Hey, and welcome to the new weekly blog! Two Tuesday seemed to go down well, so I’m committing to another year of weekly blogging – for now, at least. It’ll be a bit of ministry and a bit of Mum, and a whole lot of juggling!

We had a crazy week last week with Aidan’s baptism the weekend before, Sophia starting school, Aidan starting nursery and his birthday!

Thankfully, it all went off alright. Sophia is loving school and Aidan’s new childminder is so lovely. I mean, Aidan is yet to be at his childminders past 1pm because he’s been so unsettled – he is supposed to finish at 5. But we’ll get there!

And Sophia coped well with her new start, as well as the older sibling issue of her little brother being given so many gifts. We had a clear rule that she could help Aidan open his presents, but only if we went at his pace and he was interested and engaged. To my knowledge, she only opened one present without him and she only whined four or five times, so with all those gifts across two big days, I’m counting that as a win!

Anyway, yesterday was my first day back at work, so the ultimate juggle has officially begun! Between the four of us, we’ve got 12 work days, 8 childcare days, four new extracurricular activities, three new apps, and two new childcare payment methods. It sounds a bit like a Christmas song! Oh no! Don’t say the ‘C’ word!

Here are some ministry Mum moments from the past couple of days:

Sermon writing on my laptop in the Tappy Toes carpark while Aidan napped.

I was so excited on the drive to church and I sang all the way, but only remembered that Aidan needed a nap as we drove down the road that church is on. Whoops! I will factor in more quiet car time before the service next week.

At the end of communion yesterday, I went to clean up the silver plates we use for the bread and wine. You’re supposed to do this with water out of a little jug. But being a bit rusty at doing communion, I accidentally attempted to clean the vessels with the contents of the wine jug instead. As I realised my mistake, I giggled to myself and suspected I was being watched. I knew if I looked up and caught somebody’s eye, I’d start really laughing, so I just kept my eyes down.

Milestone: Aidan has 6 teeth!

What Sophia said when settling her into bed on Friday night ‘do I have to have two days off? Can’t I go into school tomorrow?’.

Aidan’s new word: ‘ohf’ like ‘Soph’ without the S.

Highlight: being clapped as I walked in (and out!) of the service yesterday, and the bunting that had been draped over the altar, welcoming me home.

More next time x