Another year of life in all its fullness. An awesome year.

Hi you complete gems 

Wow how can it be 2014 already and as we are all saying where has 2013 gone to? What a year and I only hope that in probably one of the busiest years of my life the Lord is pleased with most of what I have done. I KNOW He is not impressed by business but only fruitfulness. 

So what have the wow points been of 2013? Undoubtedly the visit to Japan for the first time in February and meeting Masaaki Suzuki and Robin Blaze before hearing the remarkable and God inspired Bach Collegium who to quote " convey the heartbeat of God" with the wonderful Hana Blazikova, Gerd Turk, Peter Kooji ( who took the photograph of the 3 of us- one gracious man!). My wonderful niece at auntie's request bought me the last recording in the series which took 20 years ( number 55) and it is a taste of heaven. I LOVE it and I will be returning in February to hear them again before flying to London overnight arriving at 8 am and teaching at 10!!! Who cares?It is worth it. Hopefully I will be meeting the scientist ( an expert world wide in her field)who  I met on Tokyo station in Rome as I stop there overnight. Time will tell. She might have changed her mind as we only spoke for an hour and YET she is prepared to fly from Naples to Rome to meet. We will see. 

The year has been full of meeting about 12 new people and that is been brilliant as well as getting to know other dear friends better. I think that of those 12 at least 4 will continue in the coming years. Unfortunately the wonderful author Liz Anderson died in August only five days after I really felt prompted by the Lord to phone her and I am SO GLAD I obeyed that prompting as I would have regretted it. Ironically the last time we met we had a remarkable lunch in Cookham and then went to the church where we prayed and lit a candle. A perfect lunch with great wine and the prayers in a very old church. Awesome and God given I think. Here is me with her book at her home. 

There are loads of fabulous films I would like to see. I went with friends to see Philemena and really loved the combination of Judy Dench and Steve C but I also want to see the Railway Man, Mandela and some others.  Films are great ACCEPT when pop corn is eaten. WHAT possesses cinemas to sell it. Barking mad. 



I also have had the great pleasure of meeting Baroness Cox again as one of our girls came 4th in a competition. I still think she is a remarkable lady who has been in so many situations which would make most of us run a mile and this has gone on for nearly 30 years.  I have also loved reading and listening to Anne Graham Lotz Billy Graham's eldest daughter who has the same grace and humility.  Also found Christy Noekels a Christian singer who imparts the heart of the Lord. 

Open House went well recently and it has been good to get to know other neighbours in my road. I still LOVE my little house and last year had a stream of people through it for coffees, tea, cake, breakfast and lunch. Thanks to all those who have sampled my efforts at learning new receipes and I will persist. I loved doing the Open House and even though over 70 could not come about 30 did come and any more would have been difficult to fit in. A friend also suggested a little fire which has imitation logs and after turning my nose up at the idea I LOVE it and it was only £50 from Ebay and free delivery and it is new. Wow. 

School continues to be mental and it is appalling what is happening in the Education system. However it is still the best job in the world and the girls are brilliant. Unfortunately lots of wow colleagues and some of my favourites have left over the last 6 years of being there but that is to be expected. I still miss many of them but have enjoyed getting to know new ones. 

North Korea continues to have my interest and I have a sense I will go back within the next 2 years. Time will tell.  This is the first time I have not been to Burma since 2001 and I miss it loads and think about it probably 3- 4 times a week. I have not forgotten all you much loved friends there and I pray that the Lord will open this again this year for me.  Great outfit from ASSK above. Very clever of her to wear my favourite colours. Wonder if I will meet her - think I will. 

Tomorrow I am organising a meal for the 50 + and still aspirational group in London. I have been going for about 16 months and have enjoyed the meetings. I really like the home of Sir John Soanes in London - bit strange but had real atmosphere. 

Praying for Michael Schumacher, Sudan and North Korea. I have not really got the energy to write much ( January always a funny old month) but already little shoots are beginning to grow in the garden. I painted the fences in Wild Thyme and love it. Friends said it would take ages and sure enough they were right. It took me 13 hours to do ten fences twice!!

Tomorrow one of my oldest friends is coming to lunch and we trained together. Gail and the Ritz Friends - Ali, John, Val and Ian have been friends for over 34 years. Awesome and still full of richness. Also I met an ex- student in London at the Marconi building and guess what? The statue there was made by another friend's mum in law. I found that out about 2 weeks after going. Amazing!!
Yesterday I had a remarkable meeting with a guy on the way back from the tube and felt the Lord say he was from Nepal. We ended up praying together as he had just had news of the death of a friend that day in HK. How humbling in every way. 

I know it has been a VERY difficult year for many and I hope you know I am praying for you. 
May you know His strength, love and grace in 2014. 

I will try and put photos on or leave it till another time. 
Blessings to you all and my life continue to bring us kindness, love, joy, peace and grace. 
Hope to see many of you in 2014. Much love, FLiss x