MARCH Madness!!

Well Friends and Family we have finally found the time to update you all on our little lives in South Africa. So sorry for the long delay you might have thought we had forgotten about all of you! Well enjoy the long read we have a short newsy little bit on the Family Fun and an update on our Ministry Memeories for each month of this year.

Family Fun
We had a full month of big milestones. Tryston found his TOES!

Look at how we have grown WOW such little “men” in our smart shirts!

Brothers all alike – mom is having fun dressing all THREE the same. Very confusing so many think we have TRIPLETS!!

Both Treyson and Tryston are sitting and playing really nicely and the bottoms seem to not be too round!

We tried out the walking rings a couple of minutes everyday and that has been a hit. Troydie likes to play bumper cars with his brothers so it is quite wild as he pushes them around and into each other. They think it is wonderful and giggle with glee!!

Tryston is up on his knees ready to go and then promptly at the end of the month put his co-ords together and started crawling YEY for Tryston he is on the go.

We introduced the twins to some solid food and boy did they love the cookies, enjoy the porridge and not to sure of the veggies!!

We had a wonderful outing to the Botanical Gardens where Troydie fed the ducks well really they wanted to help themselves out of his hand. Treyson and Tryston were so interested in the birds they just looked at all of this in amazement!

We had a wonderful day of celebration on the 15th of March when we prayed and thanked the Lord publicly for our twin boys. Pastor Stuart shared with us as a family in the dedication service of our boys to the Lord. We are praying much that they come to a saving knowledge of our Savoir and Lord.

We had a weekend off from ministry at Durban North and went up to Joeys to visit Uncle T. It was great fun. We played in the garden, visited a fun coffee shop where Troydie got to ride a horsie! (he just loved it – he wanted to go again and again), the twins even got to ride on a play play horsie and gave big smiles, got to shop, ride a train and enjoy time as a family. (Side note Tan celebrated her 30th birthday this month well done you made it!! The big ‘THREE O’ !!!

Ministry Memories
Mark is still so enjoying his opportunities to preach and being stretch all the time. Tan ran a cark making afternoon to help encourage and teach ladies to make birthday cards. This ministry is one where every lady in the church will receive a hand made card for their birthday via “snail mail”. Many of the ladies have been so blessed through making and receiving special cards in this way.
The Young Adults bible study group is going so well Mark is so encouraged to have so many faithfully attend.
We praise the Lord for all our ministry opportunities.

VERSE FOR ENCOURAGEMENT

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed - Proverbs 16v3

IT'S A NEW YEAR FULL OF FUN

DEC -- JAN & FEB 2009

Christmas and all the fun around that
The build up to Christmas was busy in the church with each department having their year ending function. We hosted the young adults for a dinner and Tan cooked her FIRST gammon (smoked ham) and it turned out delicious. We had fun putting together little gifts for each of our group, Tan spent many moments in between changing nappies (diapers) hand painting little coffee mugs for each one. We have had so much fun this year making our pressies to bless others.
We spent our Christmas celebrations in Durban and Pietermaritzburg with church family and our extended families it was a lovely time to remember Christ’s birth and His coming to earth. This was Troyden’s 2nd Christmas and so much fun was had by all. His favorite pressie was the swing we hung in the tree in our little garden. (We spend many hours out there on the “winga” – as he says so lovely). First Christmas for Treyson and Tryston and they played their part in our family carol service as adorable little angles. We had a wonderful evening of song and dress up as several families with little children depicted the nativity, the Wilby family were “angles”!
We had a few days of holiday with Mark’s folks and his sisters and their families at the beach – the weather and fellowship was great fun, this was the twin’s first trip to the beach and they so enjoyed it.

TROYDEN WITH HIS NEW FOUND FRIEND FATHER CHRISTMAS, HIS CHRISTMAS HAT AND HIS FAITHFUL PRESHIE (passie/dummy)

TREYSON (left) and TRYSTON (right) AS OUR LITTLE ANGELS

TROYDEN ON HIS NEW SWING CHRISTMAS MORNING

FIRST TIME TO THE BEACH SEE HOW WE SLEEP!!! (don't you just love the hats!! Mark thinks they look like little doylies!! - spelling sorry?!)

