SEEKING FORGIVENESS...

Has God ever convicted you about the wrongs you have done to others in your past? Well, he did convict me. Not so long ago either. I had been carrying around really heavy burdens of guilt and shame of things I had done to people in my life. Things that I had asked God to forgive me for – but that I needed to forgive myself for too.

One day in a time of prayer God told me that I should seek these people out and tell them how sorry I was for having caused them pain or heartache of any kind – even if it was something small and insignificant to them. I was terrified, it meant facing all the people I had ever hurt – at least all that I could get into contact with, and beg their forgiveness. Well, I put it off and put it off but I could not escape God’s urging to do this so that I could be free of my guilt.

Finally one day at work I decided it was time. I sat down and typed out letters to a few people – these people, among others included my sisters and my husband's ex-wife. You see he and I had an affair after his marriage had fallen apart and they got divorced because of it. I was not living Christ’s life for me and I had backslidden right down into the gutter and I was determined to do things my way. I did exactly that and I caused a lot of pain and bitterness.

This is very hard…

My husband’s ex-wife and I have gotten on okay all these years. We both just decided that we didn’t want the children getting stuck in a horrible tug of war between bitter parents. But I was battling and struggling with guilt and regret. I wrote her letter to her in December 2005 and when the boys went down to visit her I sent it with them to her. I have never told anyone this because I don’t want it to seem like I am trying to bang my own drum. It was one of the most difficult things I ever had to do – but obedience to God brings freedom. Even typing this post is very hard – but I have been putting this off too – and God has been prompting me to share this testimony because when we share our testimony’s of the good things God is doing in our lives we bring encouragement to one another. So here it is. You see I was SO blessed in the responses I got from all my letters – not one person denied me forgiveness. NOT ONE!

If God is busy working through a process in your life - listen to His promptings and be obedient. It may at times seem hard and impossible to do, but He will bring you through it and He will be able to use you even more powerfully because of it.

If there is anybody out there dealing with guilt and regret bring it to Jesus and lay it down at His feet. He may not deal with you in the same way He dealt with me – but He will carry your burden for you.

Have a blessed Wednesday

LOSS OF A PRECIOUS FRIEND

Today is a sad day for my little sister.

Madam, my heart just breaks for you today and I wish I was with you right now where you are. I pray that God will comfort you in this time of sadness and loss. M was one of the most beautiful people I had met in a long time - and even though he was sick he never let it get in the way of life. Your life is richer because he was a part of it, and his friendship and love will always be alive in your heart. I love you.

Madam sent this out in an e-mail message this morning:

Hello all,
This morning, a very very very very dear friend and forever blood brother of mine passed away. He was so very close to my heart and I loved him just like I would a brother. We saw him through his struggles when his heart condition first started, saw him get stronger, then weaker, then super strong again.
We spent super special times together, and he will live on in my heart and memories as one of the best friends a girl could have.
Although I have not had contact with him for a while now, his memory lives on as strong as what it would have been if I saw him every day.
One of my fondest memories was when in his weak state he picked up his guitar and played for me at my wedding.
Our very special and loving freind, M, we love you and we will miss you so very much. The world could do with more people like him.
This is from me to M and his family

GOD'S GARDEN
(Author Unknown)

God looked around His garden
And found an empty place.
He then looked upon the earth
And saw your tired face.

He put His arm around you
And lifted you to rest.
God's garden must be beautiful
He always takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering.
He knew you were in pain.
He knew that you would never
Get well on earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough,
And the hills were hard to climb.
So He closed your eyelids,
And whispered, "Peace be thine."

It broke our hearts to lose you,
But you didn't go alone.
For part of us went with you
The day God called you Home.

OVERWHELMING LOVE...

SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS

HERE I STAND,
IN THE SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS
BRING A HUMBLE OFFERING
TO YOUR THRONE OF GRACE
WHERE YOU BECKON ME,
COME IN
AND WE’RE JOINED IN SCARED TONGUE
YOUR HEART & MINE

NO MORE WORDS
TO DESCRIBE THE WAY I FEEL
WHEN I THINK OF ALL YOU’VE DONE FOR ME
ALL I CAN SAY,

IS THAT I LOVE YOU
YES I LOVE YOU
THIS WORLD MAY FADE AWAY
BUT MY LOVE FOR YOU REMAINS
LORD I LOVE YOU
YES I LOVE YOU
WITH ALL MY HEART AND ALL MY SOUL
YES I LOVE YOU.

