Busy, busy, busy!

(This post should actually be dated 15 December 2013. As the title suggests, I was clearly too busy to post it. But here it is now)

  

I promised to keep you updated on all the projects I had going on since I finished exams in November. I have been just so busy that I haven't even had the chance to write about it.

Firstly, on the 22nd of November the band that I am a part of at church led a family worship evening. It was absolutely incredible if I do say so myself. It consisted of a dinner followed by about an hour and a half of musical worship. I can explain the feeling I had inside of me. It was like Jesus just took over and I felt the Holy Spirit moving me and leading me to lead the congregation in worship. I was given a verse to sing solo and I was so nervous about it, but when the time came for me to sing, this voice just came out of nowhere. A voice I didn't even know that I had inside of me. The only explanation I can give- the Holy Spirit.

I have also been working on a photo book of tributes to my grandfather. I gathered together photos from throughout his life and complied then with various tributes from the family. I am so impressed with the way it has turned out. However, best of all the smile on my Granny's face when she looked through the pages was absolutely priceless. A smile I will remember forever.

Every year before Christmas I would make a calendar for my Grampa with photos of the family on their birthdays and wedding anniversaries. Although my Gramps is not here this year, I have decided to continue the tradition for my Granny. I've been hard at work trying to get it finished for Christmas in between all sorts of other things.

As I do every year I have been baking. Cookies, fruit cakes, cupcakes, my late Granny Dorr's shortbread, chocolate cake.... I'll stop making you drool. I was asked to bake 40 cupcakes for a corporate year-end function. I had a blast designing and making them, and I was incredibly impressed with the outcome. I have also been baking cookies for order. Although it may seem like a job, I have had an absolute jol baking and spending time in the kitchen (despite my sore feet after 2 straight days of baking).

I am in such a great place and frame of mind at the moment, I couldn't ask for anything more. I am beyond blessed and this Christmas I feel the need to give. After having an awful year, I want to make someone else's day, even if it is in the smallest way.

Hope you are all having the best December season yet, and what lies ahead may be worth remembering for years to come.

All the best,

<3 Nicole_Kayley

P.S. I’ll post photos soon

‘Tis The Season... To Be Busy!

So, it’s Christmas time again, yet it doesn't feel like it should be. Maybe I’m getting too old for the childish excitement of the season. And possibly because I bought all my own presents with my mom, the surprise is sort of no longer existent. Yet, I’m probably busier getting ready for Christmas than I am during a week of varsity deadlines.

With one week to go, I have managed to bake about 6 batches of cookies, a bunch of mini fruit cakes that I covered in fondant and decorated, and yesterday I covered and decorated my Granny’s Christmas cakes (not exactly the way Granny would have done it, but certainly Cake Boss quality- I can dream, can’t I?).

Mini Fruitcakes

The Main Attraction

So, now while I frantically try to learn how to play them traditional Christmas carols on the bass by Christmas Eve, I’m listening to Jeremy Camp’s Christmas album (‘Christmas-God With Us’) in search of that Christmas spirit. I’m sure it’s hanging around somewhere.

This may also be the last opportunity I get to blog before Christmas itself, so I want to wish all my readers an amazing festive season, a special Christmas and an incredible new year!! Remember, it’s not about the presents, but the meaning behind the holiday. This year I’m concentrating more on giving. Whether it is in giving my time to someone close to me or donating food and clothes to those strangers who face a very dark holiday season. I urge you to do the same. Take the time to think of others this festive season and do something kind. As big as a car load of old clothes and such, or as small as a simple compliment. We can all do it!

Rejoice! For God is with us!

Hallelujah, the King has come!

Here’s to 2013!

Until next time,

Keep Smiling!

<3 Nicole_Kayley

Celebration and Too Much Pudding!

Christmas seemed to come and go in the blink of an eye. Feels like yesterday that I was sharing my feelings on what Christmas means. Nevertheless, my festive season was simply amazing.

It all started on Friday, December 23^rd. My dad, brother and I got in the car with the boot filled with food parcels and a few items we were throwing out after a huge kitchen clean-out the week before. We drove down to Dora’s Ark, a children’s home in Roodepoort, with the intention of dropping off the boot-load for the children and ‘parents’ of the home. Only when we arrived the doors were all locked and it looked as if nobody was home. After knocking on the doors and there was no answer, we started to drive away. Just then my brother saw the door open and one of the ‘mothers’ checking to see who was there. We made a quick u-turn, and pulled up in front of the home. The ‘mother’ was so pleased to see us (my dad is a regular visitor to the home), and welcomed us and our parcels with open arms. It turns out all the children were still sleeping, so unfortunately we didn’t get to see them. Although, just talking to one of the mothers who cares for these children, it opened my eyes to just how blessed I am  to have all that I do. These kids basically have nothing but the home and donations. At the moment they are in desperate need of a bigger house and more beds as they continue to take in more and more children with nowhere else to go. The adults looking after the children do it out of the goodness of their own hearts and receive nothing in return. I have huge respect for them. Sometimes we can all get caught up in our own lives, money and petty problems without thinking about those who don’t even have a mattress on which to sleep. It was truly a humbling experience and the perfect way to experience the miracle of Christmas.

