This morning I felt a double sadness of events that we should have been celebrating today. It’s our little goddaughter’s second birthday today, and although our friends live in Devon, we’ve made sure we’ve met up regularly since they moved back there. I think this is the longest it’s been without visiting each other. Little children are growing up so fast in these months, and it’s hard to not see all the little people I love and know they’re changing so quickly.

Today we also had a family meal booked to celebrate my brother’s 40th birthday. And like I felt with Easter, when you are already missing a family member from gatherings, celebrations are bittersweet anyway. But to be missing them altogether feels like a double whammy of grief. When you’re grieving someone, I think you cling onto each special event even more tenderly, knowing only too well how precious those memories are.

But in those moments I remind myself of the people who are grieving. The thousands in Britain who have lost loved ones over the last few months. And I know it’s for a purpose. For safety. For love. It’s hard and it hurts, but we’re missing special occasions to give the hope of many more years of celebrations. And that is worth it.

Sad thoughts have to be put aside though, when the kids are busy and there’s church to do, and the sunshine helped go a long way in lifting spirits. In the quiet early morning whilst the small ones were still sleepily watching telly I finished crocheting ‘Hannah’ the mouse. It seemed only right after all the animals I’ve made that I make my namesake. I love the sense of completion when you finish a project, and then as soon as you’re done, there’s the anticipation of knowing you already have at least four more projects lined up.

The sylvanian village had an unfortunate spate of fires this morning, but thankfully Micah was on hand to help out when building after building apparently went up in flames.

The worship band is getting bigger by the week, this week we had Micah on percussion, Maddie on vocals, and Theo giving some delightful accompaniment on the recorder. They love seeing the familiar faces from church on the services and the Sunday school stories prepared for us to watch from home.

With weather this beautiful it definitely felt that a good walk was much needed. Unfortunately one family member was suffering from two late nights, and another was just suffering, so leaving the house involved a fair amount of cajoling, bribery, and shoe wrestling.

Once they got going though they were off. It was such a beautiful afternoon and we’re so lucky to live near restful scenes like these.

We had a brief break and a spot of hill rolling before our homeward journey. Micah hurt himself at least twice but still had to be pulled away from his rolling antics. And clearly wore himself out, because we ended up carrying him fast asleep for the latter part of the journey home.

An ice cream and a sit down revived everyone when we got back, and I had time to make a cheesecake before the Bowen family Sunday zoom. My baby nephew couldn’t join us today, but the newest member of the family, my sister’s puppy Tessa, made an appearance for the cuteness factor. Our family conversations tend to feature food fairly high on the agenda. Who’s having what for dinner, how good mum’s pudding looked, what the new hot chocolate maker my brother had for his birthday is like. It’s a good job we spoke just before dinner, because I would definitely have been hungry after those chats otherwise.

This evening we watched the highlights from the ‘One World, Together at Home’ concert, with beautiful music and poignant messages that bring home some of the sacrifices people are making, and the challenges people are facing in these times.

It’s a difficult balance to keep isn’t it, being aware of what’s going on in the world without obsessing about it. Focussing on caring for those you’re isolated with but creatively loving those you’re absent from too. Being grateful for those who are serving so hard and risking so much but being thankful for your safety at home. Being careful and sensible and adhering to guidance without living in anxiety and fear of a virus we can’t see. And some days that balance seems manageable and other days I lose control and I’m afraid or ungrateful or unloving or anxious.

The children’s Bible story this morning was taken from these verses in Luke, where Jesus listens to his followers worrying, and gently speaks to them, reminding them how loved and valued they are. It was good to be reminded of that today. That He’s got us. Whatever tomorrow or next week or next month hold, He knows our needs, and He is not only promising to take care of us, but to give us treasure that will last beyond the material things we so often worry about. So I can let go of the fears for tomorrow, love Him, love those He’s put in my life, and rest.

22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.
23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!
25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?
27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!
29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.
30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. – Luke 12:22-34