{L}ife as i know it....

mirror...mirror on the wall...

2011-07-04T13:39:00.003+02:00

what a project this has been. Worked a full weekend on this, untill late in the evenings. Finally i made something for myself, since most of my art end up being a gift. Reading a new book from Joyce Meyer, will tell you about it later, only on page 12, but i love it! Enjoy my photo mirror, cause i do!
lotsa love
karin
--xx--

sage & peony

2011-03-31T14:29:00.002+02:00

They remind me of flowers & herbs, these two.
I love them forever!
Life is good...and i am happy!
hope u r 2!
k
xx

peace

2011-03-27T11:18:00.004+02:00

these words by Joyce Meyer made me realize what the real meaning of peace is...
"not knowing exactly what wil happen in the future, but trusting God to take care of us and enjoying peace, is far better than erroneously thinking we have life all figured out while continuing to live in fear and anxiety.

To enjoy peace with God, we must become comfortable with NOT always knowing what the future holds"
i pray that i have enough faith to rest completely at God's feet today...

Finally did Nino's matric farewell page, all i can say is...fun..fun..fun..
enjoying a relaxing Sunday...hubby is cooking lunch, oxtail, rice, green beans and sweet potato, (i love him). I, on the other hand is helping Nino with his Accounting assignment, maybe we'll be finished by tonight.

have a blessed day
love and 3 lazy dogs
k
xx

joy....

2011-03-21T18:45:00.015+02:00

ahh, the joy of scrapbooking, to capture our memories in something visual, that i can touch and feel... it is just magic!
take the time to do this, your memories are precious jewels...
love
k
xx

he did this for me....

2011-03-04T14:53:00.002+02:00

This is my amazing 16yr old son. He shaved his hair at the cancer shave-a-thon FOR ME!!! There is a tumor in my body that needs to be removed, and at this stage we are still unsure about the status of the tumor, but my child did this incredible act of love in pure faith that the outcome will be positive. Those of you who have 16yr old teenage boys, will surely understand how important their hair is to them.
I stand humble today, i learned from my child about love and dedication!
Nico, may the goodness of the Lord rest upon you, and your children until the end of time!
I love you forever!

k
xx

To my sister today...

2010-08-15T13:07:00.008+02:00

Happy birthday!!! Having a braai in the bushcamp with the family, very hot, but fun!! Santa, may God bless you, and keep you safe for many more years, stay as gracefull and beautifull as you are today! I love you!!
I made her this heart, with the first picture of Madison Rose, welcome in this weird, wonderful and gifted family my little angel!!

It's a girl thing, compliments to Michelle, is the page for Monday night's class! Bring lotsa double sided paper, for the little handbag is a mini album. This is the perfect page for patterned paper with a big motif, like the flower on page one. This layout involves a lot of cutting, remember to bring a rather long piece of lace, some stick-on pearls or bling, photocorners, flowers and ribbon.

Looking forward so seeing you all!
love and a wink
k
xx

All about first love...

2010-07-23T14:43:00.004+02:00

Can you still remember the feeling?? I can! Always happy, (i love that part), looking forward to each new day, living on a "high" all the time. This is my tribute to my child's first love, they make an adoring couple, and my prayer is that they will both grow and learn to be a better person from this experience! Happy love!

If you feel brave and colourful, this is what we are going to do in Monday night's class. Bring along mix-a-match papers, or, just bring all your scrap pieces of papers, the more colour, the better!! Be brave!

I've been wanting to do the little houses for a long time, and finally got the right pictures!
Remember, you can also use white for the background, or any other colour you prefer!
Can't wait to see you!
love and a wink
k
xx

i walk barefoot into Divine Silence

2010-07-17T11:10:00.009+02:00

Sitting in my room, absorbing the warm winter sun, and thinking to myself, I love life! Today, 18 years ago, God blessed us with a small baby boy, and we truly became a family... this morning, I want to stay on my knees, and i want to thank God over and over for this child! Nino, I love you so much, thank you for being such a wonderful person and for loving me unconditionally. From this day on, I must let go, and allow you to live your life, I trust your judgement, for I know the goodness inside you! Thank you for being the baby I could cherish, the teenager that made me laugh every day, and now I look forward to see the man I am so proud of!
You take my breath away!

MONDAY'S CLASS PROJECT
Ladies, this looks like a lot of work, but really, you'll be amazed at how fast you can complete these layouts.

You will need the following:
4 x Background papers, unless you are using double sided, then you only need 3
2 x papers to cut frames, you can also use ready made frames
1 x extra paper to mount photos
I've used 5 x landscape photos and 1 x portrait, but you can bring whatever you have, we will just design your layout according to your photos
1 x transparency (I have stock)
Bring embellishments to jazz-up your pages,and something for the title

Please bring you favourite recipe, we are all going to swap!

love and chocolates
karin

When ordinary becomes Exceptional

2010-07-12T08:52:00.007+02:00

Class for tonight girls!

The title on the second page is a shaker box, you need to bring the following:

4 x Double sided paper
Transparency
Alphabet stickers or stamps for title
Brads to put the circle album together
Fibre
Eyelets
Thick Double sided glue for the shaker box, the same they use to glue a mirror to a wall
Something to put inside the shaker box, like small beads.

I've put some paper and Jolees out for sale if you want to come and have a look, i also have enough transparency!
My tools and punches are available for you to use.
Class fee - R60.00
Bring your supplies and your smile!

love and a kiss
k

from a more positive me...

2009-04-28T10:25:00.008+02:00

well, i am still alive, and i apologise for staying away so long... My family went through a terrible couple of months, and i want the whole world to know that all is not well in South Africa. Crime is taking over our Country, and unfortunately, our Government does not care much, we are slowly but surely becoming another Zimbabwe. This is what happened...

Four days before Christmas, my Sister, her Husband and two youngest children were attacked and kidnapped from their home on the farm. Six armed men attacked them, robbed their home and took them to a very remote area, and left them there. Thank God, they did not kill them as they normally do in these circumstances. Their home is 300m from ours, we left that morning to spend Christmas with my Sister-in-law in Johannesburg.

My sister and her family survived, but the trauma continues. They absolutely live in fear, spend thousands on new security systems and fences, and refuse to leave their house after 5pm in the afternoons. These animals took more than just money, they robbed this family of their freedom to live!

There are, unfortunately, thousand of people in SA who experienced the same thing, my husband is one of them, he survived an armed robbery, so did my Sister-in-law's husband! If you are reading this, and you were also a victim of a vicious crime, please leave a comment and tell your story, it is time....

If i sound depressed, i am not! I love my Country, and i love being alive in this Country, and i believe in the mighty power of prayer, so please remember SA when you pray tonight!

I am sharing one of my newest hobbies with you, i love doing Mosaic, but as always, i just have to bring Scrapbooking into everything, so, the one cross is mosaic and the other is covered with photos! Enjoy, and let me know what you think...

Love from sunny South Africa
k
xx

relaxing...

2008-10-15T15:50:00.005+02:00

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...

2008-10-07T12:26:00.000+02:00

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...

2008-10-07T12:14:00.001+02:00

i won!!!!

2008-09-30T09:21:00.005+02:00

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...

2008-09-23T09:29:00.006+02:00

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...

