At home with...the Wiltshires

Alex, Dan & James Wiltshire

1. Introduce yourselves

Hi, we’re Dan and Alex Wiltshire. We live in North Leamington with our 14 month old son James. We’re expecting another baby at the beginning of October. We usually attend the Westbury congregation.

2. What impact has the current lockdown had on you both?

It was a bit of a shock to start with to realise that being pregnant put Alex in a vulnerable category.

March was always going to be a time of change for us as Alex started working again after maternity leave and we swapped roles with Dan now looking after James more.

Back in January Alex resigned from a permanent contract with a retailer to work on her consultancy business from March. Once the implications of Coronavirus were known we wondered if we had done the right thing despite having prayed about the situation for six months previously to that.

Plans for Dan to get a part time job and Alex to take on extra clients for her business had to be put on hold.

Our priorities have shifted away from baby groups, work and busyness and everyday life has become a lot simpler.

3. What does your ‘normal day’ now look like?

Our daily life usually begins with breakfast as a family then a morning walk around Leamington. After lunch Alex usually works in her office while Dan looks after James. Evenings tend to be taken over by James’ bath and bedtime and clearing up all the mess he has made during the day!

4. Tell us one encouragement you’ve experienced whilst in lockdown.

Despite a lot of anxiety around Alex’s work and whether she would have enough work she has one client in China who has been very flexible and accommodating, giving her research projects she can do from home.

When invoiced for the first month of work at the beginning of April he paid her for the first 3 months work in advance. This gave us a lot of reassurance that God was in the situation. The client has also been very understanding about Alex’s pregnancy and the need to take a break from the contract in September.

5. Any funny moments you are willing to share?

Dan trying to get a face mask on over his now very long beard.

Alex’s belly button popping out suddenly because she was laughing so much while watching a comedy programme.

6. Tell us one thing you are finding challenging.

Being pregnant through such uncertain times. The guidelines seem to be changing frequently making us feel quite unsettled about the next few months and the birth.

7. What aspect of God’s character or work have you been enjoying?

It has been lovely to live a simpler life over the past few months and appreciate the way God works in every detail of our lives.

Whether that be the miracle of growing a baby, watching James go from being a baby to a toddler, the unfolding of spring or God’s sovereignty in providing us with food and finances during such a worrying time.

8. Give us something we can pray for you

Please pray for our third trimester of pregnancy - from late July until the birth. We will have to isolate more and will both be less able to work.