Wishing you all a 'hoppy' Easter!

 We started our Easter Sunday bright and early - the photo below is the girls at 4:30 this morning!! We had to leave Refilwe just after 5 so that we could make it to church in time for worship practice as I was leading worship for the Sunrise Service today. The girls were AWESOME and kept their cheery faces on all day!

 After the Sunrise service, tea at Auntie Sharon's, and the 9:30 service, we decided it was time to go home and take a nap so that the Easter Bunny could come and visit (he doesn't work before the sun is up) and, once I told them that he would only come when their eyes were closed, they fell asleep so quickly!

 Princess with her chocolate egg, and burning some of the energy bouncing on their Easter present from Grandma and Grandpa - a new trampoline! Their preschool teacher recommended we get it for strengthening their core muscles, and hopefully improving Chipmunk's coordination (although she keeps falling off, so hopefully the coordination will improve before she breaks something!). Princess especially has been having the best time ever jumping on it!

Chipmunk also enjoyed her egg, although, lacking a sweet tooth, she only ate the top before requesting that it go wait for tomorrow in the fridge :-)

 The girls also had a mini egg hunt in the house, and each got an egg full of Jelly Beans. For some reason they decided it would be more fun to share them, so they spent quite a while trading beans back and forth!

 A new group of volunteers arrived from the States last night, and they held an 'Easter Party' and egg hunt on the lawn this afternoon. They started out playing Duck, Duck, Goose. Chipmunk was too shy to join in, but Princess was very brave and had a great time!

 Then we had some singing, and the much awaited egg hunt. In the photo below, Princess just heard them say it was time to look for the eggs. Do you think she was excited?

 We were so blessed today to have my dear friend Anna and her parents join us. Anna and her mom both let the girls do their hair before dinner. It is way more fun doing long hair!!

New House - First Photos

 Entering through the front door - kitchen is straight ahead, and the hall, beds and bath are to the left.

 My bedroom, looking a bit like an explosion has taken place (as does the kitchen, come to think of it!) How did I ever fit all of this into one room at the baby house???

 The kitchen, with it's storage dilemma - decent cupboard space, but not enough to store food AND dishes. I'll have to start getting creative!

 Our very oddly designed bathroom - still not sure what was going on there!

In the absence of a bath, I picked up this large tub at WestPack and the girls will get to have individual bath time now.

Life in South Africa

I will never cease to be amazed by the ability of South Africans to roll with the punches. The husband of the couple I stay with had his car broken into this week (they intercepted his remote and took everything) and lost, most importantly, his laptop. By the time we both got home that evening, he was pretty matter of fact about it, and the whole family just treated it as "one of those things that happens." His son even made him a "new laptop" which spent the evening in the usual place on the dining table.

I guess it's all what you're used to, but for an American, it's an amazing resiliency to cope with constant threat in this country and grin and bear it. I've had my own experience this week which has revealed that I'm more South African than I thought. I finally got through to the court on Wednesday to check on the progress with my adoptions. I was told that they've managed to lose one of my ORIGINAL birth certificates! In this country though, you rather expect them to, so I've handled it quite well. I even managed to politely request the lady on the other end of the phone to "just keep her eyes out for it. I'm sure it's there somewhere." I'm sure things will progress regardless - one of these days!