ministers to me. If I leave it for a few days I quickly spiral downwards.<br />
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The Celtic Church saw all strangers and friends as the visible incarnation of the invisible Christ. They therefore welcomed all people as they welcomed Christ with Joy. As I am an introvert, who restores my energies through silence and aloneness, I can see people as a distraction from prayer. I fit much more easily into the cell of the monastic life than the open door. This is a challenge for me but one God wants me to take and I think for me even accepting invitations is part of that challenge. By receiving I must welcome the relationships of my friends. This is hospitality of the heart.<br />
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We Christians can be so bad at acceptance of others . I cringe when I consider my youth and the rules and beliefs I thought were important for others to have before they were accepted as part of our narrow group.True hospitality would never seek to burden any person with our expectations and demands as a condition of our acceptance, neither would it criticise or judge those that are not like us . God is so practical when he speaks to us in prayer at times and he told me a few months ago to stop nagging my husband about smoking. I stopped, and Alan is so conscious of God love shown through that small change in attitude. In a much bigger way I am more concerned to be a welcoming person in my relationships than to be right or get involved in a competition about what is truth. I often post articles or posters on my face book page that are anti gay bashing, and I make no apology for this. I am determined to love and accept all people as Jesus loves and accepts all people<br />
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In my hospitality I want to welcome the people God brings to my life as they are, <i>where</i> they are and <i>who</i> they are, with no ulterior motive to convert them [only God can convert anyway] or change them .I want my house, my heart and mind to be a space where others can find God and a change can take place. I want to share peoples life and listen to their story ,<br />
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All this excites me , It makes me say Yes to God at the core of my being. But then I remember without God I am nothing. I live with depression , constant ill health and exhaustion. Many times social phobia . If I am to be hospitable I must be there in prayer, be there in service to others and even simply be there with others at all. I am willing Lord .Help me and Your strength will be made perfect in my weakness.<br />
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<b>In the homes of Jairus, Matthew Mary and Martha Jesus was always the guest.</b><br />
<b> At the meal table of the wealthy where he plied the case of the poor;among the religious </b><br />
<b>where he spoke of life ...he was always the guest</b><br />
<b> Upsetting polite company, befriending isolated people, welcoming the stranger, he was </b> <br />
<b>always the guest </b><br />
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<br />Elaine van Zonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813301785998728241.post-29308622382286611842011-06-19T18:29:00.003+01:002011-06-19T20:01:36.235+01:00My Dad , Neil Gaiman and lifes story tellersI was recently reading M is for Magic by the wonderful Neil Gaiman and in his introduction he states " Stories you read when you're the right age never quite leave you. You may forget who wrote them and what the story was called .Sometimes you'll forget precisely what happened, but if a story touches you it will stay with you, haunting the places in your mind that you rarely ever visit" This resonated with me strongly .<br /><br />Stories have always been to a big part of my life , due in a large part to my Dad who was a great story teller . From a very young age I remember him telling stories to myself and my brother . Each night he told me a story about little yellow night gown . As she went to bed every night there would be a tap tap tap on the window and some great dream like character would take her out into the night sky and an adventure . One night it was the seven stars in the sky who took her to the man in the moon and another night for a change it was a tap tap tap on the door revealing a hot CROSS bun with a grumpy face . Maybe its a sign of how very young I was that I never realised that Little Yellow Nightgown was me :)<br />My brothers stories were about life on the common [near where we lived ] and involved Pixie and slowcoach who was a snail and others I've forgotten.<br /><br />As we grew older my Dad read us stories rather than inventing them . My love of books was fostered in the evenings where we sat round Dad after tea and he read the Narnia series , Lord of the Rings, Five children and It ,Henriettas house and so much more . He had an amazing ability to bring stories to life with a different voice for each character and just the right amount of emotion and drama . We had no TV so this was our family time . Dad always ended the evening on a cliff hanger and asked for eg " how would Frodo deal with this news? Where was Gandalf and why was he not where he said he would be? Find out ,in the next thrilling episode of LORD OF THE RINGS !,He followed this with a little theme tune .<br /><br />Being read to in no way took the place of my own reading. I used to read while I was meant to be in bed asleep, behind the curtains , trying to grab the last bit of daylight until my eyes were straining too much in the fading light. There is no point in trying to remember all the books I loved but there were definitely some that touched and stayed with me. The Armourers house : I read that book at least 10 times about a young girl with a star crossed love for the sea and boats. As my life with stories started in the realms of fantasy I read every fantasy book I could lay hands on and the Laura Ingalls Wilder books about her life growing up in America with a pioneering Father really captured my imagination , maybe because it was real life [ and <span style="font-style: italic;">nothing at all</span> like that dreadful TV programme Little House on the Prairie which was based on her book ]<br />Little Woman of course and Young Wives like many girls were my favourites at one point but the one I read 10 times in that series was Little Men. I always did like to see what happened next.<br /><br />As I was exploring my relationship with God I read many autobiographies by people who God had touched and changed . The Cross and the Switchblade was so exciting to me that I read it not 10 times but 20 or more. When older , as a christian and chronologically I read Hinds Feet in High Places that has had an enormous life changing effect on me . I love the way stories don't stay within the pages of a book but become part of your own story .<br /><br />Neil Gaiman , the master of fantasy . He has that ability to creatively and imaginatively suck you in and put you there,in the story , feeling what the characters are feeling and hoping their hopes . He writes stories that leave you with a feeling of loss that its ended although you inevitably finish it at 3am because just couldn't stop turning the pages . The first of his stories I read was Neverwhere , which I finished in the middle of the night and then my boyfriend read it and finished it in the middle of the night too.<br /><br />So thankyou to all those wonderful story tellers and writers who have used their talents for our benefit . Its an art that I admire more than any other and am most grateful for . And thankyou to my lovely Dad who gave me and fostered in me a love of stories that has never left me and I have tried in turn to give to my own children .<br /><br />I can't finish without mentioning the book I am reading now ; The Shack . Not reading but devouring in fact. I have cried and laughed , nodded in agreement and had my heart warmed by the truths in it . Its reminded me tearfully of my life's pain but has given me hope at the same time. Its a long time since a book has moved me so very much and I've had the impression I'm not just reading but the story has become intertwined with my story and at the end there won't be that sense of loss as the story will continue in my life and that of others I come in to contact with. I can't begin to describe it or explain how amazing it is ........please just read it !<br /><br />If anyone wants to share their own favorite stories or suggest one I might read I would be delighted . The world is full of unread books waiting for me .I'd love for you to comment .Elaine van Zonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813301785998728241.post-53929098957289383672011-05-02T16:18:00.003+01:002011-05-02T18:17:04.702+01:00Changing LandscapesChanging landscapes was the title of the Easter workshop weekend that I have just attended. Easter has has always been my absolutely favorite time of the year buthttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif this last one has to be up there with the best .<br />It was called that as we were to explore where we've been as a community , the changes we are involved in and the future we look forward to. Its about the story of the community since its beginning and our ongoing story as it unfolds and we write it, together and as individuals .<a href="www.northumbriacommunity.org"></a> It was actually not AT ALL the kind of workshop I would have chosen having recently tried to live very much in the present. Looking back causes too much anguish and looking forward causes too much fear.But perhaps I haven't been living in the present, actually simply existing would be a more honest assessment.<br />I think God has decided to change that<br /><br /><br /> I have , as described by one good friend ,been dealt a near fatal wound and for the last two years have become a recluse, never going out, never really engaging with anyone , and feeling a complete lack of energy or oomph. I've let friendships slip and good intentions disappear out of the window. I've stopped feeling hurt in that raw, anguished way but have actually stopped feeling anything at all much. <br /><br />So I arrived at a morning of creativity and found I would explore the changing landscapes of my own life! Let me try and explain how this was done as it was a very useful and I'm sure most people would benefit in some way from doing this too.