Thursday, April 30, 2009

Trusting In God For Horse Riding!




















Today I went for my weekly riding lesson. I felt so thankful and grateful as I rode. God has really performed miracles in my life so that I can do this. I think back on what I had to do to get to this place.
It was tough, but all worth it!!!


Horses are my favourite animal. I love that smell of their coat and that hay smell. There is something about a horse that I love!

I have loved horses all my life!

In 2003 I took up horse riding for the first time. I rode a cute little Shetland, called Nik –Naks.
I rode for about a year, then we moved and I could not continue.

In 2006, we moved to Bekezela Adventure Farm in the Natal Midlands.
I prayed and prayed for my own horse and sure enough, a few months later, I was given a horse to look after. She was an old racehorse, 19 years at the time. She was chestnut with a star on her forehead and sock on her right – hand side back leg. About a month or two later her friend, Bolo joined her at the farm. He was also a thoroughbred, but had never raced, and had the potential to be a show jumper.

About 5 months later I was told that we were leaving the farm, and I had to give up my life – long dream to own a horse.

This move brought many tears and heartache to me, as it is very hard to give up something you love.

I had no contact with horses for about 2 years, but then we moved to Fish Hoek, where we now live, and I had hopes of going to riding school again, as we lived near Noordhoek, a big riding society.

Months passed and it was just impossible at that stage to even think of horse riding as my dad was still new to his job.

I did not give up hope, and used my time to read and learn more about my favourite creature.

In Knysna, where we used to stay, we made fudge to sell and help us out of our financial difficulties each month, so I decided to make fudge to start saving up for riding lessons.
Little did I know that this little fudge business that I had would grow in to something very big.

I kept going, even though my dad got retrenched from his new job 2 months later.

It took me a long time to save, but I had my focus on the bigger picture, being able to horse ride.

Because my dad was retrenched, I was not able to have him sell my fudge at work, but instead had to sell it around town.

Once I had a few hundred rands, I started looking for somewhere to ride.
I looked at a few places, but they were either too expensive, or somewhere where my dad and mom were not happy about sending me.

Anyway, it just had to be the Lord. We went to the library and well, I don’t really remember what happened, but my mom met a lady who was getting things for homeschooling and they just started talking and she mentioned that her niece was going horse riding in Glen Cairn. We questioned her
about this place and she said that the price for lessons was quite reasonable.
I was getting more and more excited as she talked further.

I went to check it out and it seemed to be the right place to go to!

It took me a few months more to save up for the gear I needed. I was soooooooo excited that I could hardly wait!
I did a market in October and made a nice amount of cash to pay for some horse riding lessons!

Slowly but surely, I bought the items of clothing I needed for riding.

I had bought everything I needed except the hat. I went to Noordhoek, praying all the time that they would have a hat for a reasonable price.
We walked in and asked the lady and she showed me a second – hand hat for a great price!
I tried it on, and it fitted!
It was also a Harry Hall hat that costs about a thousand rand new!
That was such an answer to prayer!

I was lucky that I still had my second – hand riding boots that I had gotten in Natal!


During the time I spent waiting I sometimes cried because it seemed it would never happen. I comforted myself by looking up Bible verses that had ‘waiting patiently’ in them.

Here are a few of my favourite verses that helped me through.

Psalm 37
4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart

7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.

Aren’t these verses lovely?


A few weeks later I was back in the saddle!


I must say, my riding was terrible!
I had developed some bad habits and it took me quite some time to get rid of.

I was so grateful to feel the reins in my hands and to smell that smell again!
I praised the Lord for this miracle he performed!



God worked another miracle and gave me a market to sell my fudge at.
It is called the ‘The Triangle Square Market’ here in Fishhoek.
It is a ‘Slow Food’ market and is a great place to make money!

I now have quite a big business, making 5 different flavours of fudge.


This market was really such an answer to prayer, as we were praying for a long time for a market where I could sell my fudge, and what is also amazing is that it is down the road from our house!


I have finally gotten rid of my bad habits, after many months of just walking and trotting.

I am now cantering and jumping!

I have my first show on the 16th of May and I will post some pictures of my round.

