Sportsreach Netball Tournament 2011

Well, I think this was our (Brookhouse team) 6th year playing, last year we came 2nd, and this year, we won:) We all had a lot of laughs with each other! I really enjoyed it and I think most other people did too!
Here is a picture of my trophy:)
Sometime, I'll upload a picture of us all together after we received our trophies.

Yesterday's Evening by Evening by Spurgeon

“He openeth, and no man shutteth.” Revelation 3:7
Jesus is the keeper of the gates of paradise and before every believing soul he setteth an open door, which no man or devil shall be able to close against it. What joy it will be to find that faith in him is the golden key to the everlasting doors. My soul, dost thou carry this key in thy bosom, or art thou trusting to some deceitful pick-lock, which will fail thee at last? Hear this parable of the preacher, and remember it. The great King has made a banquet, and he has proclaimed to all the world that none shall enter but those who bring with them the fairest flower that blooms. The spirits of men advance to the gate by thousands, and they bring each one the flower which he esteems the queen of the garden; but in crowds they are driven from the royal presence, and enter not into the festive halls. Some bear in their hand the deadly nightshade of superstition, or the flaunting poppies of Rome, or the hemlock of self- righteousness, but these are not dear to the King, the bearers are shut out of the pearly gates. My soul, hast thou gathered the rose of Sharon? Dost thou wear the lily of the valley in thy bosom constantly? If so, when thou comest up to the gates of heaven thou wilt know its value, for thou hast only to show this choicest of flowers, and the Porter will open: not for a moment will he deny thee admission, for to that rose the Porter openeth ever. Thou shalt find thy way with the rose of Sharon in thy hand up to the throne of God himself, for heaven itself possesses nothing that excels its radiant beauty, and of all the flowers that bloom in paradise there is none that can rival the lily of the valley. My soul, get Calvary’s blood-red rose into thy hand by faith, by love wear it, by communion preserve it, by daily watchfulness make it thine all in all, and thou shalt be blessed beyond all bliss, happy beyond a dream. Jesus, be mine for ever, my God, my heaven, my all.

Doesn't Spurgeon have a wonderful way with words.
Some blessings, challenges and encouragements ripe for gleaning here.
Enjoy.

Christian Praise and Worship Songs - I See Jesus

This is such a lovely song, I thought I should share it on my blog. No matter how I'm feeling before I listen to it, it always really encourages me.
Hope it encourages you too.

Oh To Be In England poem

Oh To Be In England

Oh to be in England, when the year is at the Spring,
To see the lambs a playing and hear the wee birds sing.
Watch the woodlands and the meadows don robes of living green,
When the hawthorn and the bluebells are sights that must be seen.
When all nature is awakening from it's long ,long winter's sleep
And striving, oh so surely the Creator's dates to keep.

Oh to be in England, or just local if you like,
To rove with kindred spirits o'er woodland moor and dyke
To monitor the migrant birds that nest around these parts
The marlins and the warblers and the bonnie, shy, redstarts.
And marvel how they find their way, to Afric's sunny clime
And then return to us again when it is nesting time.
There find a site to build a nest, where in their young to rear
And then depart to warmer climes, at the closing of the year.

A poem by my Grandad, Harry Huddleston (aka Dale Potts), celebrating the wonderful spring season. I thought it tied in well with there being redstarts on Springwatch.

Say hello to Spike the Hedgehog

I think hedgehogs are really cute! 1 of my nephews thought it was just too spiky to be cute. I got a pretty good view of it when I had to move it out of the workshop, and seeing the tiny claws and nose made me realize again how Amazing our Creator and designer is.