"I Do"

In about 12 hours I'll be saying "I do", which means I should probably be asleep!
Matt Floreen is a friend from TMC and he is out here to shoot our wedding, that to say, in a few days there should be a few snaps up on his blog. So have a look at www.mattfloreen.com/blog to see some of our day. For those of you far away, I'm thinking of you and wishing you could join us. It's going to be a very special day.

Finn!

Finn went for his first swim recently...a photo is worth a 1000 words they say, in this case there's probably 2 words that will suffice...'not happy'

Aussie Aussie Aussie OI OI OI

hello there.
I arrived back in the homeland on Monday afternoon and I actually had a decent enough flight which I'm thankful for.

I'm a little unwell :( but very happy to be home again. It's so refreshing to be here again. It's been raining which is lovely - Brisvegas has been in a drought for a while.

When I arrived at the airport I met Finn - he's so cool. He has the perfect smile, it's gorgeous. He was giggling at me and cooing and smiling heaps. It was just delightful! I love being an Aunty.

This is me holding Finn for the very first time

(mum's learning to use her new digital camera) :)

Ethans party

I have some pictures I've been wanting to add but never had opportunity when I was in SA, so this is a bit of a make up blog for the last 2 months.

here's more of Ethans party:

The boy

The cake

The slide

The sister Raqel with the cousin, Taine

Life...

I have some pictures but they don't seem to want to post up here...so I'll have to get creative with words!!

Ethan finished his exams with mostly A's :) I'm sure it's my tutelage. Actually I have to admit I've had a ball typing up study sheets for him and he has been keen to do them.

Currently I received a phone call from one of Raqel's friends and I said she couldn't talk to Raqel because she's studying for maths (they call it learning not studying, it's cute) anyway, I said to Chloe that she may talk if it's study related, which it was, it was about maths, so now Raqel is explaining triangles and degree's....

Thankfully Raqel has a maths tutor...numbers and I don't get along. Speaking of which, in our pre-marital counselling home work we have sorted out a budget, it sounds like soooo much money when it's in Rand not Dollars! Lyle and I were in a surf clothing shop yesterday and boardshorts are R350 - which is about $60 - a typical price in Aus for blokes boardshorts in a surfshop, but of course R350 sounds ridiculous!

Lyle and I have been going to Jaco and Jacqui's on tuesday nights to watch survivor - I've never watched it, but it's a nice social evening - Warren and Cassie are another couple who join us and this weekend at her 21st Warren proposed! A few of us have known for weeks that it was going to happen, but now that it has we're all super excited!! I get to see the ring tonight!

OK so I have this picture thing working - Ethan had a birthday party at the end of August (seems like yesterday!!!) he turned 11 and there were just under 40 boys running around have the BEST time! To be honest I had a brilliant time too :)

Pumpkins and Cowboys

My apologies for the massive delay - that's what being engaged does to you!!!

I've been running around like mad trying to sort out all the bits and pieces. It's really fun, on occasion I am struck with the reality that I'm actually getting married. Being engaged is great fun. I'm glad that we're only engaged for 15.5 weeks because I think after the novelty wears off you're just ready to be married!

We're getting married on December 29 in the morning and having a little morning tea afterwards.

We have found a reception venue for South Africa for January 19. So I get to wear my dress TWICE! pretty awesome I say.

I've been to the dress designers studio and my dress is going to be simply beautiful - as most wedding dresses are to be honest!

Last month Lyle's brother returned from the USA for a time, and Stacey had her 21st party which was a western theme. So we donned our cowboy hats (because of course I had one on standby....not!) and after all the bushdances I've been to I finally bought myself a western looking shirt - mainly because I'm not living in the same vacinity as Sam and can borrow from her extensive western/toowoomba wardrobe :p hehe (my black undershirt was due to the freezing cold!!)

My nephew Finn is getting cuter and cuter. Of course the reports from mum are that he's "gorgeous" all I have is photo's to prove it, but I suppose I agree :p I CANNOT wait to meet this kid!!!!

At cornerstone (young adults fellowship) we had a pumpkin carving night. A prize for anyone who can tell me who arrived late and didn't have time to carve...
actually we were late because Lyle teaches Foundations - the 12-14 yrs and we were meeting at my house. I can't say I'm terribly sad, from the look of it there were some pumpkin guts wars (Raqels hair is still recovering) :)

I think that's about all I have to share for now... I'll try to be better at updating!!

The Ring...

Samantha has asked that a better photo of my ring be made available for my fan club . . .

this is my fiance's hand btw :)

Got engaged...

So how's your week been?

I tried to post this yesterday but the internet disconnected, I thought I had lost this but I found it again! I'm so thankful!

Mine has been utterly hectic! I had to fly out of the country urgently on Sunday morning, so I missed doing music at church that I had prepped and practiced for . . . landed in Botswana where Andrew and Sandra Freeman were graciously waiting for me! They were so sweet to have me stay with them last minute for a few days. It was a really refreshing time, I enjoyed talking with Sandra. I should probably mention (which I probably should have said firstly - if you know what I'm alluding to here you get a prize) that they are a missionary couple from Australia. Sandra's parents and my parents go to the same church so it's always enjoyable to see them and be reminded of home (AND they always have vegemite, so I get to have vegemite on toast each morning, yay)! I had the privilege of seeing their bookshop/library. The books in the library needed to be sorted, so my numerical skills were sufficiently tested (I probably should have mentioned my numerical dyslexia, there might be a whole section of 284's between 222's and 237's!! Hopefully I was a help not a hinder. It was really quite nice to just shelve books, it was a bit of a break from the business of life. That said, I'm glad to be keeping busy, there's nothing worse than boredom, all I do is eat when I'm bored.

