Coffee Fans!

Kurt and I are fans of coffee, and we've been to several coffee tasting events.  One of our faves is a "coffee cupping."  Attending two cuppings at Bean There, a single origin African coffee shop in Joburg, has increased our appreciation and love for coffee.  Actually, we've become coffee snobs.  We don't drink instant coffee anymore...why would we?
After our last coffee cupping, we hosted one at our house for a few friends.  It was great fun!  Hopefully, we are encouraging more friends to become coffee snobs with us!
Are you a coffee snob??
Janna Kay

Money Maths

One of my main goals for homeschooling Josh is making sure he can "survive" out in the real world on his own by the time he finishes high school.  When it comes to spending money, he struggles with knowing if he gets change back and how much. So one day, Josh went shopping during his Maths class.  He had to choose a few items to buy, figure out the cost, give me the closest amount of money, and figure out his change (if any)!  It was a great class!!

Janna Kay

Teamwork!

During July and August, we had four teams come and join us in ministry.  The International World Changers (IWC) team consisted of 50 people!  They worked in Soweto and downtown Joburg.  They were divided into groups that prayer walked, shared the gospel, and spoke of Jesus to school-aged children.  I love having teams come alongside of us and help us reach the city for Jesus!  They are a tremendous blessing to us in so many ways!
You all are so appreciated!
Janna Kay

Students at JGPS

Balloon hats, animals, swords, etc.

Face painting!

Jumping Castles

Knowing Jesus

Lovin' My Canon

The end of last year, I took a 5-week camera course.  It was so much learning how to use my camera off manual.  I am not what you would call a creative person (probably why I taught Math).  But it was fun trying to tap my creative juices!  Here are a few of my favorite shots taken during and after my course.
Blessings!
Janna Kay

 

 

Mild Winter

I can't believe I'm saying it, yet here it goes, "This has been a very mild winter!"  I haven't worn a coat inside the house once this winter.  Okay, the panel heaters in every room are helping, but really it has been a lovely winter.  I do know that I mustn't get my hopes up.  It is only the middle of July and things can change in a heartbeat!  But, I'm loving winter so far!
As hubby and I were watching a reply of Lincecum's no hitter, we saw many fans in coats!  We feel very blessed that our winter (I must add, so far this year) is warmer than San Fran's summer, it seems!
Well, in light of our great winter, I thought I would post some pictures from last winter.  Since we've been in SA, it has snowed 4 times at our house.  This snow from last year happened to cover all of Joburg.
Enjoy!
Janna Kay

Winter, August 2012

Continuing the Blog

Over the last year, I have been contemplating restyling my blog or just starting over.  I thought that my blog needed a better focus...should it be about ministry or South Africa in general or homeschooling??  However, about a month ago, one of the homeschool moms read through many of my posts.  She came up to me one morning at our children's drama club and told me how much she enjoyed reading my blog.  Later that week, I read a blog that reminded me of why I started blogging in the first place.  I blogged because I wanted to start a journal.  I have an easier time putting my thoughts down by typing than writing.  I began blogging to record my experiences in a different country.  It was never about getting readers, but remembering our family's life living and ministering in South Africa. I came to realize that my blog can be about everything!  I can include ministry, homeschooling, horse riding, baking, photography, etc.  Whatever fills our days and weeks can be recorded, because it is not about readership, but memories!
All that said, I will begin again, on a very regular basis, writing about life here in South Africa or wherever the Lord leads us!  I hope, if you do read it, you will be blessed and God will be glorified!
Janna Kay

Easter Lapbook

Josh made his first lapbook the week before Easter.   What is a "lapbook"? you might ask.  It can be considered a fancy poster made out of file folders.  But, it is more than just a poster with pictures.  It definitely has pictures, but can include games, puzzles, reading, writing and math skills.  Many times they are made up of mini-books and folded shapes.
In the picture below, the bottom left corner is a folded cross.  It looks like a house, but opens into a cross.  Josh wrote 4 words that reminded him of Easter.  Also on the front right are two puzzles.  One is a maze, the other is the first crossword puzzle Josh has ever done.
On the inside, Josh traced over a Bible verse and we talked about Easter using "Resurrection Eggs."  The back (not  shown) was a came on long "e" and short "e" words.
We are now working on a Science lapbook about the Seasons.
Grace & Peace,

