Category: Travel

We’ve accepted an offer!

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our beautiful garden

So we have today accepted an offer on our home. It’s a cash offer too so it could potentially go through quite quickly providing no major problems pop up along the way..REALLY hoping this. Please may there be nothing major…

Mixed emotions…

Excited for the future and our journey and what God has in store and also know it’s time to move on. But this has also been my home for the past 13 years, the first 8 were just me and my daughter doing life together. It was our safe place, we’d moved around quite a few different houses and this was the one Tasha said she didn’t want to leave. When I first started nursing, I used to do a week of nights once a month and so she had to virtually live somewhere else for a week every month and she started to hate it.  She wanted some stability I think. So we moved here when she was ten and I went on the district rather than doing hospital nursing. It seems so long ago, but it’s not really. So much has changed in that time. I made so many mistakes, we had some rough times but we also had some lovely times. I really love my daughter, she lives in London now and I am very proud of her. She cares about justice, she always has, since being a little girl. She’s incredibly talented and vulnerable and raw.

I was saved in this house, when I was 34, ten years ago.   So I was healed from alcoholism and smoking here, amongst other things, by Jesus.

Tasha grew up here, she worked hard and worried me by going out on midnight walks when she was an older teenager. I confused Tasha here by being saved, she got good marks despite having pink hair (and me being saved 😁) and went to Uni in London to study Art, a month before Chris and I got married. She did amazingly well at uni and is now doing her masters.

I was in terrible debt here, debt which got paid off thanks to CAP. CAP do amazing work. The debt was paid off about a month or so before getting married. That was a prayer answered, we did not want to go into marriage in debt and we didn’t.

Chris and I met whilst I was here and got married, we didn’t move in together until after we were married. That is a miracle in itself given our backgrounds. God changes us so much and so much for the better. He makes us new.

We had a miscarriage here, a miscarriage I didn’t understand, I felt in full faith for God to restore the beating heart in my womb, for it to show up on the second scan a week after losing the baby. But he didn’t. But he did heal me, heal my womb and give us more babies.

I gave up my nursing here, I gave it up to look after my babies, Because being there with them and for them is really important to me, especially after doing my nurse training whilst Tasha was little, I later felt like her childhood was far too rushed – got to get here, got to get there. But I also gave it up because although I loved actual nursing, I was sick of the rubbish associated with it and burnt out. I didn’t want to go back but am now starting to feel almost ready… Not quite though… It’s a while before Ira goes to school.

I gave birth to my first boy at home by accident because I didn’t get to the hospital in time. We didn’t even get out of the front door. It was great and very very special. We got to stay at home. (I say by accident, I originally wanted a home birth and was persuaded otherwise, so thanks God for giving us what we had asked for 🙂 )

I gave birth to my second boy here, in a planned home birth. Not one the midwives were keen on because of my age and because they thought he was a big baby.  It was fast and he was born well but I worried the neighbours because i was taken into hospital in an ambulance for monitoring because of blood loss. It was very exciting for me – I think I was high on hormones.

We got an allotment here, which was a God thing… I asked God what I should do and He said get an allotment, we got our chickens here – which I have loved.

So!! You get the picture… A lot of stuff has happened, much much more than I’ve put here…God has done absolutely loads of good stuff in my/our lives. Rubbish has also happened but that is not of God. I have screamed at Him here, cried with Him, begged Him for help here, laughed, worshipped, got rid of demons here. Came to life here!!!!  Learnt from Him (or not) here.

But it is time to leave. It’s time for us to bless this place and move on. Memories intact. And all our family will always have a place with us wherever we live. That includes George, Chris’ eldest son as well as Tash. Love you Tash.

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sorry/not sorry. Love these pictures. Byeeeeeeeeee for now.

Welcome to our blog!

This is and will be our family’s story of moving to Ireland, from Derbyshire, and everything that goes with it, amongst other thoughts and stories. *This is our original welcome page, I’ve now done a new one on 5/6/19.

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If you go back to the start of our blog and read, we give our stories so far, our God testimonies and various ponderings. We hope you enjoy this. I (Cathy) have found through this a rediscovered love of words, the word and writing, I love it. I also love interacting with people so please feel free to comment, message, ask questions or just read!

