100 Days

We only have 100 days left in South Africa (the only reason I know is because Christian is doing a photo a day count on Facebook:)).  On one hand it feels like we've been here a long time, since we've experienced so much!  On the other hand, time is going so quickly!  I've been very aware of all the things we are going to miss when we go home...I'll make that list at a closer date:)  We've just really had an amazing year so far.  I've been blown away by the Lord~ that He didn't just call us here to reach college students...he called us here to do a work in our own hearts and lives, as well as in Lily and Anya's!  They have grown and learned so much, and I'm so grateful for the experiences the Lord has led us into that has allowed me to know and understand them so much more!  Lily is so much more self aware and expresses her thoughts and feelings so clearly.  She asks me such deep and intentional questions.  The other day we were talking about the people we see begging on the streets each day.  I've started carrying apples in the car to give to beggars at the stop lights.  It was dumping rain, and the man took the apple and put it in his pocket.  Lily was so concerned that he put it in his "dirty pocket"...and I explained a little bit more of the probable reality of his situation.  So then she started asking how people end up on the street, and what she would do if it were her.  She keeps me on my toes!  Anya really enjoys learning, and has grown as an artist as she looks up to her sister...she has gone from scribbles at the beginning of the year to coloring very precisely in the lines.  She loves to laugh, joke, make up cute little songs and go on adventures.  I've enjoyed our mornings together!

Something God has continued to reveal to me in my time here is my passion for counseling.  God has used counseling so profoundly in my own life.  I'm a firm believer that we are all broken and don't need to hit absolute bottom before getting help.  As a "discipler" or mentor in students' lives, I don't see myself as a counselor.  But there are many times I wish I had more tools or training to help navigate through our brokenness.  So when my South African friend, Lauren, told me about the FREE Christian counseling course she was going to take, I was beyond excited!  A course that is basically work at your own pace (take and exam when you are finished with the material within a year), correspondence, Biblically sound, FREE, I can take it with a friend, and God just set it in my lap.  I came home from the one day seminar and was totally energized!  I'm blown away by God's intentionality in our lives.  He knows me so well! I'm not surprised...just SO grateful!

Here are some pics from this month.  The ballet class went pretty well.  Lily was slow to participate, but in her prayer that night I found out why.  She prayed "God, please help me to be a beautiful ballerina"  I asked her about it and she said "Mom, I am a good artist, but not a good ballerina".  I'm afraid she gets this from me...she wants to be good at something before she tries it.  And she just doesn't want to look silly or feel embarrassed.  Of course!  Who does? But for her she seems to feel it so much deeper (I've learned from the Highly Sensitive Child book).  Pray that she will continue to gain confidence, love who God has made her to be, and take steps of faith to learn and try new things!

A rainy Saturday spent at the South African Museum and Planetarium in Cape Town with our friends the Janse van Rensburgs.  Anya's little twin in this pic is Arden :)  He is also 3 years.

Catherine, Ernst, Arden and little Nina

We enjoyed some delicious cheeseburgers and milk shakes at Royal Eatery on Long Street.  A good taste of home!

Another fun Saturday with our friends, the McGills.  Went for a little hike on Tygerburg Mountain.

Lauren, Jono, Amelia (met in Lily's Soetlief class), and JoJo 

A South African Blooper

Every Wednesday we go to small group hosted and led by our friends Ernst and Catherine.  Each week we leave refreshed and encouraged.  This week for dinner (another perk of small group) we were asked to bring a filling for wraps (chicken, beef, cheese, etc), and a salad (lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, sprouts, etc)...it was worded just like that.  I thought "Wow!  We are going to have a lot of salad if everyone brings one, but sounds great!"  We brought feta for our filling, and a spinach salad with tomatoes and carrots just as had been suggested.  Upon arrival, I noticed that no one else had brought a salad.  Once we started eating, it dawned on me..."salad" meant "veggie".  I laughed and admitted my confusion to the group, and they laughed with me, commenting that I was the only one who brought "leaves" (spinach), so it was a good thing!  I learn something new every day!  Lol!
Here are some other terms I've learned...
"Alice band"= head band
"jersey"= jacket/hoodie
"I'm keen"= I'm interested in/up for
"pitch" (ex. I'm not sure if they'll pitch)= show up/come
"fetch" (I'm going to fetch Lily from school)= pick up/go get
"pudding"= dessert
"baie dankie" (buy a donkey)= thank you very much (in Afrikaans)
I've got it "sorted"= all worked out
"lounge"= living room
"hooting"= honking
"costume"= swim suit

