Ever wonder about the abbreviation A.S.A.P.? Generally we think of it in terms of even more hurry and stress in our lives. Maybe if we think of this abbreviation in a different manner, we will begin to find a new way to deal with those rough days along the way.
There's work to do, deadlines to meet;
You've got no time to spare,
But as you hurry and scurry-
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER;
In the midst of family chaos,
"Quality time" is rare.
Do your best; let God do the rest-
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.
It may seem like your worries
Are more than you can bear.
Slow down and take a breather-
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER
God knows how stressful life is;
He wants to ease our cares,
And He'll respond to all your needs : always say a prayer
A scene you will probably never get to see, so take a moment and Enjoy God at work at the North Pole.
This is the sunset at the North Pole with the moon at its closest Point.
And, you also see the sun below the moon.
An amazing photo and not one easily duplicated. You may want to pass It on to others.
The Chinese have a saying that goes something like this:
"When someone shares with you something of value, you have an Obligation to share it with others!"
Sunset At The North Pole
Tuesday's antenatal class was interesting, we had a midwife, Annie, telling us about different forms of pain relief for a drug free birth, some of which seemed very interesting, and nice, if you could think of something being nice in between contractions which could cripple, and probably will. She did have some hints for the husbands though, don't massage your wife during a contraction, you could lose body parts. I must say that it was a lot less distressing listening to her talking than to Gill, our normal midwife, who keeps telling us about episiotomies, and vividly reminding us of how the skin will stretch as the baby's head crowns. I shudder thinking about it now.
Today, I am 30 weeks into this pregnancy, and I am starting to get somewhat nervous. It is only 10 weeks until full term. Today this month we will be in East London, and then it will be Christmas, and then it will be the end of January and I will be going into labour. Imagine that. 2 months really, with a little more than a week over and above that. My mother asked yesterday what we still need for the baby, and I said I have no idea, and told her what we already have, and that was about all I could do. We still don't want to go overboard with nappies and the like, because you could get a brand and then the poor child has an allergic reaction to it, and then you have to go and try exchange them for another brand, and also I have no idea how big this baby is going to be, for all I know it won't even fit into newborn sized nappies.
We had our end of year function today, and went to a restaurant called Fabulous, which has a Moroccan theme, and it was quite a lot of fun. We had to take our shoes off before entering the restaurant, wash our hands with rose water and sit on bean bags around tables and they had platters in the middle of the tables for us to pick from etc. It was nice because you didn't have a set meal which would stuff you, and being pregnant, you try not to get too stuffed. I was a little disappointed though, I was really expecting more from the food, more flavoursome I imagine. You always think it will be, seeing it on TV on the cooking programs, and they use so much to enhance the flavours, and then you get the food. Maybe it was just because of the meals that we were having and I should give the place another chance. Apparently the upstairs has normal tables you can sit at on chairs, and you select your meal off a menu. But, apart from feeling very uncomfortable sitting on a bean bag, with a pregnant tummy, it was fun. They even have hubbly-bubblies for the patrons to puff on, which I avoided. They were lighting them up, as I was leaving, and I took Omesh with me, the other pregnant fairy in our office.
Last night also had it's fair share of thrills and spills. I was almost awake as I was starting to have a bad case of heart burn, it literally felt like someone was dropping acid in my throat with an eye-dropper, quite a sensation, and I heard a loud bang, which my brain managed to tell me, through all the fog, was a gun shot. I got up, to go to the loo and get something to drink, and saw that it was about 2am. That was quite hectic though. It sounded very close and not very fun when you are a pregnant fairy home alone, with your husband at least a 2 hour flight and some drive time away from you. But, there was only one bang and then there were a few dogs barking, but nothing after that, so I went back to sleep and didn't wake again till the morning.
Well, that is about it all for now. Till next time.