When this song played on the radio the other day I had been longing for such a long time after the presence of God and felt I was distant from him. I know that this song came straight from Him. I suddenly found myself swept up in his overwhelming love and was simply singing along with the words - "Lord I Love You, with all my heart and all my soul" I was moved to tears and spent most of the rest of the day just quietly worshipping him and spending time with him. I had again entered His presence I had so longed for and I was home. This song will always be special to me. My heart is joined to His and it is the most satisfying love I will ever experience.

Psa 36:7-10 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!

COMPLETE FORGIVENESS

I realise I have spoken about forgiveness before - but I keep coming back to it because it is so vital. I think if I could sum up Christianity in one word it would be Forgiveness. It was the example set by Jesus when he died on the cross. On Sunday we heard such an excellent message from one of our elders Gerhard and I felt I had to share it.

Unforgiveness leads to bitterness which leads to bondage. To completely forgive someone may be a very difficult thing to do - but it will be the most rewarding and freeing thing you can ever do. When we forgive someone we give up our right to revenge. The bible says in Romans 12:19
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."

Now you may be wondering "What is complete forgiveness?" The following points will help you with that:

1) Complete forgiveness is being aware of the wrongs done to you yet still forgiving that person.

2) Complete forgiveness is a choice to keep no records of the wrongs done to you.

3) Complete forgiveness is refusing to punish. This is the essence of forgiveness.

4) Complete forgiveness is not telling of the wrongs that have been done to you.

Complete forgiveness is asking God to bless those who have wronged you and asking God to keep no record of their wrongs either.

If you read the story of Joseph who was sold into slavery by his own brothers because they were jealous of him you will find a very powerful example of forgiveness. About twenty years after they did this and Joseph had been promoted to some one with the stature of a president today, his brothers came to Egypt to beg for food because the famine had left them with nothing. Joseph's brothers believed that the famine was their punishment for selling their brother into slavery (Gen 42:21). And when they stood before Joseph and he finally revealed who he was to them, he was not bitter and he in fact told them that it was God who had sent him ahead of them so that he would be able to store up food for them for the famine - when all the time it was his brothers who sold him into slavery(Gen 45 v 1 - 15). That is amazing!! I am sure his brothers thought they were done for when they saw it was Joseph, but he wanted to embrace them and let them know that they were forgiven. He asked about his father and did everything he could to allay their fears. In the twenty years in Egypt Joseph had learned much from God and forgiveness was one of them.

So, how do you know when have completely forgiven some one?

1) Do not let anyone know what someone has done to you. Joseph could have gone straight to his father to tell him where he had been and how he got there, but he didn't because he had forgiven his brothers.

2) Do not allow anybody to be afraid or intimidated by you because of what they have done. You know how it is when some one who had wronged you walks into the same room as you and you immediately stiffen up and bristle at them. You make that person feel afraid or intimidated.

3) You will want the person to forgive them self and not feel guilty.

4) You will let that person save face by hiding their wrong from others.

5) You will want to protect them from their greatest fears of revenge or punishment. See 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Forgiveness IS love!!

Forgiveness is a life long process and we need to trust God that we will be able to deal with unforgiveness in our lives swiftly.

As I have said before - Unforgiveness is like a slow poison and does far more harm to your emotional self than to the one you are holding onto that unforgiveness for. And as you begin to forgive and let go of those hurts you are holding onto, you begin to feel free and your burdens become less and lighter. And once you have forgiven some one and laid the wrong they have done at His feet, asked him to forgive them and keep no record of their wrongs then that is where you leave it. Don't talk about ti again or continue to tell people what was done to you because if you do that means you have not completely forgiven that person and you still wnat them to pay for what they did. And you don't truly free yourself from the burden of unforgiveness. The bible also says that if we don't forgive others God cannot forgive us (Matt 6 v 14 & 15) and also in the prayer Jesus taught His disciples says "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" Can you see why I feel forgiveness is SO important?

Don't carry such heavy burdens in your heart. Give it all to Jesus and He will deal with it for you.

LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!!

Look at the size of the picture frame behind her in comparison with her size! LOL

She loved this x-mas decoration bunny, it is just taller than a 30cm ruler ± 50cm tall.

She loved to lie on this blue recliner - specially if there was no one in/on it.

She also loved to cuddle and slept with me most of the time.

Sleeping on her recliner again - her favourite chair.