<br />Firstly think of the points of your life that were turning points, eg leaving home, getting married or it could be something as seemingly insignificant as something someone said that made you reevaluate your outlook or reading a life changing book . <br />Think of 10 to 12 such points throughout your life and draw them as waymarks across your paper. <br />Next , the space between two waymarks is a chapter of your life . Think of a title for that chapter and draw a landscape that descibes it. Eg mine included chapters called age of innocence, a lonely road, yahoo and shatter red dreams and the landscapes varied from a garden and a beatiful lake to a rubbish dump and a steep rocky mountain side. I found that things that at the time seemed like the end of everything didn't feature at all, and that times in my life that seemed dark actually were good overall. Best of all it revealed Gods hand on my life throughout, even when I didn't know it .The God" in whom we live and move and have our being" has had his loving hand firmly on me, even when I was doing my best to ignore him! <br />Next you draw your whole life in the form of landscapes joined together so you can see the overview.<br /><br />I have done this sort of thing before and was entirely unemotional until the end. I had drawn the last two years as a hole in the ground. God has been in the hole with me but I had not raised my head above ground all this time. I suddenly realised that I couldn't envision any landscape at all for the future without my children. Without them there was a shut gate and nothing else. At that point we were called to midday prayer and I sat through it with tears streaming hoping no one had noticed<br /><br />Later I talked to a lovely gentle friend about the experience. I explained the hole and don't feel guilty about it as its where I have needed to be. However I am a people person and one with a gift of feeling others pain and being with them in it.This is the way God has made me, its my way of being and its how God uses me to help others. I'm a "mercy person" . If you are interested read Andy Raine's wonderful book "Given for life" which you can get from the Cloisters part of the community website. It will show you how God intended you to be too. I also explained how I have felt more irritation than compassion lately and was very aware of how selfish I had become. My friend felt that I had a "blocked artery" due to the wounds I've suffered . My mercy blood has been unable to flow as I've too frightened of being hurt again.<br /><br />The weekend continued with a growing awareness of The Almighty God's control over all our stories and the wonderful way He works out our future. Also the Easter message of the intertwining of pain and joy, of despair and hope of defeat and ultimate victory. The worst event in history, the death of Jesus Christ became the pivotal point of all restoration and victory for all mankind. As the joy rose in my I lost it to a terrible feeling of guilt, pain and fear. What was going on! I realised it was not my own feelings but those of a close friend I was feeling, a friend the Lord wanted me to pray for and love and listen to . I ran over to my friend who counselled me and cried " Hes unblocked the artery!" . <br /><br />So I don't know what God has in store but its time to get out of the hole and start living again. I don't know the next chapter of my story or the landscape it will be BUT God and I will write it together and hopefully it will be something beautiful .Elaine van Zonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813301785998728241.post-39632121845427529492010-08-23T16:38:00.002+01:002010-08-23T17:53:39.401+01:00Prayer works?I feel very uncomfortable when I hear or read the phrase "prayer works!" on a number of levels. Firstly it appears to refer to prayer as a kind of separate power from God. The power of prayer does not exist alone; its the power of God Himself who heals, creates , restores. If we pray to a pink cow would that have the power to help us? Of course not.<br />Is prayer a kind of list of requests for what we need and want for ourselves and our friends ? Sometimes it is, certainly , He is our father , our daddy , and what child doesn't come to their loving father and ask for things. He expects that,even wants that of us. He is the great Giver of all good things. However He is not a slot machine, we put the penny and He delivers the chocolate . Prayer is so much more than that,just as being a christian is more than believe or action :its about a relationship with God .<br />In prayer we come before our Lord ,as we are, no words, to know Him better. We spend time in His presence in order to change and become more like Jesus, and hopefully so we can share His love with the world.As we put our inner desires before Him He may not change our circumstances but He will change us and as we grow closer to Him He will give us the strength to deal with all life throws at us, and we'll know His love and comfort with us.<br />In the past year I have made many requests to God about my life. Prayers for what I want, prayers for escape from pain and bad circumstances, prayers for change.Very few of these prayers have "worked". But of course I haven't stopped praying.Because in the past year I have prayed virtually every day for at least half an hour God has been so close to me. I've known His strength, His guidance, I have listened and heard His will for me and known His peace. I pray and He answers with HIMSELF! What more priceless treasure could I have??<br />Because God is my Father creator, saviour, and Lord He knows better than me what is right for me , what will serve His best purpose in my life. In His presence I can learn to trust Him for the future and for all he can and will do for me and my innermost desires.When my marriage ended I prayed that God would give me my husband back and He didn't. He knew that it wouldn't be the best way for me and probably not for my husband either, and I am so glad He didn't answer that prayer. On a larger,more global scale Nelson Mandela spent 30 years in jail in South Africa. How many times must he have prayed for release, for an end to his suffering? It is my understanding however that if as a young man Mandela had led his people he would have done it in his youth and fervour and anger in a violent way, no doubt leading to no change or peace. That time in prison changed Mandela, in God's presence, to a man God could use to bring about a change for the country , south Africans and the world.<br /><br />For me the question isn't does prayer work? Its do we seek Gods face or His hands? This has been His message to me for the last few weeks. Seek my face, that is God for Himself and not what He can do for you. Then as you do you can become a place of blessing for others , not in a place of blessing for yourself.<br /><br />A friend of mine told me a story about how it was thought that God should be put on trial for what the Jews went through in the war and so he was: all the evidence examined , cases for and against presented , and He was found guilty. Guilty of pain death abandonment of His people. So when this shocking conclusion had been reached what do we do? Well we pray!<br /><br />When Jesus was on earth and after a controversial talk people were turning away in their droves He turned to His disciples and said "do you want to leave too" and Peter said " to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life and we have believed and come to know that you are the holy one of God"<br />To whom shall be go indeed? I know that in my life whether prayer "works" or not I will seek Gods face. He is the only one who can make a difference, the only one to turn to, and I am happy to know that my times are in His hands.Elaine van Zonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813301785998728241.post-72982821021593593362010-08-17T17:11:00.002+01:002010-08-17T18:07:19.324+01:00Walking a mile in their shoesI have always known that unless people have suffered from depression they don't really understand it . They may sympathise, they may have read up on it but that genuine understanding isn't there . I remember after being diagnosed with depression how much comfort I got from a friend who also had it . When I told her I wanted to dig a hole, get in and cover myself with leaves she didn't look at me as if I was mad , she said " oh yes , the need to hibernate that's normal" and when I told her I felt as if my brain was paralysed and I couldn't think or make decisions or do anything at all , that was in her experience too.<br /><br />But suffering in one way doesn't seem to to help us empathise with another sort of suffering . I am certainly talking about myself here , and I suspect I am talking about us humans in general, such feeble selfish beings that we are . It wasn't until I had a divorce, that I understood the issues involved . I had always thought I was compassionate and caring to those in that situation but I hadn't realised the experience of bereavement and loss that it brought with it: lost plans , lost hopes and a lost future , as well as loss of a person who had been important enough to you to envisage sharing your life with . Again when having an emergency Cesarean and immediately afterwards , I was shocked at the strength of my trauma and distress . How many times had I felt sorry for someone, made noises of sympathy , prayed for them even, without realising what<br />what a truly horrid experience it was . The shock, the loss of control , the fear of what might happen . Each time I have suffered another of life's traumas I have made a mental note eg " if I know someone who this is happening to I must do such and such or say such and such.<br /><br />Recently , after a horrible year of my life , it has seemed I have been ill with one thing , then another with no let up. I have spent 3 weeks of the holidays simply resting in the hope that my total exhaustion will go away . As I began to feel better I started to plan the activity of the next 3 weeks . Visiting friends , helping people, baking and cooking , planning for next term. I woke up on Monday morning raring to go and guess what ..... I had pulled a muscle in my shoulder while asleep [ yes that's right!!] and was in agony and barely able to move!<br /><br />As I chuntered through the morning , moaning at God in self pity about how utterly fed up I was at never being right or healthy or able to do anything , I worked myself up into a state of misery where I felt I was a useless lump , helpless and dependant on others , no use to God or man and why why why and ended up crying for ages You can imagine it I've no doubt - not a pretty sight .lol Whilst sobbing I remembered [or was reminded ] of a lady at church who is in constant bad pain and in a wheelchair, completely dependant on her husband for most things . Also another close friend who is diagnosed with ME , often in bad pain and unable to do much without being exhausted and who cannot work or carry out an active ministry for God. It pulled me up short . I'm not saying that my very limited and temporary pain made me experience what they're going through , but in a very small way it gave me idea of what I was feeling might be like, multiplied a hundred fold .