It’s strange how life has changed over these months. Suddenly the little jobs I would have classed as errands are now a major feat and take up half of the day. This morning I felt like I was juggling priorities – the kids needed someone to sit with them to do schooling, I wanted to hang the washing out before the weather changed. I had several parcels to weigh and measure and print labels for, before going to the post office and Morrison’s. Which is always more than a ‘popping in’. And of course the usual dishwasher emptying, laundry sorting and getting everyone going with school work.

Thankfully there’s another team member here with me, so Liam successfully got Theo making sand letters whilst I ran around.

Maddie was having a wobbly morning, and it’s hard to learn about maths or frogs when you’re feeling all the feelings. And I knew me leaving the house was going to be an issue if we couldn’t find a calming strategy. So I dug out the magic painting book I ordered the other day, and it proved itself magic indeed. The excitement of the colours appearing, the delight over the woodland pictures, and the soothing paint strokes all seemed to help, so she settled herself there for a good while.

Older children have wobbly days too, but the chicken falling asleep on his lap cheered Toby up, and then he got to go with Liam for his first real life interaction with friends in 3 months. I think like me, he was nervous of the thought of all the changes, but thrilled to see friends and play.

The Wii fit told us it hadn’t been used for 256 days which I’m sure isn’t true…but it was good to see them enjoying it together. Apparently inspired by all their film favourites, they practiced ski jumping like Eddie the Eagle, and bobsledding Cool Runnings style.

Theo meanwhile decided to make the most of the sunshine, and opted for bubbles. He wasn’t satisfied with these ones through, and pleaded for the bigger ones. So I dutifully got the Dr Zigs ones out, and ran around the garden with them for him.

He then decided he should sit in the swing whilst I made bubbles for him there. And how happy he was, living his best life whilst I waved the wand around at his demand.

The other kids came out at the mention of ice creams, and Micah insisted on pulling up a chair with the big girls, and joining in the chats.

We watched the thunder clouds roll in and Maddie kept an eye on me dashing out to get the washing in at the first lightning flash and thunder roll. The children all disappeared then, up to Megan and Maisie’s attic bedroom to watch the storm from there.

I felt a little like the weather today, moving between calm skies to storm clouds and back again. The pressures of the morning, the peaceful afternoon, broken by another tricky update phone call, making the months ahead as uncertain as ever. Knowing that I don’t need be anxious, but aware of how I resent change and that feeling of the unknown. And a wondering if I’ll ever get five minutes peace before Christmas!

I decided to run tonight, the final run of week 6 being a full 25 minute run with no walking. I left in light rain, and ran for 23 minutes in heavy rain before it eased off for the last two minutes. I learned the pros of running in torrential rain are keeping cool and hydrated and a sense of freedom. The cons being the very steamed up glasses meant I didn’t see the huge puddle coming up and my shoes are more than a little damp. The picture doesn’t do justice to how wet I was at the end!

Seven weeks ago I could barely walk up to the girls attic room without feeling unfit and out of breath. And I wouldn’t have imagined having the motivation to get to this point. Admittedly the half hour escapes from the house are definitely a selling point, but the reality is I’ve just plodded through the plan. One run at a time. And it works.

And really that’s all we can keep doing in these weeks too, isn’t it? Keep plodding, one foot in front of another, one day after another, and like Laura on the podcast kept telling me, ‘trust the plan’.

It’s not the government plan I trust in, but the plan of the One who knew this time would happen before time began. Who’s been faithful through every upheaval and challenge and loss and financial hardship and bad day and good day I’ve been through before, and will be again.

The thunder and lightning reminded me of God’s power today, that He who came to fight our battle for us will equip us for every day that feels like a battle.

1 ‘Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;
2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.
3 O LORD, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him?
4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.
5 Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
6 Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out your arrows and rout them!
7 Stretch out your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters…’Psalm 144:1-7