These are my kitty's "baby" photos. I don't have her anymore and I was only "allowed" to keep her for a year beacause when we moved, we discovered, on the day we signed our contract that there are no pets allowed. But she brought so much joy and love into my life. I will never forget her. I did forget all about these photos and this weekend I was scratching around looking for a cd and I found two discs with photos on them marked "kids and kitty". I was so happy to find these - she was such a sweet little kitty. I still miss my little Pearl, she was spoiled rotten and a real mommy's girl. Wasn't she cute?

A PRESSIE FROM BEAUTIFUL DAWN

The Most Amazing Lady Ever sent Myself, Angel and NMOTB a parcel!! It was very exciting. We all went over to NMOTB's house to open it cause Dawn wanted us all together when we opened it. I couldn't wait!

There gifts for Me and all my kiddos, Angel and Damien and NMOTB and her kiddos and her friend Sean also got a pressie and Mommy Darling and my nephew Nathan. Dawn put alot of thought into each one and when we had handed them all out I felt like we should pput them all back and do it again.

The order of the photos:
The parcel!!, Each of us got something from Dawn, NMOTB with her pressie, Angel with her pressie, ME with my pressie!!

The t-shirts say "Superhero" on them. Dawn had the idea for these when I started going to gym, and I used to joke about being a superhero. She said she had an idea for me and my sisters, and so, as she got to know all of us better - she decided to get us all something. How special is she??

Dawn, you are so very special and precious to me!! This was one the most amazing things that anyone has ever done for me and my family and it means the world to me!!

Please say thanks from the heart of my bottom to DDTFM and Ross, from my boys and I.

I love you!!!

I HAVE BEEN TAGGED!!

Twice in fact. And I am feeling a bit guilty for not doing them sooner. So here they are, enjoy...

The first one was from Angel:

THE GHOSTS OF 2006 PAST
1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
I went to Bloemfontein (never been there) and was part of a HUGE choir!! (never did that)
2. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes my friend at church had a baby girl
3. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thankfully not. I am blessed
4. What countries did you visit?
Hmpf! None.
5. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
A car….
6. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Jan 8, it was a Sunday and I was at church. After church I checked my phone and discovered my dad was in hospital with a huge neck spasm. I went cold and I just knew it was something serious. It was, but he is fine now!!
7. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes, actually I was ill quite often in 2006 – not like me, but I had a tummy bug twice (I have never had that before - EVER) and I had a few colds and a bad neck spasm right in the beginning of my holiday – no, nothing as serious as my dads. LOL
8. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Madam – my younger sister. I am VERY proud of her!!
9. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Jacob Zuma – I will rather not even talk about it!
10. Where did most of your money go?
Into my kids and their schools – that’s normal though.
11. What did you get really, really excited about?
About going to Bloemfontein!!
12. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
Happier, thinner and not much richer.
13. What was your favorite TV program?
This is hard – I didn’t really have one, nothing impressed me much.
14. What was the best book you read?
“Lord, Change” by Evelyn Christenson me! And “The Visitation” by Frank Pirretti
15. Is there someone or something you missed this past year?
Yes, I missed my kitty at times.
16. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I don’t really remember doing anything for my birthday. I turned 31
17. What kept you sane?
Prayer & Faith
18. What is one new thing you'd like to accomplish this coming Year?
I’d rather not say – it’s too embarrassing
19. If you could do ONE thing this New Year and NOT get chastised by, or for it, what would you do?
Get a chocolate fountain!
20. If you could really, and actually, meet one blogger in 2007, who would you want to meet?
It would definitely be Beautiful Dawn from Dawn-unplugged

The second one was from Terri:

ALPHABET MEME:
A - Available/Single or Taken?
Taken. I will be celebrating my 9th Wedding Anniversary this year!!
B - Best Friend?
Um, I think it would be my sisters and Reta and Claudie!
C - Cake or pie?
Chocolate Mousse Cake – it’s sinful!!
D - Drink Of Choice?
Alcoholic – Red wine, non alcoholic – Coffee, Coke, Oros
E – Essential Item You Use Everyday?
Shower and toothbrush.
F - Favourite Color?
Purple, pink, blue, yellow and black, though technically it’s not a colour.
G - Gummy Bears or Worms?
Gummy Bears
H - Hometown?
Pretoria, South Africa.
I - Indulgence?
Movies – I love buying and keeping my favourite movies.
J - January or February?
February – it’s the month of LOVE.
K - Kids & Their Names?
Three kids, Mark, Sean and Donovan
L - Life is Incomplete Without?
Jesus.
M - Marriage date?
11 April 1998
N - Number of Siblings?
2 sisters, one older, one younger. And one younger brother
O - Oranges or Apples?
Oranges – sweet, juicy ones.
P - Phobias/Fears?
Fear of confrontation – but I’m working on it.
Q - Favourite (movie) Quote?
"Lets go meet the giant pansies!!" (King Julian in Madagascar)
R - Reason to Smile?
My family
S - Season? Spring or Fall?
Fall. I love the temperature in the fall. Not too hot and not too cold – well, here in South Africa at least.
T - Tag 3 people?
Uuuummmm…… I’m not tagging. If you wanna do it, go for it!!
U - Unknown Fact About Me?
I love, love, love peanut butter!! I eat it out the bottle…
V - Vegetable you don’t like?
Brussels Sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower (except my mother in laws, I dunno what she does but it is always good.)
W - Worst Habit?
Chocolate – it calls my name…
X - X-rays You’ve Had?
Arms (wrist), ankles, feet, back and teeth
Y - Your Favorite Food?
Sea food, pasta and pizza
Z – Zodiac sign?
Pisces

