Oh how we love our peeps in Pretoria!

Okay so I've been a bit slack on the blogging deal...but here I am right back in game! Life in the last week has included a busy trip to Pretoria, my family got ill and we are now dealing with serious amounts of phlegm :(

I am, however, so amazingly thankful for seeing our family there and sharing our precious little Stellah Faith with them, we got to introduce her to her great grandparents on Charl's side and had a splendid lunch with them, so awesome...



We also got to see this side of the family a lot and they are so incredibly special to us, here are a few highlights...we love you guys!


For more pics:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=245641&id=764059886&l=b2eaae586e

The Lord has been so good to us, so many things to be thankful for - I pray that I may never forget His lovingkindness!

Clapping hands

Just love Saturdays especially after a week where Charl has been so busy and we got to see him a bit this afternoon. We took Stellah to the park and let her swing for a while...happy day!

The Lord has really been working with me lately, showing me much, I'm so grateful that he works in us until glory because wow, there's just so much to work on!
I'm loving working through Ruth for our Cornerstone bible study it's so challenging... regarding trusting God in difficult times, it was so fitting when the strike situation occurred too. Charl graciously stays home every Thurs eve so that I can attend.

Loving having my sister, Julie, back in SA, get to call her for free, which absolutely rocks! We had a lovely meal with my other sister Michelle and her hubby, so cool how she just adores Stellah, warms my heart!

Charl is well, trying to juggle a few too many things around, so he's learning about time management which is great. His family is coming to visit us soon and we are literally counting the days, we can't wait to see them and miss them so much...going to love letting them play with Stellah, she's at such an awesome stage right now!

On the Stellah note...she is such a joy! She is still sleeping through the night, which is no small gift from the Lord, I feel more like me again :) Life with her involves her finally starting to roll over from time to time, although she can't be too bothered with it, even though her Mommy tries to tell and show her that it's a great idea. She can also clap her little hands when you ask her to, she gets this sweet little smile on her face while doing it, aah man, it is just adorable!! Here's a link to the vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouAvEAGxh_4

I love this time of year, so pretty watching everything turn warm and green :) I need to remember that God is amazing.

Col 1:16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him.

Here are a couple of highlights:

Catch up

So much to tell, so little time! Since our overseas trip we've been quite the socialites. We've visited with friends in church, had Charl's Dad over twice, my Mom came too..we've been on a Cornerstone camp, boy was that cold, fellowship was awesome though. (Note to self: don't be hurrying to the Underberg for a camp in winter.)

So enjoyed getting to know the Short term missions team from Grace Community Church in California. Stellah was a huge hit and she just loved all the attention :)

News with our little sweetie involves having tried quite a varied amount of slushed up food and has not one but two teeth the left front came first. So she's right on the average of getting teeth around six months old. Today is her seven month birthday, she's such a little blessing. Love her to bits! She's still not sleeping like a champ but the Lord is using that to humble me and keep me very reliant on him for patience and kindness, which is all good. AND the last three nights or so she's slept through, so that's a record and I'm praying it continues. She bangs and shakes pretty much everything she can grab onto, while trying to shove it in her mouth, this results in a good biff on the head from time to time so she now does it with her eyes mostly closed, so cute! She quite enjoys going to the v-club at the gym and this has given me an opportunity to work on my weight, which is currently very close to what I weighed at nine months pregnant. Yikes, I know! Eating much bad in rabid-crazy-breast-feeding-hunger-rages didn't help, anyway spilt milk and all that ;) now to attack the fat!

Had some of our friends over for lunch today, so enjoyed seeing Ryan and Catherine again, they have the sweetest mini-me of Ryan named Jethro, its also been so cool to get to know Brian better and the Archers are way cool.

Just feeling thoroughly blessed tonight, have such a great husband too. Growing in my love for him, who knew.

Here's the link for some STM pics:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=195731&id=764059886&l=80021bca57

& for the latest Stellah pics:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=195734&id=764059886&l=3341bf5a11
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=195739&id=764059886&l=973212fb42

Thanks for reading!