Whew! What an experience! Cygnet was most unimpressed with the Doc for doing the scan, especially since he was pressing onto my tum. It was fascinating to see what was actually going on inside me when I feel the little kicks, and also the not so little kicks. Cygnet is very healthy, all 1.4kg of it, and Doc is happy about that as well. Looks like we could have a big lil one on the way. But then, you never know… maybe it'll plateau for a while. According to the scan, Cygnet is about 2 weeks ahead of the game in size, which can't be a bad thing. Other than when I have to give birth to it.
This time is so precious though, and although I can't wait to meet this little baby, I am also sad that this time is nearly over. Ok, yes I still have more than 2 months to go, but in the bigger picture, that isn't really a long time.
The Antenatal classes have also begun, and the first one was a little daunting already. I think Paul got more out of the class than I did, I just got a little scared about eh delivery, or a little more than I was already. I know that there are all the relaxation techniques that are there to help ease the pain, but so far all the friends I have chatted to said they have very little effect while you are actually in the middle of the contraction. But, I am sure that there are things that I will learn that will be of benefit. We have our next class this evening, so we will have to see what it holds.
Diwali has certainly provided some excellent opportunity for firework photography. Paul took pictures and I must say they came out well. The fireworks would be even better without the bangs though. I don't enjoy all the noise. You will see there is one of the fireworks, and also one of lightening that Paul took a while ago, that I thought would be nice to share.
Exciting news is that there is the small squeal of a baby budgie coming from the next box in Mr and Mrs Blue's cage. Very exciting because I was starting to lose hope that there would ever be a Blue Jnr. But, they have proved me wrong, and I am looking forward to meeting the lil one.
I have also added a picture that I took of the Durban cityscape at night, from the Wilson's wharf parking lot, which was fun to take, and I think the best picture I have taken all year. I must say that out of the many pictures that get snapped there are select few that really tend to excite.
We have also done some home improvements, with a new light fitting in the bedroom, since a ceiling fan is kind of redundant when you have an air-conditioner. The light fitting is a stainless steel fitting with directional down-lighters. I was blown away this evening when I went through to see what the lights looked like now that it is dark. WOW! I can't believe the difference. Paul also put up a 500W Halogen light in the garage so that he can work in there and see what he is doing. I think that it has made him quite happy.
I was also thrilled as my sewing machine went in for a service, and I am blown away by the difference, it is like I have a new machine. Sewing is a pleasure now, and I have finished the black skirt that I have been trying to finish for about 2 weeks. And it looks stunning I must say. Now that the machine is in such good working order I want to try new things, like some of the fancy stitches that the machine can do, and also Pat asked if the machine had a roll over hem foot (no idea what she was talking about) so I showed her all the feet that the machine has and I do apparently have one. Now just to figure out what they all do. There's even a darning foot! So now, while Paul is in the garage I can also be busy making stuff! Yay.
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For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the
strength I need. Phil 4:13
If you're having trouble thinking out the box, then you're probably in
the wrong box.
But that is not what I meant at all.
I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes. I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but that becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.
I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse
than watching your child die.
I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to primitive level of a bear protecting her cub.
That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a soufflé or her best crystal without a moment's hesitation. I feel I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood.
She might arrange for child care but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of her discipline to keep her from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right.
I want my daughter to know that everyday decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma.
That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that rest-room.
However she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother. Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself.
That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child.
That she would give it up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years - not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.
I want her to know that a Cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor. My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks..
I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child.
I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.
I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving. I hope she will understand why I can think rationally about most issues, but become temporarily insane when I discuss the
threat of nuclear war to my children's future.
I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike.
I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or a cat for the first time.
I want her to taste the joy that is so real, it actually hurts.
My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes.
"You'll never regret it," I finally say.
Then I reach across the table, squeeze my daughter's hand and offer a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all of the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings.
This blessed gift from God!
Being a Mother
Hard work makes you sweat. Notice, when Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden they had to "sweat to earn a living" ( Genesis 3:19 CEV). Farmers sweat to turn their crops into cash, the same as bricklayers on a construction site or an executive writing a report in a high-rise office suite. You tend to value what you have to work for - and God values your efforts as well. That's why when David had the chance to offer God a sacrifice he said, "Nor will I offer… the Lord… that which cost me nothing."
