MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HAPPY FAMILY TIME FOR ALL OF YOU OVER THE CHRISTMAS SEASON AS YOU CELEBRATE JESUS BIRTH - !!
Our semester was a busy jam packed one with so much on the go it’s hard to keep track of everyone’s activities – enjoy the read!
SCHOOL UPDATE
Troydies teacher was booked off from school for the last semester so he had to change to a new one Ms Natalie – and he just love every minute! Not quite the same as his first one but in all he coped with the change beautifully and enjoyed making friends with her.
He had his concert this semester too and I together with Granny sewed the cricket’s outfits. He was one of the crickets dressed in top hat and tails – very cute. He was most excited to have the chance to do the concert twice once for Granny’s and Grandpa’s and the twins went along to that to watch too. And then again for Dad’s and Moms. They all did such a fabulous job and the singing was excellent.
Cannot believe that it is the end of the year already and now we get ready for GRADE - R we had his orientation day and he is super excited about his new teacher YEY! In all our orientation day was a huge success and he is very happy about next year!
To end the term he had a Christmas dress up day and went as one of Santa’s elves! Loads of persuasion but finally got him to wear the elf shirt.
In all we have had a fabulous FIRST YEAR OF SCHOOL and we are thankful to the Lord for this – so blessed to be happy in the school environment!
FAMILY
An adventure for Mark has been the time to try out his fishing on a fishing ski and what a load of fun he has had practicing on the nearby dam to get the feel of it all. Think this will be a sport that he is really going to enjoy when he finds the time to venture out to back line and throw in a line.
An adventure for Mark has been the time to try out his fishing on a fishing ski and what a load of fun he has had practicing on the nearby dam to get the feel of it all. Think this will be a sport that he is really going to enjoy when he finds the time to venture out to back line and throw in a line.
A long time in coming but finally saved enough penny’s to recover our lounge chairs and make some new cushions. I had great fun choosing the fabric and finding the right upholsterer which took 6 months but eventually got the right deal and it has all turned out BEAUTIFUL – we are so happy with the new look lounge.
Baby Eayrs – hip hip hooray – another cousin is on the way and should arrive early Feb 2012. We are all so excited for Trent and Amber as they grow their family from 2 to 3. Praying much for them both as they enter into parenthood this is definitely one of the biggest blessings in life. Praise the Lord!
Dad Eayrs had his knee replace this semester and is on crutches and hobbling along to recovery. All is going fantastically as he rests and exercises his “new” leg. Praise the Lord for answered prayers.
Baby Eayrs – hip hip hooray – another cousin is on the way and should arrive early Feb 2012. We are all so excited for Trent and Amber as they grow their family from 2 to 3. Praying much for them both as they enter into parenthood this is definitely one of the biggest blessings in life. Praise the Lord!
Dad Eayrs had his knee replace this semester and is on crutches and hobbling along to recovery. All is going fantastically as he rests and exercises his “new” leg. Praise the Lord for answered prayers.
CHRISTMAS TIME
We have had a great time decorating our little home to make it very “Christmassy” and the boyz have so enjoyed the lights, tree, candles, wreaths and advent calendar. We decided to try something new with our advent calendar this year and take a character and or object from the Christmas story for each day of the month of December and teach the boyz in depth about the significance of Christmas. It has been a challenge and a great joy for each of us to approach Christmas in this way.
Tan has also made extra time this Christmas time to do a craft each day with the boyz. Our craft corner in the house was full to exploding with all their handwork of reindeers, trees, angels, mangers, stars etc. and they loved each minute working and creating with mom.
The sunday school had their prize giving at church this month to end off the year and Troydie got his first prize for attendance and memory verse recital – we are very proud of him and praise the Lord for opportunity to teach our children the ways of the Lord and grow their knowledge of His word.
MINISTRY
The mom's group is going well we have about 8-9 moms for study each week and they have so enjoyed the study through Philippians. We had many outings this semester and so enjoyed each one. Two of the highlights for us was the ride along the beach on our bikes and the Christmas photo shoot where all the kids had their pics taken – what a bunch of lovely photos to save our memories.
We have had a great time decorating our little home to make it very “Christmassy” and the boyz have so enjoyed the lights, tree, candles, wreaths and advent calendar. We decided to try something new with our advent calendar this year and take a character and or object from the Christmas story for each day of the month of December and teach the boyz in depth about the significance of Christmas. It has been a challenge and a great joy for each of us to approach Christmas in this way.
