Some Thoughts

A friend sent this to me and I thought I should share it..enjoy

Anger is a condition in which

The tongue works faster than the mind .

You can't change the past,

but you can ruin the present

By worrying over the future

Love...and you shall be loved.

God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.

All people smile in the same language.

Everyone needs to be loved...

especially when they do not deserve it.

The real measure of a man's wealth is what he has invested in eternity.

Laughter is God's sunshine.

Everyone has beauty but not everyone sees it.

It's important for parents to live the same things they teach.

Thank God for what you have,

TRUST GOD for what you need.

If you fill your heart with regrets of yesterday and the worries of tomorrow,

you have no today to be thankful for.

Man looks at outward appearance but the Lord looks within.

The choice you make today will usually affect tomorrow.

Take time to laugh,

for it is the music of the soul.

Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears.

Love is strengthened by working through conflicts together. .

Harsh words break no bones but they do break hearts.

To get out of a difficulty, one usually must go through it.

We take for granted the things that we should be giving thanks for.

Love is the only thing that can be divided without being diminished.

Happiness is enhanced by others but does not depend upon others.

For every minute you are angry with someone,

you lose 60 seconds of happiness that you can never get back.

Do what you can,

for who you can,

with what you have,

and where you are.

Autumn Afternoon

We experienced a glorious Cape Autumn afternoon today. A friend headed off up the Tokai biking track with some of the children while I headed into the adjacent Arboretum with 6 children.
Some of the boys ready for their ride.

The children were eager to get into the forest to play.

The boys began working as boys often do when let loose in nature.

I always find that I am nourished when out in nature....the body, soul ,heart and mind are refreshed.

There is much to be got by perching in a tree....

The children expended their energy while I sat quietly under the trees contemplating the next school term and making notes for myself. One of my goals is to spend more time outdoors in nature. It is so easy when one lives in a city not to get out there. But we are blessed in the Cape to have beach, mountain and forest all nearby so there is no excuse not to get out there! It truly is refreshing to connect with nature and enjoy Gods creation.

Holidays

Yippee! Eric has started preparing the wall around the pool area to paint it before the winter sets in. I am so glad it is finally happening. Will let you see how it looks when he is done.

The kids and I have been enjoying the break from school and have been spending time with my sister and her children. We have been packing up her home as she leaves at the end of the month for Ladybrand so her husband can work there. I will miss her so much! The cousins have been enjoying each others company and they are sleeping over here tonight. They are truly making hay while the sun shines!

This afternoon the children and I spent time reading about Jesus' death and resurrection .I am always moved to tears when I read about the sacrifice Christ made for us when He was nailed to the cross. We had some meaningful conversations together and the time was precious.

Besides that, I have been busy in the kitchen making another pot of grannys famous chicken soup, baking bread and my first attempt at pickled fish!

Daily Living

A dear friend sent me this email. I thought it too lovely not to share with you.

FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING, PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:

1. Peace of mind

2. Peace of heart

3. Peace of soul

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:

1. Squash gossip

2. Squash indifference

3. Squash grumbling

4. Squash selfishness

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:

1. Lettuce be faithful

2. Lettuce be kind

3. Lettuce be patient

4. Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS:

1. Turnip for meetings

2. Turnip for service

3. Turnip to help one another

TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:

1. Thyme for each other

2. Thyme for family

3. Thyme for friends

THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.....

Family Fun

Today we headed out of town to the winelands of Stellenbosh. We met up with friends at Kanu wine farm . It was sweltering, but the surroundings were so beatifull and the vineyards were displaying their Autumn colours. The children had a wonderful day playing with friends and enjoying the wide open spaces and the little dam. There was an easter egg hunt and a chance to decorate cookies .

K went to town decorating hers!

We enjoyed a fantastic magic show too.

There was wine tasting ,boerewors rolls or packed picnics on offer. It truly was a pleasant outing. I got to buy a big jar of black and green olives done with herbs and sundried tomatoes...yummy!!!

Another Fabulous Friday

Friday being our end of term, was a fun filled day for us. We went to see the Naked Scientists...no they were not really naked!

They were at the MTN Science Centre. This entertaining group of physicians and researchers from Cambridge University strips science down to its bare essentials, to help people enjoy science as much as they do.

We watched them Naked Scientists as they unleashed the powers of science in a dazzling series of fun experiments that saw items vanish through the power of refraction, microwaves cook up explosive balls of plasma, materials transformed as their temperature plummets to minus 200 degrees in liquid nitrogen, and a hot air balloon took off ,powered by a toaster

The Naked Scientists at work.

Z enjoying the science centre.

After that a group of 12 children enjoyed the afternoon at our home. We were blessed with a windless, hot day so they enjoyed the pool and trampoline and the girls did some chocolate making. The kitchen was covered in chocolate and there was much licking of fingers and washing of spoons so they could be used again! It was great fun for all! Little Jess however had a nasty accident when she cut her foot on a shell that the dog had been chewing on the lawn...she had to be rushed off to the emergency room to have it seen to.

Here are some of the girls melting the chocolate and having fun!

Baby day

We had the most wonderful day today with baby Eric. He is nearly 4 weeks old and has been growing well. His mommy had some things to do today and we had the pleasure of taking care of him. K and I were thrilled to have him. The boys thought he was really cute and couldn't believe how tiny he is. Z counted his toes to make sure they were all there. Above, he is wearing the beanie I knitted him...a rather bright green but a very soft and warm , cotton knit. ( I finally found something to make out of the wool I had bought 13 years ago to make J a cardigan when he was a baby!)

We gave him a bath and washed his hair. He enjoyed his bath and lay there very peacefully. After bath, it was time for a bottle and a cuddle from K. He is such a contented little baby and we hope to have the pleasure of sharing his life. He is welcome here anytime!