tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24235267162912524272024-03-13T06:09:36.412+02:00Letters from JoziFollow our lives
and ministry in
Pretoria, South AfricaKristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-19999340070868547062014-03-17T20:56:00.004+02:002014-03-17T20:56:46.901+02:00Highly RecommendAs a mom of little people and a teenager, I find myself with little time to read deeply these days. In my single days I enjoyed reading four books at a time, different topics, genres, etc. These days I am a lucky girl if I can read one book in a month. I really can't even do that. After I put the babies down at night, cook supper for the bigger people and clean everything up, I just want to get on social media and pin to my hearts to delight, while catching up on series. All things that do not require much brain activity, which any mom can tell you at the end of the day is about all the brain activity we have left. In Lent however, I have given up some social media for the sake of seeing my deeper longing for Jesus and that is opening up my evenings a bit and allowing me to allow Him to refresh my heart and mind.<br />
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In that vein, I wanted to share some good books I have read this past year(like January 2013-March 2014). These are books that refueled me or were a sheer delight to read in the midst of children, sabbatical and daily crazy ministry life. </div>
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<b><u>Desperate by Sarah Mae & Sally Clarkson</u></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Desperate-Hope-Mom-Needs-Breathe/dp/1400204666/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395063229&sr=8-1&keywords=desperate">http://www.amazon.com/Desperate-Hope-Mom-Needs-Breathe/dp/1400204666/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395063229&sr=8-1&keywords=desperate</a></div>
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In the beginning of last year I was here. I was desperate to breathe and feel like I could make it to tomorrow. I had just had my second baby and was incredibly overwhelmed with immediate and extended family circumstances, forget all the ministry and church challengs we faced daily. This book became my quiet time and meditation to try to and crawl out of my spiritual pit of despair. There are helpful application sections at the end of each chapter. The book is written by a young mom and an older mom, so there is much wisdom and experience to be gained from these two lovely women. </div>
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<b><u>Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero</u></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Emotionally-Healthy-Spirituality-Unleash-Revolution/dp/0849946425/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395080948&sr=8-1&keywords=emotionally+healthy+spirituality+by+peter+scazzero" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--bXhSa6wzK4/UydCZL6XQRI/AAAAAAAAAso/s0i4PrjiTpo/s640/blogger-image--1366154813.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Emotionally-Healthy-Spirituality-Unleash-Revolution/dp/0849946425/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395080948&sr=8-1&keywords=emotionally+healthy+spirituality+by+peter+scazzero">http://www.amazon.com/Emotionally-Healthy-Spirituality-Unleash-Revolution/dp/0849946425/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395080948&sr=8-1&keywords=emotionally+healthy+spirituality+by+peter+scazzero</a><br />
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Wow. This has been a very challenging read. You can be very spiritually mature but lack emotional maturity. I think most of us do. We grow so quickly in our walk with Christ and study our bible and get involved in leadership and we think we are all set, somehow our emotional maturity is easily side lined and we wonder why at +/- 30 we feel burnt out and ready to quit lots of stuff in our lives. This book is super helpful in revealing where you are individually and gives hope that this is not all there as to be in your life, marriage or church experience. For someone like me, who was involved in a great ministry that developed my spiritual walk in incredible ways, I need a book like this. My emotional health and maturity is dwarfed in comparison. From one beggar to another, I commend this to you.</div>
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<b><u>Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist</u></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bread-Wine-Letter-Around-Recipes/dp/0310328179/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395081011&sr=8-1&keywords=bread+and+wine">http://www.amazon.com/Bread-Wine-Letter-Around-Recipes/dp/0310328179/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395081011&sr=8-1&keywords=bread+and+wine</a><br />
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A fun, easy read a good friend of mine lent to me while we were in the states. She tells life stories and how certain meals around their table ministered to her in different seasons of life. Honest and refreshing. Recipes at the end of most chapters, some of which are staples in our family now. Thank you Shauna.</div>
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<b><u>The Church Planting Wife by Christine Hoover</u></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Church-Planting-Wife-Heart/dp/0802406386/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395081076&sr=8-1&keywords=church+planting+wife">http://www.amazon.com/The-Church-Planting-Wife-Heart/dp/0802406386/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395081076&sr=8-1&keywords=church+planting+wife</a></div>
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Reading this now and wow! I am being challenged at every turn. I am not a church planting wife, but I am a wife in a college ministry. I was involved as a student and came on staff single right out of college. Being married and now with children, the game has changed dramatically for me. No matter who you are or where you are in church leadership, on a core team, helping pioneer something bigger than yourself; this book is a great help with perspective. </div>
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I hope these are helpful for you as they have been helpful for me. Enjoy and Happy Monday and St. Patricks Day.</div>
Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-37501072518734115272014-03-05T22:30:00.001+02:002014-03-05T22:30:31.266+02:00This season of LentGrowing up in the Lutheran church this was a season I was familiar with each year. We gave up something we loved for forty days to grow deeper in our walks with God. After I became a Christian in highschool I kind of abandoned lots of good practices to just focus on following Jesus and loving Him with all my heart. As I have grown up in my faith, many of those good practices have found their ways back into my heart and life again. God has used them to show me my need for Him daily and I have seen how seasonally they often help me refocus my heart back on Him as I am so easily distracted by any and everything that is not Him. Lent has always been hard for me, as I imagine it is for many of us because it involves a willing sacrifice."Fasting is a tangible, physical activity that points to our spiritual longing to be rooted in Jesus alone and find our true comfort and joy in Him." (Taken from the Gospel Coalition devotional guide for Lent). As a household, we are choosing to participate in Lent this year and are all giving up something near and dear. One of our staff guys, Siyanda, lives on our property and at supper decided he too would join Jeff, Casey and I. So here we go. Forty days to be more aware of my spiritual longing to be rooted in Jesus. I am excited and scared. Lots of refining ahead I am sure of it. Thankfully He is able and He will do it in me. <div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Here are some plans that were tossed my way the past few days. All are great, we are doing the one from The Gospel Coalition. Just wanted to resource those</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Interested. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-z2XBEPYlrQA/UxeJY_cFjuI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/WFi_0ErVs-Y/s640/blogger-image-523755469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-z2XBEPYlrQA/UxeJY_cFjuI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/WFi_0ErVs-Y/s640/blogger-image-523755469.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The Gospel Coalition: </span><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/files/2013/02/Journey-to-the-Cross.pdf" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/files/2013/02/Journey-to-the-Cross.pdf</a></div><div><br></div><div>Ann Voskamp:</div><div><a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/a.voskamp/TrailtotheTree1.pdf">https://s3.amazonaws.com/a.voskamp/TrailtotheTree1.pdf</a></div><div><br></div><div>John & Noel Piper:</div><div><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/2007/2033_Lenten_Lights/">http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/2007/2033_Lenten_Lights/</a></div><div><br></div><div>You Version Bible reading app also has a bunch of plans for this season. Check them out on your mobile device :)</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-13319522849447402582014-02-06T07:59:00.001+02:002014-02-06T07:59:43.564+02:00New City lifeWe have been in Pretoria for about three weeks now and back in South Africa just over a month and life has been busy to say the least. We set up our new house, got Casey into a new high school(which is an adventure all on it's own in South Africa) and have try to get set up for a new year of ministry on a new campus. One of my tasks has been to set up our internet in the new place and as of today we are still without it. We have been waiting on the phone company to change our line from Joburg to Pretoria and as of yesterday it still hadn't happened. I spent an hour on the phone with various people from Telkom until finally a lady who seemed to know how to help us escalated our request to urgent and said a technician would phone us to tell us when they would come out to set up the new line. When I asked if she knew if that phone call would happen in the next week, she of course could give no firm answer. So I am posting this from my phone as we continue to wait. Here are a few fun pictures of our time in PTA so far. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hXIhDnAcqtw/UvMkw52yGGI/AAAAAAAAArM/FortltoIlsg/s640/blogger-image--1712621676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hXIhDnAcqtw/UvMkw52yGGI/AAAAAAAAArM/FortltoIlsg/s640/blogger-image--1712621676.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VZOd2hgK7lw/UvMkzDGcRLI/AAAAAAAAArc/oYSiX2FtnR0/s640/blogger-image--1668990689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VZOd2hgK7lw/UvMkzDGcRLI/AAAAAAAAArc/oYSiX2FtnR0/s640/blogger-image--1668990689.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--LlIxyGbBHA/UvMkx6rHPDI/AAAAAAAAArU/UO5Ta45TRqY/s640/blogger-image--1684786129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--LlIxyGbBHA/UvMkx6rHPDI/AAAAAAAAArU/UO5Ta45TRqY/s640/blogger-image--1684786129.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-R91B1IcnpgQ/UvMkvdupgWI/AAAAAAAAArE/y1f4mdHKseI/s640/blogger-image--1101572459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-R91B1IcnpgQ/UvMkvdupgWI/AAAAAAAAArE/y1f4mdHKseI/s640/blogger-image--1101572459.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div>I am also applying for permanent residency and will share on that experience in the coming weeks(home affairs is a beast all it's own, this should be interesting).</div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0Groenkloof Groenkloof-25.774161 28.224823tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-54691581914982523492013-12-02T18:52:00.001+02:002013-12-02T18:52:29.488+02:00O Christmas TreeChristmas season is upon us all. Merrily we go along now friends. When parents and I happened to be in the same country recently (crazy reality that we seldom are in the same time zone), my mom was showing Asher one of the ornaments I made as a tiny tot. She loves this piece of my childhood, probably because as we all get older there are very few of those tangible pieces remaining. This got me to thinking on a way to preserve such trinkets. I am not going to throw myself headlong into 500 pinterest projects for myself and the kids this holiday season, mainly thanks to a reminder I read <a href="http://www.vitafamiliae.com/to-the-mamas-of-littles-during-the-holidays/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Rather, I decided we can do the Jesse Tree Advent devotionals, including the little ornaments for each day; and we can occasionally make new ornaments are artsy things in light of the season. With two boys, almost 10 months and 2 1/2 years old, I have a very small window of time to do such things and have it be enjoyable and productive, sadly I often focus on the productive instead of the enjoyable. </div>
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With my mom's love for childhood ornaments and this desire to do something fun and seasonal with Asher mainly, I decided to recreate one of my first ornaments made as a little person, the Christmas tree. The best part is that most of us have the construction paper already laying around somewhere with glue and string of some sort. I had to run to Michael's for the glitter and admit that we walked around for 30 minutes looking at other things before I remembered why we had gone there to begin with. Thankfully, we left with ONLY the glitter and not many other items in tow as well. </div>
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I started with tracing the original tree onto fresh green construction paper. </div>
