Fun with the kids. . .

We have been on school holidays this past week. . .ahhhhh, the joy of sitting around the house all day and doing absolutely NOTHING!!!
You're saying what? Wait a minute, how is that possible? Yeah, I know, I must have nodded off for a minute there.
Lets try this again - We have been on school holidays this past week - and I have no idea where the time has gone! Seriously, how is it possible. . .1 of 2 weeks gone. . .
Lets see, we've been to TLC to love on all the little ones, then off to Little Eden to see Sabrina and Rowen (will post pics in another post), and Acres of Love to see Nicholas (will post pics soon - I promise), and Tracie's Miracle Creshe to help with her 60 little ones, then there's Pam's dancing, and horse riding for all three, and swimming for all three, and therapies. . .hmmmmm, I think I found where my week has gone :)

Yesterday I had the brilliant idea to make lemon loaf with my 4 little helpers.

I have this fabulous recipe from my sister in Canada, and here in South Africa I have a lemon tree in my front Garden! How amazing, I know!

Look at them there, just begging to be picked and made into something yummy!

So my idea was to make 3 loafs. Two for us, and one for someone else. I asked my girls who they thought we should give our extra lemon loaf to. Oh the people came thick and fast. I finally had to say STOP, we only need one person, only ONE. Ohhhhh, I should have know better. . .

Now I have a problem here in South Africa, butter isn't marked with cup measurements on it, so I'm constantly having to google cup vs gram measures. Last time I made lemon loaf I was smart and actually wrote down the conversion.

1 cup = 226 grams of butter!

So here I am, I read what the cup conversion is, and then triple it, because a regular recipe makes one loaf and I want three.

Sihle's helping crack in eggs. . .

Pamela's helping grate lemon. . .

Lots of sugar - yum yum. . .

Musa's helping pour in milk. . .

Mario's helping mix it all together. . .

This is when I start getting the feeling that something is not right. The batter just doesn't feel like it should. I go back to the recipe, and this is when I realize that the original only asked for 1/2 a cup of butter, but I read the conversion for 1 cup, and then tripled it. So I had actually added 3 cups of butter. I had enough butter in this lemon loaf for 6, yes 6 loafs! I suddenly needed lots more eggs, and milk and sugar. . .which I didn't have, so Musa and I ran to the store to pick up more. . .

My quick little afternoon bake was turning out to be a full evening of fun. And yes, we had not 1 but 4 extra loafs to share with others. . .That will teach me to try and dampen my girls giving spirits. I think next time I will think twice before telling them to STOP, when it comes to giving away blessings :)

All freshly baked, and waiting to be devoured. . .

What else have we been up to?

You can never have too much practice cutting with scissors . . .
I had a beautiful rose magazine come in, so they all went a little wild. . .

Even Musa gave it a try, 

and boy was he proud when ever he managed to cut out part of a picture!

The girls had fun painting a few days ago. . .

Sihle very seriously working on her masterpiece

Look Mommy, isn't it beautiful!

Pamela also hard at work. . .no distracting this girl!

Look Gramma, I'm going to be an artist, just like you!

Last but not least, we had to bring Bella to the vet to get her annual shots. 

She's so funny, as soon as I attach the collar and lead to her, she lies down and won't move. It's like I've just attached an anchor to her.

Musa thought it was great fun to hold her lead, and try to convince her to move. . .

They were all so impressed that she was so brave when she got her two shots - she didn't even cry!

So, that's what we've been up to this past week!
How about you? anything special, funny. . .I'd love to hear :)

Made in God's image

I have had such a delightful day today, and yet my heart is heavy. I've been looking through all the children on Reeces Rainbow waiting for families. There are so so so many faces. Some chubby and obviously well cared for, others slightly disheveled and needing a little lovin up, but the ones that grab my heart, the ones I see in my dreams, the ones that make my heart bleed, they're the ones forgotten, unfed, untouched, and wasting away. They're dying while you and I plan yet another tasty meal, go out to the movies, and just get on with our pretty good lives. I tucked in my three angels tonight, and I couldn't help but think of the ones not being tucked in. The ones spending not every night in their beds, but 24 hours a day in them. The ones that have no idea what a good night kiss feels like, or a loving caress. . .

This is Nathan. He is nearly 8 years old, and yet he spends his days existing in a tiny crib. His life is made up of . . .nothing. . .My children, their weeks are full. School, swimming, dance, horse riding, therapies, Physio, OT, Speech. . .Church, music practices, friends, family. . .

