you're not Despicable 2 me..............

my kids love to make minion jokes with their daddy...........the word bottom is followed by fits of giggles and many other related words and jokes-their dad has a great sense of humour-he gets them.......and i love that about him.........they all try desperately to make me succumb to their witty sense of humour and in moments of weakness i've been known to crack a smile...........or even reply with a shocker phrase which causes them to descend into the-place-no-mother-wants-their-family-to-go-to-at-supper-time........mayhem ;-)

ray and my kids love animation movies........in the school holidays he took them to see despicable me 2, i didn't go with them.......i needed time on my own and i knew that suggesting that they go see this particular movie together would be a great memory moment for all of them-they'd all loved the first one...........they came back with many tales to tell and reenacted their favourite moments for days on end.......ray became despicable dad with his two little minions playing their evil fart jokes on me for a while thereafter........

i haven't seen the movie myself yet so i can't comment on the story line.........i've seen the first one......
i'm a sucker for happy endings...........i love it when the underdog overcomes......when the evil guy gets won over by good and he uses his strengths for restoration and not destruction........when the family that has lost all hope discovers that they have the strength to carry on........what can i say:i'm a chick who loves those kind of flicks...........

i used to worry about what my kids watched........would it influence their thoughts and actions....would they pick up bad habits from the characters in the movies..........that worrying doesn't happen as much as it used to.........they generally watch movies which are within the children's section of the dvd rental shops and we don't have dstv-not because we don't want it, it's just not in our price range at the moment.........so our limiting of what they watch is usually determined by availability, whether or not something which is portrayed realistically could become scary and real for mike (he's a warrior at heart-born to battle) or if the content could be too emotionally mature for jenna's perceptive, growing mind (our pure, joyful princess).......

last night i listened to an interesting conversation about movies........despicable me 2 had been the conversation focal point........i didn't contribute, just listened (what does one say when your children watched that very movie that afternoon when you used it as a babysitting aid while you tried to catch a nap)........i know that in all probability i could offend someone with what i want to share next........but i'm going to say it anyway.......

my heart has been heavy today.......i'm sad.........sometimes i wish that when i'm in a situation that the Word that is within would come out.........one day.........

my friend and her family are celebrating their dad's birthday today, part of the plan was to see Despicable Me 2.........to share a family moment making a memory together...........i'm wondering if that part of the plan got trashed last night...........i hope that it didn't........because Love is more powerful to overcome any "bad habit" that her children may have been exposed to in that movie...........

yes, the main character may have made some bad choices in his life, the children of today may be portrayed as defiant and disrespectful towards adults in the movies made today..........it is a sign of the times-a sign of how much we misunderstand what Jesus really did for us.........instead of encouraging your child not to play with someone who acts like that, instead of teaching them that if that man stood before Jesus He would not like his behaviour.............teach them about how Jesus sees that man..........loved, forgiven........perfect in his sight.....teach them about why that man made the choices he did...........what he believed about himself wasn't true:i am unlovable, i am what i do, therefore i am despicable............

don't be afraid to watch that movie or read a book because it doesn't teach good values........Jesus is reflected in everything (yes, even before He came to earth God was already reflecting Him in the ancient Japanese{?} writing you were teaching your precious children about-He's awesome isn't He?).......trust that they may see Jesus' restoring power in the despicable man who learnt that he was worthy of love.......trust that they may be grace conscious and not sin conscious....trust that He will lead them to green pastures and not into evil.......trust that they may know that they are truly forgiven and that they will see that we all-yes even that person who doesn't confess to believe in God-we all reflect Him to the world.......God does not look at what you do to say you are loved and behaving acceptably........you were loved before you were in your mother's womb........instead He looks at Jesus-the only Word that you need to spend time soaking in, surrounding yourself with............seek Him and all those good things you want your children to walk in will be added unto them, effortlessly..........a free gift from the God who looks at Jesus, sees you and says: you. are. not. Despicable. 2. me.......