I am so thankful to God for opening this door.
Sometimes it was difficult to carry on making fudge, but doing this has made me more appreciative of horse riding. I am not just going to stop when it gets tough or if I fall off, but I am going to persevere!

I am thankful that my mom and dad have made me do the fudge, because it has taught me a great skill!

I am still praying for my own horse, but I know God will do this in his time, but for now I am enjoying myself and working hard, learning as much as I can.

So, don’t lose hope and think God is not going to answer your prayer, but keep praying and trusting in God.

Sometimes things don’t happen in our time, but in Gods time.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Cherishing Sisters



I am blessed to be the eldest of four girls, with another one on the way.

It is not an easy task, sometimes I get angry and shout at them or call them names.

But, I am always trying to be loving.

I am the person my little sisters look up to as their role model.

I do not want my sisters to copy my bad, selfish behaviour, I want them to see me sweet, loving, gentle, patient and kind. Displaying all the fruits of the Spirit. I want them to copy that sort of behaviour.

I am lucky to have siblings, sisters as a matter of fact!

I could be like my mom who only has one younger brother, who she never sees!

Brothers are not the same as sisters. Sisters can play baby-baby, dress-up, they can do sewing and be enchanted by reading “Anne of Green Gables”.

Yes, you can also play good games with brothers, but there is something special about a sister.

When I am grown up, I want to be able to pick up the phone when I have three sick children and a baby that is crying and say, "Come and help me!" I want to be able to go on picnics and let all the cousins play together. I want to be able to take my sister who is pregnant with her fifth child a meal and say "Can I take the children to the park for you?" I want to be able to have a good relationship with all of my sisters.

All this can only come through being the type of person Jesus was to his disciples.

Sisters are such a blessing!

Don`t take this blessed stage for granted, tomorrow it could be gone forever.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Our Walk Up Constantia Nek















Yesterday we went for a walk up Constantia Nek.

It is a walk that goes from Constantia Nek into Kirstenbosch Gardens.
You can get into the gardens for free if you go for the walk around.

We have done this walk once before with another group of friends, about 10 or 11 months ago, but they decided to do the loooong walk that ends up being more of a hike!

This time around, we went with a group of friends that have children, so they decided to do only the short walk!

It was a lot of fun!

We might not have been able to go, as my dad had to pick up a trailer, as he was going on a camp the next day and he thought that the trailer hire place would only open at 9:ooam!
Luckily, he phoned to check just after 8:00am and they were open!

We arrived at the the church (where we were going to meet) at 8:59am!!!

I packed us all some sandwiches and popcorn for our picnic in Kirstenbosch and I took some naartjies with for a snack along the way!

Along the walk, I saw one of my friends sitting on a metal pole that opens for cars when they come through, and I thought that I could swing under it.
Unfortunately the gate was not bolted, and it swung out from beneath me and I fell down!

Anyway, that was the first of my many accidents that day!
Once we got into Kirstenbosch, we unpacked lunch and started to eat, even though it was only
11:30am!

we picnicked by a little stream and a jungle of trees and bushes.














We played many games with all the children and it was fun!

Then, my next accident took place:

I was playing a game with a couple of my friends. We were climbing on the trees and we were not allowed to touch the ground, we had to stay on the trees and climb.

I was fine until the end of the game(I was the reason that the game stopped).

I was on a branch and I slipped off and scratched my tummy and hurt my rib very badly.

It was very sore, but I thought that I had just scratched myself till later in the day when I found out that I had actually bruised my rib badly!

Anyway, we left shortly after, so I did not have to feel sad that I could not play the rest of the games the others were playing.

We had such a lovely time!

Our friends, Daniella and Micheala came to play a little bit so that their mom and dad could go home and get ready for the next day.

We went to them for supper as well!

We had quite a busy day in the end!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Happy Birthday Gabrielle!


On Friday it was Gabrielle's second birthday!

She had a wonderful day!

We gave her a small Barney party, as she is mad about Barney!

It is hard to believe it was two years ago she was born!
It feels like it was just the other day!

Gabrielle is so sweet and life would not be the same without her!

Gabrielle loved her party, but in the beginning she was a bit overwhelmed
with all the faces looking at her!