Germany more pics

Partial globetrotting

Wow where to begin with our overseas trip!? Well, it was awesome and amazing, yup that's about right, an intense holiday :) There was just too much that happened to blog it all so here's a summary...

The flights were pretty cool actually, as we were generally greeted with warm smiles because of the cute little person on my hip...I found this interesting because I wouldn't be super keen to be flying next to a baby, but no one was bothered and the air hostesses were so kind and just loved her, she slept for large portions of the journey, such a blessing! Go bassinets!!!

Dubai was well, stinking hot (not sure how they survived in the no air con days) and the airport was super busy, yes that summarizes our time there nicely. Germany, however, was so great! One word for the Germans they are EFFICIENT and everything just works because of it. The train ride was so cool! My first time on a train was so beautiful, we travelled from Frankfurt to Hannover, lovely green fields and neat little pointy roofed homes, all just so!

Thom picked us up in Hannover and man was it good to see him! Sure we missed him but the 48 hours of commuting made him as sweet as a lindt chocie to see. We drove quite a way to the small town of Meine where we would spend the next week of our time with the oh-so-lovely Kelly family. This family just rocked in every way, they were so godly and hospitable a true example of Christ to us. We were very edified by the time spent there and blessed to meet a friend of the family Lana, who eagerly babysat for us :). Fellowship was sweet, it was in fact so great that we could of just come home again, having had a wonderful holiday that couldn't possibly get any better. I got a bit ill and was taken care of by Linda as if I were a sister of hers, she made me feel so at home. Stellah left with a one of a kind fluffy sleep-with-me lamb, made by excellent seamstress Linda. We so envy Thomas as he gets to see them on a regular basis. Wonderful to have met new family in Christ, I pray that their church is richly blessed through Tim and his family and that the new building (which they are building themselves!!!!) is ready in no time!

Highlights of our week with them included great fellowship whilst sharing Linda (m0m)-Solea (daughter) food, fun times chatting, a trip to Braunschweig where we tasted our first Doner and a trip to Starbucks, a meal out in a beautiful and very old German castle type thing and much more. Sadly I didn't get pics of the whole family but here are a few highlight ones...


We left Meine with heavy hearts but boy where we in for some beauty on the road trip Thom had planned for us. The rest of our time was intense touring and some amazing sights...The first town we stopped in was Heidelberg, which is so picturesque. We trekked up a rather mean hill (for me) to see the Heidelberg castle.

We worked our way down south and drove through the amazingly beautiful black forest, not able to capture that kind of atmosphere on camera though, it was so lovely. We then headed towards Stuttgart to stop at Thom's mother's home in the small town of Heimsheim. We were treated to some more amazing cooking and very generous hospitality with Thom's family and headed the next day for Berne, Switzerland.

The long trips on the road kind of got to Stellah, so our drives needed to be extended for fresh air etc. We finally got to Switzerland, where they simply wave you through the border and then on the horizon Thom pointed out that those bits of white are not clouds but the snow-capped beauty of the Swiss Alps themselves. A phenomenal experience being there as a believer, God is truly wonderful and so creative. We stayed at the Manton's, another missionary family. So special to share a quick time of fellowship with them and we were again thoroughly blessed leaving with much chocolate to add to the stash that Linda sent with us. I was so challenged to up the anti on hospitality! WE would leave with gifts after staying at people's home's, crazy!
Some of the scenery, so incredible...


We made our way back to Heimsheim where we introduced to many more German ways..how everyone has nutella in their breakfast entourage and some even do beer, they just love soccer and had a tent erected at Thom's house with a big screen to watch the games, where half the town would come watch but one of my absolute highlights was a walk overlooking the black forest just before we left.

Most of the thanks need to go to Thom who was so generous and kind throughout the trip, which he entirely organized himself! Thank you Thom x infinity!!!!

And sadly it was all over in a flurry of activity and we were on the plane again to see my Dad and family in Madeira, who all eagerly awaited the first grandchild..

