Yep, it’s Tuesday night. It’s party week, it’s the last week of term. You’ll have to forgive me!

Anyway, this week has involved meetings with colleagues, a funeral prep meeting, lots of admin, time in the Hub, toddler group, helping at the school disco as part of the PTA, blessing the nursery leavers at their graduation, prayer, Rainbows, Tappy Toes, a late night watching the football, Sunday worship and lots of attempts to hide from the heat.

After a few disrupted days off, this one was really good. We went to the park nice and early before it got too hot. The kids had a good run around and an ice lolly, and we were home by 11. We sat in the shade of the garden in the new (to us, free off Facebook) paddling pool. We spent time in the play room when it got too hot to be outside. It was really good.

Ministry life has been full on. Mum life has been good.

The mad moment of the week was when I was stood on the kitchen, minding my own business opening post when a magpie suddenly started flapping around! I didn’t have scream, not because I was particularly scared, but because I wasn’t expecting it! It cleared off through the back door eventually, but it didn’t half make a mess!

Sophia said: ‘Mrs Clare was on a course today so we didn’t see her. Summer is going on a course too. She is going to sleep on a boat!’

I’m sure Mrs Clare would have much preferred her course to have been a cruise!

Aidan has got 16 teeth! Just the last 4 to go.

We had a lovely time walking round the garden together and we ended up sat in the tall grass, looking at leaves. Aidan was picking leaves up around him, showing them to me and I was talking about the different colours. In the end he found one that was green, yellow and brown! He was very pleased with himself.

New section: quote of the week: ‘Her long relationship with her faith shaped every part of who she was. She was not only present in church, but she carried the church within her — in her kindness, her patience, her generosity, and her gentle spirit.’ Taken from a eulogy. How beautiful and inspiring.

This week I am especially grateful for: lunch in a pub beer garden with Nathan, even if a menu did fly off the table in the wind, hit me in the face and leave a scratch on my nose!

Coming up: Sophia’s party! Cakes, pass the parcel and all the prep.