Snow and teaching

Yes I love snow!! I grew up in sunny South Africa where I had to drive three hours to a beautiful place called Hogsback (Google it!) to see any snow! This photo is of a corner patio of my garden where I like to sit and read-except when it's covered in snow that is!
I love snow because it changes the ordinary into something out of the ordinary.A friend of mine calls it God's icing. I love that each snowflake is unique! I find it fascinating that one snowflake on it's own will melt but put them together and they can stop traffic.

Walking in our neighbourhood forest admiring the snow got me thinking about how snow is much like teaching. It's a wonderful profession with icing on the top times when a student achieves something-anything!
It also has challenging moments-like driving in the snow-when you just can't make a breakthrough with a student. It has fun-snow ball fight moments- like dancing on the stage with two of my students (they actually made it on stage!) at the Christmas play.
Each of my students and each of my wonderful team of staff are snowflakes! Without the support of eachother we would not be able to achieve much. Each one unique, each one beautiful in their own way!

I have six students and as many Learning Support Assistants as the students are all educated one to one. I have an amazing group of students, they teach me well each day ! They have taught me to be compassionate, to be patient,to really listen, to be intuitive, to be observant,to be organised and above all to really appreciate the so-called "little" things in life- like snowflakes and snow :)

Home is where the heart is

Home is where the heart is...
or to put it as eloquently as Emily Dickinson
" Where thou art,that is home"

I have put a photo of our current home in this blog as we will soon be leaving it. As you may or may not know, moving has been a big part of my new life in the UK . It is not something I am used to- not something that I enjoy. Some people relish the thought of a new scene, new neighbours, perhaps new furniture
I am not one of them! My title to this entry is fitting because my home will always be where my husband and sons are but each time I say farewell a piece of me is left behind. When I left South Africa a huge piece of my heart was left behind- My sister,brother,nephews and nieces, sisters and brother -in law, great nieces and nephew- all kept a piece of me. It did indeed feel as if my heart had been broken to leave them.
This house has been our fourth home since moving here four years ago. However it has been the house we have lived in for three years and which has provided my family and I with the safety and security we have needed. It has been a wonderful home and though we do not own it- a piece of me will remain there. I will add it to my love memory.

A house is not the same as a home. I have owned three houses and rented four-they have all been home to me for there my heart is also.

I'm Back!!

Hi all my family and friends on FB- and of course my fellow JLanders who would be familiar with my "old" blog.
I have finally been able to access my blog and will now try to continue! I have spent the afternoon (yes I'm on holiday this week) reading my old entries.
Since my last post THREE years ago we have continued to settle well into our new lives in the UK. I am so very relieved that both my boys- now 19 and 15- have settled so well! I remember all my Jlanders amazing support when we left our life in South Africa behind to move to the UK. Since then JLand is no more but I am happy that I have reconnected with many of you via facebook.

That's all for now-follow my blog if you like and leave a comment too. :)

Shaky times, but we overcome

For the last two weeks I have been at home taking a break from supply teaching as my youngest son was a bit clingy, having trouble going to sleep etc. I will always put the needs of my children first! Its a tough decision as money is so important to function isn't it :-) BUT I know my sons' security comes first! I tend to forget what he has been through....left his country, family friends...lost a beloved granny, moved house TWICE and started a new school AGAIN! I feel guilty about having put him through all this....poor little thing! BUT God is good...ALL the time! I have prayed for the fears and insecurities to leave him and God has been faithful! Travis is once more the happy, settled boy he was until two weeks ago. AND he has been blessed with a very good friend, who is coming to play after school! Sorry for rambling on :-)) but a mothers' heart is broken for her children when they suffer!

My eldest son, Christopher, is doing well and making friends in school and at church.He was the one I was more worried about, ironically, as he is more reserved than his brother.Oh well, just proves we are NEVER in control of anything! Thats' why I just have to rely on Gods' help ALL THE TIME!!

