ANNIVERSARY MEME

This is an Anniversary meme. It’s not technically our anniversary – but we did get engaged on Christmas Eve so it’s close enough. I won’t be around to post this then so I am putting it up now.

1. Who is your man?

Barry is my man!!!

2. How long have you been together?

12 years – married for 11

3. How long did you date before you got married?

1 year – give or take a month or so.

4. How old is your man?

39!!! I want to have a party for his 40^th next year!!

5. Who eats more?

Sometimes he does and sometimes I do – depends on who’s hungrier.

6. Who said "I love you" first?

I can’t really remember – it was probably him, I don’t think I have ever said it first. And I still love to hear him say it!

7. Who is taller?

Oh he is – and I like it!!

8. Who sings better?

I do – by far!!

9. Who is smarter?

When it comes to general knowledge and life skills I am smarter. When it comes to business smart and money and budgeting he is smarter

10. Whose temper is worse?

His is worse. Gotten better over the years, but his is worse.

11. Who does the laundry?

We both do.

12. Who takes out the garbage?

The kids.

13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?

I do. When he is away on business I sleep on his side.

14. Who pays the bills?

He does!! He’s my hero!

15. Who is better with the computer?

I am. He is learning now due to his promotion.

16. Who mows the lawn?

The complex garden services!!

17. Who cooks dinner?

We both do. But lately he is lazy when it gets to his turn – and then he buys take out or hot dogs or something like that.

18. Who drives when you are together?

Oh he does – much better for both of us that way.

19. Who pays when you go out?

Well it comes out of our bank account – but “he does”

20. Who is the most stubborn?

He is SO stubborn!

21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong?

I am, and I say sorry first too.

22. Whose parents do you see most?

I think mine, we are closer than he and his family are. They are close, but not as close as we are. He visits his dad every now and then – they are very close.

23. Who kissed who first?

We kissed each other. We were at a club for my 21^st and the power went out and before I knew what was happening we were kissing!! I will never forget it. I had wanted him to kiss me for such a long time!

24. Who asked who out?

I think I asked him out. To my 21^st…

25. Who proposed?

He did. On Christmas Eve at my parents house in front of everyone!!

26. Who is most sensitive?

We are both very sensitive. He doesn’t show it as easily as I do ( I cry at the drop of a hat!) – but it doesn’t take much to make him cry – for a man I mean, I cry more easily, but for him, as a man it doesn’t take much. He cried on our wedding day, when our son was born, when we had to give away our kitty and when he gave me my car. And not so much cry as just have his eyes well up with tears and then he fights for control. He’s so precious!

27. Who has the most friends?

I do. Always have! He is more a “one best friend” man.

28. Who has more siblings?

I do!! I have three and he has two.

29. Who wears the pants in the family?

He does. I believe that being submissive and that honoring his request and wishes is important. A wife should be her husbands crown and by trying to take over his role that will never happen.

30. How did you meet?

We met on a conference at the Lion Park. We just connected instantly! He came to work in the same branch that I was in and our relationship and feelings grew stronger for each other from there. The rest is history!

E-MAILS FROM GOD?

This week I received an e-mail that had a sentence/statement in it which I had to complete and send back to. The sentence goes like this:

“You and I should…”

As soon as I read it I felt God complete it on my behalf. He said:

…spend more intimate time together.”

This is definitely something He has been highlighting for me this week. He wants to spend intimate quality one on one time with me. With us, I have decided that I will wait on Him. I will spend intimate time with Him so that my heart can connect with His like never before.

SPECIAL GIFTS FOR SPECIAL PEOPLE

I have been what many may refer to a “a friend in need”. I don’t have my own car yet and so I have needed many lifts to many places. Most of my destinations are not far from where I am and “en route” but I really have been a needy person. The people who have been helping me A LOT are really wonderful people. They are real friends to me and I wanted to let them know that what they have been doing for me means SO much to me. I don’t actually have words to say how much they have meant to me.

You see, I hate having to ask for a lift anywhere and I always feel like such a burden and a schlep and real “friend in need is a friend in deed” (please read that with a very whiny nasal voice for the full effect.) type of person. And these people have helped me out happily and lovingly every. single. time. without so much a sigh, or rolling their eyes or a complaint or anything.

Now, the thing is, I really want to thank these people, and I was wracking my brain as to what I could do that would be special and really show my appreciation of the people who have blessed me more than they will ever realise.

I want to get them something that will last and always remind them of the wonderful gift of friendship they brought into my life. Something meaningful and worthy of such people. I mean flowers are nice – but they just don’t say enough. A vase is lasting – but it just doesn’t say “thank you” quite the way I need it to. And anything else also just seems too, I dunno – BELEEEAGH!!!! Know what I mean? It’s just not personal enough…

Then I had a BRAINWAVE!! I recently restrung my pearls that Happy got for me about 10 years ago. And when I had finished I had a few left. Four, to be exact. Now they are not very big – but they are the real thing and I have friend at church who makes jewelry! So for Sharlene I am going to have a pretty and simplistic pair of earrings made that look like this:

Only the pearls are white, and the earrings will be silver too.