Nathan, his days are all the same. He wakes up hungry, wet, dirty - and no one comes. His view, the white bars of his prison, his activity, the rocking of his body over and over again - a body needs stimulation of some kind, or else it dies. And so he rocks, and rocks, he self-sooths. . .this little boy, he wants to live, he fights to live another day in this hell on earth - one of many, forgotten. . .and so goes his day, night comes, and he goes to sleep still hungry, wet, and dirty. . .forgotten. . .

I read on RR, that his region in Eastern Europe, they work with British Columbia!!! He could be adopted by someone from my Country, my province, my city. . .he just needs one person who will step forward and say YES, I'll go. I'll die to my earthly desires and pleasures. I'll do what it takes to take this scrap of humanity, created in the very image of our creator - made perfect, and yet thrown away - I'll take him and with God's help and love and wisdom I will love this dear boy back to health, and give him the chance to be all he can be. . .

This picture above, is of Nathan as a young toddler. This is before he was transferred to his mental institution, left in a crib and forgotten. Look at the difference. Imagine how he could blossom with love and care and food and attention. . .he just needs someone who is willing to step forward and say YES!

This is  Ekaterina. She is 8 years old, and in the same region (possibly the same institution) as Nathan. She too can be adopted by families in British Columbia! Couples, single families, large families, all are fine. This region does not have size limits for families. . .Did you know that British Columbia has a population of 4,419,974 people (as of 2009). 2.5 million of these people live in the greater Vancouver area (with great access to medical care!!) Over 4 million people!!! Wouldn't you think that out of 4 million people, 2, just 2 could see the need, and instead of saying "oh, that's sad, but they're across the world, they're really not my problem", if instead of that response, they could say, YES, take me, use me, I am weak and unable on my own, but with my mighty and amazing God, all is possible. YES, I will step out in Faith, and become the Mother, the Father that Nathan, and Ekaterina has never known. I will not let fear, fear of the unknown, fear of the difficulties, fear of the cost cause me to turn away and allow these dear children, created in the image of the most high, to remain forgotten, unfed, untouched and unloved. 



Please pray for these two. I see their faces in my dreams. . .

Animal delight in Canada. . .

 

 All three of my children love animals, but my Sihle has a very special touch with them. She is drawn to them, and them to her. . .she is the same with babies - she has such a tender soul.

This baby goat she is cuddling was born with a front leg that didn't work. Mom made a little splint to help support it, and Sihle was magnetically drawn to this little one. She was so interested and amazed that it had a leg like hers - one that didn't work quite right. And that like her, he also wore a splint to help him walk. On most mornings you could find her sitting somewhere in the barnyard with him cradled in her lap. In all the years Mom has raised Goats she has never had a newborn with legs like this - it was as if God knew Sihle needed a little friend, made special, just like her. . .

When Mom took this picture Sihle insisted that her pant be rolled up so we could see that she had splints just like the baby goat. . .

Sihle and Canoe - contemplating the mysteries of life. . .

She has no fear at all! 

Saying Hi to Mommy's baby, Remi (on the left) and his Mother, Lacee (on the right).

My sister has been taking such good care of Remi. He was such a baby when I left 5 years!!!!! ago. 

  Now he is such a joy to ride. . . My sister is a Dressage queen

I love this picture below! 

Two of my babies - one big, and one small :)

This is Pamela riding Misty Blue. Misty was my pony when I was small

She is now in her 20's and my children are riding her  - a dream come true!

She is seriously the worlds best pony!

So so gentle, kids can pick up her hooves, if fingers get into her mouth while she is being fed treats she will actually stop chewing and wait till the fingers are removed. . .best pony ever!

(Can you tell it's her Mommy talking - lol)

Pammy had such fun being able to lead her around, brush her. . .

She felt like such a big girl - so sweet!

Musa getting in there and giving some love as well. . .

What a big mouth she has. . .

Pammy, leading her sister around. . .

Misty says it's "snack-time"

Ohhhh, so much love and attention. . .

It was so delightful for me to watch my three on the farm. They were so content, and had so many firsts.

First time milking goats (all three can get milk out!), first time playing in the creek, first time being breakfast, lunch and dinner for the voracious mosquitoes - joking (sort of), first time watching baby goats be born! Yes, they watched a little goat come into this world. . .so many wonderful memories.

Musa was just talking today about visiting Gramma and Grampa at the farm. It's left quite an impression on him!

Pamela has been so much more settled since we visited Canada. It's like she now knows she too really, truly belongs. She wouldn't be left behind, she is truly part of the family. . .

She is asking for hugs, initiating close and meaningful contact. So amazing and wonderful to watch her blossom and grow in self-confidence and security.

Please pray, Pamela's and Musa's adoption paperwork should go to courts sometime this month.

The courts have recently moved, and are apparently very disorganized and crazy right now,

Just pray that it will all go through in God's perfect timing.

Thank you :)

So, till next time,

blessings from Africa