Annual Holiday to Kei Mouth
This was an adventure that took many months planning for us travel by rail, road, air or boat??? We were nervous to do our first holiday with the twins but will say that it went of really smoothly and we all had a great time of rest and relax. The drive by road in the end took us 9hours and the boys were so good. Troyden really enjoyed this holiday as he is now talking a whole lot more and can associate concepts better. A highlight for his holiday and no doubt ours too was taking a ride up the river on the boat to watch the Fish Eagles swoop down and catch a fish!! As Troydie says (boat - birdie, weeeeee down, fishy) while saying this he has his arm up in the air and as he says weeeeee down comes the arm in a swoop!! Too cute.
Our holiday was a great time of FUN IN THE SUN, we lazed on the beach, fished hard (caught nothing), visited with one another and enjoyed the outside walking the beach and the cliffs of Morgan Bay - we all came back tanned and rested to start the new year of ministry that has started with a bang!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009 - TREYSON (left) and TRYSTON (right) 4mths old


WALKING THE CLIFFS OF MORGAN BAY

TROYDIE ENJOYING THE BEACH AND THE BOATING

Ministries at church
Mom’s Bible Study – Kingdom Kids Ministry
Huge blessings, we have 7 moms that are meeting every 2nd Tuesday afternoon for a time in God’s word and encouragement for each other. Tan is writing the material and another mom is teaching the study and it is going great. This has proved to be a huge growing experience for the other mom who has been so challenged it has been a blessing to watch. The Kingdom Kids ministry has launched properly and this gives Tan the opportunity to do some ministry from home. She is coordinating newsletters that go out to each mom at the several milestones in mommy’s pregnancy and babies growth and development. This mail ministry is to encourage the moms and dads as they grow in parenting their children. Linked to this ministry is the mom’s bible study that meets regularly and then a family day were the whole family is invited to join once a month for a meal or outing. Please pray much for this ministry as it grows and encourages new families into the body of Christ.
Preaching & Pastoral Ministry
Thank you Jesus! Is all we can say for the growth and opportunity Mark has had in this ministry. Please be in prayer for Mark as our senior pastor is planning his 3month sabbatical (April, May & June). Mark will be given more responsibility overall and extra preaching opportunities while the other pastor is away. We are finding the pastoral ministry a stretch and leaning on the Lord as we encourage and counsel those who are hurting in our body of believers - pray that we have the right attitude and words for those in need.

Youth Ministry
To start the year Mark is leading this ministry every Friday evening when a group of about 15 youth get together for an evening of encouragement in God’s Word. We are praying much for April as a team of 4 young adults trained by a youth leading organization will be joining our church to help lead this ministry. Please pray much for Mark as he carries this extra load for this semester, and for the team that will be coming to minister along side Mark, as he disciples and mentors them as they minister to those younger.
Young Adults Bible Study
The study group is up and going and working through a book of John Piper’s “Don’t waste your life”, many are finding it deep and a real stretch pray that they grow through the reading and study of God’s word as well as through the ministry of the DVD’s.
@TAP (all things to all people – community center)
We still meet to enjoy the play ground for our mom’s bible study. Pray for the leaders here as they advertise to start an after care homework center for children to come after school to do homework and hang out in a safe environment.

Great Gramps Eayrs
Is doing well and settled down into his new home in Pietermaritzburg frail care. He had surgery this last month to remove a growth on his head and as managed through the surgery very well.

TROYDEN – 2YEARS OLD!!
Troyden celebrated his 2nd Birthday and what fun we had. We chose the theme “Thomas the Tank Engine” and he even had a conductors outfit with matching hat. We had several of his friends from church old and young come around for an afternoon of fellowship and food. He really was the “big 2 year old” and just loved all the attention especially when we blew out candles on his Thomas cake and sang “Happy Birthday”.