And then for Ester I decided on a pretty pendant like this:

And the pearl of course is also white, also in silver…

I think they are very deserving of these gifts and I hope that they will know just how much their friendship has meant to me. And the pearls represent their friendship which is like a precious pearl to me.

I just can’t wait to actually give these to them. I am so excited I can almost burst!!

And then there is Joanne. She is a God send – literally. Whenever I need guidance or advice or just a chat Joanne has been there for me. She has such wisdom and sees things from such a new perspective and her advice is always good and helpful. And I am always reminded of the Proverb in the Bible that says “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”(Proverbs 25:11) So I will be getting her a small pendant made to something of this sort of design. And none of it will cost me very much because I have got the pearls and I have got the Gold for the apple pendant. And the silver used will be very little and won’t cost much at all. So, the gifts will be meaningful – which I want, and light on my pocket too – which is just a bonus I think.

A good way to say thank you – dontcha think?

Coca-Cola's Crappy Customer Care

Coca-Cola has got very bad to non existent customer care. I am not impressed with them at all. Last week Tuesday I bought a 2ℓ Coke from our local Spar and poured some for each of us. As I got to the very last sip of mine there was a beetle in it. Which I almost swallowed! I was disgusted and almost threw up. Now I know you may all be thinking that the bug could have fallen into my glass without me seeing it, but I doubt it. I took the glass out of the dishwasher and usually (from my experience) when a bug or insect falls into your drink it floats on the top – it doesn't sink…

So, I called up Coca-Cola on their Customer Care line and told them what had happened. I was told to keep the suspect bottle and they would send someone out to see me. That was last week Wednesday. I have not heard a single thing from them since then, so I called again today. The lady on the other end of the line simply said she would have to log the complaint again as she did do it last week too. And I must please keep the bottle.

What they will do with the bottle I don't know. It is half empty (no, not half full) and I certainly didn't keep the beetle. I was so grossed out when it happened that the last thing I though of was bagging it to keep as evidence.

Let's hope I will hear from them before this week is up. I am not overly hopeful, but I will wait and see what happens.

Should I be surprised though? This is South Africa after all – not the best country to expect good Customer Service now is it?

Mommy Meme

Ok, so I haven’t been tagged – but Angel from Angel's Mind did this one and I enjoyed it so much I decided it was one I really wanted to do too.

I am a step mom and I have my own son too – so I am going to do this one on Donny – because he’s the only one I gave birth to. The other two boys will probably feature somewhere too, after all I have been their mom for almost 11 years now…

1. How long have you been a Mom?

In January it will be 9 years. But I have been a step mom to two boys for close to 11 years.

2. How many children call you Mommy?

Three!

3. Girl, boy, or both?

All boys.

4. Did you know what you were having?

Yes, when I was pregnant with Donovan I wanted to know – I’m not good with surprises I know I have to wait for.

5. How old were you when you became a Mom?

I was 25 when I had Donovan, and 22 when I married my instant family.

6. How long were you in labor?

Actually I didn’t even know I was in labour. I had Donovan on the day I had my final check up at my OBGYN. Our car broke down on the way to the doctor and I had to walk to a garage to make a phone call and I suspect that triggered my labour. I was already 2 cm’s dilated when I got to my doctor. Donovan was too long though and his head wasn’t placed nicely in the birth canal. No, it was behind the birth canal so I ended up having a caesarian – and even with that they battled to get him out!! LOL! It was very quick, I was in 16:00 and Donny was born at 16:32.

7. What’s your favorite thing about being a Mom?

I can’t tell you just one thing; I have cried at all the children’s concerts and sports matches. I feel very privileged to be allowed to raise three amazing boys.

8. What’s your least favorite thing?

Having to deal with disobedience, defiance and testing of boundaries.

9. Do you want more kids?

I would LOVE to have one more – but only if there was a 100% fully guaranteed guarantee that it would be a girl. I would so love to have a little girl.

10. Do you plan on having more soon?

Not soon, but sometimes I think that maybe God does have another child planned for us in our future. And sometimes I think it’s just me… LOL!!!

11. How many times have you been pee’d on?

I don’t really remember – probably a few times!

12. Barfed on?

PLENTY!!!!

13. Is your child named after anyone?

Um, no. I wanted him to have his own identity.

14. How did you come up with their name?

I compiled a list of possibilities and then we picked one together.

15. When your child gets in trouble, who is the bad guy?

Sometimes it’s me. And sometimes it’s their dad – it depends on who’s around at the time to handle the “trouble”.