p.s. i love you, my friend, and i hope that you will know that you are living a radical life with Jesus right where you are.........

the joyful laughter of my little minion princess........priceless

silly monkey minion

i love you mommy..........His Love is reflected everywhere.........open our eyes Lord, we want to see Jesus

learning to love like You......

i dropped my little girl at school today with a cooler box filled with fluffy toys and a fishing net........she is taking part in the second round of the speaker reader competition at school.......

after that i drove to the beach to meet a friend for our morning walk and watched the sea.....it was so peaceful, no wind, no white choppy horses......still.......be still and know that I am God.........

but my heart was not still......i was thinking of what she had said in the car: i really want to get through to the  finals mommy......i had reminded her to enjoy herself and to remember to speak loudly....it was the only encouragement i felt i should give but in my mind i was desperately wanting her to win, wanting her to succeed, wanting her to know what it is like to be a winner........

as i sat and looked at the sea His whisper led me down memory lane........to a girl who deeply believed that she could be a leader, knew that she could stand up in front of a crowd and encourage them to follow her lead......she knew it, but she didn't believe it........no-one had seen what lay deep within her, no-one knew her real desires, no-one had encouraged her to be what lay deep within.......

and then He whispered some more........this is what I believe about you: you can be who you want to be........just be still and know that I am in control........

and so He showed me that it's ok to want the very best for my child-He wants the very best for me........

but what if she doesn't achieve this desire Lord?  in My time it will happen.......this is a process, let me show you what is happening:

last year jenna came home and told you about the speaker reader competition, she chose her poem-even though you thought it probably wasn't the most dramatic, wouldn't appeal to the listener's, you knew she had to do what she chose......it fact she was pretty adamant it wasn't going to be any other way ;-) .......so you helped her to practice the best you could (even though she didn't always listen to your advice).......and she got through to the second round.......she knew her words but she spoke too softly.......a boy with a long joke, which made the audience laugh, won......

so this year when she came home and said i want to write a story about a penguin that will make the boys laugh, you knew she had learnt from her past experiences.......so while she dictated her story to you, you gently guided and discussed and encouraged her ideas while you typed......amazed at your little girl's creativity......

do you remember when she gave up gymnastics-even though she was so good at it- and I told you that the world looks at our talents as something we do and not as THE gift that i have placed deep within you poured out to them through the works I have prepared in advance for you to do?......  I told you that you need to encourage her to believe in (and receive) what I have given her............love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control...... that these are the real gifts which we shouldn't hide under the jar, the talents we shouldn't bury in the ground.......these are the gifts i have created you to share, to bless the world with........this is Me being in control, this is Me training her in the gifts i have placed deep within her........this is Me being her teacher, giving her my knowledge.......

when you were a child there was no-one who consistently encouraged you to be who you are......this is the passing on of what I have blessed you with.......your legacy........

remember when she took part in the school play last year as fairy-sa-jolly-good-fellow?.......she really wanted to be in that play, you knew she could do it, believed she had the ability to remember the words......and then on the night she stood on the stage all beautiful and innocent......... and she forgot what she had to say.......it was tough for you to watch, especially when you took her little friends with the next night and you really wanted her to do well.........listening to the lady in front of you say: this little girl never remembers her words, broke your heart........you really wanted her to prove her wrong......but she didn't, she forgot again.........why? you asked.......because she doesn't believe in herself, she's just like you used to be.........you need to encourage her more........you went home and shared it with ray and you said you didn't know how to do that...........well, this is Me training you.....you know what lies deep within you now........speak it over her, bless her with your words, tell her who she is because of who I AM.........

don't teach her what the world teaches:it is what we do in life that is our purpose........her purpose is to know Me, to be in relationship with me, and when she knows this she will know the freedom that she was created for........to be exactly who she desires to be........for I placed those desires deep within her before she was even created in your womb........

