Things to be Thankful for... During the Lows!

For me it's been a week of both very positive/exciting highs and very confusing lows.
But in the lows I know that speaking out truth, joy, light and his promises over my situation is the best thing to do so I am really trying to remember and hold on to my many, many reasons to be thankful! For there really are, so many, amazing reasons!!

I'm Overwhelmingly Thankful for...

• Music and its power to inspire, encourage, heal, motivate, create atmosphere, bring freedom, bring laughter, bring tears, break down barriers, surprise, comfort and create a cry in me of either complete joy or complete surrender of emotions.
• The very exciting songs coming out of Freedom Bath & Bristol, the plans for our upcoming album, our passion as a team to reveal the heart of our church, the heart of its people - to the glory of GOD!
• I love playing with Lego, playing sporty games on the Wii, searching for conkers and know enough about Rugby and the like to hold a conversation - all very useful when you look after an 7 year old boy 3 times a week!
• This amazing book  'Living With a Creative Mind' by the brilliant Jeff & Julie Crabtree - I have a signed copy as of this week - before it's even published! Hopefully it's going to help me understand myself a little better :D (I must say - so far it's very good!)
• That I have a start date for my new job with NGM! (New Generation Music and Mission) On the 20th October I start as a Volunteer Music Teacher - teaching music theory, songwriting and vocal workshops - one day a week, for this amazing Christian Charity!  It's going to be a steep learning curve I'm sure but a very exciting opening door!
• Lots of people requesting my Singing Teaching services!
• Being born for such a time as this!
• However low I get, or how confusing life is, or how much I doubt myself, or doubt my abilities, or however much I'm overwhelmed by the task ahead - I know that HE is FAITHFUL, HE KNOWS ME more than I could ever know myself, HE will NEVER LEAVE ME, HE LOVES ME UNCONDITIONALLY! In short.... - Every little thing is going to be alright! (Makes me want to sing a song - thanks to Delirious! lol!)

Banana and Chocolate Cake!!

So as usual, it was the end of the week, and I had a small bunch of Bananas I had forgotten to eat, going mushy in my fruit bowl so I decided to be all 'domestic-like' and make a cake!!! (Definitely the best type of domesticity I think lol!)

Now I'm not one for following recipes because they always seem to involve a large amount of specific ingredients that I don't have - simple is good with me - using the basics I have in the cupboard to create something just as yummy! So I was very chuffed when I found the simplest recipe ever (thanks to Google) and it made a magnificent Cake! YAY!

Unfortunately the photo isn't mine (as a silly someone *oops* forgot to put a memory card in the camera!) but what's a recipe without a photo right!

 You need...

• 4oz butter or margarine
• 6oz sugar (granulated, caster, or mix in some demerara, whatever you have to hand)
• 8oz self raising flour
• 2 eggs
• 2 large or 3 medium, very ripe bananas (I used 4 medium and it still worked)
• Chocolate chunks or chips (or nuts, or cinnamon or nutmeg... whatever floats your boat)

To make...

• Heat the oven to gas mark 4; 180C
• Grease a 2lb loaf tin. (I used a 7" deep round tin and it still worked)
• Mash the bananas with a fork.
• Cream the butter and sugar together and mix in the eggs
• Mix together the two yellow sludges you now have.
• Mix in the flour.
• Scrape into the loaf tin and bake for 40 minutes then lower the temperature to gas mark 2; 150C and cook for a further 30 minutes.
• Try to let it cool (turned out on a rack) before you devour it. (We didn't suceed in waiting this long - whoops! :P)

And Wallah!!! Yummy Cake! Devoured by Mike, myself and my Band in about 15 mins flat!!
Enjoy!
Original recipe found {here}

Thankful For...

• The FACT that HIS Love never fails, never gives up and never runs out on me!
• Morning sunshine after a couple of days of rain
• My Husband who still thinks I'm lovely when I'm so sure I'm not
• Having so much singing to do I'm actually losing my voice (need to get training again!)
• For being woken daily with a hug
• Time to pray whilst walking in the sunshine :) After a couple of weeks of distance and confusion it was great to connect again.
• For someone whose only technically 'employed' 9 hours a week - I am feeling really busy!
• Female friend time playing Lego Star Wars on the Xbox! Yes you read that right lol! Jess - we shall do it again! :D
• We looked after our friends 9month old last night and he/we survived! He didn't even cry - in 3 hours! Thank you God! :D Also turns out he loves the camera. Blog, meet William...

(NB Just because I realise how a post about babies looks like straight after a post about my wedding... don't even go there lol! Not me, we're not at all broody! We just have lots of friends with very cute babies! Absolutely no need to currently 'watch this space' :P)