16. What is the longest you have been away from your children?

I went to Bloemfontein once for about 6 days. And my two step sons have been away quite often to visit their mom. Usually it’s the kids who go somewhere, not me.

17. Bedtime routine?

We don’t really have one – each night is different.

18. Are your toes painted?

ALWAYS!!!!

19. Last movie you saw in the theater?

I don’t really go to the theater. We like to get movies to watch at home, it’s more family friendly and comfy. You can have whatever you like to eat and you can stretch out and recline or lie down while watching it too.

21. One thing you did give up now that you’re a mom…

Nothing I can really mention of the top of my head. I love being a mom. And everything we do in life requires some form of sacrifice. And to be a good mom I have made MANY of those.

22. Best Mom perk…

Little letters I find in my bedroom. Unexpected hugs and kisses. And being told I am beautiful when I look my absolute worst!!!

23. Snack, you sneak bites from your child?

I don’t sneak bites, I get given them. Donovan is very generous and shares easily.

24. When the kid is napping, you are…

Napping? That’s not something Donovan EVER did well or much of. He only started to sleep through after 3 years of age and even now his sleep is very restless. He talks and walks in is sleep – frequently!! Napping wasn’t something I got or get much of.

25. Where is your child(ren) now?

They are at school.

26. Favorite place to buy maternity clothes?

I like Woolworths, but I think I only bought one item from there. I bought mostly tracksuit pants and pants with a “draw string” in the top.

27. If I could do it over…

I don’t think I would change anything. I would like to be pregnant again, I loved being pregnant. Again? Anytime! In a heartbeat! But now is not the right time…

28. Did it turn out the way you expected?

Did what turn out the way I expected? My children? The birth? No, none of it turned out the way I had planned or expected. But the rest is in God’s hands. He is in control and I know nothing takes him by surprise. My hope is in the Lord and I pray for children’s futures. I pray for their wives, their careers their studies. And I know that we can overcome anything through Christ. As long as He remains in control – nothing can sink us.

TO SAY THANKS

I want to leave a post here for all the wonderful people who visit and comment on my blog. I cannot tell you how awesome it is to see comments in my in-box. I am acknowledging you here because I cannot visit your blogs or leave replies to your comments on my blog as access to blogs has been blocked at work (which is the only place I had access to blogs from…) I am able to e-mail posts to my blog and Angel helps to publish them for me. So pleeeeeease don’t take it personally that I don’t stop over to read your blog – I so wish I could! To be able to get to know you all better would be the most awesome thing ever!

So to my sweet sis for all your help, you make blogging possible even when it’s not - and for your comments and to everyone else who visits and comments – Mel, Wenchy – thank you, from the heart of my bottom. Thank you!

Mwa! Mwa! Mwa!

5 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA

Angel over at Angels Mind wrote a post about this on her blog and because she did it “late” she didn’t tag anyone. But I decided I wanted to do my own post for this anyway. Now I haven’t seen any of the other bloggers, except hers (cause I get an e-mail version) who have put up this post so I don’t know how repetitive mine will be. In no specific order, these are the things I love about living in and being a South African!

Our language and “slang” – For example: “I can like to haff a lekka chat wiff anudder souf effrikun en he can like to unnerstan ikzakly wot I’m saying. We like to gooi a cow on the braai and gooi somma anything else we want in the mix too. And its mos the best thing to bump into another Souf Effrikun innanother country (you can tell it’s a Souf Affie from the Sprinkgbok jersey, cap, scarf, t-shirt etc…) and yell BOKKE! at one each other.”

We don’t live in apartments, we don’t have elevators or traffic lights we live in flats we use lifts and we have ROBOTS on our streets!! And anything can happen “now now”… We are going now-now, I am coming now-now. When? Now-now! Dis mos lekka!

Our Rugby team!! Especially Victor Matfield – oh baby!! We are the current World Champs, and I love the Bokke!!

Our Wines – We have got some fabulous wineries and wine and wine routes in this country.

The Big 5 - Who can top that? The Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo and Rhino. No other country has anything like them.

And our Radio Stations – 5FM, 94.7 Highveld Stereo and 94.2 Jacaranda, 103FM Impact Radio and Tuks FM to name a few. I love the DJ’s and the music. Lots of South African music as well as world wide hits and awesome competitions! I have won a few times on the radio myself. I think we have the best Radio stations in the world. Granted I have never experienced other countries radio stations – but from feedback I have heard from people visiting other countries – there is nothing like S.A Radio!

We have it all in this country, and that’s why I love it here and the reason I am Proudly South African.

MY BLISSFUL DAY OFF!!

Yesterday was a public holiday. A day off in the middle of the week. A little oasis in the middle of huge dry desert (that’s my work). And I took full advantage – especially since my husband is away for the week and I could spend some time on me!

