Reflections on 1 Samuel
Having just read the first chapter of the Biblical book, Samuel, I am reminded of how God is ever present in all things.
To give some backstory for those unfamiliar with the narrative, Samuel was the last of the judges born from a woman who was previously barren up until the point she pleaded to God in anguish to be given the gift of child.
The Bible (NASB version), stated later that night, Hannah’s husband, so prudently phrased, had “relations” with her. Can you imagine the anticipation of Hannah? Was she, whilst in the loving grasps of her husband, silently uttering ‘could this be it?’ ‘Is this the time when I shall conceive and have my miracle?’ Regardless of what she was thinking, God worked a miracle in her and she conceived the child who would come to be named Samuel.
Reader, I am reminded of the ever presence of God in this story because even whilst in the throes of making love God is there. The Bible says whilst Hannah and her husband were intimate, God “remembered her”. The poignancy of this simple phrase speaks volumes which trembles my soul. That we might come to know a God, so mighty, so great, and yet so caring to “remember [us]“ is utterly mind blowing.
And thus, I am reminded that God is present; when I do my dirt or do my goodness and righteousness (which is always insufficient); in short, in every moment of my waking and sleeping life.
Adieu!
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)New year, new additions
Happy (if ever so slightly belated) new year!
As you’ve probably guessed by now, we’ve had the baby. A little girl, ‘AP’… back in December. She’s wonderful (yes I know I’m gushing) and we’ve been spending most of our time cooing over her, sleeping (or not sleeping) and just adjusting to yet another big change.
This is just a quick post to check in and say I plan to start blogging more often again. AP is sleeping beside me at the moment and is due to wake up for lunch any moment so I’ll keep this one short.
I’ve just been on the Curly Nikki website after a 3 month hiatus (not that I’ve bothered to sign up as a member, but it is a really good website for natural and curly hair info), and seen that she along with Kim Coles* have issued a natural hair ‘Grow Out Challenge’. I got all excited until I realised I’d missed the start of it, and although I know it’s not too late to start, I think I’d like to rally up some support of my own and just start my own challenge in March, but following exactly the same rules. That way some grlfriends and I can do it together and encourage each other. I’ll copy the rules out and post them on a page of their own (propably with a few tweaks of my own).
I’m thinking I might organise a monthly get together with a few friends who take up the challenge for us to share our tips, tricks and trials with one another, but I’ll worry about that later. This is something I’ve been meaning to do for a while to be honest, (Neesh and I talked about before the wedding, but we just never got round to doing it), so I guess seeing the ‘chalenge’ gave me incentive to get started.
Speaking of getting started, I better go and finish undoing my hair if I want to wash it and get round to making dinner before going to church tonight… I’ve only got a quarter of my head left to go, but AP is already stirring.
Gotta go
Finké x
* If you’re an 80′s baby like me you might remember Kim Coles from ‘In Living Colour’ (the Wayans brother’s show from the early 90′s) or ‘One on One’ in the noughties.
Filed under General, Hair | Comment (0)A year has passed…
… since we got married and we’re both still alive, in love and married. Praise the Lord!
So now for a quick catch up… we’re currently in Madrid for our anniversary (thank you Gazelle, mwah!) and have been for the past 4 days. I’ve just woken up from a nap (what’s new?) and decided to have my password resent to me. Yes, the reason I haven’t blogged in ages was because I couldn’t remember my password, I was convinced I could, and I kept typing the wrong one in. Shame on me. Anyway, I’m back now. I’m sure Gazelle will be back soon because since we’ve been married, we obviously moved in together, he’s been finishing his MA in Education (he finished July just gone), he did some work at Second Wave (spending the first two weeks of his Summer holiday there and possibly his Saturdays outsde of term time for the foreseeable future) and when we get back he’ll be doing some last minute running around to finish marketing the Saturday school he’s setting up with Figures (that’s “Mr Figures” to you) the maths teacher. That’ll be launching early September, in Deptford, so let me know if you’re up for attending the day to show support or sending your child to the Saturday school when it opens and I’ll bug Gazelle to get in touch 
Totally random, but - oh my goodness!!! I completely forgot about the basil plant Lady Floydy gave us. I hope it hasn’t died. I guess I’ll find out when I get back tomorrow. We’re going round theirs for dinner next week and it would be sure embarassing to say, “Guess what, after keeping that plant alive for a month or so, (which is pretty good for me if I do say so myself as I’m not the most green fingered person in the world), I completely forgot to water it for a week…” Ah well… some things you can’t help.
That asides, I’ve decided to bake more when we get back. I’ve not had the energy to do much of it lately (for a few months – to the point where Gazelle has actually asked me to start baking again… I know!!!) and have really missed it. Spending 5 days without your oven can remind you how much you miss the simple pleasures in life. Don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone and all that, but I have spent the time catching up on my reading which has been brilliant.
Finke's green cabled neckwarmer
Crafting - I had to give you a quick crafting catch up. All I’ve done is make the green neck warmer above. Since March… I know, pitiful isn’t it, but I definitely will be making and posting a few more things on here… I know I said that last time, but things have changed since the last time. If you haven’t heard by now, I’m five months – yes FIVE (count it) months – pregnant. I didn’t say anything the last time I blogged because I probably wasn’t at the time. Who knows. I’m I’ve been looking at all sorts of cute baby things I need to make and I’m getting really excited as I’m now counting down in weeks (well, I’ve been counting down in weeks since week 12 when I was meant to get a huge burst of energy that made me feel like superwoman – they lied to me). Oh and before you ask we don’t know if we’re having a girl or a boy – Mr Traditional here wouldn’t let me back into the sonographer’s room to find out. He didn’t want to know. However, the baby does have Gazelle’s head shape. That much we do know! 
As for projects on the go, I’m part way through sewing a paisley cotton scarf for Gazelle, knitting a hat for myself and planning the nursery with Sky (of course Gazelle has had his input – how dare you suggest otherwise?), trying to figure out where all my crafting stuff is going to go now I have to give up the ‘spare’ room and trying to figure out how and when I’ll find the time to make all the things I plan to for the nursery and the new baby… I feel some craft evenings coming on.
Anyhoo, gotta go now, we’re heading off for a picnic and I’ve been keeping poor Gazelle waiting for the past half hour (or more) that I’ve been writing this entry.
I’ll most definitely be back soon.
Adios my lovelies!
Finke x
P.S. I’m blaming all my forgetfulness and tiredness on the bump.
Filed under General | Comment (0)AWOL
I got a smacked wrist from Sarah the other, albeit over the phone, because I hadn’t updated the blog in years… ok months. So this is a quick post to say we’re still alive, Darren’s still doing his MA, I’m still working, Fred and I are getting along swimmingly and I will soon be posting some Goode misadventures.
In the meantime give us a call, show our comments some love, and read Constant Scribbler (a personal blog by Kyla Jardine, a good friend of mine). She’ll at the very least keep you entertained until we get back.
Speak soon,
Finke x
P.S. I’ve taken the sewing machine and knitting needles out of storage. Watch this space