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From Mother to Daughter

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This year Mother’s Day got me thinking a bit more about where we all find our identity. For many women out there the day can bring up really hard emotions; sometimes of loss, grief, disappointment or longing. It made me wonder how a day can evoke such a deep emotional response within us. I know many different kinds of amazing women; those who are mothers of living children, those whose children are in heaven, those who’ve chosen not to have children, those who invest in children who are not biologically their own, and those who live with sadness at not being able to have their own children. And I realised that in all of those distinctions, in all our difference there is one fundamental thing that we have in common. That is, we are all daughters first. All of these women, represent many different stories, but all share the fact that they are daughters. Of course we need to be considerate of difference, and respectful of the emotions that come with each story.  I’m a huge advocate of
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From Surrender to Victory

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2017 certainly was a battle for me. And I'm sure you've had your own too.  Some of the battles I faced were more public and obvious, others more personal and internal. There are many things about last year I’d wish to forget and leave behind. Lots of memories I wish I could erase and feelings I could forget. But even in all the mess I have learnt so much about myself, about others and about what I believe true strength looks like. The victory lies in the fact that I have made it into 2018. Sometimes it has literally been by the skin of my teeth, gripping tightly by the tips of my fingers. Trying to catch my breath while it felt like all around me was imploding. It’s felt at times like I’ve been taken out from the knees. I was crushed and I stumbled. It felt like my most common posture was lying face down in the dirt.  BUT despite all that I’m still here. I know now more than ever that strength isn’t about physical power. Instead it can be found in the darkest places, aw
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Suffocate Shame by Sharing Stories

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Wow!  This woman is just phenomenal. It’s the second book of Brené Brown’s that I’ve read this summer and her ability to cut through the crap by speaking such truth about the fundamentals in relationships is phenomenal.   She is identifying relational tools using accessible language, which is so encouraging because I feel like it’s stuff I’ve believed myself for a while and tried to fight for in my own relationships.  Her ability to explain the concepts of shame, vulnerability and worthiness are absolutely crucial in a world where, despite increased social media interaction, we are becoming more and more DISconnected with others and community.   The core value that we were created for connection, to know and be known, is something I’ve been pondering on for a few years now and I’m so excited that it’s becoming more a part of mainstream conversation.   If you are a leader, employee, parent, partner or a general human being having any kind of relationship with others
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Stop! Before Someone gets hurt…

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There it was echoing in the room, that classic parenting cliche of “Stop, before someone gets hurt”.  As the words left my mouth, and I smiled wryly to myself at the irony that in some way, at some point, we all end up saying those things we never thought we’d say, I realised that there was a really good life lesson hidden in that phrase.  Usually parents speak these words into a situation where children are escalating their scale of interaction, usually of the physical variety, and the parent’s experience can see it going down the route of probable pain unless boundaries are implemented.  Which got me thinking about the fact that the closer we get to someone the more we expose ourselves to the potential of relational pain.  When we become vulnerable and show more of ourselves to another we give something of ourselves away, communicating that we trust the other person with knowledge of something new, deep and more personal.  As children play more with each they become more comfor
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Armstrong Family Home Story

In January 2010 Team Armstrong decided to move to Bishop's Stortford.  With a six month old baby and a house that wasn't selling we were limited for choices as to where to go.  We were fortunate to have amazing friends who pu t us up (and still  able to call them friends!) for 6 months  while we were trying to find our  own place.  In a town where rental properties are snapped up at the speed of light and rent is extortionately high, we were becoming despondent as to whether it was really God's plan for us to be in this area.  Then, after many disappointing viewings, we came to look at  Thornbera  Road. Late in the day and knowing that there were 10 more people lined up to view the next day I felt a nudge from Holy Spirit saying 'take it now'.  What I could've put down as my impetuous nature or my sheer determination to have a house where the wallpaper wasn't falling off or the garden was big enough to do a cartwheel in, I believe was the start of our amaz
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