Monday's Multitudes

Yes, despite circumstances, good or bad, it is good to give thanks....

time spent with my precious sister

cousins having fun together

good medical care

celebrating our son's birthdays, just three weeks apart from one another

family tea time at my dad

a visit with my sister to my aunt and uncle

a getaway with my girl, a wonderful treat

celebrating a dear friend's birthday at a wonderful out of town venue for the weekend

soul food views like this....

laughter , good food and making new friends

visits from old friends who live in  another city

calls from old friends

hospitality shown 

safe travels for hubby when he was working out of town

my son unharmed when he was robbed at knife point

powerful prayers

friends and family helping with lifts for the kids

a new work opportunity for me

more wool gifted by friends

outstanding results for my girl

house full of happy and vibrant young people

connecting with a friend I have not seen in a while

another dear friend being a good listening ear

God using my girl to deliver a wonderful message

family all together in church

a jar of coffee gifted when I had none

a morning of fun with friends

family group chats that keep us connected

a good solid walk along the seaside

peaceful rest

home cooked meals

a fire keeping the winter chill at bay

winning another prize

seeing His hand in circumstances

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Five Minute Friday : Here

Here...yes I am still here. Been a while since I have posted. It's good to be back here I must say. So much has been happening . Last week of holidays, visits from far away precious family, sick kids....yes, even when they are big it takes its toll! Getting back into the rhythm of the third school term and planning all that needs to be done before prelim exams for my girl. Hubby travelling for work, weekend away celebrating a friends 40th birthday and all the day to day.
I am hoping to get back to posting more regularly again but perhaps the "being here" prevents me from being present where I need to be present. Just a thought....but still good to be here.

Weekly Wrap-Up: Last Week of Holidays

The last week of holidays has been relaxing despite the fact that the older two have been rather sick. The weather has been really wintry and evenings have been spent around a cozy fire. Home cooked meals have been hearty and Keren has made us a few delicious puds. I am sure the kilos are piling on! I love the fact that she enjoys baking and cooking even when she is doing it for fun and not just for practicals that she has to do. 

Early in the week I enjoyed spending time at the church holiday club and observing all the fun going on there... I wished there was a holiday club for adults too! Keren had a slot where she had to teach the kids a bible verse. It was wonderful to see her enjoying teaching the little ones. 

She spent three days at a youth conference too so we saw very little of her this past week.

Zak and I had some fun with friends and enjoyed getting out to the botanical gardens to picnic and to see the dinosaur exhibition. 

Another day a friend treated us to lunch out at the seaside. Despite the cold, we enjoyed ice creams and a stroll along the beach front.

I sent all my recent knits to the Zoe project and have had fun knitting beanies for some of Keren's friends as well as this little beanie and booties for the newborn son of the the boy who was page boy at our wedding!

The holidays have been great and we are ready to face the third term...

Weekly Wrap-Up : Two Weeks into the Holidays

Holidays are in full swing and Keren and I have just returned from our mid week getaway. We had a wonderful time together and enjoyed and savored every moment. On Tuesday we headed out to Strand and had lunch at an old fashioned restaurant over looking the sea. They offered a three course meal at very reasonable prices and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Good old fashioned food!

The views out over the bay were magnificent. Just what we needed after all the pressure of exams and getting her file done for term 2.

We ambled along the beachfront before driving to my aunt and uncle just outside Stellenbosch.

 We were welcomed with tea and enjoyed catching up before taking a walk around the estate with my uncle and his dog.

The estate is beautiful and peaceful and their home like a home from home. Familiar objects, pieces of furniture from my grandparents, beautiful quilts made by my aunt and giant comfy beds and delicious home cooked food made our visit perfect. We enjoyed a log fire and long conversations reminiscing about days gone by. We slept in and didn't want to leave those comfy warm beds but eventually did to enjoy a hearty home cooked breakfast made by my uncle.

We stopped off in Stellenbosch to visit Oom Samie se Winkel , a place I have often passed by but never ventured in.

 Everything you can imagine is found in this shop from old fashioned sweets to spices, vintage clothing and dolls, memorabilia from days gone by, books, trinkets and curios. Well worth a visit even if you are not buying but just browsing. Apparently bus loads of tourists stop by on their way through the village.

We drove through the village and out the other side to climb the Helshoogte pass to our destination, Clouds Estate. With great excitement we entered the estate and made our way to reception. It deserves a post of its own so that is all for now!

Besides this wonderful getaway, holidays have been filled with friends, sleepovers, sleep ins and lots of fun. A few girlfriends joined me for a movie night. I had the wonderful privilege of joining 194 others at the prison for a prayer walk. An unforgettable experience and I cannot wait for next month's prayer walk.

 Zak has been to the movies a couple of times and to a magic show where he attempted learning to spin a plate!

 He volunteered time at church helping to prep for the holiday club for a few hours.

 We have enjoyed sunny afternoon walks.

Keren besides completing her exams, finished her oil painting and handed it in for marking.

 She cooked endless dishes for consumer studies and we all enjoyed eating them!

 Josh bought himself a car!

Tonight the youth are having a stay awake at church.

 Its been full and fun and I am thankful we have another week off!

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.