Peter

On the 1st January 2012 the NHS Trust that I work for merged with another organisation.  Through this merger the Trust needed to make 100 posts redundant within corporate service departments in order to meet cost savings as part of the benefits identified.  The process was that staff in corporate service departments had the opportunity to be interviewed for three positions.  The short story being that I was unsuccessful in all three interviews and requesting redundancy was actually my preferred option to resolve the situation.  I have been using up my annual leave since 9th March and my contract end date is 31st March.

The prospect of being made redundant in the current climate is not one most people would relish but we trust in a God who provides for all our needs.  The Bible says;

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 ESV)

In January I was prayed for prophetically regarding my job situation and told that there was to be “a change of direction to a point of reverse”.  Well that has certainly come true, there’s no greater reverse to having a job than not having a job! 

I have already applied for another job, which is also a change of direction!  The closing date for applications was March 26th and I’m pleased to say that I have been shortlisted for an interview which is taking place on Monday 2nd April at 2.30pm in Norwich.  I would very much appreciate your prayers for this interview which is for the position of Director for Norwich Youth for Christ.  The interview is expected to take 2 hours, at the beginning of which I have to deliver a 15 minute presentation.

Youth Weekend Away

We have just returned from an amazing weekend at Letton Hall - along with 130 other young people and leaders from our family of churches within Norfolk.  The theme for the weekend was 'Seek First His Kingdom' and we had some superb encounters with God during the different meetings.  There were also seminars which included relationships, friends, life decisions, power, loneliness and advancing the kingdom. 

Peter was overseeing the meetings for years 7 to 9's, led the 'Advancing the Kingdom' seminar and together we were on the panel for the 'Kingdom Relationships' seminar.

The weather was fantastic and we spent Saturday morning playing team games outdoors and wizzing around Letton Hall's go-kart track.  As team leader I was keen to join in and was still able to do some activities but a little frustrated at not being able to do others. I also discovered that loose gravel (between venues) is not good for walking on when you have little control over your foot/leg muscles and slipped over a couple of times! 

It was a privilege to be able to speak into these young people's lives and encourage them in their walk with God.

An Update on Owain

Yesterday Owain had a six monthly check up with his Oncology Consultant from Addenbrooke’s Hospital.  Fortunately the appointment was at the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital and we were saved a trip to Cambridge.  The main topic of conversation seemed to be the fact that Owain is currently doing two of his GCSE options in Year 9.  Apart from that his health seems to be all okay and the consultant is happy with his progress, especially the rate he is growing!  The appointment marked three years since Owain was given the all clear from his cancer.

On Saturday 10th March Owain attended the CLIC Sargent Children’s and Young People Advisory Group in Birmingham.  The purpose of the group is to help CLIC Sargent get feedback from youngsters who have been through treatment for cancer in order to help improve facilities and support for those that have to unfortunately go through it in the future.  Owain has served on the group for the past two years and, along with a number of others, this was his last meeting.  He was presented with a certificate of thanks and a goodie bag at the end of the day.

We have just returned from Owain’s Year 9 Parents Evening at Aylsham High School.  Attempting GCSE’s in year 9 is a bit of a struggle for Owain (well he is the youngest in his year with his birthday being 31st August) but his teachers are very pleased with his effort and behaviour in class.  His form tutor, who has been with Owain since he returned to school shortly after finishing his treatment, is very proud in the way he has continued to grow in confidence.  We are obviously delighted with his attitude, effort and the support he is receiving from Aylsham High School.

This Past Week

On Monday I realised it's a good job that I don't do too much writing on the whiteboard in Nursery.  When I tried  I could only do it with my left hand supporting my right arm to reach up onto the board!

On Tuesday I reached a target that I had set myself this week.  I went swimming and managed 2 lengths of front crawl in a row, twice!  However I do find that after going swimming I am then quite exhausted for the rest of Tuesday and Wednesday.

I have been trying to do my physiotherapy exercises each day - some are easier than others. One is to shrug my shoulders up and down which I hadn't even realised would be affected. I can do it but my shoulders don't get too near my ears anymore!

Yesterday I was in Norwich for "Visions" with about 350 other ladies. We had a great time of worship and then Wendy Virgo was speaking on the crippled bent over woman who Jesus healed. (Luke 13)  Wendy shared how we are all 'out of alignment' in some way perhaps physically, emotionally or in our thinking but Jesus is our plumb-line and he can straighten us out!

Have had a lovely Mother's Day today! Our youth group GLU led the service at church this morning.  Owain and Hannah made cupcakes for all the ladies in the church.  I was then taken out to lunch at The Market Place Restaurant in the centre of Aylsham for lunch - very yummy! 

Yasmin

Time flies when you’re having fun, or so the saying goes.  The wisdom of other parents who are all too quick in telling you that time will soon pass by and before you know it your babies will soon be grown up and leaving home.  A nice sentiment but my baby girl is just that, a baby, or was!

In my naivety I sit here today wondering where the past fifteen years have gone?  The advice of those older and wiser than me was correct.  My baby girl is no longer that, but all too quickly she is now a young lady.

Psalm 127 reminds us that “children are a heritage from the Lord” and therefore God’s gift to us.  When grown up and standing alongside their parents “the children of one’s youth” ought to be such a blessing, and Sue and I can honestly say that this is true with both Yasmin and Owain.  I thank God for giving us this beautiful young lady that stands before me today, truly a gift.

Happy Birthday Yasmin – 15 today!

Physiotherapy Appointment

I finally saw a physiotherapist at Colman Hospital in Norwich today.

She did lots of tests with me to get a baseline assessment of where I am with strength and mobility at the moment. I was encouraged by the fact I could manage all the tasks in the 'balance' assessment, and most of them pretty well too!  I had to walk as far as I could in 6 minutes which was quite hard work (probably because I was trying to get a good score!) and caused the same pain in my foot as  swimming breast stroke does. The physiotherapist is going to ask my consultant about this as she can't understand why I'm getting pain in this part of my foot.

She is giving me some basic exercises/stretches to do, to help maintain my joint mobility and muscle strength and we'll see how that goes. I can call/ask for appointments whenever I feel I need help as I am part of their care system now. I'm also hopefully going to see an OT to help with my general day to day needs too.

Sue - the story so far....

The last time I ran was the Race for Life in May 2010 with Yasmin. I struggled then to run the 5km and had to walk a bit but thought my legs were just unfit! We played rounders a few weeks later at Youth Cell and after a great hit I went to run and my right leg just didn't work much to the amusement of everyone watching and shouting 'run'!



Sue - on the ferry to the Isle of Wight (Feb 2012)

I didn't really do much about it for a while after that and then started teaching fulltime in October so didn't have time for too much exercise anyway! When I was doing PE with my class I noticed my arms were getting weaker but again thought it was just lack of exercise and didn't relate this to my leg at all.

Eventually in February 2011 as my leg was becoming more noticeable, I went to the doctors who couldn't explain it, and, after a bit of confusion I got refererred to a physio in May 2011. She, knowing my active background, couldn't explain it either so I was then referred to the neurologist at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital in July 2011. To my surprise almost as soon as I got into my appointment the consultant wasn't interested in my leg, but my arms, shoulders and face! He and his colleague immediately suspected it was Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). I was sent straight down to another department for genetic blood test. The results of which eventually can through in November and confirmed that I do have FSHD.

So, I can no longer run, I can walk but unevenly and hills are very hard work. I can still ride my bike although again hills are a bit of a challenge - one good thing about living in relatively flat Norfolk! I also have the challenge of getting on and off with a cross bar and intend to get a ladies bike soon but I love my bike which I've been riding for the last 14 years!