I went and did my grocery shopping – a.l.o.n.e. without my hubby – I had all the time in the world to look at stuff, compare prices, and not run through the store like a crazy lady begging (yelling) her husband to just hang on a few seconds. Or running after the trolley with arms full of stuff cause he’s buggered off down the next isle somewhere. And then getting to the till to find two of everything in the trolley cause neither knows from one isle to the next who’s putting what into it!

I could shop as loooooong as I wanted which is a real luxury for me. I could shop like all women LOVE to shop – on my own time! Why do men hate shopping so much?

When I came home I pampered myself a little. After all that shopping I needed it!! I coloured my hair. I shaped (plucked) and tinted my eyebrows. I gave myself a facial – mask and all. I painted my toenails and French manicured my fingernails. I blow dried and styled my hair and then I lay and vegetated in my room watching the telly.

There was nothing good on – but still it was nice to just lie there looking gorgeous and doing nothing, nibbling a chocolate and drinking a glass of wine!!

I think I missed my calling – professional shopper and beautician. Anyone need the hair, nails or eyebrows done? I can give you a facial too.

Hopefully the “gorgeousness” will last till he gets back on Monday – I don’t have another day off to redo it all…

Although there is Saturday, but I have a lot of washing etc to do… then there’s Sunday, I am sure I could do another round of pampering on Sunday…

THOUGHT PROVOKING PICTURES

Did you know the Rose of Sharon (not just as the Hibiscus..)?

Have you ever wondered what the Lily of the Valley looks like?

Have you ever imagined that you are the apple of someone’s eye?

Do you know the Alpha and Omega?

Have you ever been lost in prayer and worship?

Will you let yourself be molded in the Potters Hands?

Do you know anyone who loves you enough to die for you?

Jesus is the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the valley (Song of Songs 2:1)

You are the Apple of His eye.

Jesus is the Alpha and Omega (Rev 1:8)

Praise and Worship – Read ALL the psalms! David spent more time caught up in the presence of God than man.

Clay in the Potters hands (Isaiah 64:8)

Do you know anyone who loves you enough to die for you? (John 3:16)

AMAZING LOVE!!!

God and I have our very own song!! It’s really so cool. Every time I hear it I say “Here’s our song Lord!” it is significant because He spoke to me through this particular song. I heard his voice say the words “I love you” as clear as a bell when I heard it the one day.

I was so moved by it that I was brought to my knees in a heap of tears. His presence was so powerful and so consuming that I was completely oblivious to the rest of the world – for just those few minutes I was lost in His love completely!

Oh what an experience – that has brought me to long for him more and more and to find myself in is presence whenever I can. A guy who preached at church on Sunday put it like this: It’s not that we have to read our bibles – we get to read it. It’s not that we have to pray it that we get to have communication with God – what privileges!!

And now I can think of nothing better and of no better place to be than in his presence. I am completely addicted to Him.

Remember the first time you fell in love? Remember how you lived to hear your new lover’s voice, or feel his touch or read his love letters? That’s how I am in love with Jesus. He is the be all and end all of my life. He is the lover of my soul! And it’s a good thing because when we love and are loved by him we are able to love others more completely and unconditionally.

You see, he knows absolutely everything there is to know about me. He knows every dark little secret and every private dream and every hope and every hurt and every single tear and fear. He has seen the very depths of my heart – yet he still loves me 100% unconditionally. There is nothing I can do or have to do to earn his love.

He knew me even before I was forming in my mother’s womb. He had a plan for my life and he had prepared good works for me even before I was created. He watched me forming in the darkness of the womb end even then he loved me.

His love is an all consuming, mind blowing, terrifying love. It never ends and it has no beginning. It covers over a multitude of wrongs and comforts and strengthens me. There is none that can ever compare to him. He holds my heart firmly in his hands

This is the song that I am talking about. It is still “Our Song”.

"When You Say You Love Me"

Like the sound of silence calling
I hear your voice and suddenly
I'm falling, lost in a dream.
Like the echoes of our souls are meeting
You say those words and my heart stops beating.
I wonder what it means.
What could it be that comes over me?
At times I can't move.
At times I can hardly breathe.

When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still inside and
When you say you love me
For a moment, there's no one else alive

You're the one I've always thought of.
I don't know how, but I feel sheltered in your love.
You're where I belong.
And when you're with me if I close my eyes,
There are times I swear I feel like I can fly
For a moment in time.
Somewhere between the Heavens and Earth
Frozen in time, Oh when you say those words.

When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still inside and
When you say you love me
For a moment, there's no one else alive

[bridge:]
And this journey that we're on.
How far we've come and I celebrate every moment.
And when you say you love me
That's all you have to say.
I'll always feel this way.

When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still inside and
When you say you love me
In that moment, I know why I'm alive
When you say you love me.

