Going local

There is a fresh local market very close to us that we get our fruit and fish from once a week, at least.  It is so refreshing (literally!) to see so much green stuff to eat, fruit and veggies and herbs picked that morning, and fish, crabs and other sea creatures caught/picked the same day.  The smiles that come free with every purchase, or just free, just because these wonderful people are Thai and that's what they do, they smile, makes the whole "shopping experience" priceless.

There is a super friendly local family that stays in the house just below us.  Mr Boa is also a taxi driver, which is how we met.  The other day they took us to a park, what a treat!  Our girls and their boys had so much fun, as did us adults!  It has been such a privlege to get to know a Thai family so well in this time.  Really special!

And then just 2 pics of my two most favourite little people...

Elephant Trekking!

We had the most incredible experience of going Elephant Trekking. As a South African you know elephants are enormous, but it's not until you get on top of one that you get a better understanding! And it amazed me that despite the size of these guys, they navigated even the smallest and steepest of paths, true "Gentle Giants".

My appreciation for these amazing creatures grew so much yesterday, as did my awe and love for their great Creator!  The biggest and strongest animal I have ever seen, well this close anyway, was carefully and fearfully and wonderfully and lovingly made by his and our awesome God. 

I praise God for elephants, and I praise Him for this experience!

What's to Eat at a Phuket Market?

We had the wonderful privlege of going to the Phuket Weekend Night Market-it was such an amazing experience! Busy, busy, busy and so much stuff to look at and buy, at prices that at times leave you laughing and wondering what the catch is! 

Ryan gave the girls 40baht each to spend there, that's a bit less than aed5 or R10, Donna bought a little ring, a pair of earings and a lipstick, and got 10baht change!?!?  Now that's bargain shopping at it's best!

Phuket Night Market

But by far the most... interesting (I can't think of a better word!) was the food that was on offer.  I really wish I had taken more pics of the food, but here's a "taste" of what was there...

Crabs, worms, grasshoppers, dimsums, sweets, quail eggs and every sort of meat-on-a-stick...and LOTS more!!!

Needless to say, us Pennies had fruit smoothies and water, then made supper back home in the safety of our Western Kitchen!

Dances with Dogs



Flynn and Mea

There are 3 dogs at Ao Yon beach, and they have added so much to our holiday.  The little puppy, Mea, is still just the cutest thing.  But there are two bigger dogs too that are just so much fun.  We named them Maxy and Flynn (Maximus and Flynn Rider from Tangled), and found out yesterday their real names are Ralphy and Po.  We're sticking with our names.

Once again, it is such a blessing to watch the girls have so much fun.  To see them out in the sun, on the beach and playing with animals, is simply heart warming.  I'm so thankful for God's creation and that there's so much of it unspoilt here.

We are loving it.

The beautiful Ao Yon Beach

Our Trip to PhiPhi Island Village

I know God is unchanging, but I am also convinced that He was extra creative when He created the beautiful PhiPhi Islands!  As an extra special treat, Zoffie took us to the PhiPhi Island village for 3 nights, and what an extra, extra special treat it was!

The Ferry rides on the Sea Angel there and back were top just by themselves, well at least for Donna and I they were, the only 2 who didn't sleep!

On Board the Sea Angel

The place was just stunning, you get there, take a deep breath and relax as even time takes a rest as everything is laid back and slow.  Natural beauty surrounds you and you just marvel at God's creation and awesome kindness at each new thing you see. 

I struggled to switch my camera off...

Some of my favourite pics

The best seat in the house

We had such good times there, the girls especially.  The rooms/little huts were just brilliant, "luxury without being luxurious", so cosy and comfortable, with the best view of the sea out the big sliding doors and balcony. 

The people on the Island were so, well... typically Thai.  So friendly, kind and helpful, they really make the stay so special. 

The best time was the morning we went snorkelling.  We met a great Thai guy, Mr Chet at his restaurant on the first evening.  He survived the actual tsunami wave by hanging onto a coconut palm tree and was able to hold his breath through it because he was a diver.  In his words "I've been given a second life".  I pray that he genuinely has.

The time was such a blessed one because of the fun we had with the girls.  I think for the first time we enjoyed something like this all together.  To enjoy the sea in all it's beauty, snorkelling with Donna next to us and Hannah catching a ride on our backs and taking small turns at snorkelling too, it was filled with moments I will never forget.

