Clay Jar People

4 years ago at 10:30am, in a garden in Durbanville, these two 21 year-olds promised each other forever. In front of family and friends. Before their Father, they vowed to love unconditionally.

Today, after 7 and a half years together, 4 of them married, and one of being parents, those two kids seem a distant memory.

The 25 year-olds in their place have learnt its easy to promise something, but that the promise-keeping takes work. And a whole lot of kneeling. The butterflies are resting, not quite so active as they once were. In their place is a rock-solid love.

We once promised this…

“Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”  Ruth 1:16-17

And it still rings true… To many more years, children and memories…

I still want to hold your hand, laugh with you, kiss you, be with you, all the days of my life… xx

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Since Saturday, my favourite fruit are blackberries… But I have never eaten one in my life… I refer to my awesome BlackBerry smartphone, that my even awesomer husband bought me.

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Sadly the above picture is not mine… if only my hands were as pretty. My BlackBerry really is black!

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I found this quote quite amusing… and actually agree…

That said, I find myself spending LESS time online on my PC as my emails come straight to my phone, so I spend more time doing other things.

Either way, I just wanted to tell the world how cool my husband is for getting me this awesome phone!

Twenty-five years ago today the love of my life was born. He was the first boy to be born at Panorama Medi Clinic… only just beaten by a girl. His parents were very blessed with this little boy, the youngest of 4 children, and certainly my favourite.

I met Chris when we were both 17 years old, and in the past 7 years I have seen him grow from a young boy into a man who is not afraid to stand for what he believes. He is now the kind of man you want on your side, his wit and charm keep you entertained in the most dreary days and his loyalty never ceases.

Since December 2010, I have also seen him change from a man who was willing to take risks, to a man who would rather sacrifice himself for his family than risk any danger or loss happening to them. He is daily growing into a more amazing father to our little boy, and Elijah loves his papa so much.

I can honestly say, Chris, you are my best friend, and I love you more today than I did the day before and more then, than I did the the day before that. We are so blessed to have you as the head of our home. I hope you have many more birthdays that we can spend with you.

Just a quote that is my wish for you:

“If you live gladly to make others glad in God, your life will be hard, your risks will be high, and your joy will be full.”
— John Piper

“Children are a heritage from the LORD,

offspring a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3

Mark Driscoll wrote this post for Father’s Day, and I wanted to share it.

That said, I would like to mention the fathers in my life, in chronological order…

Firstly,  my papa.

He’s one of the most hard working men I know, he has always worked really hard to provide for his family, so we never wanted for anything. Yet, he always has time for a cup of coffee with his wife, or a chat with his son or daughter. I remember when I still worked in Cape Town, my dad would often meet me for lunch or coffee. Good times. He is a great grandfather too, and Elijah just loves him. I am proud to say he is my papa, and I am glad he raised me the way he did, conscious of the environment and knowing God.

Next is my father in law, who raised my husband. He is a kind man, with a heart for the lost and for reaching people with the gospel. He still works really hard for his family and finds time to prepare sermons. He raised Chris to fear the Lord, and taught him about life. Thanks to him and my mom in law,  I have the husband I have today.

Now for my husband, the papa of my precious little boy. He is great, he works really hard too, providing for us so that I can be home with Elijah. The way Elijah loves him so much already, proves that he’s a great father. He watches Elijah every morning while I’m at boot camp, and plays all sorts of funny games with him. I’m sure every year he will grow into a more fabulous papa.

We’re blessed to have so many great fathers in our lives.

Newborns are hard work… and anyone who says otherwise is mad! I love my son, more than most things… but he’s one hectic handful. He is one of those babies that you can’t just put down and leave, he wants to be held. Now I know, I could leave him to cry until he stops… but what will that achieve? He will just have abandonment issues and I will be distraught at listening to him cry.

He also has a habit of spitting up… alot… on everything. Makes me wish I had a maid to do the laundry everyday… and clean the house since I don’t get the chance. Its a miracle if I manage to get dressed and shower… even eat.

Sleep is for the dead… I haven’t slept properly, not a whole night, nor soundly in almost a month. This in itself is not a problem, but it is tough when you have to still function as a normal human for the rest of the world. Because life goes on.

Now, before you all think I am complaining, I really am not, I am adapting to my new life, this role that God gave me, and that I prayed for, for so long. I am so blessed, because despite his somewhat frustrating quirks, my son is my little sunshine monkey. I wouldn’t trade him for anything, not even a good night’s sleep.

On a side note: I need to say that my husband is a legend… he was amazing while I was in hospital, and spent so much time with us, bonding with Elijah and helping me. I know he is frustrated with my sleeping patterns, and being woken up at night by crying, and having to deal with a wife who can do naught but look after a baby (although I really want to cook and clean too…). I know that its hard for him sharing me with the boy, but I am sure it will improve once he’s older and we have a routine, then I will be freer to watch movies and play XBox and all the things we used to and that I know he would love me to do with him. I am just so proud of him as a dad, for changing nappies and bathing Elijah the first few times, when I was too scared to, and for supporting me when I struggled with breastfeeding.

Elijah is lucky to have Chris as a dad and I am lucky to have him as my husband.

So honey, I love you – even though I am mostly a useless-milk producing-zombie at the moment.

I am have a ridiculous amount of books, and I very seldom ever throw any out… books are my best friends, they never judge, and they are always there. They cheer me up and take me to times and places I have never been. For this reason, I need a lot of shelves… Luckily I married me a skilled carpenter :D Who built me a bookshelf without being asked to… How cool is he?

I know I am slack with these posts, but my husband rocks my world, even when I don’t post about it!

I know I have said this over and over, but I need to reiterate… I am soooo grateful for Chris, that God gave me him to love me, provide for me, and protect me. I couldn’t ask for a better man, a more loving husband, a crazier friend, and a better dad to my children (the first of which had better appear soon…). I think I forget to tell him how much I appreciate him, and how hard he works, to put food on the table, and make sure all our needs are met. If I could tell him every second of everyday, I totally would…

I love you so so much and I am so super amazed at how hard you work, and how much you give to let me stay home, and keep house and raise little people.

My husband, you totally rock my world!

He sat through 2 very disturbing videos of birth… caesarean and normal birth… and he didn’t pass out or run out. (I was tempted to run away when I saw the caesarean… and when the placenta was delivered in the normal birth). I am proud he stuck it out, and that he’ll be with me when I deliver this little bundle. Proud to call him my husband!

At our antenatal class the guys were taught how to do pregnancy massage… which helps mama to relax and increases the chances of a normal birth… and my husband is amazing at it :) Looking forward to trading massages.

I also seem to look for things to say about my husband, not because he’s not awesome but probably because he’s so awesome that I sometimes take the things he does for granted. For example, he painted the baby room and hung the curtains for me, and he’s going to sand and varnish the cot this weekend. I’m sure there are a million things he’d rather do, but because he knows its important to me, he does it.

He also spontaneously took me for coffee on Wednesday, he just skyped me and said he’d love to see me, so I must meet him at the Mugg and Bean. He bought me a beautiful bracelet from my favourite store (the one I love to look and but feel too guilty to buy from) and gave me a gift voucher for said store. I mean how sweet is that??? Of course it makes me feel guilty as I seldom buy him anything other than chocolates… But its nice to know he loves me and that he wants to see me.

So I think my husband is the rockingest man ever!