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Next I cut both trees out and followed that by cutting out the ornaments for the trees.<br />
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I applied the glue to spots Asher wanted to hang his ornaments and away he went(you could place the dots where you like if the littles are too little to tell you where they would like them). </div>
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Then I applied the glue for the glittery lights or garland, whichever you imagine and Asher helped me sprinkle the glitter (no picture due to mommy needing to hold the glitter so the whole kitchen didn't wind up sparkly).</div>
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Finally he went to town on the stars and I punched a hole in the top for the string(anything you have laying around is usable here).</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Here's the finished products. 1983 vs. 2013, thirty years requires updating. Asher did both trees as Mason was napping and would've eaten the ornaments rather than placing them anywhere near his tree. I hope you feel inspired with this easy activilty. Have a great day!</span> </div>
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Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-64513892888350493592013-11-30T18:15:00.002+02:002013-11-30T18:15:32.660+02:00The sound of ChristmasI absolutely love this time of year. Christmas is by far my favorite season, in South Africa and in the U.S. My mom did a great job of making it such a special season and I hope to do the same with my family. One of my traditions is to buy a new CD or several Christmas-themed songs each year to add to our home playlist. I like to start playing it daily mid-November personally, just to get in the mood early. Where ever we may be living at the time, the music of this season does something extra special in my heart. Maybe it is the hope that was placed deep in me years ago that longs for days when there is no more war, pain or suffering. Some songs take me back to my childhood and others point my heart toward what I am truly longing for, my true reason for Hope in this season. The One who made the promise in the first place and gave us reason to hope after everything seemed hopeless, kept His word and made Him flesh. <br />
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However you may come to this season, I thought I would share some of my favorite CDs or compilations that I have purchased through the years. While I love chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Jack Frost nipping at the nose of those in cold places, I find I need songs that take my heart back to my true reason for Hope. So here is my list of holiday favorites. I hope you enjoy ;)<br />
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<b><u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Realms-Glory-Extended-Edition/dp/B0048W5Z1U/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1385827065&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=bebo+norman+christmas" target="_blank">Bebo Norman: Christmas</a></u></b></div>
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<b><u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Come-Let-Us-Adore-Him/dp/B001D7JK9G/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1385827111&sr=1-1&keywords=come+let+us+adore+him" target="_blank">Come, Let Us Adore Him: Compilation</a></u></b></div>
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<b><u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Glory-Highest-Christmas-Album-Shane/dp/B007XOD0QW/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1385827150&sr=1-1&keywords=shane+and+shane+christmas" target="_blank">Shane & Shane: Glory in the Highest</a></u></b></div>
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<img alt="Glory In The Highest (A Christmas Album)" border="0" height="280" id="prodImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AqbgRnmyL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" width="280" /></div>
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<b><u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Songs-Christmas-Phil-Wickham/dp/B005V5FMCA/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1385827190&sr=1-1&keywords=phil+wickham+christmas" target="_blank">Phil Wickham: Songs for Christmas</a></u></b></div>
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<img alt="" id="main-image" rel="" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61NcixI1AAL._SX300_.jpg" style="display: inline;" /></div>
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<b><u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Songs-Christmas-Phil-Wickham/dp/B005V5FMCA/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1385827190&sr=1-1&keywords=phil+wickham+christmas" target="_blank">Jars of Clay: Drummer Boy</a></u></b><br />
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<img alt="Drummer Boy" border="0" height="280" id="prodImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/611Z4owjZIL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" width="280" /><br />
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<b><u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/O-Holy-Night-Sara-Groves/dp/B001I9QXKS/ref=sr_1_7?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1385827980&sr=1-7&keywords=kari+jobe+christmas" target="_blank">Sara Groves : O Holy Night</a></u></b><br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51jFFRu7ysL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="O Holy Night" border="0" height="280" id="prodImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51jFFRu7ysL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
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Upon searching for links to these CDs I discovered a myriad of Christmas albums that I think would also help our hearts in this season. Here some new ones I am adding to my wish list for future Christmas albums :)</div>
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Christmas Album Wish List: </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Glory-Highest-Christmas-Songs-Worship/dp/B002MOWA9G/ref=sr_1_12?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1385827437&sr=1-12&keywords=christian+christmas+music" target="_blank">Glory in the Highest(Chris Tomlin)</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hope-World-Craig-Dean-Phillips/dp/B00EUEWRHG/ref=pd_sim_m_31" target="_blank">Hope for all the world(Phillips, Craig & Dean)</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Diverse-City-TobyMac/dp/B005FT2MK2/ref=sr_1_19?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1385827848&sr=1-19&keywords=christian+christmas+new" target="_blank">Christmas in Diverse City(Toby Mac)</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-All-Around-Us-Various/dp/B003ZUV984/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1385827930&sr=1-1&keywords=bebo+norman+christmas+all+around+us" target="_blank">Christmas All Around Us (Various Artists)</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bethlehem-Kari-Jobe/dp/B002XKZBF4/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1385827980&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=kari+jobe+christmas" target="_blank">Bethlehem (Kari Jobe)</a></div>
