the Nevards cut loose

(I'm running out of useable titles from the same song but it is pretty good going)

On Monday we got up at silly o'clock to do this

then a bit of this... plus more sight seeing

a bit of this

even a craft shop!

before this
See more in detail on Phil's flickr account
What we didn't do was eat much as I wasn't well and couldn't face it. Can you imagine a trip to the home of cuisine and just a pain au chocolat and a packet of crisps all day. I felt awful in the morning but perked up and had a fab time. St Omer was hum hoh. Cassel was small but interesting. Bergues was fantastic (and not just due to the craft shop) and Dunkerques beach in the afternoon sun was perfect. We just managed not to have to come home via the Tunnel and found the hypermarket instead and stocked up on Carambars, jam and Cat's Tongue biscuits (as you do)

Since then I have been mostly preparing and running craft classes for my Church arts week. Two down one to go (plus a class at Imagine That on Saturday). Coo I couldn't do this as my real job - it is exhausting!

I did have time to do my Salt layout and was only slightly late...
Pauline chose the challenge for the first time and came up with a brilliant one

Imperfection

We see Jonah being incredibly frustrated by being asked by God to take a prophecy to the Ninevites. For Jonah, Nineveh is an example of all that is evil and wrong in the world and he struggles with the idea that if the people repent then that is enough to wipe the slate clean. He realises that if he is to take the prophecy to the people then God is giving the people a chance to repent. Jonah can’t cope with the thought of this so tries to flee from the presence of God. It doesn’t work. Jonah realises that he can’t flee from God and that God works with the imperfection in Jonah’s life just as he worked with the Ninevites.

Jonah wasn’t perfect and just like Jonah, we aren’t perfect. We don’t wait until we are perfect to follow Christ, we follow knowing that we have failings but being assured that God will work with us. For me it’s a huge sense of relief knowing that God works with us even when we are stubborn and failing, there’s no expectation of perfection, just an expectation that we will try. The verse that really speaks to me is Jonah 4:2, "you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love".

I share Pauline's love of Jonah. Most people know about him and the whale (swallowed because he was running away from God) but may not know that when Jonah eventually preaches to the Ninevites and they repent he is cross with God for not punishing them as he said he would. Jonah sulks and God sends a plant to grow up over him and give him shade. Then he sends a big worm to eat the plant. "Why did you destroy the plant. I loved that plant!" cries Jonah. "Then maybe you can see why I didn't destroy the people I made and love that have been round for longer"

Which all led to this layoutLots of Cosmo Cricket Mr Campy including the plant made up from loads of tree and branch stickers. The letter stickers are from October Afternoon. And how do you love that photo? Carys aged about 2 and a half. It is from a photo session I did with the three kids when we had a non digital SLR. I can't remember if this was a real strop or a pretend one!

Here is the journalling in close up
I won't be on time with my Daring card tomorrow but will catch up asap :)