TROYDIE AS THE TRAIN DRIVER

PARTY TABLE FOR THE KIDDIES

TROYDIE WITH IS THOMAS TH TANK ENGINE CAKE

The BIG BROTHER
Well as mentioned earlier Troydie is talking much more and making himself understood with the cutest things said. He said his first sentence the other day – Daddy, come see pipe! He was playing in the garden under the sprinkler and wanted Mark to come see.
He is defiantly our sportsman with very good eye, ball, and hand co-ords and loves to run and kick the ball. Playing outside is his favorite, swinging on the swing and in the sand pit. He is collecting matchbox cars to go with his parking garage and will spend hours at a time driving them around all over. Tan has fabric painted a floor map with roads, beach, shops, houses, hospital, school etc. for him to drive and park his cars. The talking is quite a game at the moment and he will copy anything to try say it too. We have fun trying to decipher what he is trying to say. He is generally a very happy little boy and so fun to have around.

PLAYING CAR GARAGE

WINGA WINGA (just like a monkey swinging in the trees)

FUN BIKE RIDING WITH UNCLE T!!!

TWINS grow grow grow
Can you believe it they will be 6months old next week!!! Nearly sitting and trying to be on the go. Treyson is up on all fours rocking to making his first move with the crawling. Tryston giggles all the time and rolls from tummy to back to get him where he wants to go. They love the outside too, watching Troyden all the time and enjoy playing and reaching for their toys. Mom spends 80% of her day out on the picnic blanket on the grass playing with her little boys. The time has flown by and we are so enjoying them they are too cute, very smiley and happy, really easy little babies. We are a little nervous for the next stage of development with them up and crawling all over – please pray that we can keep on the watch from any danger. Generally all goes well with them both, Tan is still breastfeeding and planning on starting some solids this next month. Bath time has become a big splash as they love the water and their favorite is standing on your lap so that they can giggle and smile at you all the time!!!

ENJOYING THE OUTSIDE!

TRYSTON FINDING HIS FEET - LOOK AT THE SMILES!!

TREYSON ENJOYING HIS FIRST SWIM!

Prayer Requests
Thank you each and everyone for your special prayers, God is Good all the time.
· For our parenting discipline and child rearing to be constant and fair.
· Our individual spiritual walks with the Lord as we nurture them and manage ministry together.
Ministry at Durban North
· Young family ministry for a bible study leader who can get the families together each week to study God’s word.
· Youth Ministry and the group that will start with us in April. Pray for Mark as he oversees this ministry in discipleship, mentoring and encouraging.
· Our senior Pastors sabbatical and the extra responsibility this places on us individually and as a family. For our senior pastor and his wife as they rest and replenish in the Lord.
· Our involvement in leadership at church and the responsibility that places on us as a family. Help us to lead by example as Christ would have us lead.
PRAISE THE LORD WITH US!!
· Our healthy little bundles all THREE thank you Jesus for the blessing of children!
· For our finances – we have had a challenge to make the ends meet especially in today’s economic climate and the addition of TWO babies - we praise the Lord for little miracles each month.

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOD'S RICHEST OF BLESSINGS FOR THE NEW YEAR 2009!

God's Double Blessings!!!!

NEWSLETTER - September, October, November 2008

The arrival of our TWINS
This is a little note to all of you special people in our lives. We write to say a HUGE thank you for all your prayers, emails, gifts and support through the birth of our twin boys, Treyson and Tryston. We had a wonderful time over the arrival of our boys, with family so near by to visit and encourage. We have been so blessed the boys are really good babies. They only cry when they are hungry or tired and we have them in a good routine. They feed every four hours (tan feels a little like a mommy dog with her puppies as she breastfeeds them together at the same time!). They have a good sleep from 10-12am (big brother Troyden sleeps then too – to give mom some “ME” time).
Both of the boys have grown so nicely and are now 3months old! Can’t believe that the time has gone so quickly WOW! They have kept up with each other in growth, Treyson 5.2kg’s ( lbs) and Tryston 5.3kg’s ( lbs), they have doubled on their birth weight. They are happy smiley babies and very similar in looks!! We had to paint Tryston’s baby finger with nail polish so we don’t get them mixed up. We as mom and dad can now tell them apart but most people think they are identical twins! Well all this to say – Tan is home with the boys and they consume most of her time but she is finding time to do her creative thing and enjoying being involved in some ministry at the church. On the whole going anywhere is a HUGE event to move the family that even making it to church on a Sunday morning on time is quite a thing! Tan has a good friend in the church (actually the nurse that helped with the delivery of the boys) who has grown to enjoy the time she gets to spend with all three Wilby boys, so Tan has some company when she needs to get the errands run! We are both very proud parents and counting our blessings of these two special little boys!

