Advent

As Christmas nears, I find myself living a life of busyness and creativity. I am far too busy to sit and look, sit and moan, or sit and think. At the moment, my blogging seems to reflect that! I have been mainly sharing ideas, recipes and creative projects with you, and I'm afraid that this post will be no different.
Only this morning, Seth was asking me how many "sleeps" there are until the end of November. This is because, he is waiting for that day, as on that morning, he will be putting on his school uniform, ready for his first visit to his new primary school. As we counted the days until the 30th, we discovered that he only had seven sleeps left. It was shortly after this calculation that it dawned on me that I have only eight sleeps left until the beginning of Advent - without a doubt my favourite time of the year!!!
And so, this afternoon, I have been preparing our Advent Calendar. A few years ago, I was a part of an amazing team, who ran a Mums and Toddlers group called Sparklers - it was the best toddler group in the land!!! We loved it. The team was solid, and we loved each other and the families that we served. We'd often have Mum's Nights, and the one that I particularly relished was the Christmas Craft Evening. It was always held at the end of November and we'd have a great time. Candles everywhere, mulled wine bubbling away, Christmassy music being played, a bit of entertainment, a bit of a talk and lots of different "stations" to move around. The stations would usually be things like, wire decoration-making, How to Wrap a Pressie, mince pies, glass painting, Make a Table Centre, sewing a tree decoration, and so on. I LOVED it!!!
One year, a lady named Helen, who is a great mum, wife and daughter of God, stood up and spoke (something she wasn't keen on!) She told us about her Advent Calendar. She had a calendar with little pockets in. She told us that her children would find something in each pocket, each day. She handed out pieces of paper with Bible verses for each day, and ideas for special Christmas jobs to do each day also. Excitedly, I took my handouts home and assembled our advent calendar, which had previously only housed Galaxy Minstrels.
Since then our Advent Calendar has always presented our children with three treats on each day of the Advent period. As they pop their little fingers into the appropriate pocket for that day, they find a Bible verse, a Christmas job and a little chocolate each. Each day, their different Christmas job moves more and more into the Christmas Mood. One day, they might be making some shortbread, the next day delivering to friends to wish them a Merry Christmas. Another day, they might be snuggled up in the front the fire watching "Santa Claus - The Movie", whilst another they might sit together in their rooms, reading old Christmas books. We also make the school Christmas celebrations a part of our Advent activities, and so we mark the Tree Decorating Ceremony, as well as the School Nativity Play. Our church is very busy around Christmas time, and whilst Dave and I rehearse for various performances, the children are instructed, by the calendar, to "Write your Christmas cards!". You see, although the Advent calendar is only a small calendar, and although the delving into each pocket takes seconds, this new kind of Advent Calendar has changed our Advent completely.
As I listen to the radio, and I hear children call in to tell of what picture they have found behind the door of their calendar, I often wonder what impact a picture of a bell, a present or a fairy have those children. I then think of my kids, learning more of the real story of Christmas, having the enjoyment and excitement of making shortbread to deliver to friends, watching a favourite Christmas film, reading an old Christmas book, writing their Christmas cards and going on our annual "Pyjama Ride". The impact of their Advent Calendar is endless, and creates memories at every turn.
My kids still ask for shop-bought, chocolate-filled Doctor Who, Hello Kitty and Ben 10 Advent Calendars. But as I remind them of our special calendar, the expressions on their faces change to those of pure excitement, at the prospect of all the adventures, activities and surprises that our calendar brings.
So, whether you grab a fabric calendar with pockets, a wooden calendar with drawers or 24 odd socks, pinned up around the house, how about making Advent a really special time in your family? Enjoy more time together and less time stressing. Enjoy the simple pleasures of this mid- winter festival, and do less spending. And even if you can't find the energy to sort out every day, grab your family, watch a Christmas film (National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation always works a treat), read The Grinch and eat some mince pies. It's so worth it.

Indy's Birthday Party

Well, the 5th November saw us celebrate another birthday in the life of our daughter, Indy. It was her 7th birthday, and it was great fun. I have never had enough money to hold a party at a restaurant, or at a local soft-play centre, or even in a hired hall. I have not had enough money to hire an entertainer, or to have party bags full-to-the-brim of personalised gifts, pre-packed by a lovely company. Even our own wedding was largely homemade and low-budget.