Praise God for His blessings, they are awesome.

Snorkelling in PhiPhi with Mr Chet

Two Amazing Dinners

We had the privileged experience of having some wonderful Thai people come cook us an amazing meal in our villa.  All round, it was just a brilliant evening.  The team, headed by Khon Pond cooked up a storm that was the best Thai food I have tasted.  And they were so friendly and kind-it made the meal all the more sweet (and spicy!).  We hope to do it again before we go, for obvious reasons....

The best Home Cooked Meal I've ever had!

The very next day we got to spend Mel's birthday with her again-in Thailand-again!!!  I must say I love Mel's birthdays!  We had supper at the gorgeous Sri Panwa, words can really not explain this place, it is unbelievable! And of course, the food was fantastic too!

Happy Birthday Mel!

Our blessed stay in Thailand begins!

We arrived in beautiful Phuket after two smooth and easy flights.  The girlies only went to sleep 1am Dubai time after watching 2 movies each and enjoying the flight to the max.  But after “supper” (at midnight!) it was definitely time to sleep...

Our place is absolutely stunning, a real home kitted out with absolutely everything we need and more-we’re very, very thankful!  There is a beach 2 minutes walk down from us on one side, and 5 minutes on the other side there is a great little swimming beach, complete with tyre swings into the sea, huts for Thai massages, and an awesome little tea garden place that I just imagine my mom running (this type of place has always been her dream!). 

Oh and there are two gorgeous dogs there too, one of them a lively little puppy that is just the cutest thing in the world.  She is small enough to fit in my suitcase, so I might be bringing her home…     

Little Mea

Time to go home and sleep!

The house has a beautiful pool that overlooks Chalong Bay, that is just such a treat! 

Hannah loving the pool

The gorgeous guy taking a rest from writing



My prayer is that we enjoy this beautiful place, but never cease to praise the Creator of it all, and use the time wisely to grow in His likeness and love each other more than ever.

Riding Billy and Playing with Ponies!

Both girls got to ride the beautiful Billy; Donna looked like an expert little rider, and Hannah, oh little darling Hannah-she just loved every single second of her first ride on a real horse!  We went to see the little ponies as well, man they were too adorable!  The phrase “as excited as kids in a candy store” needs to be changed to “as excited as two little girls in a pony stable”!! It was an absolute treat, for them for sure; but for me to watch them, possibly a small bit more!

Donna's Fifth Birthday

Donna had a party that I think lasted about a week!

It all started 2 days before Donna’s birthday with a movie and pies with Warren and Kate. They supplied the movie, the stunning "Tangled", hand delivered personally by Mr Muir all the way from the States.  Donna wanted a Hamster cake for her party, so I had to practice making it. Kate and Warren very kindly agreed to help sample it too.  The first Hamster didn’t look so good, but it was so full of chocolate that it tasted fine! (A chocolate cake, with white chocolate icing and a coconut and flake mix pressed into the icing for the “fur”…) I very stupidly didn’t get any pics of that evening-sorry!

Next was Don’s actual birthday.  Donna has been wanting to go to the Snow Park for a long time-so this was the day. Granma and Grandpa Zoffie were here, so they got lugged into the snow-not that they seemed to mind at all! Hannah and I patiently waited and watched them like real tourists through the window…  We then all had a great lunch and hot chocolate with Uncle Buck at St Moritz (as you do after a morning skiing-even if it is in the desert!). 

That evening Donna had her wish of Lasagna and Ice Cream for supper, followed by pink cup cakes, lots of laughs and funny photos.

It all started just nice and easy...

And then it all went crazy...

It got worse...

And thankfully back to "normal" again



The Yongs and Neals joined us for a Pool Party that next Thursday.  The Hamster looked better this time, but was not as loaded with chocolate, but at least her ears stayed on!   

Special friends


It was a spoil-I know, but Donna is a special girl and birthdays only come once a year-thankfully!

 

The differences between Donna and Hannah - in pictures

Our Dirty Ballerina

 

Our unconventional ballerina so loved playing in some puddles left by an unusual rain "storm" a couple of weeks ago.  I went through the pics only last night and was just so acutely aware of what an awesome blessing Hannah is to Ryan, Donna and myself.  She has brought so much joy and laughter into our little family, a blessing that I am so honoured and so thankful for.

Praise God-Hannah's Creator-for His amazing grace, mercy and goodness!

