June's Joys

Finding joy in everyday life...

chilly but sunny winter days

breakfast out with hubby and our youngest

friends and family helping out with lifts while my car is being repaired

hot chocolate shared with dear friends

warm fires on chilly evenings surrounded by my precious ones

friends bringing firewood and marshmallows to toast on the fire

late night chatter with my girl as we share my bed

happy father's day celebrations with family

connecting with an overseas friend 

hearing from more old friends

seeing my kids connect and hearing their laughter

date night with hubby

braai and fun and games with friends

houseful of happy, bubbly teens

an afternoon spent with family friends who have known me for over 40 years

watching His plans unfold

a morning with my cute nephew, love the constant chatter and little imaginative brain working overtime

a morning spent birthday shopping with my soon to be 20 year old

visiting teens who call me mom

endless supply of wool given to me by friends

a wonderfully encouraging read gifted by my sweet girl

a medical scare that turned out to be nothing

my car back home

an afternoon enjoying the theater with my youngest

girls morning out with friends

wonderful results for my girl

my dear sister who just knows when to call

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Weekly Wrap-Up: End of Term!

It has been weeks again since I have blogged. 

Perhaps a little hibernation with the cold weather we have been experiencing.

 We have also come to the end of term 2 and now are on our winter break. It has been a busy time especially for Keren who has been writing her mid year matric exams and making sure all her relevant assignments and projects are done. She is almost done and I cant wait to have all the work marked, filed and handed in for further marking and moderation. 

I am certain she will continue to do exceedingly well in all her subjects. She did very well in her midyear art exams which were written at her art school. The painting she did for term 2 has been sold and she has her first commission from one of the teachers at the art school. It is wonderful to see her being able to earn from something she is fiercely passionate about and loves to do.

She is working on two paintings at the moment and I love to watch the pieces as they develop. 

Zak finished off basketball for the term and is not keen to continue. He has decided that rock climbing is something he wants to continue with as he really enjoys his weekly climbs at City Rock. School work has been completed for the term and he is enjoying the freedom of the holidays. 

Its wonderful having Josh here on the days he doesn't need to go on site and he is working remotely. It gives me pleasure to be able to make all my kids a hot lunch, freshly squeezed juice or a hot chocolate while they are working. I love hearing the interaction between my three too. 

We have been enjoying warm fires, good wholesome home cooked meals and the company of good friends. Last weekend Zak and I enjoyed the theater. Our neighbor was performing in A Midsummer Night's Dream. A real treat enjoyed with neighborhood friends.  

Plans for the holidays include a mini trip away for Keren and me which we are both really looking forward to it. Today it has been wonderful to get up and have no agenda. Keren has been working on her painting and Zak has gone off to City Rock with his friends.

 I am already loving the break from school.....

Weekly Wrap-Up: The Overdue One

Yes, its been two weeks since a weekly wrap up post. Life has been happening. We have had days of rain and chilly temperatures as well as gorgeous sunny days with no wind. School has taken place in warm beds or under blankets on the couches. Its such a blessing to be able to let the kids sleep in a bit too on chilly mornings. 

Keren has written her first exam for matric, her art theory exam, and she has spent weeks working on her practical which she handed in today.

 An offer to purchase it was made too!

Zak got his belay license at rock climbing last week and has been attending basketball. He and I finished up his anatomy and physiology course . I wonder what course we will do next...perhaps another geography course or more science. 

I have been roping him in in the kitchen too and he has been making delicious garlic cheesy scones to accompany soup dinners, apple and cinnamon muffins and pancakes too. Its good for boys to know their way around the kitchen!

Evenings have been cozy with a fire when needed and the family gathering in the lounge. We have enjoyed watching series and I keep my hands busy knitting. I have been donated wool of all colors from friends and its been fun to knit them up into beanies and booties for a local project. The Zoe project makes mum and baby packs for new mums at the local midwife obstetric units. The mums are often from very poor homes with little for their new babes, so its a real pleasure to know that these beanies and booties will make a difference and keep these babes warm. 

Weekends have been good. Lots of rest and relaxation. I still don't have my car since the accident so I look forward to weekends and getting out a bit when hubby is home. We have enjoyed Saturday morning breakfasts at a local nursery. They have great specials on during the winter months . Yummy hot chocolate and bacon on french toast for a steal. Zak joined us this past Saturday and really enjoyed it. We had  a lovely walk in the nearby forest this weekend too.

 It was wonderful to enjoy the wide open spaces and the great outdoors. 

Monday's Multitudes

It's cold out and there is snow on the distant mountains.

Winter is here!

