Ants in her pants

This video just cracks me up so I had to share!! Sorry it's sideways, but it's worth it!

The Choice

We have staff devotions 4 times a week. Today was my day to lead so I thought I'd share the short devo I read from When God Whispers Your Name by Max Lucado... one of my favorite books. Enjoy!

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The Choice

It’s quiet. It’s early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by the decisions to be made and the deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day’s demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I’m free to choose. And so I choose.

I choose love…
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose joy…
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical… the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose peace…
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I chose patience…
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I choose kindness…
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I choose goodness…
I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I choose faithfulness…
Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I choose gentleness…
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I choose self-control…
I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule they eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

Nam-lish to English Translations

Nam-lish to English Translations

Nam-lish has a decided British-English flare to it, but has some of its own unique quirks. For the most part it has been easier to conform to the Nam-lish way of speaking to facilitate better communication with children and staff alike.

Nappie: diaper
Feeder: baby bottle
Torch: flashlight
Jix: bleach
Trainers: sneakers
Jersey: sweatshirt
Looking Smart: dressing nicely
Tablet: pill, medicine
SMS: text message
Trolley: shopping cart
Poly bag: plastic grocery bag
Till: cash register
Queue: getting in line
VAT: sales tax
Mince: ground beef
Tomato Sauce: ketchup
Cool Drink: soda
Coke Light: Diet coke
Sweeto: Kool-Aid
Ice block: bag of ice used for picnicking sold in cubes not actually a block
Keeper: Soccer goalie
Bakkie: pick-up truck
Robot: traffic light
Petrol: gasoline
Bonet: hood of the car, not a hat
Canopy: cap for pickup truck
Panel beating: auto body repair
Tar Road: Asphalt
Hooter: car horn
Puff: hair rubber band
Pass: urine or to urinate

Phrases that can get confusing:
No vacancies means no job openings not no rooms in the inn.
I’m coming means I’ll be right back not I’m already on my way.
Mama is a term of respect/endearment for a woman not literally someone’s mother.
Is it? means Really?
Meat is not a generic term for edible animal flesh, but types of edible animal are broken down into chicken, fish, and meat, meat primarily referring to beef, goat or game.
OK is the name of the grocery store, not an indication of agreement. This has caused more than one who’s-on-first scenario.
Achoo or acha is the sound of pain like ouch, not the sound of a sneeze.


And last but not least…
Toot your hooter means to beep your car horn. This is possibly my least favorite Nam-lish phrase.

My very special birthday

The kids helped me celebrate my birthday COZV-style: cake! I even got blue icing! There is no way not to feel loved by having over 50 children singing "happy birthday." The least enjoyable thing was when they got to the "how-old-are-you-now" part of the song. I told them it wasn't polite to ask a woman her age.

My housemate Melissa and our new Auntie Carrie treated me to a big night out on the town. We visited Galinhas, a new cafe, but it closed at 7. Since I felt kind of pathetic going home at 7 on a Friday night and on my birthday we visited the Zambezi Lodge for dessert. Never can have too much cake for your birthday, right? So I had Malva pudding which was really good.

Happy 31st to me!!