Return to the Motherland: Coming up for air .....

I can’t even remember the last time I blogged. I initially started this blog because we had very minimal access to the internet and it was my way of communicating the everyday happenings in our lives with family and friends.

That changed a lot in August last year when I was given a Blackberry by my Dad – now I can contact most of my family by BBM or Whatsapp, can receive and reply to emails and also do basic internet searches. I do a lot more reading now that I have more access to blogs and newspapers, which is also great. It’s wonderful to be in regular contact with my family (who are all abroad) and also friends dotted across the globe.

The last few months have been hectic for us as we now juggle homeschooling, running 2 businesses and try to live lives that are meaningful to others too! I’m only blogging today because its Sunday and we’re home and trying to take it slowly!

We’ve been working through some of Sonlight’s science with our friends Zian and Adine and have been meeting twice a week for an hour or so before footie to experiment with cells, batteries and light bulbs. Its been exciting and we’ve had great fun together! Its been such a privilege to help them get through the science syllabus and also such a blessing for us to be able to share the journey with them. I’ve also been reading ‘Diary of an early American boy’ with the boys and its been very, very interesting! I personally think every pre-teen should read this book! I know quite a few people who are getting a copy for upcoming birthdays!

I’m hoping to be able to order some new curriculum soon and had great fun reading through the Sonlight catalogue! We love what we do!!

Kiddie Gourmet is going very slowly but we are beginning to establish regular orders. That’s great news for many reasons. One of them is that can offer fresh batches of meals continuously. New customers are also enquiring and will hopefully open up the market for us a little in this word-of-mouth-Mafia we live in. I really believe in our products and love preparing them and can sell them with great confidence!

Venture Active is our other ‘baby’, and is operating in full swing! Our stock has arrived and is neatly arranged in a storage facility we’ve been blessed with. We’ve sold our first batch of 3-in-1 jackets and have since worked hard at getting them listed on online stores and they are now also available in at least one retailer here in George. We are very eager to sell them at one of the many markets South Africa hosts, possibly the Saturday market in Segdefield (beginning of June) but are open to traveling up country to colder places if that is possible. Watch this space! We are also working hard to get the portable power banks and safety wear our factory in China manufactures into the right stores/stockists locally. We are learning a lot as we go along and are grateful to have the time and space to make mistakes and learn from them. This is very exciting.

In between we make time to meet up with fellow homeschoolers for picnics, take Ethan and Ryan to many football practices a week, take Jed to archery lessons, meet weekly with our ‘Community’ (homegroup) from JoshGen in Mosselbay, and visit with friends as the opportunity arises.

Just this week we organised a cycle challenge for fellow homeschoolers in our neighbourhood, and on Friday morning 15 children on bicycles were exploring our neighbourhood indicating all sorts of strange things on their maps, identifying streets and solving challenges along their way. Another of the happy days we are living out here, and one that was meaningful in so many other ways.

All in all there never is a dull moment and I don’t ever find myself alone and bored and looking for something to do! For the most part we’re working all day every day and by early evening I am exhausted and looking forward to bed time!

I don’t believe we’ve come here to just hibernate and retire …… I do believe God wants us to be of support and encouragement to those He brings our way. One of the things I felt earlier this year was that this would be a year of ‘giving of ourselves’ especially to other homeschoolers. I’m hugely challenged by this as there are many needs around us, but its awesome to be able to give of ourselves in some way and help each other along the way.

This week we signed our own 24-month mobile internet contract and now have an internet connection of our own. Its not un-limited but we have 3Gigs a month to help us with our businesses and other stuff. Now I’ll be able to use the Kindle I was given by my Sis and her family for my birthday last year. And I might even be able to blog more often (between midnight and 5am!)

We’re well and enjoying the adventure!