I know this is what I need to do!

I say this with a little hesitancy, but I do feel that I need to take a short break from blogging. On holiday, I had time to reflect on my life.
I have decided that the time and attention I spend on my blog needs to be spent with family, getting closer to God, and becoming a more healthier, fitter and slimmer me!
So if you don't hear from me for a while....... I'm okay...... just doing a little refocusing!
Love to you all....
May all you northern hemisphere blogger friends have a beautiful Summer!
Love Fifi

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

A Great Break!

What a great long weekend!
Things have been pretty stressful with extended family issues , SO......... getting away to the mountains was a great idea! We had a blast! This was probably the best time we have spent away! The room was spectacular and the food was deee-licious!
We enjoyed walking in the mountains. On our last walk we got horribly lost, and ended up in the midst of a troupe of monkeys! They were all jumping from tree to tree above us, and barking like dogs! I kept praying in tongues,.... and CoolDude (who was in front of me) asked " Are you talking to me, Mom?.... 'cause I don't understand!"
We were scared! The boys got out their knives ready to stab(if necessary), and I held onto my wooden stick and was prepared to clobber anything that attacked me!
Thankfully, we made it back to camp unscathed!

Love Fifi

Sweeties are my weakness!

Have you ever done a post that you feel quite okay with.......and then as you sign off,...... you loose the whole floopin thang!?!?!
That just happened to moi!
So here's trying for the second time....

You may or may not know, that I am on the mission to throw off quite a few kilo's............ so in the light of this, I thought it would be quite apt to blog on sweets instead of consuming them!
Have you ever seen any of these?

My favourite........................... Tanzipanzi's Favourite!

Chocolate selection

Toffees................................Chappies bubblegum

I thought not! The above are adored by all my family members... including moi!
These are some of our sweets in S.A. (sweets=candies).

Give this a try..... it's fun!

What does your drawing say about YOU?
The results of your analysis say:

You tend to pursue many different activities simultaneously. When misfortune does happen, it doesn't actually dishearten you all that much.
You are a thoughtful and cautious person. You like to think about your method, seeking to pursue your goal in the most effective way.
You like following the rules and being objective. You are precise and meticulous, and like to evaluate decisions before making them.
You have a sunny, cheerful disposition.

(Alot of this is me!)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday weigh in.

Well ....... I'd be lying if I told you that the weight is falling off me! I did lose though.... 0.5kg(just over 1lb). I'd also be lying if I told you that I was extremely committed to this weeks challenge!
But it's a step in the right direction I suppose!
On Thursday we're going away to the mountains for 4 days. We will be served 3 delicious meals a day!! Oh my!
love Fifi

MayDaychallengecopy-1 src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/226/490222012_99743f59d1_o.jpg" width=160>

Update on Hubby!

I have had many questions from concerned friends who want to know how Hubby is.
If you weren't told that he was in 4th stage kidney failure, you wouldn't have the foggiest that he was quite sick! He looks so well! He has always exercised and been very fit! The doctors are even astounded that he doesn't have the normal symptoms.

But his condition is serious..... he has to reduce the sodium, phosphate and potassium levels in his blood through eating the right foods. Because his kidney is not filtering properly, high levels of the above 3 are present in his blood. These can cause heart disease. The dysfunction of his kidney is also causing high cholesterol (sitting at 9). His blood pressure is also very high..... but beta blockers have brought it down slightly.
The Nephrologist said that he has had this condition for about 20 years!!!
Short of a miracle..... and we believe God can heal Hubby....... his condition does lead to Dialysis and/or a kidney transplant. When?We cannot tell ..... it could be sooner or later.
When something like this happens to you and your family, you start to re-evaluate what living is all about!
That's where we are at!
Love Fifi

Introducing....... a new member of the family

Two of the cutest things in our household at the moment!

