Share the Easter Story

So this is it- the final day of Love Life Live Lent and the final day of daily blogging- some folks may be glad of that but I know a lot of my friends have been taking this journey with me or at least following mine each day.
After the solemn nature of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday I have to confess I feel nothing but joy at the anticipation of Easter morning. I'm surrounded by my family (including my brother & his family who're up for the weekend), I'm well fed, warm and I know I'm loved. LLLL has helped me to focus on the world and the people around me, to think about what their needs may be and the small things I can do that might make a difference.
I thank everyone who's said kind things about the blog and I will try to keep it up- though not every day!!
I wish you a joyful Easter filled with love and kindness. Today's task was to send an Easter card so I've doodled one to share with anyone reading this, along with the Easter story.

John 20:18
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”

Surveying The Wondrous Cross

Today was Good Friday, so the task was to think about Good Friday. I had plenty of opportunity to do this, first at St Michael's Easter Experience (where I was manning a station speaking to folks from toddlers to more mature adults about what the cross means to them, how we share our sorrows and how we can pray for those who are suffering) and secondly in the Christie Hospital chapel at the liturgy for Good Friday service.
It was suggested we make an Easter garden and I had it all planned in my head. That was until work phoned in desperate need of cover for the night shift, so in lieu of a lovingly crafted 3D Easter garden I scribbled a picture of one on my phone.

No scripture today:
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Love One Another

Loving one another seems appropriate for Maundy Thursday as this is exactly want Jesus commanded the disciples to do at The Last Supper.
We went to two very different services today. The first was in the intimate Christie chapel. We have annointing instead of washing feet (it's an infection control thing) and whilst very moving it doesn't have the despair of the full Maundy Thursday liturgy, ending with the church being stripped of all ornament whilst the choir sings Psalm 22:
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest.
Utter despair, remembering the hopelessness and helplessness of the disciples after Jesus was arrested.
But before this Jesus had told them:
"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35).
In our LLLL booklet it suggested we do this by giving away some of the seedlings growing from the seeds we planted in week one. Our tomatoes are growing strong and ready to be replanted in their own pots- perfect to share with others. They're still small, but they'll grow bigger, stronger and produce fruit, as I hope I will after my journey (ugh- I said the J word) through Lent.

Be More Imaginative

Putting imagination into gift buying was the task for today- to find out what someone has given up for Lent and buy it for them as a gift.
Well my chosen victims aren't on Facebook or Twitter but all I can say is that someone's getting a big bag of sugar on Monday morning- oh and there may be excessive amounts of red wine when we have guests for tea next Friday.

Psalm 37:21
The wicked borrow, and do not pay back, but the righteous are generous and keep giving

Remember Remember

So back in the day I used to have this really awesome memory- it was my thing, I remembered stuff. Meant I aced exams, which was nice, with very little effort. Then I had kids. Then my brain turned to soup. How I wish I'd bothered to learn some chunks of scripture back before my attention span became that of a toddler with a bag of smarties.
One thing that never sticks in my head is how St Paul's grace starts- easiest thing in the world, I know, but whilst I can still quote many an amusing line from Chaucer or Father Ted (pre kids you see) I'm completely pants st remembering anything biblical. So for today's task of remembering a song, poem or prayer I've tried to remember the grace. I hope it stays there!

2 Corinthians 13:14
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Be More Encouraging

Crazy day- nearly forgot to blog!
Today we were supposed to be really positive and encouraging to others, and I tried...but what I learned today is that it can be really hard to be enthusiastic when you're tired, stressed and worried. The other thing was that the people I was with today would have known I was playing at being enthusiastic. I decided to save my encouragement and enthusiasm for my patients- which I usually try and do anyway- and for our new staff nurse.

1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, beloved,[a] to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them.

Live more simply

I've not exactly done today's task, despite thinking about it for several days. We had to give away something we don't need but I haven't yet come across anything! I haven't had chance to look too in depth, although there is a book I was planning on giving away to a work friend. Jacob wants to give away his Lego Ninjago book as he has two the same. Faith is undecided.
We have had a lovely simple day- late start due to watching the F1 qualifying, baking, simple lunch and a bit of housework before going to our friend's house for tea. I did give them a cake I'd baked and didn't need- does that count?!

Matthew 10:9-10
Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food.

Be Aware Of Others

I'm a very selfish person by nature. I'm very aware of this and try really hard not to be. I often fail. I'm also really rubbish at talking to people I don't know, outside of my work environment anyway.
As Fiona the nurse I'm confident and outgoing. As Fiona in the big wide world I avoid conversations with people I don't know and enjoy the safety of familiar things.
Because of this today's task was very good for me- to look beyond the familiar and think about the less familiar people I met today and pray for five of them.
When I pray for people I don't know I always use the same words: that they be granted wholeness of body, mind and spirit, that they feel God's presence in their lives and know his love.