When you say you love me.
Do you know how I love you?

Thank you Jesus for loving me.

I love you!!

Current Addictions

Ok, this is going to be a little difficult as I have been stripped of all my addictions one by one. I have only one MAJOR addiction. And seeing as I am not doing as the rules say exactly I won’t be tagging anyone either

Now, here’s the rules:

*Post at least five current addictions and why you’re addicted to them
*Link to Being Brazen the creator of the meme (awesome way to get people to come and check you out) and to the person who tagged you.

This post is thanks to Angel, from Angel’s Mind as she tagged me. My first tag in AGES!!! Thanks Sis!!!
*Head your post with "Current addictions"
*Tag at least two people and pass on the above rules

1) Jesus, I am addicted to Jesus (A-2-J). He is my Saviour, my Lord, my rock and my fortress. He is my reason for living, I don’t enter into anything without consulting Him and I never go anywhere without asking His protection.

He is the lover of my soul, the hero of my heart, my knight in shining armor and my Mighty Hero God!!

I don’t believe in having any addictions, because these things become more important than God and I don’t ever want to loose sight of him as the author and finisher of my life and my faith. And I will not place my faith in anything or anyone else.

This is a song that Carman sang – which made me think twice a long time ago:

Addicted to Jesus

Yo what up fellas?
Yo, what up Carman!
Hey, have you heard of A-2-J?
A to what? I’ve heard of A to Z?
As in, are you A-2-J?

Let me take you to school…

Gimme a J! J, you got your J
Gimme an E! E, you got your E
Gimme an SUS! SUS, you got your SUS
What does it spell? Jesus

What do you got? Jesus

Break it down… Jesus

J-J-Jesus…

People get addicted, To new things everyday
Television, video's Yo what can I say?
Shoppin till they dropping, Hoppin at the mall
Yakkin, yakkin on the phone, Who else should we call?

But I stand with the man, Who made the blind to see
Livin large, super charged, He something in me (He sure did!!)
Check it out, it’s about, A total change of mind
Don't wait too late, You may run out of time

CHORUS:

Stand tall (stand tall)
Stand strong (stand strong)
Sing it loud (say it loud)
Sing it looooooong
Bust the Devil (bust him up)
Up in pieces (I said bust him up)

Get alive with God
Addicted to Jesus!

People they go crazy, don't know when to stop
Runnin, Joggin, exercisin, “I wanna pump you up”
Smokin in the boys room, Drink up all the booze
Druggin, crackin, heartattackin
bzzzzzzzzzzzz - Brother you lose

No common sight, crime at night - Danger 'round the bend
No way out, yo its about, Being born again
Paid the price, sacrifice - The cross on Calvary
It's done, He won, and you can be free

CHORUS

Addiction, you know everybody’s got
From top to the very bottom of the list
So come get you fix on addiction,
You don't wanna miss to Christ who paid the price
Died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sin,

so I'll say it again - Me and my boys are addicted to Him

Praise him, praise him, praise him
GO! Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him

GO! Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him

GO! Praise the Lord with your feet (x2)

Stand tall (stand tall)
Stand strong (stand strong)
Sing it loud (say it loud)
Sing it looooooong
Bust the Devil (bust him up)
Up in pieces (I said bust him up)

Get alive with God...

Stand tall (stand tall)
Stand strong (stand strong)
Sing it loud (say it loud)
Sing it looooooong
Bust the Devil (bust him up)
Up in pieces (I said bust him up)

Get alive with God

Addicted to Jesus!

A-2-J

DON'T MESS WITH THIS MAMMA; I HAVE JESUS IN MY CORNER!!

Ok, I now that my last post was about how I wanted to post off my oldest son – truth is, I was really so in the midst of things that I almost let my emotions get the better of me. Although my patience and my perseverance was tested this last week as I have never had it tested before, it was still fruitful in the end. Let me explain…

But first let me set the scene….

{Picture if you will a boxing ring with a single spotlight overhead. In the center of the ring is a gentleman with a Tuxedo on and a microphone is lowered before him from the darkness beyond the spotlight. He introduces the “fighters”. Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight’s dual is an age old battle of teenager against rules and parental boundaries. The fight that will last 4 rounds, the rules are as follows. No punches below the belt, no fighting dirty. Prayer can be used as a weapon at any time and both fighters are to move back to their corners at the sound of the bell. Now, let me introduce the fighters to you! In the Red corner, weighing in at 15 years old with an attitude to boot and a defiance to match iiiiiiisssssssssssszza Maaaaark-a Maaaaaatttthewsssssza! And in the white corner, weighing in at years of parenting and sacrifice and love, with a longing to teach her children respect and discipline, with the Jesus Christ as her personal trainer and coach iiiiiiiiiiiiisssssssza theeeeeea Prayiiiiiing Mooooootherrrrrrr!!!!!!