2008-09-19T13:37:00.006+02:00

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...

2008-09-05T09:45:00.011+02:00

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...

2008-09-02T13:14:00.005+02:00

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...

2008-08-27T14:19:00.006+02:00

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...

2008-08-20T14:52:00.003+02:00

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...

2008-01-27T15:45:00.000+02:00

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!!

2008-01-16T11:53:00.000+02:00

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

Cosmo love...

2007-10-10T10:25:00.000+02:00

Yip, i fall in love with every range of Cosmo Cricket!!! Unfortunately they are not available all the time in our local shops, any way, used this range again on Chantel's Engagement Album. I loved making this book (although i had only 2 evenings and one afternoon) to finish it. I always get these "brilliant ideas" on no.99 and usually there is hardly enough time to finish. I made this in the form of a Guest Book, the pages are filled with little envelopes with tags where all the guests could write letters and sign their names. Such a fun idea and it worked wonderful, i also took pictures of all the guests attending the Engagement Party, but I must still add the pics to the tags.

This morning Wilna asked the question, what makes life worth living?, it got me thinking.....
God formed me in His Divine Mind, He had a purpose for me being here, living this life with my husband, children, family and friends. I am here for a reason, not just by accident, and so are you!! Our purpose is to serve Him, be His children, and that alone, should be reason enough to make life worth living!
Untill tomorrow...
k
xx

Life on the farm...

2007-10-09T09:03:00.000+02:00

is incredible!! I love everything about nature, and for a large part of my life i lived on a farm as a child, now my children are blessed to experience the same! We worked so hard on the house, took us forever to paint the inside, now they are busy with the outside, once it is finished, i'll post some pictures! For now, i want to share my first movie with you, photos are from the last photo shoot with my son and my two nieces, Chantal and Stephanie. I took these pictures two weeks ago, a day before Chantal's engagement, on the farm in one of the fields. Enjoy the beautiful mountains in the pictures, we are totally surrounded by them, amazing to see God's creation, perfectly created, just like us!!

May God bless you today, and may you experience the comfort of the Holy Spirit in it's fullness!!
love
k
xx

It's me...

2007-10-08T10:05:00.000+02:00

i am so sorry, but i am burning to share all that has been happening to me lately with you all, but for some or other reason, i cannot seem to upload any photo's, any help out there???
be blessed
k
xx

i am so alive!!!

2007-08-07T10:45:00.000+02:00

and thank you so very much for all of you who missed me, i am so sorry for not at least leaving you a note to tell you about all the changes in my life!
We are moving in three days time, so, most of my stuff are packed, and i had to complete so many things for the new magazine i am working for!!! Be patient with me for a few more weeks, then i'll be unpacked and online again, we are moving to a farm (i am so blessed) and i still have to sort out 3G card or something to get the Internet running again in my new home. God has been so faithful in all His promises to us as a family, i want to shout it out from the rooftops!
I will post pictures of our new home, thank you for being patient with me, and i also miss communicating with all of you so much!
take care, i will visit your blogs and let you know when i am up and running again!
all my love
karin
xx

why i love paint...

2007-06-11T23:46:00.000+02:00

cause i have to paint!! seriously, one of the previous houses we stayed in was really every room a different colour! i've calmed down a bit, but just a bit, now i paint as much as i can in my scrapbooking, and i love it!!
made this page for Gemma, after reading one of God's promises to me again this morning, and this is my prayer for her, that this will be true in her life one day!
Jeremiah 29

For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope!

Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for me with all your heart!

And I will be find by you, declares the Lord!!
This promise has pulled me through some really tough times, and i remind God constantly of this promise!!
Seek Him with ALL YOUR HEART and every promise in the Bible is yours,
He is such an awesome Father!

all my love
coveredinpaintkarin
xx

calling out to you and me...

2007-06-06T21:54:00.000+02:00

He has fire in His eyes, and a sword in His hand,
Riding a white horse across this land,
Calling out to you and me...
"Will you ride with me!"
and i say, "YES, YES LORD, i'll ride with Thee!"

Isn't this AMAZING???
I've been listening to this song the whole week, and unfortunately for those around me, i've been singing along every time!!
it's not all i've been doing, made some cards...

Not really my style, but i had to make an example of a certain technique, just dunno what i'm going to do with all these cards!! lol

Have you been grateful today?
i am grateful for God's financial provision, for the food on our table today, for being healthy, for being loved by my family and friends, for my work, for the rain we had today, and for God's children listening to His Voice!! Today all the glory to Him who provides for His children!!
looking for me? - i am out riding on a white horse with my Lord!
love
k
xx

tag-a-long

2007-05-27T17:41:00.000+02:00

on my journey... i'm preparing an article for a scrapbook magazine, and i loved making these tags today! i'll give you a sneak preview...
This was truly a wonderful Sunday, Bouts and I both teach Sunday School, and today we had class together! It was very cold, (well, for Tzaneen anyway) and we decided to sit outside in the sun. So, we all lined up against the wall, sat like ducks in a row, bathing in the sun and discussed 1 Corinthians, it was amazing! Very interesting book in the Bible, and because the people of Corinth were from different religions, this often caused problems in the church, and created a need for Paul to write this letter!

The Word i do want to share with you today is in Isaiah 26:3

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind (both its inclination and its character) is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You and hopes confidently in You,
so, trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock (the Rock of Ages)

Oh wow!! these are powerful words, pray, live and breathe them this week, let them be part of who you are and true in every thing you do!

The best part of this day, however, was my visit to my friend, Claire's blog, please visit her and see this wonderful gift she has given me!! I feel spoiled and loved today because of you Claire, thank you so much. Would all my blog readers please be so kind as to leave her a message and tell her what a good heart she has?? I thank you!

from a "committed to my God" girl
k
xx

It is all about Family...

2007-05-21T00:00:00.000+02:00

The most important thing in this world is our Families, and i want to stand with Joshua!

Joshua 24:15
and if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell, but
as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!

Regardless of what other people may think, serving and following God really is the only way to live a fulfilling, victorious life!
Do not let anyone steal from you what Jesus died to give you - freedom - freedom to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit for you as an individual! - Joyce Meyer

Oh, my heart just overflows with love and gratitude for my family, if living this life is like a writing a song, my family is the melody to already perfect words of love!

Please remember every day to pray for your Family, i do feel that it is the most vulnerable place in every person's life, and we need to trust in the Lord to protect us! This third kit that i've designed is my visible prayer to God to protect and bless my Family!
a hug and a kiss
k
xx

i received a letter...

2007-05-19T09:51:00.000+02:00

in the post today!!!!! All the way from America, my friend Jen (aka Zoey's Mom) send me an authentic birthday card!!!! I totally love it! Thank you so much Jen, you made my day!
I was so inspired that i went digging in all my stuff to make cards, and i found these two cards, made them last year September at the Scrapbook Expo! Oh please, post a letter to somebody you know today, it is an incredible feeling to receive an actual hand written letter again, and not just email, you are truly a star Jen!
An amazing thing happened, one of my pages featured on the Making Memories Blog and i did not even see it, thanks Jen for letting me know!

I found Jabez's prayer again this week, and it changed me all over again!

