It may be a little late in posting… 2022 started quite fast, for me.

A number of years ago I paid for a Goals setting course by Michael Hyatt called Best Year Ever. I used it and enjoyed it and kept to the plan that first year. But since then have not followed on. I had a real sense that I needed to plan my year more purposefully this year after 2 years where time has drifted by at times.

So I spent a morning at Tyntesfield National Trust house and gardens on December the 30th and got my mind clear as to what the year should look like. The course got me to reflect on the personal highs and lows of 2021 and the lessons before looking ahead to my goals for the next.

As I sat in the beautiful surroundings of a beautiful stately home in North Somerset I realised just how many suscesses there has been and I walked away with a great sense of pride and joy in what the year brought us. 

So I thank God now for….

The JOY of a 4th Baby!

Even writing that out. I realise the joy and happiness of being able to say I have 4 children. It is a great honour and she Baby Zoe is a great blessing to us.

For some time I had said to my wife that we shouldn’t try again for another baby and that I didn’t believe it was the right thing. She had had 2 miscarriages before this and I couldn’t bear her to go through the agony of a 3rd so I felt I was protecting her. I took it as a full stop and wanted to be content in the 3 children we had.

Ordination:

On Easter Sunday 2021 I was ordained as a Pastor in our local Church. Interestingly I was Christened on Easter Sunday in 1985. And gave my life to Jesus as an adult on Easter Sunday 2006. I have been serving on this capacity for some time and for many years in youth ministry though it was great for my wife and I to be recognised in this office.

Finished reading through the Bible in 10months:

What a great personal challenge this was at the time of lockdown in 2020. In some ways we can be greatful for that space to pick up again with greater gusto the things most important. I had a plan to read in 4 months though this was beyond me and I ended up so enjoying it at a far more manageable (paticuarly for a quieter time) pace of the whole Bible in 10 months. This ran from June 2020 to April 2021. It was such a treasure to devour the word in its full context in this time.

3 Night camp trip with my son.

We went to Tunbridge Wells for 2 nights so that we could go into London for some sights and a stadium tour of the brand new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, our team. So it was great fun for us both. We then drove to Hayling Island – not at all on the way home. With high winds while we were there. But now I know it was so that God could introduce me to important new brothers in the faith (when God prompts always follow it up!)

We also took his cousin and Dad with us too on a separate trip to Combe Martin at the site my son and I went to in May for an awesome fire pit and some initial ‘sex education’ chats. Lol.

Kids in Home Schooling.

We had put our children into a local government school for a year while my wife was pregnant and giving birth and dealing with the new born. As our church school had wound up and become a Home Education Hub.

Although the year in the school was fine and interrupted by informed lock downs therefore we were homeschooling any way. We had seen some attitudes we didn’t like in the kids and they had been exposed to some topics and behaviour that we do not perceive to be healthy. So it was great to see them switch back to their old system again although it is slightly different as they are in a group setting half the time and working from home half the rest of the time. My wife has done so well with it and she is very happy.

Got a Dog for the kids + me!

I promised my son a dog sometime ago and so it was great to finally be able to do so, after saving some cash (dogs had gotten expensive!) And waiting for our final child to be born first. It has been a real blessing having in though, yes much extra work, but it’s worth it.

Some amazing prayer walks (especially the night strolls)

What an awesome opportunity we have to talk to the creator of the universe! I certainly font do it enough. But to be able to walk thr country lanes near my house in all different seasons and weather’s has been a real privilege and I am still grateful for that aspect of the covid pandemic that made the world a little slower and caused me to get out and walk and pray far far more.

Love for historical people of faith + genealogy:

A few weeks before remembrance day I was asked to speak at Church for the service. So I wanted to share something of my Great Grandfather Samuel who fought in WW1. It caused me to remember and to actually learn and trace his journey. I loved it.

I’ve always loved history. Though in the space of a few months I must have watched 50 episodes of BBC geneology series ‘Who do you think you are’. It stirred up in me a real hunger for history. A huge passion to learn more of the 19th century and a great respect for where I come from.

Finished the year leading our Church

This was a great opportunity to serve faithfully and step up as our Pastor was away ill for a month. Therefore I led the Sunday services each week and stepped into some of the day to day decision making it was good to use skills in new ways and serve others. Thankfully he’s fully recovered now and I’m greatful I was able to fill the gap.

On reflection 2021 was an amazing year! It honestly was my best year yet! At times it seemed to drag and wain and I wasn’t sure of where it or I was going. There were a few confused prayer rant walks. But God did. He always does. And I’m glad I stayed faithful to see all the fruit from it. The endurance learnt in 2020 and 2021 is now the blessing I’m living from and standing on.