DEBORAH'S ENCOURAGEMENT AND LIFE

TO COVER OR NOT TO COVER

2010-05-20T10:18:00.004+02:00

After been on both sides of the fence so to speak (been senior pastors of a congregation, part of a denomination, and just been a itinerary woman minister), I am always confounded by the first words asked when you approach churches/Ministers about working together in their town to create a day of fun for woman.

the big question "WHO'S COVERING ARE YOU UNDER"

Now don't get your knickers in a knot. I believe in covering and that we should not be moving around like lone rangers on our own little horse. But I wonder where did all the great names of faith start out?

I might not be a pastors wife anymore but does that mean my calling is taken away from me has God changed His mind because my hubby felt lead to do more for God in the market place and the denomination we where under didn't understand what we where trying to do?

I might not preach to thousands or have a following of people, but my heart is to see the woman of God restored made whole...

Don't worry I do have a covering; and that covering has not come just because I cute but because there is a relationship and a accountability with them.

I just wonder at times how many Godly gifted people have been misunderstood and forced into lone ranger state because of the big question! Just wondering just wondering!!

Love always

Deborah

WHAT GRACE ARE YOU SHOWING TODAY

2010-05-19T12:40:00.004+02:00

"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile" Albert Einstein

Every now and then we are all faced with issues in friendship, we need to take a good look at what is going on around you there are so many different types of friendships...

Have you ever come away from a time with a friend and wondered what the heck was that all about, do you always lead the friendship or do you always follow that friendship?

Do you come away having blown wind in their sails or just got the wind blown out of yours?

Friendships go through different phase's but does it always mean you having to adjust what you saying so as not to offend or get a lecture? Is it worth effort?

These are questions I am faced with and after really praying about its and really just getting quiet before the Lord...and yes crying my heart out. I realise we all react out of our own inner hurt or even own truth.

What we believe in our hearts as truth will be truth to me even if it is not truth.

Many of us can either become lonely and move away from friendships because of a fear of getting hurt again or we can allow God to teach us to protect our hearts and walk in His Grace.

What Grace are you showing friends today?

Love always

Deborah

My new blog header

2010-05-03T19:24:00.003+02:00

My son Mark...designed my new blog logo...thanks my boy this is beautiful...what do you all think?

love always

Deborah

stepping out of the vortex 1

2010-05-03T12:50:00.003+02:00

So much has happened over the last few months and in some cases I didnt feel the liberty to write about them...and there are some things I still wont share here as I believe it wont bring credit to anyone.

life for me has been a series of small and big happenings some have plunged me into a vortex of self destruction and others into isolation.

one great lesson I have learnt in all of this is to surround yourself with people that care about your vision (not just yours), because if you dont your vision will grow fussy.....

I have had some precious times with the Lord in the last 5 months and felt the Holy Spirit releasing me this morning to start writting again....I am an encourager and if I had written in the time that has passed it would have not done any justice to the call God has placed on my life.....

I would really love to thank all my Dolla friends that have stood by me and allowed me to take the mask of life off and just be plain Deborah they span from the USA to Christ Church New Zealand thank you for every word in season a smile or just a hug over facebook. LOVE YOU DOLLA"S

love always

Deborah

THINGS I HAVE LEARNED

2010-02-15T19:48:00.003+02:00

I recieved this from a friend and I really can agree with all of them hope you enjoy them too

I've learned... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.I've learned... That when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned ... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day,' makes my day.

I've learned ... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned... That being kind is more important than being right..

I've learned ... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned ... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned ... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand. I've learned... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult..

I've learned ... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned... That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned... That under everyones' hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I 've learned... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned ... That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned ... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned ... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them..

I've learned ... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned... That opportunities are never lost, someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned... That one should keep ones' words both soft and tender, because tomorrow same one may have to eat them..

I've learned... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, then you're hooked for life.

I've learned... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it...

I've learned... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

love always me

HOMEWORK HORRORS

2010-02-15T18:09:00.002+02:00

roroIn our household we have two languages that we speak, I can speak both and read but write and think about projects and put pen to paper with the one I really battle. Alot of people say I am mad to still make up my 15 and 16 year old and even help with school projects. However I never had that when I was growing up both my parents worked and we had a full time nanny that worked with in our home.

I feel as if I am back at school trying to get the best marks possible. What do you parents do for your children or do you leave them to their own homework etc?

love always me

HOME TOUR OUR PARADISE GARDEN

2010-01-15T20:27:00.006+02:00

out of the downstairs door and into our own paradise.

up the stair and into the back yard

my own little pathway to my kitchen door

two pots that sit just off the patio where I sit and do most of my writting thinking and praying

outside our bedroom window

out and about Teddy loves this yard that is all his own

tomorrow the tour of the first level hope you come back and enjoy it just as much as we do.

love always me

TOUR OUR HOME POT AT NIGHT

2010-01-14T15:42:00.002+02:00

Here is the picture of the visitors view as you come up at night!

TOUR OUR HOME

2010-01-14T15:16:00.006+02:00

After receiving a very upsetting email a broken friendship of years, I have decided its time to do something fun so I am going to take you (my dolla) friends on a tour of our new home and hope that you will enjoy it just as much as we are as a family.

So welcome to our front door what is so amazing about this front door that it has our birth year on it 1969 is that cool or what?

I so love the stainglass inlay that I got Kirsty to take a close up of it.

Our beautiful home is built on two levels and this is the view from the top of the home where the vistors cars park

the view the visitors get when they park at night the lights are on, and I will take one and post it soon.

tomorrow we take a walk round my garden!!

love always me

ANTIQUE SHOP ROAMING

2010-01-10T18:21:00.003+02:00

Today we did something that brings me so much pleasure….we went on a treasure hunts in antique shops. I just love it so much. I love to see all that shines..my Fred always says if I was a bird I would be a crow because all that glitters attracts my eyes.

I have decided that gifts from me will from now on be bought from the antique shops. There are the most beautiful rings and things, I even found a quality streets chocolate box that was from the early 60’s
and teddy bear box that I so want to get for Kirsty.

When the children are back at school from Wednesday I am hoping to write more meaty blogs but for now you will have to be content with my rumblings of what we are doing.

FRIENDS AND DINNER PARTIES

2010-01-09T10:00:00.002+02:00

Tonight after church we are having friends round for dinner; I thought we would go for an Italian taste, well a semi Italian evening.

I am making Jamie Oliver’s easy bake Lasagna you can find this wonderful recipe here.

I am also making Kirsty's favourite Cremora Tart with peppermint crisp for pudding...yummmy

I will be back blogging everyday as I feel ready to blog again and I am going to make it a merriment of all sorts from church to everyday life in the Meyers home, so I do hope you join me often and please if you leave a comment be sure to leave your name with it.. thank you so much

Much love

me

JUST ME

2009-11-23T15:19:00.002+02:00

Just a little picture so none of you forget me; keep praying heard we are moving this weekend already!!!!!

love you all madly

2009-11-05T10:50:00.003+02:00

found this here, why not do it too

1. It's early morning, about 2:00AM, and you're driving home. You come to a red light and sit there. There is no one in sight for miles around. Do you wait it out or run the light?
I will run it, I live in South Africa, you don’t take chances
2. If you had the chance to re-do the last 24 hours, would you change anything?
I would be more understanding! Long story.
3. When you reply to someone's comment on your blog, do you reply in your comments or go to her blog and comment? (Or email her)
I try to do both if I have time but haven’t commented for along time.
4. Your favorite Disney movie is:
Sleeping Beauty was the first one I saw on the big screen and first one I saw at the ice rink
5. Do you recycle?
Guilty I don’t we keep the bags but forget to take them with so I just keep collecting.
6. Games of strategy or games of chance?
Game of chance
7. Do you have any recurring dreams?
Not really only the one where I walk home in my favorite pair of black high heels and when I arrive I have no more heels.
8. What did you learn from your first real job?
How to file!!!! Still hate filing
9. Do you buy or borrow most books?
both
10. What fashion trend of the past did you say you'd never wear again but did?
Shoulder pads and very long tight pencil skirts, and big hair and bows!!!
11. When do you start Christmas shopping?
Normally about the end of November.
12. Have you ever been so happy that you literally jumped up and down for a few seconds? If so, what was the occasion?
When our grandson was born!!!! What more can I say!

love always me

NEWS FROM THE MEYERS

2009-11-05T10:22:00.003+02:00

As I am sitting working in front of my computer, I am so tired, I feel like the bottom of my energy recourse has come undone.

I came back from our weekend (work) and had to resign as we are moving to Johannesburg, I must say I am rather excited at the thought of a new home and a been able to go to Rivers church in Sandton which is nearer then where we are staying at the moment.

I am also hoping to be able to blog more often then what I have been doing.

LOVE ALWAYS ME

A NEW DAY

2009-10-21T07:53:00.003+02:00

Nobody can go back and start new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

I came across this quote and I just feel its such a in season word for me and maybe there is someone reading my blog that needs this too.

Today seems to be filled with in season words, I received this email this morning and would like to share it here with you:

This is a new day -- let bygones be bygones, says the Lord. Every moment is a fresh and pristine opportunity to make a choice to live according to My Spirit. You have heard it said that actions speak louder than words. You can choose to illustrate the Kingdom of God by example and show that you are a child of the King. Be prepared to carry out your word in deed.
2 Corinthians 3:2-3 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

this spoke to much to me after the day I had yesterday!

love always me

FUN DAY IN AFRICA

2009-10-13T10:50:00.010+02:00

A few weeks oops make that a few months ago my darling Fred and I had the opportunity to go on a game drive, quiet near to where we are staying, it was amazing day, we with our two younger children Mark and Kirsty , and Kirsty had her fizzy with her (Ben). Here are some pictures of our lovely time we had as a family.

Cant believe that this wild animal would eat out of my hands its amazing

Is this little one not too beautiful for words.

Fred and I

Kirsty and her Fizzy

here is Mark spark in the middle Mornings are not a good time for him

I must say I just love living in Africa!

love always Me

DRY DRY DRY!!!

2009-10-09T17:21:00.001+02:00

Prophecy over my dead bones; i am so in need of this right now!!!!

CAN I TRUST ENOUGH

2009-06-05T16:53:00.000+02:00

When you want to believe so desperately that you not been had for a fool; how do you trust following your heart when your heart feel confused and in disarray and everyday you hope just for one sign just a tangible thing to hold on too.
I sat at a coffee shop today and watched people young old, woman men children, they all seemed as if they were going somewhere but not really getting anywhere. How can I convince myself that this is real when there are signs that it’s not real?
Do I really have the faith to step out on to the water to believe that there are still people in this world that are prepared to invest into your dream…. I need to know I need to take this hand that is outstretched and believe but I am so afraid. Will it be a scheme or will this be reality… I need to know!!!

New Fragrance and attitude

2009-05-31T20:01:00.003+02:00

Time for new attitude and fragrance.......

It feels like a life time ago that I wrote anything or even put pen to paper, today Sunday the 31st of May 2009, I took myself to a movie, yes for my dearly religious friends that I dearly love, I went and watched a movie that had me crying within the first 15 minutes of the movie.

I watched “the Reader” what a thought provoking movie for me at least, I watched as an older woman seduced a young man, it may sound immoral but it was truly beautiful to watch the love blossom between them, it lasted but a summer however the effect on his life was profound, how one person can leave a memory so philosophical that every fiber of his been marched to the cord of that love he has for this woman.

Yet his reaction to her when she needed him to stand up and make it count for her left him scared for life… I wont say much more just incase someone wants to go and watch the movie.

But here is my reflection on it; who has touched my life in such a way that I cant or can move forward, whose life have I reached that they continue to love me and have affection for me way beyond the bounders of life.

I came and sat at a coffee shop and ponder about many things, my heart is filled with emotion almost like river about to burst its banks, I could not help but cry even the waiter that helped me seemed to be moved by my show of emotion, for those of you that know me I am not really given to public display of emotion, however I am finding myself in the last week or so very aware of my emotions and the things I yearn for in life… and find that when writing I can express myself a lot better then if I tried to talk about it.

Life has very many faces to it and even the seasons that we walk through each have a new challenge and a new beauty to it, for most of you that know my hubby he is a workaholic, which can be very frustration and very lonely for me…. I have buried so much of who I really am because society almost commands us to conform… I have a love for the fine arts, opera, I love culture but because society says it’s not the norm for a married woman to go without a partner I have stopped going (even the church has a say about it); I have lost a passion of mine and in away lost a part of who I am.

I have been chatting to Fred about it when he has the time to sit with me and chat about things that don’t have to do with the general running of the house; I don’t think he fully understands the need I have to be inspired by the visual and even the emotions I have when I watch these deeply moving movies, however I have decided to pursue some of these loves I have; and even if I am all on my own; I know that I am been true to myself and not conforming to society…why do I have to listen to R&B when I love opera or the more jazzy type of music, why do I have to be in a business suite to prove I can hold my own in a mans world; I never signed up for woman’s lib or equal rights; I just came into the world to be a woman pursued and cherished….to be loved and adored…to love and give myself with every passionate fiber of who I am to the world…I want to let people see the fire I have in my soul.

love always me

one year ago

2009-02-21T20:32:00.003+02:00

These two photos where taken a year apart, the one on the top was taken Last year when we will still staying in Empangeni, while this one was take I think about 2 days ago...

so what do you all think?

ONE HIGH HEEL ONE SLIPPER

2009-01-26T07:46:00.004+02:00

One high heel one slipper today is very personal.
Many of us battle with this issue. My weight!
I work for a company that helps with people’s weight loss, and I feel like a hypocrite when I do groups because here are all my members losing weight and becoming the beautiful new them….while I face my own inner demons on this front.
I start every Monday off on the right track eating my oats or whole-wheat toast etc but come Monday around lunch time I have been too lazy to plan and there for e I fail, even though I teach these girls that failure to plan is a plan to failure.
Two weeks ago I decided that enough is enough I am not feeling well by the end of the day I am grumpy and totally not myself, it’s like living with two different people inside of me, I had started getting hot flushes or so I thought….. Well I did think it had to do with the fact that I had a hysterectomy about 11years ago and in a few weeks time I will be 40!
I decided to come clean go to the doctor and even contact the founder and chairperson of the company for help… after a series of blood tests the doctor called me in and sat me down and gave me a lecture…. Because I think I know better than the doctor I change my medication and then stop taking the meds because I think I know better, because of this my thyroid has become even more sluggish and my insulin levels are through the roof, he has put me on 2000mg of glucophage and upped my thyroid medication…. The founder of our company has given me a new formula and I am happy to report that today which is a little less than 2 weeks I have lost 4kg/8.8 pounds. I feel so much better yet I still struggle to keep focused on my program.
I feel that this has something to do with things that I am not coming face to face about and I will start to share it here but will do so in small stages as I feel comfortable with and what the Lord is busy working on.
I love the Lord with all my heart but at times I really doubt the call that He has placed on my life and I slip or shy away from it… I don’t slip away from Him but from His requests…I have this feast and famine with the Lord. Let me explain…. I go full force in doing what He called me to do then I start to look at man and I slip and won’t go down the road with Him.
I am a real people pleaser and battle to say no… so it flows over into many areas of my life…. My eating my call my life in general. This constant walking around with one high heel and one slipper makes me a very open target to the enemy and at times I even allow it willingly.
I have decided to take the high heels off for a while and only walk in the slippers not because I am resting but I am trying to find the balance in my life again…starting with the time spent with the Lord and looking at what I put in my mouth…just as I journal so I am now doing a food journal so that I can see what is going into my mouth…what I read and who I associate with… I can’t run away from life but I can ask the Lord for His direction in all of this…

NO CHURCH TO BE FOUND

2009-01-11T21:27:00.000+02:00

There is nothing nicer for me on a Sunday evening then going to church and coming home and inviting people round for supper, however since we been up here that has not happened. Tonight Kirsty and I rode around looking for a church to go to, can you believe it there is not one open that we went to. I understand school is only opening next week, yet somehow I think in SA the culture of having church in the evening, is dying out what do you all think about it?
I so pray that I find a church that we really can call home!

