Faith – Page 2 – Where the Carol Bird Sings

On Top of the Coffin

May 10, 2020

My husband Andy’s wooden rosary beads are descending into the grave on top of the tiny white coffin. And I want to shout, “Stop!” Grey clouds move in, turning off the weak

Faith·Grief

You

May 3, 2020

When Ellie said to me, “I suppose it’s too late to do anything about it,” I replied, “I don’t want to do anything about my baby.” No, I didn’t want to kill

Faith·Life

Time

April 26, 2020

This morning, as I was driving into town, I noticed that the trees that border the main road are shrugging off their autumn leaves, exposing their winter bones. Time is marching on.

Faith·Life

Saturday Snapshot

April 25, 2020

As I stand in our back garden, hanging the clothes on the washing line, I listen to the laughter drifting out of our family room window. My girls are rearranging furniture, spreading

Faith·Life

Recognise

April 22, 2020

Imogen hunts through the top drawer of the tall chest that stands in the hall by our front door, looking for our hymn books. She finds the old red Living Parish books, held together

Faith·Life·Marriage

Pause, Picnic, Pray

April 20, 2020

I’m driving alone, on my way home from town, early in the day. As I pass through the rock cutting tunnel on the narrow road that winds into our village, I plan

Faith·Life

Not Always What They Seem

April 16, 2020

Nora pulls me along the side of our house, under the melaleuca trees, straight towards our garden gate. I stand on tiptoe and lift the latch, and the dog pushes ahead, barely

Faith·Life

Look

April 14, 2020

Andy grabs the car keys off the hook in the kitchen and says, “I’m taking Gemma-Rose to work.” “Can I come with you?” I ask. “I need to get out of the

Faith·Life

Joy

April 11, 2020

Yesterday, my husband Andy said, “What shall we do for Good Friday?” and I shrugged my shoulders and said, “I don’t know. Say some prayers? Read the readings?” “Do you want to

Faith·Life

Imagine

April 10, 2020

It’s the second Monday in June. The queen says (in her very posh voice), “Chef, please bake me a cake! It’s my birthday in Australia today.” Some weeks later, the queen says

Faith·Grief

One Day at a Time

March 5, 2016

I open my eyes, and I immediately realise that nothing has changed overnight. There is still a huge ache in my chest, and one all-consuming thought in my mind: Thomas. Although it

Faith·Grief·Motherhood

The Extraordinary Ordinary Things of Life

February 26, 2016

I’m at Thomas’ wake. I have his memory box on my knee, and I take out a few photos and pass them to a friend. “He was a chubby baby!” she exclaims.

Faith·Grief

Music, Funerals and Tears

February 14, 2016

From my diary: 19th March This morning at Mass, the first hymn was On Eagle’s Wings, which was the hymn we sang at Thomas’ funeral, as we processed to his burial site.

Faith·Grief

Feeling Crazy

January 30, 2016

Yesterday, we buried our baby. Today, I am kneeling on the ground beside my son’s grave, tears streaming down my face. I thrust aside the mountain of funeral flowers, and then I

Faith - Page 2

My children’s novels

My unschooling books