Saying Good-Bye to 2011

Gosh what a year this has been! I am quite excited to bid it cheerful good-bye tonight (^^,)

This year I said good bye to two precious family members,

Dear Gran went to be with Jesus on Good Friday. I learned so much from her. The importance of being a lady, and I definitely inherited her flare and love for shoes. She was a stunner in her youth. She lived her life to the full.

She came to live with me for just over a month in the last stages of her life. I learned allot about myself through that trying time. I could see first hand how the choices that we make, will affect us forever. So it is wise to think things through before we take the plunge. Gran had a fierce love for her family, and that is a value that has most definitely been passed down through the generations. She had an even fiercer love for her Jesus. I can only imagine what it must of been like, when she met Him for the first time face to face! Absolute pure joy, I'm sure of it!

I used to see her once a week. I miss those visits.

Saying good bye to our sweet little Zac was so much harder for me. I still don't understand why his life was cut so short. I know that Father God does have the bigger picture. I stood unwaveringly in my Faith. I had a 100% confidence in God that Zac would be our miracle boy. In a way he was, I suppose. I got to meet him, and hold and kiss him. He impacted my life so. In his short time, made me really take stock of what is important in this life.

There are moments when I read the Word and the promises that are in there, I find myself saying "yes, BUT" I know that this is a road of trust that Jesus and I will have to walk.

Our sweet Mr. Wriggles.

 He passed on the Wednesday just before Easter. And so unexpected as well. One minute he was playing with Jed and the very next moment he was paralysed! I held him in my arms, as the vet put him to sleep. He was our very faithful little shadow for 10 wonderful years.

Nix, loved him so dearly, she still does.

Our Rotti, Angel passed the same day that Zac did, 1 October. She was our faithful protector for 12 years. She was the most amazing dog. She truly loved the girls, and would always keep a look out for them. She loved it when they would ride her and sit on her. Even when Kenz came along, I would find her in Kenzies' room. She would let Kenz sit on her, even though her bones were worn with arthritis. She passed in her sleep. Sleeping in her usual spot under Janique's window.

I thought that it was quite symbolic that she passed the same time as Zac. I am sure that she is lying at his crib in Heaven right now. (^^,)

They say that every cloud has a silver lining. That is true of this year too. I had such a spiritual break through when I went to visit Mom. A dear friend Sally took me through a Sozo counselling session. The results were life transforming. I had such a special experience with Jesus.

I am learning to take control again in my life. Realising that I do have the power over myself and my choices. Learning, that I alone can choose my reactions to situations, whether good or bad. Learning that I don't have to be a control freak, and where there are situations that are completely out of my control, it is okay to let go, and rest in the Peace that Jesus has so freely given me.

I have come to know such a sweet love from Jesus. He is interested in me, and what interests me.

I have realised that the family I have is just perfect for me. I love each and every member. Each one of us is unique, and we all bring something special to the table. Yup even our sweet little Kenz, who has entered the two's with two solid feet in!! Oh my word, she has a mind of her own and an iron will!! Okay I am getting side tracked...heeheee...She makes us all laugh, and brings a sparkle into the room. Janique is blossoming into the most beautiful, sweet natured and tender hearted young lady, and Ashlynn continues to be our compassionate, tender hearted ray of sunshine.

 I think about my precious Mommy darling all the time, I have teasured memories of the very special one on one time that I had with her, when I went to visit her in August! She is truly the most amazing woman I know! She sets the most wonderful example for me.

Spending time with Brett and Janni and my other darlings has been a balm for the soul. Tianna and Lee Lee are such sweet little darlings, little ladies who have this Aunty's heart. There are two of the bravest little girls that I have ever met. Having faced what they have this year, and still they are joyful and full of fun.

Without a doubt Jan is my very best friend. I love her with all of me. We have laughed and cried allot together this year. Our bond is stronger than ever. I honor her, and respect her. I so wish that I could carry this burden that she is carrying. But I know that this is her road to walk, and the very best thing I can do is walk with her.