It was such an amazingly special time, I was so grateful that Julie was there and that I could see her too, not to mention watching how chuffed my dad, step mom, step brother, step sister, gran, aunt, uncle and cousins were, to meet the new addition to our family. Stellah was loved to bits and left with two dresses, one from her Step gran and one from her great Aunt. So blessed to have a family like ours...sad they are so far away, love you guys!

To dummy or not to dummy

So I haven't blogged in a bit, been hectic getting things ready for our overseas trip and with little Stellah not sleeping so well we've been pretty tired. I spent literally days of my life on the internet looking for tickets for us and when I found some real beauties I bought them very quickly, as the prices fluctuate from one day to the next. In my haste to bag a good deal I left us only a month to get passports and visas sorted and for those of us who aren't EU citizens, travelling is rough:) My family does get to travel with me for free though, just need to get the paperwork done at the German embassy.

So this leaves me very superly excited about going to Germany in 2 weeks!!!! From the sounds of things Thom has a wicked trip planned for us touring all the way from Berlin down to the South of Germany where we will fly from Munich to my Dad in Madeira (Portuguese island) for almost a week. I'm a little nervous about flying so far with our little bundle and trying to keep her quiet and occupied for 6 plane trips! I have been praying about it though and trust God will give grace when it is needed :) I'm also really looking forward to seeing my Dad and family there and introducing them to Stellah Faith, the first grand and great grandchild on my side of the fam!
It is a total bonus that Madeira is in fact an amazingly beautiful island, picture crystal clear water with a myriad of blue shades and lovely summer weather, yup, indeed a hard life to visit fam there. With about two thirds of our trip paid for by others this is a huge blessing from the Lord!

Things with Stellah are taking on a new form, I'm trying to rid her of her dummy. It is a new plan I came up with as the dummy was waking her up to 5 times in the night when it fell out, and naturally she would want us to put it back in and cried until this happened, after nearly 5 months I thought let me try some different tactics, this night shift just isn't fun. Well, after extensive reading on the internet, I thought I was ready and we went cold turkey on the dummy, well yesterday was the second day and in the eve she cried for 40mins straight and I caved and gave the dummy thinking it is perhaps a bit too harsh, the cold bird thing, and found that I am not able to listen to her cry for that long, so we are trying a more slow approach, like when we NEED IT and will see how that goes. I'm thinking the plane will be one of those we need it things. I am definitely a mouse and not a man when it comes to crying, so back to the dummy we go!

Other news on Stellah she has started to laugh, I just LOVE her laugh, I tickle her just under her chin round her little shoulders and she shuts her eyes and gives this cutesy chuckle that is one of the most awesome sounds I have ever heard! She is so lovely :)



She also, or rather I have, discovered the jumper, oh boy is this an amazing invention, its up there with toilet paper :) She just loves it and toddles around in the door, happy as a clam, during her niggle-time now and again.



Prior to this I have in fact turned a whopping 29, last year of the 20's and I must say that I actually love getting older! My walk with the Lord is maturing me, teaching me diligence and wisdom I could not even think of 10 years ago, whilst getting baptised. I have so very far to go though, each time I'm squeezed by God, out comes the nasty ink of sin from my heart and I realise this again but God is faithful and He will perfect me. He gets the glory!
We had such a lovely bday braai on the Saturday and had a couple of peeps around, praise God for a beautiful May day and a big garden! It was such fun, definitely up there on my good bdays list.



Charl bought me roses and chocies on my actual bday to make it feel more bdayish which was so cool of him



and I'm still loving my bday CD from Charl here is one of my favs:

C.S. Lewis song by Brooke Fraser

If i find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy,
I can only conclude that I was not made for here
If the felsh that i fight is at best only light and momentary,
then ofcourse I'll feel nude when to where I'm destined I'm compared

Speak to me in the light of the dawn
Mercy comes with the morning
I will sigh and with all creation groan as I wait for hope to come for me

Am i lost or just found? On the straight or on the roundabout of the wrong way?
is this a soul that stirs in me, is it breaking free, wanting to come alive?
Cos my comfort would prefer for me to be numb
An avoid the impending birth of who I was born to become

For we, we are not long here
Our time is but a breath, so we better breathe it
And I, I was made to live, I was made to love, I was made to know you
Hope is coming for me
Hope, He's coming

All day to day & journal like

Saturday the 8th of May was Noah's third birthday party, Kim did such a great job! The theme was Mickey Mouse & all the decorations were so cute! The cake was beautifully done and really delicious. So precious, Clint prayed for Noah, one of the pics on the right with his eyes tightly shut for the whole prayer! Cait had fun trying to make Stellah smile and we kinda caught a few on camera.