As a child, before my birthday parties, my dad made annual trips into the woods near our house to "find" young trees to chop down and turn into poles for hanging crepe paper streamers, that would hang across our back garden with multi-coloured balloons. Dad would usually make a mix-tape of whatever songs were fashionable at the time, as well as Stevie Wonder's "Happy Birthday" the "Theme from Fame" and Olivia Newton-John's "Let's Get Physical" (and yes, I really did think it was all about exercise!!) He would also put together games of all sorts, that generally involved getting very messy, very giggly, and being rewarded with little prizes from the local toy shop. I remember one year, maybe my 9th birthday, he had devised a treasure hunt around the garden, that involved working out all sorts of riddles and puzzles. So much fun!!! My mum always made an amazing birthday cake - an owl, a teddy bear, a country cottage, a record player - and created quite an outstanding spread of sausage rolls, dinky sandwiches with various fillings, Party Ring biscuits, hula hoops, Twiglets and Iced Gems. Jelly and ice cream in abundance always followed, and fizzy drinks like limeade and cherryade, which we only had for parties, would be poured until over-flowing. Mum put together great party bags with pencils, party blowers, tiny packs of pencils and those plastic moving snakes. Of course, everyone went home with a slice of Mum's amazing cake, and when they had left, Mum and Dad marvelled at all of the lovely presents that my friends had brought for me.

I have followed in my parents' footsteps with my own children's parties - all homemade (by necessity) and full of food, games and fun. Indy's party this year was no different!! I thought that you might be interested in what we did, as, in my researching for ideas and hints, I discovered a few blogs that featured a "How to..." for their parties. So, here we go...

Indy asked for a chocolate party. As we talked about it more, it developed into a "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" Party. It was going to be fairly low-key, as I try to remained de-stressed as the dark nights close in, and my depression often starts to rear it's ugly head. However, as soon as Roo, my 10 year-old son came up with the idea of Golden Tickets for the invites, it spiralled wildly out of control!!!! We decided to put the tickets inside chocolate bars, and as the only appropriate chocolate bars (wrapped in foil and then in a paper sleeve) were Nestle, which I tend to avoid, I found myself buying huge Cadbury's Dairy Milk bars which I then broke into small slabs, ready for wrapping. I used gold wrapping paper for the foil and made my own sleeves which I designed on the computer. I was just delighted with them, especially when I saw the guests' faces, and heard their squeals of delight, as they opened them on the playground one morning!!!

So, we then began to plan the party in detail. We decorated the house with paper bunting made using old scrap-booking papers and colourful balloons. As the children waited outside with their parents, they ate squirrel and star-shaped gingerbread biscuits. Roo dressed up as Willy Wonka, welcoming the guests and collecting their tickets on arrival. Dave had made a big contract, which the children signed, just like in the old Willy Wonka film with Gene Wilder.

As we were clearly unable to make our whole house edible, in the living room, I created an Edible Garden, which included a gingerbread house, green coconut grass, edible rice paper flowers, brown sugar soil, an edible veggie patch made with dried cranberries, rainbow drops, sprinkles and red fizzy laces. The kids silently stared at the Edible Garden, mouths and eyes wide, before being told that they could eat the whole thing!!! They then proceeded to really go for it!!!

"Willy Wonka" then led them into the dining room, where they helped themselves to the Lolly Tree, met an Oompa Loompa (my future sister-in-law, Heather) who was "spinning" fine strawberry laces on my spinning wheel, and ate of her wares. They had a game of Pass the Parcel, where little Emily won the prize of a tube of Jelly Tots, and then made their way outside.

"Willy Wonka" led them into the Tunnel of Delights (the side path to our back garden) which had been decorated with candles, fairy lights and ribbons, upon which hung mini chocolate bars, sweets, lollies, chews, candy canes and more laces.

They popped their treasure into little plastic cups, labelled with small bunting triangles with their names on, and then walked through into the house to be greeted with a basket full of marshmallows and a flowing chocolate fountain!!!

After this, they sat in a circle to play The Chocolate Game - you know, the one with a die, over sized coat, scarf, gloves and hat and chocolate bar to be chopped up with a knife and fork? - even the shy kids got stuck in!!! We re-grouped with a party tea of funky sandwiches, mini choccie cupcakes, crisps of all shapes and Fizzy Lifting Drinks (the essential cherryade, limeade and orangeade.)