The following scripture is from Revelation 3:20 and reveals what Jesus heart is like:

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

This is what he did and does with us and it is what I pray everyone entering this site discovers. He is the best, the most exciting, the one and only God, the reason why we are all here, the reason for living.

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

Contentment

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I had an experience last night.  I was sat in the living room looking through into the kitchen and was looking at and listening to the washing machine. I felt contentment, I felt peace, I felt security. I then realised I hadn’t felt content for quite a while in a lot of ways. Strange that a washing machine made me realise that, but God works through everything.  Also, I can remember lying in bed in a morning when I was a child and hearing my mum in the kitchen doing the washing and various other things and feeling very content and secure whilst listening to this, so maybe that is what also sparked that feeling and realisation.

So what does this mean?

It means I realised I’d been wanting something more than I’d got for some reason.  It means I have been discontented and I don’t even know with what, just life, which is ridiculous.

Sitting there yesterday evening watching the washing machine, I started to think and try to remember what Paul (in the bible) said about learning to be content in all circumstances and I’ve had to look it up. So here it is, Philippians 4:11-13 (ESV):

 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

So there it is…I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Not through my own power or even through things happening to me, obtaining things or doing things, but through Jesus and through His spirit. This was also spoken about in our church meeting this morning about in our weakness He is strong.

This is the bit: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

It doesn’t come easy to me to boast of weaknesses, at the moment I tend to be a bit defensive, but if it means Christ’s power will then be with me and in me and I will function through Him and in his strength. Bring it on! I don’t have to be perfect, that’s the bit that Jesus did. And does. And will do. So Lord! I cannot do this life without you. We need you in everything and in every way and I hope and pray that others come to know you like this.

This looks like contentment to me, our boy at a couple of months and again this week at the age of three. Gorgeous.

Oh and it is looking like we’ve probably sold our house….watch this space…eeeek..

 

Update..

I think it’s been a week since I last wrote anything, it seems more like a month. We’ve been camping at our church group’s festival at Stoneleigh and I both loved and hated it. Both children were poorly whilst we were there, our three year old decided sleeping wasn’t for him, well, definitely not in the tent and the baby had quite a temperature and I was really worried at times. However, it also showed me what an awesome family God places us in when we let Him and the love and care and company we’ve had whilst we’ve been there has been awe inspiring. Going to these things is so different when you’re married and have little ones. I went to the first one 5 years ago, 5 months before I got married and at that time I was able to just do whatever I wanted and be fully involved. So things have changed but I don’t think for the worse, I think they’re different and God has worked in us and spoken to us despite not being able to concentrate on preaches or worship. We have to remember He isn’t constrained by anything, He is God. We just think we are constrained, when we actually have Jesus living in us and He can do anything.

In relation to our house we’d had a lull for a week in regard to viewings. However! since Tuesday, it’s gone mad. Quite a few seem promising, and have been back for second and one even a third look. Although I am learning you cannot often tell what people actually think from what they are like when they’re with you. I always thought I was good at reading people, turns out I’m not that good.  The croft we first saw on Shetland is still on the market, we thought we’d lost out as a closing date was set, however, there were no offers so we may be back on!

It is quite exciting, Chris is travelling out in a couple of weeks with his dad to view the croft. They’re going to drive up to Aberdeen, get the overnight Northlink ferry to Lerwick, drive to see the house and croft and then drive back to Lerwick to again get the overnight ferry back to Aberdeen. I LOVE the sound of doing this, but it just wasn’t practical for me to do it. So Chris has got the privilege. I’ll try and get him to take photographs to put up on here. I rang the owner of the croft to book the viewing, he has such a beautiful voice! and I could understand him which is always a bonus.

We are also going out to the Orkney’s fairly soon for a family holiday and to look at ‘properties’, I am so looking forward to taking the journey there, we love the ferries, it is so exciting travelling there, first from Scotland to mainland Orkney and then from Kirkwall in Orkney to Sanday. We’re looking forward to seeing the difference in the landscape and wildlife from April which is when we last went to now and also the difference in weather and light! Also looking forward to a bit of a break maybe.