Of course one would have to be TanziPanzi..... don't you just wanna tug at those little cheeks?

and the other is 'Dash' short for Dashiel Percy Gibbons. It's WizzKids kitty, so he named him after Dash in 'Mr Incredible". Percy is the name of his favourite rugby player!

Love Fiffi

-----------------------------------------------------------

I love the name MOM!

Being a mommy is such a blessing! And being a homeschool mommy is a double blessing! I have friends who say to me "How can you be around your kids for that long, they must drive you crazy!"
No, quite the contrary, I wouldn't want it any other way. They make me laugh, and sometimes cry. They hang onto every word that exits my mouth, and sometimes they correct me! We have fun together, and sometimes it's just pure slog! But the most important thing to me, is that I am getting closer to them as they grow older, and I am understanding their unique personalities alot better.

Why do I tell you this?....... well, partly because it is Mothers Day, a day for us to reflect upon the motherly subject, but also because when Hubby was diagnosed with 4th Stage Kidney failure(2 months ago), we made a decision to put the boys back in school. The plan was for me to study so that, if necessary, I would be marketable if we needed to earn money.

I put their names down at a couple of schools, and got info on a course I was interested in. We had no response from the schools for weeks. But this gave Hubby and I time to realise that this was not what we wanted for our family. We were all thriving on home education...... so why change something, that doesn't need changing?!?!
Over the last month I have had time to reflect upon the whole homeschooling issue, and I realised that ,besides the great education my boys were getting, I was getting so close to them......... so why would I want to put a halt to this?!?!
God is so faithful...... Even though Hubby and I attempted to open doors that would lead us along a different path, God knew what was right for us and he kept those doors firmly closed. I often make my own plans, put pray "If this is not your will God, keep the door shut." He honoured the prayer... of course!
I will always be a mommy......... but I am so glad that I will walk in an even greater blessing, and continue to be a Homeschooling Mommy!

Happy Mothers Day to all you Mommies!
love Fifi

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Buddies!

This would never have been possible in S.Africa 14 years ago!

This is a pic of my son WizzKid and his best friend, Zolile. They have been close friends for 8 years, and even though WizzKid and Zoli are no longer in the same school, they have still remained best buddies!
To put you into the picture........ I grew up in a neighbourhood that did not have any 'Black' people living in it...... they were not allowed to rent or own property in our 'White' neighbourhood! My school did not accept enrolments from the 'Black' community, and my college class only had 'Whites' in it! I never SPOKE to 'Black' children, let alone became one of their friends! It was totally unheard of! You NEVER saw a 'Black' person driving a car.

My parents were very progressive and always voted for the freedom of the African people.
It was only in about 1993 that things started to change and the Africans started to live more freely.
Today,....White and Black South Africans mingle freely! Black S. Africans own some of the most expensive cars on the roads and get given jobs before their white counterparts! Oh how the tables have turned!
Things are far from perfect, but I have hope that this land will be healed, and that true forgiveness will overcome hurts and bitterness!

Blessings to you all
Fifi

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Food City,.... and Food for the Soul!

This morning I woke up and decided I needed time out! Ever felt like that before?

I tested the boys on their weekly spelling words and gave them something creative to do. Their mission......... to create "Food City" on an A2 sheet of paper. I would show you, but it's too big for my scanner! Their art abilities are not the best, but they score big on their imagination!

While they were at that, I went browsing through a few book stores and bought a couple of teaching Cd's by Ray Comfort. One is called "Hell's best kept secret".

I have heard such good reviews on this,..... I can't wait to listen!

I am almost finished this mosaic cross for my entrance hall. I did not realise that mosaic-making was such a 'dangerous' craft!!!!! My hands got all cut up when I added the Litefill grouting. Afterwards I read "rubber gloves required!"(A-duh)

Have a superb weekend!

Love Fifi

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drive-thru shopping!

We have many beggars and vendors on our roads. When you stop at the robots(traffic lights), you invariably have someone shoving their wares in your nose or a beggar asking to remove your rubbish from your car for a small donation!!!

