Random cards and thoughts.

Those of you that visit regularly will know that I am totally addicted to Mo Manning's images.Her images are just so life like and they are a pleasure to colour too! I have spent most of the little free time I had this weekend colouring her new Christmas images - cards will follow soon (I hope! LOL)
The next card was made with Bazzil cardstock and the dp is from Upikit, a local company. The pearls are from Paola. Ribbon, feather and bling from my stash. The sentiment is from a freebie set I picked up somewhere and true to form, I have lost the link. Sorry!

The next card is another freebie that I got from Mo's. Isn't she just too gorgeous for words. She reminds me of Tertia-Lee's friend Danielle. That hair is just too much - Tertia-Lee wanted to know from her mom whether she would grow hair like Danielle's if she ate more vegies. LOL Mom told her she didn't think so, but it wouldn't hurt to try. Taught my girls well don't you think?
The card uses paper from Fabscraps, another local company. Bazzil cardstock,punched with a Martha Stewart punch, Prima flowers and the image was coloured with my Copics and given a generous helping of Stickles.Two decorative pins and another one of the freebie ticket set and thats it.

Now for my random thoughts. A lot has happened in our lives recently and I am still trying to make some sense of it. Ankie has started her teaching prac and is loving every minute of teaching. So grateful to all at the school where she is for making her feel so welcome and helping her so much.

My son has been working very long days , sometimes having to be at work at 2 in the morning, trying to meet deadlines, only to be dissapointed by others who don't understand the importance of a deadline. He is fighting off a cold, which I think has more to do with a lack of sleep than anything else.

Both my older girls are pregnant and it was confirmed last week that Daniela is having a little boy. Can't wait to meet little Liam and to find out who his cousin is going to be. Karin found a job - thank you God for providing a job.

One of my best friends' father died on Friday. I am very sad and can't imagine a world without Oom Daan. Still see him walking around the neighbourhood in shorts and a T-shirt in the middle of winter. he was a very special man and will be missed.

I am in the middle of marking exams and think I might just give up on teaching all together! The girls did not open a book to study during the holidays. Either that, or I am the world's worst teacher - How do you get 14% for an exam?

Lots more happening, but they are things I am not yet comfortable talking about, so when I have thought about it some more, I will share, thats if my ramblings don't bore you to death.

Where I've been and do you know what this is?

I know, I've been missing in action for a few days, but I had good reason. First I was so tired after the World Cup Opening Ceremony ( wasn't that just awesome? A bit messy, very busy and colourful, but so African! I sat on the pitch behind the girls, crying, I was so overwhelmed by pride and patriotism. When the crowd started spelling SOUTH AFRICA with the kids, I wept.)
After that I spent a few days in the Kwa Zulu Natal Midlands with some of my friends from school. It was bitterly cold, but we had a fantastic time. We stayed in Nottingham Road and spent a few days exploring the area. Went to see Michaelhouse school - where the Spud books are about - saw 'Pissing Pete' and saw the Paraguayan team practise .
I took the following photo in Nottingham Road. If anybody knows what plant this is, please let me know. I have never seen anything like it.
We went for long walks in the area, it is just so very beautiful and we had to, after all the food we consumed. LOL This is the road in front of the house where we stayed, actually I think it is the only road in the neighbourhood.

Then, on Fathersday, the kids took dad for a ride on the Gautrain. Great excitement! Juan has been visiting us the last couple of weeks, using the Gautrain and he swears that he will never again come to the East Rand by car. It takes just 12 minutes from Sandton to Rhodesfield! Compare that to about 2 hours on the Highway if you are lucky and you can see why.

Here is the whole family after breakfast in Sandton, waiting to get on the train. The only ones missing are Juan, because he stays in Sandton, Vaughan, my SIL - because he is too scared of the train (don't ask!) and Barry, Ankie's BF, he is taking the photo.

So girls, as you can see, I have been very busy, doing very little. LOL I am back in my craftroom, playing and will show you something soon, I promise.

Have a great rest of the week.

A very merry CHRISTmas to all!

Ever wonderecd what its like to have a summer Christmas? Just look at these pictures and you will know. There is nothing quite like being together as a family, hanging out next to the pool and having cold meats and salads. No hot stove for us - just a whole lot of fun. The first photo is of my two youngest. They are 22 months apart and have been best friends since the day Ankie was born. It warms my heart to know that they can still play together with such abandon. I hope they will still be like this when they are 50!

The next photo is of DD nr2 and her two children.Aren't they just beautiful? Because we got to spend Chrismas day with all of them last year, they are all heading to the in laws for Christmas day this year and we got to spend Christmas Eve with all the kids here (except for DD nr.1, she is on holiday with her little family) Santa came to our house to hand out the presents. He phoned a couple of times to speak to Luke and Hannah and keep them informed of his where abouts.

Lukie is 8 now and for the past three years we were convinced that he was going to recognise Santa as Braam, my husband's best friend, but he is still convinced (a little suspicious, but still pretty sure!) This year he said to his mom that it wasn't Santa, because he could see the elastic on the fake beard. Thank goodness for children with very active imaginations! Without missing a beat, Ankie told him that the elastic he saw, was not for Santa's beard. It was to keep his hat on his head while he was flying through the air. He thought that was a very logical answer and accepted it without question. We'll see if he figures it out next year.