So there you have it - two memes for the price of one!! I hope you discovered something about me that you didn't know before!

DRAMA IN THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL

So the first week at school went off smoothly until Friday...

Let me give a bit of background before I continue.

A lot of the people I work with live in and around the same area I do and so our kids go to the same school (pre-school and primary). And so some of them go to the same aftercare. Sean and Donovan go to the school's aftercare as does the son of a man who works with me. He also started grade one this year with Donovan and they did grade R together.

Now on Friday afternoon just as I am about to leave my office my phone rings and this man tells me that Donovan accidentally hit his son with something on the head and he has been taken for stitches. I got such a shock!! I could only imagine how poor little Donovan was feeling after the incident. Terrified, sorry, bad - all these things. I couldn't get there fast enough to sort things out.

As soon as I got there he came to me and I could just see the worry and fear etched into his little face. He started crying when someone Else's little brat shouted something at me about what happened before I could even get to him. I told her I already knew and she shut up very quickly.

I listened to his story and the aftercare teacher told me that she had no reason not to believe that it was an accident. Here is what happened:

Donovan picked up a girls school sock which had been lying in the gutter for a few days - I had seen it there too on the first day. Unbeknown to Donny, there was a stone - not a very big stone, but a stone inside the sock. (I held the sock with the stone in and you really could not feel there was a stone inside it). He was swinging it around and he accidentally hit this other little boy on his head. (on the top) And being a head wound it bled terribly. (Donovan told me later that he didn't know whether the blood was coming from his hand or his head cause there was so much.)

I asked the aftercare teacher for the other little boy's mommy's phone number and sent her a message as soon as I got home to tell her how sorry I was her little boy got hurt and that Donovan felt just awful. (Every time he thought about it and told me how bad he felt and that he hoped his friend was OK he would cry). It really worried him. I took him aside and told him that accidents happen everyday to all sorts of people, it was just unfortunate that that day was their turn. I told him that he should stop worrying about it and that I was sure his friend would be fine - after all the stone was inside a sock and it was a very thick sock - so it was well padded. I told him I loved him and everything would be fine.

I am sure though that if his friend could see into his little heart how deeply sorry he was he would see that the pain there for what he did was worse that the bump on his head.

The little boy's mommy phoned me and said he was fine - had no stitches just a bump. The blow did however cause his ear to bleed and he should go back on Tuesday (which is today) for a follow up appointment. I know he will be fine and they will find nothing there anymore. I am trusting the Lord that his ear will not be damaged. His dad says he is fine so far and he doesn't think there will be any problems either.

The two boys are friends again too and the aftercare lady says she is very pleased with the way the whole situation was handled by both families. I am too, I am now just waiting to hear what came of the little boys second appointment. He is there while I type this post. I will update it to let you know what happened.

On a lighter note, yesterday was the grade 1 -3 athletics try outs. It was fun. Donovan came first...... from the back!! LOL!! But he enjoyed it immensely - he started off watching his feet and then looking all around him and then to the finish line - but smiling and laughing all the way (only 50 meters). He says he was not built for running, he was built for rugby. "Ek's nie gebou vir hardloop nie, ek's gebou vir rugby." So he was not even a little bit concerned that he came last - he just had fun!


update: Donovan's friend is fine!! His doctor says he is fine!! So relieved.

CHIVALRY IS DEAD...

Yep, it's a sad, sad state of affairs. I know that this is nothing new to most of us - but I find it rather upsetting. Even a simple "hello" and "goodbye" is becoming obsolete. People don't greet each other when on the phone anymore - nobody says goodbye when they finish a call, they just hang up.

