Oscar’s morning routine on waking is somewhat unpredictable, which means for me can be anything from quiet calm to heart racing panic. But since the start of December, most mornings, before the house is fully awake, Oscar has headed downstairs and straight for the Christmas tree to check if there are any presents under the… Continue reading Advent – The countdown

“Take notice of what the light does – to everything.” Tess Guinery Advent is about waiting, to watch and hope for morning. George de La Tour’s The Adoration of the Shepherds teaches us how to look in this season. The room is almost entirely dark. A candle burns, but the flame itself is hidden by… Continue reading Advent – Notice the light

Watching Oscar get his face painted is pure joy. He sits patiently, focused, as each stroke transforms him into Batman. And when he finally sees himself in the mirror - his surprise and delight at the end result is very evident. Advent is a bit like that. We wait, sometimes in darkness, for the promise… Continue reading Advent – Delight in waiting

As Christmas approached, the office was still busy - deadlines, meetings, and the usual end-of-year rush. But alongside the work, the decorations started appearing. Tinsel on desks, Christmas trees in common spaces, often treats in the kitchen. The CX team went harder than the rest of us, fully committing to their decorations. Windows, desks all… Continue reading Joy in the ordinary

It’s hard not to feel sometimes that you’re on the margins. Having a child with sensory needs can mean that the “party,” so to speak, requires careful navigation if you’re to attempt attending. Santa parades and large gatherings are often avoided. A visit to Santa is orchestrated for the very first opening, before the crowds… Continue reading Advent – Missing Out

Advent begins in the dark. Not the cosy darkness softened by fairy lights and carols, but the kind the people of Israel knew well—long waiting, heavy oppression, unanswered prayers, and the aching silence of heaven. Scripture tells us, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). That promise was spoken into… Continue reading Advent in a dark world

When you meant this year to savour the slow, unhurried journey of Advent…but instead found yourself late one evening, boys in tow, visiting five different supermarkets because December snuck up on you, and suddenly it was the 4th and the traditional chocolate Advent calendars for the boys still weren’t sorted. Was it more for the… Continue reading Advent fun

In this season of Advent, in the waiting, God is here with us. He promises us His In Romans 15:13, Paul writes to a longing, fractured church - a people struggling to hold their hope. And he says: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him..."… Continue reading Advent

At Athletics Day, Oscar lined up with his special needs classmates for their race. The rest of the school heartily cheering them on. And in that moment, watching him run, I felt that strange, holy mixture of emotions that can make your heat ache in the middle of the sparkle. Proud and heartbroken all at… Continue reading Advent – The ache in the sparkle

Advent begins with waiting. This waiting is not passive or wishful, but rather a steady expectation that God is drawing near. As it says in the Psalms: “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope.” Psalm 130:5 In Hebrew, this waiting is qavah - to wait… Continue reading Advent – Hope woven in the waiting