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Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-57299040263516592182013-11-21T19:10:00.001+02:002013-11-21T19:10:21.307+02:00Taking My South African Husband to my Texan roots<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Thanks to technology, satellites and google, last Saturday night I was able to show my husband the house and neighborhood I grew up in. I couldn't believe it when I saw it. I have told him stories of growing up in Houston, Texas and how much I loved those early years of my life there. I told tales of bike riding adventures to and from the neighborhood pool and the local 7-11. This was in the '80s when things were simpler and we were all vastly unaware of the innumerable dangers waiting outside your front door. Thankfully summer days and weekends were spent riding your red schwinn as fast as possible down to the pool and spending most of the day getting major sunburns and chlorine soaked bodies. I loved every minute of it. I showed him the park we used to play in and even the house where the bubble boy lived. Without leaving my parents condo in Atlanta, Georgia, we were able to travel nearly 830 miles to see my childhood home. What a great and inexpensive adventure we took. Somehow being able to show him those things brought happiness to my heart that night. </span><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Have you ever wished you could show the people you love the place you used to call home? Try it out on a date night; what a great way to have a deeper conversation with those you love. </span></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mAGstZdJGnI/Uo4-eqS8mLI/AAAAAAAAAnk/lTd-_rgC4DE/s640/blogger-image-455753055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mAGstZdJGnI/Uo4-eqS8mLI/AAAAAAAAAnk/lTd-_rgC4DE/s640/blogger-image-455753055.jpg"></a></div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-5955564027044733052013-07-23T17:45:00.001+02:002013-07-23T17:45:59.098+02:00Keeping the boy busy<div><br></div>I am always trying to keep Asher(28 months on the 28th) busy so he doesn't become destructive in my parents house( one lamp has already been injured). I came across this idea on Pinterest(always a life saver) and tweaked it a tad for our traveling purposes. Here is the blog it is from originally:<div><span style="color: rgb(40, 40, 40); font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">http://walkersinc.blogspot.com/2012/08/quiet-book-update.html?m=1</span></div><div><font color="#282828" face="HelveticaNeue-Light" size="2"><span style="line-height: 17px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><br></span></font><div>My tweaks: put the laminated pages in a binder for easy transport<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-aFvHu9Tf3Og/Ue6lJKPfRpI/AAAAAAAAAm0/tlFFDY26ihI/s640/blogger-image-1636910497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-aFvHu9Tf3Og/Ue6lJKPfRpI/AAAAAAAAAm0/tlFFDY26ihI/s640/blogger-image-1636910497.jpg"></a> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A5vNkdzCcLI/Ue6lGx99ICI/AAAAAAAAAms/gljAxF7GsJw/s640/blogger-image--1446699372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A5vNkdzCcLI/Ue6lGx99ICI/AAAAAAAAAms/gljAxF7GsJw/s640/blogger-image--1446699372.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div>Put all the stick on pieces in ziplocs</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-trxtt-9vil0/Ue6lLC_iILI/AAAAAAAAAm8/ZR5KwNYXark/s640/blogger-image-2016570682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-trxtt-9vil0/Ue6lLC_iILI/AAAAAAAAAm8/ZR5KwNYXark/s640/blogger-image-2016570682.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Using prestick(sticky stuff) instead of Velcro(tried it but it was too strong for the laminated pages) or magnets.</div><div><br></div><div>Also added pages for random coloring at the back.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-s2BPoIwf0bI/Ue6lNV-4bpI/AAAAAAAAAnE/uWXu35KhlDQ/s640/blogger-image-1252995626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-s2BPoIwf0bI/Ue6lNV-4bpI/AAAAAAAAAnE/uWXu35KhlDQ/s640/blogger-image-1252995626.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Asher is a fan and therefore so am I. Hope you find it helpful.</div><br><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-82444343284804719642013-06-27T19:41:00.001+02:002013-06-27T19:43:49.557+02:00Fun in Atlanta...so far.Our trip to the states this time around has been different from our last visit. Last time it was just Jeff and myself and this time we have three little people in tow(two littles and one teenager actually). This time our visit has mainly involved the condo that my parents have in Buckhead. Here are some shots of the boys enjoying life so far.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-stKOH4DYoOw/Ucx5U8wdA7I/AAAAAAAAAmM/7_yoHPo5X38/s640/blogger-image--107826548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-stKOH4DYoOw/Ucx5U8wdA7I/AAAAAAAAAmM/7_yoHPo5X38/s640/blogger-image--107826548.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Asher enjoying one of my childhood favorites </div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fNrJq-4x-m4/Ucx5W4S8sZI/AAAAAAAAAmU/eM0jGG9lSOw/s640/blogger-image--1072830087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fNrJq-4x-m4/Ucx5W4S8sZI/AAAAAAAAAmU/eM0jGG9lSOw/s640/blogger-image--1072830087.jpg"></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Watching some Wimbeldon</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Tx46yytIjMU/Ucx51OriDJI/AAAAAAAAAmc/2XuLztU6BIE/s640/blogger-image--970471098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Tx46yytIjMU/Ucx51OriDJI/AAAAAAAAAmc/2XuLztU6BIE/s640/blogger-image--970471098.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Some brotherly love or smothering depending on who you are here.</div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-42787569579067402782013-04-13T10:55:00.001+02:002013-04-13T10:55:24.091+02:00The littlest ViljoenI cannot believe he has been with us for two months already. So grateful and blessed with Mason Viljoen. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ohKJuam7dsY/UWkdSeVtNPI/AAAAAAAAAlA/ekwEWeOIX80/s640/blogger-image-1414681243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ohKJuam7dsY/UWkdSeVtNPI/AAAAAAAAAlA/ekwEWeOIX80/s640/blogger-image-1414681243.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TkOGebrfWn4/UWkdeCtpCUI/AAAAAAAAAlY/edznidNCSdE/s640/blogger-image--988689225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TkOGebrfWn4/UWkdeCtpCUI/AAAAAAAAAlY/edznidNCSdE/s640/blogger-image--988689225.