Holiday

I'm currently sat in the far end of our caravan, watching Zeus try to find a place to lie comfortably and listening to the wind pound against the walls of the van. Dad just turned the car engine on as he is off to a military museum and Zeus is up at the windows wanting to go with him.
      There's something about caravanning that just brings us all together and makes us happy. I don't know if its the fresh air or the fact we all work together to make this small space work, but it just brings me a peace and happiness. 

We got here on Friday evening in 50-60mph gusting winds and tried endlessly to put the awning up. It was so hard and when we eventually got all the poles up and sturdy, the canvas started coming out of the rail that the awning threads through, and we realised that it had come apart and was broken. So after 2 more tries, we gave up and all got moody and upset because, having Zeus, we can't camp without the awning.
       But then after a silent meal and a few comments, dad knocked it all together and managed to fix it (luckily). We really thought we'd have to go home.

On Saturday, I did my first ever flying lesson, in practice for my charity flight. Scary or what!?
I kind of got the hang of it after a while but it was very challenging, but also worth it.

Then on Sunday, we went to this old disused military airfield and because it was quiet and not a real road, dad let me have a go at driving the car! I got so excited, because I kept flashing back to when I was 7 and I'd sit in the car on the driveway, pretending to drive with the indicators and wiggling the gear stick. And now, 8 years later, I actually drove it properly with the engine on and the car moving. It's amazing how time flies!

Anyway, sorry for the kind of boring blog post, but I felt I had to write about this weekend as it was so fab!

Love, 

Ellie xxxx

PS: I actually wrote this blog post on Sunday evening, so at the time I was in the caravan but we're home now!

Above The Clouds

When you look up at the sky, the clouds look like they go on forever and ever, until you reach space. It looks like there's nothing above them but grey/white sheets of the stuff. 
But it's until you go flying that you think this; because when you fly, the aeroplane travels right above the clouds, and it's not until you take off on a cloudy day and go through them, then suddenly come out in to this beautiful blue sky, that you realise it. 

My dad's a pilot. He flies light aircraft, and I absolutely love going flying with him. However, I hate flying in those big aircraft that take you long distances. I don't know why, I just do. I hate the take off, I hate being in the sky, and I hate the descent. When we flew up to Scotland, I was really scared as we took off, especially because we were in cloud. It took us a few minutes, but after a short time of being immersed in grey moisture, we suddenly popped out of the cloud, and the view had suddenly gone from being miserable and ugly to being breathtaking. The sky was blue and the fluffy clouds were way below us. All you could see for miles was a floor of white cotton-looking stuff, bright blue skies and the blazing sunshine on the right of the plane. It took away all my fears of flying, because I was so distracted by this amazing, un-ending, incredible view that was stretched out in front of me. 

The whole reason I'm describing this to you is because it made me think (as most things do, to be honest). It made me realise that above the clouds, there's always sunshine. When you're going through a hard time, always remember that. I think that's why God put me on that flight on that miserable, cloudy and grim day, and made me so relaxed up there. He put me there so I could realise that although I'll face troubles, and they'll sometimes seem never-ending... there's always an end to the pain and the hurting; because above the clouds, there's always blue skies and sunshine. 

This reminds me of the song "You Never Let Go" by Matt Redman. (If you haven't heard it, I'll post it at the end). It's one of my favourite worship songs, because it gives me faith when I don't have much left; when it's running dry. My favourite part of this song is this-

"I can see a light that is coming, 

for the heart that holds on, 

and there will be an end to these troubles, 

but until that day comes, 

still I will praise you, 

still I will praise you..." 

...And this just reminds me in my darkest hours that God never lets go. He really, really doesn't. There will be an end to these troubles. God knows when that day is, even if I can't see it yet. 

So, what I'm trying to say is, don't lose faith and always remember that above the clouds, there is sunshine. I promise you that. Even when everything seems like it's tumbling down; when things seem like they'll never get better; when everything seems at it's worst; when nothing ever goes right...

You can't have a beautiful rainbow without a little rain.

Until next time, 

Ellie x x x x