Sunday (May 9th) was my first offical Mother's Day as a Mommy! How fun, thanks to Clint's, already been there know how, Charl bought me a gift on Stellah's behalf, it was this cutesy pic in a frame!


My husband knows me so well! I am thoroughly blessed by the Lord.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

(10th May) I just love Mondays, as its our day off and this Monday was no different..Just had such a cool day hanging at home -I fell in love with my fantastic hubby all over again, such a hottie!



(11th May) was Stellah's four month birthday, time sure is flying by. She's started to do this cute kind of talking thing, like she's suddenly found her OUTSIDE VOICE, yeah its pretty loud, she likes to do it anytime we leave her alone for too long (for her liking) and around 5 in the morning. If you've watched finding Nemo, you'll understand what I mean when I say, she speaks whale. Dad usually goes in to swaddle & dummy, as a subtle go back to sleep reminder, she often gives him a big gummy smile - we just love her so!


Charl gave me my birthday present early as he has exams coming up, it was a Brooke Fraser CD called Albertine, it's stinkin good! He chose it out online and everything. She is a hillsong singer and this album is not strictly Christian but there are tons of subtle references to the Lord. If you'd like to have a wee listen:
http://www.brookefraser.com/
I then also got to go with him to the Pav (our only decent Mall - but I love it that way) and buy a clothing item, always fun:)
Yikes 29, almost 30! May my life not be wasted. My prayer for the coming year is that these scriptures would bear fruit in my heart and life, He is Lord of all, 'all things were created through Him and for Him!' May my love for Jesus keep me walking on the narrow path, by His grace!

1Th 2:12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

Col 1:10... so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God... Col 1:13-23 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast,not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

May I not shift from the hope of the gospel, please keep me stable and steadfast Lord!

Some favs from the trip

 

Pretoria & Chris & Meg - a decade in the making part 3

Sunday was mean't to be a church day but we overslept as our little alarm clock that does not have a snooze function also overslept, so we didn't make the morning service. We then had a lovely lunch at the Brink home, yeah, always good food there too. Belinda brought little Reece, so that made three cuties born in the same week or so of Jan this year! Had such a lekka time bonding with Jacolien again, was special sharing the 'oh she/he does that too' chats.

By Sunday eve I was all peeped up and was ready to go home but we still had two rather busy days to go, God gave grace after I repented of my selfishness and I did make it to Wednesday alive. We had dinner with our special Bimmies (aka Charl's sister and broda-in-law), at Ruth's home and they then practiced the worship songs for the wedding. The coming together of this group was sweet to hear! Like putting on an old pair of comfortable shoes, they didn't even need to practice! Everyone could just 'telepathically' feel what the other was going to do, Stellah couldn't sleep with the ambient noise so we listened and I swung her around, yeah, fun time had by all.

The day of the wedding finally arrived and we witnessed the union of our speical friends Chris and Meg, after dating for about ten years!! What a special beautiful day, Meg looked thoroughly stunning! Such a great venue! Charl was the worship guy, the mc and a groomsman, so I was grateful for friendly faces at our table and a very edifying time. Plus Stellah got to meet lots of our Grace Fellowship friends too. I am so incredibly happy for the new Pinkers, such a special time ahead of them, dating is so for the birds. God was magnified in all, now that's a wedding.

Rom 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Just when I felt at the end of my metaphoric tether our flight was delayed, in actual fact all the flights were delayed - yup one big messy mess! BUT..
1Co 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

We made the trip back to pta with my Mom after being in the car from 7 30am we arrived at the Bakkes home round 11 30am to stay the night and head back to Lanseria in the morn. Was actually pretty cool, however, spending a tiny bit more time with our special peeps. So lovely how the girls just love their little cousin and argue over who gets to hold her first. Steg & Liesel gave us their room so we could pop our noisy bundle in her carry cot on cushions, in the bathroom for the night, so gracious of them! My mom also gave us her room for the week, we were so spoilt by the generosity of our fam.

