Long Overdue....

Been wanting to blog for some time now......finally getting started again.
We've had a busy last 2 months...first with the arrival of our new son named Asher Lincoln Portland and then my mother in law arriving the day after he was born. She was with us for a month. Michael had such a good time with her. We also had a friendly visitor from Colorado. He stayed with us for a week after he had some time in Tanzania. Along with ministry and having friends over. It has been an eventful 2 months.
Enjoying beautiful Spring weather and looking forward to seeing some loved ones from our home church arriving just over a weeks time. God is good!
I've attached a bunch of pictures for you to enjoy. Pictures are in order from bottom to top.

happy daddy

happy baby sleeping in mommy's arms

turtle crossing while on our nature walk


Asher- 7 weeks old

Tanya- her first time having Smores

I walked in on Michael playing the guitar and singing to his brother

Just playing....

I love this picture

Grandma Kathi with her 2 grandsons

Mike and our friend Werner-Mike took mom to have coffee at his coffee roasting shop

Eaglesvlei Vineyard

looking out at one side of the Paarl Valley

In Franschoek with our friend Chris

Sleeping Asher

Special flowers I got while in the hospital. I love the boots.

Daddy and newborn Asher

'A Week In A Life' project: Sun. Day 7

Thank you guys for sticking with me on this weeks journey of capturing some of my life this past week. I'm really considering this project once a year.
Since this is my last post and I have LOTS of photos to share. I'm just going to close off by sharing with you a bit about our Sundays. Because they are basically the same every Sunday. :)
Our regular Sunday's go like this:
1. Up early getting ready for church
2. Grabbing our bags and everything we take a long to church..not forgetting our Bible
3. Picking up a few people on our way to church..maybe a quick stop to the gas station
4. Arriving at church...with the help of others getting the table set for cookies, tea, coffee, cups and saucers...while some others are getting the sounds system set up and church banners up.
5. Shortly after we arrive to church I usually have about 5-10 minutes before I rush off to pick up a car load of teens from one of the farms
5. Church and fellowship...then clean up
6. Lunch Time
7. Rest time with the family (sleep if we can) and sometimes a family movie towards the evening
WE LOVE SUNDAYS!!!!!


petrol station stop

our drive to pick up a family


our turn into church

my Sunday shoes

old wooden pews

Lillian setting up

our faithful worship guy, George

love these old brick steps





Dave also picking up a load of kids from the farm




one of our new church banners


Lillian taking the little ones to Sunday School

Michael showing us a bug he found

Mike making dinner

'A Week In A Life' project: Sat. Day 6

DAY 6...1 more day left of this project. I have to admit when I first read about this project on 'Ali Edwards' blog and the whole challenge of doing it I thought to myself how cool this would be to do, to have. But, I was not sure when I'd get started on it. I actually marked on my calendar several times when I was starting the project and didn't. I finally just marked down a date and went to it. I knew I wanted to, but knew if I didn't start soon I probably won't get to it ever. I am so happy I did. It's been a great experience. I will say it again..it's now your turn. :)
It's been great getting feedback from different people through e-mail, facebook and and on my blog. I'm glad that some of you have been inspired to do one of your own. I'm looking forward to getting the photos and some journaling down in a little album. It'll be neat to look at the album many years from now.
So, getting to my Saturday. Saturday's are always busy prepping for church on Sunday, but there is always a bit of time to do extra little things. I always work on our bulletin and try to get it to Dave (Dave and his wife Vicky are the couple who moved here from Scotland serving with us at CCPV) at a decent time so he can print it. Also, sending him anything that needs to be printed for Sunday school. OH, can't forget my every Saturday run to the market for refreshments and cookies for church. And, as for Mike he is pretty much up in his office the whole morning preparing...but being his office is in the home we do see some of him through out our day :). It's nice and a blessing. Michael had a fun full day of playing with our neighbors little girl, Angelique. He was so happy to get an invite for her 5th b-day party. She knows English pretty well, but Michael is doing pretty good job catching on to some of her Afrikaans.
So thankful for nice sleep last night after the fact the right when I was falling into deep sleep I woke to a loud noise that sounded like someone breaking the security bars off of a window...but, it could have been anything. I'm still trying to figure out if it was a dream or if it was a real noise I was hearing...but NO break in. I love the fact that I feel safe where we live. Thank you Jesus!
Enjoy some photos as I'm closing off because I want to get my child in bed by 7:15 and enjoy down time with my hubby.

dishes from night before

morning: opening up the window curtains

beautiful roses from our dinner guests the night before

michael watching E.T. while eating his breakfast

afternoon: house chores


working on the church bulletin




my evening craving these days