Slowly easing into 2010

We're back in action and FINALLY settling into 2010. It's been a slow start and a bit of denial, I must admit! I am waiting for Nikki to send me the latest medical facts regarding her physical condition (so that I dont miss out any important info there) so I will update you on those as soon as I know more. In the mean time, here are some pics taken over the festive season.

There were so many wonderful friends and family visiting Cape Town over Christmas time and it is always so good to catch up with old friends. We got to see the Palmer family again which was wonderful. They were in SA for a Palmer family reunion and took some time out to spend with us on 16th December (I dont have a photo as they are on Pete's PC). Nikki got to see them again before they went home but we left for holiday.

Our cousin Genevieve was also visiting from Australia and we had a number of family reunions during that time too which was great. She is such a special part of Nikki's life and they got to spend some good time together which was so good. Here are Gen and Nikki together at Imhoff's where we had a family lunch:

One of our closest and longest-standing friends, Samantha, was also visiting with her family from Joburg and we spent time together with the Legg family which we havent done in far too long and it was just lovely. Here is a pic of Eve, Sam and Nix (aka the Gumboot Gang) taken at Afton:Christmas Eve was spent together at Afton and the children did a nativity play for us before they went to find presents in their stockings in the treehouse. My dad's brother Robin did the honours and dressed up as Father Christmas and took them all by surpise. Daniel wasn't as interested in opening presents as he was to go back to the front gate with Father Christmas to "check out his sleigh". It was a precious time of fun (and food!) together with family.

Pete and I then spent 2 weeks camping in the Cederberg which was just amazing! We had Pete's family with us for the first part which was lovely. It was the first time that all the Holloway cousins have been together and our girls relished the attention from their older cousins. It was precious to see all of them lying together stargazing on their inflatable matrasses at night. We spent our last weekend of holiday at the Totalsports Challenge in Kleinmond where we managed to take 4th place in the mixed pairs and 29th place overall. Not bad for my first race ever and a good way to start the year.

It was our Megan's 5th birthday on 8th January and we had a Psalty party for her last Saturday. She is all about the details and plays an enormous role in the planning of things like parties - she absolutely loves it! She had it in her mind for some time now that her sister should dress up as the blue singing songbook which she loves so much and I thought this was so cute, I would show you all a pic! So here is Sydney dressed up as Psalty the Songbook!

Nikki is seeing her Rheumatologist again today at 4.30 pm so we will probably know more after that. She has been battling a lot with spasms in her neck and struggles to sleep at night because of this so please keep her in your prayers in line with this. We were chatting earlier and also felt to ask friends to pray more specifically that Nikki's immune system would stop attacking her joints.

Thanks again for your support and prayers which carry us daily. We wish you everything of God's best in your lives for 2010! May it be a very very good year.

Psalm 46:10-11

"Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge."

(This scripture has been a challenge and encouragement to me for this year - may it bless you too).