The Christmas celebrations began on Saturday 24^th with a family Braai at my Aunt and Uncle’s house. There was plenty of food, fun and laughter. Presents were handed out to those who weren’t joining us on Christmas day and the kids just loved ripping up the paper wrappings. Even though I didn’t do any unwrapping, simply watching the joy of my family receiving gifts was a blessing to me.

After the fun of our Christmas eve celebrations, we headed off to church for a dress rehearsal before our annual Christingle service for the kids. I really had great fun playing Mary in this year’s play. Although, I don’t think I’m ever going to stop hearing the jokes or being teased about it. Father Errol sure thought it was fantastic though. It gave me a feeling of satisfaction to do something so special for the kids of our church. I went home with a happy heart to eat, clean myself up, and have a quick nap before heading back to the church for Midnight Mass. The church was packed as we all shared in the miracle of Christ’s birth and wished one another a Merry Christmas. We arrived back home just before 1:30am and only just awake as we made our way to bed.

Little Michael and the girls: Me, Izabella, Daisy and Julianne.

The cast of the 2011 Christingle + Clergy & Church staff

While deep in sleep, with strange dreams going on in my head, I hear the sound of music travel down the passage. I glance at the clock: 6:45... “REALLY??” Next thing I know, my mom is trying to wake me up, and I’m thinking: “Are they seriously trying to wake me up before 7am?” Anyway, I got up and made my way to the lounge to find a camera pointing in my face and coffee on the table. The lack of sleep was all worth it in the end. Again, I ended up watching everyone else open their presents, and enjoyed it more seeing their reactions, than I enjoyed opening my own presents. My mom says it’s what happens when you get older. But like I said before in my “It’s Christmas Time” post, the holiday is all about sharing Christ’s love. The love represented by a gift, rather than the gift itself. I wish I could have frozen that moment because it was the perfect example Christ’s love being shared.

The rest of the day was shared with the big family all seated around the big lunch table, jokes, laughter and way too much food than my stomach could handle. And MORE presents! The weather was glorious and I ended up lying down on a chair cushion outside on the stoop. I felt like I had a food baby (more pregnant Mary jokes) after a huge bowl of puddings (there were 6 different kinds). While I was on the ground, my cousin, David decided he wanted the cushion under my head and while messing around I managed to smack my head pretty hard on the tiles. I’m pretty sure I can still feel the pain in the back of my head today. It all made for a good laugh in the end. All in all, the day was fabulous and I ended up in bed at 9:30pm completely worn out.

I finally woke up at 8am, with not a care about the time. I picked up my book and enjoyed lying in for the first time in a really long time. I was surprised to discover that my mom had done the same and we eventually crawled out of bed in time to have Christmas cake for breakfast at tea-time. We had Christmas lunch again (and we STILL have leftovers), and the parents have now passed out on their bed for a lazy afternoon. Meanwhile, I’m enjoying the new music I got for Christmas (Lady Antebellum and Scotty McCreery) while writing. I think I’ll pick up that book again for the rest of the afternoon and enjoy a lazy Monday- for a change!

My Mom's fabulous table setting

My little Family

My Big Family at the table

Blessings for the Festive Season,

In Christ’s Love

<3 Nicole_Kayley

It's Christmas Time

Since Christmas is right around the corner, I see it only fitting that I share the Christmas spirit. I’d say that  Christmas is probably my most favourite holiday on the calendar (even my birthday can’t beat it! And I do love my birthday). There is just something about the festive season that makes me feel all warm inside. No, not the feeling of warm coffee inside my tummy in the middle of winter. Rather, a feeling of tradition, giving and memories.

As a kid I loved Christmas morning most. My brother and I would wake up as early as 5am (or 3 or 4am in my brother’s case) and impatiently await the sound of “Jingle Bells” or “Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer” to travel down the passage at full volume. That was our cue. We would race down the passage to the lounge to find our parents, cameras in hand. But more importantly, a pillow slip waiting on the couch for each of us. Just the thought that this strange (and rather large) man had been in our house while we were asleep didn’t seem to bother us one bit (I mean, there were PRESENTS after all!). Although, nowadays if a strange man of any size had been in my house during the night, I would probably freak out! These are the moments of my childhood I will treasure most- the carefree, simple things in life. Even if it meant believing in a fictitious story. Sometimes I wish I could go back a few years and be a carefree kid again and believe the silliest things.

However, as I have grown up, Christmas has become much more meaningful to me. It is no longer about waking up early or getting those greatly anticipated gifts from the North Pole. It is more importantly about spending time with my amazing family, being thankful for every little thing in my life, and giving back to others in a special way (and maybe getting a few more hours of sleep on Christmas morning). Gifts may be a part of Christmas, but there’s something about that t-shirt, or pack of ear-rings that just isn’t that special and meaningful as the love from the giver that they represent. I believe Christmas is about sharing love more than it is about sharing food and pointless presents that they may not even like.

So, my wish for all of you this Christmas is to go out and share the love that Christ brought into the world at His birth. After all, He is the reason for the season!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas,

God Bless

<3 Nicole_Kayley