this learning-to-love-like-you Lord, it ain't easy when i do it my way, i'm learning more and more everyday that it is only when i don't know how, when i say: i am weak, show me your ways, it is only then that You can burn away the fat of unbelief..........thank You Father for leading me on your paths and showing me Your ways........thank You that because of You i will wait patiently while You teach my precious jolly-good-fellow to spread the joy and love you have placed deep within her.......thank you for loving us just the way we are

if you have the time.......listen here to this song......hope it blesses you

how we got here (part two)

i thought i'd continue with our change from homeschooling to schooling story....

journal entry: scared to go to s.v.p.s. and ask for fees and application forms-rejection? i told you so?? not hearing and then i have egg on my face?? help Lord, I need your guidance-clearly
Mark 4: the storm-have faith in Jesus

i stood in the foyer of the school during mike's gymnastics lesson......trying to pluck up the courage to ask for forms.....i was hiding......i had just seen the principal walking towards me outside and i had literally run so that he wouldn't have a chance to stop and say hello, to chat, to ask questions.......so now i hid in the corner of the foyer.......wrestling with my thoughts again,

i have to ask for them i thought, i had told ray I would, can't go back on my word......have to do what i said...
so i eventually submitted to honoring my husband-knowing that he would expect me to do as we had discussed......
the woman at reception knew we were home schoolers....so when i approached and stammered: i need to ask for application forms.....she smiled cheerily and said oh i thought you were home schooling....um, yes, we are, but i have to do this....oh ok, you know you could ask at the rock academy too, they have smaller classes......i know, but, um, that's not what we want.....well we feel that this is where we are supposed to apply, we think it is what the Lord wants........are they still having interviews?  i think the last one is next week......

journal entry: Numbers 22 Balaam and his donkey-didn't do what God had told him. The angel stopped his donkey until God made the donkey speak.  Then Balaam saw the angel and he realised he was wrong.  So he says:vs 11 The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak." 
That is how I want to live Lord.  Doing what You say when You say it!

Numbers 23 vs 12... Must I not be obedient and speak what the Lord has put in my mouth?
vs 26 "Did I not say to you, All the Lord speaks, that I must do?"

journal entry: Put application forms in yesterday.  Have to wait to be invited.  No pre-school report-very little points-and who knows if the person who processes the papers will even know that I taught there.  So it's in God's hands now.  Told Jen yesterday-at first she was tearful-and by the end of the day she was excited.  Prayed with Ray again.  He read Proverbs 16-the verses which have been rolling around in my head for a while.........wait, rest, trust......accept whatever happens.

the date for the last interview came.......and went......we didn't receive an invitation to attend and i thought: ok, so i heard wrong.......well, that's ok we'll just carry on as before.......but deep within i knew this wasn't over......

almost a week later i sat at the breakfast table in the morning when jen arrived for breakfast......
journal entry: Jenna had a dream about school.  She says the Lord spoke to her and told her she would be going to school.

wow, You really want this to happen........

i won't lie to you, although i felt certain that the Lord was guiding us down a new path, i struggled to let go.......holding on to a way of life was easier,

the phone rang later that week: hello? hi, it's allison from s.v.p.s we are having the last interview for a few stragglers who applied late, are you still interested in your child attending?  my first thought was: i could say no and this would be the end of it all.....Ray would never know that they phoned........who am i kidding? i can't lie to him.........uh, ok, i said, we will attend.....

i was sick that day, didn't feel much like talking, so we sat with the other parents listening while our precious little girl sat with the children drawing pictures.......we did the tour, walked through the passages........are we seriously doing this? am i really coming back here? walking up the stairs to leave she reached for my hand and said: i like it here mom, i want to come, it's going to be ok, i know i will make friends.......my heart was in turmoil, but i had to smile at this brave little girl, had to be strong, had to say: yes, i know you will........

after that time we started to slowly let people know what we were going to do.......a few whom i thought would support us, would understand we were following the Lord's guidance.......ray's folks found out quite by accident, jen let it slip, their reaction made me angry........why couldn't they have been that supportive of homeschooling?