The children gathered in the living room to watch Indy open her presents, and then sat down in front of the old version of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory", whilst they waited for their parents' to arrive. I couldn't resist pouring the full jars of sweets into their little hands and laps, just at the point that the shop keeper in the film does the same thing, as he sings, "The Candy Man". It made an complete mess of my living room carpet, but the kids loved it.

As they left, full of sugar, pupils fully-dilated, I couldn't help but feel that we'd done a good job. A homemade party is definitely a lot of work (my first diagnosis of depression was after a homemade party three years ago!!) but it is so much cheaper and really satisfying. And I think that the kids who came will remember it for a long time.

I'll be honest (regular readers will know this is pretty usual for me!!) It has been a tough old week.

Mondays are never really a problem for me. They are always rather full, but I actually look forward to them, as a moment of calm and solitude, after what is usually a busy and chaotic weekend. This Monday was the same: wake up; shower; make packed lunches; shepherd kids out of the back door and to the car, climbing over buckets, scooters, bikes and mud pies; drive to school; pray with the kids; say "Goodbye, I love you, God bless you!" to Roo; go into school with Indy and Seth; set up for the weekly Mum's Coffee Morning; say "Goodbye, I love you, God bless you!" to Indy when the bell goes, and she wanders round to her classroom; wait for mums to arrive, while Seth attempts to write his name on the white board with a permanent marker (quickly to be replaced with a white-board marker); greet the mums; make drinks for them; drink coffee; avoid the chocolate biscuits; eat chocolate biscuits; realise what the time is; rush off, dragging Seth by his coat; throw him into the car; drive to nursery; drop him off five minutes late; apologise for being late; say "Goodbye, I love you, God bless you" to Seth; get back in the car; drive back to school; go back to Mum's Coffee Morning; tell funny stories about children's references to family secrets in public; say goodbye to mums; tidy up; rush off; drive to Women's Bible Study; arrive ten minutes late; park badly; apologise for lateness; tell funny stories about children's references to family secrets in public; drink more coffee; read Bible; discuss with other women; realise what the time is; rush out to car; drive back to nursery; collect Seth, along with soggy painting with bits of pasta falling off; drive home; eat lunch. That's my usual Monday morning.

This Monday was different. After dropping Seth at nursery and then returning to school, our wonderful headteacher, Mrs Gellatly asked me to come into her office, for a chat. We talked about Roo, and an incident on Friday, where he had shouted at a Lunchtime Controller. She was very kind and almost apologetic when she suggested that he take a break from school lunchtimes. She felt that he needed some time out, to calm down.

You see, a few months ago, Roo was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome. Aspergers Syndrome is an ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Every day we are learning more about what it means. More specifically, every day we are learning about what it means for Roo.

Roo needs a break from lunchtimes at school, because he sometimes finds social situations difficult to cope with. Lunchtimes, on a playground with 209 other children is hard for Roo. He has no structure to his lunchtime. He sees many different groups of people. He watches them whizz around, running, shouting, laughing, skipping, interacting with each other and burning off their energy. He hears their shouts, laughs, screams, cries, rhymes and stories. Everything is too busy, too noisy, too hectic, and he becomes very frightened. Fear manifests itself in many different ways - bravado, angry outbursts, crying, hiding, lashing out. Roo needs a break from these feelings, which are caused by school lunchtimes.

There are many social situations in which Roo copes really well. He loves meeting new people and he loves spending time with older children, teenagers and adults. He enjoys formal occasions like weddings, and has no problems at all with going out for meals and on day trips. He loves the cinema and theatre, and most people would not even notice that Roo is any different to any "normal" child.

But living with Roo is a different matter. Today is INSET Day, which means no school, and no usual routine. He finds any change to his routine very upsetting, and often becomes manic or angry. He seems to be "up for a ruck" most of the time. He has one-sided conversations with us, where he lacks the awareness of our boredom, after he has spoken about something for a very long time, and we have not responded. Roo is obsessed with Doctor Who. He used to be obsessed with vacuum cleaners and dragons. Roo often seems unable to understand his own feelings, particularly when he is anxious. This makes it hard to communicate with him at times. And he flies off the handle at the slightest inconvenience to his day.

So, I have started to read. A lot. I have started using my creativity to help him. I have made him Daily Kit Lists, which are the size of business cards, and are attached to his bag, by a keyring. I have devised routine lists, for weekends and school holidays - Roo has always found these days unsettling, and taken his anxiety out on us. I have tried to engage my other children in understanding and helping Roo, as we all help each other in our different areas of need.