Facing these tough times has shown me what Ian is made of. This man is my rock. A tender one (^^,) he loves his girls with such an intense love! Each one of our girls has a piece of his heart. And he is so generous with his love.

Ah Dawn, my partner in crime, LOL. I am so grateful for our friendship. We have done allot of gallivanting this year. I value her.

So as I say good-bye to 2011 and close this chapter in my life. I have learned, loved and lived allot!

I am excited to see what 2012 holds!!

Happy new year!!

Lotsa love

Niqui xx

Beach Time

Yesterday we took a drive out to Sardinia Bay...

Sardinia is known for it's very beautiful and HIGH sand dunes...

The thing is that entry to the beach is gained through walking down the dunes...so...to get back to the car? Yup, you guessed it! The mammoth climb back to the car! I had Miley Cirus' voice singing The Climb in my head! LOL

All I am saying is that any remnants of the girdle buster are now well and truly busted!! (^^,)

Lotsa love

Niqui xx



Merry Christmas

The girls woke us up before the birds even had a thought of waking up.

There is something to be said for having kids in the house at Christmas time. They add such a level of excitement (^^,)

After all the excitement of the exchanging of our gifts, came the lunch prep. Jan pulled out all the stops!

We topped the meal with 'The Girdle Buster'!! Oh my word, it was worth every bite (^^,)

Sitting around the table with the family made my heart sing with happiness. It is wonderful to be around people who love you for who you are, and finally come to the realisation that there is no need to perform for that love. It's not about what you do, but rather who you are!

I must say that there were a few key people missing from our celebration. Precious Mommy who is in the States, thank you Jesus for Skype! We were at least able to connect , yay!! Daddy, who is away on holiday. Dear Gran, who went to be with Jesus on Good Friday this year. Oh my word! She was a fire cracker! And our Zac...

We know that this sweet little person is wrapped lovingly in the arms of Precious Jesus.

He was missed so much.

So what to do after such a feast?

LOL

Thank you Heavenly Father for the precious gift of your Son. Thank you Jesus for coming to save each and every one of us!

Lotsa love

Niqui xx



Sweet Traditions

We have a fun little tradition with the girls. On Christmas Eve, they all get one pressie to open. And in the pressies are new jammies to sleep in, and wake up on Christmas morning in (^^,)

It is so special to be able to make these precious memories.

Well the girls are all tucked into bed, and the rest of the pressies are under the tree...

Can you just picture the excitement levels tomorrow morning? (^^,)

Night, Night precious friends xxx



Niqui xx



Let the Festivities Begin

I love this season. Not only are we celebrating Jesus, but we are also celebrating family!

This year we are spending the holidays with Jan and Brett in P.E. So we thought it would be a super fabulous idea to have a special Christmas dinner with the family here.

Table set, with pink being our colour this year, of course! LOL

Dinner prepared,

Family seated. Let the feasting begin!

Thankfully a little space was left for the deserts (^^,)

What a special evening! I love my family, and cherish the times we can spend together,

Dawn and I put this evening together. What a treasure she is to me. Not only is she one of my closest friends, but she's my sister too! Bonus :)

I pray that as you start your celebrations this Christmas time, that you will have a blessed family time!

Niqui xx

Sew Simple

I had a spare 30 minutes this afternoon, instead of sorting socks, I made a new summer top (^^,)

Okay gotta get back to work :)

Niqui xx



It looks like my healthy habits are starting to rub off on my family...

Yup, that would be Arwen eating an apple! LOL

Niqui xx





This morning the scale told me that my weight has remained the same for the week that has passed.

Dagnamit!!

 I was very diligent with my exercise this week. I even went for a walk yesterday morning. My Ashlynn, a.k.a The Energiser Bunny, came with me. OH MY WORD! That kid has too much energy, we ran most of the way, when I told her I was a tad tired, she looks at me with a dead straight face, and says "Oh come on Mom! You're not going to get fit walking so slowly!" LOL

Seriously now, I can feel that something is shifting, and it more than the weight.

At the start of this process I asked Jesus to help me, and would you believe, He is (^^,). He is showing me that my weight issue is really a symptom of something much deeper.