i struggled with depression for a while.......was i not good enough to homeschool Lord?  did you think i couldn't do it?

journal entry:  Ray searched the word on Saturday night about being depressed.......when you have a major spiritual breakthrough you can often enter into depression after being on the high of 'being' with God-He read about Elijah and the prophets of Baal.  I felt an immediate lift and relief.......at fellowship we shared with friends and they said he'd been going through the same thing!!! (over something the Lord had been leading him to do)

Deut 31 vs 8 It is the Lord who goes before you; He will [march] with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; [let there be no cowardice or flinching, but] fear not, neither become broken [in spirit] ( depressed, dismayed and unnerved with alarm)

slowly my Father ministered to me........showing me where my heart had been.......and where He was leading me to....

Deut 7 vs 6 For you are a holy and set apart people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a special people to Himself out of all the people on the face of this earth.

journal entry: what has God called you to do to set you apart?  Being set apart doesn't mean you take on a "doctrine" of a certain group, rather it means you follow God's voice for setting you apart-His exact instructions to you which will bring glory to God because of how your life reflects His way.

but it takes time to renew your mind (i still battle at times we i'm comparing, thankfully it's getting less)……it has taken time for Him to renew, to show me what i had put my faith in........and not whom i had put my faith in.......i had a dream in which the Lord revealed to me how I had placed my faith in home schooling to create the perfect environment for my children to grow up in.......they were perfect on the outside...but not within, where it really counts.......

during the next four months He gently whispered to me…….showing me how much He loved me, wanted to bless me……..wanted to renew my mind…..in our home i saw more freedom growing in our lives……..i could see how my husband was more relaxed………but that didn't stop me from feeling angry on the days i felt weak, feeling like i was the one having to give up, the one who had to change……and still He continued to whisper His love…….

i had days, no, weeks when i grappled with the decision again…….even sat and chose a curriculum, planned a school room……..told my little girl her mommy was feeling like it would be best to home school but i was still deciding……..it's ok mom, whatever you want to do i am fine with that…….

we spent the day with family after the new year and an aunt asked jen if she was excited to be going to school…….innocently she looked over at me and said: am i home schooling mommy?….. granny was not happy to hear that and while i was inside she interrogated my poor husband, who dutifully defended my latest decision………i was angry again: why can't they just believe in me?……..and He unlocked another key, pride………i'm just going to do it and prove them all wrong!

and so i tried to convince Ray again.......comparing........with my wisdom and not the Lord's ........ causing him to toss on the waves of doubt.......the tossing to and fro was making my little girl anxious, her boldness was slowly dying.........

we went away on our family camping trip knowing a decision needed to be made, when we returned school would start in two days..........

we tried to relax, enjoy time together as a family away from home....... away from reality.......i kept on asking ray how he felt, wanting him to make the decision...... not wanting to be the one who had to submit.......

ray had a beautiful dream while we were away.......a promise of a beautiful year ahead.......falling in love with His Saviour, our Provider........and i knew then that it would be ok, that He would provide all the strength i needed to walk this new path........i was at peace again,

we returned home to buy jen her school uniform........and to start our roller coaster first year at school......trusting that the only Rock we should build our home on is Jesus........the only path we should follow is His....not putting our faith in a way of life but rather in the way to life.......

how we got here (part one)......

i thought that He was asking me to sacrifice, but instead He was asking me to receive........

in july of 2011 i was feeling like a ship being tossed between decisions again.......how was i to school our children? structure or no structure?

i searched the Word of God for anything and everything on planning, wanting to know what He said, needing to do what He wanted.......

Psalm 33 vs 10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nought, He makes the thoughts and the plans of the people of no effect,

Proverbs 16 vs 1-3 The plans of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the wise answer of the tongue.  All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart). Roll your works upon the Lord (commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and) so shall your plans be established and succeed.

journal entry: He will give me what to say or do, just ask........commit and trust.......He will make His thoughts yours!!! and therefore your plans will succeed......

