relaxing...

after a very long September, i am taking it a bit slower...or at least trying to. Took this picture while lying in my "Mexican bed" (my son calls it his Mexican Bed) that hangs on the Veranda, the view is magnificent, i just love life on the farm!!!

I found this fantastic online class, and it is absolutely free, make sure you register in time. It is by the ever so talented Jessica Sprague and i can't wait for it to start!

Seems like my dogs are also taking things slower, well, any slower than this and they stop breathing.
My son asked me to make a mini album for Guillaum's Mom, i am doing my best to complete the album, but i am a bit slow...

Life point for today...
If we seek God only when we are desperate, He will keep us in desperate circumstances because He deeply desire to fellowship with us...

love and chocolate
k
xx

In loving memory of Guillaume...

GUILLAUME SWANEPOEL
14 JULY 1992 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2008

On 30 September 2008, we lost Guillaume Swanepoel in a motorcycle accident. Guillaume was 16 years old, and one of my son's friends. It broke my heart to see my child and all his friends devastated with grief for their friend, and to see Guillaume's broken parents and two little sisters.

Guillaume, you will be 16 forever, and you will always be alive in our hearts!!

This is the Video I made for Guillaume's funeral, look at this beautiful child and please remember to pray for his family and friends!!

for Guillaume...

i won!!!!

i won blog candy on Jennie's blog and i am so HAPPY!!!! It is the first time ever that i win something on some body's blog! Happy day for me! Thank you Jennie, very much appreciated.
So happy to end this terrible month on a high note, September is very difficult for me, it is the month my Mom passed away, also her birthday and my Parents wedding anniversary. I miss my Mom and Dad terribly, somehow i don't think you ever get over the death of your parents, you just learn to live around it.

But, there is also something beautiful in September, it is my son's birthday month, so in the middle of all the tears, there is also joy and happiness, happy birthday my Nicky-Picks, i love you with all my heart!! (He is the pretty one top left corner)

I made this canvas a while back, for my bedroom, cause i love to look at my family before i fall asleep, then i pray for each and everyone. When i finished the canvas, i asked the Lord to give me a suitable verse from the Bible for my family, and this is where i opened the Bible,(Isaiah 49) isn't it amazing??? This is my favourite verse for the last couple of months, because this is God's Word for my family!
at the end of this lovely and sad Spring month of September, i leave you with this from God's Word:


Isaiah 54:14
You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness, in conformity with God's Will and order) you shall be far from even the thought of oppression or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you.
Behold, they may gather together and stir up strife, but it is not from Me. Whoever stirs up strife against you shall fall and surrender to you

Now, you tell me, who cannot live a victorious life with this promise from God, if you are suffering, this is your Word, to stand up and live in victory!!!

from your fellow soldier
k
xx

The fantastic Jenni Bowlin...

What a privilege to do a class with Jenni Bowlin at the South African Scrapbook Expo!!
She is an amazing Designer, and i totally love her range of paper and embellishments!
It was so much fun to meet her in person, and i think she did amazing for her first time out of her Country.
Jenni, i hope you enjoyed visiting our Country, and that the people of South Africa will stay in your heart forever!
I've asked Jenni to sign my layout, so, now i have a Jenni Bowlin original!!









Today is also my Mom's birthday, she died 9 years ago, today would have been her 68th birthday!

These are her flowers, she planted them in this pot over ten years ago, and every year this time, they shine in their glory!!
They are a reminder to me that no matter how small we think we are, we leave footprints on this earth. We touch people's lifes with the things we do and say, and that there will always be somebody that loves us unconditionally!
I love my Mom this way, to me she will live forever, she is part of who i am!!
So, my Lilly, i love you with all my heart, and i miss you every day! Happy Birthday!



with a tear in my eye...
k
xx

My little firefly...

Oh wow, i am back from a wonderful Scrapbooking week with me Sister-in-law, at the 5th Scrapbook Expo, and how much fun was that!!!! We stayed at the Sandton City Garden Court Hotel, and i felt like a Celebrity!!
We had 8 classes in 2 days, my favourite being the famous and fun-filled Celine Navarro!! It is not fair to have a favourite, because i truly thing that all the Girls were great, i just love Celine's Scrapbooking!!


I made this page for the Talent Search, and i loved it! I think it is because i could just use so much paint, and it worked in the end! Printed the pictures on transparency in order to add words underneath, i just love the whole collage effect!









I am super excited about something, and i can't wait to share with you all!! I am starting 'ONLINE CLASSES' soon, like in October, the details will be on the blog by end of September!! Classes will contain a Video and also step-by-step instructions with pictures. I do, however have to ask you, that if you are interested, to please send me an email at lasbotha@mweb.co.za, in order for me to get a contact list together for future information.


Thank you for taking the time to do that!!

I leave you with Luke 1:30
"and the angel said to her, Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found grace (free spontaneous, absolute favor of loving-kindness) with God"

Don't be afraid today, God loves you, just as you are, go out and be who He wants you to be!

love
k
xx

Hello World...

