There is a side to me that finds it difficult to do something if I don’t feel as though I have been taught the correct methods or skills needed to complete a task or project. I have the perfectionist gene.

When I was growing up one of the things I loved most about upcoming birthdays was when my mum handed over the women’s weekly birthday cake cook book, you all know which one I’m talking about, the one with the train on the front, and mum let us pour over the book and choose which cake would be made for us that year.

This event was one of the family traditions I wanted to make sure that my kids got the chance to experience also.  For years I’ve been doing my own thing in terms of making cakes, however, for my birthday this year I was rewarded with a special treat of my own, whilst I was icing my eldest son’s cake, one of my sister’s arrived with this sensational cake…

I had always wanted to take a class on cake decorating and so tonight I went back to school!

This was my first week of ‘cake decorating 101’, what amazed me was exactly how much there still is to learn even when you have been going along your own merry way for so long.

Fundamentals are everything! It is with this joy I show you my proud effort from tonight’s class (don’t my stars look great!) and it gave way to some reflection on my experiences as I enter a new ministry placement.  I’ve been here for just on 7 months now and for the last seven months we have been talking fundamentals and what it means to build firm foundations not only of faith but also governance and relationship.

I think there is something to be said for taking a step back every now and then and revisiting and refining the foundations and fundamental skills we acquire in life.

Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful. (Col 2:7)