Proverbs 16 vs 9 A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure

journal entry: Father-please direct my steps and make them sure!

in august i read:

Numbers 6 vs 24-26 The Lord bless you and watch guard, and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favour) to you; The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually)

Psalm 22 vs 26 The poor and afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; they shall praise the Lord-they who [diligently] seek for, inquire of and for Him, and require Him [as their greatest need]. May your hearts be quickened now and forever!

journal entry: Lord, please help me to know I'm teaching the right things/using the right things.
dream: I dreamt I was driving the kids in a car we were all so happy......I was taking them to SVPS for school......oh boy!?!

that sunday at fellowship the Body of Christ prayed over me, not knowing that their words would break chains, just following the Spirit within.......speaking words which would speak to the Deep within me........

"expect the unexpected! my identity is in Christ not in being my children's mother/Ray's wife/teacher"

"may you hear and know Jesus' voice clearly, that i would know why He created me-my purpose"

"don't make decisions out of fear"

"i don't need to be what people said i was in the past"

in my spirit i knew what He was saying to me........i knew which direction He was leading me to,

i went home and searched the internet for a site.........a friend had been updating it and i thought that it would be there......it wasn't.......no, not that one........the other.........surely not Lord?........and so i submitted and googled the other....the one i had dared to say never to......never say never,

for two days i wrestled with what He was saying......

journal entry: Am I still afraid of the kids going to school? for different reasons now.....I'm afraid I'll loose their hearts.  That I won't be able to build our relationship.

My mind races ahead when I think He's saying something and it starts to plan.......plan ways of me coping.

It doesn't matter what other people think.....I need to do what He is saying. Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd

a day later i was still wrestling....

journal entry: mind still racing.  Worrying that Jenna won't cope with the 2 o' clock day.....I want to protect her emotionally and physically.......I need to hand this burden over.  Father please make your thoughts, my thoughts.  Guide my steps onto your path and plan and purpose for my children.  I always try to think ahead and plan-I struggle to rest and do what the Lord has told me.  I keep on thinking how will it work out, what will the next step be?  Why does He want us to do this?  Lord, help me to rest and wait for your clear direction.......

a day later i was tired out from all of the wrestling, i hadn't shared it with Ray in hope that somehow, some way he would hear the same from the Lord and that He would have to make the decision......he would be the one needing to submit.......

and so when my precious husband saw me climb into bed to hide away from the decision.....when he saw my tired and weary face he gently asked: what is wrong?

and the walls broke down and i wept.......i think He is wanting Jenny to go to school.......i shared what i had heard, what i had read and as i did His thoughts became mine, His plan became mine......as my heart turned from sadness to joy........i slowly started to accept what He wanted me to receive.....His ways and not mine,

journal entry: Tomorrow is gymnastics (at the school) and I will need to pluck up my courage to ask for fees and an application form.......

needless to say it took me almost a week to ask for those forms.......i can be such a jonah sometimes ;-)

He will lead you beside still waters.

Revisiting the museum in Heritage week.

On Saturday we celebrated Heritage Day here in South Africa.

Last week the Iziko Museums kindly opened their doors to the public allowing everyone free entry to any of their museums.

Feeling a little guilty that we hadn't been to many museums this year (what is it with this mother's guilt!?) I decided to take advantage of the opportunity to visit the Natural History Museum in Cape Town.

We'd been there two years ago when Michael was a two year old.  So I knew this would be a totally different experience for both of the kids.

Of course Jenna, with her memory like an elephant, never forgot that it was the place we had seen the dinosaur displays.  So she was super excited to return.

I love the road that leads you past the Company Gardens on your way to the museum.  It's looking beautiful with all of the old oak trees dressed in their new green leaves.

On our previous visit the main attraction had been the dinosaurs and the whales.

As the kids had been quite a bit younger then we didn't walk through the whole museum.  

Now that they're a bit older their concentration and interest can be held a bit longer.

