HOME

Funny to think that 4 weeks ago we were in Tunisia and wondering what life would be like in the UK for us all. It now seems a bit of a blur (arriving on the 7th Dec and then a couple of days later being in hospital for 6 days with Sam which stunned us!

We had thought we would be in the new house by Christmas and imagined all sorts of loveliness of making the house a home etc, etc. Alas it wasn't to be! We have instead found our selves hosted by all many of lovely people and in lovely places!

So we have moved about here and there packing and unpacking, wrapping Christmas presents, unwrapping Christmas presents, adding them in to the general packing and unpacking malarky and become dab hands at shoving life (and occasionaly by accident one of the kids) into boxes and moving on. Our emotions have been up and down as we deal with the "loss and change" of culture shock meaning feelings ebb and flow - elation, stress, uppers then downers... All this is normal.

The "worst case scenario" was for us to still be moving around and living out of suitcases when the kids started school. Well worst case scenario happened (is happening!) and although to be honest we are very disappointed about the house, we are all fine.

It was very important to me that we be in our 'own' home before Sam and Carys started their new schools. They have been through an incredible amount of transition and change. So to try and make the transition as smooth as possible we wanted to send them off from a secure "home base" with their own rooms, familiar things, with all of us "settled" before embarking on this new venture.

However, once again we are recognising that we think we know exactly what we can and can't cope with. We try to control our situations according to what we think is the best for us whereas God is saying You need me, you need others, you need to find your home in me and allow others to be home for you. This is community- trust me! But the reality is it is tiring, moving and packing and not being able to truly "flop out" in your own home does take it's toll. It is difficult wehn Sam cries frustrated tears saying "I just want to be at home." All we can do is reassure and listen and say "we know it's tough but lets hang in there and try to help each other through".

We are staying with a lovely lady who has graciously opened her home to the 4 of us and allowed us to quite literally invade her space. It is difficult to "feel at home" in other people's homes - especially with young kids - but we are finding His grace is suffucient and He knows what we need.

I see our 2 kids as kids who make their home wherever 'home' happens to be at that time. If I added up all the beds Sam has slept in (not to mention countries / situations) it would be shocking! Yet they cope and adapt and appear relatively unfazed by the whole thing.

We think they need certain things in order to feel secure - however it is once again clear that the most important thing for them to have in place is Glyn and I. We are their home and they feel more secure if we are at peace - home for us is very much a 'heart state' rather than a physical place but it is a tough call!