I have just listened to Jen Hatmaker's podcast in which she interviews Austin Channing Brown-and it is challenging, it is a hard pill to swallow. It is about racial justice, about inclusion and equality. It could be easily dismissed with 'that's just the situation in America', we don't have the same problems here in the … Continue reading Integration

I watched in embarrassment/amusement/sadness, as my daughter leaned on the bare leg of a friend as she got herself up and then shocked by the feeling of smooth legs...she continued to stroke my friends leg for a while. I knew of course that she was unused to this sensation...because body maintenance was not top, or … Continue reading Body confident?

Earlier today I posted a message of solidarity with Ireland in regards to the referendum today. I am going to be honest and tell you I fretted about posting anything on the topic, and yet really wanted to share my support. I was worried because it is a complex issues with so many intricacies, and … Continue reading At the risk of being misunderstood

I am sat in my friends beautiful kitchen with a glass of wine and currently a sleeping baby...bliss. Lately, I have been pondering what it means to gather and what it means to be church. I am well aware many of you do not attend church, or believe in God for that matter. But you … Continue reading tick follows tock

The thin space between joy and pain, hope and fear, belonging and loneliness, health and unwell. This is not an easy line to try and keep the right side of. I ask myself is this 'depression' but then I don't feel low most of the time. Just when the tiredness gets too much, when my … Continue reading The line we try and hold

As sang by the Philosopher Des'ree and then remastered by David Brent. Oh how I love 'The Office' -it conjures up memories of my younger brother quoting Gareth and David's lines and Mike and I watching it on Christmas Eve, the day after we got married-yup we are that kinda cool couple. Anyway, jokes aside-urghhh … Continue reading Money don’t make my world go ’round, I’m reaching out to a higher ground

Oh Gabrielle you and your catchy tunes, that despite releasing that track when I was young enough to have it playing at the disco for Sylvanian families/barbies/any other toy (we were very inclusive) that we'd have at my friends house-I can still find myself singing it now, which is usually reserved for Whitney, Dolly and … Continue reading Dreams can come true…

I am well aware that my honesty, can paint a sometimes murky picture of parenting-and the truth is, that is sometimes my reality-I have not a clue what I am doing, I am neither fully awake or asleep, but I do know that my daughter is lovingly massaging her rocking horse with peanut butter hands … Continue reading For the sake of balance

It basically solves everything...well a lot...I mean belting out 'I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way' whilst adding in some strong hand gestures-it is always uplifting. And today well I saw what Whitney was singing about; I watched hundreds of young people from Bristol and across … Continue reading If all else fails, sing Whitney (loudly)

I have been inspired lately to write, run, make space to reflect, pray, stretch, try new things, create... But instead I have snacked, cried and watched TV (and hung out with Faith...because well that's our life). I am so frustrated that I can't just do the things I long to. Even writing this blog entry...this … Continue reading Trying to be creative