Photos after all It finally worked - here are the photos that were supposed to have been with yesterday's blog-story.

That's us at the Turkish restaurant with our kebabs

Jeremie with his mussels in tomato-sauce

More dreams... Yep, they keep on coming. Yesterday morning, both Nathalie and Leilani woke up with a dream that I was expecting/having a baby! WOW!!! This has never happened before - both the same dream in the same night! I know for sure I am not pregnant in the natural. However, there is "something" pregnant inside of me :) And it does have to do with babies. If you've been reading my blog, you know what I am talking about :) Very interesting - - - - - -

Jeremie's 15! We've had a very busy week with lots of guests, meetings, cooking, baking, cleaning and all the kind of stuff that goes along with extending hospitality. The best part was Jeremie's birthday yesterday! I love to celebrate our children and remember the day they made their entry into this world! Jeremie almost died at birth. He had the umbilical cord wrapped around him in 3 places and was blue all over! Ohhh, am I ever so grateful that God kept him alive - and well!!! He's probably had the busiest week of his life this week. His rowing practices are increasing in time and intensity. On Thursday morning, instead of the usual row at 5:45am, the coach had the boys run a surprise 17km (about 10 miles)!!!!!! After school he had to work out in the gym. When he got home at 5:00pm he mowed the neighbour's lawn. The next morning, yesterday, we celebrated his birthday for breakfast, since he wasn't going to be home all day. He wanted to have cinnamon rolls for breakfast, so you can guess what time I got to get up :) After school he and a couple of mates (friends) from school set up a beebee gun stand for the school gala. And then they ran it all evening. It was a school project for them to run a small business and I've got to say that they did really well!!! Their stand was about the only one with lights, so they had people coming through all the way to the end. We had his birthday cake when we came back home - around 10:30pm :) This morning he was up again at 6:00am to do his Saturday row and then we joined him at the club for the opening of the rowing season with different activities. We couldn't stay very long, because we had to get back to drive Nathalie to work. He didn't want a party with his friends. Instead he wanted our family to go out for dinner tonight. This is really special since we usually don't go out (unless we get invited by somebody:)) And actually a nice treat for me, too, not to have to cook! We weren't so sure if this was possible, looking at the budget, but we found this Turkish place that's got good - and affordable - food. So here you can see us having kebabs - and Jeremie a dish of mussels in tomato sauce - hmmmmm... - Bon appetit! (Sorry, the photos didn't work)

Rich, the garden and his little girl Rich is a man of the heart and the hands. He's been spending quite a bit of time in our vegetable garden, weeding and planting and caring for it. The result? We have all kinds of vegies slowly growing AND - are just having our first yummy strawberries!!! WONDERFUL!!! He had to put netting over the strawberry patches, since the birds were coming after them as soon as they were getting ripe. Kind of reminds me of what he's doing in Fiji. There's a lot of care that needs to be put into the preparation of the IWT campaign. Sowing, planting, weeding, protecting... There's a lot of work and it takes a long time until you can harvest - and sometimes there are "birds" who would like to steal the harvest. So, you've got to be vigilant and protect the harvest. Just what Nehemiah had to do when he was re-building the wall of Jerusalem. Rich's favorite Bible character is Nehemiah - I know why :) Rich just discovered two more herbs/vegies in our garden that we didn't know were there - mint leaves, which I love to eat and make tea with, and potatoes. WOW WOW WOW!!! All these hidden treasures... Who knows what he'll discover next? This is fun! I think Kylie comes after Rich. She's also got a really BIG heart and doesn't mind getting her hands dirty - I mean REAL dirty! She even loves to play with worms. Today, she came to me heart-broken that her worm had somehow ripped in half - I couldn't quite understand all her explanations:) I just had to take of picture of her (just happened to have the camera with me - you may notice her all dresesd up - she is now dressing herself and gets changed many times a day - most often she wants to be a princess)

This photo is shortly afterwards. Rich had just given her a new, big fat worm and she came to show it to me - squealing with joy! Our little princess!

Relaxing week-end It is soooooooooooooo wonderful to have my man back!!!!!!!! We had a good family time yesterday hanging out, going to the hot pool, playing cards and watching a movie (at least some of us - I went to sleep half way through). Rich and the kids also had a good "session" of rough-housing - the kind usually boys have with their Dads, but in our family the girls join in, too - except for me, it's too rough for me. The girls come to me when they need some "tenderness" afterwards - to recuperate :) This week-end is Labor Weekend in NZ - which means a day off on Monday - Youppie!!! As soon as one of the kids wake up to take care of Kylie, Rich and I will go out for breakfast - our first date in quite a few weeks. Catch-up time! Hopefully the cafes are open today! Here is a photo of one of the beautiful roses we are blessed with in our garden - with the most amazing smell!