For the longest time I have been unhappy with myself. And when you focus on the negativity in your life, negativity then becomes your reality. It really becomes all that you see.

Gosh I am finding this so hard to put into words.

Self control is a fruit of the Spirit, so if the Spirit resides in me, why do I find it so hard to control my eating. I am starting to see that it is because I don't value myself.

Growing up I was the apple of my Daddy's eye. When I turned 13 it was like a switch flipped, and Daddy tuned out. He has told me, now recently, that he didn't really know how to communicate with me back then. And now having a daughter of my own about to turn 13, I can understand why he said what he did. But thank God that there is now so much more information available to parents today, that we can make better choices in raising our kids.
When I was 18, my Dad left our family and married someone else. The devastation was enormous.

This is how the enemy works, he takes something this that happened in our childhood, and then compounds on it. So for me, when Dad pulled away from me, I saw it as I was not good enough for his affection. (I know now, that it was never ever his intention). Then when he left us all, that feelling was re-enforced.

Gosh it has been 19 years since that all happened, I am now 37 years old. And now I am finally able to see that the enemy's sole purpose is to get us so wrapped up within ourselves, and our pain. So that we have a very limited relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Taking the steps to get healing....
The first this I have had to do, is to forgive my Dad. That's a biggy, then I have to ask God for forgiveness for believing the lie, that I am not worthy of His love. You see in believing that I was not worthy of my Dad's love, I inadvertently believed that I was not worthy of God's love. Our relationships with our dad's mirror our relationship with God.
Then I have to ask Father God what He says about me. And for that I can look to His Word, John 3.16 tell me that He SO loved the me that He sent Jesus to die for me, so that I could be in relationship with Him!

Jesus says in John 8.32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free"

It is in the knowing of the truth where the freedom happens. And with freedom comes peace.

Today I feel like a weight has been lifted, and it is just a matter of time for the physical weight (around my thighs, LOL) to melt away.

Psalm 139.14 "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well"

Today is a new day, one which the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Niqui xx

On Sunday our Pastor, Peter, preached up a storm. His sermon title was "Having faith in the in between"

He is quite a character, and half way through his sermon he got a little off course and told us about this old (I am assuming about a hundred years or so old) Anglican priest who wrote a book.

This priest was looking back over his life and church and noticed that in our Christian walk there are highs and lows (no kidding!! Right?) He said, true sacrifice comes when you are willing to lay down your good experiences with God at His feet as a sacrifice. And let God be God. This really impacted me.

Often times we let our awesome experiences with God take over, and in a sense become our God. God needs to be God!

On my walk this morning, while I milling over what I wanted to say this morning, Daddy spoke to my heart and said this
"Don't limit Me by your best experience you've had of Me"

Our walk with the Father is more than a single experience, it's a relationship.

He loves us endlessly!

Niqui xx

Holiday Countdown is Now On

Two weeks to go, then we are off on our Seaside holiday!! Whoop whoop!!

Got my cossie sorted (^^,)

I'm so exited about it! I only paid R9.00 for it!! Yes you are reading right, no typo here! I got some vouchers in the mail! I do LOVE vouchers.

Thanx Edgars.

Niqui xx



I am learning that in order to have be successful in this journey, I am going to have to change some habits.

Healthy Habits lead to a healthy lifestyle!

This morning I opted for a healthy breakfast

This morning I had  Weet-Bix, honey, milk and a table spoon of seeds.

A few years ago, Jan introduced to to the Patrick Holford way of eating. He is an Australian nutritionist who has devoted his life on educating people on how to eat for optimum health.

I found this seed mix in his book. It is packed with all the good stuff, like omegas...

You'll need, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds and ground linseed (flax seed)

Fill half the bottle with the linseed, then with the rest of the seeds.

Shake it up, and then store in the fridge. He recommends 1 table spoon serving for adults once a day and 2 teaspoons for kids.

I add it to all my cereals, smoothies and even french toast. (For the french toast I just grind it up first).

It's yummy, and best of all it is low GI, so it really keeps you fuller for longer!

Niqui xx