BUSY

2009-01-07T11:54:00.000+02:00

Have you ever felt like the whole world wants a piece of you, well that is how I am feeling right now; My internet is playing up and I cant post pictures and the red tape for the NGO is killing my speed, however I am rejoicing in the fact that I am able to do what God has asked me to and I am so excited to see what He is unfolding. I rejoice in the fact that great things are about to happen!!!!!

I am searching the Lord on my health my tyroid is not functioning and that is causing my tiredness, the doctor has doubled up my med's so lets give it a few days and see.

love you all so very much

GOD MOVED MY HEART

2009-01-03T13:36:00.001+02:00

As I sit here on my porch and just watch my dogs play, and I relax with a cup of coffee; I think about this morning and even our wonderful dinner with friends last night, I am all choked up. Sounds strange because I am having a wonderful day;
This morning as I was driving to do some groceries and just get some treats for the kiddies that are coming home tomorrow. I pasted 3 ladies again on the side of the road begging. Yesterday I was watching someone preaching on the God channel, and he asked this question, What moves you to tears at the moment, did mother Theresa ask someone if she could do this or that or did she go and do what God was moving her heart to do? Why are you complaining about not knowing what to do when God has already highlighted what He wants you to move on?
I was blown away because every time I drive past these ladies my heart breaks, I come home in tears and I know that this is what God is moving my heart to do.
I am not going to tell you what I did today but let me tell you my heart is rejoicing in the fact that at last I am obedient to what the Lord has been prompting me to do for a long long time.
All I ask now if anyone has idea’s on nutrition for these little ones please email me as I am wanting to do this on a full scale, to make sure each one even if its once a month in the beginning to give a food parcel aimed at the baby on the mom’s back and even a few things for mom.
I am doing this out of my house money so please pray with me that I will find bargains all the way.
These babies deserve a chance to live and find life in Christ.

Love always

HOPE 2009

2009-01-01T09:10:00.002+02:00

O My child, I need you for Myself. Yea, I have purposes for thy life beyond thy present comprehension. Yea, I have truth concerning Myself to give to thee deeper and richer and more wonderful that thine understanding has thus far taken in.
Open thine heart wide to Me. I will fill thee with My Holy Spirit, and in so doing will satisfy the deepest longings of thy soul. (Come away My Beloved)
This morning as I sit in the quietness of my home the hum of my hubby sleeping and the dogs at peace, I have a sense of great expectation rising up in my heart and I know that this year is that year of Hope, I believe with all my heart that great things will happen this year…..
I believe that as we continue to bow our knee in this home that God is a God of breakthrough. I received a gift for my garden, it’s a wall hanging that says HOPE… it’s a prophetic symbol for our home and that is why I have even changed my blog heading to remind me and all that read this blog that this is the year of HOPE.
Well I am off to take a shower and get ready for our anniversary day of fun and been out under the warm African sky.

FUN AND ROSES

2008-12-31T21:07:00.007+02:00

Today my darling came home with 2 dozen long stem red roses for me, he was so funny coming through the door with a grin that should be on a little boys face and then handed me the roses, we had our favourite Thai food, and chocolate mousse for desert mmmm was so yummy but really not good for my program!!!!

We have just come back from a wonderful swim and now watching a movie (we love movies), tomorrow we are going to find a nice out door resturant where we can celebrate our wedding anniversary, but we start soon at 12 with .......

So to all my friend and family that do read my blog I just want to wish you a blessed New year and remember this is the year of birth.... I am believing and trusting God for great things in 2009 and that there will be some travel, be blessed

OUR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

2008-12-31T09:45:00.002+02:00

We have been through some tough times together and this year has pushed so many boundries, however today as I sit and think about our life together, I want to take the chance to say I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

My darling Fred, as I lay in your arms this morning and we chatted my heart was filled with that first love again, and today I want to honour you as the head and priest of our home.

Thank you for putting up with your drama queen.

13 years ago you took not just me but 3 young babies and you walked into our lives and changed our lives around.

Tonight at 12 when we where married 13 years ago and all I can say is I am so blessed to walk beside you, thank you for taking my hand and walking me down this journey so far....

The champange is on ice and I am waiting.....

Love you bekkie so very much....

love always me

LAZY NIGHT

2008-12-29T19:13:00.002+02:00

I was so lazy tonight and with the kids not here, hubby and I decided to have toasted cheese and onion, I must say I love toasted cheese and onion. so here we are alone and bad food choices but so relaxed tonight, dont you just love those relaxed nights when you have no hard tasks to do and just enjoy each other.

love always me

WHEN GOD TALKS

2008-12-29T12:19:00.003+02:00

As I was chatting to a very good friend of mine she gave me this to read and all I can say is God knows me better then myself.

this is from Come away My beloved

a book that always ministres so to my heart

remember when I asked you all to pray for me well this is spot on of what had/has been going on in my life.

"Return unto me; for lo, I have sought after thee, but thou hast continued on in pursuit of thine own ways. I have called unto thee, but ye have disregarded Me. I have placed obstacles in they path, hoping that ye would stop and consider and inquire of Me, but ye have obstinately and determinately forged on ahead.
Have ye learned no wisdom? Have past lessons fled they mind? Are My dealings with thee remembered not at all?
O stubborn and rebellious child, has My love no longer the power of melt thy heart? Have My words which once ye so treasured become of no value to thee?
Put down thine anxieties, and trust Me for everything. Ye need nothing but what I am fully able to supply, with no effort on thy part. I do not ask all My children to live in so complex a degree of trust, but I require it of thee, because ye cannot please Me with anything less.
Ye are weary, and ye should be strong. Ye are encumbered and I would have thee free. Ye are hindered by undue concern when ye should be abounding in joy.
Come back into My perfect will, and finish the task I have assigned thee. Anything else is sin. What, for another, maybe legitimate is not so for thee.
Come closer to Me, and I will minister to thee and will revive thy spirit. So shall ye go on, even though the climb be more steep than ever before."

love always me

FAMILY DAY

2008-12-29T10:10:00.008+02:00

Jenni, Charl and Kyrone we decided to do the tourist thing on family day (boxing day) and went to the Union Buildings which is very historical for all South Africans. I loved the idea of just hanging out under the trees with the kids as you will see from the pictures we did alot of walking and i think all our arms where dead by the end of the day with little Kyrone (nana's kyrone siren boy)

one of the statues at the union buildings

Us with Kyrone and we think he is much cuter then the first minister of SA.

I trust that everyone had a wonderful family day where you got out and about and spent precious time that can never be replaced by anything.

Gramp's , Kyrone and Nana

the last picture is of Kyrone and he did not even realise he was standing on his own

love always me

CHRISTMAS AT THE MEYERMANOR

2008-12-26T19:26:00.002+02:00

my first christmas is there room for more

We had a wonderful Christmas with lots of traveling involved, between my baby sister Natalie and us is a good 3 and half hours drive, we decided to surprise my mom, our two little pumpkins Mark spark and Kirsty-pie are away on holiday at the sea and this is the first Christmas that we are not all together, however we decided to surprise my mom so that she could share the first Christmas with her great grandson Kyrone, who was spoilt rotten!

Here are a few pictures to show how we celebrated Christmas here.

And maybe once I can figure out why I cant upload photos here I will come back and post them

love always me

me, my mom and sister Natalie and at the back

Jenni my eldest daughter

JINGLE BELLS

2008-12-22T08:47:00.000+02:00

I can’t believe that Christmas is around the corner, My Fred and I did some shopping yesterday… one sad note is that I realized how little I know about my darling sisters children.. I made Fred walk and walk and revisit the same stores not once or twice but maybe five times, I must say we had fun.
I just love to watch people and for any of you out there that know me you will understand my fascination with coffee shops and the love I have for people. We sat in place called “the village square stage.” It was great they even had a local artist come and perform and keep the people entertained… but sadly I must say some of the people you want to ask what were you thinking when you got dressed this morning.
When I looked at the time again we had spent the whole day there it was nearly 5pm and we still didn’t have a gift for our grand baba… but gramps and nana solved that problem we just bought a whole lot for him to choose from…even though I had to pull gramps away from the little quad bikes and have the sales man reassure him that the idea age is 2 years old…we found some lovely gifts for all.
At the moment my Fred and I are on our own no children only their dogs and boy are they naughty…little Teddy Kirsty-pies dog is a real little terror… I am thinking of renaming him terror. He seems to be addicted to marshmallows like me.
I am still working flat out and only have a few days off, and need to start planning my life for next year I just don’t seem to find joy yet or the excitement of planning, and yet I know if I fail to plan I will plan to fail. I can’t believe that it’s almost our wedding anniversary again and we are spending it with very precious friends of our as we still will be childless…. We are going with them to their church and I know that I will get some answers that I am looking for at the moment.

Love always me

BIRTHDAYS AND ECG'S

2008-12-17T11:07:00.002+02:00

Today as I sit in front of my laptop I am deep in thought about all that has happened this week
Firstly my darling daughter turned 20 I can believe it this beautiful slim lady use to be my chubby angel and now all grown up with her own baby, we drove through on Sunday to celebrate with her and just spoil her a bit, so strange when your kids are married it feels like I am going to a girl friend not a child, until she sits on your lap and you know she is just you baby girl. Jenni-lee my darling mom loves you so much and I am so very proud of the woman you have become and the wonderful wife and mother you are…always just stay my baby girl.

Then on Monday evening at about 10:30 hubby rushed me to hospital we thought I was having a heart attack… so up came the drip and had an ECG…

which was clear praise the Lord. However I need to go back tomorrow as they think it could be either my gall bladder or an ulcer.. I will keep you all updated but please keep me in your prayers.

Love always me

LAST NIGHT

2008-12-12T09:39:00.001+02:00

Last night I had a wonderful evening out with my hubbikins and our daughter Kirsty and her Friend Monique that has come to visit with us from Empangeni; it was her birthday so we told them they could pick the restaurant and the place of entertainment for themselves…..
They might be 16 and Kirsty going on 16 but in their hearts they are still the little girls that had dress up parties not so long ago…. We went to Mac Donald’s can you believe it…. Thought they might get a happy meal….which they had discussed in the car but when these 3 skater boys appeared gone was the happy meal and a normal meal was ordered… we sat back and laughed…gee how fast they grow up.
We then went off to a mall so that they could ice skate which lasted a whole coffee for us… and much needed catching up for Fred and I we seem to be missing each other in the course of our life up here in Pretoria. We then went tenpin bowling with them and I must say for two skinny chicky rickies they played very well even though it looked like they were going to go flying down the bowling lane with that ball.
Friend family loved ones…. Take time to spend with your kids having fun you learn a great deal about yourself when you do this.

Love always me

IS IT CHRISTMAS

2008-12-07T11:48:00.002+02:00

This morning I am all alone at home and the family are all over the show, yet I need this more then anything else. Normally by now I have my Christmas decorations up ready for Christmas, yet this year is so different, I feel out of touch with myself and with everything that is near and dear to me.
Is it depression I asked myself this morning, I did something that I haven’t done in a very very long time and that is worked in my garden, I went and bought what we call in south Africa “Christmas rose” as I was working taking out weeds and making ready to plant the plant. I wondered if this is where I am full of weeds with no one to tend my garden, as we have not planted ourselves in a church yet I find that I have let certain things grow in my heart which are weeds, and I so need someone to come and gentle help me remove these weeds, some are more stubborn then others. And that at the moment is the cry of my heart is to find a place where from the moment we walk in we will feel yes this is home, we have been in Pretoria for 8 months now and I know we said we would give ourselves a year to find a home and settle. When I look back I think we have been too long out of home. So please continue to pray for us.
There are many things happening here that I don’t feel I want to write about just yet but ask you to continue to keep us as a family in prayer.
So after I finished with my gardening I went into the garage and there in the corner was my Christmas tree. And that was it I have put Christmas into my home and now I am sitting here crying my eyes out, I love Christmas yet this year I feel sad and lonely. Hopefully when all comes together the next chapter in my life will start to pull together.
So dear friends hope that as we go into this Christmas season we will find joy andpeace…..

COOKIE MONSTER

2008-11-16T22:54:00.002+02:00

Just had to share this: our grandson Kyrone is nearly nine months old I cant believe it and mom keeps Nana upto date via cell phone thought you would all agree he is his Nana's cookie monster in this picture

ANOTHER CHURCH VISIT

2008-11-16T22:16:00.002+02:00

It seems like I only blog once a month now but I will try my best to be more on my blog from now on.
We went to a new church tonight called “LIGHT OF THE NATIONS” but to get there was another story:
We decided tonight that we really needed to go to church, we decided on a church and went there only to find the gates open but no one there, we had seen a sign board of another church and went there instead only to find out that they don’t have evening services, so we started driving home but we were enjoying the view of all the lovely gardens when wham bam in front of us was this huge board that said “LIGHT OF THE NATIONS CHURCH” my darling and I both looked at each other and decided why not we are wanting to go let’s check it out.
When we drove through the lovely garden and as we drove we saw all these youngsters, and we were wondering if we were not too old for this church, we parked the car and was greeted by a young man in a golf cart that offered to drive us right to the church doors…. Was quite a thrill.
We stepped inside and loved the whole ambiance of the church, the worship was alive and the church was very noisy but was so good!
Then the preaching started, Pastor Belinda preached and was it a word in season, which I want to write more on tomorrow but for now this is what her message heading was:
THRIVING NOT JUST SURVIVING IN THE DESERT!!!!!!!!!!

This is what I so needed to hear.

LOVE ALWAYS ME

ps this is a photo taken of me today

Priceless - friendship

2008-10-22T09:26:00.001+02:00

Have you ever had something that was precious to you and you thought you had lost it?
It might be a priceless heirloom or it might be something sentimental or perhaps a friendship?
Well I had a friendship that I thought was lost to me I have a tendency to pull back when I am hurting or going through things that just don’t make sense to me. In this time that I have been up in Pretoria I have done that pulled back from everyone that is dear to me…. Do I do it on purpose or do I just do it because that is how I cope when life seems to overwhelm me!
Yesterday I had an appointment to see someone that is very dear to me but because of my pulling back might have placed this friendship in jeopardy, we decided like all good south Africans to gather around food to sort our problems out. We choose a place we both love called Ciao Baby’s they make the most divine chicken salad you can think of!
We talked about everything and anything to avoid the subject but then we sat down and got to the bottom of the problem, we cried and we laughed and walked away as friends again, tender friends having to regain trust and respect again.
Dear family and friends (near and far) I am so sorry if I shut you out while I was going through my own inner war, please forgive me if I chose to retreat.
Know that to me you all are part of my heart very dear to me!

love always me

LET YOUR FEET DANCE

2008-10-15T10:21:00.001+02:00

I was at a coffee shop with a lady the other day and they have different posters up about dancing and the one that caught my eye was “dancing is what feet do when they day dream”
I thought about it a lot because as a young girl that was my favorite pastime to daydream, and I wondered about it the ability to dream comes from the Lord, It says that He speaks to us in dreams and visions. I thought about it a lot and found that many women have lost their ability to dream.
This morning as I sat and drank my cup of fresh filtered coffee on my patio I started to daydream about many things one thing that got my day dreaming going was to travel, to go to a beautiful place where there is sunny skins and beautiful beaches where the people are passionate about life.
I so want to go to Greece and have a romantic holiday with my darling Fred, to walk along the beach in my white gypsy dress with a straw hat on sipping a virgin mohita not sure of the spelling there.