1 Chronicles 4:10
Jabez cried to the God of Israel saying: Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and You would keep me from evil so it might not hurt me!
And God granted his request

so simple, and yet to powerful!! my prayer for you this week, is that you will pray this with a pure heart for yourself and your families, and that God will grant your request!
love from a blessed girl with enlarged borders!!
k
xx

His beloved...

2007-05-12T22:56:00.000+02:00

Psalm 127 says:
It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of {anxious} toil - for He gives {Blessings} to His beloved in sleep

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. We may be able to build, but what we build will not last if God is not involved in it. He is our Partner in life, and as such, He desires to be a part of everything we do. God is interested in every facet of our lives. Believing that truth is the beginning of an exciting journey with Him - Joyce Meyer

Oh, my heart is completely filled with these words, so true and amazing, i want to read this every day, and not only for my marriage, but i want it to be true in every thing i do!
This is the second kit i designed, and this time it is "17 years in review", the "then" and "now".
i don't say this often enough, i am thankful to a wonderful Lord, who blessed me with my family, i am His beloved, He gives me blessings in my sleep!
my cup runneth over
k
xx

God is good!

2007-05-08T21:51:00.000+02:00

and it is amazing just how good!! We found the perfect charming little house, right in the middle of town for our new offices, came to us very unexpectedly, and that after all the estate agents in this town tried to get it for years!! I love, love this house, i think over seventy years old, and we are now restoring it to former glory!! We have really worked very hard this week, and i was just to tired every night to scrapbook or write my blog, forgive me!
But, this weekend, i am alone, all the men in this house are going to a farm very, very far from here to hunt, they are so excited, SO AM I, cause i am going to lock the gate and just CREATE!!
This page here is the second page of a double layout, and you know me, i find a new technique and and use it obsessively until i find the next new thing to do. At the moment it is layering, the whole collage thing fascinates me tremendously, and i love the look.
i pray that you will be protected, and cherished by God for the rest of this week, and that if you are maybe down and a bit depressed by your circumstances, that you will find joy and comfort in His Word, just sit down and read, the answer is there!
hang on, and i love all of you!
k
xx

what i know

2007-05-01T20:22:00.000+02:00

after 17 years if marriage,
love is very hard work, but the reward in the end is worth everything!
To have is marriage without God is not even worth the effort!!
Having children with the man you love, is the most fulfilling thing in this world!
Only take advice from a man who listens to God!
Give everything you have, you will receive so much more!
True love, is accepting each other just as you are!
Happiness comes from within, it is not something somebody can give you!
Faith is the foundation of any relationship!
Broken trust can heal, if you truly want it to!
To love is a choice, and not a feeling!
Laughter heals all pain!
signing off with gratitude...
k
xx

17 years, and he's still the one!

2007-04-28T11:38:00.000+02:00

yip, 17 years of marriage today, and he is still the one i love!! lots of laughter, lots of tears, lots of love and lots of fighting, but still together and happy! the best thing of these 17 years are two precious boys, and i must admit, being away from home without them was very nice and romantic, but, did we miss them!!!! We came back on Friday, but they left of a church camp on Thursday, we will only see them tomorrow, i can't begin to tell you how much they are missed!!
i have to start with a "thank you" to my sister-in-love, for making all the arrangements for us to go away, i know she helped my darling husband, and from me to both of them, from the bottom of my heart, i loved every moment! we went to Crystal Springs , a Mountain Lodge near Pilgrims Rest! What a fantastic place!
We kept the fireplace burning all night, since it was cold, spend
some time in the heated indoor pool and hiking in the Mountains (realized we need to exercise more) I loved browsing through all the little shops in Pilgrims Rest, the whole town declared a Monument, in memory of the gold rush during the late 1800's and early 1900's. Amazing place, full of history and charm! All i can say, it turned out to be the best birthday and wedding anniversary ever!!

By the way, i've been tagged by Crafty Chris, 7 random facts/habits about myself, here goes!!

1. Orange is my favourite colour and my favourite fruit

2. my favourite actor is Andy Garcia, not a better looking man alive in this
world! (sorry to my DH)

3. i love animals more than people

4. i cannot keep a secret, i tell them all to my husband (if you don't mind him
knowing your secret, you can tell me)

5. i hardly ever cook, my husband does all the cooking (he loves it)

6. i will marry my husband again.

7. i love the Lord, and He is the most precious relationship in my life, above my
husband and above my children!

i in return choose to tag Lara, Claire, Tasha, Judith, Esther, and Lisa!
so, ladies, let us see those nasty habits!!
take care this wonderful weekend,
with love and a kiss in the Mountains
k
xx

it's my birthday!!

2007-04-21T22:43:00.000+02:00

First time in 17 years, a birthday without my husband!! i woke this morning at 5, cried a river of tears, not because i miss my hubby, but because today is the first birthday that i realized, never again will my Dad or Mom phone me on my birthday. i always phoned them very early in the morning on the day of my birthday, and when they answered, i sang to myself. it was always such a joke between us!! will there ever be a day that i don't miss them so much??
and then, my husband phoned, (he is away on a church camp)and i cried some more, and then i was ok. He is definitely home sick, phoned 4 times today!! the kids and i left Tzaneen at 6 this morning, Nino played rugby in Pietersburg, about 100km from here, they won 29-6, such a nice gift on my birthday!
Jolene, Amaro and Gemma arrived at 3 o'clock this afternoon, i can't believe how much Gemma changed since my last visit to them, they grow a mile a minute!
then, the most funny thing happened, a few of my friends planned a surprise birthday party for me, since all our husbands are at the same camp! very nice, except the invitations to my surprise party went out on sms, and by accident they send it to me too!! i wish you could see their faces when they arrived at our house, and the table was set, all ready for the pizza and cake!! it was so funny, we laughed for the first 20 minutes non stop!!
in the end, it turned out to be a fantastic day, and although i feel like an orphan, and had to endure a birthday without my fantastic husband, i realized that God blessed me with a loving family, and wonderful friends. To all of you who remembered, and left me comments, i love you!!
my cup runneth over...
love
k
xx

is it wrong?

2007-04-16T20:39:00.000+02:00

to be this proud of your own child. We spend the rest of the day on Sunday after church at this beautiful place not far from Tzaneen, it is the largest Baobab tree in the Southern Hemisphere, breathtakingly beautiful! This is my 14 year old son, riding this 4wheeler like a professional, apart from closing my eyes every time i take a picture, cause i am so scared for him, my heart just filled with pride looking at him! To me, he is beautiful, i love how tall and proud he is, and most of all, i love his sense of humour!

Standing next to him Sunday in church, looking up at his face, i felt on top of the world, my heart exploding with love for our two boys, they turned out fine young men! If i sound terribly proud, it is because i am! i also know that many of you share the same feeling for your children, and i often remind myself that they are a gift from a loving God, and i want you all to pray with me tonight for the many children in this world who are abused and neglected, and to also pray for our own children, that God will protect and bless them!
i share with you this photo of the Baobab tree, pretty amazing to think that one tree can be this big. In the front, where the chairs are, there is an opening in the tree, and they actually serve refreshments in there, i must admit, a strange feeling to stand inside a tree! For those of you who still plan to visit South Africa, and the South African ladies, do treat yourself to plan a trip to see this wonder!

proud mom signing off
k
xx

Blue creativity....

