Swimathon 2011

Well, I did manage to swim every day for a week, and twice on the Friday, which felt great ! ....right up to the point where I got an ear infection...which really was not pleasant at all ! Doh !

One course of Antibiotic drops later...and I seem to be able to hear somewhat better again ! The only benefit of not being able to hear so well was that, for a whole week, the children's "robust discussions" (yes, I'm being generous !) were a lot quieter !

So as "Team Mackay", we've decided to do the Marie Curie 5km Swimathon thing again this year...If you'd like to sponsor us, please feel very very very very free to do so by clicking here !

I guess we'll need to do some training tho, so I'll keep the antibiotic drops, just in case !

Swim time.....

So I managed to get a free swim ticket for the local pool for a whole week so have decided to try to go everyday for swim + steam room too....tee hee ! Yesterday, just after I arrived, a scripture popped into my head (as they do!) which I haven't considered for some time. It was this...

Phil 3:13-14 "...Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus"

Of course I can't literally 'forget what is behind' (I wouldn't want to - there's loads of very happy memories there, as well as the more recent sad ones!).
My 'Bible Speaks Today' commentary says this about the passage....

Forgetting what is behind "...is the sort of dwelling on the past that hinders our present effort and our future progress. We do well to gently remind ourselves that a bereavement can sometimes make Christians live in the past.....by contrast, the progressing Christian must cultivate a concentrated forward look to where the goal lies. This requires determination - straining forward...pressing on"

The goal and prize is "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived - the things that God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Cor 2:9)

So, today and tomorrow I will press on..... (in the swimming as well!!)

The last first.....

Friday was the last first of the year.....it was no. 3's first birthday since the great sadness....we've now done all first birthdays since, the first summer holidays since, first Mother's Day since, first Father's Day since, first wedding anniversary since, first Christmas since....etc etc.

The only first that remains is the first anniversary of the great sadness which is just one month away.

Absolutely no idea how that will be, but I will take council from dear Ellie who's (very sadly) walking this same path and who's done the great sadness anniversary many times before. For her it's Feb 10th, for me it's Feb 12th.......so I am rather hoping to come across Dr Who sometime soon, who (in my ideal scenario) will take us and our children into his Tardis and drop us back on planet earth on Feb 13th 2011. Failing that tho, I reckon it's Ps 62:5-6 once again....

My Soul finds rest on God,

My hope comes from Him.

Truly He is my rock and my salvation;

He is my fortress I will not be shaken.

Grey Squirrel #5

Yesterday was visit No. 5 to Grey Squirrel.
Talked about this Christmas and New Year, memories of last year's, and then moved onto some other painful memories and my need to forgive certain people (don't ask for details !!)
Lots more tears there....worth it tho....forgiveness is a choice, no matter how hard it is. So it was all positive.
Felt like another 5 rounds with Mike Tyson by the time I'd left.

That was my last planned session with Grey Squirrel. She seems to think I can be trusted to lead a relatively normal life ! She's been absolutely fabulous ! (But I'm not sure life will ever be 'normal' again)

So tonight I will sleep with this on my mind...
Ps 4:8 "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety"

Goodnight. Sleep well x

2011....

I didn't think 2010 was ever going to end.....I don't want to wish my life away (most of the time at least!) but I'm really glad 2010 is over...

New Year celebrations were good fun....games, walks, food, auld langs syne, dancing and laughter with friends and ooodles of children....

Some goals for the year (there will be more as we go !)....

• Be a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. (Summarised here)
• Read Bible-In-A-Year; stick to reading plan (Am on target but it's only day 3 !)
• Spend more time on my knees
• Become a better father; more patient, gentle and caring.
• Play my guitar
• Get a job

Stuff I'm grateful for today

• Annus horribilis is finished (but it's effects will be with me for the rest of my days)
• Friends, friends, friends
• Christmas is over and decorations are now uninstalled !