Now after a few days at home we've all been ill with a cold, shame, Stellah's first cold! I've been enjoying home and so thankful for it and being able to be home with my family and care for them, what a privilege! I was meditating on Henry Lyte's hymn today, Jesus I my cross have taken...so powerful!

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

1. Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou from hence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition,
All I’ve sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition!
God and heaven are still my own.

2. Let the world despise and leave me,
They have left my Savior, too.
Human hearts and looks deceive me;
Thou art not, like them, untrue.
O while Thou dost smile upon me,
God of wisdom, love, and might,
Foes may hate and friends disown me,
Show Thy face and all is bright.

3. Man may trouble and distress me,
’Twill but drive me to Thy breast.
Life with trials hard may press me;
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, ’tis not in grief to harm me
While Thy love is left to me;
Oh, ’twere not in joy to charm me,
Were that joy unmixed with Thee.

4. Go, then, earthly fame and treasure,
Come disaster, scorn and pain
In Thy service, pain is pleasure,
With Thy favor, loss is gain
I have called Thee Abba Father,
I have stayed my heart on Thee
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather;
All must work for good to me.

5. Soul, then know thy full salvation
Rise o’er sin and fear and care
Joy to find in every station,
Something still to do or bear.
Think what Spirit dwells within thee,
Think what Father’s smiles are thine,
Think that Jesus died to win thee,
Child of heaven, canst thou repine.

6. Haste thee on from grace to glory,
Armed by faith, and winged by prayer.
Heaven’s eternal days before thee,
God’s own hand shall guide us there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission,
Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days,
Hope shall change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

Pretoria & Chris & Meg - a decade in the making part 2

Andre, Anne, Magriet, Annerie and her boyfriend came for a dinner on Thursday. Was so great seeing them as the parade of Stellah continued, yes they loved her too, I doubt that one cannot be taken with her, as Annerie kept mentioning 'sy het slim oggies' - Stellah was particularly taken with my exciting cousin and started chatting away to her in goobledy gook.



Charl was at Chris's bachelor's on Friday and he said that was nice - christian bachelors are so cool, no nasty, half clad girls jumping out of cakes etc. On Saturday we went to Charl's Dad and Gransie. More special memories were made as Stellah met her great Gran and saw her Grandpa, Aunty Liesel, Uncle Steg, not to forget her special little cousins, Ashelle and Lael. Charl's cousin Dylan also popped by and interesting discussions on carbon footprints evolved. Excellent eating was done, as Dad whipped out a fantastic stew, he doesn't even need that Jammie Oliver cookbook!

Pretoria & Chris & Meg - a decade in the making

Our trip to Pretoria, to view the joining in matrimony of our good friends Chris and Meg, this last week, was really great! Nothing like a hectic schedule & little sleep to push my nasty buttons though. Aside from being monster-am I even regenerate-Nina, at times, it was so wonderful to see our family and share our precious Stellah Faith with them.

After a super quick flight to Lanseria we had finally arrived, wow, hectic packing for all of us - we even remembered everything! We caught sight of my Mom but she only had eyes for the little person in my arms, to see how crazy my Mom is about Stellah just warms my heart, the way she squeezed her so tight as we walked out of arrivals was a precious moment. It made me remember the first time my Mom held Stellah at our home and watching her as tears of joy flowed down her face. As we walked out of the airport I stared at the Uno and then at our luggage, thinking how is this going to work? But after some good maneuvering, we three, my mom and all our luggage piled into her feisty Uno, the emergency bottle of water under the seat in case she overheated caught my eye and I remember thinking, mmm.