So I decided we'd start at the bottom and work our way to the top.

Our first stop was the section which classically houses the "before white man" history.

It is filled with scenes about the Zulus, Bushmen and other African tribes which inhabited our beautiful land before it was discovered.

It was a wonderful, gentle way of teaching the kids about our land's history.  Everything is laid out before them and they asked questions or I pointed out items which I thought they could relate to or would interest them.

Although admittedly I don't think that our museum has much of a wow factor.  (I visited the Natural History Museum and Science Museum when I went to England and I still think this particular museum could be made more interactive for children.)  It has improved since our last visit, so perhaps we'll catch up someday!

Of course the kids are non the wiser and so there were many oohs and aahs coming from them.

Especially in the Sea section.

I convinced Jenna to stand in the whale's mouth-but Michael was not keen on being swallowed up like Jonah!

I don't blame him when you see these creatures face to face they are rather overwhelming!

Listening to their sounds, in the whale sound box, was a little scary for them too, but they were very intrigued by that experience.

There was no convincing Mikey to enter these shark jaws!

But perhaps because he knows these are extinct, I finally managed to convince him to have a photo with the dinosaurs :-)

Sadly it seems we haven't had many dinosaurs discovered here in South Africa so there aren't many bones to see which is what Jenna was hoping for.

She had prepared a clipboard to take along on which to record all of the dinosaurs and who had discovered them.  We couldn't really find that specific info. Thankfully she wasn't put off by the lack of info and just simply enjoyed discovering each new display-even the gory ones!

We did get to see a poster explaining fossilisation, which tied in nicely with our recent visits to the wetlands and our lessons on sandstone and rock formation.

And we saw a short display by one of the museum aides who was demonstrating how they remove the bones from the hard rock.

After all of that learning it was time to get rid of some energy outdoors.

As Jen put it: Mom, I've had enough of this place, please can we leave now?

Time for learning done.........time for play to begin!

Does anybody know where all of the fish have gone to in the pond?

We shared our lunch with the friendly squirrels.........they come up very close to you.

Once Michael almost had one eating out of his hand.

After a walk through the gardens we passed the National Art Gallery.

I was surprised that the kids wanted to go inside and even more surprised to see that entrance was free that day as well!

My kids constantly amaze me simply by what grabs their interest.

Walking around the gallery Michael was intrigued by a photograph display and took himself off on his own guided tour.

Then we discovered Tretchikoff's art work .

They had a display case housing the original dress worn by the "blue faced Chinese lady".

We turned our art tour into a quick scavenger hunt as we walked through the halls of the gallery hunting for the painting in which the dress had been painted.  Finding the painting was easy, but getting Jenna to agree that it was the same dress wasn't as easy.  I guess she was right though-afterall, the original dress was blue not yellow.  A classic opportunity for teaching an artist's license to interpret the world as he sees it!

And then they asked to watch the documentary on Tretchikoff's life........like I said, it amazes me what intrigues them. They sat as still as mice watching the movie, which I thought was totally above their level.  Just goes to show we should never underestimate what our children are capable of or rule out the topics which would interest them!

So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that after all of that culture and stillness that they would have needed to move.

But perhaps the bannisters of the art gallery are not the best place for children to climb?!

Perhaps that's why they created the interactive art work out doors where they found a place to use up some energy turning the wheels to make the little lion and man move?!

But before Michael decided to make that into a jungle gym too we used up that pent up energy with a long walk back to our car.

And when we got home this is what they got up to...........

Bushmen in their little skirts adorned with necklaces and armed with digging sticks.  Oh and the panties on the head? That's supposed to be the short curly hair. (She doesn't have a black pair ;-)

I just love it when they recreate their learning experiences through creative play!

Thanks Iziko Museum for the inspiration.

How do you encourage creativity?

Have you ever read about the Multiple Intelligence Theories?

I love that it smashes the theory of the old IQ tests and encourages you to see that people can be intelligent in different ways,

 after all......

everyone of us was created to be different, weren't we?

