One day when I was in my 20s, my mother took my sister and I into her bedroom, got out her jewellery box and showed us some antique rings. They belonged to my granny and great aunt and she wanted to pass them on to us. One ring struck me. It had three diamonds in a row, the central one being bigger than the others. I chose that one but later handed it back to mum for safe keeping, saying I would keep it until I got engaged.

Have you ever been challenged by a daily Bible reading note? I had one recently that made me wonder: if I was in that situation what would I do? It was about giving.

It is funny how there are sticking points in our lives. I seem to always come back to the same point. There are times when I feel vulnerable. Sometimes they just creep up on me, like the one I had recently.

Have you ever had a week when everything you do seems to go wrong? This past week has been one of those for my husband and I.

I had an amazing week last week. It started on Monday when I got onto the tube to attend the first day of a theology course. I found a seat (to my surprise – it was 9am).

On Christmas day at our church we hosted a meal for 86 people. Those invited were homeless, vulnerable, or did not have family to spend Christmas with. It was an amazing day and well worth the effort. Many people turned up who were expecting a Christmas dinner but for some it was an unexpected turn of events.

Christmas is not everybody’s cup of tea. It brings many expectations with it.

I grew up in a large family so we always spent Christmas with loads of people. It was full of carols and traditions which I loved. I always looked forward to Christmas. But when I got married things changed.

First - don't miss the new story about healing from a painful past - it was shared with us at last Saturday's 'Clothed with Joy' day for women.

At the women’s day I was praying for someone and I found myself praying things that I had not been told about, with an authority not my own.

The other Sunday I found myself answering some questions in response to Anne’s talk at The Five (the five o’clock service here at St Barnabas). They were quite thought provoking and reminded my husband of a story he had heard.