This time last week, we were frantically trying to sort out my smashed study window.

We’d got back from the most gorgeous holiday the day before, and we were preparing for church the next morning. Nathan was in his study at the front of the house, and I was in the kitchen, at the back, ironing my robes – not something you often catch me doing because that’s normally Nathan’s job!

Suddenly, there was a huge crash, and I knew some glass had smashed in my study. I assumed it must somehow be the old glass cabinet we keep in there. Nathan shouted though ‘you alright?’ to which I responded, ‘yes, but I’m in the kitchen, not the study!’

We went through to see that the window had shattered quite dramatically. I think I spent a good 30 seconds racking my brain trying to think how this accident had happened. Then, the realisation dawned that this had been done on purpose.

We went to the front door and looked out as I called the police. We looked to see what had come through the window, and eventually realised that the object must still be outside. It turns out that because of the safety glass, the outside pane had shattered and bounced into the inside pane which had burst into the house. We found a large gas canister outside in the bushes.

Once I’d reported what I could see and hung up, I felt so very vulnerable and completely exposed. Looking out into the darkness of the drive and areas surrounding church, with our sleeping toddler upstairs, I was aghast to think that somebody wished us harm. It was really scary.

I fired off some messages for prayer. We have brilliant family, friends and colleagues who were in touch very quickly. I went from panicked to calm remarkably quickly – that’ll be prayer for you! With encouragement from our Area Dean (who called about 3 minutes after I messaged the clergy WhatsApp group!), an emergency glazier came out that night to make sure we were safe and secure. Polly and Martin came over to, to help shift some glass and give a much needed hug! The police arrived to take a look just gone 11, which I thought was remarkable for a Saturday night!

I’m now led to believe that the incident was a case of mistaken identity – some people thought that a local young troublemaker lives at our house. Now, there is a young troublemaker at our house, but she’s only two and the kind of damage she causes is emptying her drawers and pouring bathwater on her Dad’s head when he’s trying to wash her, and nothing more.

The window was replaced on Tuesday and my Mum mopped and thoroughly vacuumed everywhere, so my study is now usable again. Good job because its nearly Christmas!

With the winds tonight, every time I hear a bang somewhere, I flinch. I know what we’ve been through is absolutely nothing compared to elsewhere in the world. I’ve nothing to complain about, really. But it did shake us up for a couple of days. And I’m very much hoping that it doesn’t happen again.