 There is much to be thankful for!

a fire warming the lounge this evening

warm blankets

hearty soup at lunch time shared with my girl

catching up with my far away farm sister on the phone

my cheery niece popping by

movies with girlfriends, a great laugh

Saturday morning breakfast out with hubby

hot chocolate specials with extra chocolate and marshmallows...only R6! (we will be going back)

an unexpected visit from my brother and cute nephew

friends and family helping with lifts for the kiddos while I don't have my car

discovering a beautiful park that I haven't been to before

knitting, relaxing and therapeutic

steaming hot rooibos chai

mosaic work 

hubby's cooking, a delicious curry

hugs from my teens

His provision and faithfulness

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Weekly Wrap-Up: A Time of Connecting

This week has been a wonderful week of connecting. Connecting with loved ones. My God Father spoiled us with pizzas for dinner on Monday night and we sat chatting for hours. He is one of the most interesting people I know and is so interested in each and every one of us. He always has a wonderful story to tell and I think we could all sit and listen to him for hours. 

Wednesday morning my Dad and I had a long overdue breakfast together, another wonderful couple of hours. Ooh and the great food we enjoyed at a neighborhood restaurant deserves a mention too!

There was connect group and an outing with my friend to enjoy free lattes at Food Lovers. There were a couple of evenings where the family all sat by candle light enjoying music and chit chat while the power was out. And a lunch time heart to heart with my sweet girl in the sunshine. 

There was rock climbing at City Rock on Monday, I don't usually get to go as I have to do the art run in the afternoon but this week I got to see what Zak does there. It was great to see him enjoying himself and learning new skills as well as overcoming a fear of heights. 

As well as climbing, he has learned to belay too. That's him at the top!

 It was great for me to hang out and chat with some of the other home schooling moms as now that the kids are older there aren't so many outings anymore.

Besides the usual work, there is always art for Keren. She has been spending hours on her term practical, She is enjoying the space she has with the art table hubby made for her. 

On Saturday morning hubby and I visited Arderne Gardens. Definitely a place to visit again. I have always wanted to visit there and can't believe I never have. It would have been a wonderful place to take the kids when they were small. There are beautiful lawns, ponds with ducks, beautiful tall trees and one of the two biggest trees in Africa! Well worth a visit!

Weekly Wrap-Up: Life's Ups and Downs

Where does one even begin when the week has been touched with something one does not expect to happen. That phone call no mother wants to get. Our dear son had a terrible accident on Tuesday evening. A pedestrian ran in front of the car and there was no way of missing him. The victim badly hurt. Hubby rushed out to the scene. Police and ambulances and tow trucks surrounded the scene. Our son was badly shaken up but not hurt. Thank God for seat-belts. The first policeman on the scene was the uncle of one of our son's friends and the tow truck driver, off duty, was from a panel shop next door to hubby's work. 

We received the most amazing support from family, friends and couples from the church who came over to pray and offer any help needed. Our son was given time off work and he is doing ok. His friends rallied around him and have been there for him. 

The kids have got on with their work and Keren had a full day at her art school doing her practical for the term. There has been basketball and indoor rock climbing.There have been great results for both Josh and Keren... It all seems so insignificant in the greater scheme of things. I have really been struck by the reality of how life can change in a split second and how important it is to really love one another. Its just too easy to take it all for granted...

The week ended with my girl spoiling me and my mum in law and treating us to lunch. 

It was lovely.

 Here's to a peaceful weekend. 

Thanksliving

I missed posting my Monday's multitudes as we had family here for dinner but its never too late to give thanks.

Sunday, being mother's day was a day where I was loved and treated to all sorts of thoughtful gifts and a delicious breakfast prepared by my precious family. Wonderful to have them all here with me.

I am thankful for my own beautiful mother who is always there for me emotionally though she lives too far away...

candlelight and music playing while the power is out

gas cooker that means we can still have coffee when the power is out

my cheery niece staying over for a few nights

my warm bed on cold nights

being mom to my 3

autumn sunshine

lattes and conversations enjoyed with a dear friend

my son's laughter

getting my hair done

starry night sky

girl's morning celebrating a friend's birthday

getting to the end of a full week of deadlines

wonderful evening with two girlfriends

my sweet girl making dinner and giving me a night off

celebrating my nephew's 4th birthday

best ever chocolate cake

weekend with no plans, time for unwinding

homemade cheesecake

autumn colors

girls afternoon with my sweetie

school on the couch with warm blankets

an afternoon walk in the sunshine

coffee date with my neighbor

mother's day breakfast shared with my precious ones

thoughtful gifts and words of love from them

Sunday service reminding us to be content and happy

family dinner celebrating my father in laws birthday

winning another awesome prize of a night away with dinner and breakfast

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