The zoo

Yesterday myself and the children were invited with when some of the children went to a small local zoo. I'll not bore you with all the animal picture;), but here are some of the human specie:

We had a great day- come back tired, dirty and pink. Lovely.

Mondays

Mondays are normally our free day, though we've ended having to work quite a few the last weeks. We keep it as family day. So, two weeks ago we saddled up the car (going away for a day with children means packing half your house) and head up the Western Coast of the Cape. The area is known for it's wild flowers, now in spring time. So we went to a park that's just open two months of the year, to see the wild flowers.

It was such a blessed day. Beautiful weather, all together, in nature created by God's own hands.

First we were met by an ostrich family.

For Carl we could go home after this, it is very seldom that you see a Caracal in the wild.

A pelican flying over your head, might be common to some, not so much to us.

Also really special, we were watching three of these bat-eared foxes playing in the field right next to the car.

And then there was the normal amount of antelope/buck/whatever you want to call them.

All surrounded by the most beautiful flowers.

And here to prove that we didn't pull those of the internet:

Kids

Hi there, no traumatic news. We're busy, but not things that you need to share with everybody and anybody. So, just a quick few pictures to show you how the children are growing.

Really loving life, even though it is really not that exciting or entertaining.

I'm doing a course on children's evangelism, and they told us that up to 85% of children who believe in Jesus Christ accept Him between ages 5 and 15. And then I read the same thing in the newspaper today. So, let's find joy in the faith of a child:
Mark 10:14..."Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Faith like a child...

New home

We've spend the last week, arranging and re-arranging everything in our new apartment. Now, we've kind of settled one where things belong. So, if you can't come over for a cup of tea/coffee, we'll share our little home with you in this way. Close your eyes and feel very welcome in Home Paalman.

                                                                        Have a seat.

                                                             My great joy! Enough cupboards.

                                                    You were suppose to see the great view.

      This is it. Here in the front we watch the guys t-off on their round of gholf (free lessons for Carl;))

This was the tricky one, how to make the children fit. Don't worry, Tim doesn't sleep up there, just loves to play on his sister's bed.

Come back again.

My deep moment: on Sunday the message was from Matthew 6, which amongst other things say: do not store up your things where moths and rust can get to it. Trying to move all we've collected, I just realized we have way to much moth food here. Phew, stuff is hard work.

Holiday

We have so many pictures of the last few weeks. You know one always takes hordes of pictures of when you are not working. It is also a beautiful example of all the pretty moments in the Netherlands.

But apart from all the beautiful moments, there were also special moments with family and friends. This is by far not all, just a few. We had a great time!!!

As you can see!!

So till we meet again:

Family Paalman

We are currently (19 July) in Pretoria. Carl will leave for Cape Town tomorrow and the rest of us next week. We'll be moving into a new house, so we might be quiet for a while.

on the 1st of August we'll start our next term with Goeie Hoop.

In the Netherlands

Just to let you know, we made it, safely.

And with nothing less than the new A380-800 airbus. Goodness, Carl was as excited as a little boy. And the flying went well, despite the fact that Tim had double ear infection (that was on the first flight to Pretoria).

Now we are enjoying our time with family:

This is niece, Alene, in Pretoria.

Nieces and nephews in Holland.

And then there is grand-ma:

And this is such a dutch moment, that I just couldn't leave it out:

We are relaxing, thank you everybody!

Moving house

We've moved so often in the last years, and I'm finding it harder to do every time. Plus as your earthly posessions become more, it becomes harder and harder work;)
But looking at the boxes everywhere reminded me of the verse:
1 Pet 1:1 "I'm writing to God's chosen people who are living as foreigners in the lands..."
Even in my own country, I am still a foreigner, waiting to go live in my Father's House. One day, no more moving around, no more boxes, no more fairwells. I can't wait!

Just to explain, our things are in storage now, until we come back from our time with family, first in Pretoria and then Holland.