<br /><br />I'm not saying whatever we suffer theres always someone worse off. Any suffering by an individual must be borne by them as best they can , without comparisons , but in future I want to use any experience of pain to turn my mind to prayer for others and my life to be one of real empathy for others in need . Also I'm praying that God will give me discernment when I meet others in need , as to what they are feeling and what they need from me that I can see with Gods eyes and feel with Gods heart .<br /><br />This is sounding very depressing and miserable post , but I've saved the most wonderful bit till last. What an amazing example of love and empathy we have in our God . He didn't feel compassion for us from a distance , but in Jesus<span style="font-style: italic;"> God became man </span>. He has felt exhaustion and pain , hes been rejected and hated by those he loved, hes been unjustly accused and tortured and murdered .<span style="font-style: italic;"> He understands </span>how we feel in these and more situations . And He not only has been where we are so He can comfort us but He calls us through it to His resurrection and His purpose in us and through us will not be thwarted . !!<br /><br />Ands thats a thought worth reflecting on . God bless xElaine van Zonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813301785998728241.post-44673006146885715742010-07-11T17:03:00.002+01:002010-07-11T18:07:15.948+01:00Tobacco tin or iphone ?As a girl guide many years ago we had to carry a survival kit around in our uniform pockets, which I think practically everyone held in a tobacco tin [for ease of fit but oh so non <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">pc</span> now!]. I still remember what it consisted of : a 2p and a 1p for the phone [now <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">I'm</span> really showing my age :)], an elastic band , a needle and thread, a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">safety</span> pin, a spare button,a piece of string, a plaster or 3,and <span style="font-style: italic;">something to amuse a child. </span>The latter was left to our imagination and of course the limited size of the tobacco tin . What any 13 girl could really achieve with this collection of random items is debatable but we were regularly inspected on the contents of our tins. One guide meeting during which we were required to be out in the town, myself and 2 friends" foolishly "took our tins out and left them behind feeling they would hinder our running ability. We got a black mark from Captain when we returned as "its when we are out and about that we are most likely to need them" This was before the days of Catherine Tate and "Am I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">bovvvered</span>" you understand, but I'm sure that was what our faces were reflecting.<br />Now, recently I was in a house with no toys and 2 very bored little girls , daughters of a friend of mine. Did I wish I had my tobacco tin? No indeed ,I have something much better, my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">iphone</span>, filled chock a block with things to amuse a child . I'm sure it would have kept them amused for several hours .<br />Recently a friend of mine on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">facebook</span> asked <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">iphone</span> users what they had found was the most useful app they had added and I couldn't really reply as my phone is full of silly apps that bring lots of hilarity and laughter from kids of all ages but couldn't really be described as useful. I did start looking for apps that are useful in stimulating and teaching students with complex needs so <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">here's</span> a brief description of what I've used so far:-<br /><ol><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">soundEFX</span> , a great sound effects app useful for bringing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">multisensory</span> stories to life or encouraging sound/picture matching. Also entertains 12 year old lads for well over an hour.</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">PyroMania</span> ; touch the screen and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">firewords</span> explode , great for cause and effect, or attending to colours and moving objects</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">ipiper</span> , touch the screen and explore your way up and down a bag pipe -yuk , if you can bear it<br /></li><li>bobble zoo ;this one is one of my favorites , featuring several animals and their noise and when you shake the phone their heads wobble from side to side .Such fun!</li><li>smack talk. This is fantastic and defy anyone not to laugh their socks off when they first encounter it. speak to the hamster on the screen[or kitten or puppy] and they will repeat it back in a silly squeaky voice. I was delighted when one of my students really understood he was actually affecting the hamster with his sounds and became more vocal</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Koipond</span> , you can ripple the water by touching it , hear the splashing sounds and if you keep your finger still in one place the fish all come and nibble it , which actually feels like a little vibration.</li><li>flashlight, which is simply that, for tracking and attention work in the dark room and you can change it to colours for a slightly different experience .</li><li>I have also added old booth and fat booth for my own <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">amusement</span>. You take a photo of someone and you can change that persons hairstyle to look <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">from</span> the 60s or 70s . similarly fat booth makes you look <span style="font-weight: bold;">FAT</span>, in my case like someone in a sitcom wearing a fat suit !</li></ol>I have also added the"<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">hallelujah</span> button". You press this big yellow button and get a short burst of The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Hallelujah</span> Chorus. How very cool is that?<br /> So leave me in a room with any young or older child who needs entertaining and I can not only play them music , I can get them laughing at the hamster , creating fireworks , pressing scream ,witch and fart sound effects. I can make them fat or <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">unrecognisable</span>, and if the battery doesn't die this can go on for hours .Elaine van Zonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813301785998728241.post-89819663013611900222010-03-14T13:48:00.002+00:002010-03-14T14:58:40.520+00:00Saturday 9I am doing this a day late but better late than never.As I am behind with most things in my life I am simply reverting to type. I used to worry about playing permanent catchup but now.....well I've accepted it as an inevitable part of my character.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Are you the type of person who jumps into new ventures or do you prefer baby </span>steps?<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br />Hmmm difficult one.I do jump into new ventures but if things don't flow along swimmingly I can give up and then need re enthusing before I can start again.This is a flaw in my character that I am currently trying to deal with ie allowing my mind,where I get fired up and enthusiastic and full of good ideas to become united with my actions,which are a little slower in following!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who do you think believes in you the most?</span><br />Definitely , definitely God! He always takes us and turns us into what He wants us to be if we are willing.So despite my weakness, my laziness, my faults ,and the numerous times I've let Him down, my Lord and Father believes I can change and He can use me and I can be good at anything I want .Hurrah!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When was the last time you were on a stage?</span><br />LOL when I was a teenager at school. I was in the drama group, mainly because I had a major crush on the teacher who ran it. We put on "The thwarting of Barron Bolligrew" in which I was the Secretary, a part with no words and only one appearance. Sigh! And so died my hopes for a career on the stage.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tell us about the worst boss you every had?</span><br />Oh my goodness, there are so many to choose from. The headmaster of the first school I worked at was a dozy guy who appeared to know nothing much about teaching,or managing.For many years he was having an affair with the deputy and they would ensconce themselves in his office doing what I will leave to your imagination and sending one of the teachers out for provisions.This was before national curriculum and offsted you understand, hence he got away with it for years. My last head was a bully. She was head of a high school in a very rough area, Children came from families who neglected them, often with no breakfast and not washed ,maybe abused.There was a lot of violent and defiant behaviour.This head let the students away with murder and bullied the staff.She drove many good teachers away and created a little group of young and easily manipulated people around her as her senior management. She has moved on to terrorise another poor school.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Of all the clothes you own what do you feel most comfortable wearing and why?</span><br />Jeans jeans jeans! I like to look nice, but in a comfortable beach bum kind of way, like the clothes produced by Fatface.If I find a tshirt or jumper that I love and feel really suits me I wear it to death, until it falls of my back from over use. Currently I have a navy blue long baggy jumper that serves this purpose. I have 2 pairs of jeans that suit me best, by John Rocha,and Monsoon.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">On what television show—either past or present—would you like to make to make a guest appearance, and what role would you play?</span><br />I would like to be a contestant on a humorous quiz like" have I got news for you"[on Paul Merton's team] or QI or from the past "Call my Bluff"<br /><br /><br />8. <span style="font-weight: bold;">St. Patrick's Day is on Wednesday March 17th. Do you celebrate and wear green? Drink Green Beer? Ignore it?