iSonto #6

Boxes were turned into a house.

Playing together is just beginning. 

Elnathan was genuinely helpful with putting nappies into the washing machine - and he finds it exciting!

We got out his set of farm animals which can be strung onto a thread. No threading happened, but he did line them up and said they were going on a walk to the community center!

Mercy was kept busy while we attempted to start a quiet reading time after lunch.

From garden to tummies . . .  
  
Kale is one of the few veggies that have thrived in our winter garden. All the seeds came up in summer so we had plenty to transplant, and it has grown well. Our silverbeet has been picked within an inch of its life, so kale is being substituted for it in some recipes. This week I made spinach pies and substituted kale for some of the spinach/silverbeet. There are lots of health benefits to eating kale. In this picture you can see our silverbeet in the foreground and kale behind.

A book we enjoyed together was Spot Goes to a Party. This book has been read and re-read and quoted at the dinner table.

It has also been acted out with little pretend letters from Helen appearing in our house. Elnathan is a great fan of parties!

Encouragement, ideas and inspiration came from Heart-tenderizing words. Having personal pity parties is one of things I am aiming to overcome, so this was a welcome additional reminder.

We are thankful for the fact that Dave has Saturdays off paid work so he can work in our garden. 



Isonto is a Zulu word for both week and Sunday, so Dave suggested it as the title of this little update I plan (God willing) to put ou
t each Sunday.

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iSonto #5

Elnathan was happy to do some sticking with Mummy, decorating "Even a child is known by His deeds" with lots of lovely pictures of children!

Natey's memory verse was "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" John 3: 16

 
Mercy Joy was the blessed recipient of her first ever parcel from South Africa, as friends sent her name made from beads and wire - a beautiful reminder of the art work we have often enjoyed while visiting!

From garden to tummies . . .

Lemons have ripened so we have been enjoying them with pancakes - or in Natey's case, just chewed on skin and all!

Encouragement, ideas and inspiration came from Ministries of Mercy. This a truly brilliant and encouraging book - so far! I can't wait for my reading moments to receive more insight to pray over.

We are thankful for the many moments of child training encouragement, when we see that although there is lots of work to do some of it is paying off already!

Isonto is a Zulu word for both week and Sunday, so Dave suggested it as the title of this little update I plan (God willing) to put out each Sunday.

Read more...

iSonto #4

Mt Wellington, as this view from our home shows, has been covered with snow. We even had some snow flakes falling here this morning.

Elnathan made us laugh a lot. He has a sense of humour and a dimple when he laughs, saying "Natey funny" or "I'm funny". One funny comment this week was "I want to go to school on a bus with a bag full of food". One day we are going to have to break it to him that he is going to go to school at home!!


Natey's memory verse was "Even a child is known by his deeds" Proverbs 20:11. 

Mercy was so sweet as she sat up much better on her own, although still well protected against falls. Mercy can now roll from back to front. She also seems to say "Da Da Da" about her Daddy.

Mercy likes to play games with balls, letting them go and and loving it when they are returned for her to let them go again.

Here she is in a grown-up looking coat an aunt gave, on the quilt top I finished piecing together for her this week.


From garden to tummies . . .

Silverbeet leaves were yummy when steamed to eat with fried eggs, mixed in with scrambled eggs, and included in a beetroot risotto.


A book we enjoyed together was Fred the Firefighter.We have been making use of the local library and this was one of our finds.

Encouragement, ideas and inspiration came from the Barnabas Fund's housing projects. It is so exciting to think that we may be able to provide a home for a Christian family for as little as $1,000.


We are thankful for. . .


* A delightful date to the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. 

* Memories of the love and friendship that surrounded us on our wedding day, as we sorted through cards for recycling. Dave's Melbourne church, work at Monash, friends from South Africa and America, family, Crossroads church, and more!


* The children's conjunctivitis has cleared up!

* The ministry of Creation Ministries International, and the visit of some excellent speakers. We are encouraged and challenged.


Isonto is a Zulu word for both week and Sunday, so Dave suggested it as the title of this little update I plan (God willing) to put out each Sunday.

Read more...

iSonto #3

Elnathan was thrilled when I got the easel out. He has drawn more than ever before. He often begs us to draw something as well. What a difference four or five months makes! When I last had this out he just tried to climb into the middle of it!

Natey's memory verse was "Do all things without complaining or disputing" Philippians 2: 14. We didn't have to work very hard on this as we have been saying it for a long time now!!
 
Mercy was very pretty in a dress her great grandma Thelma knitted for Sherrin!

From garden to tummies . . .

When I wanted to pull the remaining broccoli off a plant in order to give the leaves to the chooks, I found Natey's little bowl handy. I filled it up. He soon found it and said "Natey have lunch" and proceeded to eat lots of raw broccoli!! 

A book we enjoyed together was Blessings Every Day: 365 Simple Devotions for the Very Young. Elnathan had a great interest in the illustrations of children doing lots of different things, especially the picture of a boy playing hide and seek with his tummy showing. "Please look at boy got a tummy" was a frequent request, and this book was carried from room to room!

Encouragement, ideas and inspiration came from The Valley of Vision: a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions. Here is an excerpt from "The Convicting Spirit". 

Make me willing to be saved in this way,
perceiving nothing in myself, but all in Jusus:
Help me not only to receive him but
to walk in him,
depend on him,
commune with him,
be conformed to him,
follow him,
imperfect, but still pressing forward,
not complaining of labour, but valuing rest,
not murmuring under trials, but thankful for my state.
Give me that faith which is the means of salvation,
and th eprinciple and medium of all godliness;
May I be saved by grace through faith,
live by faith,
feel the joy of faith,
do the work of faith,
Perceiving nothing in myself, may I find in Christ
wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption.

We are thankful for the  privilege of caring for our own little plot of land and our children.

Isonto is a Zulu word for both week and Sunday, so Dave suggested it as the title of this little update I plan (God willing) to put out each Sunday.

Read more...