Whether you do it figuratively or literally, you sweat to earn a living. And you'll also do the same when you're committed to worshipping God. This doesn't necessarily mean praising Him loudly and raising your hands in church; those things are good at the proper time. But in-depth worship goes far beyond that. The word worship comes from the Anglo-Saxon word "worth-ship," which is "the act of ascribing worth or value to a person or object." In the New Testament worship encompasses service, adoration, reverence, humility, love, and giving. For example, tithes and offerings are the part of worship where you give God the first portion of your earnings ( Proverbs 3:9). It's another way of honouring Him with the fruits of your time and energy. When you sacrifice sleep to get up early and spend time with God, you're also doing something that costs you. And when you inconvenience yourself to help somebody in need, you're offering God something of real worth ( 1 John 3:17).
So examine your heart today and make sure you're offering Him something of value, and not just your leftovers.
I prayed for this child... now I give him to the Lord.
1 Samuel 1:27-28 NIV
Mum, here's a prayer for you to pray: "Lord, help me to give my children the best - not of things, but of myself, cherishing them on good days and bad, theirs and mine. Teach me to accept them for who they are, not just for what they do; to listen to what they say, if only so they'll listen to me; to encourage their goals, not mine. Let me give them a home where respect and integrity are the cornerstones, and there's enough happiness to raise the roof. May I give them the courage to be true to themselves; the independence to take care of themselves, and the faith to believe in You. May I discipline them without demeaning them, demand good manners without forgetting my own, and let them know they have limitless love no matter what they do. Let me feed them properly, clothe them adequately, and have enough to give them small allowances - not for the work they do, but the pleasure they bring. Let me be moderate in all these things, so that the joy of getting will help them discover the joy of giving. See that their responsibilities are real but not burdensome, that my expectations are high but not overwhelming, and that my praise is thoughtful and given when it's due. Help me to teach them that excellence is work's real reward. And when it comes - let me revel in each honour, however small, without once pretending that it's mine - my children are glories enough. Above all, let me ground them so well in Your truth that I can let them go. In Jesus' name, Amen!"
Today was the big 20 week scan where the doc checks to make sure that all is well with Baby, and well, Cygnet is really excelling at growing. Doc was very happy with the progress. It was so good to see Cygnet again, and it was fun to watch it move around and see how it has grown. I know there are a number of groans from people wanting to know the gender, but again we have managed to avoid finding out :o)
The scans weren't terribly clear on the printouts, but a. shows the baby, with the spine being dominant, b. shows the arm as the dominant feature, and c. has the leg as the dominant feature. All the measurements were healthy and brain, heart, kidneys and liver were all developing well. Cygnet was very shy today though and refused to show it's face.
I know it's short but sweet, but time isn't on my side today.
Love
Kim
Yesterday, being the 13th September 2007, marked the halfway point in my pregnancy. Woo Hoo!
A friend commented this morning that I swallowed a pea, and where is my baby. But, the tum is starting to expand, and I am starting to fell like I look pregnant, and not just getting thicker around the waist. Cygnet is a lot more active these days and Paul was able to feel the kicks without me telling him where they were, which delighted him immensely.