Haha – in relation to potentially becoming crofters, I’ve been reading this morning about butchery, tanning sheep hides and spinning your own wool. More to come on that possibly….:D stoneleigh

over and out!

Cathy

You know what??…

You know what…I really don’t like getting feedback about my house….The feeling I get when my phone beeps and it says I have new feedback to review is that sinking gut feeling. What now??…What isn’t good enough now…

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The simple truth is, most of the feedback has actually been ok, fairly nice really I suppose..(most anyway) and I suppose my reaction says a lot about my mindset rather than anything else. It’s just what we are selling is a small terrace, it is three bedroom, but one is a box room. It is a simple cottage style terrace, which I think is really nice. It has a gorgeous garden which Chris overhauled completely (and did a fantastic job). It has a small enclosed yard on the front. It doesn’t have any structural problems as far as we are aware. However, it just doesn’t seem to be good enough. Two of the bedrooms have rough walls as I removed woodchip quite a while ago and the carpets could do with replacing. To me, this is fairly minor, we’ve lived in it like this for a long time and it is easily remedied really. We’ve done the other rooms, so to me, again, this is good, two upstairs rooms is a project for the new owners – they can make it their own. Unfortunately, this is not how most seem to view houses now…perfection seems to be required…even on a cheap (ish) house. Although I suppose if you are buying in this price range you probably don’t have much money to spend on overhauling anything. Although that may be an assumption. I actually think this is what a lot of us expect nowadays – perfection, no work to do, ease, and if it isn’t like that we are appalled! haha.

It does have to be said, we do live a little differently, we don’t have central heating. We have two multifuel stoves that we use and it keeps the house reasonably warm. We have two small children and they never seem to be particularly cold. It is more work, it is a little more dusty maybe. But I sort of like that it is different and the work involved is interesting and sort of fun. Although to be fair, Chris does most of the heavy stuff, although I do love axing up a bit of wood, fantastic stress relief. But!!! I completely get why people want central heating, so…why don’t they just get it put in if they like the house? why is it a big deal? why does everything seem to be a big deal nowadays?

It is not that long ago that most houses did not have central heating, in fact, it is not that long ago that we didn’t even have “video recorders” (:D) or even telephones in houses, never mind mobile phones and internet. Apparently we all like “mod cons” – what are mod cons?? I’m not sure what people really like and I’m not sure the estate agents have got it right. For instance, only putting the good photographs up on the advert to get people in. I think, be honest, it is a complete waste of time getting people into your house if they think they’re getting perfection and they aren’t. You know what maybe this is out of context but Jesus came as the light and exposes everything kept in the darkness. I don’t really believe in keeping things in the dark or in lying about anything and this approach sort of makes me uncomfortable. I’m sure it will sell, I trust God with our lives and am excited and as I said before, love meeting all these different people and having them cross the threshold when they are coming to view. But I just think there’s such a lot of rubbish spoken in relation to selling your home. A personal hatred of mine is calling a room “a good space” and a house “a property”. Be real…

Another bug bear is when I’m having the viewings, I feel like I need to make the house almost like no-one is living here! Which is difficult. It is clean, clean, clean, tidy, tidy, tidy, almost making it look sterile to me, and that is not homey. Don’t people want homes? Have I got it wrong? I don’t know! But when you read the advice on making your home likely to sell, a lot of it again, seems to me like superficial stuff designed to fool people into thinking they need your house. As it has been said, we just need someone to come and fall in love with the place as I did when I visited 13 years ago. I just knew it was the right one, it was mainly the garden that did it, but I just knew I wanted it. So here’s praying someone will want it and love it like I have done. It’s not perfect, it needs a fair bit of decor sorting, but it’s got character, it is a home, it is very peaceful despite all the mayhem of family life.

My prayer is that anyone coming into this house will meet God in all his glory. I was born again in this house, in the bedroom. My two boys were born in this house, home births that I fought for in a world that seems terrified of any risk. So more new births in this place would be good. Lord, bless anyone entering this home, may they be born again into new life, your goodness and your love. And work in me, so I can love them and not rant too much.

Amen! so endeth the rant.

