2011 Favorites

Yes, I know 2011 is loooong gone, but I have been compiling this little list which just grew and grew and well, finished or not, here they are:

Favorite songs: Adele - Rolling in the deep

                      
                          Elvis Blue - Hallelujah (cover of the old Leonard Cohen song)

Drink: Non -alcoholic - Lime & soda, Alcoholic - gin & dry lemon
Food: I grew a rather irrational love for hummus and taramosalata
Movie: New Years eve
TV programme: Celebrity apprentice but a year of very little TV in general
Gadget: My iphone - I totally adore it
I phone application: Instagram
Ringtone: The overture from Big Blue
Book: The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls - read my review here.
Clothes shop: Big Blue
Coffee shop haunt/alone time hiding place: Zafferanos in Groenkloof.
Beauty product: Annique's  green roiibos resque cream - really awesome stuff for any irritation from pimples to rashes to insect bites and Tanquil body treats hand mousse which cured my winters hands.
Night out with hubby: The night we spent alone in big five country doing our bit for our rhinos' conservation.
Break away from home/holiday: Our recent one in Mtunzini - the first time ever that the kids were so easy and we had no need to do the usual "be thankful for the holiday speech". It was a fantastic holiday.
Blogposts: My favorite (and not so retailers ) about well, our local retailers.
                  Scenes from a pediatric ward (my most hits post ever)
                  All about books today - featuring my top 10 books of all time
Photos I took:

Little man L's feet in the hammock at home

Egytian geese on the river at Mtunzini in December

Water lillies on the dam in Pilansberg March

Internal of the Prot Edward light tower April

 Hope you have enjoyed my overview - what was your favorites?

Christmas re-cap 2

We were very blessed to have my in-laws with us from the 24th and the kids were delighted to have both their grannies and gramps with them for Christmas. We lean towards the Catholic tradition of fish for Christmas eve so we had yellow tail and calamari for dinner followed by the Christmas story as read by Hunter and the first year ever, carols as sung by the kids in really loud enthusiastic voices. I will never forget that.

Simple table with candles, wire boabab and pastels

We always leave Christmas father rather alternative snacks  - last year it was beer and biltong, this year it was litchis and coke - it was so hot, we reasoned he will need to cool off in that hot coat. He brought, as always, small little gifts and some sweeties.

 

As per the last 3 years we had a late lunch and invited all we knew that were alone for Christmas. We were 13 adults and our 3 kids - our house burst at the seams but we had a great lunch. I went for a very non-traditional pastel polka dot theme (and got crackers to match at Checkers!) based on my little Christmas cake I made at the boys' schools moms craft night.

The ladies each got a little note book decorated with polka dot ribbon and cupcakes (ai Marcia all thanks to you)

The kids had their own tree crackers, a book each and a kit kat Father Christmas

And you know, we all had a great time - especially the kids - as the dirty faces testify.

 It was such a great Christmas and I love that we made the day special for so many people.

Christmas re-cap no 1

I have not even shown you one little bit of our Christmas and the New Year is already 3 days old. So, we put up our tree rather early this year - on the 28th and int he middle of the day to avoid the tired children unpleasantness of years past. Once again, my little perfect moment in my head - kids gently adding decorations with Michael Buble's Christmas album playing in the background did not come true. In stead of him gently singing "It's beginning to feel like Christmas" I had 3 kids singing "Silent Night" and "we 3 kings" on top of their voices. Not what I imagined - but perfect in every way unimagined. It was so sweet - but so loud.

Our little wooden menagerie serves us well and the kids love to play the scene out.

 Scenes from the tree:

The advent calender was a huge hit once again and the kids waited in total anticipation to open it.The non sweets days were such hits.

More about the actual day to follow

So 2011, really...

As Charles Dickens started "A tale of two cities" :  "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,..., it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair" pretty much sums up 2011 for us our most difficult year following on 2007/2008 when the twins were small and sick.

The worst of times certainly were the 9 weeks with Lucy on sick leave, the realization that Little man L had serious issues and the incredible lack of sleep. Work issues for both Hunter and I and the high cholesterol shock I had.

In between sits the journey towards getting him back on track, the rough but encouraging ride. The changing of eating plans and cholesterol medication. The operation to the Princess to alter those very dominant ears into the "normal".

The best of times was the realization that in Little man L's reports back from school and the OT that we are seeing a small miracle in action.His eventual potty training. The absolute blossoming of Little man C in school and the Princess' incredible year in grade R. Reaching that magical 4 cholesterol count in December and having an incredible holiday - amazed at the progress in ease of camping that a year makes. The prospect of a course for Hunter and a good project for me lightens the load.

2012 is for us a year of hope - a year of looking forward and progressing onwards.  Looking back on my phrase for 2011 - "Light as a feather on the breath of God" certainly is a shock, because I was anything but light. The year was heavy, and staying light was simply too much. But this year will be filled with hope, every day. With the grace of God.

Here's wishing you all the very best for 2012 - may God bless you beyond your expectations. May God fill our hearts with hope and love.

Original source unknown

Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.