Wow, 26 Ministry Mum Monday blogs, six months, half a year!

Do you know, I regularly wish it was this time last year. I’d have a lot of money if I had a pound for every time I thought that! It’s not that I don’t love being back at work – you know I do – but that twelve months with Aidan as a baby and with Soph before she went to school was just incredible.

Occasionally I look back at the last blog series, Two Tuesday to see what exactly was happening this time last year. Would you like to have a look with me? Here is Two Tuesday 26.

So, what’s the same? Church and Tappy Toes are still weekly events! We make the Lullababy seasonal specials when we can.

What’s different? It makes me sad every time, but Aidan is currently doing nursery on Thursday morning instead of toddlers. A huge part of me wants to pull him out and bring him with me on a Tuesday morning, and I might well do that after Easter. But after the utter carnage of last term, we just needed some stability in our home for a while, and we felt that four days of consistent childcare was better than three.

Another change is the shopping. Aidan and I used to go on a Tuesday afternoon once we’d said goodbye to our pals from Lullababy. Now I squeeze a shop in one evening when the kids are down. At our Lidl, they just have one baby trolley, and I still give it a little smile as I go past – sad or what!

Anyway, moving back to the here and now…

This week: clergy overnight stay at Whalley Abbey, trustee meeting, two pastoral visits, Sweaty Mama, Lent study group, Prayer Meeting, Nursing Home Communion, Tappy Toes, a funeral visit, Hot Chocolate after school, a birthday party, Sunday service, lunch with my in-laws, lots of coffee morning organisation and a smear test!

Ministry life is blossoming at the moment, although, blimey, I am about to enter a very busy few weeks. Hair chop coffee morning, a death by suicide funeral (a first for me, and one I desperately want to get right), my birthday, the annual meeting, my Aunt’s funeral down south, a family fun afternoon, and then the small matter of Easter!

Mum life is full on but wonderful.

Our day off involved cake from the lovely Berries & Bakes, and a first birthday party.

Sophia invited Nathan and I to sit and pray with her, passing her little angel statue between us when it was our turn. Her prayers ranged from asking that our hearts stay loving and safe, to asking God to make it rain sweets.

After many weeks of struggle, Aidan has cut teeth 11 and 12! They are his top two fangs, and they have been tricky.

This week I am especially grateful for: a big improvement in the weather.

Coming up: World Book Day and Sophia’s first class assembly!

More next time x