Girls my challenge for the week is to dream to set time aside and just daydream, when last have you day dreamed?

LOVE ALWAYS ME

WEDDING BELLS

2008-09-28T13:48:00.007+02:00

MR AND MRS CHARL LOTTERING and KYRONE LOTTERING (nana's heart throb)

Wedding bells chimed for our daughter and son in love on a beautiful Sunday morning in September, the day could never have been more perfect.
Here are some of the photos that were taken and I want to share them with you all; I must say I was so delighted with the whole day, I never shed a tear till my darling Fred and I were driving home then the tears came. I love the idea that our family has gotten bigger and I have a son that I will treasure for years to come he is the apple of my eye.

My girls and I

THE FAMILY

Kirsty, Dad Fred, Charl and Jenni-lee Lottering, Mom Debbie, Sweet Kyrone in Mark Sparks arms

love always me

LETS ACCEPT THE BEAUTY WE ARE

2008-09-26T08:56:00.006+02:00

Yesterday I sat with a group of ladies and I watched and listen to all of them; the loud over the top the silent type, the somewhere in the middle, and you know what alarmed me most was their insecurities that each one faces in their lives.
Let me tell you about the red head beauty she is 55 doesn’t look a day over 40, has a body that screams I look after myself, and she keeps saying look how saggy I have become, look how big my butt is, she is beautiful but because of her husband leaving her for a 26 year old she has put on the lens of life saying you are not good enough you are old and of no use.
Next one she is 29 blonde has a wonderful husband that gives her everything her heart can desire, but she can’t keep a job for long she is a perfectionists but with that needs constant assurance that she is doing her best that she is the best at her job, where does it stem from her parents, she was an A student but was never good enough for her father, the lens she is wearing says if I can’t get 100% I am nothing.
What about the girl with all the curves that laughs out loud, she is stunning all the men think so and she is very popular, the woman feel threatened by her and in her words; “the church ladies think I am a whore! Because I get along better with the men then the woman because women destroy your personality.”
These are just a few from the group I was with yesterday.
I came back home and started to wonder and ponder and I am reminded that I cannot build who I am on the words of others I cannot be someone else I can only be me, and the assurance I need is from my heavenly Father, the Holy Spirit is the one that affirms who I am in Christ Jesus.
My favorite scripture is in Psalms 45:
My heart bursts its banks, spilling beauty and goodness. I pour it out in a poem to the king, shaping the river into words:
2-4 "You're the handsomest of men; every word from your lips is sheer grace, and God has blessed you, blessed you so much. Strap your sword to your side, warrior! Accept praise! Accept due honour! Ride majestically! Ride triumphantly! Ride on the side of truth! Ride for the righteous meek! 4-5 "Your instructions are glow-in-the-dark; you shoot sharp arrows into enemy hearts; the king's foes lie down in the dust, beaten. 6-7 "Your throne is God's throne, ever and always; the sceptre of your royal rule measures right living. You love the right and hate the wrong. And that is why God, your very own God, poured fragrant oil on your head, marking you out as king from among your dear companions.
8-9 "Your ozone-drenched garments are fragrant with mountain breeze. Chamber music—from the throne room— makes you want to dance. Kings' daughters are maids in your court, the Bride glittering with golden jewellery.
10-12 "Now listen, daughter, don't miss a word: forget your country, put your home behind you. Be here—the king is wild for you. Since he's your lord, adore him. Wedding gifts pour in from Tyre; rich guests shower you with presents." 13-15 (Her wedding dress is dazzling, lined with gold by the weavers; all her dresses and robes are woven with gold. She is led to the king, followed by her virgin companions. A procession of joy and laughter! A grand entrance to the king's palace!) 16-17 "Set your mind now on sons— don't dote on father and grandfather. You'll set your sons up as princes all over the earth. I'll make you famous for generations; you'll be the talk of the town for a long, long time."

Dolla's accept the beauty's you are and live to the fullest in the beauty of who Christ has made you!!!!!!

Love always me

I AM BACK STRONGER THEN EVER

2008-09-24T20:27:00.000+02:00

As days turned into weeks and weeks into months, I have redesigned my life, I have had a good long look at who and what I am and have become.
I am horrified to see how I was trapped in pretence of who and what I am, I was accused of only wanting friendship to see what I could gain out of it, i.e. where I could have a place to preach or teach or not, I sat back hurt and betrayed yet deep inside of me the voice that I have know so well over the last 20 odd years reassured me that even this will pass.
I have entered into a very different world of work where the ladies hate each other and most marriages are on the rocks, and I wonder Lord is this the new harvest fields you have for me, would anyone understand if I said I sat with a drunk woman calming her fears that she is still attractive and that even though her husband is having an affair with one of their friends that she is entitled to have love and a marriage.
Or would they understand if I said I sat with a woman crying in my lap because her drug dealer won’t meet with her tonight because he need to come down from his high, would you understand it if I said I am have the time of my life, I feel as if I am walking amongst the out casts and I feel alive for Christ like never before.
Oh the question has arisen but who are you accountable to and where do you fellowship and honestly all I can say is I am accountable to my husband and children and I stand under the Lordship of my Savior the one who died for these people.
I want to thank all of you for not giving up on me in my time of absence, thank you for you ongoing support and love that I received via email and even the odd telephone call. I am back dolla and I am dangerous for the kingdom. I have come out of the dark into this very very marvelous light.
I am so aware of the phrase “Jesus walked amongst them” I am walking amongst them and having the time of my life.

Love always me

JUST PRAY

2008-08-11T17:28:00.002+02:00

To all my friends far and near,
I am going through some major fiery trails, so bad that I don’t want to blog about it, all I can ask is for you to hold me up in prayer, I have been through many in my life but this seems too large for me to handle and at the moment have chosen to become a hermit or recluse for now.
I have always been an encourager and it’s so hard for me to really let down my guard and say it like it is, because in the back of my mind I always need to be positive. Girls I really need prayer and a hug……
Love always me

TURNING SCARS INTO STARS PART 1

2008-07-01T18:41:00.002+02:00

Dolla’s tonight as I am busy preparing dinner and the house is quite not a sound except the tapping of the keys on the laptop, I thank the Lord for precious people that He has brought across my path over the years of serving the Lord.
With very fond memories I think of my aunt that took the time to take me to church after I had run away from home at the tender age of 13. When I look at Kirsty-pie and see the beauty of a young girl I shudder to think that at her age I had already been raped. Life has not always been a bed of roses, but everyday we should chose to change our scars into stars.
In the quietness of the house I am reminded of the scripture:
Be still and know that I am God.
I can truly say tonight that I know that God the bible speaks about, the one who rescued me from a living hell. The one that taught me to love life and me again. The one who said Your SINS are forgiven. The one who died so that I might have eternal life. Tonight I just want to sing praises to the Lord of all Lords and the King of all Kings. How precious is He and tonight as I sit in the quietness of my home, I am free to praise Him free to be me.
Changing our scars into stars is a process that we should all go through it brings freedom in our lives like no one can describe, today I don’t feel like a woman soiled and lost but I feel like a pure woman before God, when I go to bed at night with my darling Fred, I can truly say this is the man that God had preordained for me, I don’t enter our marriage bed with shame in my heart but I come to our marriage bed free to be the princess the queen of my home.
Dolla’s come let the Lord of all Lord anoint your heart let Him take your scars and turn them into star tonight, come sit before Him and be still so that you can Know that He is God. Praise you Jesus I am so in love with you.

Love always me

SPIRIT OF FUN

2008-07-01T09:49:00.001+02:00

The spirit of Fun!
Sometimes we need to let loose and just enjoy life, having a wonderful time with your girl friends. I love to watch people and when I go to a coffee shop, I love to watch girl friends together have you ever watched how they all seem to talk at once and then the hands go and the noise and laughter is almost like a moth to the flame. I find myself drawn to them, wanting to get in on the latest going on in their lives.
“Sing, o daughter of Zion, Shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad ad rejoice with all your heart…” Zephaniah 3:14
Today I long to be surrounded by my dolla’s to rejoice in my King with them. Today if you live close your dolla friends grab a cuppa and rejoice in the King and enjoy the spirit of fun, even if people think you have escaped out of the rubber room.

Love always me

NEGATIVE FRIENDS!

2008-06-29T23:00:00.000+02:00

This week end has been one that really has me hanging in the balance of what friendship is all about, when I was a little girl my grandfather said to me one day, “its easier for negative people to make you one of them then to make them one of you (positive).” This has always stayed with me.
On that note we went to dinner with a couple the other evening and it was a great restaurant with great food and décor everything was great the company was good and we chat about various things, one thing that we have very much in common is that we both come out of ministry, ours is a very different set of reasons to theirs, which I wont go into detail about, my husband had once preached about the day that Noah had gotten drunk and had passed out naked, one of his sons had laughed and even mocked his father but the other covered the naked body of their father, in the same manner we need to cover one another nakedness before others, however I can say that after listening to them, I felt angry and had to really seek the Fathers face, I was looking for answers I knew I would not get, as the Lord said to Job who are you to question me (my own interpretation).
Yet here was a man that is a powerful preacher and a wonderful gifted man that has the ability to make the most awesome counseling manuals… but when my husband asked him how he felt about the ministry his answer was I help myself and others must help themselves… the reason why it angered me is because they are always trying to counsel us and tell us that the season of ministry is over for the four of us, and maybe its right regarding leading a work or a church… shepherding a flock… and that is so important that we find the right shepherd to shepherd us,.. However I love the ministry, it’s not easy its one of the hardest things anyone can do. On that note also one of the most rewarding things you can do as well. My friend Deanna wrote something on been famous that goes so well with this go read it here:
I could have chosen to do this: become negative and agree and moan and complain about how bad the church is and how people just use and abuse you (and yes that does happen, and if it is happening to you, please find someone in ministry that is stronger then you to speak to…please don’t speak to one of the congregation members its not fair to them and it will cause you heartache in the end) and come away losing sight of what God is busy with in my life right now and the restoration and exciting journey that is facing me right now.
What I did do is walk away and go straight to the Fathers feet and ask Him to show me what He requires from me, I had to go and pour out the heartache and anger so He could fill me up with His love and compassion. Let’s always make a conscious decision to walk in the opposite spirit.

Love always me

SUNDAY BREAKFAST

2008-06-29T22:46:00.001+02:00

We had a wonderful breakfast with our Jenni and Charl and of course yipeeeeee our little grandbaby Kyrone, Here he is with Grandpa taking in some winter sun.

I WAS TAGGED

2008-06-29T22:26:00.005+02:00

Deanna over at Lifetime Intimate Portrait tagged me the other day with this meme, so here I go:
1) What were you doing ten years ago?

We where associate pastors in a Pentecostal church in Welkom in the Free State to think Jenni was 11 and Kirsty was 5 and Mark 4.

2) Name five things on today's "to do" list:

Tidy my Cupboard in my bedroom

Go to gym tomorrow morning

Have all my reports in by 10 tomorrow

Grocery shop

this I cant put on the web :) .......

3) Things I'd do if I was a billionnaire...

So much! I'd bless and give to my children, my church, friends, missionaries, and I would minister all over the world to churches that cant afford to have minister in to come an preach, and bless those couples leading those churches beyond measure!

4) Three bad habits:

Emotional eating at times

Emotional shopping (when I cant afford it, haven’t done it in awhile)

Raising voice when I'm angry at times

5) Five places I've lived:

Johannesburg, South Africa

Cape town, South Africa

Swaziland

Empangeni, Kwa Zulu Natal

Pretoria, South Africa

6) Five jobs I've had:Bank clerkGirl FridayYouth worker.Co- PastorChurch Administrator7) five people I'm tagging:
Sharmaine
Lisa Houston
Lisa (Preachers wife)
Darla
Beloved Mama

MY HEART BEFORE YOU

2008-06-25T20:33:00.002+02:00

As I sit at my computer and my heart is in a place of rejoicing and contemplating at the same time. I had such a wonderful morning of worship and just pouring out my heart before the Lord, I find myself in a place of absolute admiration of who Jesus is in my life and what He is sharing with me at the moment.
I have a friend that was very hurt in ministry and even though there is a wonderful call on her life, she is in a place of what now Lord, is there still time to have the promises that He promised in her early days, and this made me think of Caleb that even in his eighty’s he still pressed in and got his promised land. There is a ministry call on her life but it seems to evade her, as if there is this dance of near then far away. In my time of worship this morning I declared in the heavenlies that the call that God has on my life will be fulfilled in my life.
I am in the place of rejoicing because God has given me a mandate and I know that I need to fulfill it. I am no longer going to hide behind what I think people want to hear, I don’t want to hear that I cant fulfills Gods calling, because I am a woman married to a man that doesn’t want to be in ministry but wants to support my ministry, YES girls that’s right I have such a desire to be back in full time ministry, where my husband only wants to support he is a market Minister and feels that is where God has called him to so that he can be a financial source to people in ministry, for longer enough I have listened to man and not to God almighty that has called me from the foundations of the earth, that ordained me by His hand to be His workmanship. I know that some of you reading this might not agree with me but I know that God has spoken and I need to take note of this.
How is this going to work I don’t know God has given me the beginning and end picture, and I know that as I take hold of His hand and allow the Holy Spirit to guide me every step of the way and I know that these will be baby steps, do I quit my day job not until God tells me too. What do I need to do next I have no idea all I know is what is set before me, today I was freed from bondage of the fear of man! Yes! Praise Jesus! I am going to minister until Jesus comes to fetch me! At 120!
Today I ask you my dear dolla’s to keep me in your hearts and prayers, as the Father leads each one I know you will share with me! I trust the Lord for mighty steps in Him, I feel like a little girl getting ready to dance on my Fathers feet, to feel the strong might hand of my father leading me in the right direction! The word of the Lord came to me saying I will be called Hephzibah “HIS DELIGHT” Praise Jesus! Praise Jesus!!!!
Victory, Victorious (3nikao) Scripture Index for nikao"to conquer, overcome," is translated "(them) that come victorious (from)" in Re. 15:2, RV (AV, "that had gotten the victory"). See CONQUER, OVERCOME, PREVAIL....
This is the name the Lord has given me from here on its just Prayer, not sure of what I need to do with this name but in time He is faithful and will give me more…..

Love always me

USE TODAY WISELY

2008-06-25T08:08:00.004+02:00

Here is a quote from Joy in His presence by Barbara Johnson.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

"Yesterday is a canceled check, tomorrow is a promissory note, but today is cash! Use it wisely."