When I look at my children and their unique personalities I stand in awe of how God created them so differently.

I used to feel guilty about not doing art projects with Jenna every week.

She loves to create....... almost everyday there's some new project in the making.

Then I realised that I didn't have to teach her how to be creative, she already is.

All I had to do was expose,

provide and 

encourage!

 I may not be creative in the traditional sense of the word.......but I am a creative thinker.

Give me an organisational problem to solve and I'll do my best to find the most practical way to make it work.

So in our home creativity is not encouraged by regular art lessons by mom, and I no longer feel guilty about it!

At times it is encouraged out of a desire.....

She wanted a crown,

so she created one.

I make art and craft materials easily available to her so that when she feels inspired she can just create.

At times it starts off as creative play and then gets built on.....

a block t.v.

I make sure toys are easily accessible too. Sometimes it helps to leave toys, which are not regularly played with, in the place of favourite toys.  

At times she expresses herself creatively through dance.......

 and manages to convince her brother to dance a part in the Nutcracker Ballet with her.

I make sure there's a variety of music playing sometime during the day.

At times she gets inspired by dvd's she's watched.....

then out come the face paints and dress up clothes.

I recognise that she is a visual learner and that she also relaxes by watching dvd's.  Buying a new dvd or borrowing from friends, makes sure she has time to unwind from all that creative thinking!

At times she just has a vision inspired by recyclables and it must be created now!

After all, every princess needs a castle doesn't she?!

I store boxes etc. and supply different materials for construction.......even though it takes up so much space and can sometimes be a fleeting idea ;-)

(recycled creations is not my idea of fun, but I've let go of my need to declutter and throw away for the sake of her creative expression)

The bonus side of her creativity is that it often involves team work to create.

The castle needed some colour.

At times she just loves to be outdoors in creation.....

and that's enough to inspire a little bit of creative play.

I've tried to encourage outdoor play and left my children to entertain themselves a lot........I've never wanted to hear: what can I do now mom?

At times the books she reads (or those which are read to her) inspire her to create.

I've shared my love of books with her by having reading times and books available around our home all the time.

{Jesus baptising men in the river-she drew this while we were reading Bible stories one morning.... just something she wanted to do}

At times she gets inspired by beauty she see's around her....

and so she plans,

and then she paints....

and draws.........a bird's view of it all.

I sometimes set up our dining table for painting time while I prepare supper.....it's a peaceful activity at the end of a busy day 

We're all gifted in different ways.  

When it comes to arts and crafts I'm not going to be the first mom to offer you ideas for creative activities to do with your children.....

but I will encourage you to use your gifts to discover your child's unique abilities,

because being creative isn't just about arts and crafts!

I can officially call them kids!

We're taking advantage of the great weather we're having here and heading for the mountains at every opportunity!

This was the view from our latest hike.

Can you see that little dark car parked in the shade under the trees?

That's ours!  

Yes, we really climbed to the very top of the mountain-well almost!

This is the Steenberg Plateau Hike. 

We don't use a hiking book as our guide-we follow our noses and choose hikes which we've passed by when driving on the roads in our area. 

When we started the hike my first thought was: "Perhaps we should be consulting a hiker's guide! This route looks a little too challenging for our little hikers!"

But they proved me wrong!

 We applied old lessons we've learnt about hiking with children and learnt a lot of new tricks too.....

#1. Share your love for God's creativity:

There were new Proteas to admire.

#2.  Enjoy the spectacular views.

#3. Make up names for rock features: God's Dice

#4. Problem solve survival skills:
It's hot mommy!
What can we do, there's not much shade?
Snuggle up to low lying bushes.

#5. Renew relationships with old friends seen on previous hikes: Ericas.

#6. And when the going gets tough and the top just never seems to come-

the beach (way down there) becomes the goal, the reward for perseverance.

#7. Dad also tried distraction: Just look at that Kangaroo rock!

