Loch Lomond boat ride, history, and castles along the shore. It was a privilege to share this adventure with our two oldest sons, their wives, and little Asher. It was a beautiful day.
Scotland – 3 Glasgow Cathedral
We met Jon and Arlene Galloway for breakfast and a great visit after so many years. I love that in the body of Christ we always have the most important thing in common. It was really neat to find out our daughter-in-law Emily’s family were also mutual friends with the Galloways and had shared some special time in Scotland when Emily was a baby.
On our way to the Cathedral we passed a thrift store so of course we had to stop. We found a few treasures and loaded back into the car and headed to the Cathedral.
We had a great tour guide who was very knowledgable. This is the oldest place I have ever touched. I was awed by the fact that people have been sharing and preserving God’s word for so long. The size of this cathedral, the markings of the masons showing pride in their work. This is an amazing structure. It is still in use today.
Scotland Part 2 – The Kelpies!
I am glad I got to see the Kelpies on our trip in March to Scotland.
Visit to Scotland – Part 1
In March my husband and I had the great opportunity to visit Scotland. Our son graduated with his Master’s Degree in Philosophy, Science, and Religion from the University of Edinburgh.
Because of Covid graduations were postponed. The school set a date and invited those who had completed their work during the pandemic to come for a special graduation.
Graduation was held in the beautiful McEwan Hall. It was a wonderful day and a wonderful accomplishment. Afterwards we walked around the campus and attended a reception for the graduates. The receptions were held by department.
This was the reason we were in Scotland but there was so much more to our trip I will try to share soon.
The Dome
The Dome
Us in McEwan Hall
Robotics Lab
Micah receives his diploma
Proverbs 18:22
Proverbs 31:12
Morning or Evening Person, Which Are You?
Isn’t this a funny question? So am I a morning or evening person? I find this is more of a question of sleep patterns. When do I sleep best?
Every test I read to determine whether I am a morning or evening person deals with my sleep patterns and energy levels during the day. That’s probably a good measure. Some studies suggest that morning people are happier than evening people. When most of the world is on your schedule you would probably be happier too.
Childhood
As a child, I could sleep deeply through anything (rain, storms, morning wake-up calls, fights, etc.). I could also stay up late reading the last few pages of a captivating book. I never remember having a bedtime. I do remember being sleepy in school.
My natural tendency is to go to bed early and rise early. I am thankful that I have a lot of energy and can be flexible with sleep and other things too. When I wake up early, I feel excited about a new day. I have a lot more energy in the mornings and get a lot done. Yesterday, I woke with a lot of energy, and by noon I had accomplished a long list of things and hit 10,000 steps!
Motherhood
After the birth of my first child, Micah, I was never going to sleep the same again. Yes, Daniel Redding, all conversations lead to childbirth. Even when you sleep, there is a heightened awareness of sounds. After having 11 children in 22 years, I learned to survive on a few hours of sleep. When my children became teenagers, I couldn’t sleep until I knew they were safely home. I was up early with babies and late with teens. I treasured our late-night chats. In the 1990s, when I was pregnant every year, if I was a morning person or an evening person, I don’t know. I was surviving.
Working
In 2014 I went to work after 35 years of raising children. My early schedule meant another change in my sleep patterns. I could function at work on 6 hours of sleep for a day or two, but I usually needed at least 7 hours of sleep. I loved the early schedule.
Empty Nest
Now if I wake up in the night, it is not to the sounds of a baby crying, but it might still be my children or friends in different time zones. Or I might awake thinking about one of my children. I use this awake time to pray for my children just as I did when I was rocking and nursing them back to sleep long ago.
I am an adult now. I can sleep whenever I want to!
For Mothers
This is a reprint of an article I did on my original Redding Mountain blog. I thought it fit well with my last post. To see the original article click on the link below.
I miss the days of happy children playing.
A Quote for Mothers
“If mothers could learn to do for themselves what they do for their children when these are overdone, we should have happier households. Let the mother go out to play! If she would have the courage to let everything go when life becomes too tense, and just take a day, or half a day, out in the fields, or with a favourite book, or in a picture gallery looking long and well at just two or three pictures, or in bed, without the children, life would go on far more happily for both children and parents. The mother would then be able to hold herself in “wise passiveness’ and would not fret her children by continual interference even of hand or eye – she would let them be.”
Charlotte Mason
Now if I could learn to play and take time relax maybe I would be a better mother:)
I already know how to work.
Merry Christmas – Free Baking Ebook
Merry Christmas!
Check out my shop for a free download of my ebook, Baking for Profit. This book contains family favorites as well as goodies I sold in my baking business. Check it out.
Have some fun baking with your loved ones this month!
Thanks for reading my blog,
Reda
Malawi Again -2022
We have come to Malawi again. This is our fourth mission trip to Malawi. We began working here in 2018. The journey here doesn’t get easier with the 30+ hours of traveling, but the rejoicing at the end is worth it all!
Reunion
It is wonderful to reunite with friends and to see those who have become Christians in years past. All the babies have grown and there are new babies added to families. Yet, it is sad to miss those who have gone on to their reward. In just a year so many have passed. We miss their presence.
150 New Baby Christians
It’s good to share together plans to grow the kingdom of God. We’ve had several meetings to catch us up to date on what is going on in some areas of the work. Things that communication long distance fail us in. One big surprise for us was how many new baby Christians there are!!! 150 since our last trip! We’ve visited some new wells, a new church building, new businesses, and 2 new homes.
Healing Hands International Wells Bless Communities
It is so exciting to hear from each group and what is going on in their work. It’s wonderful to see familiar places and to rejoice with communities as they get clean water by receiving a well through the Healing Hands International. This is a huge blessing to communities. I look at babies and know their life will change because of this gift. They will grow up healthier because of something I take for granted every day.
Malawi Time
Life is slower paced here. Most things take a lot of time. Take meal prep. You may have to kill the chicken before preparing it. Almost everything is fresh. You are very close to your food source here. Every day we have rice or nsima, greens (rape, spinach, mustard, pumpkin, turnip), tomatoes made into a soup like sauce or mixed with other vegetables, and some fresh meat.
Transportation is a big deal. If you have a car for transport the roads are rough and sandy and very bumpy so it still takes a lot of time to get anywhere. My pedometer looks good on car days and when walking. You may ride on motorcycles like I did today to the market 3 adults on one motorcycle with rough roads. It takes a while. Or maybe you are on a bicycle. But most likely you will be on foot.
There is a certain peacefulness here, I am touched deeply by these people and their genuine hearts.