Rich is coming back soon! I am so excited! Rich is in the plane right now, flying back from Fiji! After 3 of the last 4 weeks without him, I am so ready to have him back home!!!!! God was gracious to me and really helped me through these weeks of separation, in spite of sickness and not the best of circumstances when he left. As much as I have had a lot of extra work being a "single" Mom, I also had extra time while Rich was gone - the time it normally takes to keep up our relationship :) So I was even able to catch up on a few things that needed to get done around the house. What was nice was that we were able to talk on the phone through SKYPE about every other day. It was wonderful not to have to rush conversations, because it is completely FREE to call from computer to computer! What a difference to times past!!! I remember, when we first arrived in Tahiti, and I was really homesick, I was not able to call home AT ALL for the first year. We had no computer and no phone line (couldn't afford it). That was tough! Thank God for computers and the internet!!! Makes it soooo much easier to stay in touch!!! Kylie has been asking for her Daddy. I guess she is getting pretty desperate to see him again, too. She usually doesn't ask for him when he is gone for a short time. Today, she told Leilani: "Daddy is coming back and he is bringing me something - - - his big ears!" LOL! Now, let the reader understand: Kylie has a very peculiar habit - when she needs comfort or is tired, she sucks her thumb and plays with an ear. She LOVES to play with Rich's ears - they are her favorite! She also takes other people's ears (sometimes even unsuspecting visitors') or her own if nobody else is available. She sure is glad her favorite ears are coming back soon!!!

Pregnancy Counseling Center in Tahiti 14 years ago, God put on my heart to start a Pregnancy Counseling Center in Tahiti. 4 years ago, while I was pregnant with Kylie and sick, I was granted the privilege to help initiate this ministry that I really felt needed to be interdenominational (a pretty radical idea at the time). I just found out that - after another training that just finished - it will FINALLY open in January of 2007 - and it will be run by people from several churches! This is a great victory!!! A dream coming about!!! PRAISE JESUS!!! 14 years ago, I thought I would be hands-on involved in it, but I guess that was not to be. I couldn't be happier that it is finally happening! I knew 4 years ago that my only role was to get things going in the initial stages. And see what God has done - with some wonderful people and a LOT of patience and perseverance in the face of many obstacles and delays! I am so thrilled!!! May MANY desperate women find all the love, help and support they need through the body of Christ reaching out in unity!!!

D r e a m s D r e a m s D r e a m s I love dreams! I guess I've had a fair share of them in my life (who would have thought?!)... There are the dreams when I am sleeping: the random ones... silly ones... scary ones... stressful ones. Did you ever wonder what a missionary dreams of? I don't know about others, but I dream quite a bit about traveling to foreign places. Like the dream I had a couple of nights ago. It was soooo cool! I'll spare you the details, but Rich and I were on some trip with a stop-over in China, and it became an unexpected long stay with a Chinese family. The dream was so vivid and I really enjoyed learning all kinds of things about Chinese culture (including the fact that the whole family was wearing exactly the same shoes, just in different sizes - funny!). The main frustration of course was the communication - or lack of it :) Now, how exciting is that? A trip to China (never been there, only Taiwan and Hong Kong for a couple of days - 20 years ago) - all in a dream? Pretty time-efficient and good for the budget, too:) And no, there was absolutely nothing triggering that dream, like something I'd seen on TV or read. It was a blast and I didn't want to wake up from it. Now have a guess at what my stressful dreams are usually about??? Very hard to guess - - - NOT! They are about moving, selling or giving away our bigger belongings and trying to fit the rest into a few suitcases - and then trying to clean a home and catch a plane on time - with the kids in tow! Oh, I don't even want to go there - - - you may be able to imagine the literal nightmares :) Besides the night dreams - which have, at times, even been messages from God, I have one other MAJOR dream for my life - a dream of my heart. I am not sure if and how and when it'll come about, but I figure it may be when I am a grandma. Have you ever met anybody who was looking forward to getting old? Well, you're meeting one now :)! If that dream may only come about when I'm old (I mean REALLY old - some teenagers think I'm old already :)) - I am actually looking forward to that stage of my life - VERY MUCH SO!! This week I came across an article about a ministry in South Africa, called Door of Hope at http://www.holeinthewall.org.za THIS is exactly what my dream is all about - caring for abandoned babies. If it won't happen any time soon, I am willing to wait until I am old. After crying my heart out - once again - about the abandoned babies and orphaned children - I was sooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited when I read about this ministry - even to the point of it disturbing my sleep:) I have carried this dream in my heart since I was a little girl. Even as a teenager I was trying to find an orphanage to help care for the little ones, but there wasn't one. So far, in all the places I've lived at, there has never been a need in that area and I know it hasn't been time yet. To find out that in Johannesburg alone there are 40-50 newborn babies abandoned every month just about tears my heart out - and puts such a strong desire in my heart to do something about this! I know that the needs are pretty much the same all over Africa - Rich's and my desire is to do something - one day - in French Africa. We'll see - - - For now, I am kept busy with my own tribe, but I would so love to start doing something besides praying - - - God knows - - -