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-V71h38qFrEM/UWkdOS_ZzVI/AAAAAAAAAk4/Np41J87AO1A/s640/blogger-image--1359026305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-V71h38qFrEM/UWkdOS_ZzVI/AAAAAAAAAk4/Np41J87AO1A/s640/blogger-image--1359026305.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zUWsoCuXJ1w/UWkdV08BHAI/AAAAAAAAAlI/uGQmSAil8WY/s640/blogger-image-1429168975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zUWsoCuXJ1w/UWkdV08BHAI/AAAAAAAAAlI/uGQmSAil8WY/s640/blogger-image-1429168975.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-o1vBKXqTBOA/UWkdE0t0ynI/AAAAAAAAAko/UOQdbMwmPuE/s640/blogger-image-2045237869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-o1vBKXqTBOA/UWkdE0t0ynI/AAAAAAAAAko/UOQdbMwmPuE/s640/blogger-image-2045237869.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ALgikZmKhPo/UWkdJXtvMiI/AAAAAAAAAkw/FAQYmTNkR_A/s640/blogger-image-70657453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ALgikZmKhPo/UWkdJXtvMiI/AAAAAAAAAkw/FAQYmTNkR_A/s640/blogger-image-70657453.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EaG6HsLBOc4/UWkdZkdM4FI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/p7aUquUG3UE/s640/blogger-image-771742159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EaG6HsLBOc4/UWkdZkdM4FI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/p7aUquUG3UE/s640/blogger-image-771742159.jpg" /></a></div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0Westdene Westdene-26.17938 27.993631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-40912757638655303072013-04-03T14:08:00.004+02:002013-04-03T14:08:43.987+02:00Two years!Yes, I have been on blog hiatus since I had our second son, Mason. Yes, I will post some lovely pictures of Mason in the next post. This post, however is about the two big kids, Casey and Asher. Casey turned 15 last week Wednesday and Asher turned 2 last week Thursday. Whew. Let's just say March is not easy on the checkbook.<br />
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Casey chose to go ice skating for her birthday and we chose for Asher to have a Mickey Mouse party to celebrate his two years of life. We also included his cousin Kiki on the birthday fun as she turned 2 only two days before Asher. Crazy!! Here are some of the fun pics from the time Saturday.<br />
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I decided to get some fun decor off of etsy for the party, which you can find here. I also got personalized shirt iron-ons for the birthday babies, also from etsy, here.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casey & Kiki</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom & Ash man</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family picture(Aunt Stephy is holding Mason)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ordered the cake, will use her again. Yummy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday boy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad & Ash man</td></tr>
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<br />Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-11510377149177306792013-01-29T11:08:00.002+02:002013-01-29T11:08:22.999+02:00Already a driverAsher's latest escapades includes an obsession with driving. He will gladly hop into anyone's car to drive it for them. I have caught him on his daddy's lap several times, in other friends cars and lately our kombi is his main preference. He hops up into the driver's seat and starts steering the steering wheel, flicking the brights on and off and trying to change gears. Our kombi is thankfully parked at the back of our garage so there is no danger in him playing with it, other than running the battery slowly down perhaps. He sometimes likes to take Mickey Mouse with him on his adventures. Always, when I ask where he is going the answer is the same-"home." Yes my baby, indeed we are going home, slowly but surely. Asher is driving the bus, anyone wanna hop on?<br />
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<br />Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-54499603754529385582013-01-24T11:39:00.001+02:002013-01-24T11:39:57.659+02:00One Thousand things to be thankful forMy mom recommended this book to me a while ago(over a year ago I think). As with most things moms recommend, I filed it away in my brain and forgot about it. Why do we do that? I know my kids will do that too. Sorry mom for doing that. You have much wisdom to bestow on me. Another friend actually passed it on to me late last year after she finished it as well. The book is One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I am sure most of the planet has heard of it by now, the western half anyhow. I went to Ann's website and can tell it has been a hit because you can get the journal, the app, the book, etc., etc. <br />
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The thing I really am enjoying about this book is the simplicity with which she tackles subjects like suffering, thankfulness, experiencing God's presence; to name a few. She uses personal life examples on each chapter subject she engages and brings it back to God's word in a unique way. If you haven't picked it up yet, then get yourself a copy. I put it in my Amazon list to the right so you can click and choose how you would like to get it. I am sure it is in your local Christian book store( I did see a bunch of copies at CUM here in Jozi). You can also check her website out <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/" target="_blank">here.</a> She posts things on her blog a few times a week as well. Always encouraging and fresh words when I often need them most. Enjoy!Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-28457720641322438532013-01-14T11:59:00.000+02:002013-01-14T17:14:54.102+02:003 1/2 WeeksThis is the amount of time until the official due date of our second son. We have two other kids, Casey-our nearly 15 year old cousin/daughter who God gifted to us in a very unique way and then Asher-our first son who is 21 months(will be nearly two when his brother joins us).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">About a month ago, I attended the baby shower of my dear friend Chandre(pictured below), who God gave me the privilege of mentoring(discipling) through her university life. <i>Sidenote: I am so blessed to have walked with her as well through dating, marriage and now starting a family with her husband Mike. You don't get many opportunities like that in life.