Catrina Benham's Blog

Thought I'd mix it up today and do something lighthearted here. I popped into town this morning (as an aside, anyone else still incredulous that "new Bracknell / The Lexicon is so great and that it's really here to stay?!)  Anyhow, I popped into town for a quick wander and bought 3 "essentials" I'd run out of, so I thought I'd share them with you - and of course I'd love to hear about your 3 recent essential purchases. 1 Contact lense solution I've worn glasses since Secondary school, and contact lenses since I left Uni. Gas permeables - great for me - slightly perilous in swimming pools / the sea / other people's sinks (£80 to replace). They work for me - and so a couple of bottles of solution each month keep me going.I ran out a couple of days ago, so it was £4.70 well spent for clean lenses and clear eyesight. 2. "Buffet" by The Ordinary This was a new one for me, a present I received last Christmas. I LOVE it and can

'The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.'  Isaiah 61:3 What do you do when you're feeling a bit low? Well, I haven't mentioned the "M" word on here before, but I've found that with the menopause has come some occasional low moods.  No logical "reason" for it, and nothing to sort - so instead I'm learning to accept it and finding some ways to manage it.  The first is to not beat myself up about it - remind myself it will pass; remind myself that God doesn't love me because of what I  do .  Thinking of others helps, as does gratitude.  Like  David, who "encouraged  and  strengthened himself in the Lord his God", I  especially love to worship and find it really helps. When we praise and worship, we're reminded of so many wonderful truths - not least that God is bigger than the situation we face. We sing about Jesus and what He has done for us, how He's changing us, and how He loves us - great