Thank God for flowers! This has been one of those evenings with the kids, where I felt that I was getting on their cases non-stop for their non-stop mis-behaviour - yuck. Not my favorite! I know why God created beautiful flowers! After dinner, I took a walk through the garden and just enjoyed discovering a bunch of gorgeous new roses here and there - the colours - and smells - it's therapeutical after a rough time with the kiddos :)! The fun thing about moving into a new home in winter is discovering all the plants and flowers when spring comes around. It seems like every day, I discover some new flower, colour and smell. When it was winter you could never tell all the beauty that was hidden there - yet the potential was there all along! Hmmmm... Jeremie has got the flu now - and a bad head- and earache. Also Rich is coughing along in Fiji and lost his voice today. I was so hoping that they'd escaped the germs!!! Speaking of Fiji, we asked Kylie tonight where Daddy was and she said, in "Fridge-freeze", or something of that sort. LOL! Well, I'd better get that wheat ground and the ingredients for fresh bread tomorrow morning thrown into the break-maker, before I drop into bed.

Agricultural Day All the country schools in New Zealand seem to have a yearly Agricultural Day, where kids get to show off all kinds of things, like flower arrangements, art with recycled materials and --- hand-raised pigs, calves, lambs and other pets. It's actually a really fun fair! I wished we could have stayed longer, but we had to whizz through, because Kylie was invited to Flynn's birthday party. Kylie LOVED petting the lamb!

How exciting to hold a little piglet!This was the competition for the longest eel and heaviest opposum - Leilani seems "thrilled" by the presentation:)! By the way, Leilani won first prize with Spotty! I bet it was really hard for the judges, because there were lots of beautifully decorated cakes!

Presenting SPOTTY, the dog No, this is not our newest pet! This is one of Leilani's school projects for the "Agricultural Day" on Saturday, where the kids have to make all kinds of things. Quite impressive, if you ask the proud Momma, for a first decorated cake. Leilani pretty much did it completely by herself! On another note: my friend Kristi http://www.kristiwalsh.blogspot.com has put some interesting info about New Zealand History on her blog. You may want to check it out! There is even a map of the South Pacific! Kristi and her husband Aaron are the ones leading the internship of the "House of Prayer". Ok, I better get going and help the troops get ready for school. They are all back at school now and we're getting better! Feels sooooo good!!!

Rich in Fiji Here is a photo I received of Rich teaching in the "Impact Evangelism School" in Fiji.

It warms the heart (at least mine!) to see him via internet:)!

I had a really nice treat the day before yesterday. Jeremie needed some shoes and when I took him to the store, I happened to see some winter boots for myself! I have gone through 2 and 1/2 winters now with just one pair of shoes and no boots. So here was my "divine appointment" with some nice boots - on sale from NZ$90 to NZ$10 (about US$6). Now THAT was worth the wait!!!

And the wonderful thing about living a bit more of a settled lifestyle is that you can buy things on sale for the following year! I don't have to think of packing up our belongings into a few suitcases:) I can't tell you what a fabulous feeling that is - and what money we saved there:)!

I had another few kisses from heaven yesterday: I had to do quite a few errands and was really weak. Every time I needed a parking space, somebody JUST pulled out to leave me theirs - in JUST the right spot! That was SUCH a blessing and made everything so much easier!!! Thank you, Father!!!

Singing again... When I find myself singing again, it means that I am better!!! My voice still sounds "terrible", according to what people say that hear me on the phone and I am still weak, coughing and sniffling, but I'm singing:) Thank you, Jesus! Kylie is also doing better, full of mischief and needing a lot of attention. Nathalie and Leilani are coughing now, but we believe firmly they won't get worse! Rich left yesterday at 3:45am for 2 weeks in Fiji. Leilani started school again today, Nathalie and Jeremie are starting tomorrow for their last term of this school year. Poor Rich - he was so stressed before he left. There were so many things to do before his departure. It was one of those times where things really weren't in place and he didn't want to leave - also knowing how I was. BUT - he had to go and so we are both leaning on our beloved:)

Some more ramblings Today, while resting, I was listening some to a Christian TV channel. A couple of quotes stuck with me: A happy person is not one with a certain set of circumstances, but with a certain set of attitudes. So true!!! Maturity is moving from having soft skin and a tough heart to tough skin and a soft heart. I liked that one - guess I'm getting more mature :)! I decided to see our doctor today with Kylie and it proved to be a good decision. Kylie has an ear infection and pneumonia and I've got bronchitis - now we're both taking antibiotics. I've got to be on my feet again soon. Rich is leaving for Fiji in 3 days and I'm gonna have to "run the show", including all the early morning runs to Jeremie's rowing practice. Here is Kylie, asleep on the couch - NOT a normal occurence.

