“Koppie klim!”

A while ago, Franco and Gert climbed the koppie  (hill) behind our house.  Franco couldn’t wait to go up again, so the next weekend all of us went up – except for Oupa who manned the telephone in case someone phoned in connection with a puppy (we had just advertised)  Hendrik was still at church and Frans at work.

The horse trail at the foot of the koppie.

Dorette with Janita and Thelwyn with Sandy

It is quite steep uphill and tough for little ones, so I took Franco by the hand – end of pictures of our way up!  Leading someone up the hill reminded me very much of the about 20 months that I led my mother up the hill: She had her crutch in the one hand, and held onto me – her walking tree – with the other.  I got to know every stone and tree: where to get her to step and where to hold on – her eyesight was very bad.  We used to chat all the way up and i have precious memories of those times - I’ll cherish them forever.

On top of the hill – standing by the plaque Ma unveiled on her 90th birthday.  We had celebration prayer times here on her 90th and her 91st birthdays.  She died two months before her 92nd birthday. 

Janita got out of her carrier and also paid her respect to “Oumagrootjie se plaat”.

Hello Oupa! 

We phoned Oupa Jan to come out of the house to wave at the children.

Janita had had enough of family photos!

Time to go down again – Gert only carried Franco across an opening between the rocks – for the rest they walked down on their own two feet.

Rustyd.  And no, Martelize is not sitting on the edge of a cliff – this is just a rock next to the path.

My precious blue eyed Franco!
Thank you God, for such a precious koppie and such precious times that we have spent – and will spend- there. 

Abia’s Consecration

A few weeks ago, Jopie and Nelia’s 2nd daughter, Abia, was consecrated.  Abia is Urielle’s sister.  Jopie is my sister Lalie’s son and they are very close and dear to us.   Unfortunately the H’s couldn’t be there for the occasion, but we and the L’s were there in full force.  I was so busy chatting to everyone that I did not take many photos, but here are a few snaps of the big day:

Janita in her party dress.

Franco, sporting a hat on this glorious Spring day.

Guess from whom Franco got his blue eyes…

And guess from whom Janita got her brown eyes!

One of these days Janita will no longer fit on Franco’s lap – we took similar photos a few weeks later, and could hardly see Franco behind Janita!  

And Ouma can’t get enough of Franco’s blue eyes.

Urielle, Abia’s sister, sharing a moment with Franco.  She was nearly two when this pic was taken. Urielle and Abia differ 13 months and the two sisters are great friends.

Urielle with her dad.

The party girl finally woke up!  She wore a beautiful long dress in church, but did not like it and Nelia changed her just after the ceremony.  At 11 months, she enjoyed the chips and other lovely eats at the party.

   

 

 

Baie, baie geluk Abia!  Ons bid jou ‘n baie geseënde lewe as ‘n prinses in God’s koninkryk toe!

Martin and Stella's wedding

In January I blogged about Hendrik and Sharon's exceptional Kwasizabantu wedding. (Cousin Hendrik - not our Hendrik). In August his twin brother, Martin got married in the same way. Same way, meaning marrying purely, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, without ever having had a relationship of any sort with the fiance.

The big difference between Hendrik's and Martin's weddings was that when Martin got married, the burnt down auditorium had been rebuilt and they did not have to get married in the Aquelle factory shed, like Hendrik and Sharon did. Here pretty Stella makes her entrance down the aisle.

While Martin stood waiting... with Hendrik at his side.

The choir sang beautifully in this massive auditorium that seats thousands every Sunday. This wedding was on a Saturday afternoon and not part of the Sunday service like the others, so the church was not packed to capacity, but there were still many guests. You can read more about their wedding here.

After the service, photos were taken in this beautiful garden. Here is our Hendrik with my sister Elsabe, the mother of the groom.

Father of the groom, Koos, with Anne and Netta in the background.

Wally's wife, Jessica.

Jan and Elsabe Pienaar, Netta and Kobus' children.

Ethelwyn and her children Evan and Almarie.

Tiemie, Lalie and Tannie Babs. Tannie Babs is the only one left of my father's generation. She is 86 and still very sprightly.

Almarie Hanekom.

The beaming couple.

I copied this picture from the Kwasizabantu website.

The whole De Vos side of the family. Tannie Babs, next to Ria, is not much taller than her brother Arno (7). Apparently she wears boys clothes age 11.

Ria, only daughter of Dirk and Ruth.

One of the dainty bridesmaids in her light green frock.

The bridal table.

Hendrik and Martin are keen hunters and hunt especially wild boars - in fact Stella is the daughter of the man on whose farm they often hunted.
Sabe's daughters wrote a poem about hunting and all her grandchildren (except the two babies and Almarie), enthusiastically recited this long poem to the guests at the reception. Jan, in the camo suit in front, was to shoot at one point and he missed his cue, and said, "Ek het nie geskiet nie" to the great amusement of everyone. (See video) But he was not put off and here he aims and shoots.
On the pic is Josh, Ria, Arno (behind Elsabe), Elsabe, Evan, Jan and Hananiel.

Congratulations Martin and Stella! We had a great time at your wedding!