#8. And encouragement: Wow, we're so high now you can see Table Mountain peaking over the top of this mountain!

#9. And Mom (who was taking strain too), tried to distract dad from walking up so fast by getting him to take photos of all (read any!) beautiful flowers.

And eventually he was convinced to stop when his, "It's just over the next hill" was greeted with......

another hill?
 No, mountain!!!!

So we sat in the shade of the only rock we could find and refreshed ourselves.

It had taken an hour and a half to reach this point with two little hikers who had clambered over every rock they could find-even though mom kept saying:
 conserve your energy, (#10) find the easiest route!

Yes, there had been a little complaining about the heat.....

but never the difficulty of the climb.

So they can officially be called mountain goats (kids).

And when we turned around to head back home.....

I hobbled down the mountain side on wobbly legs,

while they merrily hopped from rock to rock!

Oh, to be young again!
(from bottom to top 1hour 30 min......from top to bottom 30 min!)

On shaky legs-I'm not kidding you, they're still sore today!-I propped myself against the sign at the start/end of the trail and asked Ray to take a picture from the bottom up so that I could get a perspective on just how high we'd hiked.

But this doesn't really give you a clear picture of where we got to.......

so when he was coming home from work on Monday he stopped and took this photo on the highway:

Do you see the ridge in the middle?
We hiked from the start of that to where the two points meet!
Pretty impressive hey?!

And I learnt my final hiking lesson for the day:

#11. Always consulting a guide limits spontaneity and the opportunity to learn valuable life lessons along the way.

And that folks, is your home schooling lesson for today!

A night out at the ballet!

A few months ago when Jenna and I went to the UCT School of Ballet I noticed a poster advertising The Nutcracker Ballet.

I tucked that information away quietly in my memory for some special mother-daughter time.

I'm so glad I did!

And just for some extra special added memories, I invited her granny a long too.

We left Dad and Michael at home, something we hardly ever do, but they had an evening of lego building planned.......boys and their toys ;-)

We shared an early supper with Granny and Grandpa at their home and then it was time to dress up for the performance......

a very happy ballerina wearing her evening attire. (Thanks, Rachie!)

Granny and Grandpa recently returned from an overseas trip to the UK where they had bought Jenna a DVD of Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland dancing in The Nutcracker.

She has spent many afternoons on the couch watching them dance!

Ray's mom was so touched to have shared this first night at the ballet with her one and only grand daughter.  They are regular visitors to the theatre, in fact Grandpa has acted on the very stage which we sat in front of!

So when I bought the tickets I asked their advice on which would be the best seats for us to sit in.

Front row seats-they're actually the cheapest and for little ones there's absolutely no obstruction to their view!

I'm so glad I took their advice, because they really were THE BEST seats in the house!

Not only could Jenna see every dancer (and their costumes) up close, but when the mice came out they mischievously headed straight towards her to tickle her toes!

And when the final curtain had lowered and Mr. Drosselmeyer brought the toy nutcracker out, she got to shake his hand good-bye.

She sat through the entire performance in absolute awe of every dancer and costume, excitedly telling me the names to her favourite pieces of music or characters.

I was so impressed with her-perhaps I shouldn't fret so much about her moments of Starfall and DVD watching obsessions after all :-)

When the show was over she asked if we could go back stage to touch all of the beautiful costumes-she's such a lover of all things beautiful!  But sadly that was one thing I couldn't organise for her.

As we were leaving we passed the steps to take you up onto the stage and I could see her feet were itching to walk up those stairs,

but they turned the stage lights off and all went dark telling us it was time to head to the exit doors......

until Granny asked the stage hand-who had peeked his head around the curtain to call up to the lighting guys- "Could we please take a photograph?"

With a quick direction from below the spotlights were turned on again and my little ballerina got to stand centre stage under the lights!

A late night for a little girl, but all well worth it to see the joy on my little ballerina's face as she fell asleep in the car seat beside me while I drove us home from her first night at the ballet.