20 years ago today

Mr and Mrs

I married my best friend.  What adventures we have had together over the last twenty years. Wow two decades and counting.  We were married on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at The Gereformeerde Kerk in Hoedspruit South Africa.

The date 16 November 1991 and since then our journey has taken turns I could never have dreamed of.

Here are some highlights:

1991

Engaged in Hoedspruit

Married at Gereformeerde Kerk Hoedspruit

Worked at Thornybush Game Lodge

Moved to Trackers

1992

Started working for African Realty Trust

Moved onto Richmond Game Farm

Positive pregnancy test November

Went to Zimbabwe for a wedding 

(This couple caught the garter and brides bouquet at our wedding the year before)

1993

Welcomed our first born son Mr T on my 21st birthday.

21st birthday for me.
Mr T had his first eye operation 

1994

Went to Zimbabwe for a holiday.
Mr T had his second eye operation.

Built an outward bound school center on the farm

Paul ran school camps and I did the catering for up to 65 people 3 meals a day for 5 days.
My parents and youngest two siblings immigrated to New Zealand

Second positive pregnancy test on 27 December

1995

Welcomed our second born a daughter Miss J into our home

1996

Went to New Zealand for a holiday to my parents

1997

Mr T had his third eye surgery.
Moved to Christchurch New Zealand

March Applied for permanent residency.

July received permanent residency in New Zealand.

Paul worked in three different part time jobs

December Paul employed full time as Park Manager at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

1998

Moved into our first rental property

Purchased my first Sonlight Core

Started Home Schooling Mr T and Miss J

1999

Moved to our second rental property

Paul's parents came over for a visit.

Moved into our third rental.

Second Core from Sonlight

2000

Celebrated the New Millennium with Paul's parents visiting.

Toured the whole of the south island of New Zealand on a shoe string with a van and a tent.
Discovered The Well Trained Mind
Started reading and using The Story of the World

2001

12 September became New Zealand citizens.

2002

Were blessed with 4 tickets for a trip to South Africa for a surprise trip to Paul's parents 40th wedding anniversary.

2003

Moved to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

Paul fell onto roof and hurt his back which resulted in spinal surgery and rehab

Achieved my Cert III in computer studies.

2004

Joined Advanced Training Institute and did Wisdom Books for Home School
Third positive pregnancy test

2005

Went on holiday to Anglesea in Victoria Australia with family

June welcomed our second son Sir N into our home

2006

Migrated to Australia

Back to Sonlight Core Eastern Hemisphere Explorer
Paul started work at Melbourne Zoo

Purchased our first home

2007

Paul went as a wildlife guide to South Africa with a tour group with his uncle.

Children and I visited New Zealand

Paul's parents visit from South Africa

Paul started working at Werribee Open Range Zoo

2008

Went to Tasmania for a holiday

Fourth positive pregnancy test

Paul on fishing trip to Tasmania

Lost this baby to miscarriage

2009

Mr T went to Tasmania and did two weeks work experience

Mr T went on a 4x4 adventure in the Simpson Desert

Went to New Zealand for our 18th wedding Anniversary

2010

Paul's parents visited from South Africa for three months.  (can't wait for the next visit)

Mr T started his first job

Mr T fell and hurt his back

Mr T had back surgery

2011

Mr T recovers from back surgery
Started Every Bed of Roses
Start Home Schooling Sir N

Mr T starts his second job

Miss J starts her first job
Miss J being awarded her Cert III in retail.

Miss J completed her Cert III in Childrens Services

Celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary

God Willing

2012 and beyond

Family reunion in South Africa in April / May / June

Trip to Queensland to see the solar eclipse in November

Apply for permanent residency in Australia (Please pray for us)

More of His blessings .....

It has been an eventful 20 years and I look forward to our next 20 and hope that it is a time of blessing and fantastic adventures.

What have I learned ?
I have learned so many things but the first one that comes to mind is from a song by Don Francisco : "Love is not a feeling it's an act of your will"  When I read 1 Corinthians 13 it does not speak about feelings it speaks about actions but more importantly it's about choosing to do the right thing regardless of how I feel.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Amplified Bible (AMP)

4Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

    5It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

    6It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

    7Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

    8Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]

Look what my friend blessed me with in honour of our first 20 years together:

A solitaire diamond ring

May your day be as blessed as mine is today

Blessings

I would like to thank Jo Princess Warrior for the idea of a timeline of what we 've been up to as I saw this on her post 10 years of Marriage and thought wow what a neat idea I would like to do that..

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