This week we’re losing our youngest, Beth, to Uni in London, but we’re gaining our oldest, Dan and his wife, Hanna. They’re planning to be here for a couple of months or so.

At the time of life that a lot of people at our stage of life are facing the Empty Nest Syndrome. We’ve been facing the prospect of the same too, although it’s not looking as though that will be happening soon. Facing an empty nest was a great way to see what Helen and I actually share in common and how we’d get on together in the absense of other people around us all the time. I’m glad to say we both like the idea – happy to have lots of others around us a lot of the time, but happy too with our own company.

I think it’s a good idea for couples to think about how it would be for them if there were no kids to give them common ground. if you think that would be hard, maybe it’s a good time to start working on your repaltionship; invest now for future rewards!

Here are a good marriage blog – simplemarriage.net

While we were there, we got the chance to visit their Church – Hillsong Stockholm. It was totally inspiring – we visited a few months ago and it was good then too, but they’ve grown, matured and moved premises. They now meet in a renowned Stockholm night club – GK, close to the city centre. How cool is that – Church in a night club!

I find it amazing that some Churches manage to find their niche and develop a positive ethos which enables them to go from strength to strength. Hillsong Stockholm is one of those. Some of the key points are that they confidently raise up young people to take responsibility and release people’s creativity. Pastor Andreas has stayed faithful to God’s call through thick and thin – now it’s paying off. Everyone is encouraged to be real with their Christianity – no false ‘spirituality’, but honesty which draws people to the thing which motivates them – relationship with God.

So if you’re ever in Stockholm on a Sunday – look them up – easy to find at hillsong.se.

Here’s a link to a ten minute video of Alex:

Anyway, back to Helen surfing for flights. She came upon a Ryanair flight for 1p each way; 2p return and, if she selected no checked in bags, online check-in, no insurance and used a Visa Electron card, there were no taxes or extras – so all five of us get to fly to Sweden for 10p in April! Three cheers for Ryanair – I just hope they don’t go bust before we fly!

Click on the picture above to see more…

]]> http://www.markandhelen.org.uk/2009/01/31/72/feed/ 1 http://www.markandhelen.org.uk/2009/01/25/what-an-amazing-wedding/ http://www.markandhelen.org.uk/2009/01/25/what-an-amazing-wedding/#comments Sun, 25 Jan 2009 10:02:36 +0000 mark http://www.markandhelen.org.uk/?p=48 So it all happened! Rebecca and Emile are well and truly married. Two ceremonies – one a low key CofE marriage service in St Matthew’s, Fulham, the other, a big celebration in The Crypt on the Green, Clerkenwell, Central London.

What can I say? Well I could explain all the details of the way it looked, who was there, what we did, but that can come later, with pictures. I’d rather talk about the experience … what it felt like. As the bride’s dad, for me it was an incredibly emotional experience, in a really nice way. Travelling with my daughter, in a London cab, to her wedding was just an amazing start, then to walk her down the aisle, her arm on mine, in front of all her friends and family, then to hand her over to her husband – so right, and all I could have dreamed of for her.

Did I cry? Why, yes! Impossible not to on the happiest day of her life!

Mark.

All the costs of financing your daughter’s wedding are pretty scary – not that you don’t want to bear them; it’s what you plan for and part of being a dad, but they’re still scary. Helen and I have been praying and asking God to provide our needs. There are some awesome Bible promises regarding the way He suplies all our needs. Think I’ll list some of them when I have some spare minutes.

Anyway, we’ve been praying and, totally out of the blue, a complete and wonderful surprise. Our Church trustees announced yesterday, in the middle of the family service, that they were taking an offering for us for wedding costs. £280 was given – thanks to our Church! Not that it covers all the costs, but it says, “we love you” and reminds us that God is in control! He will look after the rest.

We have a great Church (River of Life) and a wonderful God.

We’ll keep you posted as the countdown continues. Be blessed!

Mark.