Our Princess turns Five

Our precious Princess is five.  Words can in no way explain how unbelievably thankful I am for this amazing little girl that has turned my whole world around in every way.  I thank and praise our awesome God for these priceless five years He has given us together.  The blessings He has given us through her are countless, I love Him more because of Donna, and love Donna more because of Him.

Thank you Lord, and Happy Birthday my precious Donna

He Gives and Takes Away

Sad just does not capture the hopeless feeling I experienced today.   While we were enjoying a relaxing Friday; a day of church, special family time and a “Sunday Lunch”, a dear friend was mourning the death of her brother.  I was just struck by the unpredictable changes of life that strike people at different times with varying degrees of severity. Life, as they know it, will not be the same again.   And those of us that are not affected, are just... not affected.  Our lives just carry on.  Unchanged.  It just seems unfair.

As I started thinking about how heartbreaking the situation is, I was reminded that it is the Lord who gives, and it is the Lord who takes away, and He is to be blessed, praised and thanked for both.  How comforting and awesome it is to know and believe in God who is in control of all things, and who works all those things for the good of those who love Him, and for His glory.  Sadness is reduced to some extent, but hopelessness is done away.

So as I weep with those who weep, at the same time I am amazed anew at the grace and mercy of our great God, who is slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness.  Once again I am extremely thankful that He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor punish us according to our iniquities but instead, through the death and resurrection of God’s own Son, provides a way for us to be with Him, forever, where there is no sin, no death, no tears.

As I consider that the days of man is like grass…and it is gone, I marvel that the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him.

Bless the Lord, Oh my soul!

                                                                                                                thoughts from Psalm 103

At the Desert Ranch with the Yongs

We went to the Desert Ranch with the Yongs-and had so much fun!  Once again it was just so great to be out in the real nature of Dubai, with some real quality time with the camels this time.  I have to say that camels are awesome!  They have such a bad reputation, with their apparent stinky breaths, but to be honest, I would have to bust that myth! They are real characters, so gentle and... funny!  They were taking dates out of our hands and so very eager for more.  Hannah was even sharing with them, she would have a bite from a date and give the camel the rest, a half a date taken gently out from her tiny fingers!  The donkeys were the next big hit, after feeding the horses we only had 4 carrots left for them but they were determined to find something more to snack on, even if it was the empty date box!

From there we went and had a picnic under a big tree and the kiddos decided to do some gardening and extra exploring, it was just beautiful to watch them have so much fun! 

Lunch with the Ladies

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.  Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.  James 3:17-18

We've sadly come to the end of our study in James.  It was such a great and practical study, so challenging and often convicting.  I believe (and continue to pray) that we grew from the lessons we learnt from the wonderfully vivid James, and that we be "doers of the word, and not hearers only", growing in our love for our great God and for each other.  

      

To mark the end of the study, we did what all women love-bake,cook, enjoy a delicious meal with special sisters, and chat... and laugh ...alot!  It is such a blessing to be involved in the lives of such special ladies, to study God's Word, discuss it and apply it together.

   

I tried to get a pretty picture with Luke and the girls, they've spent alot of time together the last months and I thought it would be nice to have a picture...just one decent photo of the three of them together.  It didn't happen.  But I got some great shots of the charming Luke that I will treasure forever!

My Growing Princess

Our dear Donna has been wanting to ride a horse for a while, and we finally got her on one! We went to the Gecko Club with Carrie and had a really great morning enjoying the natural beauty of Dubai (horses, camels, goats, ducks, donkeys and lots of sand!).

When it was time for Donna to get on the horse, she was scared, but we thought about what an amazing animal a horse is, and how wonderfully our great Creator God had made him, and what a great privilege it would be to actually ride a horse, and all her excitement returned. She did so well, sat so tall and straight and tried very hard to do all the things she was told to do (hold the reins-shorter, sit straight, how to turn, how to start, how to stop-all in one lesson!). I was very thankful she got and took the opportunity!

The horse she rode was called Tenesee, a champion horse who won a 120km long distance race with the Sheikh of Ras al Khaimah. Donna is very, very impressed with this...

How is it that our baby has grown up into this beautiful little lady already? The bible says children are a blessing from the Lord, and man I am reminded of this daily-a couple of times a day! But this morning I was reminded at a more intense level; God in His mercy, graciously blessed me, as undeserved as I am, with this little girl who becomes more precious to me with each passing day.