Ladies, let me ask you - when was the last time a man actually stood up when you entered a room? Or apologised for swearing if you were present? Or opened a door for you - office or car?

A lot of men say that it's our own fault as women that things have gone this way - and quite frankly I think in a lot of cases they are right. There was the whole "women are equal to men" thing and women burnt their bras too. But I know - deep in the heart of every woman there is a need - a desire, to be treated with respect and just good old fashioned manners. No matter how equal we profess to be to men in the modern world.

I think it is important to teach our children the old fashioned stuff like opening a door for a lady - or an elderly person (male or female). Stepping aside to allow them to go first. Greeting people cordially with a handshake, a smile and eye contact. They may in fact run into a few women who do not want to be treated as such - and if so then they simply need to oblige to her wishes, but that doesn't mean every single woman in the world does not want to be treated like a lady.

And these things need not only be taught to our sons - but to our daughters too. Sure girls don't open the door for a man and should expect to be allowed to go first - but respect for elders and greeting people correctly is an equally important quality for young girls and women to possess as it is for boys. If a girl wants to be treated like a lady, she should make every effort to behave in a lady like fashion. Especially in society of today.

Likewise when you greet somebody with a handshake or a smile it opens up many doors for building new relationships which could be very important to you in the future. People in turn are drawn to you and want to get to know more about you - just from the manner in which you greet them. Think about it for a minute, people who are withdrawn and sullen and don't talk to anybody or greet anybody or make eye contact are generally left alone. But somebody who enters a room and greets you and introduces themselves is immediately creating an opportunity of building a new relationship.

Maybe I am old fashioned - but nothing makes me prouder than to hear that my children are well behaved and have good manners - even if it is a fight at home and constant reminding to get it to happen, it is good that people outside of my home experience their good manners. That's what really counts to me as a mother. And I have to admit that my day is always made a little better when a man treats me with good old fashioned manners too.

And ladies -please if a man shows you a little chivalry of any kind - remember your manners and say "Thank you" - with a smile.

FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL!!!

Donovan in his uniform - huge grin (very proud).
I so love this photo!!

Sean in his new uniform going to grade 5 (a very good big brother).

Mark in his new High School Uniform (finally took one this morning)

All three boys together - much to Donovan's delight!
(edited to reload photos and add a few new ones - 11/01/2007)

First of all let me say that I am very happy that I am not a grade school teacher today. If I have ever seen a school in chaos and exitement it is Donovan's Primary School this morning. He is very excited to go and be in Big School at last, he has really waited for this day to come for a very long time. And because Mark has now gone to High School, Sean is very happy to be the Big Brother in the primary school. I think this year is going to be a good year him.

Mark was very stressed out and nervous this morning I think, cause he was very grumpy and nothing seemed to fit right for him. I think he feels out of sorts in a new uniform and he didn't want his picture taken - he wasn't feeling very much like smiling. But I will get one of him when he feels less stressed. He will soon realise that high school is not all that scary and he will settle in. I will leave him be for a few days - just so he can start to feel a little more at ease in his own skin again. He does look very dashing in his uniform though. I think by Monday we should all be feeling more relaxed...

Yesterday I went to the school with Donovan to show him where his class is and to meet his teacher. The children were left with their teacher and the parents went to the hall for about an hour to hear an address by the headmaster and the Grade 1 "mother" of the school.

Lida was very funny and she told us that after the first two weeks or so of school the kids will probably start trying to find excuses not to go to school cause they expect to be able to read and write tomorrow already, and all they really do in the first few weeks as she put it is " piepie en was hande "*. She said that in such an event, even if we wrap up a little stone from the garden to give the kids to give to teacher (a little present) they will make all the correct ooh and aah sounds to make them feel extra special, that way they will have a very posotive reason to go to school. If they don't go they can't give teacher her present. LOL!!

There are lots of Grade 1 classes this year and therefore the classes are small, which makes me very happy. Grade 1 is an important year and the kids need individual help and now they will be able to get it. I really like the headmaster, he is a wonderful Christian man and when you ask the kids about him they will tell you "Hy deel net lekkergoed uit!!"** He always has sweeties in his pockets to give to the kids when he goes around the school grounds and is very well loved by all of them.

I think Donovan is going to be VERY happy in his primary school.