2007-04-14T20:54:00.000+02:00

i love it when i wake up very early in the morning, and while looking out on the garden, my mind starts forming a scrapbook page. these are normally the pages i love most!
this one lingered in my mind from yesterday, started last night to put everything together, and only got time to do the page this afternoon. i hardly ever use blue, still, i love the effect and made a mental note to self to use it more often.
Do you have a specific colour that you hardly ever use in scrapbooking? why?

Tread softly where the angels sleep, walk on air not to break the silence. Let your soul be lifted by their beauty and let your heart be filled with love, when you walk by softly where the angels sleep...
k
xx

2007-04-12T20:16:00.000+02:00

made this page for Gemma a while ago, telling her all this...

i recently came to the conclusion that perfection is a state of the mind. I love that at this very moment in your life, perfection is not even a word in your vocabulary, not an issue at all! The most amazing thing of all is this, you are perfect, and so am I! Not perfect like the world out there defines, but a perfectly created girl, perfectly created by God!

Just like every other creature in this Universe, perfect in our own place and time. My prayer is that you will remember this as you grow older, to always judge yourself by God's standard, and not by man's. I pray that you will know the definition of perfection by the time you will discover the imperfect places on your body, when you look in the mirror and realize that cellulite is not a state of the mind, but a reality.
i want you to remember then that you are loved, with a perfectly Divine love!
with all my heart
k
xx
my email address: lasbotha@mweb.co.za

it's all about colour...

2007-04-11T21:39:00.000+02:00

i went into a house today, painted in real European colours, and i truly loved it, perfect with the modern style of the house, very clean and neat. now, i learned something valuable today, you are either a bright colour person, or you are not! i am, i've known that all my life, but i also really like the white clean look, something that is not visa versa! People who prefer the white and simple look, really don't like bright colours, it is just to much for them. i got home, walked into my VERY GREEN AND ORANGE kitchen, a killer for the faint at heart, but boy, do i feel right at home here, so perfect in place with all the bright colours!
i love, love, love our home!
am i right in saying all this???? let me know....
love from the not so faint at heart
kolourful karin
xx

do you have a favourite page?

2007-04-10T20:10:00.000+02:00

why do you scrapbook? i can think of a million reasons why i scrapbook, but in fact, there are only two!
1. i want to tell the story as i live it...
2. i have to create, everyday, not because i want to, but because i have to, it
comes from my heart, no choice in the matter!

So, now comes the big question, have you, in any form of scrapbooking, recorded the one thing in your life that you hardly, or never, talk about? have you told the secret? the one thing that maybe changed who you are, or define who you have become? scrapbook your story, even if it is just for yourself, put it down on paper, share with yourself....

today i looked through a few of my albums, reading the words i've written down, and when i got to this page, i stopped, these are my favourite pages, they live in a very special place in my heart!
i share them with you, most of you have seen them already, and i invite you all to do the same, show me your special pages!
lotsalovefrommyheart!
k
xx

it's a card!!

2007-04-09T14:00:00.000+02:00

although i know that card making is an essential part of scrapbooking, i make only a few cards every now and then!! and then, when i do make them, i LOVE IT!!
this got me thinking (hard thing to do), we don't send birthday cards anymore, it is either a phone call or a visit on birthdays, no more letters or cards in the mail.

Do you still do that??i've decided to change that from today, i am going to send birthday cards to those i like, love, appreciate and admire, in the post, with a stamp and a postman to deliver! if you fall in the above category in my life, please email me your postal address, if you read this blog, please do the same cause then you definitely fall under friends!! Let me know who you are, and don't forget to send your birthday date also! please, please, please, i want to mail some cards!!
i made these cards for my friend Rachel's daughter, Danika, it is her 12th birthday today, and these are the invitations to her "dress-up" birthday party on Friday.
My sister-in-love, Anna was visiting over the Easter weekend, and she donated all the beads for the bracelets we beaded for the girls as part of the invitation. Danika send me some photo's of herself, all dressed-up, so that all the girls can see the theme and have an idea of what to wear, i think she looks stunning in her flower dress and hat!!

i put the photo's on little tags in the invitations, so that her friends can use them afterwards as bookmarks, maybe put them in their Bibles to remember to pray for her! i hope that you enjoyed your Easter weekend, and that you were all blessed in a special way, and that you all remembered that Jesus died for us, so that we can have eternal life!
signing off with joy in my heart!
k
xx

God's gift...

2007-04-06T00:03:00.000+02:00

to us is this beautiful earth. We live in the country, what a privilege, i'm not a city girl at all, and this is why...

i spend most of the day at this beautiful Game Lodge, and i still dream of Africa!
have a blessed Easter
k
xx

Why i love April...

2007-04-01T15:32:00.000+02:00

Oh, how i love April, my favourite month of the year. I made this page today to celebrate this month, love the fat ladies, i had to draw it by hand from a picture! used some of my material paint to do this, and as usual i love the bright colours.

Why i love April...
1. It's my birthday
2. and my Wedding Anniversary
3. Easter
4. Holiday for our kids
5. Just before winter, it's the best weather. not so extremely hot anymore!

This year it is even more special, Bouts and i are going away for our wedding anniversary, alone!!! For the first time in 17 years we are going on a short holiday without our children, and you know what, i think they love the idea!
i hope that your April will be special too...
happy love
k
xx

it's nearly Easter again...

2007-03-31T18:57:00.000+02:00

it's time for a new Easter page, this was my page from last year...
i love how life is a journey, and how we have no choice but to travel on this road. i love the dance i'm dancing at the moment, how i often loose my step, just to recover and in the end it is just perfect harmony...
in love with life
k
xx

itsa twoooooooo!

2007-03-29T22:36:00.000+02:00

yip, it is time for class no. 2 on Designers Notes and again i'll give you a sneak preview....

This time it is not a double layout, but a mini album, made from scratch, and it is all about the glorious animals in our home. Do you also believe that animal lovers are good people??

Today has been a good day, I went with one of my agents to a beautiful Game Farm, we are working together on a client, so just remember, next time you want to buy/sell property, visit us! There was this amazing, totally tame warthog, still a baby, and so very cute!! He followed us around like a puppy, i don't think he has a clue that he is in fact a wild animal. I stood on the deck of one of the chalets, looking at the crocodiles bathing in the sun, and just realized once again, i love Africa, it is in my blood and part of who i am.

signing off with an attitude of gratitude
k
xx

i've done it!!!

2007-03-25T19:47:00.000+02:00

i am now officially on my own with scrapbooking, designed the first scrapbook kit, and as from tomorrow, i'm selling!!
Good news to the Tzaneen ladies, the price of the kit includes a class fee, the class will be on Saturday, 31 March, but, the bad news is, there are only six kits available. So, unfortunately, the first six ladies that book are in!!
this is what it looks like....

i absolutely have to share this picture with you, this is my new favourite picture of my Hubby....

Please have a great day tomorrow.....i leave you with this!
Isaiah 42...I the Lord have called You for a righteous purpose and in righteousness, I will take You by the hand and will keep You, I will give You for a covenant to the people for a light to the nations, to open eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon....
I am the Lord, that is My Name, and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to graven images....
k
xx

i d'claire

2007-03-21T14:19:00.000+02:00

that scrapbook weekends away rocks!! it was such fun, and i loved the logo - ladies from Designers Notes are Claire and Dee - hence - i d'claire it a huge success!!