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5w36CvI0AeM/UPPRMvJKQII/AAAAAAAAAho/vwziJKGtyqc/s640/blogger-image--1630091595.jpg" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chandre is due two weeks after me, but to look at this picture you would think I was months ahead of her. We laugh about the comments people make to pregnant women. My husband recently asked me this question...why do I get so big in my belly? I can assure you I am bigger now than in this photograph and on two occasions have been asked if I am carrying twins. Let me take this moment to tell you how I answered my husband who is an amazing man and great husband and father, by the way. "God made me 5'2" and unless we want my internal organs to disappear completely, there is a small amount of space my babies have to work with in the womb. This is just the way it is for me and every woman is different." So, for all my preggie friends out there, do not fret or worry over how you look in the mirror or to the world. You have a miraculous gift from God growing inside of you, one that many women would love to have growing in them as well...and to answer that common question-no I am not carrying twins :), just one.</div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-72830548703319692242013-01-01T16:26:00.001+02:002013-01-01T16:26:42.221+02:002013!! <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L4nAIHDK2d4/UOLyHzJ51MI/AAAAAAAAAhI/MIsmS0Sara0/s640/blogger-image--975161116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L4nAIHDK2d4/UOLyHzJ51MI/AAAAAAAAAhI/MIsmS0Sara0/s640/blogger-image--975161116.jpg" /></a></div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0Canon Rocks Canon Rocks-33.750749 26.528881tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-50898603997722939762012-12-22T15:20:00.001+02:002012-12-22T15:20:29.676+02:00Daily fun at LP!Fun days spent with these kiddos down at LP! Morning trips down to the beach before naps. Yay for friends.(p.s. no pics of prego mama as I feel like a boat :) )<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caleb & Asher doing some excavation.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Are we live?"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three dolphins and a water princess.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I would like to say thanks to all my fans. I love you guys!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casey is giving Asher some life advice.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Future model poses</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy & Ash </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this happy pool boy. He is available for weekend jobs ;)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You want a piece of me?! (Thanks Josh Anthony for the good caption).</td></tr>
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Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-10311202615726553832012-12-10T15:49:00.001+02:002012-12-10T15:49:19.070+02:00Beach time!!We are down at the LP this week and have been to the beach twice so far. Rainy weather has forced us inside for the rest of today. Here are some shots of Asher at the beach from yesterday. Yes he is wearing his crocs. Getting him excited about touching the sand was a process. Eventually he was loving it. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sqhnjFseHq4/UMXoRN5ccRI/AAAAAAAAAdU/rXZv3f1Xhe0/s640/blogger-image-141335581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sqhnjFseHq4/UMXoRN5ccRI/AAAAAAAAAdU/rXZv3f1Xhe0/s640/blogger-image-141335581.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mzughCtzd84/UMXoTvCoCSI/AAAAAAAAAdc/C33Q_NeRiY0/s640/blogger-image-627140530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mzughCtzd84/UMXoTvCoCSI/AAAAAAAAAdc/C33Q_NeRiY0/s640/blogger-image-627140530.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2fRgxH7swGM/UMXoV_EaukI/AAAAAAAAAdk/E_hBaU0qGwM/s640/blogger-image-889493025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2fRgxH7swGM/UMXoV_EaukI/AAAAAAAAAdk/E_hBaU0qGwM/s640/blogger-image-889493025.jpg" /></a></div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0Port Shepstone Port Shepstone-30.753322 30.417734tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-49073001173902519582012-11-03T12:31:00.000+02:002012-11-03T12:31:01.441+02:00A grandmother's legacyI had two amazing grandmothers. They were both from a different time entirely. My mom's mom, H'y was absolutely incredible in the kitchen. My mom says she was awesome domestically, but on my visits I mainly got to experience the kitchen-side of things, so I will stick to that and leave the rest for my mom and her siblings to brag about. My dad's mom was also a domestic genius and always had food prepared just the way we all loved it to be. Thanksgiving at Grandma and Poppy's was always the best. You knew what you were getting and it was always fun to watch and "help" get things ready. I was always trying to learn her turkey recipe and how she always managed to make the gravy just so incredible.<br />
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Enter me, a girl who loves to create and use her artistic nature for everything coming after these two amazing cooks. I have always felt a great responsibility to carry on this legacy of amazing cooks, but do confess I often give in to easier to prepare meals and recipes over the good ol' fashion way of doing things. On occasion I get the urge to be adventurous and then it almost feels like these women are in the kitchen with me. The other night we did home-made pizzas and I made the dough from scratch using my mother's kitchen aid mixer which we flew over from the states. She got this mixer for her wedding(even what every bride wanted in the '70s, not much has changed). The dough came out great and so did the pizzas. I got the dough recipe from <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/printerfriendly/Pizza-Dough-237338" target="_blank">here</a> and have copied it below. I doubled it for three good-sized pizzas just to give you an idea of how much a batch could make; it also will vary on how thin or thick you want your pie, we like ours on the thinner side of life.<br />
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<img alt="ingredients" id="ingLbl" src="http://www.epicurious.com/rd_images/printer_friendly/pf_ingredients_lbl.gif" />
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<span>3/4 cup warm water (105°F to 115°F)</span><br />
<span>1 envelope active dry yeast</span><br />
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<span>2 cups (or more) all purpose flour</span><br />
<span>1 teaspoon sugar</span><br />
<span>3/4 teaspoon salt</span><br />
<span>3 tablespoons olive oil</span></div>
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<img alt="preparation" id="prepLbl" src="http://www.epicurious.com/rd_images/printer_friendly/pf_preparation_lbl.gif" />
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Pour 3/4 cup warm water into small bowl; stir in yeast. Let stand until yeast dissolves, about 5 minutes.<br />
Brush large bowl lightly with olive oil. Mix 2 cups flour, sugar, and salt in processor. Add
yeast mixture and 3 tablespoons oil; process until dough forms a sticky
ball. Transfer to lightly floured surface. KNEAD dough until smooth,
adding more flour by tablespoonfuls if dough is very sticky, about 1
minute. Transfer to prepared bowl; turn dough in bowl to coat with oil.
Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise in warm draft-free area
until doubled in volume, about 1 hour. PUNCH down dough. DO AHEAD <em>Can be made 1 day ahead. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.</em> ROLL out dough according to recipe instructions. (Start in center of dough, working outward toward edges but not rolling over them.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff's regina (ham & mushroom)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My, little bit of everything creation</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casey's, play it safe pie.</td></tr>
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For thanksgiving this year I will be making my grandmother's awesome turkey and my H'y's pumpkin and pecan pie. These pies are famous and top secret. I cannot wait to indulge.<br />
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Anyone have great things their grandmother's passed down to them? Any holiday treats you are making in memory of loved ones? Please share :) </div>
Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-91016472320837945132012-10-24T11:02:00.001+02:002012-10-24T11:02:46.977+02:00Problem solver!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A very cute video of Asher using this game cube thing to get a better look at things. He thought this up all by himself. I think I will have to be on the lookout for a step stool for him now. :)Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-9589979043091560812012-10-16T16:52:00.002+02:002012-10-16T16:52:30.507+02:0012 years later and still got Passion!On the 26th of September this year I attended a Passion World Tour event in Centurion. I was first introduced to Passion ministries in college at Elon University through some friends in Campus Outreach. I actually remember listening to one of their first CDs in Carrie Pitkin(Russell)'s car. I was moved greatly by the music. This introduction was the start of something beautiful. In 1999 with some friends, we traveled to a worship event in Charlotte, North Carolina which was a gear up for One Day 2000. We thought it couldn't get much better than that event and then we went to One Day. We piled into a few cars and drove across North Carolina and Tennessee to get to a small town and a field where One Day was happening. God did incredible things in our hearts during those few days together. He did things in all of us that would prepare us for what we would give our lives to in the next ten years(maybe longer, I will let you know :) ) For me, it was at One Day that I first heard John Piper talk about not living for the American Dream and not coming to God with my shell collection-a statement and idea he would later incorporate into Don't Waste Your Life. At One Day I heard Louie say; "you can give your life away for the Lord on the mission field for a few years, what is a few years in the span of your whole life?" I thought, what is a few years, I can do that. Little did I know how much bigger God was planning for me than a few years. Ten years into life on the field in South Africa, I can say it feels like only a few years still.<br />
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God did much in my life through Passion over the next few years and I was so excited when they were first coming over to South Africa in 2008. I was able to take girls I had been investing in and sharing their music with to a similar event that had major ramifications on my own life several years before. Would God do it again in me and in them for the first time? He did. We were blown away. Now four years later something amazing happened at that September gathering, I got to take Casey with me. My cousin, my daughter, the young woman God had placed in our lives permanently only three years before and had cemented legally earlier this year. My fourteen year old who has heard me talk about Passion and heard loads of the music produced from their events, this was a time for her to see and experience all the hype I had I been talking about.<br />
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We got there and the place was buzzing. When Chris Tomlin opened with his first song, Sing Sing Sing, we all started singing. Casey started singing and then I started crying. I was overwhelmed! 12 years after One Day God was still moving in major ways and in the hearts of many through this rag tag group called Passion. I never dreamed this life for myself when I was at One Day imagining all God could and would do through me in the next few years. I hope and pray the experience was encouraging for all who attended in Centurion, Durban, Kampala and Cape Town. For me I can say, God has done much but greater things are yet to come for Casey and myself and many more like us.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-om_Gt8VrVo4/UH10hSMEnCI/AAAAAAAAAb4/h4RqG-zv5aA/s1600/76869_10151216198471005_29356143_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-om_Gt8VrVo4/UH10hSMEnCI/AAAAAAAAAb4/h4RqG-zv5aA/s320/76869_10151216198471005_29356143_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casey & me after the party</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-35412633233869748382012-10-15T16:10:00.001+02:002012-10-15T16:10:11.065+02:00Granny's birthdayA few weeks ago we celebrated Jeff's mom's birthday. What a time it was. Jeff was cooking the meat outside and then we all had cake inside. Jeff's brother Eamon is now 15. He and Casey are already outgrowing Cathy. They have also long surpassed me.<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-TkZGW0Up26w/UHwZNUBec1I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/65xNHyFqGwo/s640/blogger-image-1533480799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-TkZGW0Up26w/UHwZNUBec1I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/65xNHyFqGwo/s640/blogger-image-1533480799.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-t0iAu15qN_w/UHwZO7UYnJI/AAAAAAAAAbY/5wwYGcWuK9M/s640/blogger-image-480361362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-t0iAu15qN_w/UHwZO7UYnJI/AAAAAAAAAbY/5wwYGcWuK9M/s640/blogger-image-480361362.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OgFjUFlw1to/UHwZQA6yC6I/AAAAAAAAAbg/3eIRNrumz0E/s640/blogger-image--1114737970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OgFjUFlw1to/UHwZQA6yC6I/AAAAAAAAAbg/3eIRNrumz0E/s640/blogger-image--1114737970.jpg" /></a></div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-35856078967545398812012-09-26T09:45:00.003+02:002012-09-26T09:45:37.421+02:00The Poet, John Piper<!--[if !mso]>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Always a favorite minister of God's word to me personally. Here John Piper uses his gift of poetry(also what he majored in University) to explain the gospel in a fresh way. I hope it refreshes your day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Is there a word to help us
feel<br />
the weight of Adam's fall?<br />
All.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">How heavy will this burden
weigh,<br />
(Spare not!) on those who fell?<br />
Hell.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">O Lord, so great this
forfeiture!<br />
Was there sufficient reason?<br />
Treason.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Then whence could any
traitor hope<br />
before your burning face?<br />
Grace.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">But surely that will cost
beyond<br />
our wage. How is it priced?<br />
Christ.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Entirely paid? By him? O
God,<br />
and is that gift for me?<br />
Free.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">I would receive this gift,
O Lord!<br />
How soon would you allow?<br />
Now. </span></div>
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Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-54648724258947517072012-09-06T13:42:00.001+02:002012-09-06T13:42:37.102+02:00Latest Happenings from South AfricaIt's been a long winter and we are finally seeing sights of spring. Here are some recent glimpses of the kids. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom & Ash in the snow</td></tr>
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I also finally tackled and won with my grandmother-in-law's sewing machine and was able to make this tutu for Casey for a school project. She and I were very proud of my work! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Her group came 2nd in the class competition! Must've been the tutu.</td></tr>
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Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0Westdene Westdene-26.180565 27.994443tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-35918518193699323372012-07-27T15:14:00.002+02:002012-07-27T15:21:21.560+02:00A life worth noting<br />
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<span lang="EN-ZA"> I have picked up a book that was given to me in the summer of 1999 at an 8 week Summer Project. I brought it with me to South Africa in 2003 because I thought, I love this woman's life and I will definitely read about her life as soon as I get there. Well here I am 9 years later, 13 years from when I got the combined auto-biographical book <a href="http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec/product_id/5702/nm/Give_Me_This_Mountain_Paperback_" target="_blank">Give Me this Mountain</a> and <a href="http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec/product_id/5709/nm/He_Gave_Us_A_Valley_Paperback_" target="_blank">He Gave Us a Valley </a>by Helen Roseveare. Her wisdom is not lost on me and I see God's timeliness in having me read her story now. Dead missionaries have much to teach us but so do some old living ones. Helen is still with us(87 years old and counting) and yet has so much wisdom to bestow upon us all. Here is an excerpt from her auto-biography on her understanding of being a missionary. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">“I believe that, at its simplest, a
missionary is one sent by God to live a Christian life, usually amongst people
other than his own. It is living which counts. This may include formal preaching,
but it will certainly include personal relationships, and these often have to
be worked out under most trying conditions.