JK

Time in Texas

While here in the States, I've taken some pictures of some of my favorite Texas sights and just some really interesting ones.
I'm sure I will add more as the year goes by!
So enjoy!
JK

Minute Maid Park and Downtown Houston

Baylor Seal - founded while Texas was a country!

Beautiful sky

Smoke from the fire in Bastrop.  Seen from the farm about 35 miles away!

Highways!

Texas Football

Blessed by Sushi

Today, Josh and I had a lunch date at a nearby Sushi restaurant.  We usually go eat sushi together when Kurt is away (since he is not a fan of seafood).  Today was the day.  I wasn't sure what restaurant to go to since we've only been in Houston for 2 months.  I knew there was one down the road from our apartment complex, but after looking it up on my iPhone, it looked closed.  Another one came up on the map just as close, so we headed to that one.

Ok, when I first saw this place about a month ago, it looked closed down because the sign on the store front looked old and faded.  But it was not!  In fact, it is a very upscale sushi restaurant...they had valet parking!!

I told Josh that he must be very good at the restaurant because there were a lot of business people eating lunch there.  He was very good!
When we sat down, there was a lady sitting alone at the table next to us.  She got her sushi right before we placed our order.  As she was leaving after her meal, she spoke to us, "Have a nice day."  I replied, "Thank you.  You, too."

We enjoyed miso soup as a starter.  I ate the mushrooms, but Josh enjoyed the rest...even the tofu!  After that, we had 12 maki rolls of yellowtail and salmon and 4 nigiri with salmon and tuna.  Josh tried to use chopsticks, but it just wasn't working.  Our waitress brought him the neatest little contraption.  It was a plastic piece that each chopstick pops into causing them to act as tongs!  Josh was so excited that he could now use chopsticks.  Josh used tongs and the sushi was delicious!  But that it not the best part...

When we were finished, our waitress came and told us that the lady who was sitting next to us had paid for our meal!  She has been trying to get her daughter to eat sushi with her and her daughter always refuses.  She thought it was so nice that you and your son were enjoying sushi together.

Wow!  What a wonderful gesture and we didn't even get to say "Thank you."  But I am saying it now...if you ever read this..."Thank you!"
I pray that God will make me more conscious of how I can bless others...especially for His glory!
JK

Catching Up...In the USA!

It's been a while since I've posted.  We spent the middle of May packing away a huge part of the house and packing our suitcases.  We arrived in the US on the 14th!
It is good to be home.
Ruth Anne graduated high school on May 20.  Josh had a birthday party at the Houston Aquarium.  Kurt could be there because he flew to Florida!  Then, 10 days later, Ruth Anne packed for summer school at Baylor.
We've spent time with Kurt's parents at the Lake.  We also had our first speaking opportunity at an RA Camp about 3 hours northeast of the Lake!  It was great fun.  Josh got to join in all the activities like fishing, swimming, cooking, crafts, and BMX bike riding!
Kurt and Ruth Anne are now in South Africa.  Kurt is working with a missions team and Ruth Anne is visiting with her friends.  I hope they have a wonderful time.  But I have to add that I am glad I'm not there...it's winter!  'Nough said!
Josh and I are still plugging away at school.  His reading is really improving!  Math is moving slower, but I really want to make sure he is memorizing each set of facts before going on.
Here are some pictures so far!  Enjoy!
JK

 Josh knows he is having his birthday twice while we are in the US.  A few weeks after his party, he asked me, "Mom, is it almost my birthday again?"

Children's Museum

We love us some baseball!  Go Astros!