Lunchtimes this week have been hectic - an extra two journeys to and from school - but it has been good to learn more about what Roo needs. Sometimes, our children get poorly. When this happens, they need time to recuperate. It is the same for kids with Aspergers. Sometimes, they need a break. They need some time away from the chaos and busyness of school. In that time, they need some peace, their home and a cosy hug from their mum. So, that's what we did, and for now, it seems to have helped.

After the half term holidays, Roo's lunchtimes will be different. Lunch in the canteen, reading or playing a game with friends in the library, a short run around and then back to the classroom for the afternoon. Hopefully this routine will help Roo to cope better with lunchtimes.

As I have said, everyday we are learning more and I'll let you know what more we learn.

It is said that Sir Isaac Newton, Thomas Jefferson and Hans Christian Andersen all had Aspergers. Those of you who have met Roo will know that he is hard to forget - such a big character, so friendly and so very intelligent. For those of you who haven't had the privilege of meeting him yet, remember the name - Reuben Roper - you heard it here first!!!

A recipe

I don't often do this, but my blog title demands such an entry. Here is a recipe for my latest invention. Inspired by a Nigella recipe and my brother, Benji's recent veggie growing success with his gorgeous girlie, Heather, I decided to make this. It is a cross between Banana Bread, Carrot Cake and something you might eat as part of a detox.....Eaten whilst warm, sitting in front of the fire, watching scarved and hatted passers-by stare longing through the window, makes this cake even more beautiful. Yum yum yum.....

Sal's Courgette Loaf Cake

2 desert apples, grated

same weight in raw courgette, grated

100g raisins/sultanas

2 eggs, beaten

125g butter, melted

150g brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

175g plain flour

2tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp bicarb

1. Mix apple, courgette, raisins, eggs, sugar, butter and cinnamon together in a large bowl.

2. Combine flour, baking powder and bicarb in a smaller bowl and then add, a third-at-a-time to the wet ingredients.

3. Stir until fully combined and pour into a greased and lined loaf tin.

4. Bake @ Gas 3 for 60 - 70 minutes.

5. Leave to cool in the tin.

Oh. My. Goodness

As you can see from the photo, it won't last long...

Are you an includer?

Isn't it easy to feel lonely? As I stand on the school playground, waiting for my two eldest children to come out, I often look around and see groups of gathered mums and dads, chatting, laughing, listening, smiling. Sometimes, as I look on, I feel lonely. I then step back, and look out. I see individuals stood, waiting, all by themselves. They look lonely. In the same way, as my youngest child, Seth runs about with his little friends who are yet to start "Big School", I see the odd child stood alone at the side, or sitting on the ground, playing in the dirt, all by themselves.

There have been many, many occasions when my children have told me that, either at nursery or at school, they had "no-one to play with today". In fact, our school has a Buddy Bench, where lonely children can go to sit. The other children can then go over to the bench, and invite that child to play with them. What a great idea! Except when a child places them selves on the Buddy Bench, and then rejects another child's offer of company!!!

Loneliness is a terrible affliction. In his job as a Private Clients Solicitor, my husband, Dave often meets with elderly and bereaved people, in preparing Wills, Trusts and Probate for either themselves or their relatives. He often makes visits to hospitals, hospices and nursing homes, where he meets with people in varying stages of sickness or dementia. Many of the people who Dave meets and helps are lonely people. He sees men whose wives have died. He meets ladies whose children have grown up and left home. He meets very tired and sad people who are watching the "love of their life" dying.

This kind of loneliness is not something I can relate to. My children are young and remain at home. My husband and I are, thankfully, healthy and happy together. My parents live near-by and I am hugely blessed and grateful to be a part of a friendly and loving church community. Having said that, I have felt lonely. I have seen photos on Facebook of events that I've not been invited to. I have been involved in conversations where I do not understand the private joke that everyone else is laughing at.

I once delivered a birthday present to an old friend. When she answered the door, she seemed shocked to see me. She reticently invited me into her home, where a table laden with yummy food had been set. In a rush and with a red face, she explained that her church small group was meeting, and that she had offered to host for the evening. I smiled and made my excuses, knowing full-well that she was having a party, and that I was not invited. Later on that week, I discovered that most of my friends had attended her birthday party. I didn't feel cross, I just felt lonely.