In fact I heard this saying the other day......... "South Africa is the only country in the world where you can do your monthly shopping at the robot!" Fruit, veges, toys, tissues, beaded ornaments, perfume, illegal DVD's, cooldrinks, sunglasses, handbags are just a few of the items that have been offered to me!!!!

I found this pic of a very creative S.African beggar.........

I'd donate just because he made me laugh in peak hour traffic!!!

love Fifi

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Desperately Seeking Skinny Girl!

Today, I went browsing through some old photo albums trying to find thin pics of myself. There are many, and as I reminisced I realised how badly I have let myself go!

The pics below are from 1997 and are some of my favourites, not just because I am thin, but because this holiday in Cape Town, South Africa, holds some beautiful memories!

So here is proof........ I was once a skinny girl!

That's me in a bikini! And look Halfmoon Girl I'm wearing a skirt!
I just need to find that skinny girl again.........
Love Fifi

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weightloss Challenge

Today, I joined the May Day Weight Loss Challenge. I am 5ft 7in and need to lose about 25kgs(55 lbs).... Yes, dear friends it's shocking!

I had my first baby at 25years and was able to lose the weight pretty soon after he was born. With my second pregnancy, I gained many more pounds, and it took me about 2,5 years to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight of 64kg(140 lbs). My third child was born in 2004, and I have not been able to lose my weight! I actually weigh more NOW, then I did when I was full term with her!!!!!! After this pregnancy my thyroid packed in and I had to go onto high doses of Eltroxin.

So this challenge is just what I need.

I enjoy gym, and for the past month, I have been going 5 times a week for 30 minutes a session. I only do cardio. I can't say I have lost anything though!

What I need to change, is to cut out bread, drink more water, eat smaller portions, and eat dinner as early as possible.( Not 9 PM!)

S0 I am hoping the accountability of this challenge will keep me on the straight and narrow !

Love Fee

Me again!

Lori of Glass Half Full tagged me to reveal 7 random facts/habits about myself. Then I have to tag 7 more people. Here I go:

1. I always leave the milk out after making tea! (This freaks Hubby out!)
2. I never wear skirts.
3. I love watching movies based on true stories.
4. I have the terrible habit of starting a project and never completing it!
5. I am a morning person!
6. I sometimes go to bed with make-up on! A shocker!!
7. I love Thai food!

I think....... I will tag anyone who would like to do this !.... Please let me know if you do.
Love Fifi

Tubu....... what?

Hubby's family have been blessed with a swimming talent. Hubby's Dad was a National swimmer and would have been able to compete in world competitions if it wasn't for the sanctions imposed on our country. He coached Ryk Neethling (Olympic Gold medalist) when Ryk was a teenager.Hubby was a good provincial swimmer, and my 2 boys seem to have the gift too! Both swim for a club. WizzKid trains 5 hours a week and CoolDude does 3.Every morning they arise and head out to the garden to do their 'tubes'. This is an upper body exercise that works on resistance. They are totally sold out to this..... and never forget to do their "tubulations"(as TanziPanzi calls it!)
Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share PhotosOf course loud vibey music always accompanies these exercise sessions ( sorreee neighbours!)...... and often we hear the scream of their craziest fan, TanziPanzi!"Go..... go..... you can do it....... GO!"Love Fifi

I'm clever........ at last!

I've got brains........ apparently! I like that!

mmmmm...... I not too sure on the logical bit........ I do get rather irrational when my emotions run riot.

Efficiency........ I keep on trying to prove to the family that it runs in my blood! Truthfully I think I might be trying to convince myself!

Your Career Personality: Brainy, Logical, and Efficient

Your Ideal Careers: Archaeologist Astronomer Book editor Business manager Civil engineer Designer Economist Inventor Judge Scientist

The Quick and Dirty Career Test

Go have a bit of fun..... the test takes 2 minutes!

Love Fee