For the first time in eight years of ministry and training, I didn’t realise today was Sunday.

As Nathan left a cup of tea on my bedside table this morning, I groggily opened an eye and looked at him. I saw his clerical collar.

‘What are you up for?’ I asked.

‘I’ve got to go and do my service, Poppy’

‘Is it Sunday?!’

So there we have it! Happy Sunday!

The highlights of this week include: the wonderful Ashleigh’s ordination at Chester Cathedral yesterday…

…and the pet service at church today! See the picture at the top. It was fun and the turnout was great! We were outside, and I’m so grateful that Granny and Grandpa were willing to come and keep an eye on Soph. It was one less thing for me to worry about and I knew she wasn’t going to escape!

Challenge: keyboard warriors.

Ta-Dah Moment: cleaning the car seat, which has got slowly become covered in crumbs over recent months.

God moment: laying on hands for Ashleigh’s ordination yesterday. What an honour! It takes a lot of prayer, discernment and training to get this far, and I’m just so delighted to have been a part of some of her journey!

Mum moment: Sophia loves little baby dolls (beebees). The closest thing we have to one of these in our house is a ballerina rag doll (the beebee doll situation is in hand as it’s her birthday next month!). This morning, she asked to sit on the rocker with the ballerina doll. She held her to her chest as if to feed her, asked for Amber monkey, and asked for a blanket, which is exactly how she goes to sleep on me when I’m settling her!

Next week I am away at the Leading Your Church Into Growth conference. I’m going tomorrow morning and coming back Wednesday. I’m really looking forward to it, although I am a bit sad too because it’ll be the first time I’ve been away from Soph for more than a night, and the first time I’ve been away from both her and Nathan since before Covid. It’s going to be a great conference, but there’s definitely an element of putting my big girl pants on!

Sophia’s new words: Pen, Barbara (a lovely lady at church), rafaf (Olaf from Frozen)