Love always me

SEX IN THE CITY AND MY THOUGHTS

2008-06-20T21:46:00.002+02:00

Well last night I went to see “SEX IN THE CITY” I took my Fred with me, well he laughed just as much as I did, in some places more then me. Let me start by saying yes there are some dodgy scene but it makes up for about 10 min of the whole movie.
One thing for sure this is a real chick flick, I laugh and cried and laughed some more. For all of you out there that have girlfriends you will understand this movie. Its about girls that want to fall in love, they do some get married and live happy ever after with a few heartaches along the way, one that has everything but needs more, another that gets hurt and learns a lesson in forgiveness, and then the girl next door that seems to have everything.
I came away feeling two things:
1. I miss my dolla friends I have got to know of the years!
2. Somehow I am now questioning what I really have reached in my life in nearly 40 years.
Before I begin I want to say that I love Jesus He is my personal Lord and Savior, and I love His church, but somehow the relevance of life has gone from the church, I seem to find myself doing a lot of thinking today, have I somehow isolated myself so that I have learnt to suppress the true me to fit into the church, dress modest (like an old woman) not put pink streaks in my hair because it would cause some one to stumble, stopped laughing out loud from my tummy because someone in the church said if I was in the world I would have been a loose girl? Why do we label people so much why do we put people in a box, oh she is the pastors wife oh she is emotional, oh she is the super spiritual one, oh let me share about so and so because she really needs prayer (hogwash: that is gossiping under a disguise of Christianity)
Have we in the church become so narrow minded that we think every thing will taint us have we become nothing better then an occult, isolating ourselves because we are scared we will become contaminated by the lady that has too much to drink or the lady that does stripteases does that mean I am better then her? How is it that we tell the world that we are right when most Christians look so miserable? How is it that people have become so cloned in churches the pastors wife has her nails painted pink with white daisies and next week half the ladies are doing the same, what happened to individual style and living naturally supernaturally?
When Jesus walked the earth the world says He dinned with tax collectors and had woman of the night come and anointed Him, He never partook of what they where doing but He was in their faces loving them where they are at! The word says He was moved by compassion, how can we be moved by compassion when we are living in lofty churches passing down judgment instead of walking in the world. (I am not talking about the few churches that have become part of their community)
Can I say that I want to make a difference in the world not by my haughty judgment but by living in this world and making a difference by been moved by compassion just as Jesus was.

Love always me

My new hairdresser

2008-06-19T15:29:00.005+02:00

As all of you know by now we have moved, there are many challenges in moving. The one that has been the hardest for me personally is my friends and church, however I have come to realize the most difficult one has been trying to find a hairdresser that understands me, the one who will know that when I say I want platinum blonde hair, will say no girl will make you look old drawn or whatever the case, the one who knows that when I have had a bad day or week and I say cut all my hair off will know that I am not been serious. I also want one that doesn’t always do the same old same old.
I have had a lot of red in my hair recently and almost become drab, so after searching and I must say up here in Pretoria you pay for the mall you go to when it comes to hair dressers, now not to sound super spiritual, this morning I ask Jesus to help me I have been feeling like a washed out rag for a while, and I love having my hair done but I don’t want to bust the bank by doing so, since we moved to Pretoria I have been riding down this one street everyday and there is a beautiful building with a sign that says: House of hair and beauty, the whole place grabbed my attention but after phoning around I though this would be out of my league, however I just felt the Lord say phone them, well girls I have found my home for my hair and here is what she has done, I know it looks a lot the same as my old hair style but the color and the feel is just wonderful. So here are some pictures of it.

My Fred and I are going on a date tonight so will blog when I get back…going to watch…”sex in the City” I know bring out the stones lets stone me…but I am a big believer in girlfriends and all my girlfriends live to far for me to go with them to see it.

Love always me

DROWNING IN PAPERWORK

2008-06-17T19:14:00.002+02:00

If any of you are wondering what has happened to me I am drowning in paper work. I can’t make head or tails of what I am doing in the reports I have to send in. Thank the Lord He gave me the capacity to speak and write other wise I might be unemployed right now.
You know been the church administrator was good training and been a preacher has also helped me to understand people the only problem is I am better with people then I am with paper work. I praise Jesus for the husband I have he has been a star getting me set up and even doing the odd filing for me, I jokingly tell the girls at my area managers meeting that I have my own PA.
I really should get some pointers from my friend Deanna over at life time intimate portrait she seems to have it all together…. HELP DEANNA. So just in case you thought I have gone off to an exotic Island, sorry you are wrong but that would have been wonderful. I have so much to blog on but will get to that later.
Here is a taste of what is to come: our evening out with our darling friends from Malawi: this will be a great story so watch this space.

Love always me

MEMOIRES OF A FAST FADING FATTY-ROAD MAP

2008-06-09T17:24:00.002+02:00

I am so exhausted today, I haven’t done a business plan or report in years, and somehow I have been able to with the help of my darling hubby Fred, this man knows his way around reports and procedures. I have felt so far behind in my day to day living this past week with all the new things happening in my life, but praise the Lord He gave me a wonderful gorgeous man called Fred.
So this week I had to weigh in at one of my groups because I am not at goal weight and I am working for a weigh management company I need to keep a steady process of losing my weight. I got on and have lost another .800g so I am very stoked because I seem to be losing about that much every week now.
The weigh-less lady gave a talk and I though it was so good I wanted to share it with you.
1. Your eating program is your road map to successes.
2. As in every persons life we take detours to see the scenery, that coffee shop attack- get back on the road and don’t keep blaming yourself for the detour.
3. In every travel kit there is a first aid kit – your weigh less group leader, when you need an emergency stop rather call your group leader then trying to do it alone.
4. Enjoy the ride its one great destination we are aiming for.
I must say this can apply to anything in life…let enjoy the road map set before us.

Love always me

WOMEN OF THE WORD: LISA FROM HOUSTON

2008-06-09T17:06:00.002+02:00

Now this is one dolla I just have to meet in the flesh. I think she is one cool mama, and I think she is on my important list of people I have to meet. I can imagine us going to a mall and drinking latte and eating cheese cake till the sun goes down and then we still won’t be done talking. She is my sister from another mother (this my son assures me is a good compliment so I am going with it) You can find her here
Now let’s give a cyber scream for my dear dolla Lisa from Houston:
1. What is your ideal date night, give a short detailed answer - My ideal date night is filled with great conversation, great, music, good food along with a shared dessert.
2. Physically what would a person remember the most about you (nails hair) - I think my hair...I don't straighten it anymore and wear it in its natural nappy state! And I've got killer legs/calves so I've been told by men AND women! LOL!
3. In woman’s ministry who is your mentor and what did you do to make sure this mentorship has made you grow. - This may sound weird but I have never had a woman mentor. I am who I am spiritually largely in part to my spouse. When I was angry at God and stopped talking, Elgin prayed for me, encouraged me. He has been my biggest cheerleader in ministry. He pushes me to excel and I love him for it.
4. What is you favorite piece of scripture and why. Jeremiah 29:11. I never knew this scripture existed and when I discovered it, it was at a point in my life when I felt forgotten and abandoned. This scripture made me realize that there were indeed plans for MY life. That God had ME in mind and that I wasn't an afterthought. It radically changed my life.
You are so precious to me. Love you always me.

A DAY IN HOSPITAL

2008-06-03T07:26:00.004+02:00

Yesterday our Kirsty pie had surgery on her jaw, she had four wisdom teeth pulled and 2 molars done as well, as I sat in the hospital with my mom that was a nursing sister she commented on how times had changed in South Africa when it comes to hospital etiquette and the way things are done.
I was even allowed in the theater before the operation. I even took these photos in side the hospital. But you know reading my favorite blog I realized that even though we are seen as a third world country, we are so blessed to live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world that the Lord ever created. Sometimes we have to look past the beggars and the crime and see the beauty of what God created.
I think my love for my country was cultivated by my English teacher when we read a book that was band in south Africa called “cry my beloved country” it changed my heart to love this beautiful country we live in. its just a pity from south Africa to many of the African countries it costs an arm and a leg to fly its cheaper sometimes to fly to a first world country and I guess we all want to experience that. But this is something else that I don’t want to blog about right now.
Kirsty is such a little trooper as she has not complained once about pain or discomfort, but I guess the tablets are keeping her a little high, she had us all in fits of laughter as the pre meds started taking effect. Even her brother (and the fight so much at the moment) was concerned and even came into the pre op room to give her a big hug. Its times like these that I see God working in my children the care and love they have for each other even though teenage phase keeps it well hidden at times.
So my dear friends keep us in prayer!

HERE IS OUR KIRSTY PIE AFTER THE OP.
Love always me

OUR GRANDSON

2008-06-01T21:26:00.009+02:00

I have taken a short break from the interview to show off my grandbaby Kyrone.

HERE IS GRAMPS AND NANA WITH KYRONE

The joys of having family, I wonder sometimes if we really realize how wonderful it is to be part of a loving family. Today there where 4 generations together and we took some lovely photos. So for my friends out there here is a few. I want to show of my beautiful grandbaby and my gorgeous girls. My mom has come to visit so it was nice to have pictures of her as well. Hope you enjoy them with me.

HERE ARE FOUR GENERATIONS TOGEHER (Jenni, my mom Sally, Kyrone and myself)

Great Grandmother and Kyrone:

Here are the four generations having a laugh together its my mother Sally, Jenni, Kyrone and me:

Here is a picture of myself with my girls and Kyrone:

Then last but not least Granddad, Kyrone and Daddy:

words can never express what I feel for this little one.

Kyrone Nana loves you so very very much.

love always me

WOMEN OF THE WORD: TARA SLOAN

2008-05-29T20:00:00.003+02:00

Lets hear it for Tara Sloan, she is one of the cutest dolla’s I have meet via the blog world, she is no ordinary lady she has taken on a huge role in God’s kingdom, she is working with girls that I guess would have been stoned if the grace of God did not step in, go read more about this amazing woman here:

1. What is your ideal date night, give a short detailed answer

An intimate dinner, dancing and dessert and a movies at home later.>

2. Physically what would a person remember the most about you (nails hair)

That I am very short! (barely 5 feet!)>

3. In woman's ministry who is your mentor and what did you do to > make sure this mentorship has made you grow.

There are three women I can say who have mentored me tremendously..

.1.) Pastor Kathy Miller of Cathedral of Praise World Outreach Center in Oklahoma City, OK ** She was the first woman to release me to begin exercising what of had placed inside of me. She was a one on one mentor to me when Craig and I were at New Harvest Church in Clewiston, FL. She and Bishop Miller continue to mentor Craig and I long distance now! They were our very first mentors and pulled out the destiny and potential in us when we were afraid to even consider it! To this day I find myself quoting them almost daily even to this day!

2.) Pastor Vernette Rosier of Panama City Fellowship Church of Praise in Panama City, FL** "Mom Rosier" and her husband Dr. David Rosier "Dad Rosier" have taught Craig and I so much about being kingdom minded and they have opened our eyes to true apostolic order and function. Their frequent phone calls and emails stir us. Mom Rosier has been an incredible teacher as a women with a powerful prophetic gift and anointing. She is anything but your "monthly women's meeting" pastor, she functions in her full authority in Christ. Her impact on my life has been lasting and continues, especially lately.

3.) Pastor Deanna Shrodes of Northside Assembly of God in Tampa, FL and the Pastoring Partners Network came into my life about 10 years ago. She has taught me by example the importance of relational ministry and I admire her in her successful endeavors as a true partner in ministry. I have seen God move her and her husband Pastor Larry Shrodes to another region and I have marveled at the hand of God as He has (and continues to) opened doors of significant opportunity for her. I am honored to call her friend and teacher.>

4. What is you favorite piece of scripture and why.

Right now I have honed in on Jeremiah 1:4-10"Then the word of the Lord came to me [Jeremiah], saying, Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am only a youth. But the Lord said to me, Say not, I am only a youth; for you shall go to all to whom I shall send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Be not afraid of them [their faces], for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord. Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day appointed you to the oversight of the nations and of the kingdoms to root out and pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."

Remember to tune in tomorrow for another exciting interview, with another women of the word

Love always me

WOMEN OF THE WORD: DEANNA SHRODES

2008-05-28T07:29:00.003+02:00

This is one of my dearest darling dollas welcome her loudly, Deanna Shrodes pastors with her husband Larry in paradise, so I am told and can see from her beautiful pictures on her blog, they are the senior pastors at Northside assembly and you can go see the church website here, they have three beautiful children, 2 boys and 1 delightful princess. When I think of Deanna, the word that comes to mind is a true dolla, from her beautiful blonde hair right now to her delightful pedicure. Yet this dolla is a woman after God’s own heart this is no superficial dolla, but one with deep integrity. I think she would be a blast at any party; she is passionate about every aspect of her life. She has a mentor’s group running for women in her church and they run a conference every year for other women in ministry call “UNSTOPPABLE” and I think that word summons up my darling friend Deanna; you can go over and visit her blog here:

1) What is your ideal date night, give a short detailed answer

My ideal date night is going out to dinner with my husband Larry - either to have seafood or to Carrabbas restaurant (my favorite place here in the America). Dinner and conversation are an unbeatable combination for me! I like double dates too, with other couples but it depends on my mood. Sometimes I just like having my man's full attention.

2. Physically what would a person remember the most about you (nails hair)

Wow, I'm not sure about what another person might remember. I've never asked anyone else what they remember most about me, except for Larry. He loves my hands and legs. But I would say probably with others in general, probably my hair or my hands, which I always keep nicely manicured.

3. In women’s ministry who is your mentor and what did you do to make sure this mentorship has made you grow.

In life and ministry in general I have mentors. However you have asked about "women's ministries" specifically and honestly I just realized when you asked that I have no women's ministries mentor. When it comes to that particular area, I've been a trailblazer in my life/church. Honestly my drive for women's ministries came out of frustration. Growing up, the women's ministries in my church served only to do things like collect sheets and pillowcases for missionaries and set up or clean up after social church events or plan fundraisers. When my husband and I married and started in ministry 21 years ago I saw not much had changed. In the churches we served in those early years it was the same thing. The first WM meeting I went to as a youth pastor's wife, the entire meeting consisted of the ladies arguing over details for their sandwich sale fundraiser that was upcoming. I came home and told Larry how ridiculous I thought that was and how women's ministries could and should be so much more. I dreamed of women's ministries being a place where women actually ministered to women and dealt with their hurts and problems and applied the Word of God to their everyday situations. I determined that once Larry and I began to pastor our own church I would set out to make it my priority to develop that kind of ministry. That was my dream and to be honest I had not had mentors to guide me or people to show me how it was done. I just started doing ministry to women out of God-given dreams. And God has blessed it! Now things are different. Many churches have women's ministries that are truly ministering to women in a relevant way. Evidently many other people shared my same frustration and they were driven to blaze a trail in their local place and make a difference. I have many sisters in the Lord that I admire who are doing the same thing, and those I learn from at this point in my ministry -- as colleagues and peers. But as far as a mentor in this area, I never had one. That would have been nice!

4. What is you favorite piece of scripture and why.

Wow. There are so many and as with most people I'm sure, It's hard to pick just one. Honestly my favorite changes from time to time! For a while now my favorite has been John 17 - Jesus's prayer. I love to read it and preach from it. I think it's such a rich passage that we can learn from as women, and mothers in the natural and also spiritual mothers. It's my favorite chapter to look to for encouragement on parenting (I pray Jesus' prayer for my own children), although I know many people would never see that chapter from the Bible as "advice on parenting" I think it is rich with information.

Thank you my precious friend living in paradise. Know you are a woman that I admire and know that anytime I need a straight answer on lifes questions this is one woman that tells it as it is. We keep thanking God for you everytime we think of you! Love you precious one.

