Little Joys

* Dad has a clean bill of health, after a recent checkup.

* Perks of being home-schooled: warm blankets to wrap up in & tea/coffee to sip while tackling Algebra problems

* A gift platter, from a friend, of biltong (better than beef jerky, let me tell you!) given to my meat-hungry guys. There's no way we could've afforded it otherwise.

* Derek is to receive an academic award today for his excellent achievement in math at his college, LCCC. 

* Jeremiah excelled in his music exams and was rated in the top 2 for his grade in all of South Africa! He was awarded the Hennie Joubert Merit award.

* My Sunday School class is expanding. This past week, I was taught how to correctly color, by 2 four year old girls. Not sure if orange and purple faces are all that accurate, but they were just too cute.

* Mum flies home in a week!!! Wait. This should be at the top of the list!

* New Blackberry phone...happy girl!

Celebrations

As long ago we carried to your knees
The tales and treasures of eventful days,
Knowing no deed too humble for your praise,
Nor any gift too trivial to please,

So still we bring with older smiles and tears,
What gifts we may to claim the old, dear right;
Your faith beyond the silence and the night;
Your love still close and watching through the years.
                             -Author Unknown

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MUM!

The birth of a new granddaughter/niece.

Jeremiah's celebrating his newly acquired Driver's Permit (that's him in the green/yellow jersey).
 Glad I'm a continent (or 2) away!

13 years ago today, Dad surrendered to come to Africa as a missionary. That was probably the best decision he could have made for our family. Africa is my home and there's no greater peace that knowing you're in the center of His will, wherever He has you.

Yes, that photo was dug out of the archives. Taken about a year after moving here.

 We didn't have a party today, but we did have a lot of laughs throughout the day. 

Immitation Motherhood

Muddy footprints trailing through the house, baskets upon baskets of laundry to fold, smiles to share, bee stings, dog bites & cuts to bandage, meals to prepare, school lessons to grade, haircuts, stories to tell,...all in the life of a mother. Only I'm not a mother. Just playing the part. Sometimes feeling inadequate for the job, I'm reminded that God has a plan in all this. As Oswald Chambers put it, "We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties."

Brianna's jumped on board and is my right-hand-girl. Tonight, she and Josh baked some delicious shortbread cookies.  Jolted out of my mindset that my brothers can cook, we've had several training sessions in the kitchen. And, they're improving! 

The days seem to fly by. Mum's been State-side for 2 wks. Only 2 1/2 to go!! The house is rarely silent (hence my late-night blogging). Saturday, there were 10 kids running through the house, and only 4 were Wilhites (excluding me. I never run through the house. haha ;). Guess it doesn't matter how many kids leave the nest. We'll always have a houseful. 

 

On Holiday

For starters, I can't help but post this one darling picture. I'm a new Tannie! My sister, Deanna, had Moriah Jayne early Saturday morning, the 24'th of March. Total overload in the sweetness department! We waved goodbye to Mum on Monday, who will be spending the next 4 weeks getting her fill of grandbabies.

Tuesday was Jeremiah's last day in South Africa for a while. He's hoping to begin flight school in the next couple months, there in the States. We trekked off to the Jo-burg Zoo to enjoy our last day together.

 

Just the 2 girls left. What would I do without this blonde? Love her!

Tuesday evening, Dad dropped Bri and I off @ a friend's place for the week. Just imagine: 4 blondes in a tiny 1 room flat . Michelle and I fell asleep laughing just about every night ;) The adventures were boundless!

 

 

 Bri wasn't all that thrilled with the cable car ride up the mountain in Hartebeestport

Especially when it ground to a halt within sight of the cablehouse. Gotta love Africa and it's notorious power outages. Michelle & I seriously contemplated jumping out. Being cooped up with 2 sugar high girlies, who were singing Christmas songs at the top of their lungs....not a desired spot to be in! Ever so thankful for backup generators...

Back home, Michelle assured me that she knew how to braai. Any thoughts on the matter? Amazingly, the Wors (sausage) and lamb weren't charcoal, but simply well done :) 

Now we're home and down to just 5 kids, meaning 1/2 the Wilhite Tribe now lives Stateside. Though we miss them sooo much, 3 John 1:4 comes into play, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." I guess you could swap "children" for "siblings" :) Speaking of siblings...time to check up on the ones still running around the house.