I arrived home on Wednesday morning and had a list of chores a mile long, including phoning this Sunday's music team and organising songs and people etc, as well (of course) as a nap, 5 am starts aren't my favourite I must admit, laundry, cleaning the house, calling for visa things (as always) etc etc and the list goes on. I had lunch with Lyle and he dropped me home. We had a bit of a chat at the front door, and he had to go back to work. While we were chatting I told him a few things that I'd been contemplating over the days away. I had time to think about how lovingly he responds to me in every situation and how much he constantly tells me and shows me how much he utterly loves and adores me. It's so special, he's basically awesome bloke. We said goodbye and he got in his car, then he came back to my front door to give me a magazine I'd left in his car. When I got to the front door, he'd dropped the magazine on the floor next to him which I thought was weird, then (and this all happened in about 46 seconds) he got on one knee and said "will you marry me?" while pulling out a beautiful ring from his pocket. I was SHAKING, I was so surprised I literally staggered backwards, and when I gained the strength and my lung capacity was restored I said "YES!" and that's about all I said for the next 10 minutes. I think we were both in shock. he actually decided to do it about three minutes before it happened. He later told me that he had picked up the ring on Monday and had an entire day planned for next Monday but couldn't wait that long - I love that he couldn't wait! I'd been back in the country for all of 2 hours.

So yes. I'm getting married . . .

This is the ring. It's very beautiful.

btw, what I was alluding to was Mr Collins. I know you won Tashy :)

Puppy Dogs and Tim Tams

OK SO....let me fill you in on the last two or so weeks. (I’ve finally found time to move my photos from my camera to a computer!!)

I found a Gloria Jeans coffee shop. HOORAY. It eases the homesickness slightly.

One Saturday afternoon we had a few of Lyle’s friends over for a Braai. Alistair (Lyle’s old housemate) and Jo’s wedding (in the back) was the one I attended when I first arrived. Jaco and Jacqui are sitting in the front. Note: TIM TAMS!

Kerry’s Birthday was at the end of August and we had a birthday week for her (she was away on her actual birthday) so Monday last week we went to s sushi restaurant – this is Josh Barnes, his family is the one I stayed with when I first arrived. Please pray for Joshy’s salvation!! We love him dearly and we’re waiting on the Lord to smack him lovingly up the head...we don’t seem to hit hard enough.

Last week was SA Fashion week. Amanda Cherry is a lovely lady in our church and she is also a fashion designer. As her show was displayed the background music was by her daughter Raqel! So Raqel and I went to a recording studio and she very cleverly recorded a couple of her songs for the catwalk. I love Raqel. She rocks. (get it? get it?!)

Last Sunday afternoon Lyle and I went to Kloof Gorge for a little hike. It was really fun.

Hiking with Lyle is like this...

He was scared of heights...

Then he got over it and very bravely stood on the edge to get some loverly photos.

On the way home we passed an “Interpretative Centre”

And apparently they don’t allow Cocker Spaniels.

THE END

Ugly face competition . . .Lyle wins!

God's creation

Lyle has decided that he needs to make dates with his camera so that he actually uses it these days. So he went outside the other day and snapped a few of my garden . . .of course these are just close ups but I have to tell you it really is quite pretty when you see it with your own eyes.

I also have a few more of my wonderful nephew. I'm amazed at God's creation. From flowers to babies, He's involved in EVERY intricate detail, it's humbling to know that such an amazing God loves me.

I've written a song for him too, to the tune of Michael Finnigan:
(ahem, as I clear my throat)

There was a baby called Mungo Finn Ingham,
His mummy was the lovely Bin Ingham,
His father was the happiest Chook Ingham,
And that's the story of Mungo Finn Ingham.

Today is the best day....

...because today I became an Aunty to Finn! My very clever sister-in-law Belinda gave birth at 12.29pm today and I'm sure Steve (my brother) has the most massive smile that won't go away. He was born today at 12.29pm. His name is Finn Gabriel and he's 3275grams (7lbs 2oz in the old language) and 52 cm long! and has a LOT of black hair. I reckon his ears are exactly like Belinda's and Lyle and I both said "it's Steve" when we saw these photos... yay. He's the coolest kid EVER :)

Church Camp

We had church camp this weekend. I was really looking forward to it, but I have to admit I was more exhausted than refreshed at the end of it. The speaker is from Westminster, in Pennsylvania, USA, he taught at RTS, in Jackson, Mississippi (just a quick plug for you Katie) and was totally Presbyterian. He spoke on Ezekiel and I have to admit I didn't get heaps out of it on account of being so tired! I was a bit sad about that but the parts I paid attention to were encouraging. Sunday night when he spoke at church was great though. In fact, you can hear it at http://www.baptistchurchhillcrest.com/ :)
I have a few pics of the kids playing on the trampoline at camp, it was great fun to watch them, although I have to admit I had to turn my head away on occasion because of the fear of bones breaking - but the worst was that Harley Rose lost a tooth! I think it was on the trampoline but I'm not sure. She was excited nonetheless...

Harley Rose on the trampoline.


Dane revealed his secret super hero identity, Superman.


And I still had time for guitaring :) Kim has graciously leant me one of her guitars to use, it's been fun to play more again - and to play more than just Twinkle Little Star and Baa Baa Black Sheep.