February has been a full month. I have officially worked every weekend and now that I'm almost through it I realise this wasn't my brightest moment in forward planning. More time to rest (or just more time to clean the house) would have been nice, but how does one say no to so many good things?
The DeLoreans have played at the home of Mr Darcy (sadly he was a no show) and next weekend we're singing our hearts out at the birthday of our very good friend (and honourary DeLorean) Mr Doug Ross. I have trialed a new dress (it's a one set wonder) and we've added the fantastic Video Killed the Radio Star to our set. It went down rather well and I have to say I'm enjoying singing through a toy megaphone.
The Trundle family celebrate not two but three birthdays in this fine month and after my sister's 26th and my Mum's 36th ;) we now approach the milestone that is my brother Adam's 21st Birthday! This weekend (after playing for Doug) Steve and I jump in our new car (dubbed Borat - it's a VW Bora) and make our way to Grendon baring gifts for the Birthday boy. It's lovely to be together. Now that the Trundle siblings are all adults we live in three different cities and I for one miss my sister and brother a great deal. This Sunday can't come quickly enough.
It's been a pretty crazy month for the 24-7 Clan too! The weekend before last Steve and I joined with a few hundred others to celebrate IAM10 - 24-7 Prayer's tenth birthday here in the UK. It was a fantastic day of seeing some old friends, putting faces to email addresses and hearing some fantastic stories of all God's been up to in the last decade. It was kind of a fun anniversary for Steve and I too... IAM5 (24-7's fifth Birthday party) was held in the same venue and was the day that my friend Sven Hardini became my boyfriend (and future husband). We shared a kiss on the steps outside St Mary's church which Pete Greig enjoyed sharing with the whole room when he reflected on growth of the movement. Thanks Pete.
That brings my quite neatly to the weekend just gone and the emotional, intellectual and spiritual roller-coaster that was the 24-7 Council. 20 odd people from three different continents gathered to look at the major opportunities and challenges facing 24-7 Prayer. We talked about a network of Boiler Rooms, our present focus on the continent of Europe, how we can continue to foster a culture of care, how the 24-7 movement can respond to God's heart for justice and SO MUCH MORE! During the last session when we were going round the room sharing what is most prominent in our minds from our three days together. I flicked back through the notes I'd made in my journal and counted 22 pages of them! I have an awful lot to process including some encouragements from God and lessons to learn. I won't say much more here as it's definitely a conversation best had over a cup of tea but in summary it was a very good and very full time with people who inspire me greatly.
In many ways I can't wait to welcome the month of March next week and the slower (or maybe I should say more sustainable) pace of life it will bring. I need to free up more time as I have two books to read before my next talk at Revelation Church on the 21st... but more about that another time... xc