</span><br />Do you know, I have NEVER even noticed its passing before! Its really not a big thing here in the UK. I've never known anyone who talks about it either. It must be the states that makes a big thing of it cos its only since I've been on facebook and twitter and have American friends that I've heard of it.Quite why America would celebrate an Irish festival remains a mystery. Can anyone enlighten me?<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If a leprechaun told you that you could have any amount of money from his pot of gold but it had to be a specified amount for a specified item, how much would you ask for and what would it be for?</span><br />Under normal circumstances it would be 1000 pounds for a new laptop as this is on its last legs. But I think it would have to be 10,000 pounds for solicitors fees which I envisage having to pay for a good few months yet.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If the NCAA Men's or Women's Final Four basketball tournament was played in your hometown arena or within easy driving distance from where you live, would you try to attend one the three games?</span><br />No way! Or any other game for that matter. I did once go to a football match with a boyfriend. Doncaster versus Scarborough and Donny won. He said I had brought them good luck as they never won ,but it didn't persuade me to help them anymore lolElaine van Zonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813301785998728241.post-3204442076909555042010-03-06T14:40:00.002+00:002010-03-06T16:18:28.558+00:00what do your bookmarks say about you?My Mother said that you can tell a lot about someone by what's in their bookshelves, or indeed if they have any at all.I remember being very embarrassed by her on any visit to a new friend as she'd immediately peruse their shelves intently and,even worse,take one out and say "I'm borrowing this ok?" I never felt able to tell her how socially unacceptable that was!<br /><br />My bookshelves have 3 main themes:God and spiritual growth;work,that is,autism and special needs; and literature that is,in turn separated into already read and waiting to be read.I tend to have one on the go from each group at a time. I'm currently reading "Landmarks" by Margaret Silf.I cannot recommend it highly enough to anyone who wants to grow in their relationship with God and become more like Him. It has brought me through a very difficult part of my life,still trusting.For work,its "the out of sync child", a fascinating insight into sensory integration disorder,which really only touches the iceberg of this enormous subject and wets my appetite for more information.I have already diagnosed myself with certain sensory integration problems, a subject I may touch on in another blog :).I am also reading Neil Gaiman,having finished Coraline, and moving straight on to Anasi Boys.<br /><br />Anyway, I started thinking in this technological age of ours you could say the same thing about which websites people bookmark.Not of course as accessable as a bookshelf which may disappoint my dear Mother,but they would certainly show whats important to you,your interests,your priorities and pleasures.<br />Of course my bookmarks reveal the same things initially. I have a huge work folder which contains useful ideas websites [for planning my teaching],educational blogs which can be incredibly helpful,and recently ideas that would help me in lecturing mainstream teachers about ASD. For example, that notorious AutismSpeaks video as an example of what NOT to believe and the "I do not suffer with Autism statements".<br />I frequently visit the Northumbrian community website http://www.northumbriacommunity.org/ where I get much prayer support and friendship from the forum members.Sacred Space is a website that leads you into prayer for 10/15 minutes at work when you need a little pocket of peace and God's presence in the day's stress.http://sacredspace.ie/ In contrast a ship of fools is a half serious half hilarious website that brings Christians together to discuss thorny issues but also rate religious jokes as which is the funniest and advertises the most ridiculous christian websites and religious kitsch.http://www.ship-of-fools.com/index.html I have trouble with Christians who can't laugh at themselves.<br /><br />Another main theme in my bookmarks is humour and my search for a good laugh.I currently love http://www.engrish.com/ and http://notalwaysright.com/.[basically a laugh at other peoples extreme stupidity] http://mstaken.com/blog/ has many laughable examples of celebrities making fools of themselves and it was here I discovered http://themessage-board.blogspot.com/ ,a very talented lady acting out the utter craziness of brides to be talking with each other. <br /><br />The main thing in my bookmarks is the blogs I follow, which seems to get bigger on a daily basis! Many of the blogs I follow are written by parents of autistic children or teachers or people with aspergers.It helps to keep me grounded, and not lost in the theory of autism and education but aware of how it impacts daily life for them and their families.Not only that but I love making new friends and a blog can help you get to know someone far better than facebook or twitter's short updates.For a moving and funny blog about her autistic son,which is beautifully written read http://mamabegood.blogspot.com/,whilst http://asd2mom.spaces.live.com/ Elise's sons are older and her wisdom and wonderful descriptions of advocating for them is a joy to read. For plain crazy people [in the nicest possible way,of course!]read http://blog.winett.com/ and http://neuroaster.wordpress.com/<br /><br />so whats in your bookmarks? Will anyone be brave enough to tell me? please do. <br /><br />oh and I forgot the shopping websites!LOL One of my favorite activities.Elaine van Zonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813301785998728241.post-54373320963856680052010-03-03T20:06:00.006+00:002010-03-04T17:11:58.637+00:00Never assume anything when dealing with autism<div style="display: block;" id="previewbody"><br />I have been looking forward to today for a few weeks . We were taking our<br />two classes of students with complex needs to The Alan Shearer Centre .<br />Only open for 3 years it boasts three state of the art sensory rooms;<br />the white room, the UV room and the blue room, a huge ball pool and<br />sensory cave . Even without the students I wanted to go and have fun!<br />I , of course, thought this would be a great opportunity for them and<br />they would be lost in wonder at all the strange and exciting<br />experiences.<br /><br />My class has five students. Two are in wheel chairs , with limited<br />physical ability and profound learning difficulties. The other three<br />are mobile [in fact very mobile!!] and have severe autism and<br />additional severe learning difficulties . These last three have the<br />sensory integration problems that accompany autism. I have just started<br />researching sensory integration problems in greater depth and found it<br />to be a fascinating minefield of information. So many different ways of<br />experiencing SID and in fact within just one student differences are<br />evident. For example they may be sensory seeking of tactile experiences<br />, but very defensive towards other sensory modals<br /><br />I have a pretty good understanding of the individuals within my class,<br />I know what motivates them , that being the very first thing I make it<br />my business to find out . I know the level they're .functioning at and<br />the variations in levels according to subjects. I know what makes them<br />happy and what makes them sad or angry and the ways they communicate<br />those feelings. Oh yes,I know what makes them tick!<br /><br />Well today held a few surprises for me!<br />S a wonderful child , usually happy , spends much time flapping paper<br />before his eyes. He enjoys trips out and as long as a familiar person<br />is around can be kept happy.He gets excited easily and jumps up and<br />down squeaking with happiness and laughing uncontrollably! He does<br />have times when he's anxious , and during those times he needs to flap<br />paper even more, searching for more books , leaflets, IEPs , anything<br />he can find. When hes got enough, in his opinion, he sits on the floor<br />with them spread around him . He also has an obsession with tidying<br />when anxious. No, I can't call it tidying as he pokes things in little<br />spaces, behind cupboards and drawers and under tables to get them out<br />of his sight but leaving these pockets of mess for us to tidy later. De<br />cluttering is a better description. The more anxious he is, the more he<br />declutters. He has been known to try and tidy my arms behind my<br />back!And the number of things that end up in the bin: shoes, cups and<br />other useful items of daily living are put there so S can no longer see<br />them.S is never happier than when elbow deep in shaving foam, sand,<br />water or any other tactile experience Knowing how active and energetic<br />S is he started today's experience in the ball pool. The balls lit up<br />and changed colour and there was a moving projection of planets on the<br />wall. Despite S love of tactile experience, he took an instant dislike<br />to the ball pool. Grabbing two handfuls of my hair he left me in no<br />doubt of that fact! Soon he started looking around for paper to flap<br />and pulled the fire instructions of the wall, shouting in fear and<br />anger . This continued into the sensory cave until he settled in front<br />of a colour changing infinity tunnel.<br />Things got worse from there! We took him next to the white room [meant<br />to be relaxing] which had bubble tubes, colour panels and music,fibre<br />optics and interactive light displays and I started to see things from<br />S's view. The room was small, had too many people in, extremely hot and<br />the music was loud which was vieing for attention with the people<br />talking to each other. All the equipment was on at the same time as we<br />were told not to touch the controls and S was EXTREMELY overstimulated.<br />Everything, visual and auditory was screaming at him and it was too<br />much for his overloaded sensory system to cope with .S sat in a corner,<br />turned his back on everything and flapped frantically. Bless him, we<br />had brought S to his own personal Hell<br />Now J is a sensory seeker and spends most of the time seeking more and<br />more stimulus, of all kinds, movement, tactile, smell. His particular<br />form of greeting is to smell you! He loved the sensory cave full of<br />different textures to touch and walk on . He enjoyed throwing the balls<br />out of the ball pool and at us! He enjoyed the white room, sitting<br />happily among all the equipment. However when he'd been led to yet<br />enough room he put a jumper over his head and shut down. The sensory<br />seeker was all sensed out!