January 2013

Before we write our update for January we wanted to share some hightlights from 2012...

We were blessed with a flight to see Uncle T and Aunty Amber and Emie.  The boyz first time on an airplane you can well emagine the excitement...

 

Christmas favourite.....

 Beach time fun skateboarding, swiming, surfing.... Got to love it ....

 

Troy on his skateboard

 

Troy Mom and Dad's bestest friend!

Treyson - special little man! 

Tryston - special little man!

 

Loving on mom!!

 

2013

JANUARY

Praying Gods special blessings on you and your families for 2013…

Our year kick started fast and busy right back into the quick swing of things – Mark preached the New Years service and he so enjoyed being back in the pulpit after our much needed rest.  Tan will be heading up the Ladies ministry again for 2013 together with a wonderful team of 12 very special ladies.  Together we will be overseeing the Sunday School and try to implement some changes to encourage more children to attend.  Pray for us in this space as we are new to this portfolio – Tan is very enthusiastic and excited to be working with children and knows that this is in for a huge time of learning and growth in the Lord through this new opportunity in ministry.  Our Bible studies all started this month and everyone is keen to be back together studying God’s word. 

 We had two big events happen this month…

Troyd turned 6!!! WOW can you believe it – God is great, God is good.  What a blessing this little man has been in our lives we praise the Lord for the special gift in him.  We celebrated his birthday with a Pirate party at the beach.  They wore pirate hats, swam in the rain, dived off and had rides on the boat, had balloon sword fights, and water bomb throwing and best of all dug for treasure on the beach  -  aaarrrrrgh matie it was a swash buckling time :) Tan had a fun time planning all the party activities as well as decorating the treasure map cake.  – Happy Birthday special Troydie

 

Troy and all his "maties"

Playing on the "cannon"

 

Rides on the "Pirate boat"

Troy and his Pirate Map cake :)

First day of School for Treyson and Tryston… Yes that is it where has 4 years gone J  They got themselves all dressed with shooz, hats and bags (big enough to climb into) and headed out to Grade 00.  Our big boys were so excited all full of BIG smiles.  They have a lovely teacher and are very very happy to be at Troydies School with him.  They so enjoy the playground and their favorite activity in the classroom is painting!!

Troydie is in grade Senior R this year – we are so excited for him as he is loving learning his letters and numbers.  A huge highlight for him every week is his swimming class where he is swimming with “big arms”.  He has homework every day and it has been the cutest thing – the twins feel so left out that they ask Tan everyday “mom, do we have homework today?”  Tan has planned out a homework schedule for them with coloring in, sticker crafts, shapes, colors and picture matching games just to keep them entertained and make them feel important too ;) 

 

Thanks for your love, support , care and prayer for us – God bless in Heaps

Mark, Tan and Troyd, Treyson and Tryston

Oct-Nov-Dec 2012

This news letter comes with a quick review on our sabbatical where we so enjoyed the opportunity to spend time together as a family.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY – 9 YEARS ON THE 4^TH OCT

We spent a couple of days together in Margate enjoying the beach, croc farm, waffle house , eating ice cream and atempting the climbing wall even taking time to read and rest.  This was a wonderful week of “unwind” the boyz so enjoyed special time with Dad and Mom XXX

 

HOLS TO THE EASTERN CAPE

We spent 3 weeks down in the Eastern cape – the boyz so enjoyed flying kites and the sand boarding at Keysers

Look at Mark go....

 

We had loads of rain so Tan was able to sew sew sew summer outfits for the boyz, pants and summer tops  for herself and Mark even got 2 pairs of funky loungey  pants

We all so enjoyed our rest and relax in Kei Mouth the boyz each were able to catch their own sizable fish, our sand skiing took on quite the look as we headed out with our sun glasses, boards and strong legs – check out the wipe outs !!

 

GO TROYDIE - nicely done!! :)

Go Treys go ......

Go Trysty go .... check out the sun glasses !!

 

We made many memories enjoying the river, swimming (only one time as the water was freezing), bullie fishing (Troyd caught his first one all by himself this holiday), bike riding.  The weather was wet for quite a bit of our hols so we were able to catch up on the sewing, crafts, colouring in, sticker books, card and game playing and not to mention the favourite movie of the hols “Eight Below”.

many opportunities to fish on the boat on the river

 Troydie's BIG CATCH !!

Treyson doing some log climbing

Hiking along the cliff face that fall right off into the rough sea - BEAUTIFUL!!

Fishing, fishing and more fishing .....

Fun at the tree house

Colapsing into bed after all the fun outdoors - when given the chance to sleep together the Twins like just like they did at 2 days old.

 

Tan has been struggling with a very tense upper back and this has caused her sleeping to be hindered somewhat.  With the start of the Sabbatical she signed up with a Biokinetesist who has assigned her an exercise routine for 3 days a week and then a 20min run 2days a week.  Mark decided to join in the running and so our “diet – get fit” programme has begun.  WOW it’s amazing what two pregnancies’ can do to your body – not to mention carrying twins for 9months.  Please pray that this programme strengthens Tan’s muscles to alleviate the pressure on her back at night.

Mark was able to get stuck into his studies in-between our out of town meanderings – we Praising God that we have made some head way – please pray much as we start the new year and get into the swing of normal ministry life that he will have the energy and discipline to continue on.

We praise the Lord for this special time of holiday and memory making.  To end off our sabbatical we were able to have ALL the family in our home over the month of December.  We had two Christmas celebrations as Trent and Amber were heading to the USA for Christmas.  It was a special beach Christmas for Emie belle and the boyz were spoilt with skateboards from Uncle T and Aunty Ambz. 

 

Tryston 

 

Troyden

 

Treyson (check out the hands on the hips)

What a darling ...

 

The Wilby family spent 4 days with us – it was a full house with all 16 of us.  7 of which are under the age of 5 so yes loud, raucous, fun, excited are just some of the words to express Christmas 2012!!  We had HOT weather, fun beach time, loads of food, special family moments, bike riding and super catch up chat time – Praise the Lord for Family – What a blessing!

 

The boyz with GREAT GRANNY - they all call her NANA

 



 

 

Troydie surfing the waves in Durbs

 

 

We did a family bike ride along the beach fun - hectic with 7 littlies wheel bound but it was a beautiful day out to enjoy the beach from your bike

 

 

 

Grandad with the boyz on a hike through the coastal rain forest :)

 

Wishing you the blessing of Jesus as this festive time of the year!!

Thanks for your love, support , care and prayer for us – God bless in Heaps

Mark, Tan and Troyden, Treyson and Tryston