Wow, check out this girl's review of the Bundu weekend, this is what i call detailed!!

it was such fun, i loved teaching to some amazing women and enjoyed even more attending a class for a change!! had a mini make-over and photo-shoot - i am in love with Klynt (can't wait to visit him at his Guest House later this year) for another scrapbook weekend away!!)he was just amazing as a make-up artist!
Then there was the ever so talented Estelle, who made us all look amazing in front of the camera, thank you Sweetie, you were great.
This is from my shoot....

since this is my better side, you must all please walk on your hands from now on...
i have to share the scrapbook pages, this was from Dee's class...

Claire helped us to make the most amazing window box, mine is already in my office on my desk, i'll take a picture later for everybody to see!
I designed this double layout, and loved teaching it...

All i can say is, make sure you don't miss out the next scrapbook weekend, i will let you know in time to book!
have a blessed day...
k
xx

walk barefoot...

2007-03-11T14:57:00.000+02:00

allow me to say how much i love to scrap at the moment... for the last two years i made pages to teach, now i scrap for myself, every page is like a blank canvas and me...i am free to be just me!!
this is my favourite photo of Nino, i can close my eyes and still feel the softness of his hair, remember his rosy cheeks and puffy hands...
i found these words in a diary by Elize Grey....

walk barefoot into Divine Silence - it's your private retreat - your prayer-picnic, where there isn't room for anything but enjoying a dialogue of tranquillity...

enjoy one of your most liberating decisions, a well deserved escape to your own outdoor chapel where you'll find repose again... and when you've deflated the airbed you can leave refreshed, touching your loved ones with the best you have, because it is now wrapped in LOVE... understanding, patience, compassion and joy...the angel in you is set loose...

this inspired me to issue a challenge to you all....a tag a day, for the next three days, Monday - Wednesday.... a tag a day about anything you felt - that is the only criteria, it has to be about a feeling.
i need you to mail me your tags so i can publish them on my blog...can you do that?

please take up the challenge, it is liberating to scrap your emotions!!
lotsa love and many, many kisses
k
xx

i just had to...

2007-03-02T01:04:00.000+02:00

give you a taste of what to expect at the Bundu weekend in March. For those of you who still wants to book, visit the Designers Notes website, (link on the left) and book, it is going to be great!!
very late now and i am "pooped"
still love you...
k
xx

tita February...

2007-03-01T19:54:00.000+02:00

this layout is from two years ago, but i loved reading it today, it made me realize that time really flies! it's the end of Feb, can you believe it? i red in my Every Day Life Bible, a commentary by Joyce Meyer, it is about Matthew 6:33:

But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His Righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

The word seek is a very strong word, it means "to pursue", "to crave" and "to go after with all your might"
We must form a habit of seeking God's face and not His hand. In other words, we are to seek His "presence" and not His "presents' I urge you to seek Him for who He is, not for what He can do for you.

It is so amazing to me, it made me seek Him, for my every day life depends on Him, and Him alone.

May today be a blessed time for you and your family, may you seek His presence today, and dwell in the nearness of His face.

love and two kisses
k
xx

it's Sunday..

2007-02-25T17:36:00.000+02:00

and i miss my mom. not a good day then, and not much i can do about it. Erica and Ann came to scrap on Friday night, we did material, and i had to scrap my girls. i always complain that i don't have girls to scrap, but then i realized that i do, they are just animal girls! (never talk back!!)
Friday afternoon turned out to be a huge success, i taught a brown paper bag mini album to about 120 ladies. Must admit, i was nervous, but once they got started it was great fun. i loved to see all the moms, grans, and girls together, they looked spectacular. So, those of you who attended, leave a comment if you found your way to my blog, it would be interesting to hear from you.
i am taking a sabbatical for the rest of the year from teaching! Very hard decision i had to make, but now that i've made it, i know it was the right thing to do. The online classes on Designers Notes will continue as planned, so, maybe i'll see some of you girls there! take care and have a blessed day tomorrow
k
xx

sneak preview...

2007-02-18T23:20:00.000+02:00

oh, i am super excited about the first class on designers notes, and i love the technique!! Check out the website to find out when the class is running! Love to see you there!
k
xx

the big 40

2007-02-11T22:04:00.000+02:00

yeah, it's his birthday tomorrow! he will definitely get breakfast in bed, as the tradition is in our home, and he will do nothing in the house tomorrow!! i made him this little album, one of Wilna's classes on Designers Notes, and it contains the letters from the boys and the voucher gifts we made him. the vouchers are stuffies we will do for him during the next week, just to show him that we love and appreciate him.... and we truly do!
this man is amazing and i am thankful for him! we love you...
take care
xx
k

and the good news is....

2007-02-07T16:56:00.000+02:00

i am the newest design team member for Designers Notes, and i am soooooo excited!!!
Check out the link on the left, and, i hope you all going on the Bundu Weekend to Nelspruit with me!!
i am stuck in Johannesburg at the moment, the only good part, i met Claire and i am staying with my sister-in-love!!
just to let you know, there will definitely be class on Friday evening at Sakara, and finally....Saturday class at Waltons!!
Friday will be a double layout and Saturday we are doing the clipboard thing!! (i need one for my office) he-he
i will only be back in Tzaneen on Thursday evening, to email you the pages and requirements, so, be on the look-out!
love you lots
missing me husband and kids like crazy!
karin
xx

the colour orange...

2007-02-01T06:30:00.000+02:00

i dunno why, but the colour orange just speaks to my heart. i have so many orange things it is scary! so, obviously i used this beautiful embossed paper from Basic Grey, kept it for a long time, and finally found the perfect page to use them.

it is so wonderful to do a page on this amazing son of ours. Nearly fifteen, and the source of laughter in our home! i am so proud of him!!

For Friday's class, you need to bring a big envelope, can be white or brown, depends what colours you want to use.
Photo's: i used the two big photos, and the smaller ones were printed on transparency.
Bring your thing-a-magi's, a nice page to use all sorts of embellishments!

have a blessed day!
karin
xx

zip my lip!!

2007-01-30T22:50:00.000+02:00

eeehhhhaaaaaa!!
i zip my lip and i won't let the secret out yet!! But soon, oh, very soon i'll shout from the rooftops!!!
the last two days was amazing, i am still up there somewhere in the clouds, and i live my word for 2007!!
gra-ti-tude
my heart is filled with gratitude, life is good and all is well!

i dreamed of my Dad and my Mom last night, so very real, and this morning i felt comforted in a way! i don't know if i ever shared my Dad's funeral letter with you, it was the hardest thing to do, but i loved doing it for him. he was my rock, my super dad, and i was his little girl!!

and my mom, i still fail the words to tell anybody how special she was, and how much i miss her, every single day!! i have not done many pages about my mom, it seems to difficult, but this one i had to do. after she died, we found letters addressed to her grandchildren hidden in her closet, as if she knew she would not live to be there for them.
i had to scrap the letters to my children, to remind them how much she loved them, and for me, to every now and then read them and remind myself how to love unconditionally!
xx

Created with love...