<br />A was the student I was going to keep an eye on. He is sensory<br />defensive, prefers not to look at anything, prefers not to move and<br />hates tactile experiences especially on his hands. I was prepared to<br />take him outside if necessary. However, big surprise! He had a ball. He<br />loved everything from beginning to end . He sat in the ball pool and<br />smiled, he sat in the white room and smiled more , he sat on the<br />vibrating platform and giggled and in the swing he shouted excitedly.<br />So how well do I know my students? I think I made three erroneous<br />assumptions . Firstly, that because it sounds like an exciting place to<br />me I assumed it would be for my class. I failed to think about it with<br />their minds and the effect it may have on them. Then because a child is<br />a sensory seeker he can have too much stimulation . I assumed all<br />stimulation would be good stimulation. I also failed to recognise that<br />defensiveness in some sensory modals doesn't rule out extreme enjoyment<br />in others.<br />Today has been a great learning experience. Its given me ideas to use<br />to motivate and stimulate A towards progression. I have realised that S<br />needs clutter free rooms because he gets overstimulated and flaps to<br />block out the discomfort this brings . I can make adjustments to his<br />learning environment and methods to accommodate this need. I will have<br />only one or two pieces of interactive equipment on at any one time when<br />we get our own state of the sensory room.Education is always a learning<br />process, not only for the students but for the teachers . Most<br />importantly I shall endeavour to plan our trips with my" autism mind",<br />always considering the effect on them.more than whether it will fit the<br />curriculum or it seems like a good idea.<br /></div>Elaine van Zonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813301785998728241.post-78647126870822785482010-02-20T14:39:00.002+00:002010-02-20T15:33:51.941+00:00How honest should we be?When I was a child I lied all the time for a variety of reasons: to get out of trouble, obviously;to fit in with my peers as I was concerned I didn't belong; to make myself more interesting and a whole lot of others. As the years went by it became second nature to me until I almost stopped noticing myself doing it.<br />The end to this bad habit came far to late when I was 19 and on retreat. As I presented myself to God, alone in my room, and asked Him what He wanted from me He said " You've got to stop lying Elaine" Total shock! I wasn't thinking about my lying and in fact as I said I wasn't really aware of it, as it had become second nature. This was the most clear dramatic message from God I'd ever had. No audible voice but a very definite awareness in my mind . <br /><br />Well obviously, If the Almighty God tells you to stop lying you make every effort to obey Him . I became and still am scrupulous in my avoidance of deceit.If as I occasionally did,I failed I felt guilty until I had put it right. <br /><br /><br />Recently I have been thinking about what honesty actually means and if its always right and good. For instance I don't tell people they're ugly, or that they're hopeless at the job they do. I don't call a spade a shit shovel as they say in Yorkshire. Gentleness and courtesy go a long way to building relationships and trust. I believe you need to earn the right to tell the whole truth in love. When I was a student it was common for members of the christian fellowship to say "In love sister ......." I you knew that what followed would not be pleasant Honesty should never be used as an excuse to have a go at someone you don't like or who irritates you.<br />I once lived with someone who was very difficult to live with. I had asked for prayer about this from my vicar and his wife. Now the vicar had a terrible memory and asked my flat mate weeks later if things were better at home and if we were getting on! I was furious ! If I had been honest with him there and then I may have said things I regretted and made everything worse. I waited till I'd calmed down and then went to see him. I asked him if I could trust him in future to be confidential and how he could guarantee that it wouldn't happen again. Those things needed saying but not in anger.Another example of honesty under the right conditions is when a relationship is broken through misunderstanding or hurt. How many times do we just say nothing and the rift gets bigger and bigger until there seems theres no chance of recapturing the bond that once was. Far better to sit down and explain how you're feeling without attacking, and work it out. I have done it many times and it always works . Relationships are more important than pride, being right or losing face.<br /><br />A completely different aspect to honesty is openness. Not hiding behind an image, not trying to appear what you're not , being true to yourself and believing you're lovable as you are. This is something that might come with maturity as it did in my case . When young I desperately wanted to appear, cool, popular etc, a bit later I wanted to appear spiritual , intelligent and sexy lol I'm sure I failed miserably at both images and suffered stress at the immense struggle to maintain them. Now I'm just me , take it or leave it! I am loved by God and my friends so that's more than enough for me and the freedom is so refreshing!<br /><br />In conclusion, honesty is a good thing IF used wisely and with discernment . What are your motives for saying things , are they loving and constructive and do they advance Gods kingdom or your own,? This sermon was to me by the way but if you found it interesting that's an added bonus.:)Elaine van Zonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813301785998728241.post-17469956965864477082010-02-18T17:19:00.004+00:002010-07-10T16:36:42.968+01:00Letter to my teenage selfDear Elaine,<br />There are many things that it would help you immensely to know here at the beginning of your adult life; invaluable lessons that I can give you which will save you much heartache and encourage you to be the best you can be.<br />Firstly, you are lucky. Your parents love you, you have great holidays with your aunt and you know God and His love for you. These are not gifts to be taken lightly. Please don't complain about your mother or your childhood and only see the negative things , you are LOVED thats worth a lot Learn to be grateful for life.<br />There are awful things that all of us go through during the course of life,and at the moment hurt or pain can almost make you want to die. You are a Strong person Elaine . You will find there is nothing in life that you cannot deal with with the Lords help. Not death, divorce, illness and worse . You are a fighter , and you will learn from everything,so that as you bounce back you can be thankful for all things that made you the person you are .<br />While I'm building you up you are also NOT ugly.You actually scubb up rather well :) Some people grow into being happy with their looks and thats you. However you have a figure to die for , I wish you could realise that while its still true.<br />You are a deeply compassionate person Elaine, some would say soft and a pushover. I don't think that. God gave you that compassion and the tendancy to trust people, even after being hurt over and over. Don't lose that part of you, and don't become hard. If you do you won't be the same loveable self ok<br />There are several things God has needed to say over and over throughout my life. If I impress on you their importance maybe it won't take so long for you to learn them. "Seek first Gods kingdom and His rightousness " This is the best way to live your life and the times you feel utterly at peace, and totally happy will be when you're doing this. Make this your goal in life and you will be blessed." remain in the vine and you will bear fruit" You cannot survive, learn and grow without spending plenty of time with God. I would go so far as to say you can't even be happy.<br /><br /><br />Now this is important Elaine.Try not to spend your life being what others want you to be . Don't hide parts of your personality to fit in with the crowd, please your partner or maintain an image. Ok you're a nutter, so BE a nutter as well as you can.Why make yourself grey or beige when you can be all the colours of the rainbow. When you are older you'll realise theres no need to be normal for people to like you.<br /><br />You so desperately want people to like you don't you? You want everyone to love you and admire you. You want to be cool and popular and are so desperate you probably push others away. Let me tell you, you are never going to get everyone to love you. No one can. But it really doesn't matter! You will always have a small group of friends who love you to bits and so stuff the ones who don"t. Don't be nasty to them but don't get upset . Spent time with people who make you laugh and happy. <br />whe<br />Lastly,I'm tempted to say you should never get married But no, I can't: cos then you wouldn't give birth to 2 beautiful charming girls , neither will you learn you can be a great mum even by yourself, or that God triumphs in adversity and nothing will thwart His plan for you.<br />Believe in yourself,and in Gods love and you'll be fineElaine van Zonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813301785998728241.post-81828381793297246762010-02-17T13:25:00.006+00:002010-02-17T13:43:43.126+00:00A hairy StoryA little while ago I noticed someone on my facebook friends list who I didn't recognise. Now I know all my friends, where they came from and how I met them and have talked to all at least once so this was a little disturbing. On investigating his profile I discovered he had been to Hairmixer.com and covered his bald head with a series of different hairstyles. I DID know him, I just hadn't recognised who he was. Panic over<br />Of course, I just had to have a go myself and here are the results.lol<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKH06OcpwRGHiMOA1cd3bBr4ByxaGggNS_4iDuEN6U5zyzXST1TK55Kv4NSWmzhuYpyG8v5Od7z0Sp-M_d92GIueUGbiyKZo5X2z0zdR_u72dy4C7p84yE8ODZSrsV17H_IHK6yIVBlw/s1600-h/xpmf-84-13-106-236-601911.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 168px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKH06OcpwRGHiMOA1cd3bBr4ByxaGggNS_4iDuEN6U5zyzXST1TK55Kv4NSWmzhuYpyG8v5Od7z0Sp-M_d92GIueUGbiyKZo5X2z0zdR_u72dy4C7p84yE8ODZSrsV17H_IHK6yIVBlw/s200/xpmf-84-13-106-236-601911.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439204452650818770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9H48FJSMxfuAIR9tnBF3m4B4BRpy_6Rf9mIAgY6ecZECF0LqwtnluQbJWjv1tmQ-JOv-T1BKS4PkOkAwgQ3bM8X9dv5b-BDFy3b5WmPEPdn3q55J5DCX-Hf6Cgx19I2BPujm5XCksXw/s1600-h/xpmf-84-13-106-236-794030.