We are almost all in good health again!  Praise God!  Christian had the flu bug that the girls had had last week, but was still able to go to campus.  Thank you for praying...please continue!  There are a lot of viruses going around this winter!  We've had many rainy days, but also some beautiful glimpses of spring.  We headed up the coast to Hermanus last weekend to go whale watching...and we saw some!  Christian saw one come out of the water and splash on his back!  The girls liked seeing them, but lost interest quickly.:)  Next weekend we hope to go see the wild flowers in full bloom.  Praying for sun!
Anya is excited to finally be in a class...and a "ballerina" class at that!  My friend Louise has agreed to teach Lily, Anya, Lacy, Katelyn and her own daughter, Ariella, ballet once a week in her "lounge".  She does a beautiful job and is a ballerina herself!  Anya just can't wait!  And Lily has some of her desire to dance back...she hasn't wanted to dance for a long time, but I got her a new leotard, and she's been inspired to learn again!  She's also been anxiously anticipating her 6th birthday, coming up September 6th (her golden birthday!).  Thankfully the school sends home this Child magazine each month, and there was an issue completely devoted to birthdays!  We're talking 13 pages of listings; accessories and services, animal parties, arts and crafts parties, cakes and catering, cooking parties, educational parties, entertainers, fancy dress hire, indoor and outdoor parties, party planners, and sport parties.  Whew!  It was a little overwhelming, but I knew our apartment is too small to host a party in, so I needed to find a location. Well, there is an art studio that offers kids art parties!  Perfect for Lily, my blooming artist!  We went for a visit to check it out today, and it's perfect!  Whew!  Now to get invitations out...

Pray for our health

We've been battling with a wide range of illness in our family.  Last week Anya had a fever and cold for 4 days, and happened to have some neck pain at the same time.  This gave us a little meningitis scare...but it turned out to be coincidence.  She doesn't have meningitis, praise the Lord!  However, the doctor put her on a low grade penicillin to kick whatever she had.  Tuesday Anya threw up all of a sudden.  And Wednesday she woke up with a red raised rash all over her arms, legs and torso, and she was itching like crazy!  It looked like hives to me...I wondered if it was connected to her medicine because I hadn't given it to her after she threw it up the day before.  I called the doctor and he said to keep an eye on it...it could have been because of her fever or the medicine.  Well, it got worse and this morning it was all over her face, head, neck, and whole body.  They've  spread into elongated red designs that looks like she has a map of countries and islands all over her body.  All this while Lily has had a fever and cold for the past 2 days, and Christian started in with the same flu last night!  It seems like every day/night someone gets sick with something else.  I took Anya to the doctor today and it seems she's having an allergic reaction most likely to penicillin.  When we got home and gave her her medicine, she spit it up all over the couch.  She's still red (with shades of pink from the caladryl lotion) and itching, but it seems to be getting a little bit better.  Sadly, we weren't able to go to the airport today to say goodbye to Bobby and Alexandra and the summer project.:(  It's a bummer all around.

~Please pray for COMPLETE healing for Anya, Lily and Christian.
~Pray for protection for all of us from anything else physically.  And I know it's not coincidence that we've been taken out this week by illness when there is a revival happening on campus!  Pray for us and our team in the spiritual battle as well, that we'll all be up and fully functioning next week!
~Pray for patience and flexibility for me as I run our in home hospital for the family:)
~Pray everyone will sleep well tonight.  We all need rest.
Thank you!

10 years

Ten years ago, on July 27th, 2002, I married the love of my life!  One of the best things that's ever happened to me.   It's hard to believe it's been 10 years...but on the other hand it feels like we've walked a long life together so far!
Our wedding day was a beautiful but HOT July day.  I felt like a princess and loved every minute of it! Everything went just as I imagined it...until we got to the dinner reception and saw that our 400 closest friends and family would be dining with "sporks"(you know, the KFC cross between a fork and a spoon).  Yes, we were in my small hometown of Goodland, Kansas.  And yes, the reception was at the Elks Lodge.  BUT we DO have forks, and I was expecting to be able to eat with them at the reception:).  Oh well...sporks didn't ruin our day.  The best part was that I married the man of my dreams...even beyond my dreams.  He is a man of character, integrity, passion and humility, and he's led us in prayer and pursuit of the Lord, loved me and our family out of Christ's unconditional, sacrificial, selfless, gracious love, and he makes me laugh!  God knows the desires of our hearts and I love how He knows us better than we know ourselves!  And I'm so thankful His ways are not our ways...who knows where we'd be today...so glad we're in Cape Town!  Ten years of so many adventures, life changes, moves, memories, blessings, trials, and answers to prayer. God is SO good and faithful!  
We celebrated last month when Paul and Kathy and my sister were here, as we got to get away for a night and go out on a boat at sunset.  It was wonderful!  On our actual anniversary we went to dinner and a movie, as some of our summer project students offered to babysit.  What a blessing (and the girls had so much fun!)

The past