Biscuits, Dishes and Hope!

Again – where has this week gone? I have tried 3 times this week to sit down and write this blog but have been called away for some or other reason and simply have not had a chance till now. It’s a gorgeous sunny Cape Town morning and we are taking it slow. Pete is out cycling and I have been baking biscuits with the girls who got new cookie cutters last week and haven’t had a chance to use them yet.

It has been a good week. Nikki has had a much better time following her last dose of Chemo. Mornings have been the most difficult for her and she has had a lot of pain and has had a fever most mornings this last week - but she has the taken time to rest in the mornings and has felt much better in the afternoons and evenings.

Sylvia (one of the staff at the guest house) told us that God was moving powerfully in a series of meetings they were holding in Ocean View this last week. She invited us to come on Wednesday evening. So, the original family went through together, Dad, Mom, Nix and Eve (fun – don’t get to do that much any more! In fact it’s a mind bend to work out when last we did!) To say we were blessed is an understatement.

Then, in true Nikki humour, we had a bowl movement party yesterday at Afton – to say thank you to the many wonderful and generous people who have helped us all out with meals and kids and lifts over the last little while. And (hence the name of the party) to return some of the 48569823 dishes Nikki had stacked up at home! Her home was beginning to look a bit like Boardmans crockery department. It was a beautiful afternoon and the kiddies played while we got to catch up with friends which was therapy for Nix who is such a sociable person and sometimes feels like she is in solitary confinement with the amount of rest she needs.

Adrian has gone away for a few days so Nikki and the kids are spending the weekend at Afton Grove. The children are so excited to be sleeping in one of the guest rooms. It’s like they are on holiday!

This scripture has really ministered to us over the last few days and speaks to us of God's incredible character. He is the reason we stand, our hope and the one we are holding on to with all our might in these days:

Lamentations 3: 19 - 24

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the biterness and the gall. I well remember them and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for him".

We continue to beleive for a miracle of complete healing for precious Nix.