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 139px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9H48FJSMxfuAIR9tnBF3m4B4BRpy_6Rf9mIAgY6ecZECF0LqwtnluQbJWjv1tmQ-JOv-T1BKS4PkOkAwgQ3bM8X9dv5b-BDFy3b5WmPEPdn3q55J5DCX-Hf6Cgx19I2BPujm5XCksXw/s200/xpmf-84-13-106-236-794030.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439204155495870050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXxKGSZrilc5BNMqh8RFPZUHzbHWvcqYTgDXyRaMJV64KW80xAN_3I__-Ds-igLCooa2LA8w6ZCWPAOt3NOxChKVCIfN6Um3wYQ6AEzpq0YXD7qdImbS0zUu5t8WXIk9c2VjBX860TxY/s1600-h/xpmf-84-13-106-236-250291.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 141px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXxKGSZrilc5BNMqh8RFPZUHzbHWvcqYTgDXyRaMJV64KW80xAN_3I__-Ds-igLCooa2LA8w6ZCWPAOt3NOxChKVCIfN6Um3wYQ6AEzpq0YXD7qdImbS0zUu5t8WXIk9c2VjBX860TxY/s200/xpmf-84-13-106-236-250291.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439203893152002290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtssyjSC3lnrW9mP4uoF32SGdpszJKnsYPRqQhS5ezGQXaJ68ib6z6u7f6hwScYic3bm2tJMpWttJJYXi1p6v2fI15fYRbHeoFlE6hEfjoplN9tNwh0VLbQD8O2eyVBM_x_OCFQoEEKM/s1600-h/xpmf-84-13-106-236-357643.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtssyjSC3lnrW9mP4uoF32SGdpszJKnsYPRqQhS5ezGQXaJ68ib6z6u7f6hwScYic3bm2tJMpWttJJYXi1p6v2fI15fYRbHeoFlE6hEfjoplN9tNwh0VLbQD8O2eyVBM_x_OCFQoEEKM/s200/xpmf-84-13-106-236-357643.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439203496532161794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVq_MyButrbFlln0LZk46tR0hdG3QU_onwt1k_GKM5glaB2MeNt7IhM0FWJVOPOXgE4tXZnW2wItrCi4h1cDNWp1Fl5VY0aP5eLNW-e-NBF5hjbNz8XfhP9XKoErfr0074f3XSyF15Aq4/s1600-h/xpmf-84-13-106-236-554506.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 147px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVq_MyButrbFlln0LZk46tR0hdG3QU_onwt1k_GKM5glaB2MeNt7IhM0FWJVOPOXgE4tXZnW2wItrCi4h1cDNWp1Fl5VY0aP5eLNW-e-NBF5hjbNz8XfhP9XKoErfr0074f3XSyF15Aq4/s200/xpmf-84-13-106-236-554506.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439203197893808546" /></a><br />Can you spot Scary mumsie , scary Granny, and just plain Scary!Elaine van Zonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813301785998728241.post-42478765040649180532010-02-16T19:25:00.003+00:002010-02-16T20:41:40.206+00:00what would Freud say?I am always amazed by people who say they don't dream. Every day I wake up remembering some bizarre dream I'm had , if only for a few minutes although often my dreams become a permanent memory.<br /><br />Just lately I've been dreaming I was pregnant a lot. Different dreams , different people but always pregnant . Well a few days ago I had the baby ! The father was my first boyfriend from over 20 years ago and our child didn't come from inside me, but from inside a chicken which was inside another, bigger chicken. The chickens were plucked ready for cooking, no head , and I pulled the baby from inside, myself.The baby was a wooden peg with bits of wire for hair but despite this we cooed over it affectionately as if it was just what we expected!!<br /><br />My dreams have often had themes, like recurring dreams but just the theme is recurring , with a different scenario for each one . For example I dreamt I was naked in public throughout my teenage years and early 20s: once in Marks and Spencer, once in front of the class I was teaching,etc That is supposed to mean there is a part of your character you are scared of people discovering . Well obviously it was dealt with as I then had a year or so of dreaming I was naked in public but really didn't give a damn. :)I also dreamt many times of living in a dictatorship system where if I didn't obey I would be punished or killed. I think I had a controlling boyfriend at the time.Another recurring theme is of being unprepared . Many times I have dreamt I'm back at university , having to take my degree again and have NO HOPE of completing the course. In real life I will be slightly anxious about something I should be prepared for <br /><br />The most dramatic example of my dream and real life merging was after my first wedding. The marriage was annulled . For a long time I dreamt I was once more before the altar, in my wedding dress, about to say "I will" whilst knowing I really didn't want to. Over and over again I woke in a panic that turned into relief when I realised it wasn't real. Eventually in one dream my ex was asking me to marry him and I was about to say yes , with the familiar feeling of foreboding , when in the dream I thought "I don't have to do this,I'm in love with someone else now" So I finished with my ex in that dream and never had a similar dream again!!<br /><br /> There is a whole separate world in my dreams that although it doesn't exist in real life I remember and revisit in different dreams . I could even draw a map! One part has a school at the top of a big hill and several bus routes down the hill or to other places . One of those bus routes took me to a christian community and church I had visited in other dreams , and a little further to a city centre, with restaurants I had frequented in yet more different dreams <br /><br />On a lighter note not all my dreams are meaningful in anyway . Check out the following bizarre and hilarious examples <br /><br />In a pub with my parents , eating banana flavored rubber gloves for lunch<br /><br />Some friends of mine had shrunk to a tiny size and my mission was to get them back to their proper size and in the process to protect them from their Dad who was angry with them <br /><br />Taking communion in a church and the bread turned out to be sausages[ that particular one inspired the title "what would Freud say?"]<br /><br />my mum was the queen of England's very close friend and had been given the keys to her car<br /><br />I was feeding children into a machine on a conveyor belt and was trying not to mangle them, but sometimes thay came out as metal objects and I had to explain to their parents <br /><br />So , after this glimpse into my weird and scary mind , is anyone brave enough to comment ? Perhaps a psychiatrist would like to diagnose me LOL<br /><br /> <br />Til next timeElaine van Zonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813301785998728241.post-43885306935159202502010-01-10T13:51:00.002+00:002010-01-10T16:31:41.337+00:00A can of wormsI mentioned in my last post that I had recently joined twitter and had found there a wonderful community of autistic people and friends and parents of autistic people [by autistic I include everyone on the autistic spectrum, which includes aspergers] All the people I have become friends with are so loving and supportive of each other and delightful people, who I feel honoured to know .<br />As I have read conversations and blogs by them I've come upon some words which are unfamiliar to me and researched them via google .This has led me to delve deeper into the issues of autism in a political realm , and I discovered that the autistic community basically falls into two camps : those who believe in neuro diversity and those who don't [I'm not sure what to call the other camp] Briefly and simply[remember that I've only just found these things out ] I will try to describe the main differences<br />Neurodiversity is believing that autism is a difference , not a diesease , not a mental illness , not a disorder but a difference . Where neurotypicals [thats us so called normal people HA!] think , learn and process sensory information in one way , those on the autistic spectrum do all those things differently ,making it difficult for them to understand us and for us to understand them .There is no cure for autism although many autistic people can learn to understand the rest of society through education and some therapies and can be independant , live alone, form relationships etc ,Many autistic people wouldn't want to be different and feel that if you took their autism away you would be taking away their essential character , that essence of who they are .Believers in neurodiversity think that autism is of genetic origon , not environmental , and research into cures in a waste of time, and money and an insult to those who are autistic ie making them feel that we wish they ed never been born . Autistic people want equal rights and equality with neurotypicals in the job market and every other section of society and feel they have been , and are being discriminated against on a regular basis . They also believe that many of the difficulties people with autism experience, in their differences, in fitting into society are caused by a lack of understanding and acceptance on <span style="font-style: italic;">societies </span>side which could be corrected by better education and knowledge . They often have advocates who are themselves autistic as there is a strange lack of autistic people allowed to speak on the behalf of other people with autism.<br />The other camp [TOC :)]believe that autism is more than a difference , its huge disorder/handicap that affects those with it and their families in a devastating way.They want to find a cure and support research to this end , also research into what causes it . They believe the incidence of autism has increased dramatically in recent years and therefore this should be addressed.They also want to help children with autism and their families to cope with autism as best they can . Many different and expensive therapies , drugs and treatments have been tried and been accredited with varying degrees of success .<br />Now in researching these issues I discovered a strange and shocking truth- The two camps hate each other !!!!!!!. I suppose when looked at closely that's not shocking at all, after all they believe the complete opposite of each other . Also people care passionately about these issues as they are affected by them or the lives of their loved ones are . If you put any group of people together it generally leads to disagreement and argument and fallouts . Who hasn't worked in a job where bitching is rife? Unfortunately , we humans are like that . What is shocking however is that for some people , and only some , the desire to score points against the other side is greater than the desire to help those who are suffering . To some the tendency to whinge and moan about the other side takes precedence over taking action to change things .Take the current situation over Zakhquery Price , an 11 year old autistic child faced with charges of felony , due mainly to the absolute ineptness of the teachers and their inability to work with the family to help Zakh or to follow reasonable protocols . A horrible story, which makes many of us feel sick with disgust but used by some members of both camps to take a pop at the other side . FOR FUCKS SAKE PEOPLE!! What about Zakh here ? Doesn't he matter more than point scoring ?