Love always me

NEW SERIES: WOMEN OF THE WORD

2008-05-28T07:26:00.002+02:00

Today in a very cold Pretoria I want to start my series of interviews with women that are in ministry, I just felt that these women (dolla’s) as I have got to know them either by their blog or email or in person are so like minded and set on fire for our Savior. They are the hero’s of faith today. One thing that I have noticed about them is that they all mentor women and as any of you who know me that is something that is close to my heart.
As I begin with each one I will give you my description of them and then we will proceed with their interview, I will also provide you with a link to their blog site, please go over and visit them and leave a comment or two for them, I would love it if each one that visits my blog would go over and encourage them as might women of God to continue stead fast in this race that God has set before them.
If there is any other ministers or pastors wives that you feel you would like me to interview drop me an email and I will contact them for an interview.

love always me

STRICTLY COME DANCING

2008-05-27T09:37:00.004+02:00

Before I start my series on woman in ministry where I will be interviewing a few precious anointed woman of God, I thought I would tell you what my Fred and I have been up to.
For along time now we have been discussing our marriage and marriage in general, what we see works and unfortunately what we see that doesn’t work. We are firm believers of date nights and family days and doing things as families, however we felt that we had fallen into that old married couple syndrome where we do live and not live life.
We get up, chat a while bath get dressed, take the kids to school, go to work, come home cook dinner, go to church…. But us what are we doing that makes us laugh, that connects our soul to each other?
Date night is one night where we connect on a social base either on our own or with another couple and don’t get me wrong here I love them but have felt we are doing same old same old dinner or movie then home.
So as you all now I am starting to work for a company that works with the holistic approach to wellness. One of the ladies told me that she and her husband have joined a social dance group…. This got me thinking why cant we do that we think we dance okay… and what a wonderful place to meet new people, Fred and I love to encourage people in their marriages and what a better field then where married couples go dancing.
As you all might know by now I love to dress up! Years ago I did ballet and my teacher always wore this beautiful black wrap dress that skimmed over her body at the top and then flared to just on her knee, I loved her look with her hair tied back in a French roll and just looked beautiful down to the hoop earring she wore, a few years ago I found a dress like that and I just had to buy it, now that I have lost some weight I am able to wear it, and last night was the perfect night to wear it with the hair in a French roll and my hooped earrings and there you have it I was ready for strictly come dancing!
When we arrived it did look very social, but the moment the music started and the instructor and his wife opened the dance floor I said to Fred this is not social this is a full on ballroom class, and you guessed it that is what it is, this is a Christian man that felt God has told him to give up one evening a week to teach people to dance at a minimal rate to what the other studios charge so all you give is a donation (God is so Good). Fred and I have always thought we where fairly good dancers well last night we learnt that we suck at dancing, we have learnt bad habits and that to the world it looks like we can dance right but in reality we are only playing the fool, something a lot of us do in every area of our lives but that is a whole different blog.
Last night we where taught the basic of a good waltz and the quick step. Its so elegant and graceful, I felt like a princess, except when we where falling over our feet and laughing uncontrollably at each other, but we came away relaxed and knowing that this is one of those things we are going to pursue and one day we will be able to elegantly waltz and quick step and foxtrot, tango etc…. when last have you danced?
Love always me
P.S. tomorrow I start my series on interviews with mighty woman of God please tune in its going to be a real treat!

TUSCANY AND US

2008-05-24T19:16:00.001+02:00

So its 7pm and can you believe it Fred and I are back in bed. We were wanting to take the children to the zoo but with Fred’s brother that had surgery he got back late from getting medication for him, and Mark spark was trying to break a record for sleeping the whole of Saturday and Kirsty pie was wanting to bake she loves baking. So what do we do yippee go on a date.
Fred had seen this wonderful place not far from us so off we went to Tuscany a coffee shop and nursery all in one; they have the most beautiful water features. We wondered around looking at everything and then we sat down and had a wonderful lunch and skinny cappuccino. We also came across a shop called “Faded Grace” it’s beautiful full of yester year things cups and teapots that would make me feel like a queen drinking out of one of them. We decided we needed to get some plants for this empty garden and you need to be smart because you cant put great big trees in a small garden so we got some lilies and some Margaret Roberts lavender.
We have had to make a huge decision about our Dalmatian bubbles because this yard is much too small for her to stay in so we are sending her to our oldest daughter because they live on a plot and have a great big open garden for her. Bubbles had literally made a sand path through the lawn and staying in an estate you need to keep the gardens in a certain standard, so this is going to cause a problem. My rose bush that Fred bought a few weeks ago is starting to bud so I can’t wait because it’s beautiful pink and smells heavenly.
So here we are me working on my blog Fred watching a DVD and the two of us snuggling mmmm… better say goodnight.
Have a wonderful time in the House tomorrow.

Love you all

SATURDAY MORNING LAY IN

2008-05-24T10:53:00.002+02:00

Its 11:45 am on a Saturday morning and I am still in bed! Wonderful I love the idea of having nothing to do on a Saturday. Just relaxing with my family and talking. This morning I changed my blog and feel inspired to write again, so dolla’s this is going to be between us, I am going to write a series on joys of having dolla’s in our lives. (For those of you who are new to my blog DOLLA is a word we use in our family for a girl friend, a like minded girl friend) I have met quite a few over the past year that I have been blogging and I am going to try and arrange interviews with them so you can all get to know these wonderful blogging dolla’s!
As for me it’s a crisp autumn (fall) morning in Pretoria and we are going to take the kids to the Pretoria zoo. And hopefully my camera doesn’t play up so that I can show you the pictures we took. Have a blessed family day and from one dolla to another lets keep smiling life is too short not to.Time for me to hit the shower.
Love you all

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS

2008-05-20T11:34:00.001+02:00

Today we celebrated our princess, sweetie pie Kirsty’s birthday. I can’t believe our little baby doll is 15years old, she is such a delight. She is a wonderful daughter, even though she has a missy streak in her. I watcher sometimes and say to Fred I wonder where she got that from and he just throws his head back and laughs saying she is just like you.
I must say today when we took her shopping because she wanted clothes for her birthday it was wonderful she doesn’t just choose any thing she really takes her time and looks at it from all angles, her dad kept saying honey don’t look at the price tag because she will take something and put it back saying it was too expensive, one thing that we really have in common is we love lingerie, she bought the cutest polka dot set, I was quite envious as I would love a set like that my trade mark is pink, I love wearing pink lingerie, but doesn’t come in my size for now!
We then went and ate at ANAT’s my favorite and Kirsty’s as my dads family roots are Lebanese, we all had falafel, filled with lamb and yummy veggies. Wonderful day we had as a family.
So our darling princess HAPPY BIRTHDAY, we LOVE YOU.
Love always me

MEMOIRES OF A FAST FADING FATTY AND GOOD FOOD

2008-05-20T10:31:00.003+02:00

“Food is for eating, and good food is to be enjoyed…I think food is, actually very beautiful in itself.” Delia Smith.
What a wonderful quote I totally agree with her. To think we eat and get fat but we need to eat to get thin. This is a wonderful journey that I am on and as I am learning more and more about the zones and the food formulas it’s great to se that we can eat beautiful food and still lose weight. This morning was weigh in time for me again, and girls I have lost another 1,4kgs (3pounds) yippee it’s working and the best thing I am eating well.
I thought that I would share a recipe every so often with you dollas so that you can see what wonderful dishes are out there that are not fattening if used in a balanced lifestyle, lets be honest its all about balance, from the amount of hours we spend in work, play and sleep. In our lives we have spirit soul and body and these all need to be in balance.
CHICKEN WRAPS
Serves 4
400g Escort Weigh-less Smoked Bacon
4 chicken breasts, 100g each
5ml English mustard
40g sundried tomatoes
Salt and pepper
Weigh-less non-stick spray
Place each chicken breast between two pieces of cling wrap and bank with a mallet until about 1cm thick
Place four pieces of bacon next to each other place the chicken on top.
Spread each chicken breast with a thin layer of mustard and 10g sundried tomatoes. Season and roll. The bacon should now be on the outside.
Brown in pan coated with non-stick spray. Remove from pan bake for a further 30 minutes in an 180c oven until chicken is cook through.
Serve with fresh green salad or green vegetables.

Tip: swop chicken with pork fillet for a meal rich in vitamin C.
Here’s to weigh loss and good food!
Love always me

DEATH BY CHOCOLATE EVENING - NOT WHAT YOU ARE THINKING!

2008-05-17T10:33:00.002+02:00

Yesterday was one of those days that you just bury in your heart and take it out and treasure it when ever you are having a blue day. I was invited to go a attend a ladies evening out, which I think is one of the nicest ways for Christian ladies to spend the evening out. Yvette a precious friend of mine and one of the most put together dolla’s I have ever met, and I met at Mug and Bean a coffee shop in Rivoina square and just sipped skinny cappuccinos and chatted but we ran out of time, we have both been pastors wives that where very involved and so we just chatted about the absence we sometimes feel not in leading a work but the wonderful relationships you build up we are both people that believe in mentoring other and taking the girls to a place where they can see destiny before them. So it was just wonderful.]
Then we went to Rivers Church I have spoken about them in a previous post, the church that rocked, when we got there we surrounded by about 500 ladies it was phenomenal. they had a pampering room where you could get a massage or a manicure, then you went up stairs and before I carry on the theme for the evening was “death by chocolate”, we came up the stairs and call you could smell was chocolate, not something you want to be smelling when you are on your first zone for weigh-less, there where tables of chocolate cakes with pink rose petals and wonderful chocolate balls, there was a chocolate fountain and lots of other chocolate drinks and chocolates as far as the eye could see.
Yvette and I went and found a chair and sat to continue our conversation, and then I saw some one that I had met when I preached at a ladies conference about 6 years ago and we spend sometime catching up and will be meeting for coffee soon. It was so good to be surrounded by women that are like minded.
The worship was wonderful as always I just love to worship Jesus, He is the one that makes life worth living, and their choir is out of this world, what a spirit of excellence that this church practices on all levels. There was no focus on the band it was all on the Lord!
Wilma Olivier that leads the church with her husband Andre came up and handed out some gifts and the most divine Bulgarian chocolate tea spoons you put them in hot milk they dissolve and Walla you have hot chocolate! She spoke about the up and coming conference in September which I will be attending come hell or high waters. (lol hope this saying doesn’t offend anyone).
The speaker is a pastor that comes from Hill songs in Australia and they have come to plant a campus in cape town so wow! Her name is Lucinda and she is this tiny spitfire for God, she spoke about the conversation Jesus had with His disciples when he asked in Matthew “who do the people say I am, then turned later to Simon peter and asked who do you say I am” the long and tall of the story was as soon as we start to know Jesus in an intimate relationship he shows us who we really are. Simon peter meant a small stone but peter meant a huge mountain rock and on that Jesus built his church and he is still building it today on people (girls) that will allow Jesus to change them from small stone to big mountain rock!
That is what I want for today is to see what Jesus is going to do with Deborah where is He taking me, glory girls is all I can say.
Love always me

MEMOIRES OF A FAST FADING FATTY AND MOTHERS DAY

2008-05-12T11:33:00.002+02:00

This has been a hard week for remaining on my eating program even though it’s a lifestyle change as I have mentioned to break old habits are hard. With mother day that has just gone pasted it was difficult to say no to the children when they wanted to take me to my favorite coffee shop for coffee and cake. I spoke to my Fred and ask what do you think?
“My girl, please go and enjoy we really want to spoil you today, and it was a spoil. With the move up to Pretoria my skin has really undergo a great change it is so dry and the product I am using is not helping, so yesterday my man took me to a wonderful pharmacy, I just love pharmacies and when went and replaced my whole skin care range and spoilt me with a bottle of my favorite everyday perfume, Ella I just love it, and in the packet or tin was the body cream and body spray, so really just a wonderful day.
We visited another church and the kids love it, now to me that is very important, they have a great bunch of teenagers here and lots of single folk, there is really a mixed bunch, my lovey just commented and said it’s wonderful to see every generation represented at the church, you can check them out here.
So this morning was weigh in time and I am only down 500g about 1pound but who is complaining certainly not me, I have lost another 9 cm and once again mainly around my middle and tummy area. I have really been working on my tummy area and it’s paying off, every pound that comes off is another step closer to my goal weight. Tonight I am meeting one of my group leaders that now fall under my area. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do with these ladies; I know that He always touches lives when we make ourselves available.
So girls dollas my darling friends lets get a goal in front of us and lets run a race to completion wither you have 5kgs or 50 kgs to lose we can do this together just remember to drink your water and exercise even if its taking a stroll with your loved one……. Just do it!

Love always me

MY RAMBLINGS ABOUT TODAY

2008-05-08T19:36:00.004+02:00

Today as I drove to my first meeting (official) weigh-less meeting I looked at the cars and the people in them, well I have never seen such a bunch of weary looking people, most of the men where on their mobiles and the ladies well it’s a sorry state of affairs, I trust that my giggling did not confuse to many people, even the lady at the toil gate was not smiling so I put on my best dolla voice and said have a fabulous day, she first looked at me then a smile spread she said do you realize you are the first person to greet me and wish me a good day, its so heart sore to hear that what is the world coming to what does it take from us to be friendly.
So I arrive at the meeting the lady that I am taking over from has her hands full with twins of two, so I can understand that a lot of her targets have not been met, one thing I can praise the Lord about is what ministry has taught me about relationships the good and the bad. The girls think I am so cute and all I am doing is implementing the lessons I have been taught, (praise God for all good things in ministry). The one thing that really stood out for me was that they are don’t know what it is to build together as team and to motivate by personal relationships, all I want to scream at them was Girls its all about RELATIONSHIPS.
So I start 1 June and I said, with 18 group leaders, which are all having meetings at different venues these will be my girls I can’t wait to meet them and mentor them and motivate them to reach the potential that is in them. We can all do with motivation and mentorship in our lives. Jesus mentored His twelve and I believe it’s the call of every child of God to first be mentored and then to mentor,
In relationship we have to have balance just like any other area of our lives, when we embark on any relationship we need to analyze where we find ourselves are we leading or are we been lead, if you are only leading then there is a problem as you cant not be taught the word say that very much so in timothy that we should have a teach able spirit. If you are only following there is also a problem as we should be maturing and not just being on milk. We had a precious teacher of the word that has gone home to be with the Lord, he would tell those always complaining about the word been taught that he would give them the meat of the word but for their sakes he had to give it in purity form as their immature stomachs could not take the full word. I know it’s harsh but sometimes we need to take the lead.
I really want to encourage you all to look at your friendships and if all you are doing is leading find someone that you can learn from and have a teach able spirit. If all you are doing is following also find someone that will believe in you and teach you to lead.