I am so happy that things are back to normal and I have been fortunate to find work at a special needs school! It is a dream come true for me ! It will no doubt challenge me!

I am loving our new town! I have new friends too and though my heart still aches for South Africa ,  Chesham is becoming home for me and my brood!

This is my "baby" and I sharing a special moment!

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We've moved again

We have been blessed out of our socks once more! We have moved into a house which is bigger, closer to the boys' school AND which costs  less.How awesome is that! We needed to move as our lease ended and a man at church mentioned that he is retiring soon and needs reliable tenants when he moves abroad. That was the answer to our prayers! We feel so blessed!! We are still very much in mourning for leaving family and friends behind.....it truly feels like ALL our loved ones have died because we cant see them and hug them and have cups of tea or invite them for barbeques (braais!)anymore. BUT, we are soo grateful for the internet and skype video calls! It helps (a little!) We have been very busy just settling down but every now and then (I admit, quite often) I find myself tearful and missing my sister and my friends so very much!! We've all done a lot of crying over the phones/emails etc. This is very hard to do BUT we have and we will survive by the grace of God!

Our container of goods arrived from SA the other day and it was like Christmas! The lounge was covered in bubblewrap and there were shouts of excitement from us all..."ooh my toys!" "Yay, my cd's!" "Yiphee...my scrapbooks and photos!!!!"

I have my special scrapbooks that my old school and a very dear friend made for me RIGHT NEXT to my bed and I look at them each night and PRAY A PRAYER OF THANKS FOR MY DEAR LOVED ONES and eventhough we are seperated, NOTHING can truly seperate or break the bonds of love we share!

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MY GARDEN YIELDETH MUCH

I have not posted an entry for such a long time, it feels almost strange. I have so much catching up to do in Jland so I will keep this short and sweet.My garden has blossomed and we have found cherries, pears, blueberries,strawberries, bell peppers, passion fruit to name a few.Thought I would post a few pictures of them before the squirrel or birds get to them!

My husband has found work at last and I am supply teaching for now.It is not something I enjoy as one does not bond with the children and I find it very impersonal...but..it pays the rent.I am still searching for permanent employment, but God has been so kind to me (as usual!) He knows I'm finding it tough so He arranged for a long term (three weeks) position at a lovely school and they have asked me to return in September for maternity cover for a term so I am thrilled.

It is also almost time for our lease to expire so we are looking for accomodation closer to the boys school. Today after church, one of our new friends came and asked us if we had found jobs yet. He was delighted for us and mentioned that he lives in a house across the way from the boys school and that he is retiring to Italy next year.Would we be interested in renting from him? Can you imagine our delight!!! This is the answer to all our rental worries LOL God sure works in mysterious ways!

Throughout this stressful time, I always remind myself of the verse "Be still and know that I am God" It really soothes me knowing I cant really control ANYTHING BUT THAT GOD DOES!He provides even for the birds why wouldnt He provide for us!

Those that know me know I am no gardener so I really do appreciate the fruits of someone elses' labour...I feel undeserving of all this fruit when I did diddly squat LOL.Pretty much reminds me of how we get to reap the benefits of Christ dying for us!We are so undeserving YET HE LOVES US!

Its all good

We are settling in well.The biggest hurdle of the boys starting school is over.Both of them are very happy and have settled in well.The schools have been very supportive and the children have made both boys' feel very welcome.It is very daunting (especially for our 15 year old) to start all over again but he is happy and has made a few friends already.My youngest has a whole bunch of friends ! We are very happy! and relieved!!

This has been a very stressful time, but through all of it God has shown us favour and blessing.We are just so humbled by all the "doors" God has opened for us and the way He has smoothed our paths, given us a church and friends and helped us feel welcome in this new country.We feel very blessed.Despite hardships we "have joy in all circumstances" remembering that earthly troubles are temporary and will pass.

Of course an entry would not be complete without a few pictures.One of our house, our cute squirrel friend who lives in our oak and of the pretty flowers in my garden.