We have just come home from church. What a blessing to fill an entire pew again. The minister said he hoped that we could see the grace of God in this very difficult year. It made me think how lucky, no blessed I have been this year. Amongst all the drama and trouble, the hand of God is so plainly visible. We nearly lost Ankie three times this year - twice in a car accident and once in a fire in her little house - and every time God has spared her life and she walked away unharmed! I don't know why I deserve such grace, but I am so grateful to Him. He must have great plans for that little girl.

A wonderful Christmas to all of you and may you be acutely aware of His presence and His grace in the year 2010!

What a game!

Hannah and Luke

Anke and Juan

What a game of rugby that was!

Yesterday was a big day for South African sport. It was the final of the Super 14 rugby tournament. The final of a very long season. The team that I have supported since I was child, the Bulls, had a fantastic season and made it to the final. We played against a team from New Zeeland, the Chiefs. I was quite nervous before the game, because you can never tell what will happen on the day. My whole family were dressed in their Bulls shirts and even my husband who is actually a Stormers fan ( I know, there's no explanation!LOL) was rooting for the Bulls, because we were the only South African team still in the competition.
The game was FANTASTIC!!!!! We won 61-17.
As far as other sport was concerned South Africa had a great weekend. Our Netball team won the tri-Nations tournament and beat Fiji in the final. Our sevens Rugby side will be playing in the final of the Edinborough tournament later tonight, and by qualifying they have won the world championships. Even Bafana Bafana, our national Soccer side, won this weekend, so a great weekend for South African sport!
The photo's are of my youngest two and my wonderful grandchildren in their Bulls shirts before the game.

Long time no post, BUT....

... it was my birthday and I can slack if I want to! Seriously though, it was my 50th birthday and I have had an incredible few days. First there was breakfast with all my special friends and then on Good Friday, my actual birthday, all my kids came over for a braai. It was the best gift just to have them all there with me. It makes me realise just how lucky I am to have them all so close to me and to be able to see my grandchildren as often as I do.

I was given the most special gift from all my children and grandchildren. A silver charm bracelett with three discs on. Each disc has the imprint of one of the grangchildren's fingerprints with their name engraved on it. How special is that?!!

On Saturday we all went to a restaurant to celebrate - again!!! This party just did not stop. All my children were there as well as a few very special friends and my family. My wonderful sister and her husband. My brother was the only person missing, but it was his eldest daughter's 18th birthday party, so I understand. The top photo is with all my children and grandchildren. How did I get so lucky to be surrounded with so many beautiful people? The second photo is all my 'outlaws'. All the special men in my daughters' lives. The only thing a mother asks for is that her daughters partner loves her and makes her happy and that is exactly what these three do.

Sorry guys, I got a camera from my hubby, so now it is back to posting terrible photo's again. I am doing that photography course soon, so hopefully my photos will get better.

How is this for family resemblance?

Here is the LO I did of my DH's family gholfday. The papers are from Kaiserkraft and the cardstock from Coredinations. I inked everything and cut the circles from the patterned paper and lifted them with pop dots. Very simple, but maybe that means mr. Mojo is coming back slowly.

The journaling is in Afrikaans and reads as follows:

It doesn't happen often that most of the Jacobs men are together since the boys have grown up. Chris stays in Tasmania and Deon lives in Bloemfontein and the rest all lead very busy lives. When Johan heard that all the boys would be home for Christmas, the idea of a gholfday was born. Everybody was very excited.

They had to play in Delmas, because all the other gholf courses were either too full or too busy. Everybody recieved a personalised bag with Gholfballs, tee's, energy bars and peanut snacks. They left home at seven o' clock after I had to beg for a photo.

They only got back home after one, burnt, tired, but determined that this should be an annual event.

Shaun won, but Deon that actually managed to hit the ball backwards was a bigger and better story!

What a wonderful day!

My DH has two brothers, one older and one younger than him. Every now and then they all get together and have great fun. His older brother has two sons, one lives in Tasmania and the other in Bloemfontein. They were both home with their families for Christmas and it was decided that they would all go and play gholf. My DH arranged the whole day. They each had a goodie bag filled with gholfballs, tee's and snacks. My DS designed a special score card for the 'Jacobs gholf day'.

At 7 o'clock this morning they set off for Delmas - It was the only place that could accomodate them at short notice. There were 8 of them; Sam, the oldest brother, and his two sons, Chris and Deon. Willie, the younger brother, he drove all the way from the Vaal just to be with them and his son Shaun and then of course there was Jakes, my DH and our don Juan. The eighth member of the team was Juan's friend Pieter.

They came home shortly after 1, exhausted, but giggling like schoolboys. From what I hear, great fun was had by all. Shaun emerged as the winner, not that anybody cared! They had more fun telling tales of Deon who managed to hit the gholf ball backwards. We spent the afternoon at Sam's house having a braai and listening to them talk.

On the way home Jakes commented on what a wonderful gift it is for a family to still enjoy spending time with each other. In this day and age you don't often find young people that still enjoy to spend time with their parents and to be able to share that with your brothers is truely special.