I want to encourage you all to give flowers to everyone while they are still alive, in that I mean lets appreciate one another and acknowledge the precious folk around us.
Love always Me

MY NEW CAREER

2008-05-06T18:24:00.002+02:00

Do we serve an awesome God, or what?
A company has offered me a position, which is wonderful you might say but listen to the story first then you tell me how unbelievable the Lord is and what an awesome sense of humor He has, as you are now all well aware I am on a lifestyle changing journey and have joined a group that helps girls lose weight, so you might say get to the point!
Well this group has offered me a position as their area manager as they love my ability to motivate others in the group and also like the idea that I do public speaking, so on Thursday I will be joining my first meeting with the regional manager (who by the way will be weighing me in every Thursday from now on) talk about pressure. Lol. I had to laugh as the girls have to be about 11 pounds with in reach of their goal weight and I am about 59pounds away from that! Totally awesome God I serve thank you Jesus thank you!
So my dear dollas do you understand how amazing God is, I will have a group of girls to mentor and that is what I do best, love the idea of bring change that makes dolla’s want to reach their destiny. One thing that is a wow I can work from home and once the groups are finished I can head home and be with the children.
I would appreciate any ideas on mentoring girls so please feel free to email me.
I just want to say Our God Rocks!
Love always me

MEMOIRES OF A FAST FADING FATTY

2008-05-05T12:26:00.003+02:00

Well dolla’s I have been to the big bad ugly scale and I think I am now a bit of a friend, this week has been very hard with all the holidays and Fred’s birthday and our trip out to the coffee shops so its been a hard week to stay focused on my new lifestyle and trying hard to combined it and get rid of old habits which seem so difficult to break at times.
So as I stripped (yikes) I felt so utterly exposed, I climbed on the scale, but just to back it up on my way down to the weigh in class, I was praying please even if I just loose 1kg which is 2.2 pounds I will be grateful, so I step on the scale, (another interruption, I have stopped all medication, and feel fantastic, no high blood pressure, no high sugar, and well it looks as if my heart rate has come back down to normal, until Fred steps into the picture….) and I am on the scale thinking what if I don’t loose but you know what I have tried my best under holiday fever, and its paid off I have lost 2.2kg (4.84 pounds)yippee yippee! Then came the measuring which was not so bad, I have lost 22cm not sure what that is in inches but I am over the moon, the most is on my tummy and bum area, but the boobs are staying put, told those kids of mine not to blow when I was breastfeeding but no one listens to me (ha ha).
I have also been so good at going to gym and walking the dogs every night even though I had a scarf and gloves on last night when we went, yuck not sure if I will get use to this cold weather, but the up side is I finding the walking both a good work out and a spiritual time of in put as Fred and I have time to pray for the new area we are living in and just to seek the Lord in this time, I must say in the defense of Pretoria its beautiful now that the leaves are change color and heralding in a new season, and that is what I feel God saying to me that He is heralding in a new season with passionate warm fiery colors for my life.
So I have got to terms with doing housework and going to gym and fetching the kids from school and having a good time with the Lord, I am focused on getting fit not just loseing the weight and I feel so much better for it, my friend Deanna has been such an inspiration about walking going read about her here:

love always me

WEEKEND AT THE MEYERS MANOR

2008-04-27T19:19:00.002+02:00

This week end has been great with our little tiger coming to visit. We had a wonderful time with him sleeping between nana and gramps. It’s quite a thing with him not sleeping through I have forgotten what it feels like to have broken sleep. My Fred and I are worried about the little mamma as she is very pale she is breast feeding and Kyrone has doubled his birth weight within 2 months we think she has full cream!
Yesterday we celebrated an early birthday for my Fred his birthday is tomorrow and we are meeting with precious friends of ours that really speak into our married life, they have been married for as long as we have been here on earth, they are our sex therapists!
Last night we Invited two different friends over for a barbeque they have never met before so was not sure if all was going to flow together but it was wonderful, we are all ministry people and we just chatted as if we have been together forever. Fred and I are so blessed to have good friends.
On the side of weight loss its been a difficult week for me with the children coming to visit, Freds birthday but I am going to gym tomorrow and will work off some of the not allowed foods I eat this weekend. Its my goal to be at goal weight before my daughters wedding in September cant wait!
We sat down with them and made all the plans for the wedding! For those who are new to my blog our daughter has had a baby out of marriage and her and dad are getting married in September. The wedding is going to be lime green and white, its also going to be a champagne breakfast as she is wanting to get married in the morning and then little tiger is coming home with gramps and I for a week while they go on honeymoon, when we meet with our special friends tomorrow I am going to ask her to make a honeymoon box for my daughter, she has a box that she puts together so that you have all the things you don’t think to have when you first get married,
THE BOX CONTENT
Chocolate body paint
Feathers
Massage oil
Blindfold
A game
And everything you need to have lots of fun.Come to think of it I should get some made for all my dolla’s that I know will enjoy a box like that!

Love always me

MEMOIRES OF A FAST FADING FATTY

2008-04-24T08:18:00.002+02:00

As I has said in my previous post that I would be doing “memoires of a fast fading fatty” so here goes;
As I survive my new surrounding in the town I live in the women here are very conscious of their bodies not in an unhealthy way but in a way that makes you take a good look at yourself and decide these little (huge) extras that I am carrying have to go, its like carrying a suite case full of babies where every you go and can I add they are screaming at your clothes all the time let me out, and at times when you stretch to reach for that chocolate bar the one managers to escape and the bulge comes screaming out of your shirt exposed to the world a fat roll.
So with this in mind I march off to one of the advertised free sessions and meet Maggie, well trimmed no bulges but the sweets girl you will ever meet! She explains that there is no needles used (thank you Lord for small miracles) there is no tablets to be taken it are just a well balanced lifestyle… that speaks to my brain somewhere.
She hands me this tiny gown and says strip, I am expecting the strobe lights to start flashing and some sultry music to begin, but alas its just me and the tiny gown, feeling a little exposed say half the body wont fit into the gown, in her sweet voice, “come long Deb’s time to weigh in” now I go from feeling like a show girl to a heavy weight boxing contender! I feel as if I am doing the death row walk each step seems to take eternity to get there, the fat is conversing with each other they start to shake and scream run away we don’t need to be weighted!
But I conquer the screaming brats and climb on to the scale I hold my breath, and then let it go maybe if I hold it in it will make me weigh more! The numbers start to climb my mind goes numb, I want to run away, its gone to 3 digits I feel my heart start to palpitate what happens if I weigh more then Fred please dear Lord let me keep my dignity of at least weighing less then him, slow the numbers come down, shoo the scale starts to make sense again, I am still in 2 digit numbers (remember we weigh in Kilograms here) but the result is I can still be a heavy weight contender in the next boxing match.
We sit down, Maggie in her cute little uniform me in my exposed little gown. We speak about my life style my dream weight and all that the girls normally talk about when you go to one of these weight loss groups, remember I am an old dieter, I know all there is to know but somehow I cant put it into practice. Maggie has a natural ability to make one want to lose weight so, I join my eating plan tucked into my purse, tell your friends she says they will support you, okay I say and under my breath on my blog o yes, girls come join me on this journey once again and for the last time, in my memoires of a fast fading fatty!

Love always me

LIGHTER SIDE OF MY LIFE

2008-04-21T18:01:00.001+02:00

Lighter side of life is that its freezing I mean coming from a tropical part of the world to this is hectic, it was 16 degrees c. To us that is almost Eskimo climate. So today I made my famous butternut soup (family famous) and for tonight we are having a good stew with vegetables and lots of gravy with some lovely white rice. Tonight is time for a nice hot bubble bath and warm fleece blanket, a pot of rooibos tea (red bush tea) a wonderful African blend that we drink here in South Africa.
The family is getting back to normal after everyone has left, its been great catching up with family and Kirsty pies very special friend came to visit, Fred took him to the bus station this morning so now its just us 4, I need to catch up on ironing and all that goes with been a lady at home for the next month any way. This will be the first week without anyone besides us 4 so I think normal is going to be our week, very quite because we have been so use to been busy with home group and prayer and visits with friends.
From Wednesday I will start a journal entry entitled memoirs of a fast fading fatty some of the girls from my old church will know what I am talking about but for all my new blog buddies it’s a fun look at losing weight and my long winded journey of weight loss. I have to lose 10 kg about 22pounds before the end of May to get a position that I really want. So pray with me in this journey I have ahead of me.
The week end coming is my Fred’s birthday and his grandson Kyrone and the parents are also coming LOL to visit gramps for his birthday so our home will be filled with all our children, I hope my camera will be sorted so that I can post some new photos of all of us.
Now its time to cuddle with Fred’s that is just walked through the door looking a bit blue from the cold so time to go warm those bones of his (giggles)

Love always me

ONE HIGH HEEL ONE SLIPPER

2008-04-21T15:40:00.004+02:00

I felt it time to dust off my old journal entry on one high heel one slipper, as I have had the sneaky sensation that I am once again caught in the scenario of walking one high heel one slipper when you have been in ministry or been real very involved or even just a dedicated member of a church for nearly 26 years you are use to something’s in life.

So here I sit it’s the first time in 26 years that I don’t belong to a church (AND NO I HAVENT BACKSLIDDEN) it’s a very weird feeling to go and visit a church, on Sunday we went to a church the worship was nice the announcements and offering where all in place just like any other church, the preacher was entertaining and the altar call was heart felt, but I sat there feeling like I was a spectator someone that was just on the fringe looking in, very strange place for me to be, yet I kind of like looked at it from another prospective, what happens if I had been a non Christian would I have felt welcome and wanted to come back? Ashamedly I have to say NO!
The welcome at the door was an after thought of oh hello because the two attendants at the door where so busy catching up on what they had done the week that we weren’t even sure where we where going. They had a form that they handed out for first time visitors, but never told us what to do with them after we had filled it in, (remember I am looking at it from a non believe from someone that doesn’t know church) as I say the preacher was good really enjoyed his message which I will share in a later blog. When the altar call was finished they ended the service and so all the sheep wandered out, I got in the car and turned to my Fred and said well that was church I guess, there was no one that even bothered to say hi see you are new is there anything you would like to know nothing…. I felt as if I had gone to a show, what has happened to relationship in churches or is it just business as usual.

So here I sit wondering, I know how to do bible study I can even preach a sermon or three… lead a home group and prayer meeting, so why am I questioning my absolute hearts desire to be there to support a leader in the vision they have, for me to be a living stone graphed into a temple of other believers when right now I feel very unbalanced in this area.

I know I am not the only one, there are many that have been in full time ministry and have become disillusioned (I AM NOT DISILLUSIONED ABOUT GOD BUT ABOUT THE CHURCH). Where do we go from here, I know the word says in my words our belief will cost us, is it going to be in time and money, because the church that strikes accord with us is 45 min away from us, but how do you make that part of your life when you cant be at every meeting, so some how I feel that in church right now I am walking one high heel one slipper.

Love always me

THE CHURCH ROCKED

2008-04-14T21:30:00.002+02:00

Last night we where at rivers church in sandton, wow is an understatement I was so blessed. Their music is to put is mildly a sensation of good rock. They then went on to an awesome laid back jazz number really awesome. They have something called “haveago” where someone from their youth has a 5 min slot to say what’s on their heart, man this was fantastic, the young guy stood up and spoke about loving your enemies and spoke about been bullied at school. Was so good.
Andre the pastor started a new series called…..

”The 7 habits of highly miserable people”

Psalm 107:10”some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, miserable prisoners in chains”
Here are a few notes I took made me think really hard as I am battling with my thoughts at the moment and I really needed to hear this
1. The don’t control their thinking
Fact 1”: we will all be miserable at times but if we allow it to become a habit it gets entrenched in our souls it will keep us for, success in life.
Fact 2”: people who are highly miserable spend their lives looking for things people and churches outside them selves to make them happy.
Fact 3”: highly miserable people can make no significant contribution to others.
Matt 12:34 for a mans heart determines his speech.
He gave some quotes
Ralph Waldo Emerson: life consists of what a man is thinking about all day.
George Kirkpatrick: nature gave us two ends one to sit and one to think with our success or failure in life depends on which end we us most.
1. Thoughts are extremely dangerous
2. Lots of people pretend to think right thoughts
3. Thoughts can either harm or help our future
4. Thoughts can either harm or help our souls
5. We can control our feelings by controlling our thoughts

Fact 1: we can control our thoughts
Fact 2: our feelings come though our thoughts
Conclusion we control our feelings by controlling our thoughts.
Phil 4:4 always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again rejoice.

We where all blessed out of our socks it rocked

Love always me

DREAM COME TRUE

2008-04-13T10:09:00.002+02:00

Tonight we are going to visit a church that I have longed to visit for the past 5 years, I preached at a conference with the pastor’s wife and have said for the longest time I want to visits this church.
So tonight is a vision come true we are going to “RIVERS CHURCH” the senior pastoral couple is Andre and Wilma Olivier. I will post about it when we get back I am so excited I can explain it but I feel like life is coming back to my weary heart. (Long story) and also not for the net! I can’t wait did I say that again. Tonight I want to be there early and enjoy every part of this church you can go over and visit them here. Just check out their woman’s ministry site!!!! (((Hug))) I would do cartwheels if I could so in my spirit I am doing them!!!!!!!

So dollas I will check back and give a gooooooooood report.

Love alway Me

FUN FAMILY DAY

2008-04-13T09:50:00.002+02:00

This is the first weekend that Fred has been off since our arrival in Pretoria and we decided to spoil the family and we went off to Goldreef city it was such a blast. I am not to partial to rides as I have a fear of heights and just very scared to ride on these high roller coasts however I think that Fred has missed his calling in life he should have become a fighter pilot because the higher the more turns and tummy turning rides he is on them. I get on to the ferrous wheel and at the top I am holding the middle pole crying oh Lord Jesus help me, it feels as if I am dying, why did I do this why did I do this. No answer from heaven but Mark said, “Mom it’s because your such a cool mom, don’t worry you won’t fall if you sit still “with a wicked smile on his face.

Kirsty and her dad are cut from the same cloth they love these rides and have arranged with Andre and his daughter Cherae to go together as they all love the same things. Mark and myself and Yvette will go for a massage or something along that line. Mark will rather go ice-skating then the theme park. We had breakfast at wimpy which was divine as usual. We left late yesterday afternoon and then headed over to André and Yvette for some lovely sausage on a bun it, was good to get together with people that are so like minded.
We had a good laugh we are all ex pastors and our children have some typical PK syndrome tendencies, so all round was a goooooood visit. Did I say that we just love this couple!!!!

Love always Me

THE MOST TREASURED PHOTO IN THE WORLD

2008-04-08T16:32:00.003+02:00

This is the most beautiful photo that I will treasure for the rest of my life, it was taken on the 23rd of February 2008 at 13:40

TAKE A TOUR OF OUR NEW HOME

2008-04-08T11:01:00.010+02:00

WELCOME AT THE GRACES IN PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA

THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR AND THE WONDERFUL SIGHT OF OUTSIDE AND INSIDE

OUR LOUNGE WARM AND SURE TO HAVE LOTS OF COSY NIGHTS OF CHATTING AND FRIENDSHIP

MY FAVOURITE PLACE IS IN THIS KITCHEN, I KNOW THAT I WILL MAKE MANY MEALS THAT FRIENDS AND FAMILY WILL ENJOY

UPSTAIRS FRED AND I HAVE A PRIVATE BALCONY, TANNING WILL BE IN ORDER AND LOTS OF COFFEE AND CHIT CHAT WITH MY BULL

VIEW FROM OUR BED

THE PLACE WE ENJOY THE MOST IN THE HOME.

OUR TEENAGE PAD ALL SET UP TO HAVE HOURS OF FUN ON THE PLAY STATION

FIT FOR A PRINCESS

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME ON OUR TOUR, YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT ANYTIME YOU ARE IN PRETORIA.