1 Timothy 2:1
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone

Smile More

Smiling seems like a straight forward enough  mission for the day, but you'd be surprised how many people look at you oddly if you simply smile at them! It's fine for people who know you but strangers simply do not know how to respond.
Luckily there was lots to smile about today. I started by popping on my odd socks for Down Syndrome Awareness day and making some biscuits for my friend Amy's bake sale for DS. Then it was off to Withington to see my spiritual director- very much needed after the stress of yesterday. I popped into work to drop the biscuits off and bought 2 choc cupcakes for the kids.
Home for lunch and watched Archbishop Justin's enthronement- which was fantastic- connecting with lots of other Christians on Twitter in the process (highlights were In Christ Alone and Archbishop Gregorious' beard).
Rounded the day off with a bit of housework and time with the kids. Not too much opportunity to share my smiles but they were there!

Proverbs 15:13
A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance

Be More Thoughtful

Today we were tasked to think of others and think what might make someone you know happy, and then do it.
Anyone reading the blog since the first week of Lent may remember that Mike had a trip to A&E. He's been off work since as his gastric issues continue and he is unable to lift (he's an undertaker). Today his pain was so severe that he had to return to A&E. Due to the general circumstances of the day there was no one to look after the kids if he went to hospital so I had to take a carer's leave from work. He tried to play the martyr saying he'd wait until Thursday but one look at him would have told anyone he was not well.
Work has been pretty busy so I felt huge amounts of guilt letting my colleagues down.
Sadly it is a rare thing that Mike gets put first, after work, church and the kids, but today was about him and what he needed. I'm not sure this was being more thoughtful but I certainly needed to think about what my priorities for today were. I'm really not sure I made anyone happy either! I was there fir Mike and the kids when they needed me, which in all honesty I'm not always.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Hospitality

Task fail today! We were called to be more welcoming and invite someone we don't know very well round for a cuppa.
This is a hard one- trying to think of someone I know, but not well, that I can invite round without them thinking I'm a total loon is a tricky thing. I was hoping I'd see someone appropriate in the playground this morning, but didn't, and then the rest of the day passed in a blur as work was a bit crazy.
As with the phone call task I intend to fulfil this one eventually!

Hebrews 13:2
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Be Still

For today's task we had to lie still for five minutes, listening to our breathing. I didn't need much encouragement to chill out after a weekend of working night shifts- I was concerned that five minutes of stillness might have sent me to sleep.
Faith and I lay together in stillness on my bed, and she managed the whole five minutes, then asked if we could do it again! I guess you don't know you like some things until you try them, and Faith would never usually dream of attempting stillness.
When I asked her what she had been thinking about she told me she was remembering the first time she saw Jacob at the hospital, and the orange dress she wore.

Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God

Cake or Death?

Sharing cake takes me right back to my very first blog post, my blog title & my very reason for starting this blog- no matter how awful your day is someone sharing some cake with you can, fleetingly, make you think everything is ok...and for that moment it is.
I try and share cake as often as I can- I love baking (mainly as therapy!) And I love to feed people. I've fallen back on my 'not-much-time-fail-safe' recipe today- chocolate brownies. I even managed to decorated them without one flake of glitter- though my hand was on the sprinkle cupboard door at one point.
A night shift tonight means I have lots of colleagues to feed. Sharing makes you feel good and makes others feel good. I have a cake ministry!

Acts 4:32
Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.

Positive Thinking

Thinking positively is something I hope I try to do every day, it doesn't however come quite so easily to the rest of the Jenkies. Getting them to make a list of the good things in their lives hopefully helped them to see that they're not so hard done by.
I am so grateful for my life and feel blessed in a thousand ways. It's easy to forget all the small things, but they are often the most important.

Psalm 9:1
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

Slooooooow Dooooooown

Today was all about slowing down to savour and appreciate the good things we have- specifically to eat breakfast slowly. There was no chance of me moving quickly today, I was mucousy and exhausted. My beautiful husband, though not very well himself of late, had agreed to get up with the kids this morning and let me stay in bed and I was truly thankful for it.
The alarm went off as usual and I soon had a Jacob by my side and really enjoyed our cuddles, knowing I didn't have to jump in the shower and rush around. I admit I was still in bed when Mike returned from the school run so I got up and made us bacon and egg sandwiches, and a coffee (of course), taking the time to enjoy each mouthful.
We spent the rest of our day taking things slowly, appreciating our day and having time to spend together. I intend to have an early night to further enjoy my bed too! I don't often reward myself with sleep, but today seems like a good day to do it.

Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good

Listen More Carefully

Task: to ask someone how they are and take time to listen to the answer. Listening to people is a huge part of the nursing care we give, especially working in an area where patients are nursed in isolation. The ward staff are often the people that patients are most honest with, choosing to protect their friends and families from the lows they may feel.
Now, just because I try to be a good listener with my patients doesn't mean I'm any good with my colleagues, friends and family. I do on occasion have the attention span of a three year old on skittles. I hope I tried my best today.

James 1:19
You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger

Care For Your Friends more

Anyone who ever expects to receive a birthday card through the post from knows that I can sometimes...or all the time...be a little, well...after the fact. This isn't just limited to birthdays- I seem to be tardy with anything that requires the use of the postal service. I have no idea why.
Today's task was something I've already attempted to do for 2013- make a list of everyone's birthdays and remember to send cards. I've purchased a lovely birthday book from Paperchase (any excuse to purchase stationery items) and everyone's birthday has been noted- a couple of people may even be able to confirm receiving cards within a few days of their birthday (Sarah..?). Yay me!
I also today finally completed my phone a friend task (phones, along with the postal system, are my achilles heel) and was so happy that I did! I spoke to a friend who's been unwell for several months and it was lovely to speak to her.
I asked the kids to find out their best friend's birthdays- we'll see in the morning if they did.

1 Thessalonians 3:12
And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you.

Save Water

Today's task was a bit tricky as we have no house plants. The suggestion was to use washing up water to water the plants. We used to have plants before we had kids, turned out that small children and house plants were a bad combination...or maybe it was I could only remember to feed one or the other.
Mike did use washing up water to water our Week 1 seedlings. How else did we save water today? Weeell...I didn't bath the kids or wash my hair- does that count?
Saving water at work is a little trickier as I have to wash my hands before and after everything I do. I tried to use alcohol gel on the occasions it was appropriate to instead of a full hand wash but most of the time there's no substitute for a good old fashioned hand wash.

Job 5:10
He gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields

Think of Others More

Thinking of others and doing something they'd usually do was the task of the day- another I was trying to accomplish whilst working a thirteen and a half hour shift.
It was quite easy to think of others. We're a closely knit team and we were short staffed with a very poorly patient.  In these circumstances I like to think we think more 'I hope my colleagues ok' than 'how am I going to cope'. And in the end it was busy, but it was perfectly fine.
I chose to quietly do something that often causes grumbles. Without complaint and without grumbles I washed every blue treatment tray I came across, and all the dirty pots in the staff kitchen. I cleared the overstacked drainer and wiped down the microwave. It felt good that me doing it meant someone else didn't have to, or didn't have to grumble because they found unwashed things lying around.

Romans 12:10
Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.

Have More Fun

Doing something fun should be quite straightforward but finding time to even spend a few moments having fun was close to impossible, but not quite.
With a poorly boy at home, a house to clean, Mother's Day preparations to finish, meals to prepare, swimming lessons and meetings it felt like no fun would be had in the Jenky household. I told J that if we tidied up in the living room we could play F1 Race Stars on the X-box, but we just ran out of time.
Mike and I had to drag the kids along to a meeting this evening so J took his DS and Faith took my old phone and played the word search game. I've just played about 10 (or was it 20..?) Rounds of Bubble Mania- which really is my idea of fun!
Things I've learned this week; I'm not very good at relaxing or having fun. Oh- but I did say hi to a neighbour today!

Psalm 16:11
You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Be More Peaceful

Feeling peaceful does not come easy. The day started with getting the kids into their outfits for world book day. We had to finish Jacob's Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy and Faith's Toto had gone walkies. After 30 mins of turning her bedroom upside down he was still absent and I had to get myself clean and dressed and ensure the kids were too.
Small people deposited at school, home for brekkie and then a visit to my spiritual adviser, listening to some of my favourite worship music on the way...but she wasn't there- was it my mistake? Was it hers??
Oh well, back to Flixton and a decision to go food shopping. As we arrive at the car park school phones, Jacob's sick. Collect one poorly boy...afternoon on the sofa...try and fail to get on with some work on the computer.
Another phone call from school- no Arts Award group for Faith due to parents evening- arghh! Retrieve child, feed child, return for parents evening, feed ourselves. Kids to bed- hurrah.
Mother's Day on Sunday- arghh! Make cards, attempt a present that fails...!!!!
Put head in hands on dining table, surrounded by glue and card, listening to Puccini's O mio babbino caro, because the LLLL book tells me to listen to relaxing music...it did help!
Peace is hard to come by, but it can be found, even on days like this.

Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

In Your Beautiful Neighbourhood...

Today was a day for being a good neighbour and saying 'hi', but all my neighbours appeared to be in hiding! The book says we could just say hi next time we see them. It made me think that maybe there could have been more to this task...I could do a good deed for one of my neighbours, or make them a cake...I'm going to contemplate this one, but next time I see one of them I will make a special effort to chat and find out how they are.