Driving through Pretoria is a bit like a distant dream - my life here in KZN seems so settled, as if we've been here much longer than a year. Many, I must remember this, moments passed as we walked into the home where so many of my other memories linger. My Ouma's face was one of these moments, as she saw Stellah for the first time and held her. She made her frail arms into a strong support around 'klein ding', as she would refer to Stellah for the rest of our stay, totally enamoured. It was wonderful to see my Ouma come to life and call down the passage from her room for us to bring Stellah to her. Charl's Mom was also there shortly after we arrived, another memory was made, as Stellah met her super-animated, fun Ouma!



The Thursday and Friday of that week were so awesome, after we discovered on the Wednesday eve that Stellah CANNOT sleep in the same room with us, sheesh, we were up most of the night! Every little grunt from our little munchkin and up we were, like the house was being attacked. My Mom was super shocked at my suggestion to have her sleep in the bathroom near us (sleep deprivation makes a person extreme), and convinced me the study would be better at night and our room during the day, when the study was very busy. We also met up with Charl's Uncle Piet and Hannes and had a meal with them at their Milky Lane - always lovely chatting with them. Piet told us about his hectic accident - not many times in your life that you live to watch a car bounce on the highway and land on top of your volvo!

My Mom has the most amazing house for inquisitive eyes and her and Stellah-Bella explored, a mobile-looking thing made of wood and porcupine quills (true story), fish-shaped wind chimes, flowers, fountains...they had a ball!

Just gotta have (Stellah) Faith

I've been messing with the idea of having a blog spot for a while, but it just seemed too much ef, until we became three! I now have a renewed zeal and feel there a tons of people just missing out on a more detailed description on the super coolness of our daughter, and some of what we are doing here in KZN. We've been living here for about a year and 3 months, just loving Natal. It is so lush and green, rains often, so my kind of place. I've been at home helping Charl and being a homemaker - what a blessing this has been, this last year has been one of the happiest of my life. Our marriage flourished when we took the stress of my life out of the equation, having time to focus on the Lord and having lots more time to get involved in church ministries. Stellah was and is a highlight, her little smile just lights up my day, she is the best baby in the world!.. but back to a short history... Charl and I are believers saved by the death of Jesus Christ!


Eph 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

I pray that the Lord would be our all, that our main focus would be to find our ultimate joy in Christ and living for Him.



Charl is the worship and youth intern at Hillcrest Baptist Church, loves his job. He has recently become a deacon and is so amped to serve God in excellence after the recent deacon's retreat. We are so blessed by Clint's preaching and his and Kim's friendship and kindness to us, yeah its just a great place to be. We got quite involved in various church things last year, like our home group bible study - where we met a variety of people from the church, which was so nice. We also attended Cornerstone, the young adults bible study - I have so enjoyed the biblical masculinity and femininity series. I played cello and bass every week for the worship team and am now being put to shame by the wonders of Gareth Palmer who has replaced me after Stellah joined the fam. I am so blessed by how the worship has improved though, God is so faithful in providing Gareth right when I needed to be on the team a lot less.

We hosted the teens in our home (the foundations group) on Friday nights last year. Charl has really grown in learning to teach and I think he is doing a really good job with some of the boys he has met with and discipled over the last year. On two Saturdays a month the Mom's and tots group started meeting led by Kim, I have so enjoyed this time, it has been quite challenging to try and think through parenting biblically and we have been reading 'don't make me count to three' by Ginger Plowman, what a great book! I also taught a small group of ladies through an Abraham study with precept upon precept. They were so gracious with me and my rather poor teaching but I think (as I was hoping to) that I might have spread the precept bug and now hope to get started again with a few of the ladies leading with me. So it has been a good and busy time where I could just dive in alongside Charl and share in his life and ministry as we tried to make new friends and settle in to a new area and church.


Stellah Faith joined us on the 11th of January 2010 - and this has been one of the most amazing experiences of our lives. God has richly blessed us with this precious little soul. She is largely the reason for this blog, I feel like so much has already happened in her little life and the fear of forgetting the small details of her first smile, or laugh or her suddenly grabbing the rattle and putting it in her mouth, has helped me put the effort in. We often heard that life would never be the same again after children and oh man were they right, it is a precious gift from the Lord, that enriches your life beyond what you could have imagined.