Tan has also made extra time this Christmas time to do a craft each day with the boyz. Our craft corner in the house was full to exploding with all their handwork of reindeers, trees, angels, mangers, stars etc. and they loved each minute working and creating with mom.
The sunday school had their prize giving at church this month to end off the year and Troydie got his first prize for attendance and memory verse recital – we are very proud of him and praise the Lord for opportunity to teach our children the ways of the Lord and grow their knowledge of His word.
MINISTRY
The mom's group is going well we have about 8-9 moms for study each week and they have so enjoyed the study through Philippians. We had many outings this semester and so enjoyed each one. Two of the highlights for us was the ride along the beach on our bikes and the Christmas photo shoot where all the kids had their pics taken – what a bunch of lovely photos to save our memories.
Mark and I had the opportunity of putting our Carol service together again and we had a wonderful evening of carol singing and nativity. With over 30 in our cast with loads of toddlers all involved some of the little shepherds were throwing their fluffy sheep into the air while we sang “while Shepherds watched their flocks by night”. What a blessing to have so many involved and what a wonderful focus to have right before Christmas.
Some of our other ministry involvement for this semester included hosting and planning a baby shower for a new mommy to join our group. And Mark had the wonderful opportunity of conducting another wedding of one of our deacons to his beautiful bride – what a special day that was.
To end the year on a high note we had many year-end functions and so enjoyed each one. The young family’s met for a spit braai to celebrate Christ’s birth together and it was a fantastic evening with 17 adults and 19 children in all – yes it was loud and very festive. We praise the Lord for this wonderful group of young Christians we have been able to disciple and encourage in the Lord this year.
The Young adults group has also grown bigger this year – praise the Lord and they combined the married group and the single group for a lunch at one of the couple’s homes. We had a wonderful time of celebration together with all of them. They are a great group and we praise the Lord too for all that we have been able to teach, guide and disciple.
The woman’s ministry ended their year with a Christmas luncheon – our theme was “My life is a gift for Christ”. We had many share in testimony to the Lord for his goodness in their lives – what a blessing! We had a delicious meal of cold meats and salads with a very yummy desert. The ladies out did themselves with the décor, serving and giving.
Our ministry year ends with our Senior Pastor and his wife accepting a call to another Baptist Church in Johannesburg. Pray much with us as we step in as Interim to carry the congregation through until they have sought God’s leading in providing the suitable senior pastor. Pray for us at this cross-road in our ministry as we seek God’s specific and pleasing will for our lives as a family in ministry. We want to stay in step with Him and are praying for his leading and guiding for our future ministry for Him.
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
We started our family Christmas celebrations by having the Wilby family over for Christmas lunch. We had a fantastic time of fellowship around a delicious meal and so enjoyed the time together. All 7 boy cousins had great fun playing together. 
We had managed to save a few penny’s to spoil the boyz with a trampoline as their Christmas present which they got early so that they could enjoy it with the cousins. Mark and I had great fun setting it up the night before as a surpise and yes they were surpised. It was a great day of much excitement as we exchanged gifts with all 7 cousins.
We had Christmas off with no ministry responsibilities in Durban so that we could travel to Johannesburg to visit Trent and Amber who is now GREAT with child. The doctors had recommended that she not travel so it worked out well for us to have the Eayrs Christmas in Joeys.
(don't you just love the moose-staches!!?)
We had 5 days of rest, relax and family time – too fun! We got to camp in T’s garden and the boyz thought this was the best ever. Loads of food, fellowship and fun was had by all. We got to play some outdoor games like corn in the hole and hillbilly golf and the boyz had loads of fun with thier new bats and balls and they all so enjoyed their present from T and Ambs – a water slide. Great giggles and laughs were had by all as they enjoyed slipping and sliding. Uncle T even had a go much to his nephews delight. We had a wonderful time together and so enjoyed time to catch up in person. Praise God for family memories and special family time.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
This Christmas was one with a difference as we normally take our 3 weeks leave at the start of the New Year and enjoy that time down at Kei Mouth on the beach, fishing, swimming and playing in the sand. But with our senior pastor leaving and little leave left from 2011 we planned for a hols at home in Durbs. Following our fun filled time in Joeys we returned in time for Mark to preach the New Year service – what a blessing to bring in the New Year by starting the year in a worship service.