Seasons Lapbook

Well, Josh finished his second lapbook this past week.  The theme was seasons.  I decided that since we are going to the USA that it was a good time to study the seasons and learn why the northern and southern hemispheres have opposite seasons.
I got many ideas and worksheets from Enchanted Learning.  I'm glad I joined that site.  They have great lessons and craft ideas.  So here are some pictures of his 2nd lapbook.

Josh got to play the sun with a flashlight (torch), while I tilted the earth and rotated around him.  We saw how the light hit the southern hemisphere and northern hemisphere differently as the earth rotates.  We put a wheel in the center with the US on top and South Africa at the bottom.  As he rotates the wheel he can tell that each country experiences the opposite season.

Josh also did a craft for each season.  He also cut out pictures of different types of clothing worn for each season.  He did a great job and was very proud of his book.
Now...we are on holiday so that we can get packed for our trip to the USA.  We are all very excited about seeing Ruth Anne and the rest of the family.
Ruth Anne graduates May 20!  I am so proud of her.  She made a big decision to finish high school in the States.  She made the honor roll and is graduating with a wonderful GPA.
Blessings!
JK

Easter Lapbook

Josh made his first lapbook the week before Easter.   What is a "lapbook"? you might ask.  It can be considered a fancy poster made out of file folders.  But, it is more than just a poster with pictures.  It definitely has pictures, but can include games, puzzles, reading, writing and math skills.  Many times they are made up of mini-books and folded shapes.
In the picture below, the bottom left corner is a folded cross.  It looks like a house, but opens into a cross.  Josh wrote 4 words that reminded him of Easter.  Also on the front right are two puzzles.  One is a maze, the other is the first crossword puzzle Josh has ever done.
On the inside, Josh traced over a Bible verse and we talked about Easter using "Resurrection Eggs."  The back (not  shown) was a came on long "e" and short "e" words.
We are now working on a Science lapbook about the Seasons.
Grace & Peace,

JK

Josh on the Drums!

Last week, the first Two Oceans Cluster met together. A team from Orlando, Florida came to lead us in worship and take care of our children while we were in meetings. They were such a blessing to all of us!

One night, we had a talent show...more of a comedy talent contest...Anyway, Joshuwa joined part of the worship team for a song. Josh had a blast playing the drums to the song, "Wipe Out." Unfortunately, in my video, you can't hear the music, but you should be able to see just how much fun Josh had!

Enjoy!

JK

Salt

Yesterday, I made some Pico de Gallo for our Mexican food dinner with our journeymen. Tonight, I pulled it out of the fridge and tasted it. Something was just not right. So I decided to add some salt, since I hadn't salted it the night before. OH MY! What a difference the salt made. It brought out the flavors and made them blend so nicely together. So, it made me think...

Matthew 5:13 says, "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything..." Salt is a preservative, but it also adds lots of flavor. It brings out the natural flavors!

As a Christ-follower, am I bringing out the "flavor" of the gospel? Do I make Jesus appealing to others? Does Jesus "taste" good to the culture I am trying to reach for Him? Do others know how much I love Him? Is it evident?

Wow! I am salt...and I sure don't want to lose my flavor and be good for nothing.
My church is salt...

Just my thoughts while cooking!
JK

An Exciting Month

February has been an exciting month. For my birthday, Kurt booked a sushi class for me andhim. We had a great time learning to make sushi. Kurt is not a fan of fish or any kind of seafood. But I am so glad he went to the class with me. I love being in the kitchen with him!

We also went to the U2 concert at FNB Stadium (Soccer City). Josh went with us and loved it. We still listen to his U2 CD every time we are in the car! I did not go to a soccer match during the World Cup at Soccer City. It was my first time to be in the stadium. It was beautiful. However, although it was beautiful and modern, we did experience "Africa" while there. We waited 1 1/2 hours in line for a hamburger! And, of course, many of the small kiosks selling drinks were out of stock before any concerts began! Life in Joburg...don't let the modern, western feel fool you! Love it!

JK