Fighters, please enter the center ring, respect and obey the rules, and remember you can use your one permitted weapon at any or at all times.}

My oldest son really pushed and tested his boundaries by breaking almost every rule we have ever put into place. And he did this while my husband was away for the week on a business trip. So I had to deal with each incident alone. One thing I did though, before confronting him each time (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) was to seek God for wisdom, strength, words and composure – and I tell you I really felt His presence during each encounter and was very encouraging to know that I was not alone. I was invincible and I stood my ground knowing that I was doing the right thing, no matter how difficult or unpleasant it was.

I decided on punishments appropriate to the crimes and the behavior and then I would have to inform my husband of the goings on at home everyday. That was hard and I imagine it was hard on him too especially being away from home. He assured me that he would take over and deal it when he came home.

I spent a lot of time praying for my husband. I prayed that God would give him wisdom, strength and calmness to deal with the situation. I prayed that he would see things for what they were and not be fooled by lies and manipulations. I prayed that my husband would support and uphold my decisions made in his absence.

Well, I was blown away. My husband came home and sat ALL THREE the boys down at the dinner table and basically told them that even in his absence his authority is still the governing authority. He told them that I was his partner and I came “before” them and that if they disobey me when he is not home they are disobeying him. And when they disrespect me, they are disrespecting him. Everything I prayed for was answered and I was overjoyed!! I was then able to also affirm my husband after the fact and tell him that I was very impressed with the way he handled the situation and I was proud of him. And that’s the truth!! I really was proud of him! And secretly I was proud of me too. I am so thankful that God was so faithful in answering my prayers each time I came to him. I learned so much from this whole experience and I will always deal with conflict or disobedience or defiance in this manner. It is the only way that has positive results.

So, don’t mess with this mamma – I have Jesus in my corner – and I remembered to use the weapon I had at my disposal at all times!!

~~posted for brigitte by her sister angel

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!

Does anybody want a 15 year old? (He will be 16 in Feb) You can have him for free, I won’t ask for payment. He has is a GEM of a child, with lots of perks. Here, I’ll list them for you to wet your appetites a bit…

- There are guaranteed mood swings and grumpiness.
- He will never say hello, thank you or good morning. (Even though you have taught it to him since he was little)
- He will probably punch holes in your doors when he looses his temper over something stupid like bumping his head or spilling something on himself.
- He has no regard for rules whatsoever, and will blatantly disobey them – no matter how explicitly you lay them and the consequences of breaking them out for him.
- He will never lift a finger around the house and if he does (after you have asked him like 100 000 000 000 000 times to do something) it is a HUGE effort for him and takes forever.
- And homework and studying for tests is ALL left to the very last minute - or just not done at all.

Now, I ask you doesn’t he just sound like the perfect child? He is 100% rebellious and unpleasant all the time, and he thinks believes he is always right.

Ok. Let me get serious for a moment. I am not really going to give my son away (I mean, I am sure the people will be breaking down my door to have him…). No, I am going to do what Bree did in Desperate Housewives and drive him out to some forsaken garage in the middle of the Karoo desert and leave him there to do whatever he wants with himself.

I am just feeling SO utterly “moedeloos”^*. My husband has been away this week on business and since Monday, there have been non stop issues with this kid. I removed his bedroom door on Tuesday evening because he punched a hole in my bathroom door on Monday. Then on Tuesday he was at his friend’s house (which he knows is not allowed) – and I had to speak to him about that too on Tuesday evening and remind him that the rules are no friends during the week. No having friends over and no going to friends’ house. Fridays is ok – then there is a bit of freedom to do that, but Monday to Thursday it is not allowed. And I had to lay out some kind of punishment that will take place if this rule is not obeyed.

Yesterday (Wednesday) I discover (after 8:00pm only) that the one bedroom window is broken. He had had a friend over and there were silly games played in the house and someone got pushed and fell back into the window. Now, thank God no one was hurt – it could have been an absolute disaster had that happened. But the fact remains – none of this would have happened if the rules had been obeyed, right? If he had shown just a modicum of respect and obedience – this would not have happened. I wouldn’t be all upset, I wouldn’t have had to punish anyone and there wouldn’t be a “vibe” around the house.

(I am the cause of the vibe though because I am so totally PISSED OFF!!!)

erm….

So now, not only does he not have a bedroom door, but he has no cell-phone, his bedtime has been moved back an hour and there will be no going to play soccer on the weekends with friends – for the rest of this month. And I think we will put him into the Primary School Aftercare Center too so he wont be able to come home alone everyday anymore either. See, when I spoke to him on Tuesday I told him that I would take away ALL his privileges if he didn’t stick to the rules, and he said he didn’t have any. Well, now he really doesn’t have any and we will see how he feels about that.