Troydie still had 10 days holidays so we packed each day with a fun outing and managed to get lots of beach time.
This Christmas was one with a difference as we normally take our 3 weeks leave at the start of the New Year and enjoy that time down at Kei Mouth on the beach, fishing, swimming and playing in the sand. But with our senior pastor leaving and little leave left from 2011 we planned for a hols at home in Durbs. Following our fun filled time in Joeys we returned in time for Mark to preach the New Year service – what a blessing to bring in the New Year by starting the year in a worship service.
Troydie still had 10 days holidays so we packed each day with a fun outing and managed to get lots of beach time.(Treyson - left & Tryston - right)
Troydie had many firsts swimming in the waves that were chest deep – he managed to do it by himself with us swimming nearby, riding and catching a wave on his little kicker board which he calls his “surfing board”. We caught great sun on the white bods so have summer tans to prove a great time in the sun. We had several days out in the garden on the jungle gym, trampoline, kicking ball and mom lazily reading under the umbrella. We celebrated New year with both sets of Grandparents and the kids so enjoyed special time spent with both of them. We had a special Fish and Chips dinner out on the Ushaka beachfront – the boys so enjoyed the sea breeze in their faces while we ate.
We also managed a visit to Ushaka’s play place with huge jungle gyms and fun slides. The twins climbed to the top for the first time ever and they thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon of activities with so much to do there. Troydie loved to shoot the water cannon and a highlight was to be PIRATES on the top of the big ship!
To end the hols we had a quick visit to the zoo near Pietermaritzburg and got to see a load of animals 
the boyz couldn't get over how big the lion was!
We so enjoyed a picnic lunch with the Chimpanzees shouting, swinging and acting for us. A fun filled animal visit we will never forget! We even managed one last dinner with all the Wilby fam before the new semester starts – What a wonderful holiday we had.
We are praising the Lord for his goodness in our lives for the duration of 2011 and praying that He protect, guide and lead us in and through 2012. Pray for us as 2012 has and will have many new changes and challenges especially on the ministry front. Pray that we can be godly role models to our 3 special boys, that we can train them in righteousness to be men of God. Pray to that we remain in God’s special and specific will for our lives so that we may be a blessing to each other and all that we have the huge privilege of disciple-ing.
Troydie had many firsts swimming in the waves that were chest deep – he managed to do it by himself with us swimming nearby, riding and catching a wave on his little kicker board which he calls his “surfing board”. We caught great sun on the white bods so have summer tans to prove a great time in the sun. We had several days out in the garden on the jungle gym, trampoline, kicking ball and mom lazily reading under the umbrella. We celebrated New year with both sets of Grandparents and the kids so enjoyed special time spent with both of them. We had a special Fish and Chips dinner out on the Ushaka beachfront – the boys so enjoyed the sea breeze in their faces while we ate.
We also managed a visit to Ushaka’s play place with huge jungle gyms and fun slides. The twins climbed to the top for the first time ever and they thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon of activities with so much to do there. Troydie loved to shoot the water cannon and a highlight was to be PIRATES on the top of the big ship!
To end the hols we had a quick visit to the zoo near Pietermaritzburg and got to see a load of animals 
the boyz couldn't get over how big the lion was!
We so enjoyed a picnic lunch with the Chimpanzees shouting, swinging and acting for us. A fun filled animal visit we will never forget! We even managed one last dinner with all the Wilby fam before the new semester starts – What a wonderful holiday we had.
We are praising the Lord for his goodness in our lives for the duration of 2011 and praying that He protect, guide and lead us in and through 2012. Pray for us as 2012 has and will have many new changes and challenges especially on the ministry front. Pray that we can be godly role models to our 3 special boys, that we can train them in righteousness to be men of God. Pray to that we remain in God’s special and specific will for our lives so that we may be a blessing to each other and all that we have the huge privilege of disciple-ing.
Thank you so much for all your prayer support and interest in our lives. God’s special blessing on you and your families for 2012.
In his hands, always
Mark, Tan, Troyd, Treys & Tryst
Mark, Tan, Troyd, Treys & Tryst
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