My name is Wimpie, please to meet you!
Is she not the cutest thing in the world?? She is the second calf we have to raise by hand, her Mommy does not have milk for her. She spend a few days with us at the house (she now thinks she is a dog), but today she is reunited with her Mother, although we still have to hand feed her four times a day! I seriously believe my Husband has the best job in the world, he spends his day with animals and not people!
Her name is dedicated to Wilmarie, (aka: Wimpie), who is Nanny to my Sister's kids, but we love her so much, and she is leaving the end of the year when her contract expires.
Have a blessed day people, mine will definately be because my Husband prayed for me this morning.
I leave you with this wonderful scripture:

Gen 28:15
"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go...I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you!"

Just imagine what you can do today, with this promise from the Bible, anything is possible!!!

lotsa love
k
xx

flying into art...

That is how i feel, i made so many things lately, and i love every moment! I bought this thingy for the many remotes in our home, more than a year ago, and finally i got round to do something with it. It looks so cute standing next to the TV, and amazingly, when somebody walks into our Lounge, it is the first thing they notice!


Looks like the creative juices only came up with Decoupage, but it's ok, Donna Downey said: "Perfect just the way you created it"

I finished a chapter in Luke today, and Joyce Meyer said the following in the Every Day Life Bible:
"What do you think is the most important part of a house? It's the foundation, of course, as we learn from Luke 6.
Without a firm foundation, a house is constantly in danger of collapsing. The same is true in your life as a Christian. Knowing God's Word and obeying it is the foundation of the Christian life. Ask God to teach you His Word and to help you obey Him in every area of your life, so you can stand strong in all circumstances!"
Have a strong day!
love and many kisses
k
xx

love...

Today's post is all about love! The things i love and cherish, like sweet C.J. that turned 5 a few days ago, and this picture of Gemma showing some real "Puppy Love"

Most of all, i love this picture of my 16 year old son, acting in a school play, i just love his sense of humour and his fantastic personality!
I love this dog, this big, fat, lazy creature lives inside my heart, this is her struggling to get up and come into the house...

This is just a few pictures i took this week of the things i love dearly!

I leave you with this scripture:
Isaiah 49
"Behold, I have indelibly imprinted a picture of you on the palm of each of My hands, your walls are continually before Me..."
God loves us just as we are, and He will never forget us!
love
k
xx

Every day life...

I am so sorry i stayed away so long, but lets just leave it at that! I missed u all very much, happy to say i am scrapping again, (making time) and also love to share my latest and greatest. Made this (whatever u wanna call it) for Gemma on her 4th birthday, it was a fantastic project and i have to say, i have 5 orders already. The whole ageing thing is my scene, and the Decoupage was fun.
i want to share with you Isaiah 49,

.... and the Lord answered,
"Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet I will not forget you!"

Need i say more...

love and a kiss
k
x

my purpose...

The wonderful book of Isaiah is my favourite book in the Bible, God has spoken to me so many times through these scriptures, and i am so excited every time i find something new! 14:26 tells us about God's purpose, and i love Joyce Meyer's commentary on this verse:

"If we do not have a purpose in life, we feel useless, worthless and frustrated, so it is very important for us to see that "God has designed us with a purpose in mind...
Right now you may be in a time of transition from one season to the next. If so, do not be discouraged, God will show you what He has for you to do next.....
Not only do we need to know our purpose, we need to do it "on purpose". This involves decisions to live right....
Our flesh is not always going to agree with us to do the right things, but we must choose to live on purpose, give on purpose, and stay at peace on purpose.
Everything we do for others, and everything we do in life needs to be done on purpose!!!
Ask God to help you increasingly become a person on purpose!"


I just love this canvas i made for my niece for her birthday, inspired by the very talented Suziblu, i loved making this. Made a few more in December, i will share them later this week!

Find your purpose, choose to live on purpose!
love you
k
xx

Delivered, and free!!

Oh, a very happy and wonderful 2008 for you all!! These are my three words for 2008, "DELIVERED, AND FREE!" and only 1 New Years resolution, believe it or not, and that is to blog regularly! As from today, i am also going to create much more, at least something every day, my schedule is hectic, and my dream to stay at home and create all day is safely stored in my Heavenly Father's storehouse, and i know that when the time is right, He will make it possible, but for now, He wants me out there, and that is where i'll be!

I had some trouble adjusting to my surroundings, and i can only quote Joyce Meyer...
"James 1 teaches us that we should rejoice in difficult situations, knowing that through them, God tests our faith to bring out patience. I find that trials do eventually produce patience, but first they bring all kinds of junk to the surface such as pride, anger, rebellion, self-pity and complaining. We need to face and deal with these ungodly traits before patience can come forth.

The Bible talks about purification, sanctification, sacrifice and suffering. These are not popular words, nevertheless, if we are to be Christlike in character, we must sometimes go through difficult circumstances to learn His ways. I struggled with this process for a long time, but i finally realized that God was not going to do things my way. He placed people and situations in my life that caused me to want to quit this whole process, and he did not want an argument from me. He only wanted to hear: "Yes Lord, Your Will be done!" Amen!

Oh, how fantastic when you get to this point, because it truly sets you free!!!!
Enjoy these pages with me, made them in a class by the ever so talented Wilna Furstenburg, changed them a bit, added some collage effects since that is what i am into at the moment!!

i leave you with this...
James 1:3-4
Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.
But, let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be (people) perfectly and fully developed (with no defects), lacking in nothing!

love and many kisses
k
xx