Miracles do happen...

I believe in miracles if we look hard enough they are there to see, but there is also suffering and we see so much of that too in a wide range of scenarios.

Tonight though, after a long personal journey of someone I call a friend, I am celebrating and this is why... 

Just weeks before my first daughter was born a friend of mine gave birth to a baby boy, Joseph, who was born sleeping, it was a devastating loss for her, her partner and their young son Lewis to lose the little boy who they were expecting to come into their lives and give them sleepless nights and the true delights that a new addition to the family can bring.  Since that day life has never been the same again for Laura and as time has gone on she has experienced even more sadness, the losses of miscarriages and of failed IVF treatments, the pain kept on happening, more than any woman should be reasonably expected to cope with, I'm sure that at times she felt all hope had gone and only her son Lewis has given her a reason to fight and keep going.  She has always desperately hoped that one day she would complete her family and bring her baby home.

5.5 years on, this very night, that brave woman after a fraught pregnancy has given birth to a beautiful baby girl, so perfect on the photograph I have seen that she brought tears to my eyes.  Immediately my facebook feed errupted with the news that the little girl has arrived safely and I cannot begin to explain the feelings that even I, from a distance feel about the wonderful news she is here.

Someone wrote on Laura's facebook wall earlier, 'Laura you and this little girl are proof that miracles do happen and that dreams can come true.'  Amen to that x

Happy New Year!

I can't believe I haven't posted in this blog since June!  That just about sums up how busy life is right now but events wise 2011 has been much quieter than 2010.  This year has mostly been about organising our life as working parents to two very individual children, we took two lovely holidays in Devon and Ireland and had weekends away in the Lake District, Dolgellau and Cardiff.  This year we added another Godchild to the special group of children who have special significance to us and who we are committed to praying for and supporting, Georgina Joanne was baptised in April, daughter to Jon and Lou and sister to Charlotte and we were delighted to share the special day with them all.  In May we gained a beautful baby niece Erin Hanna, daughter to Gav and Claire and sister to Ole.  Peter's nephew Tom got engaged to Amy and they will be married at Easter 2012 in London and we joined my extended family on Mum's side to celebrate the wedding of my cousin Marcus to Maxine joined with the christening of their son Harvey.  We have been fortunate in the last couple of years to spend time with old friends and meet new ones.  There have also been developments at home as we have gained new neighbours in the street after a period of having a number of empty properties around us so it is nice that we have started to get the feel of community again.

Olivia and Verity have continued to grow this year, Olivia is in Year 1 and takes part in French lessons, swimming twice a week and Saturday Singing Club, she is very sensible and a very caring older sister.  Verity has settled beautifully at nursery and is now in the toddlers building, she has proved to be as characterful there as she is at home and the range of her mobility for her age continues to astound us, she is also starting to talk now which is really lovely because she can communicate more fully with us although it is a little worrying that her favourite words at the moment are, 'No' and 'Mine!'  Both girls got scooters for Christmas and we are enjoying getting out in the fresh air to practice riding them and learning how to steer by balance.

So what for next year?  We are already looking forward to the wedding of Tom and Amy at Easter in London and a long weekend away in the Lake Disrict.  Dad's wife Barbara will celebrate her 60th at the end of Januray Verity will be 2 in February and Olivia 6 in August.  There is a strong possibility we may move house as there are plans to renovate the block we currently live in and the daily grind of work, commuting and managing the children with Peter working weekends and long hours will continue.  One of my ideals is to focus on doing what makes us as a family unit happy instead of pleasing others but I know I'm not very good at that, also to try and get a better work/life balance for Peter and I having the chance to spend nice times with the children.  We are thankful for all we have been blessed with in 2011, always thankful for 2 beautiful healthy children and hopeful for the future on the eve of 2012.
Happy New Year to you all!