I have absolutely had it! And all of this in THREE days – I am ready to just move to another town, no city, no continent! Either that or send him to another planet.

My offer still stands – any takers, anybody….

^* It is an Afrikaans term used here in South Africa to express that you are absolutely hopeless – it just doesn’t sound as good as “moedeloos”.





~~published on behalf of an internet access-less Brigitte by her sister Angel~~

MY HUSBAND – THE Plumbers ARSE!!!

Here we have another PERFECT example of what happens when husbands don’t or won’t listen to their wives.

Ok, so here’s the story. My dishwasher stopped heating up the water when it washes, because it is not hooked up to the hot water, it uses cold water which it heats to save energy. So I have to get it fixed because I am now SO spoiled with having it that I cannot stand washing by hand.

Anyway, I contact “a guy” who will come to pick it up and take it to be repaired because it’s “probably just something small like the thermostat or the element (or both…)”. Great so they will be in on Thursday to pick it up.

This is where My Hubby comes in. He insists that we will have to disconnect the dishwasher from the connection in the wall and have it ready to go when they get to my house to pick it up. (I, on the other hand, am sure they will probably be able to do all that – but NO! – I mean what, I ask you, do I know???). So Last night, before I can get dinner started he’s moved the dishwasher out of it’s little space in the kitchen and is in under the counter trying to get the pipe disconnected. Now logic tells me to switch the water OFF outside at the main tap – but he says it will not be necessary. Who am I to argue?

Within 2 minutes the little tap connection he is trying to tighten, or loosen or whatever, with pliers, breaks. Water BURSTS out of the pipe, no the hole in the wall in a huge spray flooding everything (including him) in seconds!

So now he has created four, five, no, TEN times the amount of work for himself. And all because he wouldn’t listen to me. Because he has to now dry up the wet floor and kitchen in general, and get somebody out to fix the broken wall fixture, and get the dishwasher repaired.

We now have no water (after I ran like a mad woman to switch it off outside), and all his attempts to try to block the hole in the wall are useless. I throw my toys and tell him I’m going to my mother. I haven’t had a shower and I cannot go to work without one. I cannot even go to the toilet! How am I supposed to get anything done with no water. He should have just left everything for the pro’s to do when they got here!! Well my husband and my oldest some both ran around fetching water in pots, bottles and kettles from the garden tap (which still worked) and boiling it all up to make enough hot water for me to bath in – LOL!!!

This morning was fun too trying to wash our faces, make breakfast, brush our teeth and do our hair without running water. It is amazing how much one uses just to do those things!! My kids really had an eye opener to how fortunate we are, and how awful it is for those people living in rural areas who don’t have running water and have to walk long distances just to get some in a bucket to carry back home.

Maybe next time he will listen to me. I doubt it, but one can always hope…


~~posted for Brigitte by her sister Angel

Invincible Poopie

Here’s a funny story to put a smile on your faces. On Sunday night when I came home from church one of the kids had used the toilet at some stage (we will never know who it was) and left a “floater” after flushing. Now this is something that really makes me gril and I cannot use a toilet if there are still remnants of the previous person still in the bowl. This is something Barry thinks is very funny. Same as I can’t use the basin to brush my teeth if it hasn’t been rinsed first – yuk!!

Anyway, I discover the “floater” and take action. I pile some loo paper on top of it and flush – waiting with baited breath to see if it has worked – but alas, all the loo paper is gone – but the “floater” is still there – smug and smirking at me. I wait for the tank to fill up with water and try again. To no avail! It just duck and dives through the loo paper and stays on top – once again all the loo paper is gone but not the “floater”. “Ag come on!” I cry in frustration, much to Barry’s delight in the bedroom! “Is it still there babe?” He asks – but I can here the laughter hiding just beneath his “concern”. I go to the room and get into bed deciding I have done all I can – it will have to stay till morning. But I can’t.

I can hear it taunting me from the toilet bowl, chuckling smugly to itself – feeling invincible!! Hence it gets it’s title – The Invincible Poopie. I get up and go back to the toilet. I again apply the loo paper – trying to place it carefully to cover it properly so it can’t escape the tissue trap I made for it – but lo and behold, it does and I can just hear it squealing with glee at it’s great escape once more.

I go back to the room – frustrated, and Barry is trying to hide a smile. “Won’t it go?” he asks again (trying not to laugh at my frustration). And he starts to giggle, and I start to giggle – it has us totally stumped and we both sit in the bed laughing to the tears roll. All in all I try SIX times to flush the miserable piece of shit, but I have no luck. I throw up my hands and tell Barry it’s his turn – I cannot and will not wake up to it in the morning and he has to try now.

He gets up out of bed, goes to the toilet and flushes it and it’s gone. Just like that! I cannot believe it. I couldn’t get rid of it and he doesn’t even try. He just flushes the loo ONE TIME and it’s gone.