When we sang happy birthday she just hid in my mom's arms!

We had such fun preparing for the party!
We tried to have everything purple and green but some things had to be yellow, like BJ!
While we ate the party food, we listened to: 'Barney is a dinosaur from our imagination...

















I gave Gabrielle a Barney soft toy!
She loves to dance and sing with her 'Barney.'

Gabrielle was born in George on the 17th of April 2007.

She was sooooo cute when she was born!
We loved dressing her in all the cutest pink clothes.

Gabrielle is such a blessing to our family!

My visit to Heidi-Mari

I have just returned from my friend Heidi-Mari.

















We had a great time together, cooking, reading, swimming and horse ridinOur mothers met through the Above Rubies magazine three years ago
and since then we have been the best of friends!

Heidi-Mari is a great inspiration to me.
She is filled with the joy of the Lord!

Let me tell you a bit about her:

Heidi-Mari is nearly twelve years old.
She loves ballet and scrapbooking.
She has five brothers and one sister.
She and her siblings are also homeschooled.
Heidi is such a help to her mother!














Heidi-Mari and I dancing.


Heidi-Mari stays in Durbanville,
which is about an hours drive away from Fish Hoek, where we live.

We look forward to seeing each other when we can.

Good friends are such a blessing to have, as good friends are hard to find.













Heidi-Mari and I preparing supper.

Madeira Cake















On Easter Sunday, My Grandparents came round for lunch.
They provided the lunch and we provided the dessert.

We decided on making Madeira Cake, as it is quick, easy and economical.

Here is the recipe:

Madeira Cake

125g soft butter
125ml white sugar
5ml vanilla essence
2 eggs
375ml cake flour
15ml baking powder
125ml milk

Place butter, sugar, vanilla essence,
eggs, baking powder, flour and milk
in a bowl. Beat on low speed until just combined.
Increase the speed and beat for 2 minutes.
Pour into a well greased baking tin about 22cm.
Bake at 180 degrees for 50-60 minutes until the cake springs
back when lightly pressed. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes
before turning onto a cooling rack.

Ice if wished.

You can also make cupcakes out of this recipe.
















For the icin
g:

1 lemon (squeezed)
1 and a half cups icing sugar

Mix together and make sure it is thick enough,
so it won't slide completely off the cake.

Pour on cake and put in fridge till icing is hard.

Decorate with flowers and lemon slices if wished.

P.S. My mom also uses this cake to slice for trifle.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Our Hike to Elsies Peak



On Friday evening we went on a hike up Elsie’s Peak for a sun-downer supper.













It was great fun going up, seeing the views and fynbos.

We took our friend, Storm, with and she really enjoyed it!

We left at about 4:30pm and we got back at about 8:00pm.

When we got to the top we got out the rolls and ate heartily-we were sooooo hungry!

Storm however, was unable to enjoy our meal of tuna rolls, as she is allergic to tuna!

She had Easter eggs instead! (Not much of a supper!)










We were at the top for quite a while, just enjoying the wind (that nearly blew us off the mountain) and the amazing view from the top!





After we had finished taking pictures and eating, we headed down for the long walk home.

The walk wasn’t too bad. Once or twice we fell and skidded on the rocks!


Storm was a life saver, she remembered her torch!


We were all so grateful to see the car parked on the grass!


When we got home, I made some hot chocolate for us all.

My dad showed my mom the pictures, as she and Gabrielle could not come.

I must say, I am rather stiff today!

I think I have done my walking for the week!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Meet The Family!













From left to right: Hazel, Gabrielle, Kelly-Anne, Nancy, Beth and Angus
My wonderful parents are Angus and Hazel!
I am soooo blessed to have a Godly father and mother,
who love my sisters and me very much!

Nancy loves ballet and can invent a game out of a chore!
She is the comedian in our house!

Beth loves ballet too. She wants to do schoolwork all the time!!!
She is an absolute joy!

Gabrielle is so cute!
She loves to be the centre of attention!
The other morning she was helping Nancy
wash the bathroom floor and when I asked her what she had been doing, she replied,
"Me help Nanny"!

What a blessing it is to have family that loves you!