Sports day shenanigans...

This weekend was Grace and Eli's first sport's day!  El was helping with the events whilst I was able to stand at the end of the lane and shout for my running legends!  It was an awesome day and there was a fantastic turnout.  I took my PA system along and helped with the background music and announcement vibes - which was lots of fun and fairly nostalgic.  It may very well be the start of our next stage in parenting - school functions... 

A few weeks ago, Mike and Lee were up in JHB for the Symphonic Rocks concert of which they were both performing in the house band.  The gig was at Carnival City, which is just over an hours drive away, so we met them on the Thursday afternoon and listened to some of the rehearsals, and then headed back again on the Friday to spend the day with them.

It was an awesome time to relax and lounge around outside by hotel pool, catching up with our best mates from Cape Town.  For the time that we were enclosed in the hotel, it felt like we could've been at home in CT... someday soon!

One of the photographers from the function were with us around the pool and took these two stunning pics of Grace and Eli.







There are a slim seven weeks left of the school calendar and El and I can't wait for our Christmas travels!  We cannot believe what a year we've had - it's ending on a high note and that's what counts!  GOD's plan has been slowly revealed to us each step of the way, a true light unto our path, and we give Him the Glory for His love and constant provision.

Eli and Grace will be two-years old in three short weeks and they're talking so beautifully.  The sentences are one- to three-word vibes but they're awesome!  Things like:

"Daddy come."  "Roo-roo no!" "Mommy, ruv you."  How can we not be proud :).

We miss you all (those abroad and cross-country) and pray that as you enter this last quarter of 2011 that you will start to allow yourself to rest a bit an prepare for 2012.

Much love and blessings

Grace & Eli at Tivan's birthday party.3gp

News Update

Eli and Grace had a party at school last week for one of their classmates. (video to be posted soon!)

Mid July... winter sniffles have hit

Hi all, we hope that the winter months are faring well for you!  Last week, after a week of Eli and Gracie growing slowly more and more blocked and congested (head region...), we took them to the Dr.  Neither had had any fevers or telltale signs of infection, but we weren't getting more than a few hours sleep at a time because they were so uncomfortable at night.

It turned out that Eli had a throat infection, and he didn't like the look of the gunk coming from Gracie's nose... so both were put onto anti-biotics until the weekend.  We are glad to report that both are back to their usual selves.

Grace + Eli drinking tea

Mielie's are a firm favourite of Grace's

Eli & Grace dancing to Twinkle Twinkle...

Watch "Eli + Grace on each others' beds..." on YouTube

Grace & Eli have been a little sick the last few days with the standard cold symptoms, so sleep has been a rare privilege for all four of us!  We had a great visit from Oupa (well... Grace and Eli call him Ouma...) and spent as much time together as we could.  The picture of Eli and Grace running was when Dion and I went to fetch them from school... Grace was shouting 'Ouma, ouma, ouma!'.


I have really been blessed with my business, it's growing nicely and I am hoping to have a cash flow again soon!  GOD has put people into my path at the right time and I haven't really had to approach anyone yet, GOD will always provide!

El treated her class to hot-chocolate on Friday as the weather has been seriously chilly here!  They loved it!

We had some friends around for worship last night - it was such an encouraging experience.  We had no agenda and no intention other that to encounter GOD, and that's what happened!  We have had rocking feedback from all who joined us and we're so blessed to be exactly where GOD wants us to be.

May you have an awesome week!  All our love and blessings.

Our first visitor

Gracie in her new slipper socks

Eli playing dress-up with daddy's hat and scarf

We are so blessed to have El's dad staying with us for the weekend - our first official guest in the 'guest bedroom'!  The weather is looking amazing so we're in for a stunning weekend, and will be sure to take tons of pics :).

This week was a little topsy-turvy with voter's day slap bang in the middle - it made both of our weeks far busier on the work front with 25% less time to do all the work needed.  We went to vote and were routed to another venue as our normal place was no longer a voting station... and then when we arrived at the new venue we weren't on the list.  The kids enjoyed the ride, we were rather miffed at the administrative ineffectiveness.

I had several client meetings throughout the week and El had a workshop on Friday at a local school on the new curriculum for 2012.  Aunty June Maasch came for tea on Friday afternoon, it was so wonderful to have some homemade milktart that was still warm from the oven!  Aunty June is a first-class baker and so, apart from the company, we also always look forward to the confectioneries that she treats us to!

We are looking forward to a five-day week... wishing you all a turbo one too and may GOD surprise you!

All our love,
Tim, El, Grace & Eli

Back in Jozie

It's hard to believe that we're back in sunny JHB again after such a special time in CT!  Travelling with Gracie and Eli is definately getting better, they were little angels and slept so well in their strange surroundings.  I think one thing that made it easier on us was not trying to cram as much in as we have before - so to those of you who didn't get to see us - sorry!  But don't worry, we'll be back soon!!!

One of our highlights was a trip to the 2Oceans aquarium - what an experience!   The kids loved it.  I haven't been there in ages (since my Nana was still with us!!) and I was turbo impressed - wish I could be 10 again!

We stayed with the Horners (thanks!!!) for the first few days and then moved in with Dave and Cands (thanks too!!!).  I was speaking on a camp with George Strachen out in Stanford, so I left my family behind for the last weekend and spent it sharing GOD with 26 young people.  It was the first time in 18 months that El and I have been away from each other and my first time away from Eli and Grace - so it was hard to leave them, but it was what GOD wanted and it was a beautiful weekend for all of us!  El got to see family and the camp was a great success - 4 new Christ followers and 11 re-commitments, which was really encouraging!