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Children and kangaroos

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just a quick lighthearted one today.  We were driving through country lanes earlier, I was listening to my three year old who was saying  “Look mummy a cow, a tractor, a big digger, I want to be a farmer..” Do you? That’s good. “Yes mummy, look, a kangaroo!” Me – is it hopping along? Three year old – yes it is mummy. On looking at him you could see he actually could see a kangaroo, he was smiling delightedly at the field looking at where the kangaroo was. Kids are brilliant.

After having a quiet time on the house front over the past week,  we now have two more viewings booked in.  Yippee. And then off to our church festival for a few days camping soon. Double yippeeeeeeeee. Heidi Baker is speaking… Oh yes!…

 

what to do now?….

Hi, it’s been on my mind about what this blog is really about. Yes, it’s about our potential move to Scotland and what happens there (hopefully pictures of sheep shearing for the first time and Chris falling over in the mud etc), but also, it’s about waiting, and taking each day one at a time and I think about recognising God in every single day and expecting Him to act every single day. About being close to Him and recognising Him. About acting out of His goodness and love – just like the AMAZING preach yesterday at the royal wedding.

Also, I need to recognise that my agenda is not necessarily God’s and I need to pray HIS will be done, not just mine…His agenda is the one that matters. But also, I do believe in dreams and that God gives/places dreams in you and I have wanted a smallholding type place since I was about 5 years old and so we’ll see what happens. But it is so important we listen to God and trust His timing and ways in this.

I want to enjoy my babies while they are little, I’ve wasted so much time thinking too much and worrying in the past few years. So, I want to learn to live in the moment with them when I’m with them. How to mother, how to wife! How to friend! How to be me. It was prophesied over me 5 years ago that I shouldn’t be ashamed to be the centre of attention. I think this means God’s attention and about knowing who he has made me to be. I so so often feel I have to hold myself back, and restrict my personality. In church this morning I really felt like He was speaking to me about this, about just being free to be me. The me who is in Him. Made by Him and for Him.

Jesus

I love just writing His name, saying His name.

Brian and Jenn Johnson’s song Mention of your name says it all really:

At the mention of Your Name
Every chain will break
I know everything will change
Jesus, just the whisper of Your Name
Will silence wind and waves
At the mention of Your Name

(sorry if this breaks any rules for publishing, I just love it)

Bye for now.. Cathy x

Selling the house…

I don’t have any idea what I’m doing with a blog either 😀

Because we originally wanted to move to Sanday in Orkney and saw a house we really liked, we put our house on the market and although I have  really enjoyed meeting everyone who has come round and giving out lots of eggs (we keep chickens) it has been a bit stressful. We’ve had loads of viewings in the week since we’ve put it on, but with no serious offers so far, so we’re just praying the right buyer comes along and pays what we need to move. Unless we get the right amount for the house we cannot go, so here we are, waiting. Waiting is never pleasant as far as I’m concerned, that is, until you get what you are waiting for, then it is. God seems to think waiting is good for us, so I’ll go with His wisdom 🙂 It needs to be guided by Him anyway, otherwise there is no point in going anywhere.

We were originally going to the Orkney’s but now we’ve confused ourselves because we’ve seen a croft house and land for sale on Yell in Shetland, it looks amazing but we (or at least Chris) obviously  need to see it. But there isn’t any point until we have a serious offer on ours.

Combined with this, I am a full time mum to a three year old boy and a nine month old, the nine month old is easier…and much more pleasant at the moment…although I’m told the three year old phase passes. I just can’t remember this constant screaming get your own way phase with my older daughter (I have a 23 year old daughter too, she lives in London) and my husband Chris also has a 16 year old son who lives with his mum in Derbyshire. Past lives and new beginnings all combine to make a beautiful family.

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“…Behold, I make all things new…” (Revelation 21:5)

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me! So!!! We (the Shepherd’s) are starting our quest for a different type of life. God willing…

In short, we want to move from Derbyshire, England in a small terraced house, to either an Orkney island or Shetland, preferably to a little house or croft/smallholding with some land and this blog is going to document it all! The good, the bad and the ugly (perhaps not too ugly). Oh yes, and we haven’t really got a clue what we are doing. Should be entertaining.

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