LOVE ALWAYS ME

FEAR THAT GRIPS SO EASILY

2008-04-08T07:08:00.002+02:00

2 Timothy 1:7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

This is the scripture that keeps sounding in my thoughts this week; I am battling with fear at the moment, not the type that is caused by crime or feeling unsafe. I just have taken time to observe the world around me, something I love to do, this however has brought on a ton of fear (no I don’t need to see a councilor) when you live in a small coastal town you easily make close friends and find yourself part of the day to day living there with faces you know and find yourself in a comfort zone, even working in the church office as the administrator was a comfort zone to me, I was a sheep very well protected in a large sheep pen.
Now living in a very cosmopolitan city, where its all about image and who and what you know, doesn’t make it easy on a girl who is over weight, and for any of you who think your over weight but can fit into any type of clothing and still look good you have no idea what I am talking about, as I sat yesterday at the mall waiting for Kirsty and her friend Monique to come out from the mall, I found my fear levels rising, not only about my weight, but I have to start looking for work and I have no idea where to begin, so I bought the news paper, for us living in South Africa we are use to the words affirmative action position, meaning if you are white don’t even bother to apply, half the paper was full of those posts… each day I feel that sense of what am I going to do if I don’t find work…. I know God is in control; however human nature does take toil on ones mind.
I am going to keep meditating on this scripture until it drops down into my spirit instead of it just been in my mind….. I need to make it alive to me, if I think back rush hour traffic consisted of 50 cars here 50 cars is a lazy Sunday drive, the traffic is something but I am learning fast.
On a positive side, the autumn (fall) here is beautiful; we have wonderful crisp mornings with warm days, thundershowers in the late afternoon and then cooler evenings. I can’t wait to go and buy a beautiful pair of boots for the winter, and now I am off to gym to get something done about my expanding waist line…might also be that I have more time to cook up a storm and believe it or not I even baked cake yesterday, for those that are still getting to know me, I don’t bake , because I thought I couldn’t now I know I can… made my delicious meat balls and mash last night with lots of green veggies and gem squash filled with sweet corn and melted cheese. The family of course loves the fact that I in full swing with cooking again, and Deanna I know how you feel now that I have to clean and weed your self, it takes some getting use to.

love always me

We are all settled

2008-04-02T23:16:00.001+02:00

We are finally moved and the house is sorted all the furniture on the right spots , quite an adjustment from a big 4 bedroom house with flat let to a small estate, but dollas its beautiful from the granite top finishing in the kitchen to the beautiful oak buff painted walls to the built in braai. This is just what we have needed. I feel so different, Kirsty and I ventured out on our own this morning down to the local mall which looks like our old big mall.
We have gone from a small coastal town to one of the largest cities in South Africa, the cars look like millions of ants in peek traffic. This morning as I was just preparing for today, I sang to the Lord an old song give thanks with a grateful heart and this is how I truly feel. Even though I will miss the people dearly that are in Empangeni, I know this is a season of great spiritual awakening for me, we stood in the post office this morning and one of the gentleman said, I believe in miracles and I want to shout out yes amen, but smiled politely and said I agree. My heart is so full of thankfulness to the Lord.
So starts a season of newness for all of the Meyer clan, the kids off to new schools with new friends to meet, us a new church and social crowd, we are looking forward to visiting new churches and finding a home where we can serve. We are praying for a place of worship where the kids will fit in and enjoy Godly friendships.
Tonight we are going to see friends of ours that live about 45 min away, she is one of those friends that when you leave her you feel inspired to change everything in your life, I am looking forward to adjusting things in our lives to make us all healthier and happier. Praise the Lord for this new season. Even though we are going into winter season here in South Africa I know that I am going into a spring season in my life.

Love always Me

WE ARE MOVING!!!!!!!!!

2008-03-14T16:40:00.001+02:00

For all my dolla's out there I have not been blogging due to the fact that we have changed church offices and we are packing to move up to Pretoria come end of this month. Please keep our family in your prayers as it is very stressful with my Fred been away during the week and only home late friday evening and leaves again come sunday after church!

love you all and miss blogging so very very very very very much.

love always me

HE HAS ARRIVED

2008-02-24T20:47:00.000+02:00

Praise the Lord our beautiful grandson was born at 1:28pm non saturday weighing in at a healthy 3,56kg and 52cmlong. Mommy did so well and it was a wonderful experience for me as I was allowed to be with her the whole time. I cant post photos from this computer that I am using but I will be back in a week and then I will, so for the next week "nana and Kyrone will be sharing alot of hugs and kissed and getting to know each other." Girls I feel so blessed. Its wonderful holding our inheritance in our arms. Granddad has doubled his chest size in one day with the pride of our first grandbaby.

love always me

I AM FAT AND NOT SO FABULOUS

2008-02-17T19:22:00.001+02:00

I have to admit I seem to come back to the place time and time again. I find myself always dieting and then falling of the wagon so many times I don’t care to even count them anymore. Every morning I wake up with the intention that today I am going to do something about my health, this week passed I was off work for three days which started with a migraine and me going to see my doctor as I was so exhausted after the migraine at the moment I feel like his guinea pig, he tells me my happy hormone levels are low and I need a pick me up (plain language I am depressed) oh yeah… right so depression makes my heart rate rise to 170HRM when at my age it should not exceed 145HRM, I don’t want to go to the gym and feel like I am dying after not even 10 min of cardio… how do you get to the place where you can go to gym and just come back feeling alive and ready for anything it takes me about 3 days just to recover from one round of 45 min.

I had a friend call me and say bottom line is your fat and need to lose weight… I made as if it didn’t hurt but you know what it hurt like hell to hear it from her… I know I am fat! Its easy to say join a club get on a diet… there are just something’s that will have to wait for me to join a club I don’t have the finances right now… I would rather see my children going to good schools and Kirsty doing her dance classes. We are not battling financially but we don’t have the extra cash to join either WW or the Firm or what ever else is going on in the diet world. I would love to join weight watchers and I know that many of my friends are doing well on it but I just don’t have the extra right now. We have a good medical aid, which enables us to go to a very good gym, but what does it help me right now when I am not getting the eating right. I don’t eat all that wrong but yet the weight seems to stay put.

I am desperate at this moment in time, after the phone call I went to the room and just stared at myself in the mirror, staring back at me was a person I don’t recognize, what happened to me, in the space of one phone call I went from I am okay to what has the cat dragged in! I don’t want to be here again, my heart is rendered before you dolla’s today, please pray for me give me advice help me. I don’t want to live in my world of one slipper and one high heel.

I don’t need deliverance please I just need sound advice. I look at the pictures I have on my blog and I want to cry at times because I know a slimmer woman then the one staring back at me from these pictures. I have to lose about 25kg I guess in pounds that would be almost 55 I think. It’s a lot of fat to haul around all day long. No wonder my heart is racing and trying to get blood to all the body parts. My mood seems to fit the fat at the moment too, lumpy bumpy and no even textures for me! My heart feels think my thighs hails stones have dented the thighs and words have dented my heart! We watched a movie called Norbit and I feel like the female character huge and so ugly. Okay maybe I need those happy hormone things now!

I know Jesus loves me just as I am and so does my Fred but he doesn’t have to live in this body and Jesus knows my heart He know I know he loves me, but right now I need to love me again. And this is where I need your help. So dolla’s I am all ears to hear what you have to say.

DINNER DANCE FOR ALL OUR LEADERS

2008-02-17T15:43:00.003+02:00

Amongst the African sunset we celebrated valentine’s day a bit late but was worth the wait. The planning has been a long time in the making and with the fact that we don’t have our own church building yet we are always having to find venues to do things in. the Amble Inn has just finished building a conference venue, with the most beautiful outdoor dining area.

Rene and I went the afternoon to do some touch up with red roses and red pebbles that were placed in a dish holding floating candles. The sun was setting as the people started to arrive we have about 36 leaders of which 30 where able to join us.

The girls looked wonderful all dressed up in their cocktail and evening wear, which for Zululand is something as most days its too hot even to wear normal sandals and all seem to live in flip-flops. The colors of the dresses ranged from beautiful reds to sophisticated black to gentle peach to shimmering silvers the ladies looked so wonderful. My passion is to see women come into their full beauty and to make every opportunity a time for the girls to dress up.

Our Senior Pastor Alex van Laren spoke out of Psalm 126: 1-2 “….we were like men who dreamed, our mouths were filled with laughter our tongues were filled with songs of joy…” he asked us as leaders to dream over our marriages to have our mouths filled with laughter and our tongues with songs of joy. Fred and I couldn’t agree more, we think it is so important that couples have big dreams for their marriages. I know our dream for our marriage and some of it I think will just remain between the two of us but other dreams are that our marriage will always be a testimony of the wonderful Father we serve and what He brings forth in our marriage. We dream of traveling together and living overseas. Our big fun dream is riding a Harley Davidson across the Grande canyon. I always joke and say I need pink leathers for that one. We just love looking up and planning a wonderful fun marriage month doing that. I really feel very passionate about this that we all have different dreams in our marriage and some are serious and some are light hearted but its very important to us to have them.

We danced the night away in true Michael Bubler style under the African skies it was truly a spectacle evening of romance and fun. This year we are planning a lot of romance as Fred is working away from home again and we only have the weekends together, so lots of loving going on in our house. (grin)

This picture is of our Precious friends Coobs and Rene.

STOP THE PRESS OUR LADIES DAY IS AHEAD

2008-02-07T12:49:00.000+02:00

Dolla's I wish I could all have you come to this. Its going to be amazing!

FEAR FACTOR AND MY SON

2008-02-06T13:59:00.001+02:00

SOME GOOD PICTURES OF MOM'S PRIDE AN JOY

THEN FEAR FACTOR BEGAN

BOBBING FOR OX EYES MADE MARK DO WHAT

NO HARM DONE JUST FUN FOR WHEN I LOOK AT THESE PICTURES HE IS TURNING INTO SUCH A HANDSOME BOY.

LOVE YOU SO MUCH MY BOY

ARISE TEACHER OF THE WORD!

2008-02-06T09:10:00.000+02:00

What an honour to be married to this man! As you all know if you read my post below that we preached in Bethlehem, I have had various opportunities to speak at ladies breakfast, luncheons and a few ladies conventions, however when Fred stepped down from the pulpit September 2003 he vowed never to step foot in a pulpit again, I will never know the heartache he has been through as a man, but one thing I do know God will not be mocked if He calls you, that call will always be with you!

Sunday night was a historical night for me as the vow made was laid aside, my darling man stood there at first hesitant but once the anointing started to flow, WOW WOW WOW, God is amazing. I am so proud I am bursting at the seams, I could not get my smile any wider if I tried, I could not amen enough as he preached, it just looked so right this man of mine in front of a pulpit preaching and teaching because he is a teacher of the word!

There was no nervous fidgeting or stumbling just a man so enjoying teaching. He spoke on a spirit of excellence and did a diagram with the people; I am so in awe of what came out of his mouth, I give God all the glory! I have a peace in my heart that no matter where God takes us He will sustain us for His Glory. I know this is the beginning of great things as doors open for us to minister together, it was so much fun to tandem preach, he was so wonderful when he was finished he asked me to come and speak on what we had shared at home once he had finished reading me his sermon I felt to add something and he would not hear of himself taking credit for something God had shown me this man is so humble! I just love him so dearly.

I feel as if we have won a great victory!!!!!!!

ON TARGET WEEKEND

2008-02-06T08:48:00.000+02:00

Great King your bride is an army! Is a line from a song we sing at church, this weekend was awesome words can not express what I am feeling on the inside. How great is our King and Father, how can I describe His faithfulness and power I stand in awe of who He is.

I said to Rene as we where getting me wired for sound, I am so nervous and the day I stop been nervous is the day I will never minister again. For the last three years I have never ministered prophetically because of various reasons, which I am not going to discuss here. This would have to be a blog all on its own. I have continued to use the gift that God has given me but more on a one to one basis and not in the church as a whole. So there I stood first having to teach on the office of a prophet and the spirit of Prophecy and the gift of prophecy, (I am not a teacher by nature) I am so passionate about the body of Christ, all I want to see is people walking in there destiny, I want to teach them to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd that they don’t need a prophet to speak to them and tell them what to do but rather to confirm what God has already spoken to them!

I have seen the body of Christ so hurt by the abuse of this gifting and all I asked the Father was use me as an instrument to teach Your bride how not to be abuse or abuse others by the miss use of the prophetic!

The lifestyle of some one called to the prophetic should be the following and this is where I feel the body has been abuse when a prophet is not doing the following:

1. Slow to suspect – quick to trust
2. Slow to condemn – quick to justify
3. Slow to expose – quick to shield
4. Slow to belittle – quick to appreciate
5. Slow to hinder – quick to help
Slow to resent – quick to forgive

How many times I have seen people prophecy thus says the Lord and then to read it from Elijah’s list or find out that the person was privy to a conversation about some one! Ezekiel 13 warns us about these prophets!

I feel so honored to have been used again in a total prophetic weekend, so blessed to see people moved by how much God loves them!

PRECIOUS FRIENDS

2008-01-30T09:26:00.000+02:00

This morning as I said goodbye to my precious friend Pauline, my heart ached for her and women all over the world that are single and find them self in a place where their call and gifting is almost put on hold because they are single and need a man to qualify them. This friend has an incredible call as an exhorter of God’s people and even in the word of wisdom that she operates in. I pray that God who is sovereign will expand her territory. I believe and trust with her that this year she will meet the man God has destined her to be will, because she truly desires to be a wife, she has held out not dating because she is waiting for that man. My dear precious dollas please pray and believe with me that she meets her man of destiny. And that she will not be held back in her call or gifts, as she is valuable and precious in the Kingdom of God.

How much fun it was to have her with me, such an appointed time in the Lord, we ate and prayed and cried and laughed. Such a testimony of God’s healing as she survived cancer in the gland area near her face, we serve a God who know our names.

An act of love and kindness may not change the course of history but if it changes the course of someone’s life it’s worth it. Thanks precious daisy pie, I love you!

STILL HERE AND ALIVE

2008-01-28T10:05:00.000+02:00

Well I haven’t blogged in what seems like a decade, but my home has been turned upside down with my darling man in Johannesburg in the week and only home Saturday and part of Sunday, life has been hectic.

I once said to someone that Fred is my rock and I got a arm length speech of how Jesus should be my only rock, and I must say I know Jesus is my rock but here in this marriage Fred is my rock, he is my calming force, the one whose arms I seek when I am distort and the one who brings my joy to my soul. I battle to work I battle to sleep when he is not around, we are not under each others feet 24/7 but at least I know that he is nearby, somehow it seems easier for me to go away then when Fred is away.

In this time that he has been in Johannesburg I have had time to work on my sermons and teachings for this year, and I have had some wonderful morning time with my Lord, not that I don’t when Fred is here it just seems that this time has been very special, as my savior just brings such wonderful refinement to my life.

The kids have been a handful with dad not been around and I never realized how jealous they can be at times for my attention. Fred is always so wonderful when I go for coffee with my girlfriends that I have never thought that the kids find it difficult. So I have learnt a bit while he is away.

2008 is in full swing and I know that God is going to do something very significant this year.

Last night as I lay in Fred’s arms and I could hear his heart beating under my ear, I sighed a great sigh of relief to know that I am truly loved by this man, my heart cries out for all those woman who have never known what its like to be truly loved, as I once was there but I believe in love and know that as we draw close to God He will give us the desires of our heart.

Love you all so madly.

PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2008

2008-01-04T11:53:00.000+02:00

As I sit here at the office this morning not much is happening except getting the calendar together for 2008, and I realized this is going to be a very busy year not only in the congregation but in my life:

Here are some personal highlights:

I am going to become a grandmamma in a few days that’s right people little Kyronè Adam will be making his grand entrance into this world in less then 60 days. Let me tell you this is going to be one blessed little boy because he has 3 (long story for another blog) grannies that cant wait to spoil him he has 2 granddads waiting for him and 3 great-grandmother and 1 great grandfather, and a 1 great great grandfather and 2 great great grandmothers 2 uncles and 1 aunty and a host of great uncles and aunts wanting to spoil him. That means 5 male generations in one sitting. Wow blessed will he be and I pray that God will continue to bless the generations to come.

