A Silver for Anya

Anya took part in her second Rhythmic Gymnastic competition last week. She did a beautiful dance with the ribbon and rope. All those hours of practicing at home paid off as she came second in her group and was awarded a silver medal. Well done, my baby! You were terrific!

One kind word can warm three winter months

For three weeks now I have played nurse to three sick children and it is time to play a different role now. I am tired of the running noses, the coughing, the sneezing, the headaches, the sore chests and bodies; and most of all I am tired of saying over and over again: "Where are your socks? Why are walking around on the cold floor without any shoes? Put your jersey back on!" Winter is not my favourite season as I hate being cold - I feel like a walking ice-block most days. I sometimes think animals have the right idea to hibernate as I could quite easily sleep winter away in my nice warm bed.

Ulrich and I finished his project this week-end on his role-model. He chose as his role-model Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. He had to state six reasons why he admired and looked up to Steve Irwin and it was very interesting listening to the qualities my son likes in a person. The words 'fun', 'exciting', 'brave', 'adventerous', 'courageous' and 'happy' came up often. But I was very impressed when Ulrich wrote that he really likes Steve Irwin because he loved his family and never gave up trying to help the animals in the wild. This reminded me that children admire people because of what they do and not because of the material things they have.

Thank goodness there are only three days of school this week - I love public holidays as I get to turn off the alarm and hibernate for just a little bit.

Grandparents are a delightful blend of laughter, caring deeds, wonderful stories and Love

On Friday it was Grandparents day at the school. Ulrich and Anya were very excited because for the first time all their grandparents would be there watching them perform their poems and songs. Anya was too shy to say an individual poem, but not Ulrich - he said his poem courageously in front of all those strange faces - I am very proud of you, my boy, you said your poem slowly and clearly and you remembered all the words! Well done! Here is the poem Ulrich recited for us:

TREES

by Harry Behn

Trees are the kindest things I know,

They do no harm, they simply grow

And spread a shade for sleepy cows,

And gather birds among their boughs.

They give us fruit in leaves above,

And wood to make our houses of,

And leaves to burn on Halloween,

And in the Spring new buds of green.

They are the first when day's begun

To touch the beams of morning sun,

They are the last to hold the light

When evening changes into night,

And when a moon floats on the sky

They hum a drowsy lullaby

Of sleepy children long ago. . .

Trees are the kindest things I know.

Anya sang in the Dinky Choir, which she absolutely loves. Put on music and in no time our little madam will be dancing and singing her heart out. She keeps telling me that she wants to be a rock star when she grows up. Should I be worried?

Ulrich, Erin and Anya with my parents - this is the first photo I have with my dad
and his grandchildren - just love it

Fires all go out eventually

Winter has arrived bringing with it an ice cold wind that makes the house feel like a refrigerator. So I decided to make my first fire of the season to warm the house and our chilled bodies. There is something extremely comforting about a burning fire and just sitting and watching the dancing flames brings peace to both body and mind. Soon everyone felt warm and cosy - too cosy as no one wanted to leave the warmth of the fire-place, which made me realise that as humans we naturally gravitate towards things that warm us - fire, hot chocolate, blankets, our family, hot water bottles, winter sheets, heaters, slippers, thick socks - all these things are necessary as they help us, especially me, remain sane during winter.
I also decided to braai for lunch today, but my enthusiasm was soon replaced by frustration in trying to keep the fire alive. I had to start the fire three times before I finally had a decent fire to braai our wors and steaks on. So we sat outside enjoying our lunch and the light fire of the weak winter sun on our backs when Michael phoned to tell me that his laptop had just been stolen and instantly my fire of hope was extinguished as I realised that it will be a long time before I get to see and speak to my hubby again on Skype - the lifeline of our marriage had now been stolen from us - so now how do we keep our relationship alive when we can't see or speak to each other? So even though the burning fire in the fire place is warming my toes and hands, my heart is cold as my hubby now feels so far away - unreachable.

The last team to check in MAY be eliminated!

I am the Activity Day Leader in our ward and on Friday night we had our own Amazing Race. All the children came dressed in their running shoes as no one wanted to get to the Pit Stop last. We only had 4 teams as alot of the children were sick, but it was fun watching them running around the chapel trying to find all their clues and working together as a team. The children had a blast and asked if I could please do another Amazing Race activity. I love my calling as I love teaching and showing the children that the gospel can be fun.

The invitation I made inviting all to participate in the Amazing Race

Here are some of the clues, including one of the detours and roadblocks they had to complete

For any one that would like to hold their own Amazing Race a great site to check out is www.ChicaAndJo.com as they have all the Amazing Race clue templates that you can use - you just download them and then type in your own clue details. Easy, simple and effective. Just the way I like it!

It's Always Something

It is Sunday night, the children are finally in bed and I am basking in the peace and quiet that has descended upon my home. Dressed in my winter pajamas and slippers I am marvelling at the fact that I have made it through another week and bracing myself for the start of another hectic one tomorrow.

We had an unwelcomed guest this week - Mr Rat - decided to make his home behind the fridge, but every time I moved the fridge to chase him out he ran under and up the washing machine. So on Friday I decided that he had out stayed his welcome and that it was time to evict him. I first blocked his route to the washing machine, opened the back door and armed the children with brooms to sweep out our visitor. As I moved the fridge he blotted straight for the washing machine, but instead of finding a safe haven his bottom found Ulrich's broom and he landed outside in the courtyard followed by victorious shrieks from the kitchen.

Erin had a potjie tasting competition at school. All the Grade 7's were put into teams - they had to find their own recipe and then bring all the necessary ingredients, potjie pot, cooking utensils and firewood. Thank goodness the rain had stopped so they could start their fire successfully. Erin's team made a chicken and bacon potjie and he said it tasted great. We will find out which team won next week. I did give him an empty container so that he could bring home some for me to taste, but all I got was the dirty potjie pot to clean.

Ulrich was very excited as he finally got selected to play in his first rugby match. I made sure we woke up early on Saturday so that we all could get dressed, have breakfast, pack the car and get to the school on time. He looked so smart in his green and white rugby shirt and couldn't wait to ran out onto the rugby field and play for his school. But alas he never got the chance as the opposing team did not bring their Under 9 team as they said there was no match scheduled for the Under 9's. My little boy was crashed and he fought very hard to not cry in front of all his friends. With a heavy heart he climbed back into the car and we had to wait till after lunch before we saw a smile on his face again. One of the hardest jobs a parent has to do is watch their children face their disappointments in life as your heart brakes for them and you wish you had a magic wand you could wave to make all the unhappy moments in life disappear. But unfortunately it doesn't work like that and all you can do is wipe their tears away, hug them as tight as you can and hope that they will bounce back even stronger.

A mother's arms are more comforting than anyone else's

I love Mother's Day as it reminds me of just how lucky I am to be a mother. I also love the simple, yet sincere gifts my children make for me which tell me that they do appreciate all that I do for them [even though they hardly say it]. I am so blessed to wake up in the morning to three beautiful smiling faces waiting to shower me with home-made cards and to be treated to a shoulder and back massage by my oldest son. What more can a mother ask for! I love my children and know that they have helped mould me into a better person - my life would be incomplete without them.

This is the heart shaped card Ulrich made for me.

  

It opens up into a flower! Isn't that sweet!