* "Weewee/pee and wash their hands"

** "He just hands out sweets!!"

HOLIDAY STUFF

Just to fill you all in on whats been happening while I've been away. If you have read Angels blog you will know she had a birthday and that I threw a little party for her - for her birthday, which she didn't really know about. I decorated the entire place with ballons and streamers (extremers - as Donovan calls them) and there was food for Africa!! Sweets, chips, a flopped cake which I cut into blocks and iced, a quiche, cookies - everything you can imagine. And of course a birthday cake which I iced with Caramel - less fuss lol.
Some pictures for your enjoyment:


And Angel was given some fairy wings, a tiara and a wand to wear / hold just to make her feel a little extra special. It was such fun to do to and the streamers and things looked so pretty I would'nt mind having them up there permanently!!

It was a fun day and Angel stayed till late and we watched The Huntchback of Notre Dam (I think thats the correct spelling) which was one of my christmas pressies - I want to colllect all the animated movies cause i just love them so much.

During the course of my holiday I noticed a new young resident in my garden, she is very little still and I began feeding her and caring for her. I call it "her" cause I have no idea if it is male or female, but just so cute. It's a baby turtle dove, she can fly so I haven't caught her but she stays in the garden and comes when I call her for food. She is rather silly though because she sleeps on the ground and not in a tree and I am afraid she will get into harms way like that, but I am afraid if I chase her she may not return. Last night though she was not looking well at all - she was breathing very hard - almost panting and this morning when I checked on her she was still asleep at 7:00 in the morning (not normal for a bird I don't think) and she was terribly off balance. I have become so attached to her and I am worried about her now. I am now considering in fact keeping her in a box inside for a while to see if I can help her get better... but I don't know. I just hope she is ok. She sleeps on our veranda behind the camping chairs leaning in the corner - isn't that sweet? Here are some pictures of her. None of them are zoomed in - I can get this close to her.
















The last picture I took of her this morning, when she was looking quite unwell. I hope she will be ok. Oh and I have named her Val - cause it's a name that kinda goes both ways and cause she reminded me a little of Valiant - the little pigeon from the movie cause she is so little still.

Donovan had a birthday, he turned seven on saturday and we had a party for him too. Nothing major - about the same as Angels, only he didn't want any extremers up ... don't know why though. Here are some birthday photos :
























And of course there was a lot of swimming throughout the holiday too. Donovan has now learned to dive and do a backflip in the pool. He is doing very well. Tomorrow will be his forst day at school, I wish I knew what he was feeling and thinking.





















Thats all for now folks. If you go and check out "Pictures of my life" I plan to put up some Chritmas pics and some New year pics and some of the kids just having a jol!!

Bye for now

Edited to say:
Sadly my little bird Val didn't make it. She died this morning, but I thought she was looking very ill this morning, I didn't think she would make it. Poor little thing.

PERSONALITY TEST

I found this Personality test over on one of Ange;s blogs and I thought I would do it too. I don't know if i quite agree with the "Orderliness" part so much and I am not (I don't think) overly talkative either. But here it is - so knock yoiursleves out!

Advanced Global Personality Test Results Extraversion 60% Stability 73% Orderliness 73% Accommodation 90% Interdependence 50% Intellectual 23% Mystical 70% Artistic 43% Religious 90% Hedonism 10% Materialism 70% Narcissism 43% Adventurousness 43% Work ethic 30% Self absorbed 56% Conflict seeking 16% Need to dominate 23% Romantic 90% Avoidant 10% Anti-authority 43% Wealth 30% Dependency 63% Change averse 56% Cautiousness 76% Individuality 56% Sexuality 30% Peter pan complex 30% Physical security 76% Physical Fitness 44% Histrionic 30% Paranoia 30% Vanity 23% Hypersensitivity 76% Female cliche 90%

Take Free Advanced Global Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

Stability results (I scored 73%) were high which suggests you are very relaxed, calm, secure, and optimistic..

Orderliness results (I scored 73%) were high which suggests you are overly organized, reliable, neat, and hard working at the expense too often of flexibility, efficiency, spontaneity, and fun.

Extraversion results (I scored 60%) were moderately high which suggests you are, at times, overly talkative, outgoing, sociable and interacting at the expense of developing your own individual interests and internally based identity.

Trait Snapshot (Me in a nutshell - according to this test.)

clean, likes large parties, outgoing, makes friends easily, optimistic, positive, social, high self control, traditional, assertive, rarely irritated, self revealing, open, finisher, high self concept, controlling, rarely worries, tough, likes to stand out, does not like to be alone, semi neat freak, fearless, dominant, trusting, organized, resolute, strong, practical, craves attention, adventurous, hard working, respects authority, brutally honest, realist, altruistic