Recently, I have felt a little lonely, but I have chosen to remember some great advice given to me - The way that I feel about something is not necessarily a true reflection of the way things are.

Therefore, my loneliness is a feeling and not an actuality.

Not only are my feelings not always to be relied upon, but neither is my perspective. As I look into the centre of my social sphere, I am unable to see the people outside, looking in. You see, there are always people further from the centre than me.

I often hear that people feel lonely. Either they are feeling the lack of invitations to Sunday lunch, or they wonder why no small groups are relevant to them. They see groups of friends holidaying together, or families joining other families for afternoon outings. As they look on, they find themselves excluded and feeling lonely. As a single mummy, I had to force myself to call my friends, go along to social events and organise my own. I learnt to get past my pride, and involve and invite myself. I thankfully had a some great friends, who were includers.

Sometimes I wonder what life would be like, if we were all includers. If we took a moment to look outside of our social circle and see who was on the edge, how many new friends would we make and many lonely people would feel a part of something. If the lonely people included other in their lives, surely they would be too busy to feel lonely?

Maybe I'm just being naive, but it seems to me, that if we stopped moaning and starting inviting, maybe we'd never feel lonely again. When I include others, I feel far less lonely!! Let's get out of own our heads, get past our pride and invite someone over. Phone someone tomorrow, and arrange to meet for coffee. Leave behind your fear and feelings and look for the person on the edge - the person who needs to be included - and include them.

Change your life, and become an includer!

Disapproval

It is not my place to judge. In fact, not only is it not my place, but as far as the Bible is concerned, it is sinful of me to judge, or be judgemental.
This week, I had a "cyber-chat" with an old friend. Upon reading my blog and seeing my Facebook comments, he could clearly see that my faith in God, and my involvement in church, has significantly grown since we were close friends, during Sixth Form. He has always been very unimpressed with organised religion, and has never made a secret of his suspicions and concerns. But he used a really interesting phrase this week that has remained with me.

"I deeply disapprove of any church stuff."

Those words have been ringing in my head ever since I read them. Deeply disapprove. What do I "deeply disapprove" of? Is there anything that concerns me that much? And if there is, why do I not feel as free as my friend, to express it? Am I giving in to political correctness? Do I actually feel that strongly about anything?

Well, actually, there is something that I deeply disapprove of...I deeply, deeply disapprove of a life with out Jesus. In every part of my heart, soul and mind, I am grieving for those of you who do not have Jesus in your lives. I deeply disapprove of loneliness, and the pressure to survive without any help. I deeply disapprove of a life spent trying to "do the right thing", all the while wasting time on meaningless good deeds, when all you need is the grace and forgiveness of God. I deeply disapprove of a life lived in the lie that everything will be okay, and that "what goes around comes around". I deeply disapprove of a life without the freedom to understand who you really are in Jesus - a loved, cherished and precious child of a loving, all-powerful God. I deeply disapprove of the drab acceptance that we are here by chance, that our amazing minds, bodies and souls are not planned carefully and created for a purpose. I deeply disapprove of a life without the knowledge of true love, a love that spans the ages, is everlasting, completely unconditional and sacrificial. And I deeply disapprove of a lack of hope that God has an amazing plan for our lives and that this life and all that we see, is only the beginning.

I do not disapprove of anyone's choices, lifestyles or beliefs. But I deeply disapprove of you all missing out on the most important thing in all of existence. I desperately long for my precious, wonderful friends to live their lives to the full. The only way to do this is with Jesus. It has nothing to do with relationships, marriage, kids, travel, success, work, finances, holidays, status, promotion, fame, beauty, possessions, or even health. There is only one answer, and only one way.

One Way - Jesus.

Newday!!!!!!! Woo hoo!!!!

"Mummy!!! How many sleeps 'til Newday?"
"Only four!! Woooooooooooooooo hooooooooooooooo!!"

There are somethings that I find even more exciting than my kids do. Newday is one of them. Preparation for Newday is just as exciting as being there. Writing lists. Ticking things off that list. Shopping for shampoo, shower gel and packets of tissues. Making sure that I have a full First Aid kit (even though one will be fully available.) Packing my Bible, notebook and pen. ensuring that I have the right clothes - clothes for sun and clothes for rain. Wellies. Flip flops. Pieces of carpet for wiping feet on. Tent. Tent pegs. Ground sheet. Battery operated lantern. cash for milkshakes, coffee, chips and the bookshop.