For example, many missionaries discover that it is far from easy to
adapt themselves to a completely different climate. The native foods may be hard, not only on the
digestive system, but also on the aesthetic tastes. The language barrier may constitute a
difficult problem, especially in early years.
One cannot choose one’s friends. Two missionaries of vastly different
backgrounds, likes and dislikes may be thrown together for several years with
no choice of other companionship. One is
often expected to do jobs for which one is not trained, and which may be
actually distasteful. Yet in all this,
one is called upon to reveal Christ, to live a Christ-like life, to be a ‘missionary.’</span></div>
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is then that one realizes it is not the journey in the steamer that changes one’s
nature. I did not escape from myself by going to Congo. Rather, I came to know
myself better, perhaps more as others had already seen me. The ordinary trials and frustrations of life
that meet us all were just as real in Congo, and in some ways, were more
pronounced, as there were fewer ways of avoiding or circumventing them. For
myself, it was only as I allowed the Lord to show me my own pettiness, or
wilfulness, or pride, in different circumstances and problems, that I became
willing to let the Lord teach me of himself.
‘Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me,’ the Lord said ‘for I am meek
and lowly in heart.’ “</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA"> When I was a student involved with Campus Outreach, she came and spoke at one of our New Year's Conferences. I came home thinking, "wow, I want to be like her, I want to be a missionary." Her life and testimony inspired me deeply. I found the wisdom she spoke over us. You can enjoy it below as I and many other young women did that day. The question is not "is IT worth it? The answer would often be no, the question is "is HE worthy?" Yes, always yes! Thank you Dr. Roseveare. Thank you very much.</span></div>
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<a href="http://kiwi6.com/file/5c7xvagi1b">http://kiwi6.com/file/5c7xvagi1b</a>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-6561321308300574742012-07-16T16:51:00.001+02:002012-07-16T16:59:47.484+02:00Animal farmAsher loves animals it would seem. Something I didn't know until we went to this garden place that had a little petting zoo. We then had a time away together with our staff team and that place had some animals too. I couldn't get everything in but needless to say, Asher was into it all. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello Mr. Goat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What can I say? I am just that cute.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving the ducks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donkey, come over here for a minute.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just hold still while I see what you feel like.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423526716291252427.post-59614393400260857212012-06-21T19:10:00.001+02:002012-06-21T19:49:17.099+02:00More CCP funHere are some recent pics of Asher enjoying time with CCP and the Lion and Rhino park<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-povjiFR3mdo/T-NeAHKhnwI/AAAAAAAAAYk/qjel1quTeEo/s640/blogger-image-426977038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-povjiFR3mdo/T-NeAHKhnwI/AAAAAAAAAYk/qjel1quTeEo/s640/blogger-image-426977038.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5SFa9przaM0/T-NeG463kYI/AAAAAAAAAYs/QP0cvHa61cU/s640/blogger-image-1144436087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5SFa9przaM0/T-NeG463kYI/AAAAAAAAAYs/QP0cvHa61cU/s640/blogger-image-1144436087.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-v8Whjn7GdRQ/T-NeKCJuC1I/AAAAAAAAAY0/Cdv_teKzSvg/s640/blogger-image--666045632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-v8Whjn7GdRQ/T-NeKCJuC1I/AAAAAAAAAY0/Cdv_teKzSvg/s640/blogger-image--666045632.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7qTFhChe-XA/T-NePWZTdhI/AAAAAAAAAY8/JW-yd_ZG-KA/s640/blogger-image--511526650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7qTFhChe-XA/T-NePWZTdhI/AAAAAAAAAY8/JW-yd_ZG-KA/s640/blogger-image--511526650.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tJ3oy1zDcAs/T-NeVkuIx-I/AAAAAAAAAZE/jGCxqTvQhtM/s640/blogger-image-438134543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tJ3oy1zDcAs/T-NeVkuIx-I/AAAAAAAAAZE/jGCxqTvQhtM/s640/blogger-image-438134543.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HdLtFhRtugU/T-NeXlSlRbI/AAAAAAAAAZM/xW0hHtABSUI/s640/blogger-image-1928705752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HdLtFhRtugU/T-NeXlSlRbI/AAAAAAAAAZM/xW0hHtABSUI/s640/blogger-image-1928705752.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GKEALjFynEI/T-Nec8tDpKI/AAAAAAAAAZU/-Jm2B6T0pMs/s640/blogger-image-1596218643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GKEALjFynEI/T-Nec8tDpKI/AAAAAAAAAZU/-Jm2B6T0pMs/s640/blogger-image-1596218643.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XiQ4r0WspNg/T-NehLQCqII/AAAAAAAAAZc/OQXHweCPidQ/s640/blogger-image--976960120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XiQ4r0WspNg/T-NehLQCqII/AAAAAAAAAZc/OQXHweCPidQ/s640/blogger-image--976960120.jpg" /></a></div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16279971611897272383noreply@blogger.com0Westdene Westdene-26.17977 27.992537