Thank you Billy!!! What a blessing that Billy (from Tahiti) is here right now. He is taking the 3 older children every day to do some fun stuff. Last night, he treated us to a most delicious dinner that I enjoyed as much as I haven't enjoyed food in a loooooooooong time: Shashimi - tahitian style! He bought really fresh raw tuna (VERY expensive here!) which Rich cut up in very thin slices. With rice, cabbage and a special sauce this is our family's favorite (except Leilani). Oh, the fish just melted in your mouth! So very very very very good!!!!! I hadn't eaten a real meal for a week and can't tell you how much I enjoyed it!!! Today he and the kids are in Rotorua, a touristy town about an hour from here. They all love him to bits, there's a lot of history in that relationship! We've known Billy for over 10 years - from the time we first started King's Kids in Tahiti and he was only15 ... and there's a lot of laughter - and food - and coke! in the house when he is around:)!

Sleyd is gone Sleyd got picked up yesterday afternoon. As much as I wanted to keep him with us when he first arrived, I was really relieved when he was picked up. Don't get me wrong - he was absolutely adorable, but when you're sick, anything is too much and I was coming to the end of my grace - just in time :) GOD IS GOOD!

As every child his age, he was very busy every minute of the day, trying to discover the contents of every drawer, cupboard, plant, electrical plug and other item he could find "laying around". The house looked like a tornado had gone through it at any given time - as soon as 30 min. after it was cleaned up. He also threw tantrums every time he didn't get his will. I basically had to devote almost all of my time to him while he was awake and had a lot of fun with him, too! Sleyd LOVED anything with wheels, particularly this little car that Kylie got from her grandma for her 2nd birthday! During the days when it wasn't raining, he spent a lot of time in this car! I am so grateful to God that he slept through the nights after the 2nd night! Quite amazing, according to his caretaker. When she picked him up she told me that so far, every time he's gone with somebody other than her, he got really sick. Last time he had pneumonia. I know that God touched his heart and body while he was with us, as he directed me to pray specifically for areas of needed healing etc. Kylie was so cute. After he left (she actually thought he was taking a nap, I found out later), I just spent time cuddling with her and she kept telling me over and over again:"I love you, Mommy - sooooo much!!!" I thought she must be relieved that he was gone and she finally gets a bit more attention again. But when we went to our bedroom later and she saw all of his stuff and him gone, she was very upset and started crying.... When I asked her if she loved him, she sobbed "Yes" and "It's not fair that he left!" It was actually only the first couple of days that she was jealous of him, after that she had been fine. Anyway, I am so grateful that he was able to go back with his caregiver and I am starting to get some more rest. Kylie and I spent a good part of the night coughing and this morning I was feeling worse than ever... I am so grateful I can just rest today!

Promised photo Here is a photo of our little darling Sleyd - finally! I think that Kylie and I are over the worst with the flu. I can still barely talk and have a bad sore throat and cough, but at least we are without fever and regaining our strength. Thank you, if you prayed for us! I think the last few days were the worst I've had in a long time - taking care of Sleyd and Kylie while being sick...

Beautiful New Zealand! Rich and Jeremie had a couple of highlights during their trip to pick up the van and caravan. One was visiting Mount Cook, a glacier, and one visiting a seal colony.

Needing HEALING! Thought of just sending you a short update. Kylie and myself are quite sick and miserable - since yesterday - must have caught Sleyd's cold/flu. Rich and Jeremie were only supposed to come back from the South Island today, but I literally begged them to make it for last night. I really didn't think I could leave 2 sick children with Leilani for 30min.+ while picking up Nathalie from her work at 10:30pm. And so they powered through and arrived just in time! Ouf!!! They drove about 1800km in the last few days and saw some neat stuff. More on that, plus photos, another time:) I am so grateful Rich is back! I am not sure how happy he is to be back, cause I am putting lots of things on him:), like cleaning up the house with the kids before our guest from Tahiti arrived today and making dinner, holding sick Kylie... We've really had enough of all the sickness!!!!!!!!! Lord, we claim your healing power in our family! Ok, Kylie needs me now. Would appreciate your prayers!