What is Newday? Sorry, I got a bit carried away. You see, when it comes to Newday, I do get carried away. Well, Newday is the new Stoneleigh, and Stoneleigh was the new New Generation, and New Generation was the new More Than Conquerors, and More Than Conquerors was the new Downs. I think the Downs was preceded by something, but that was before my time.

All these are (and this is the bit I hate, as no words can describe how amazing they are/were, and the following words definitely do not do them justice) Christian Summer Camps, Gatherings, Festivals, Events. The Downs and Stoneleigh were for all ages, whereas the others, including Newday, are for young people only (obviously with Youth Leaders also...and their kids.)

Basically, we pack up a coach with young people, our kid, bags of unnecessary clothing and equipment, sweets, drinks (non-alcoholic, of course) and excitement. We head up to the Norfolk Showground, where we meet our catering team - a brave bunch from our lovely church, who arrive a day early, pitch our tents for us and prepare for a hard-slog week of cooking for about a million of us, making it feel like home. We pour off the coach, thanking our driving with hip-hip-hoorays and dive into our tents to blow up our airbeds and set ourselves up. At this point, I become rather nostalgic, so please excuse me....

...I remember when, as a teenager, my mum, dad, little brother and I made our way up to Stoneleigh - such exciting times. Ben and I LOVED the journey. We knew it fairly well, and we never tired of it. We didn't even mind that it took a while to drive up there - it was all part of the experience. As we approached the gate, squeals of excitement emitted from the backseat of my dad's car. Upon being welcomed by the registration team, we handed them our forms in exchange for badges, handbooks and a black bin liner...ahh I can smell the campsite now!!! Stoneleigh agricultural ground had a special, unique smell of its own... We'd drive around to our church's allocated site and wave as we saw our friends. Mum and Dad would put the tent up - one year they didn't realise that it had been put up inside out until three days into the week!!!

I'd find my friends, Lucy, Lyndsey, Ilona, Jo, Jayne and Amy and we'd go off, "scouting for boys". Obviously it wasn't all about boys....not that I didn't do fairly well on that front...We'd also find our venue for meetings and then check out the bookshop and food stalls - it was a sign of a good year if we found a Hog Roast van!!

Stoneleigh meant late nights and early rises, to get a hot shower. It meant time with my friends, without my parents worrying where I was. It meant dinners made by my mum on a camping stove of tinned chilli, boil-in-the-bag rice and the occasional cooked brekkie. Tinned potatoes and chicken in white wine sauce from a tin. Stoneleigh meant new books, maybe a new Bible and a new hoodie. Long walks and lazy afternoons by the river. It also meant new developments in my relationship with God, empowering talks where I learnt how to worship God with abandon, and hilariously clear instruction on dating and sex - we ALWAYS went to that talk!!!

As Stoneleigh came to an end, we all really grieved our precious time with each other and with God. We returned to school feeling focused and strong, ready to face the world and the though of not having Stoneleigh felt so scary.

Newday followed, inviting young people to enjoy a week away with out their parents - they'd gone one better!!! By the time it stared, I was too old to go to Newday. Even if I had been the right age, I had gone in my own direction, away from church and away from Jesus.

And so, when the opportunity came for Dave and I and our kids to join the youth at Newday last year, I was hugely excited. You see, I am (thankfully) no longer scouting for boys, or worrying about cool clothes. Neither am I enjoying the easy, run-around-and-do-my-own-thing element of Newday. But I do get to see others doing it. I enjoy great times with the youth - milkshakes with the girls, laying around on sleeping bags chatting to people, eating together in a big marquee, late night hot chocolate and cake, queuing for showers, listening-in to hilarious conversations during our patrol after lights-out and most of all, seeing these cheeky, normal, hormonal, sometimes stroppy kids sold out in worship to Jesus. Last year, I watched tears fall silently down one big brother's face, as his younger brother stepped forward to move into a deeper relationship with God. I saw a quiet and shy young man receive baptism in the Holy Spirit. I witnessed boys praying for their friends, as they became young men together. I heard girls prophesy over one another, and pray for healing. I saw lives changed, hearts broken and the re-building process beginning. I am looking forward to seeing what God will do in the young people this year.

So, as I pack my big stacka-box with raincoats (just in case), plasters and air fresheners - have you ever smelt inside a tent where five 14 year-olds are staying? - I am so excited. I am counting down the hours...

Have a look at the website...are you coming next year?