Greetings from a cold Cranleymore

Easter Sunday! 8 April ‘12

Goeie dag liewe Familie en vriende,
‘n Baie Geseënde Paas fees vir jul almal!
Ons was erg bevoorregt om ons predikant Stephen vanmôre aan die word te hê, hy het met wonderlike begeestering gepreek.
Hy het al die negatiewe punte in 1 Korintiers 15 onder die opskrif van Resurrection terug gebring na die positiewe- ‘n belewenis !
Good day to all family and friends, Just to let you know that I am truly confused. I started my letter with English heading and found myself writing in Afrikaans!
A blessed Easter to you all!
I do not sleep well since the days duty shifts started and have many hours awake and if that is not put to good use then what a waste of time! So in the early hours of this morning I remembered when we were children. On communion Sunday it was so special but on Easter Sunday it was more special than others. The church used to be packed and because of the preparation that goes into it, we did not have Catechism classes as usual before church.
The church used to be packed there was a gallery and on other Sundays it would be empty but on Easter Sunday people would be sitting on the steps!
In front were long tables laid out with pure white linen table cloths and the big silver cups covered with a starched serviette. Those years the congregation would leave their places to sit at the table. About 30-40 people may come to a sitting at one time. We always used to sing with each table served- the broken bread and the wine going round and every-one taking the tiniest little sips-( no one worried about picking up any infections-it never even entered your mind)Psalm 116 – there was many verses to this Psalm and the contents pertaining to the communion . There were times that I was scared that there will not be enough verses but come the 9-10 th table we always seemed to make it!.Children were not allowed at the table only those who were full members of the church and the young ones- those who just were confirmed! It was a very special occasion for them! I can remember that my mom would leave her gloves (she never went to church without her gloves and a proper handkerchief) in the pew and that I would try them on and wondered how long it would take for my fingers to grow long enough to fill the spaces.
Now a days it so different but Easter and communion and the message of the resurrection of Jesus Christ stayed the same although the family feeling has gone out of it as the congregation stay seated in the pews and they are served then from the table. Maybe two verses of a Ps being sung before and after. Small little glasses filled with wine or grape juice do the rounds because you might just pick up some decease from the person next to you! or be a reformed alcoholic.-there my thought was interrupted by the radio alarm.
That brought me to the time to get up and enjoy the privilege of being a child of Christ.
BUT this morning in spite of all the new ways it was like of old we are so few and we did move all to the front of the church and enjoyed that feeling of being a family in Christ. What a wonderful experience the Resurrection of our Lord -so that we will have the hope of eternal life.
I am always saddened by the lack of sincerity in this new country of ours Ireland, they boasts of being a Christian country especially on Sundays and most of all Easter Sunday! They have an hour set out in the day for the church service and then the recreation starts- if it is not Gaelic games Hurling, Football, or horse raising then the towns have parades with floats and whatnot- Sunday and the meaning of Easter long forgotten.
Sorry if have been going on about it a bit- what the heart is full of the mouth overflow of.
It has not been the best of weeks- this last one .Cold with freezing mornings , bitterly cold winds cutting through your marrow with no mercy .
I have also started my day duty which I unfortunately does not find as easy going as night duty! After nearly 8 years of working at night my mind and brain has turned into a nocturnal activity that just will not want to function during the day!
Being so scared that I will oversleep I am awake every morning at about 3am – having long hours to think about the day ahead and those behind! A lot of prayer goes into the early hours of such mornings- eventually the time arrives to get up. I get at work before the doors are open and had to stand outside on Thursday morning for a good 15 min waiting for some-one to come and open the door in -2°. Idiotic, I know but better busy that getting uptight!
There is little nursing in the day it is running up and down the stairs to theatre and back. Do a few observations make sure that they eventually drink some water and then after a day of great frustrations you can go home –being so tired that I have the volume of my cd player in the car good and loud otherwise I might just drop off to have a little sleep. The real nursing starts really at night and that is what I now miss terribly!
The days are longer and longer for me as I am there an hour before the time and just cannot sit and does nothing for an hour in which I am suppose to take lunch- what an enormous waste of time! So I am back in the ward doing what we do all day long! Admitting patients, asking silly questions- and then the run ( walk) to theatre for evermore! My days off, are taken up by housekeeping and washing and attending to my poor husband that now has to cope with many hours on his own! As well as walking in my garden and rest.
I suppose I will get use to it but it better happen quickly otherwise I might just fall of this bus sooner than what is planned- as it is- I just about keep up with the speed it is travelling!
I did have a walk in the garden on Friday as they requested late on Thursday that they need me more yesterday than on Friday and therefore worked a total different duty as originally planned-everything is growing so beautifully. The Jasmine started to flower and the smell is great- the clematis x10 have been shooting their tentacles out with vigour and enthusiasm!.
The tulips of all colours are opening and brings great colour to our new garden!
On the political front there is some interval with the lot on holiday for Easter. They are supposed to work together, this coalition government but there is always one or two that forget they are not in opposition anymore and criticize their team mates. A! What a fiasco! The house hold charge is now something of the past as the deadline is gone and past. Those who did not pay will receive fine upon fine until they cannot pay it at all and then we wonder what will happen next!
Last Sunday we met with Finbarr and family and Lukas is not so little anymore nearly 2 yrs old! Speaks very well and chose children of 4 and older that can answer him back- he cannot understand that the other children of his own age does not talk back when he speak to them!It was a wonderful few hours! Finbarr seems to be very happy with his lawnmower and their grass is now cut!
Birthdays this week: Gerda in Zambia on the 10th, Paul, van Marle ,the lawman in KZN on the 12th. My brother Mendel on the 13th, I am sure some-one who lives near to him will remember to congratulate him on his 81st Birthday!
Only the very best wishes to you all!
To all those brainy ones who are writing exams – read the questions well!
In great thankfulness to our Lord we think of Brandon Pienaar who had a 90% success ablation done after an 8hr procedure! Nicole who have been so very blessed with the grace of God when she was allergic to a bee-sting and some-one nearby had an anti-histamine tablet to see her over until she got to a hospital! We keep Werner in our prayers ! Adelbert- Hanlie, Haya, and those I do not know about- speedy recovery!
Our visiting wild animals are well and eating away, we saw the foxies the other night! Barry watches the skies with anticipation for the arrival of the swallows!
Thank you to all who so diligently answer on my letters – I appreciate it tremendously and enjoy the news of the children and photos are always welcome!
The end of my endurance has arrived and we greet you from a very cold Sunday in Cranleymore! May those who are having holidays in SA enjoy it! Others are away in far places of which I cannot even remember the name Antigua? in the Caribbean’s- Sue rest well
Stay alert Drive safely
Barry and Chrsitina