Mark 12:31
‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.

Be More Open

Try a new activity or food? Well a new activity whilst working a 10 hour shift is difficult, but new food I can do. I love food- almost all foods (hence why I have more in common with a chubby Titian red head than just my hair colour)- so to think of something I've not tried was quite a challenge.
The kids were easy- sushi. Faith loved it, Jacob not so much. Faith has started exploring new foods more and more, which is great.
Mike and I settled on a vindaloo- I like spice but much prefer flavour over heat so have never tried one. It was lovely...although maybe not something I'd have as a first choice again. We washed it down with birch sap. No really. My dear husband's home brew experimentations have lead him to spending the last couple of days tapping birch trees for the rising sap- something that can only be done 2 to 4 weeks of the year, as it turns bitter once the green leaves grow again. It was refreshing and lovely, and is meant to have remarkable health benefits. Definitely a new experience!

Isaiah 42:9
See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare

Take Care of Your Home

First of all we are very excited to see how well our seeds (planted in week 1) are growing- they must have appreciated the late Winter sun we've been experiencing.
As any of you who've been to my house will know I'm a housework apologist- any time anyone comes round I apologise that it's a mess. I think it's a healthy way of letting people know I'm not perfect...
Despite this I was quite happy that today's task was tidying orientated- motivation is always good. I had decided to declutter the downstairs bathroom, but life- as always-intervened.
I have three hours on a Monday morning, between dropping the kids at 9 and leaving for work at 12, in which to do any shopping, tidying and cooking that needs doing before Thursday. I go straight to work from the school run on a Tuesday and Wednesday is Peewits ( St Michaels pre-school worship). There was a normal weekend's worth of kitchen tidying to be done, plus a little incident that Mike had with a raspberry wine home brew experiment to deal with. After cleaning the kitchen and making sure I had enough food to eat until Wednesday night it was time to leave for work. Never fear, I thought, I'll have time to tidy the bathroom when I get in from work, not thinking I'd be home an hour late.
So no more than the usual level of Monday tidying has been done, but I'm ok with that because I could have chosen to flake out and watch Being Human instead.
The kids have tidied their room and the conservatory. Their standard of housework seems even lower than mine. Ah well- when I'm on my death bed I won't be wishing I'd polished the taps more.

John 7:24
Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.

Keep in Touch

Today's task was the first one that I didn't really manage, mostly due to circumstances- mainly the fact that I was in work from 7.30am to 9pm.
The task was to phone someone you love but haven't spoken to for a while, but being able to do that in a work environment was rather difficult.
I feel really disappointed that this was today's task, and that I failed, because it's something I have ridiculous amounts of guilt over.
Mike did manage it though- he phoned one of our friends who even though they live close we've not seen for a while and I think it did them both good.
I'm hoping I'll be able to do today's task tomorrow!

Disconnected

I've been dreading today- an even bigger challenge than a booze-free lent awaited us...a SCREEN FREE DAY! (the horror!!)
That meant no TV, no games on my phone, no iPlayer or Netflix and no social networking- computers were only for working. I'm getting palpitations just at the thought.
The morning wasn't so bad- no checking of Facebook or Twitter, although I did allow myself to read the Guardian content downloaded to my phone and check emails (church stuff...I swear). We were out all morning on errands so I was pleasantly distracted (ok I did go on the play store and download a couple of prayer related apps...and a few games to try when I'm allowed...and I did go on ebay to see how much Faith sized Converse were...) and when I got home I completed church rotas, sent church emails, finished writing Family Praise and did two thirds of a reflection upon Misson & Evangelism I'd been putting off for three months (and went on the Asda website to order new PE tops for JJ- they didn't have his size in store this morning).
Of course the screen free day stretched to Faith (a recent discoverer of YouTube) and Jacob (Flixton under sevens DS-aholics anonymous). I drove home from their post-school swimming lesson wondering what on earth we'd all do until bedtime- shocking I know. I freely admit I'm totally addicted to my laptop and phone. Not so much the TV- that's the domain of the other Jenkies.
So we did homework (more time to play at the weekend!), listened to the Willo-The-Wisp audio book and read The Hobbit.
Now the kids have gone to bed I'm writing this, then an early night I think (because I'm on a long day tomorrow- honestly!)
So what have I missed today? The second half of the film I began watching on iPlayer at ten last night, knowing the minutiae of my friend's lives on Facebook (missed you guys!). The minutiae of the lives of folks I don't  know on Twitter (missed you too!)...erm...a particularly challenging word search..?
Another result of my screen free day is a ridiculously long blog post...to quote Morrissey misquoting HG Bohn misquoting the bible "the devil will make work for idle hands to do".

Romans 7:19
For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.