4 years...

angie & i have been married 4 years today.

we've come along way... and it has been a wonderful journey. but here's how it started:


when i read about marriage being so belittled due to statistics to show they don't work or are being preferred to living with partners or even relationships without the legality are free from policing... i often wonder whether we should have taken a different path re our relationship.

would we be better off without the legal part or would it make a difference to how we raise caleb. in honesty, i don't really know. i do know that somepart of me had it drilled in whilst i was growing up: if i am to spend my life with angie, if we wanted children and if we wanted to take these steps together that i should marry her. maybe that is tradition or socialisation... i can't really say. i am actually none the wiser, in my own mind, which is right or better.

i am, however, utterly thankful for these past 4 years. they have been incredible. i have had the most wonderful companion, friend and mentor. (angie is not bad either ;-) it really has been a treasure to have had this time together... and as i reflect on these years, i think its only just got going as it keeps getting better and better.

In Geneva... and there's snow...

Well here I am in Geneva for an Aid &Trade Conference where GH is presenting at.

Here's a pic of where we're staying... more on the conference to come...

Just had our car stolen...

the car has been nicked.

here i am in bed typing away and i find myself thinking about the whole inconvenience of this and frustrated with new burdens it forces me to bear.

angie and i have been praying about this. she wisely, and equally frustrated deep down, gave thanks for this situation and the gift that we have in this vehicle.

only this morning we were reading in our family devotion time about the secret of being content in all situations (philippians ch 4). i have been trying to work out its meaning ever since i first read this passage back when i was a teenager. i feel none the wiser now.

i remember my first crash and how a friend told me that i was more worried about my dad's reaction than otherwise. that i was more worried about letting other people down. and i remember it distinctly when she summarised with the words "it's just a car". i keep saying these words over. i also find myself remembering, bizarrely, a star trek episode where a community facing impending invasion cling to the things around them. their monuments, their buildings, aqueducts and infrastructure for the people. and with a final plea data, the enterprise officer sent to help relocate this society, states "these are just things. things can be replaced. but the people... they... they can not be."

it's just a car.

i guess i am thankful that we had such a blessing through it.

it came when out other car died. it has provided us with 2 years of hassle free driving. it brought my son home for the first time. took us all the way to lake geneva and back. all the meetings that it has enabled me to go to. allowing us to bring food to the table... and all those lovely trips to see family, to see friends and the joy of fellowship. it came to us miraculously when our needs were such and now it goes.

i am thankful for all that this car enabled us to do. but was it the car that did it. no it was the people we met the friendships that were enhanced and the family bonds strengthened. the car was just the vehicle we used to be with others.

have i learned the secret of being content in all situations. well not quite. but i am finding myself being thankful whereof i would have been dwelling on the loss... after all it's just a car.

Hopefully?

New Year already and I'm full of high hopes and perhaps a renewed energy to do new things... reckon this will be the year I write my book, change the world or even pick up a new hobby... seems like every year i go through a similar pattern. hmmmm, sounds familiar.

I have just sent my first weekly report for GH UK's activities and I look back to see that a few hour's work resulted in several partnerships that is connecting HM Marines several charities in the UK and communities in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan. An area that is the host to a resurging war between the Taliban and UN peace keepers.

I feel very humbled by this. As all it took was the energy to do something... i mean what is a few phone calls or emails... well in this case it brought together many parties united under an operation, it generated and held interests, motivated people to share and amazingly converged many people's hopes. Some to help, some to partner, some to rebuild, some to be thankful that they are alive another day.

It may not be the long term solution to a terrible situation, as a bomb may hit again or the war take a turn for the worse, but it made me think how valuable hope and the motivation to help one another goes a long way.

I have high hopes for this year... :)

The Solanky Event 25th November 2006

Hellooo :)

Thank you for all that were able to make it on the 25th.

We were very honoured to see so many of you and also thank you for all the encouragements we received from those who couldn't make it.

We really treasure all the support we receive- whether through encouragement, chats, phone calls, emails, prayers and other wonderfully ways that you have shown in demonstrating belief in this lifestyle that we lead.


I enclose a few pictures and also a podcast of a message from the Global Hand International President for the Solanky supporters that sums up our message whist also thanking you for your role in addressing world needs. Please click through below to download the MP3 file.


Message from GH president

Tis also awesome to show you how you are helping the world through your acts. As mentioned , on the day so many times your encouragements and emails have come at the right time when its been lonesome and daunting. The timing, in some circumstances, has been somewhat miraculous. It really has provided us with immense strength to get through these difficult times.

Once again thank you and as ever please do feel free to contact us.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Lots of love
abc
xoxoxo

Caleb memiors#entry 1: never trust a monkey

she gave me the usual banana. i had ideas for hiding it next to monkey. but as i went to hide it i notice monkey has weapon in his hand. we wrestle for what seems an eternity. combat training of no use here. this was pure survival instinct kicking in. monkey tries to taking a darting stab. i can hold off for only so long. we're on the floor before the giant man sitting down comes to grab me.

turns out monkey was just sitting next to a mirror. the supposed weapon, a reflection of his paw. i give him a look as papa carries me away. i got my eye on you monkey.

christmas already... where has time gone

ahhh the world of blogging starts:
Well this was us last year (eyes left). Angie doesn't appear to be preggers (she carries it well!).... and now look at us... eek :)

we're pretty enamoured by the lil' guy.

over time we hope to use this space to bring you into the world of the solankys... enjoy!

as always, feedback: tis greatly appreciated.