Off To The Cape

Hey everybody, I'm here to say goodbye for eleven days. My family and I are leaving for Cape Town tomorrow morning, and we'll be gone for a while, so I won't be able to do any blog posts. But when we get back, I will try and post a lot of photos from our holiday! The last time we went on a trip down that way, we almost died. No, I'm really serious. The road we were driving on was flooded, so we took the Swartberg Pass. A thin dirt road that winds around a mountain with no barrier. So imagine that, with nine children, in a Quantum and a trailer, while it's raining and chunks of the road turns into mud before falling off the side...yup, pretty scary. Of course we didn't know it was going to be like that...
Well, my brothers were shaking hands and saying nice knowing you - I felt like vomiting.
And we made it. I am very sure it is only because God was looking after us. It was quite an adventure, but I don't think we'll be going through that pass this time.
I'm really looking forward tomorrow; I love Cape Town a lot and my grandparents are having their 40th anniversary...it's going to be a lot of fun. :)

Mom & Perrin - Photoshoot

I did a photoshoot of my Mom and Perrin the day after my older sister became a qaulified proffesional chef in not only hot-kitchen, but pastry too, at only age seventeen. She has the determination, the passion and the skill. As you can see, there's plenty to be proud of. Here's the photos that I had fun taking and I'm sure my Mom had fun editing. :)

Beautiful smiles...

Moustaches, lol!

I was really enjoying the light. ;)

I love them both so much - you can probably see from the pics that they are quite lovable people.

Ups And Downs

^Photo above done my my Mom. The title is "Hold Onto The Light".

Everyone's life has ups and downs, good and bad, great stages and break down stages. And when it's hard, it's hard...but, giving thanks and praising God helps. I know from experience.

Let me tell you something else I know from experience; He is going to be there in both the bad times and in the good times. I think it's great to know that He's there in the bad times, but even better to remember that He's there in the good times. Because sometimes when life is going so well, and you are enjoying every minute, you feel like you are fine without Him. You drift slowly away from Him. I sometimes am like that.

What we should do is pray that our relationship with Him gets stronger every single day. And we should pray ALL the time. Also, read the bible everyday.
Think about it- when things go pear-shaped, we run to Jesus for help, we are desperate, always looking for answers and someone to comfort us. So we spend more time with Him. Then when life's roads start to smooth out and not be so bumpy, we relax a bit. We stop clinging to Him so tightly...

I must cling to Him always, ask Him what to do next and want Him desperately, through all ups and downs. Let's put Him first where ever we go, whatever stage we are at.

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."" - Hebrews 13:05

Letting Go

I'm often afraid of letting go, because I think I won't find something as good. But what I don't really realize is that God is with me, and He is not only good, He's the best. Plus He's always gonna be with me.
So, at the moment, it's like I have to let go of stuff and put it in His hands. And that's hard. BUT...
You know sometimes when you look back on things that have happened - and you feel like it was all planned from the beginning, like someone knew what was going to happen and made sure it happened. That's God, being with you and doing his acts of wonder. Because He knows the future. Also, today when we were doing bible studies together, Mom was saying that everything happens for a reason with God, and everything has a consequence. Which I think is true.
So, basically, He knows what's going to happen. And I'm going to base my trust in Him on that, as well as all the great things in my life that He has done.
There isn't anything or anyone in this life who has given me such a great a gift that He did - life. He died to pay for my sins and so I know that I can definitely be willing to go with Him wherever He wants me to go and to trust in Him.
Whenever I feel sad about having to let go, I'm going to remind myself that God will always be with me. I'll remind myself about these things...

He will give me joy.
He knows what is good for me.
He is eternal.
He is the one who gave me all of this in the first place.

Thank you for reading. I'd really love it if you would pray that I will give up all I have for Him, and let go for Him. He's beyond worth it.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not evil, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 11