2007-01-26T02:05:00.000+02:00

we discussed today how God created us, each and every one of us individually and we are all unique, and i just had to write this letter to my son. when i close my eyes now, i can imagine how the Divine Thought of him formed in God's Mind, and how He gave him that sweet face. i imagine God's proud face when he blew the breath of life inside him, someone so precious and perfectly created.
i found these photo's of him and Gemma at one of Nino's rugby games, so, for today, these two are Divine Creations.

my prayer is this, that you will realize today that you are God's Divine Creation, and that He loves you with a Divine Love!

love from a grateful heart...
xx

joy

2007-01-18T23:38:00.000+02:00

browsing through all my photo's, i came across these three, and it made me smile! there is truly joy in our family, we have fun times, we laugh and play often! do you? make time for each other, spend time together, play with your kids, they are small for only a minute in your life! enjoy them!!

the rak goes to......
ANMARI!!!! congrats, i'll deliver your gift in person!

it is very late, just after twelve, so, in fact, good morning! i long to lie down next to my DH, see you later!
xx

it is Christmas again!!

2007-01-07T17:19:00.000+02:00

guess what, i cleaned out my scrapbook room, i found many things lost and decided to give away the doubles here on my blog. it is called a RAK (random act of kindness) cause i firmly believe that the more you give the better!

What do you have to do? Just leave a comment, if you are not a registered blog user, choose the anonymous option and leave your comment, but please remember to write your name and email address at the end of the comment in order for me to contact you. I will then give every comment a number and on Friday morning i'll choose a number and send you your gift, maybe give it to you in class on Thursday night if you are the lucky one! If you are an out-of-town'er or even live in another country, i'll post it to you!

All you have to do is tell me about your favourite book, and why? Mine is the wonderful novel, Redeeming Love, by Francine Rivers, and it is about the book of Hosea in the Bible. I red this book many times, I bought it recently as a gift for someone i love (can't say who she is cause she reads my blog and i haven't given it to her yet) Once you read this book, you will run to the Bible to read the book of Hosea again, it is amazing how patient Hosea was, and how strong his relationship with God must have been.

About the first RAK, i'll give you a hint....it is all about embossing....

ok, now about Friday's class. We are making this double layout Christmas page, and this is what you need. it is very busy, lotsa layers (inspired by Ali ) but very nice.

Bring along:

Photo's - i used 40 x (6x8) and 4 x (13x10)

2 x transparencies

sealing wax and rope

Paint and foam stamps

Christmas embellishments and paper

Remember, you don't have to do a Christmas page, you can use this layout for any theme, perfect time to scrapbook many photo's.

Class is at six at Sakara, Thursday, 11 January 2007 (i'll be away on Friday cause it is "happy birthday Jolene")

have a blessed day

luv ya lots

karin

my little butterfly...

2007-01-04T21:25:00.000+02:00

'my lottle botterfly' as pronounced by the youngest member in this family, and irritating everybody, he's been saying it for the last, i don't know how long!!!! This includes everybody, his dad is his 'lottle botterfly', I am his 'lottle botterfly', and his brother is his 'lottle botterfly'. I think his brother is attacking him at this very moment from the 'eina' and 'ouch' sounds that comes from downstairs, but not to worry, maybe that will stop him!

I long for my family tonight, i miss gemma, jolene and my sis!

Everytime i look at this picture of my sister with gemma, i am thankful, this was taken after an operation during her fight against cancer, and by the grace of God alone, she was declared 'clean' after her last test!

This new year kicked off very busy at work, spend the whole day with people in my office, problems to solve and contracts to sort out, but i figured, if all the not so nice things is over and done with, the rest of the year will be a breeze, (don't wake me yet...)

I want to leave you with 2 things, first is a commentary by Joyce Meyer on Phillippians 1,

do not be discouraged with yourself, just because you have not yet arrived at a place of perfection in your thoughts and behaviour. God would not be angry with you if He came back today and found you just as you are, as long as He sees that you have the right attitude and are cooperating with the work He is doing in you. He knows you are a work in progress - and you will be for as long as you live. Enjoy where you are, on the way to where you are going!

just awesome!!!!

and the second comes from Psalm 25,

the secret (of the sweet, satisfying companionship) of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its (deep, inner) meaning.

My eyes are ever toward the Lord for He will pluck my feet out of the net!

have a wonderful day!

love and many kisses

karin

What a day!!!

2006-12-31T11:27:00.000+02:00

Can I please tell you about this last day of 2006! It started in the early hours of the morning, to be exact, few minutes past twelve, Bouts and I on our way to bed, realized we can't find Beethoven.
Let me introduce Beethoven:

Meet our 12 year old baby, he was a gift from my Dad to Nino on his second birthday, and he was just gone! He is terrified of thunder, and normally he is always with me, I was upstairs in my scrapbook room and only realized then that he was missing. We search for hours, Bouts got into the car and drove around town, scared that maybe somehow he got out the gate and was wondering around.

I have never prayed this much for my animals and we eventually found him, all wet and scared. I was so thankful I cried! (i think Bouts too)

The good thing about this day, 31 December 2006, is that it is the "Poppies's" birthday. Let me introduce you to them:

On the left is Abby and the other one is Noela. They are 2 years old today, happy birthday to them, and we love them like crazy! They keep us all young and on our toes, VERY BUSY girls these two, always up to something. LOVE to swim, and Bouts tries his best to keep them out of the pool, to much hair in the filter he says. I will let you know later who wins this contest!!

Then, last but not least, there are the other two, older women in this dog family of ours, let me introduce them:

On the left is Missy, she was my Mom's dog, and we adopted her after my Mom died. Chicka on the right is ours since she was a baby. These two are the two difficult old ladies, smallest but they rule all the other other animals in this family.

Now you know our dog family, the birds I will introduce to you later, and today we pay tribute to Gato, the only cat we ever had, who died two years ago in December at the wonderful age of 15 years.
We are thankful for our animals, they are kind and loving and I love that God created them, we can learn so much from them!!

I hope you all have a wonderful last day of 2006, we are spending the day with friends who will be arriving later. The braai will start at about seven tonight, and will go right through untill next year.
luv ya all
karin
xx

Santa's little helpers...

2006-12-29T22:47:00.000+02:00

Just look at them, and the reason they look so funny is cause the sun was shining into their eyes! We had so much fun with them, I cannot remember what we used to do before they all came along!

My own, personal family! I love to say that!

Every Christmas spend with them is a gift, and I pray for many more!

Nino posed for a photo with Ouma Meraai, just look how tall he is!!!!

The Christmas Eve dinner table speaks for itself, dinner was provided by the Turkey Squad (middle picture) and the setting by Santa (Johan) himself!

Last but not least, Santa, Mrs Santa and the little helpers. Thanks from the Botha's to the Herbst's for a wonderful Christmas!

I leave you with this verse from my new Bible!

Proverbs 16:3
Roll your works upon the Lord (commit and trust them wholly to Him, He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and ) so shall your plans be established and succeed!

luv ya lots
karin
xx

It is all about freedom

2006-12-28T20:53:00.000+02:00

I bought this wonderful Bible,

The Every Day Life Bible, with notes and commentary by Joyce Meyer, and I have been blessed!! I loved this morning's commentary in Joshua, it is all about being faithful, listen to this!

