2016 - The Adventure Continues

WOW! We're almost halfway through 2016 - how did that happen. Ok, I am exaggerating a little but before we know it, it'll be the end of the month....

This year started off quietly in Franskraal with a couple of friends. David and I went up just before new years to run a 10km race. We thought it was a road race but half way through it turned into a trail run - I was so not prepared for that but we pushed on and finished it. The rest of the time up there was spent at the beach swimming, body boarding - this requires a full costume as a bikini is not safe in the waves, eating good food, colouring in and hanging out with my Noo and friends. We got home three days before I started work. The first two days were were spent laying in the sun, swimming and eating water melon and the last day was spent with my mom and brother. David and my brother painted his plane together - oh how it makes my heart happy when they do things together.

When we planned the trip up to Franskraal we decided not to do touristy things and just be on holiday there and enjoy the beach - I think it was the best idea yet. It's day two of being back at work and I want the lazy, sunny beach days back.

Here are some pictures of our holidays....

 

 

xKx

We hosted our own Shabbat dinner

Last week Friday David and I hosted our first Shabbat dinner with some of our close friends. While I was preparing for the big event I learnt SO much about Shabbat and the Sabbath as the way Jewish people understand it. The main reason for wanting to do this and learn more was because we, Christians should also take a Sabbath, (a day of rest) just like Jesus did and God did. 

The main reason Jewish people have a Shabbat dinner is to remember who God is, how he has provided for them and to praise Him. This is done with your family and friends, basically your community. Over supper you catch up with "your" people with what has happened over the week, share about what God is doing or has done in your life that week. I think this is super awesome!

Before supper two candles are lit, one is to remember that God is the creator of all the heaven, that he rescued His people from Egypt. The second one is to remember to set it apart and to keep it holy. After this there is a wine/grape juice blessing before the challah, (bread) is broken and another blessing is given. I lit the candles and David did the wine and challah blessing. I liked how he put a bit of Christian spin on it and read from both the new and old testament of the bible.

If you want to read more about the traditions around Shabbat, you can read it here.  A friend of mine sent the link through to me and I found it super informative when I did my preparations.

My favourite part of the whole evening was spending the time with some of my close friends over a meal.

Unfortunately I don't have any photos of the table, the food or the evening. I was too busy getting everything ready and then being with my friends that I totally forgot to take photos.

xKx 

A LONG weekend away with FRIENDS

A bunch of us went away for the long weekend two weeks away. We all headed off to the Franskraal house for a weekend of adventure and LOTS of good food!

On Sunday we headed to The Birkenhead Brewery for some wine and beer tasting. I must say that this did not live up to my levels of expectation. I kind of expected something more. We were seated at a table in the restaurant and then the beer and wine was bought out to us. The beers were given nice write up's of the flavours etc, but the wine was just placed in front of us with the name of the wine. We were then left to do the tasting. I kind of expected someone to explain what we were tasting etc. They were also busy - which could have been why nothing was explained, but then I think they need to hire more staff. The area around the brewery is SOOOOOO pretty though - I think Dave and I should have lunch there one day.

 

After all the alcohol was consumed we definitely needed something to soak it all up so we headed on a mission to find some pancakes - this was a lot harder than we thought it would be in Gansbaai.

 

The rest of the weekend was spent doing weekend away type of things such as walks on the beach and coffee in front of the fireplace.

 

Not to forget all the yummyy food we made and ate, especially the chocolate lava pudding Kyle made. A weekend way with friends is never complete until someone makes French toast...

All in all - going away with friends is the best! It's definitely on my top 10 favourite things to do list...

 

xKx

 

 

A Hot Chocolate Party

On Friday evening my I had a hot chocolate party at my house with my friends. It was sooooo much fun and a brilliant idea for a cold winter evening. Everyone had to bring their favourite dunkable which meant there was an abundance of dunkables to choose from and tons left over to be consumed by David.

 

This is one of my top  evenings from this year!

xKx