Over and above this great achievement, we are having a lot of rain, which most people would attribute to Spring arriving in our sunny country, but I think it is because I have now successfully sewn 3 tops, and a pair of pants and have worn them, in public :o) My mother keeps telling me that I should sew more as we need the rain. So I will be going shopping for more fabric this weekend, and will make a few more tops. And I guess one or two more pairs of pants will do. However, I have been looking at how easy wrap around skirts are to make, and this weekend Pat has said that she would help me to make a pattern so that I can make some. This morning I was looking at the bought one that I have and it is really so simple to make. The hardest part would be to make the darts, but they aren't actually that difficult. So, I have to take it with me when I go shopping on Saturday and I'll try to get some of the same fabric, as it is such a soft, pretty, just-meant-to-be-worn fabric. The other plus is that they can grow with me, and when I have had the baby, they can shrink again too! Let's hope they have the fabric…
Today was also quite exciting, as I discovered a beautiful camp site down the south coast at Scottburgh, which I think would be lovely to spend a weekend at with the friends. And it isn't too far away so we could get there on a Friday evening and then spend the weekend there. I have emailed the details to Trace and she was as excited about it as I was. So we will be planning a camping trip soon. I think that I have managed to get over the dread of camping. Being a few weeks pregnant and camping isn't terrible fun, especially when the food range is limited and all you are craving is fresh veggies and fruit. This trip, I will be prepared and take a lot with me, so that I can munch when the desire attacks. Speaking of which, the Fruit and Veg guy that visits our office has just been, so I have stocked up the supplies so I can munch away happily. I have quite a range now, bananas, oranges, naartjies, and apples. Yum! Baby just gave me a high five with excitement :o)
Well, that is me for now… Have a great weekend! God Bless
Ok, so Friday last week was Casual Day in South Africa. It is a day where the country buys stickers and can wear anything… some people go wacky, some dress casually as they are always dressed smart, and then you get the people who use the opportunity to try our fashions from other cultures… like me. I managed to borrow a Punjabi from a friend and wore that for the day. It was fun, and I am sure that I would like to wear one again, but after some investigation, it turns out that in order to get your own Punjabi made, you have to go to a dress maker, because there isn't a pattern available anywhere, due to the fact that each dressmaker has their own way of making them etc, etc… So this weekend, I made a pattern from the top of the Punjabi, and hopefully I can make my own one, one day when I have the courage.
I had a busy weekend with my sewing and finished one top, and I have to hem one more, to have finished two. By the time Paul got home last night, he was so tired that we went to bed early, so the little I still had to do will wait till today to get finished. I also found that using t-shirt material to make the tops works like a charm, as normal cotton type fabrics are too inflexible and make the edges very difficult to finish. Plus… t-shirt, I find, is more comfortable.
On Saturday we decided to have a braai, and that we were going to do a whole chicken in the Weber. So I went shopping and Paul was amazing in getting everything together on the evening, making sure that there were yummy, home made, focaccia's and the chicken was cooked to perfection. We also did baby potatoes which he fried in garlic etc. we had our neighbours, Jorge and Gitlyn over for the braai, so it was good fun. It was also great to hook up with them, as we haven't for a while, and they are always looking out for us.
Just so you know… as I am writing this post, Cygnet is doing it's daily exercise and making my tum feel like I have some serious twitches in it… I love feeling it.
We went to visit Paul's father on Sunday as well, and it was good to relax and catch up with him. Peggy was helping Cathy move and unpack so she wasn't there, but we still had fun. We went to see Booby and Mags as well, because Paul wanted to see what the progress was on the boat, and my gosh, he has made some progress. He and Paul chatted for ages about the engines, and the gen-set and all sorts of things on the boat, while Mags and I sat in the office and chatted about baby stuff. What is really amazing is that Bobby is making this boat (and it isn't a small one) by himself, which they plan to take to France. It runs on two diesel engines, and just to give you an idea, 4 people could sleep in it comfortably with a gully, and dining room etc. The fuel tanks are ginormous as well.
Last night, Paul also felt Cygnet move for the first time. I was lying down and I could feel it moving around. So I tried to press on my tum to see if I could feel it from the outside, which I did, so I called him, and pressed with his hand, and he got kicked. Very exciting. He said that it was very soft to him, but from my side it felt like a hard one. I suppose it had to be hard for Paul to be able to feel the kick.
Well, I guess that is me for the time being…
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This is hysterical.
If it had been presented this way, I don't believe any of us would have done it!!!!
POSITION:
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an, often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Not to forget the Doctor, Travel expenses not reimbursed.
Extensive courier duties also required.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
The rest of your life.
Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs MONEY!.
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 100 kmh in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.
Must maintain multiple homework projects.
Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.
Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :
None.
Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION:
Get this! You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left.
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.
BENEFITS:
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.
-xXx-
For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. Phil 4:13
http://www.kimswanphotography.co.za/