FIRST SMILES

Big Brother TROYDEN
Well well well what a sweetie pie we have here!! Troydie just loves his brothers and know that he wishes they were bigger so he could play with them. He is very loving and gentle with them it is too cute to watch how fair he is what he does to one he does to the other!
He is quite the sportsman already with really very good ball skills he is now drop kicking and throwing the ball into the air and hitting with the bat. Still working on the catching but that is coming along nicely. Balls are definitely his fave toy!
The talking is coming along nicely and we have quite a vocab. Over the past 3 months we have added WOW, church, cheese, ass (as yes), no, more and ball. This past week we played under the hose pipe in the garden and now all he can talk about is the “pipe”, “pipe”, “pipe” – so cute! He fully understands and so enjoys company of other kids. Mom is kept quite busy having to watch the twins and still run and kick the ball in the garden. In the last three months we have learned what it is to draw, paint and play with play dough!
He has nick named Tan’s folks as “BABA” and “NEE” and loves it when they come to visit – all the more attention.

He has nick named Mark's folks "PA" and "MA" and so enjoyes playing with them too. On the whole he has managed the addition of his brothers and really is quite protective and proud of them. All this said DAD is definitely his favorite and he finds it real hard to say goodbye to him.

ME AND MY DAD!!!!

ME WITH PUPPY, "DUZI" blanket and "PRESH" (dummy/pasi)

10-12 weeks old ... and so we grow

Ministries at church
Ladies “Basking in the SON”
The ladies had their quarterly meeting this past month and what a fun time. The hall was decorated like a beach with towel, umbrellas, sand, shells and deck chairs etc. 4 ladies shared how they are “Basking in the SON” and were a huge blessing in testimony to all the ladies who came. The afternoon was ended off with a competition between each table – who could make the best sun hat from the materials that were provided what a laugh. Fellowship was great round ice cream and fruit salad!
Youth Ministry
The Youth has had their final meeting for the year and the group has really grown spiritually even the friendships are stronger. We have a core group of about 15 that are regular every week and growing in the Lord. Please continue to pray for this ministry as we seek out God’s plan for new leadership for 2009.
Preaching Gods Word
We are still praising the Lord for Mark’s opportunities in this ministry. Please keep him in your prayers week by week as he studies and prepares to share God’s word with His people. We thank the Lord for growing him as he shares in the pulpit.

Kingdom’s Kids Ministry
This ministry is going great and we are finding it a wonderful time for all of us as a family. Added to the mail ministry to the “new families” and the mom’s bible study that meets twice a month we have decided to get together as families for a meal once a month. This as proved to be a huge blessing to all of us and such an encouragement for us to meet together, not to mention all the fun the kids have playing with each other.
Young Adults Bible Study
Well the study has ended for the year completing their discussions through Philippians. We will be celebrating Christmas together this coming Wednesday. Tan is cooking a “Christmassy” meal. We praise the Lord for His growth in these young peoples lives so many have grown so much this year, many are more involved in other ministries too – Thank you Lord!
@TAP (all things to all people – community center)
We have so enjoyed the use of the new coffee corner for Troydie to run and play – our mum’s bible study meets there so the kids can enjoy the outside.

On a sad note
Mark’s granny – Granny Wilby passed away on September 21st. This was a sad day but we praise the Lord for her life and the special person she was to each of the family members.

