Tag: life

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And now for that summer break

And… relax!

So now the job situation has finally been sorted out, and with a gap before starting my new job, I have the chance to enjoy some of the summer holidays with my family. With money being a minor issue until the income comes rolling in we’ve had to plan breaks using our noggins and a bit of handy local knowledge.

The first thing is making the best use of the Tesco Clubcard vouchers – sure, you can use them to buy groceries but an even better way is to exchange them for 4 times their value in day out vouchers 🙂 Yeah, I know Tesco have started to offer “double up” in parts of their stores but FOUR TIMES the value is much better!

So, we will be enjoying the marvellous displays at the Duxford Imperial War museum… feasting and gorging on chocolate at Cadbury World (yeah, I know that gluttony is one of the 7 deadly sins but CHOCOLATE!!!! c’mon!) and then we will also be educating our minds by visiting the Magna Science centre at Rotherham (OK, so the Rotherham part is kinda a downer but the centre is meant to be unbelievable)

Not only that but we’ve also been collecting for the Walkers Day Out vouchers – meaning that one of our other days out will be to the Tram Village at Crich – sadly in De-De-De-Derbyshi-Derbyshire (sorry – I’ve got Nottingham blood in me so crossing the border into the D place is tantamount to voluntarily walking into the Siberian Gulag in deep winter for a prolongued break!). Despite the location it is meant to be an amazing place to visit and the kids should love it.

We’re also spending some time in Hotel-Family, aka my parents home, to allow us a base of operations and also a chance to chill, relax and catch up with the folks. To cap it all of (or rather – kick off the second half) we’ve got a gathering of a fair few of the Hartley contingent for a bit of food and a good old laugh so that will be an amazing time 😉

We usually go away every two years, but with things the way they are we knew this year wasn’t going to be possible – but in spite of that we are still going to manage to have a great time as a family… enjoying loads of interesting places, having fun and, most importantly, being together. We’ll get a holiday next year – already said that when the government finally coughs up the money it owes we will book a week away (probably south Wales) so that we are guaranteed the time together but I can also guarantee that we will definitely be saving up all those clubcard points, voucher and any other deals we can so that we can do more, for less 🙂

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New Beginnings :)

WOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

I’ve got the job!

At ten to three this afternoon the email came through offering me the job – to say we are over the moon is an understatement, although admittedly our immediate feeling is one of relief but the bouncing and hollering will come when it sinks in fully.

I start in a couple of weeks which is also nice as it gives me a couple weeks of holiday with the family before getting really stuck into things and it also gives me time to do some sorting out and “stuff”.

Anyway – that’ll do for now… I’m gonna sit and ponder and let it all sink in now.

Before I go though – a really HUGE THANKS to everyone who has been praying and helping us. We’ve really known Gods presence during this time and we’ve felt so loved by everyone it’s been amazing. God is Good – and he NEVER lets us down when we trust in Him and follow His will.

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Statistics and Hope

It finally happened.

At 4pm on Friday 10th July the event we had been waiting for, for nearly 8 months, finally took place – and even though we were expecting it, it was still a kick in the delicate parts.

The administrators were finally appointed and, in a piece of life reflecting reality-tv, we were split into two groups – 1 group staying (to basically help sell the rest of the business) and the other group being shown the door. Me? I was in the latter… with a couple of cold, hard, words we were out.

Funny thing is that I actually slept really well that night – my first feeling when I got told, after I had calmed my emotions down a bit anyway, was sheer exhaustion. The pressure, the waiting, the uncertainty – it was all over. Yes, there were a new set of challenges and uncertainties but I could move on and I knew where I stood.

It’s now been just over a week since that happened and I’ve done the usual – contact the mortgage company, sign on, look at all spending etc – and I am feeling really positive about it all. I had a couple of days when it started to hit home and I felt quite down but one of my cousins called me and we spent an hour chatting and speaking scripture and truth to each other and he prayed for me as we closed – and that really turned it all around for me.

We know that there are loads of people praying for us, and we know that we have support and love in huge measure – and for all of you who have been, and still are,  praying – we love you all! Your prayers mean the world to us and they are making a difference. God is blessing us with a real sense of peace and hope and we are not worrying.

We knew this day was coming, but we also knew that God has a plan and that He is in control – and for the first time in my life, I am really feeling able to “let go and let God”… there’s no sense of “gotta take it back because nothing is happening” – yes, I have a role to play but I also need to be trusting in Him and just be ready to walk through the doors that He opens for us.

I’ve had an interview this week – and it seemed to go really well, and it’s a job I definitely want as it looks a great opportunity! We’ll know more hopefully later this week but please be praying into that… I’ll let you know more when I know 🙂

God bless you all – He really does have an effect on our lives and His promises and Word are true!

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Soaring Arrows and Loud Noises

At the weekend we managed to do something that I’ve wanted to do for a very long time – we went up the A15 towards Lincoln, sat in traffic for over an hour and walked for miles under the midday sun…

OK, so those particular bits weren’t part of my ambition but the end goal was well worth it.

The end goal was the annual Airshow at RAF Waddington. A huge collection of static aircraft to view and even climb in along with some of the most amazing aerobatic displays from WWII to the modern day.

The littlest Hartley was unfortunately ill due to the heat, but everyone still managed to have a great time.

When we arrived it was just in time to watch an outstanding display of agility from a Lynx and Apache helicopter followed by 30 minutes of the worlds best pilots showing just how to do it – I am, of course, talking about the one and only Red Arrows display team. Watching those pilots position their Hawks with such precision and control and seeing them carry out so many intricate moves makes me fit to bursting with pride over just what our RAF folks are capable of.

For those of you on Facebook, I have posted a small selection of the photos I took on the day – some of which I am rather proud of 🙂

It was a strange day in many ways as it was the first time I’ve been back on a base since my dad left the Air Force a fair few years ago and at times it got quite emotional – especially when we were sat in a hanger with brass bands playing – memories came flooding back and the atmosphere was so familiar, so comfortable.

I’d never want to go back to that lifestyle, and never regret escaping it – but there were very good times and very fond memories and it was an amazing day and well worth the visit.

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Amazed by the Grace, Favour, Provision and Randomness of God

There’s a saying that “God moves in mysterious ways” and it’s one that I cannot dispute in any fashion at all.

Not only have we had the amazing BBC coverage at KingsGate, along with the complete randomness of Chris Moyles then raving about it, but there just seems to be a whole lot happening right now that just seems to come in a barrage of amazement and wonder.

So far this year I’ve seen friends experience what can only be divine provision, both financially and materially. Friends have been challenged by God and their lives shaken by things they have seen/heard. There have also been healings and answered prayers of all kinds.

Probably one of the most random experiences of the year took place only the other evening – I can’t go into too much detail at the moment but trust me, it’s sooo random it can only be God.

From a personal perspective, the year is not the most comfortable as my job is at risk and the job market is proving frustratingly silent, and we are facing other challenges as well – but with all the things we are witnessing right now we really do have a firm belief that Gods promise that “I know the plans I have for you… to give you a hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29) really is true and that whatever happens he will be our “Jehovah Jireh” , the God who provides.

Yes, there are bad days when it all seems to close in and I find that it seems impossible – but there is such a peace, a Shalom, that these days and times and few and far between!