My darling Fred is getting back on to a pulpit after vowing never to do that again, (never say never to God) so dolla’s watch this space because Fred is getting ready to rock and roll in Gods pulpit again. We are going to be preaching out at a church in Bethlehem (no not in Israel) but in the Free State in South Africa come the first weekend in February.

I am speaking at our yearly ladies event in March, which is such an honor for me, its wonderful to preach out and all over the country but for me its wonderful to be able to speak in good old Empangeni, even though I do feel more pressure in my own home church because I have to face these people everyday where is out in the country no one knows me so I can tell funny stories about my husband without it getting back to him, lol I am only joking… or perhaps not.

There are a lot of other invites that I am not going to share right now, because I am still praying about some, I am trusting God to be able to attend an international conference in the USA this year, I just want to come and see how its done in the big USA and maybe meet some of my wonderful friends that I have gotten to know through the blog, so girls pray with me that God leads me to the right one and if you have any suggestions please post them here in my comment box so I can pray about it.

This is my last year that I will be in my 30’s so I am going to do one challenge that I feel I need to do and that is learn to swim that is right I don’t know how to swim, so I will keep you posted on this one, our summer is now and it is hot and I really need to do this before I turn 40!

This year the scripture that God has given me is ( I trust God every end of the year for a scripture for the next year and this is what I was given) :

1 Thessaloins 4:11-12

11To make it your ambition and definitely endeavor to live quietly and peacefully, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you,
12So that you may bear yourselves becomingly and be correct and honorable and command the respect of the outside world, being dependent on nobody [self-supporting] and having need of nothing

My dear dolla’s as we go into this year let us learn to have balance in all areas of our life, let not one thing dominate another, let us live and love with passion.

Tea time

2008-01-03T13:50:00.000+02:00

So yesterday was my first day back at work, besides someone having a party in the church office kitchen and leaving all the dishes for 2 weeks, the day was uneventful. By the time I got home I was not in the mood for anything except to have a nice cup of tea in one of my Christmas presents for my friend Rene, I just love tea in a cup and saucer, I am not a mug girl when it comes to tea, must be done in a teapot and I would rather not drink tea then drink it out of a mug, so just to show you my newest treat when it comes tea here is the picture. Don't you thinks its cute, teapot and cup all bundled into one affair. ahh its heaven to be a lady of the manor drink high tea with a twist of class. So this is just a short note soon I will get into the writing mood and then my fingers will be flying across this keyboard, just need to get the holiday cobwebs out of my mind and then beware for I have become addicted to my blog.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

2008-01-02T09:57:00.000+02:00

Yesterday my Fred and I celebrated our wedding anniversary. We got married 12years ago at the stroke of midnight. So every year I always say darling it’s wonderful that everyone celebrates with us, giggles all around as its new year’s day! We had a wonderful dinner on old years eve with good friends of ours the Nell’s at Myra’s an awesome place to go if you want good Greek food, Fred and I really have a passion for Greek food. Afterward we went home for a private party just the two of us, we put on Michael Buble and slow danced in our candle lit bedroom… the rest they say is history…. We had no kids at home this year so we had the whole house to ourselves… we had a long lay in and only got up at 11am then did some more celebrating…
I really am spoilt and blessed to be married to this man… 12 years ago he came into my life one messed up lady with 3 children and in one day our lives where changed forever. I love you so my darling Fred. Thank you for 12 wonderful years. We went for late lunch and early dinner at one of the family restaurants then went back home climbed back into bed and just lay there chatting till Kirsty got home…so 2008 started just as I had wanted it time with my darling love and some peaceful time of rest… Happy New Year all my wonderful sisters in Christ and the bro’s that read my blog.

ON HOLIDAY

2007-12-16T18:19:00.000+02:00

Hi all just a quick note to say I am on holiday and will be back in 2008!! Will miss you all, have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Love always me

Wonderful Tuesday evening

2007-12-12T08:44:00.001+02:00

Last night was one of those nights that are so enjoyable, my darling dolla friend Pauline came for supper she is visiting Empangeni for a few days and we are visiting up a storm. There are some friends that just have the ability to crawl into your heart and make permanent residence there. She is one of those dolla friends, she is a mighty woman of God, and has come through some things that would make the bravest of men run for cover.

So besides trying to visit with missy muff it a.k.a Kirsty-pie wanting to know everything we where talking about, I had to cook and burnt the rice something I haven’t done in years, it was from all our yakking (talking) but it was worth the burnt rice. I made my famous prawn paella which my family just loves, we had fresh fruit salad and I made Shirley temple cocktails for us,

So last night was to good music (which there was plenty of) because dolla and I love to dance, good food and even better conversation. This week is my last week at the office so I am busy as a bee before honey season (I wonder if there is a honey season or … anyway) then I am on to a wonderful time of holiday with friends and family. I might not blog that often as I want to spend all my time with My Fred and the kiddies and friends. That my dear friends is something I relish as I love the free time with Freddels and he just is such an amazing man, this morning as he opened the gates for me and made sure I was safely on my way to work I turned to chat to him and just saw him in a different light this morning. Such a man of statue and integrity, passionate about me and his family, a man that will go to the ends of the earth so that his Queen can have, thank you my bull… I love you!

Merry Christmas

Christmas Ornament

2007-12-11T11:06:00.000+02:00

You Are a Tree

You love every part of the holidays, down to the candy canes and stockings. And you're goofy enough to put a Christmas tree ornament on your tree!

http://www.blogthings.com/whatchristmasornamentareyouquiz/">What Christmas Ornament Are You?

CHRISTMAS EDITION- MEME

2007-12-11T09:27:00.000+02:00

I found this on Tara’s blog over at http://readabouttara.blogspot.com/
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Both. But I must admit I love wrapping gifts for me it’s the beauty from the start to the finish that I love. Every year I want to do something new and exciting this year I am sticking to Father Christmas, (yes I know he is not real but I just love the red man) last year everything was done with bows and shiny balls but this year the word FUN has taken over my Christmas spirit, and that is what I am going to do have lots and lots of fun wrapping and deciding on who gets what father Christmas. I know that my eldest has taken this tradition to her home and I am waiting with anticipation to see her little home with her tree and the presents under it how they will be wrapped.

2. Real tree or artificial?

Artificial. I think at Christmas time I just want to rest and not worry about cleaning around a tree that keeps losing its leaves. Also it not such a big thing in South Africa maybe I just hang in different circles but out of all the people I know here its only 1 couple that have a real tree, I have two one big one and a small that I use to decorate the table, but I would like another one maybe one that sings Christmas carols.
3. When do you put up the tree?

normally when I see our shops putting theirs up about the 1st of December and then I rearrange for about a week but its always around from the 1st.

4. When do you take the tree down?

Usually the day after New Year.

5. Do you like eggnog?

No. maybe because I don’t really know what it tastes like.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?my Jackie doll, I loved her she had real dark curly hair just like me and green eyes like me, not blonde and blue eyed like other dollies. She was stolen out of our home about 5 years ago. I cried over her I had her from about the age of 4.
7. Do you have a nativity scene?

No cant find one here. The ones in the Christian bookstores are so expensive but I would love to have one.

8. Easiest person to buy for?My husband. I love buying for him
9 Hardest person to buy for?
This year Kirsty is as she doesn’t want anything and she is not a hand bag earring type of girl (yet) very difficult this year.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

I love all gifts and right now can only think of a plastic pair of earring from an ex.
11. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards?

e-mail I am so bad at posting cards.

12. Favorite Christmas movie?

I think it's Santa Claus the movie. I loved it.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

I always want to do it from the beginning of the year then land up giving the gifts away so we started last week
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

no cant think of doing that I love gifts and I am very sentimental about the gifts I get.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Gammon I love it when it has pineapples and cherries glazed on it, black forest Christmas pudding is one of my favorites. I love my friend Jani-May’s Christmas cake, it full of nuts and fruits, that with a slice of good cheese (I know what am I thinking but this is how my late dad ate his Christmas cake and I love it like that too.)
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?

Ours are colored, but I do like them clear as well but the tree we have has the lights build in so I love them at night when the house is silent and dark and I can lie and watch them and just feel the peace that Jesus brought with him the night he was born.
17. Favorite Christmas song?

Silent night.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
This year we are traveling as we are sharing Christmas with dear old friends of ours, and our daughter and son in love, we normally stay at home and some family come to us but this year we are out on the run.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
No sorry I don’t.

20. Angel on the tree top, or a star?
We have both. This year we are using the star and the angel is on the center piece of my table.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

My kids get to open one gift on Christmas Eve each year. Another tradition I carried over from my own childhood. I love it.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?I think for me it's that stress. Feel guilty about not getting to all my family my mom sister and my in laws. Also the fear of traveling on the roads in south Africa we have such a huge death toll over the Christmas period because people drink and drive. People don’t make this season Christ-centered.

23. What I love most about Christmas?

as the angels announced in the gospels peace on earth, the wonder of the birth of my savior. The joy of knowing that the birth of Jesus is my joy of having everlasting life. Knowing that because He came I can set my heart on the eternal to come. family coming together and friends sharing around the table of how great and good God has been to us. I must also be very honest here I love presents as well!!! I just love it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Sunday at the Meyer's

2007-12-10T09:28:00.000+02:00

The day heaven rocked, is the title to a article in one of the Christian mags I receive via mail, this was what happened today in Thandaza, there was an altar call and a young father responded and received Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior, what a beautiful picture as this dad was holding his new born babe in his arms, spiritually speaking this is what the father is doing to this young father, as he is now a baby in Gods kingdom. Alex preached out of Psalm 84 I love this psalm and I would rather be a doorkeeper in God’s house then anywhere else.

How I love Sundays when we came home from church I took my camera and just took some pictures of our garden Fred and I have been doing some work in the garden and I love these two pots that he bought so that we could close up a unsightly drain, who ever build this house was not into home décor that is for sure, I just want to share some of the beautiful sights I can see from my lounge, its summer here in south Africa and we are enjoying some lovely weather at the moment the terrible heat has not set in yet and I am hoping that it will remain that way for some time. I landed up not going to the beach this Sunday with the family and they where gracious enough to allow me to have a wonderful Sunday afternoon nap, I woke up from it feeling alive,

Our precious Kirsty-pie came home from live the life with a new African hair style which we call corn rows, she was tired irritated, yet we found her very insightful and when fred and I spoke later we realized that this little angel will not be swayed by others and is quite firm in her thinking, yet I know that this week that she has been away has been stretching for her as she is a homebody and so is her brother yet they both have hectic social lives her more then mark spark. Its good to have her home again, Mark Spark has gone to his best friend Cameron for the week but I know him by Wednesday he will be calling just to hear what we are doing and eating,

This will be my last week at work before going on leave, which I cant wait to do, I have been saying I have reached my capacity for people but the Holy Spirit kind of just brought me back to a place of Lord I am sorry I have been on my own mission for the past few weeks, in my own strength I have reached my capacity but in the Lords strength I have more then enough capacity to carry on. Yet I know that the Lord knows that we need to take a break and have some good family fun and meet with old dear friends that just blow wind into your sails, I cant wait only 7 more sleeps to holiday. Well its time for me to go and do my nightly routine of bath and cleansing cream etc and start to shushu down so I can have a good nights sleep. What a wonderful God we serve and as we sang today I serve a God who knows my name.

Saturday at the Meyer's

2007-12-10T09:10:00.000+02:00

Its Saturday evening, my Fred and Mark spark are watching a movie together the third for the weekend and I am in my bed going over some things for tomorrows meeting listening to a worship cd as I start to relax for the evening. its amazing how photos and music can bring back such wonderful memories and I came across this cd with some photos that where take of fred and I when we had been out of ministry for about a year and a Christian magazine called Joy did an article on me, they had someone take photos of us and then only used one of the photos but we had such fun taking them. This part of the beach is called pelican island and we love to come with our kids to this beach and just play in the water, this has been a place where I have shed many tears and also had many hours of joy and delight swimming with my fred just been held in his arms as the sea sweeps over us, this is how I feel when I listen to good worship just been held in the Fathers arms as the Holy Spirit just sweeps over me, filling me with such joy and praise for Jesus, Jesus is so worthy of all praise,.

We had breakfast with one of our Pastoral couples Mark and Cindy and where just so spoilt and Paul and Nicky where there as well and it was so nice to get to know this couple a little better, after spending most of the morning with them we went Christmas shopping for Kirsty-pies and Mark Sparks gifts, we had such fun picking and choosing their gift they have both worked so hard at school this year and we wanted to get them each a special gift this year and Freddels and I just both had an idea and when we sat down at Zac’s we both had the same gifts in mind, I just love this man of mine that take so much interest in his kids and knows their characters so well, after we had some thing to eat we went and got their gifts and had them wrapped at the same time as we knew Mark Spark was still home and that he would see what we had bought so the wrapping is not like I do it I make such a big thing about wrapping my gifts I think sometimes that brings me greater delight then the gift its self. Then we decided just to take a look at our local baby shop just to see what we can dress our soon to be here grand baby boy and walked out with his cot that we have bought for Christmas for him even though he is not even born yet but nana wants him to have a nice place to sleep in and keeping with the whole Tigger (from Winnie the Pooh) theme we bought a orange and gray camping cot that adjusts as he grows it has a beautiful changing table that fits on top of the cot and I know that he is going to have sweet beautiful sleep in the cot that Paw Paw and Nana chose for him. I pray that this little boy will have big dreams and live them all out not missing one dream that he has for his life…. I am so excited I can wait to have this tender little life in my arms.

I also got my Christmas present early well the whole of November has been on Christmas present after the next, for many years of living in church homes we have our own home but I have never bought paintings that I love for my home I have always been given and at the time I was very thankful for the paintings but they where not always my taste I really love sunsets and so I love that coloring of the vibrant oranges and sunny yellows with the passionate reds, I also love African art which can be abstract at times, and that is what my darling fred has done he has bought me 3 paintings two still need to be framed they are not abstract but of pots and once they are framed I will share the picture with you, this one is my favorite and they have just done it on a mounted canvas but I love the picture and because we received a prophetic word over Mark Sparks life that he would one day play guitar for the Lord this painting means even more for me, I just love sitting in my lounge having a look over at the dinning room and seeing this it brings me such joy. From now on I will be blogging with lots of pictures because I got another gift which we have chosen for us this Christmas Fred and I have chose that at Christmas time we will buy things for the home that we both want and will enjoy and besides the paintings he has bought us a camera so girls get ready for picture document of our life….. there is still more I saw this beautiful pots at our local nursery that would just cover a bare spot in our garden and wow my hunny just took my wind out when he got these for me too. I feel so spoilt even though I have them all before Christmas I feel so overwhelmed at the spoiling that he is doing and I know that he loves to do so and would do even more as he said today if we weren’t saving for my trip to New Zealand in June. I love this man not because he buys me gifts but because he is my gift from God, how I love him. Anyway time to cuddle up with my gentle giant and sleep tomorrow awaits with a song in my heart as we go into His House, I so love to be in the house praising with my brother and sisters in Christ, I am in expectation for the service. And Kirsty-pie comes home from her week away with “live the life” so we have lots of catching up to do and know that she has had an awesome time, one peek preview she prayed for a young guy to receive the Holy Spirit and was so over the moon when he started speaking in other tongues praise you Jesus you are so faithful, I know that this has built her faith.