Now I can sleep – and not be plagued by thoughts of the nasty little floating poopie that wouldn’t flush away still lingering in the toilet.

But when I think about my little battle with the ALMOST invincible poopie – I still chuckle.

posted for Brigitte by her sister Angel

THIS IS MY PRAYER FOR MY SON

Find Your Wings – Mark Harris

 

It's only for a moment you are mine to hold
The plans that heaven has for you
Will all too soon unfold
So many different prayers I'll pray
For all that you might do
But most of all I'll want to know
You're walking in the truth
And If I never told you
I want you to know
As I watch you grow

Chorus:
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

May passion be the wind
That leads you through your days
And may conviction keep you strong
Guide you on your way
May there be many moments
That make your life so sweet
Oh, but more than memories

Chorus:
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

It's not living if you don't reach for the sky
I'll have tears as you take off
But I'll cheer as you fly

 

Chorus:
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

…don’t have words to explain how spot on this prayer is that I have prayed for my little boy. Just tears…

Our children are, after all – His, not ours.

 

 

ANYTHING BOYS CAN DO, GIRLS CAN DO BETTER!!!

I proved it this weekend!! I went fishing and camping with my husband this past weekend. He is the Marshall of a small lake where a club has fishing rights, so I enjoy a certain amount of respect and honor amongst the club members and they call me Mrs. Marshall or Mrs. “M”, which I quite enjoy. I have even got a “camo” jacket like the rest of them.

 

Anyway, on Sunday (the last day of our trip) my husband was not near his rods. One had a fish on so I called to him to come and get the rod. When I looked again the rod was being pulled into the water too!! The first thing that went through my mind was the amount of money that rod had cost – and before I knew what I was doing I grabbed the rod and was reeling in the fish, it was a big mother trucker!! But because I am an amateur I held the line too tautly and it pulled out of the fish’s mouth and he got away. At the same time the second rod had a run too so I grabbed that one too!! This fishy I landed with the help by now of my husband. It was also a rather large fish – my husband says it was probably around 7 kg’s.

 

Anyway, about 2 hours later my husband was off preparing the rest of the angling beats for a competition next weekend and I was alone with the rods. And another Fisherman’s wife was there with me. She had her two babies along to play on the bank (one a toddler and one not walking yet). Next thing her husband rod starts to run and so she leaves her youngest baby with me and runs off to get his rod and while she is away my husband rods both get runs, and there I am with a baby in hand…

 

Well the other wife came charging back and took her baby from me and the two of us (she with a baby on the hip) managed to land two nice sized fish and released them safely again. It was good fun!! Both those fish were also 7kg and more in size. My husband is very proud and happily tells the club members that his “wife put ears on him this past weekend!!” LOL!!

 

GOT A FIZZ IN YOUR FOOT?

Just a short, funny little story.

 

About three nights ago Donovan was sitting drawing on the living room floor. I asked him to go and get me his homework book from his room and when he stood up he discovered his foot was asleep. By the time he got back to me he had pins and needles. But what was funny was that he came and stood beside me where I was sitting at the table and stomped his foot in irritation on the floor and with a wrinkled nose and a look of concern he told me his foot felt funny. When I asked him how it felt he said *“Dit kielie – nee, nie kielie nie, dit FIZZ!!!”

 

I laughed at him of course – poor child. And told him it’s ok, it won’t last long it is only because he sat on it too long. But when he went back to his picture I thought it was actually a very good way to describe the feeling of pins and needles – fizzing. Hee hee!!

 

“It tickles – no it’s not a tickle it’s fizzing!!!”

 

 

 

IT'S THE WEEKEEEEEEEEEEEND BABY!!

 

Ok, so it’s Friday at last. I have got a few things happening this weekend, nothing much though. Tonight I am babysitting two little boys from church for one of our Deacon couples Lisa and Doug. They are going to a Deacons meeting and I offered to baby-sit for Lisa if she ever needed a sitter.

On Sunday Sean and Donovan both have “Playdates” arranged. Donovan’s friend is coming home with us and Sean is going home with a friend. Then they will each be returned to their respective parents at the evening service. They are all very excited.

Mark is going to his friend’s house tonight. So it will be just Sean, Donny, Barry and I at home.

 

Tomorrow morning I am going with Barry to his Lake to check out all the renovations they have made. He leaves on Sunday for his big S.A Colours fishing competition. He will be back on Friday. I have made him lots of little messages on cards to hide in all his bags so that he will find them while he is busy. Things like “I love you”, “I miss you”, “Good Luck”, “Look after yourself”, “Come home safely”, “I am thinking of you” – you get the gist of it LOL!!

 

Anyhoo – you all have a FABULOPUS weekend.

Take care of yourselves too.

And I hope to have something to post on Monday!!