God works through and blesses faithful people - people who are faithful in the wilderness (in times of testing) as well as in the Promised Land (in times of blessing). Being faithful means being devoted, supportive and loyal. Faithful people are worthy of trust or belief, they are reliable, consistent, constant and steadfast. They will stay wherever God places them and be true to those God has given them to work with.

If we want to exercise authority, we must first learn to come under authority and stay wherever God has placed us until He moves us. We must do the right thing simply because it is right, even though we may never understand the 'why' of every situation - which is a real test of our faithfulness and obedience.

Do you want to have authority and be respected? Then learn to be reliable and loyal, God loves to reward the faithful.

Do you understand as I do, that through being faithful comes freedom. I made this page for Nico, to tell him all about this freedom. To let no one stand in his way, but to be kind, wise and gentle with other people's feelings. I trust this child, I know his potential and I love him with all of my heart!

My wish for you is a funfilled, glorious day tomorrow!!

love and kisses

karin

God's promise for the New Year

2006-12-27T09:22:00.000+02:00

It's the last days of December'06, I haven't felt like talking for a while, hence the silence on my blog, missing my Dad and my Mom like crazy!
One very good thing came from all of this, my relationship with God is becoming stronger, and that is my only wish for the New Year, a deeper love for my Saviour, a deeper understanding of His power and love for me, and faith, life changing faith every day of my life!!

I need to share this morning's scripture with you all, and this is God's promise to me (once again) for the New Year, my future, my Husbands future and our Children's future! Share this wonderful Word with me!!

11 - For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.
12- Then you will call upon Me, and I you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you,
13- Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me (as a vital necessity) and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
14 - I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will release you from captivity and gather you from all the nations and all the places to which I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I caused you to be carried away captive!!

Isn't this amazing, my God is a Strong and Mighty Tower, a Refuge for my soul!!
Amen

Have a glorious day!
love
karin
xx

young man

2006-08-19T22:54:00.000+02:00

Just a little boy, but he takes up space in my heart like a grown man! This is my niece's son, CJ, and we are so proud of him. He is growing-up so fast, every time I see him I stand amazed how beautiful he is! I love everything about him, this page tells the story!

the value of family

2006-08-19T22:14:00.000+02:00

We sometimes forget to appreciate the people in our family! Today I made this page to do just that, these pictures of Anna and Johan are my favourite and they both look stunning!
This is to dedicate their marriage, for sticking it out, for having great kids and for being good family!
I know many people, but I have never met somebody with such a big heart as my sister-in-law! Her second name should have been 'Giving' for that is what she always does!
We may not always say it out loud, but from the bottom of this family's heart, thank you for always giving! Not only the gifts, but your time, your love and your friendship.
May God bless the four of you with great love and my prayer for you is this:

Psalm 91!
'For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guart you in all your ways, they will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone'

May you be blessed and cherished!
love
xxxx

Yeah!!

2006-07-28T15:07:00.000+02:00

Dunno about you, but I never scrapbook my photo's in a specific order, whatever inspires me is normally the next project. I absolutely love to see how some of the ladies scrapbook their pictures in chronological order. Me, I am by far to 'deurmekaar' but I admire how organized they are!
We had our 16th anniversary this year, and yeah!, I finally made our wedding album. Although, what you see here is just the album, nothing inside yet!
I hope to finish this album before our next anniversary, and give it as a gift to myself, a 'from Karin' - 'to Karin' gift, I just love those!
I sincerely hope all you scrapbookers are inspired to do this wedding album with me, lets start at the beginning, that important day that made you a family!

I leave you with Isaiah 46:8-10

Remember this, and be assured. Recall it to mind, you transgressors.
Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is not other!
I am God, and there is no one like Me!
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done!
Saying, My purpose will be established and I will accomplish all My good pleasure!
Truly I have spoken, truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it!

Love you all
karin

Da Kiss...

2006-07-27T06:27:00.000+02:00

My husband has a busy nature, always in a hurry, and me, well, I am slower. Every morning he wakes the children in a hurry if you know what I mean, well, the other morning I went into Nico's room to wake him up. In stead of putting on the bright light, I went for the softer light next to his bed, instead of saying, "Nicky, wake up you're late", I just sat down next to him, kissed him softly and whispered in his ear about the new day and the wonderful cup of coffee I am going to make him now.
Last night, we went to bed much earlier than usual, so Nico came into the room and asked if I could rather wake him in future. If you know my husband, and how he loves this children, then you will understand the huge challenge that was presented to him at that moment.

Now, this morning, he kissed me all over my face, (that is how I get to wake up every morning), and off he went, to Nico's room. I jumped out of bed and chased after him, shouting "don't you dare!" But, remember, I am the slower one, and when I got to my son's room, he was laying in bed with Nico, holding him close, kissing him softly on his cheeks and telling him how much he loves him. Now, I couldn't do it better, except for putting off the bright light and switching on the softer one. I just love them! I found this photo browsing my computer this morning, another kiss at another time, but the same love! Enjoy with me.

This is who I am...

2006-07-16T15:10:00.000+02:00

How good it would be if we could learn that God is easy to live with. He remembers our frame and knows that we are dust. He may sometimes chasten us, it is true, but even this He does with a smile, the proud, tender smile of a Father who is bursting with pleasure over an imperfect but promising daughter who is coming every day to look more and more like the One whose child she is. Apart from wife and mother, this is who I am!

My article on Art Journalling finally came to light in Creative Reflections, issue no: 11!
I simply love the colours, since pink is the new black, it is no wonder they look so great together!
The fun in making this mini album, was only half the joy, the book I did this about, is what really mattered.
The Root of the Righteous, by Mr AW Tozer! A man of God for sure, with wonderful insight into the Word of God.
I loved this, these are the things I want my children to learn, I want them to understand what life is all about, and most of all, I want them to really know, that to serve God is the coolest thing to do in this world.
Hope you have a blessed day tomorrow!
Love
Karin

It has been a long time...

2006-07-09T17:45:00.000+02:00

I know, it's been a very long time since I blogged, life sort of changed a bit for me. I had a moment by myself this morning, and somewhere along my line of thinking, I became aware that I am one of those people, who, when they hit the water, they immidiately start swimming. I am thankful that God made me this way, otherwise I would have drowned by now.
Many things happened this past two months, but I suvived.
I lost my Dad, he died on the 9th of May, four days after his birthday and it still hurts terribly! I must admit, I still have this feeling of being lost, not having my Mom or Dad anymore, being alone is terrifying, but I find a lot of comfort from the Word of God. I absolutely have to pay tribute to my best friend in this world, after 16 years of marrige, he supports me every step of the way, and I am so thankful that he is simply there for me!

There is also the possibility of selling everything and moving to Burgersfort, and I hate the very thought of it. I love this town, I love this house, I love my friends, and I love how happy my children are in school here, but sometimes we have to do things we don't like, and unless God says otherwise, we are going.
I want to say out loud, that I am willing to go if that is what He wants us to do!

My sister-in-friend is touring the States at the moment, she has been gone for very long now, and I also want to say out loud, it is time she comes back!!!
I miss our looooonnnnggg conversations on the phone, and I hate that she is over there, and I am here.
So sister-in-friend, get your freakin thoosie on that plane and come home!