<br /> Before I go any further I shall try and explain where I stand on the neurodiversity versus TOC issue. My beliefs have changed over years as I have learnt new facts or had new experiences , so this is where I stand now , today. I believe Autism is a difference , not an illness and I've always believed that. I believe all autistic people , wherever they are on the spectrum , should be accepted and loved for who they are . My brother, Andrew has Aspergers , he flaps his hands and mumbles several times a day[ I believe its called stimming ], he doesn't give eye contact, jumps sky high if you unexpectedly touch him and he often "finds life overwhelming"[ his words] However he is the most lovely funny kind and sensitive man you could meet . Kids love him , his students respect him for his skill at lecturing and he has a few close friends who love him .The students in my class are at the opposite end of the spectrum . Non verbal, doubly incontinent , hyperactive , extremely obsessive and often violent , they too are gorgeous , funny cheeky happy people [most of the time ] I believe there is no cure , that its genetic and the best way forward is through education . I think that we need to educate society to accept and understand by raising the autistic profile and we need to give autistic children and adults the skills to socialise and to understand the way we neurotypicals behave . They make steps towards us, we make steps towards them .Each child is different and what helps one won't do anything for someone else . Just as there is a wide range of needs on the autistic spectrum there should be a wide range of educational provision to help them . Even within one class of students I have used 3 different reading schemes , different therapies , different motivating activities . There's no one way .<br />So I'm a neurodiversity person then ? Well, mostly I guess I am but I am not completely sure on all issues . I'm not sure if something environmental may not play a part in developing autism in some people . Could it be a genetic predisposition which is triggered in some people by an environmental trigger . I think maybe the jury is still out on that one<br /><br />If I have said anything that's not right please feel free to tell me and I'll happily discuss things with anyone . However I refuse point blank to argue , get personal or score points . We're all fighting for the kids and the autistic community so lets learn to work together . Its more important to be peaceful than to be right , its more important to take action than to be right , its more important to be reconciled and united than to be right! I intend to take action in the following ways : 1in my classroom to do all I can to improve the quality of life for the children . To help them be happy and give them skills to help them reach their potential<br />2to help the parents of the kids in their struggles and to help them understand why their kids are the way they are<br />3 in the school I work in to teach the mainstream teachers ways they can help students with aspergers to access the curriculum , and to understand them better<br />4on twitter and facebook to support whatever political issues arise, donate , discuss but never argue or bitch :)<br /><br />Oh and it strikes me an autism advocate would be the ideal job for me . How do I get to be one ? Anyone?Elaine van Zonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813301785998728241.post-65156207277607046622009-12-17T16:43:00.002+00:002009-12-17T16:56:24.259+00:00Laugh out loudIn difficult times , a good laugh can do you the world of good . Heres some hilarious stuff that made me laugh today , sent to me by my good friend Norma Enjoy<br /><span style="widows: 2; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div><div><div><div><p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; text-align: center; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; vertical-align: top;" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Thank God for church ladies with typewriters. These sentences (with all the BLOOPERS) actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services</span></span></p></div></div></div> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; text-align: center; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; vertical-align: top;" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 14pt;">---------------------------------------------------------------------</span></span></p></div></span> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; text-align: center; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; vertical-align: top;" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span></b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:130%;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:maroon;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: maroon; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB">The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes snacks and meals.<br /></span></span><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB"> --------------------------</span></span></b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:green;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: green; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"> The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.'</span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"></span></span></span> </p><p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; text-align: center; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; vertical-align: top;" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:130%;color:green;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: green; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB">The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span></span><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB">--------------------------</span></span></b></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:130%;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:olive;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: olive; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB">Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.<br /></span></span><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB"> --------------------------</span></span></b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: navy; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB">Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you.</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:130%;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB">--------------------------<br /></span></span></b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"> </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:purple;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: purple; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB">Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:130%;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB">--------------------------<br /></span></span></b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:teal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: teal; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"> Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span></span><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB">-------------------------- </span></span></b></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:gray;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: gray; font-size: 18pt;" lang="EN-GB">For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB">--------------------------<br /></span></span></b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"> </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:blue;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: blue; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB">Next Thursday, there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span></span><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB">-------------------------- </span></span></b></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:130%;color:fuchsia;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: fuchsia; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB">Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span></span><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB">--------------------------</span></span></b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:maroon;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: maroon; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"> A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall.</span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"></span></span></span> </p><p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; text-align: center; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; vertical-align: top;" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:130%;color:maroon;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: maroon; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB">Music will follow.</span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:130%;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB">--------------------------<br /></span></span></b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:green;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: green; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"> At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:130%;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB">.<br /> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB">--------------------------<br /></span></span></b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"> </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:olive;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: olive; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB">Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB"> --------------------------</span></span></b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: navy; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB">Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:130%;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span></span><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:130%;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB">--------------------------<br /></span></span></b><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:purple;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: purple; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"> Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you will want remembered.