Friday, December 25, 2009

The reason for the season




 Its about Jesus, not Santa!
Santa lives at the North Pole - Jesus is everywhere;

Santa rides in a sleigh - Jesus rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year - Jesus is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies - Jesus supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited - Jesus stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa - Jesus is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap - Jesus lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?" 

JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly - Jesus has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO - Jesus offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry" - Jesus says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.

Santa's little helpers make toys - Jesus makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but - Jesus gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree - Jesus became our gift and died on the tree.


It's obvious there is really no comparison. We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.

We need to put Christ back in Christmas!!

Jesus is still the reason for the season.

 
May the Lord Bless and Watch over you and your families this Christmas 2009
And may He prosper and bless the work of your hands in the New Year.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Christmas with our children

We had a Christmas meal and giving of gifts with our children and grandchildren before we left Port Elizabeth for Cape Town...here follows a few pics of our celebration.

Lache and Dewan.


Leane, not wanting to get wet:)

DH with Christian and Lukas.

Wynand and Nadia.


Baby Christmas (aka Lukas)

The Oupa and Lukas

Kobus Jr., Lache and their little family.

Now that is how you open a gift....note what she is sitting on...this girl has style:)

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Herlien and Mark's wedding day

Ansie and I drove through to Morgenhof  wine estate before 8 o'clock this morning.  Ansie baked the wedding cake and it had to be assembled.  She did a fantastic job...and it was truly death by chocolate cake.  Here is some pics of the "anatomy of a wedding cake":)



Cherry liquer icing between the layers...yum!


Dark chocolate ganache spread all over.


Dark chocolate sticks around the cake.


Beautiful fresh roses on the top layer.The view from above...the way nobody saw it:)


The beautiful, yummy completed cake....my sis is good hey?

The cake took 2 hours to assemble and then we rushed off to Somerset West to shower and get ready for the wedding.


Dad and Herlien walking down the aisle.



Mom, dad, Mark and Herlien, Herlien's children Stephanie and Shawn and the three sisters.  Anita, the bridesmaid, me next to Steph and Ansie.



Herlien looked beautiful on her big day.


Three sisters.

Ansie and Willie

Kobus and Moi.

The big cousins together at a table.

My pretty girl.
I was not in the mood to be the photographer today...so DH took over the duty.  Hopefully I will get some nice profesional pics from Herlien.

Friday, December 18, 2009

We are off...


We are leaving for the fairest Cape this morning.  It is a lovely overcast day so traveling the 800km will be lovely.  I am so ready to have a break.  Whenever we plan to go away there is just so much to do at the Mission before we can leave...that I worked myself into a frenzy yesterday to get everything done and plan for any thing that might happen in our absence.  We have lots planned for the 10 days in the Cape.
  • My sister, Herlien is getting married on a wine estate on Sunday.
  • Catching up with my sister Ansie, who I haven't seen since February.  We will be staying with them in Somerset West.
  • I HAVE to visit Kirstenbosch.
  • I HAVE to meet some of my blogging buddies:)  Can't wait.
  • We want to drive the whole way from Cape Town along the coast to Gordons Bay and take lots of pics of the beautiful scenery.
  • DH and BIL will be going to the SA Open golf at Pearl Valley tomorrow.
  • We will be having our Christmas celebration at Ansie and Willie's house in Somerset West.
I will be taking my laptop with me...so will be checking in on all of you and sporadically posting.

xx

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Christmas party at the Mission


Today the children at the mission were blessed with a wonderful time, of playing...

...jumping on the jumping castle....



These two face painting clowns were kept busy with our many children...they all wanted their faces painted.



...from the youngest baby...



..to some of the grown ups.



 



 
Happy dancing William.



 
 
We have the most gorgeous and well behaved children.



At twelve o'clock all 116 children were bundled into the dining hall to receive gifts.



Father Christmas arriving to very excited children.



Happy children make me feel happy.  There is no way to thank all the wonderful people who supplied gifts and refreshments.  They are sowing on fertile ground...these little ones will never forget it.  In most cases these will be the only gifts they receive.

Monday, December 14, 2009

What if...



...we treated our Bibles like we treat our cell phones?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several times a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn’t live without it?

What if we interrupted our favourite program to take just one verse?

What if we gave it to our children as a gift?

What if we made sure our friends and family were on the same plan?

What if we stepped out of a meeting, just to read one encouraging verse?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

What if we interrupted our dinner to read it?

Unlike our cell phones, we don’t have to worry about our Bibles being “disconnected” because of an unpaid bill.

JESUS already paid the bill in full.

And just think -- no dropped calls! God hears them all! -- 


Author Unknown.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

An early Christmas gift



My treadmill died earlier this week.  I used it daily...so I guess it was totally overworked:)
Irreparable according to those in the know...so I got this baby as an early Christmas gift. 
My previous one did not have a heart monitor...so I am finding this very cool, it also has an MP3 port with speakers. 
(Now I need an MP3 bokkie!) 
This morning I gave my prezzie a workout (or it gave me a workout).
I love all the programs and functions.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Handmade gifts

This year the ladies in our cell group decided that we are going to give each other handmade gifts this year.  You guessed it...I scrapped them some pics...and here they are:


 
 
 
They loved their gifts...and in return I got these:


Very special...daily scripture in a teeny box.


Fresh water pearls with mother of pearl.


An awesome prophetic word with fragrant soap.


A pretty mosaic cross with a ribbon to hang it from.

This made me think.  We tend to go out and buy expensive gifts.  These  precious handmade gifts just mean so much more.  It tells me that the person who made it for me, loves me enough to spend time making me something special.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

This is life...


Ouma's leather couch, coffee and Kowee (afrikaans kiddies  TV channel).

My gorgeous grand daughter Leané .   How do you like that pose?

And the winner of the blog celebration giveaway is.....



The kit - Michelle.

A layout:  Tania.

Will you please e-mail me your addresses and Tania I will need the photos you want me to use.

xx