Have a blessed day
Karin

I love this house

2006-04-19T20:47:00.000+02:00

....and I thank God daily for giving it to this family. I pray often, and ask the Lord if we can grow old in this house. I love every inch of Kiepersol street nr 8 and all the memories woven into these walls can never be replaced by even the greatest castle in the world. Sometimes at night when everybody is asleep and I am still scrapbooking, I walk down the stairs from my scrapbook room, and I walk from room to room, praising God for it all. I know that this is home to our children and that no matter where life will take them on their journey, they will always come back to us and this house.

I love our life in this house, I love the smell and the way our animals wait for us at the gate. I love that the frontdoor is always open and I am ever so thankful for our Grace that faithfully cleans everyday. David keeps the garden going, and love in this family just keeps it all together. I hope that your house is home to you and that you will love each other unconditionally, like we do!

The wonder of children

2006-04-17T21:25:00.000+02:00

We spend Easter with Amaro, Jolene & beautiful little Gemma. They left 2day, and now the house is very quiet, to quiet!
I always miss her like crazy when they leave, she is VERY BUSY and VERY NOISY! But, I love that!
I love to see her grow, to hear all the new words, and believe me, there are many!
My favourite, when you kiss her to many times, is,
"genoeg!" (enough)
The easter egg hunt was something else. Jolene and I drew a treasure map for the kids, and off they went, (not Nino - very uncool thing 2 do when you are 13, you just wait for the bucket full of eggs and eat away, that's kewl!)
I took this picture of Gemma somewhere in my back garden, and I loved it. So, now it is missing her until she comes to visit again, stay pure at heart little girl, you are loved.
Karin
xx

The Lord's Friday

2006-04-14T12:50:00.000+02:00

It is not at all about the eggs, did you know that? It seems so many people think of only the eggs during Easter, and never about Jesus!
While we were reading from the Bible this morning, I watched the boys faces, and I felt good! I realized they know exatly what this day means, why we celebrate this day, and what impact this day, that happened over 2000 years ago, has on their lives today!
Gideon said a wonderful thing this morning, we are not celebrating only the fact that Jesus died on the cross for us today, but also the day we got saved and received eternal life! A life of abundance and glory, lived in faith!
I hope that today has the same meaning for you, that you have a living and wonderful relationship with Jesus Christ, and that He knows you!
You see, if that is true in your life, then you can have those chocolate covered eggs for dessert, like we did this morning after breakfast!
Have a wonderful Spirit-filled Easter, chocolate eggs and all!
Love
Karin
xx

My Sunshine Child

2006-04-09T22:37:00.000+02:00

'I love you very much Nikky Picky'

'I love you mucher'

' Yeah, but I love you more'

'Oh no, I love you the muchest'

It feels like yesterday, you were this cute little boy with so much love to give. This was my favourite conversation with you, I loved it so much, you have always made the world a better place to live!
This morning I realized that you will always be our baby, even if you grow-up to be a hundred years old, you will always be our baby. I watched you play with your dad on our bed this morning, and I loved it. There was this power struggle, who is the strongest, and then when he pinned you down and tickled you, I saw the love that radiated from your face, and it just left me speechless. I love watching the two of you play, and I am so thankful for him, for being such a wonderful father to our two boyz!
I sometimes wonder what it will be like when you are all grown-up, if you will still have these silly moments together. I know your father, to him, you will always be his mates. I am positively sure that he will always kiss you 'hello' en 'goodbye', so, prepare yourself to be this young man who will bring his new girlfriend home, and still be kissed by his father!! lol

I must admit, I love the idea of you being so close, and I pray often that your relationship will just grow stronger and better, that you will always be this close. There are many things you can learn from him, he already taught you to be a gentleman, I know that, cause you treat me with the same respect he does. I could not have been blessed more in this life, for having the family I do, for being loved the way I am, and today, I celebrate just that. I celebrate this sunshine you bring in our lives and the way you love us, truly and without limit!
We love you back...

Precious Words from God

2006-04-08T15:02:00.000+02:00

Going through some tough times, I tend to spend more time in God's Word than usual.
Today I stand amaized at how truly alive this Word is, I would like to share with you all..

Jeremiah 33

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know...
Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them, and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth..
And I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and I will rebuild them as they were at first...
And it shall be to Me a name of joy, praise and glory...
Behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken ...
I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them!

This is the wonderful Word God gave me for our business on this very day, and I thank Him!

Precious gifts from God

2006-04-06T23:09:00.000+02:00

I am not new to losing people that I love, I have had my share of standing next to an open grave and saying goodbye. It is a terrible thing to do, but you never have a choice in this regard, you just have to do it! But then, God is faithfull and good, He always blesses us with something new, in my family, it is this beautiful little girl, Gemma Yasmine de Abreu. I love this child, and I thank God for her. Today, a friend of mine stood by her husbands open grave, she and her three girls had to say goodbye, they had no choice. Tonight, I looked at my family, all four of us safely in this wonderful home God blessed us with, and I want to thank Him, for protecting us, for loving us with a love we can never understand, and for providing for us. I pray for you tonight Annette, for you and your girls, that you will feel the same protection and love I do, that you will find comfort in Him, that you will seek Him with all your heart!

2006-04-02T21:41:00.000+02:00

I dedicate this day to my wonderful Mom and best friend, Joey Meintjies, who died on 4 September 1999. I shall miss you every day of my life, and I love you forever!

Our Mothers...

2006-04-02T21:21:00.000+02:00

I want to dedicate today to our mothers. My friend, Rachel, is in Durban at the moment, next to her mothers bed, and she has to say goodbye today. Her mom is dying of cancer, and my heart is breaking when I think of her!
My mom died 7 years ago, and it still hurts like it happened today. Some days are better than others, but then there are the real terrible days. If the Lord spare my life, and I have the priviledge to grow old, I shall still miss my mom like today.
There is just an empty void, empty forever when you lose your mother, so, what I really want to say to you out there who still have a mom, cherish her, love her like today is the last day.
Don't judge her by your own standards, just love unconditionally.
To my friend Rachel's mom,

I want to read to you Isaiah 43...

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you,
I have called you by name, you are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you
and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.
For I am the Lord your God
The Holy One of Israel, your Saviour
I have given Egypt as your ransom
Cush and Seba in your place
Since you are precious in My sight
Since you are honored and I love you
I will give other men in your place and other people in exchange for your life
Do not fear, for I am with you!

2006-04-01T23:45:00.000+02:00

Love of my life

Life 4 me...

2006-04-01T23:06:00.000+02:00

I appreciate my life at the moment, I am deeply dependent on the Lord for my every need! I love my husband with all my heart, after 16 years, I am still in love!
I thank God today for the little and the big things, for Nino playing rugby today, and not getting hurt, for Nico being the fresh morning air in this house, for Bouts praying with me every morning, for my Dad and my Sister's being alive after the fight agains cancer, for our wonderful home the Lord gave us, for being part of a family that laugh and play all the time.
I am thankful for my best friend in the world, Jolene, for being there for me, for loving me unconditionally, and for our beautiful Gemma Yasmine!
CJ, you have a special place in my heart, I pray for you every day!
I have so much to be thankful for, and I am....