HAPPY 5TH ANNIVERSARY
We celebrated out 5th wedding anniversary on Oct 4th and we praise the Lord for His blessings on us. 5years and we are now 5 in the family! We had a little giggle as the two of us were planning on going out for dinner and ended up getting ribs delivered so we could all be together to celebrate!









Christmas plans
We will be in Durban for Christmas eve and Christmas day service. The family will be with us for dinner on Christmas eve. Then we celebrate with Mark’s family on Christmas day in Pietermaritzburg and with Tan’s folks on Christmas day in the evening. Trent will be flying in to town after his Christmas day service. We will spend a few days with Tan’s folks following Christmas day until Trent returns home and then onto Port Edward (beach) with Mark’s family for 3 days break. We have planned to take our leave for the year in the middle of January and going down to Kei Mouth for 10days.








Family news
All our family is doing well and excited for the Christmas celebrations. (Mark’s sisters -) Errol and Tracy arrived last week for 6 weeks holiday with the family in Pietermaritzburg. Craig and Robyn have settled down in Pietermaritzburg and Craig is enjoying working with dad in his business from home. Tan’s family is doing fine mom and dad Eayrs working on their involvement in mission in our state and keeping themselves busy with a lot of traveling. We have had a young girl visit from the states as an intern for 3 months and her visit is going well she will be celebrating with us for Christmas. They are on a prayer road trip right now with a visiting family from the U.K. (Tan’s brother -) Trent is doing well at Florida Baptist in Johannesburg, keeping himself very busy with church life. aLooking forward to our family holiday together.



Prayer Requests
Thank you each and everyone for your special prayers, God is Good all the time.
· Our little family as it has grown from 3 to 5 – for the Lord to help us raise our children to love Him in a special way.
· Continuing to pray for financial support for a suitable vehicle for mission trips
· Christmas plans and travels – that it will be a blessed time for all!
Ministry at Durban North
· Christmas celebrations to be reminded of Christ’s Birth and the reason He came to earth so many years ago.
· Youth Ministry and the need for a leader that Mark can mentor and come alongside of.
· Our involvement in leadership at church and the responsibility that places on us as a family. Help us to lead by example as Christ would have us lead.
PRAISE THE LORD WITH US!!
· Troyden’s easy adjustment to the addition of the Twins! He just loves them!
· For our finances – we have had a challenge to make the ends meet especially with the addition of the new babies and we praise the Lord for special miracles each month. So many people have been a huge blessing to us.
· For the healthy BABIES the Lord has blessed us with – we are so enjoying them!
· For our new home – pray that we can use it for the Lord’s glory in every way, and not to miss the opportunities to share it with others.




All for our Saviour,



Mark, Tanya, Troyden, Treyson and Tryston

7 WEEKS OLD NOW...

We are so enjoyin our boys - thanking the Lord that they have settled into a routine and the Wilby family life goes on...

TROYDIE AND HIS BROTHERS!!

OUTING IN OUR PRAM...

FAMILY FUN - TRYING SO HARD TO GET US ALL TO LOOK AT THE CAMERA AND LOOK OUR BESTEST!!!

6weeks old ... so we grow

Some more pics for you to follow as our boyz grow grow grow. Tan is still breast feeding and the boys are gaining weight well. Troydie is loving his brothers and having so much fun. Life at home is busy busy busy but full of fun fun fun!!!

US JUST 6 WEEKS OLD NOW!!!

Mom and her TWIN BOYZ!!

Can you see we are different!?

Twins first outing at 6 weeks - we did not venture out much!!

Troyden with his "duzi" blanket on his head!

SEE OUR TWINS GROW...

FAMILY OF FIVE...

DAD, MOM, TROYDEN, TREYSON AND TRYSTON (2weeks old)

OUR BOYZ!!!


TREYSON (left) TRYSTON (right)



4 WEEKS OLD (in the nude)

TREYSON (1mth)

Tryston (1mth)

TRYSTON (left) TREYSON (right)

Dad & his TWIN boys!!