<br /></span></span><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB"> --------------------------</span></span></b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:green;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: green; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"> </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:teal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: teal; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB">The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:green;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: green; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB">--------------------------<br /></span></span></b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:gray;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: gray; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB">Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.<br /></span></span><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB"> --------------------------</span></span></b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:blue;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: blue; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB">The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:navy;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: navy; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB"> --------------------------</span></span></b></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:130%;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:fuchsia;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: fuchsia; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB">This evening at 7 PM, there will be hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin. </span></span></span> </p><p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; text-align: center; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; vertical-align: top;" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:green;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: green; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB"> --------------------------</span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:130%;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"> </span></span></span></span></span> </p><p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; text-align: center; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; vertical-align: top;" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:green;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: green; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"> The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:130%;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB">--------------------------<br /></span></span></b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:olive;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: olive; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"> Low Self-Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM.</span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"></span></span></span> </p><p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; text-align: center; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; vertical-align: top;" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:130%;color:olive;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: olive; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB">Please use the back door.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> -</span></span><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB">------------------------- </span></span></b></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:130%;color:navy;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: navy; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"> The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB"> --------------------------</span></span></b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:purple;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: purple; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB">Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:130%;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"><br /> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:red;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: red; font-size: 19.5pt; font-weight: bold;" lang="EN-GB">--------------------------<br /></span></span></b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: black; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"> </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:teal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; color: teal; font-size: 19.5pt;" lang="EN-GB">The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours.'</span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"></span></span></span> </p><div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p></div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><br />= </span></span></p><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><br /><b><span style="color: purple;"><a target="_blank" __removedlink__729089666__href="http://www.tiscali.co.uk/technology" rel="nofollow"></a></span></b></span></div>Elaine van Zonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813301785998728241.post-67372109719774582132009-12-10T17:09:00.002+00:002009-12-10T17:24:22.770+00:00I'm one of the 7%I saw these words of wisdom on the wonderful blog of aBigHairySpider and thought at the time that if I had a blog I would certainly pass them on . So here you are :)<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;">Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio<br /><br />To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me...<br /><br />It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"<br /><br /> 1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"> 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 5. Pay off your credit cards every month.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 6. You don't have to win every argument.. Agree to disagree.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 12. It's OK to let your children see you cry..</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br />21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, and wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 22. Over prepare, and then go with the flow.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 26. Always choose life.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 27. Forgive everyone everything.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 28. What other people think of you is none of your business.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 30. However good or bad a situation is it will change.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 31. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 32. Believe in miracles.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 33. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 34. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 35. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 36. Your children get only one childhood.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 38. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 39. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 41. The best is yet to come.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 43. Yield.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /> 44. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.<br /><br />It's estimated 93% won't forward this. If you are one of the 7% who will, forward this with the title '7%'. I'm in the 7%.. Remember that I will always share my spoon with you! Friends are the family that we choose for<br />ourselves.Just reading these inspires me with hope and faith in the future ! Woop Woop!<br /><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></div></div> <div class="post-footer"><br /><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-3"><span class="reaction-buttons"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="reactions-label-cell" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top" width="1%"><br /></td><td><br /></td> </tr></tbody></table> </span> </div> </div> <div class="post hentry"> <a name="7497876623821383685"></a></div><div class="post hentry"><div class="post-body entry-content"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /></div></div><div class="post hentry"> <a name="8495892159461402408"></a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="post hentry"><div class="post-body entry-content"><br /><br /></div></div><div id="sidebar-wrapper"><div class="sidebar section" id="sidebar"><a class="quickedit" href="rearrange?blogID=2776340346732556756&widgetType=HTML&widgetId=HTML3&action=editWidget" onclick="'return" target="configHTML3" title="Edit"><br /></a><div class="widget HTML" id="HTML3"><span class="widget-item-control"><span class="item-control blog-admin"> </span> </span> </div><br /></div></div>Elaine van Zonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2813301785998728241.post-1652024520539214362009-12-09T16:37:00.002+00:002009-12-09T16:58:17.661+00:00Why Blog? Zat is Ze QwestionThe above quote by Jeremy Wright is asked in "a beginners guide to blogging " and gives the following answers<br />1to know more people<br />2to never forget a thought again<br />3to improve on your thoughts with little or no effort<br />4getting to know people in a shallow way and then deepening the relationship .<br />I can see the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">benefits</span> of all these , particularly the improvement idea. Its a way of being creative for a relatively uncreative person [ or a person who has as yet undiscovered creative potential!]The people who will probably to read a blog by me are likely to be my friends already , I don't expect a whole new section of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Internet</span> society to come on board so I would rule out the shallow idea , but it may lead people to know me in a deeper way . Other reasons that are more personal are that a friend once told me it was theraputic , and at thisparticularly dark and difficult in my life I'll take any form of therapy I can get!:) Also I often find something that I want to discuss or share with others , ie a funny story or a snippit of news or information that makes me giggle or brings out strong feelings in me . Rather than ringing up several friends , a blog seems a better forum for dicussion and sharing . And last but not least , when surrounded by housework that needs doing , writing my blog is another good excuse to put it of til tomorrow :)Elaine van Zonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.com0