New Hope

So, after 70 years and 241 days, Elizabeth II – Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth Regions – has passed away. Queen ruler of over 30 states during her lifetime (15 states at the time of her passing), she will be missed by many, while many others would not understand what all the fuss is about.

Not that I am – or ever was – a keen follower of the “Royalties" and their shenanigans… However, you have to be both blind and dumb not to see or understand the influence she has had of the lives of millions of people.

A few quick facts: 

• Not only was her reign as Queen the longest of any British monarch, but it was also the longest reign of any female head of state in history.
• Only Louis XIV of France had a longer reign than she had (72 years and 110 days) from 1643 until his death in 1715.
• At 96 years of age, she was also the longest-lived British monarch in history.
• The “R” in the royal cypher (EIIR) stands for “Regina”, which means “queen” in Latin.
• She was married to Prince Phillip for 73 years until the time of his death in April 2021. She was only 13 years old when they met for the first time, and “fell in love with him”. She was 21 years old when they got married.
• Philip was Prince of Greece and Denmark, and subsequently a Greek Orthodox by religion. In order to marry Elizabeth, he had to renounce his titles and convert to Anglicanism. At the time of their marriage, he was described as “a foreign-born Prince with no home or kingdom, nor any financial standing of any kind”.
• The funeral plans and arrangements for her death have been in place since the 1960’s and is called “Operation London Bridge”. This includes details about the announcement of her death (Prime Minister first, then the rest according to position and seniority), the period of official mourning, and the details of her state funeral.
• Due to the fact that she was in Scotland during the time of her death “Operation Unicorn” was set into motion (details about the transporting of her body back to England).

For most of us that don’t fall under the British flag anymore a lot of this might seem unimportant but try to understand the number of changes that had to take place (and still are taking place). After 70 years of rule – which for some British people is their entire lifetime – the Queen has passed away, and a new order has to be put into place. Not an easy task indeed…

Good morning all...

Can you believe that we are just a few short weeks away from celebrating our 1st birthday?!! Wow!! Even I can't believe it!

When I look back at the past year, I can just say: "Thank you, Lord."

From a shop barely stocked with enough products, we've grown to the point that we are bursting out of our seems! Wider variety, good quality, fair pricing...and satisfied clients.

Thank you so much to all of you. For every purchase; every "Like" or "Share" on Facebook; every respond to a Whatsapp message and just telling somebody else about our little shop.

Unfortunately - due to my ongoing health-related issues - we are again looking at a few changes with regard to our Business Hours. However, we are also looking at introducing one or two new ideas in order to reach more clients and make shopping easier for those  who cannot reach us during our normal Business Hours.

Also, there is a BIG SURPRISE coming with the celebration of our first Birthday.

So...as they say...watch this space...

Look, as you can see I am not an active blogger. I believe that you don't have to write something everyday just for the sake of writing. In anyway...who has that kind of time...? Business, family, life, pets, household...

A while ago I got a bit concerned with regards to the fact that I have NO IDEA what to do if somebody in my household should pass away. Who do you call? Who do you report it to? What happens when? Who does what? Yes, like most people I was kind-off ignorant to the whole issue surrounding death. However, with me not being healthy and having two senior parents I had to make sure everything was in place.

So, I did some research and ensured that I have a list of important numbers, that my will is in order and that there is a folder on my computer named IN CASE SOMEBODY DIES.

A bit obsessively overboard paranoid you might think? Maybe, maybe not...

In a letter to a friend I wrote the following: "I guess every person reaches a point in his or her life where you start reflecting on what is pass, and start wondering of what is about to come. I know I do… Unfortunately my life is filled with too many “What if?”, “If only?”, “Why did I?”, “Why didn’t I?” and “Why me?” moments. Times that I should’ve chosen differently, acted differently, reacted differently or just never have lived."

I guess that we all live with some type of regret. Yet, when a father messes up, the word “regret” doesn’t even begin to explain the feeling you have. Every moment of every day that your child is suffering or changing because of something you did – or neglected to do – eats at you. Gnaws at you. Tears at you.

We were watching a movie the other night and at the end this girl is slowly dying in her father’s arms. She asked him what his very first memory was. He said that it was when his mother went to do shopping, and while he was in his little basket the shopkeeper would play “pick-a-boo” with him. She replied that her very first memory was of the flock that her mother used to feed while she was looking.

This got me thinking about my own life and not only the memories I have, but also the memories I am making for my children.

I am at a point in my life where I have accepted my fate... Some people are destined to shine. Some people are destined to succeed. Some people are destined to do great things. Some people are miracle workers or people with great faith or natural born leaders. And some people are – for some reason or another – destined to fail… No matter how hard you try. No matter how much potential you have. No matter how much knowledge you have or how high your IQ is supposed to be… Try as hard as you can. Try as many times as you can. YOU WILL FOREVER FAIL… For some reason or another you will always be the person that could’ve achieved so much in your life, but yet has nothing to show…

On my black board I wrote this morning: "Although we sometimes have to walk in darkness, remember that somewhere the light is shining..."

So, let me encourage you with these words: Even though life is not easy, and we face various challenges and problems daily; let us not forget to stay positive (no matter how difficult it is), do good unto others, love without limits and never give up.

When I was much younger (about 16 or so) I had my life all planned out. I knew what I wanted, how I wanted it and when I wanted it. I even carried around a list with me in which I clearly wrote down to God everything I wanted in my future wife (even though I was sure I will never get married - go figure...). How she must look, what she must be like, what she must be able to do, and so on.

Then, as I grew older and somewhat wiser (mid 20's) I started studying. First Psychology. Then Security Management. Then Business Administration and Business Management. And eventually I felt the calling to study Theology and become a fulltime Minister.

Even here I had it all laid out: do my Certificate in Ministry (done), then my Diploma in Ministry (done - twice), then my Bachelor in Ministry (done), then my Masters Degrees in Youth Ministry and Church Management, and eventually my Doctorate in Church Management. And - of course - write and publish a book or two (done - well, one at least).

And things were going well. I was a reasonably successful Youth Minister, my studies went well, and eventually I became the Senior Pastor of my own church.

But when I looked back, I realized that somewhere along the line my "perfectly" laid out plan for my life had somehow became skew and crooked. Not at all as I had planned it! I was nearing 30, have accomplished some of my goals, and yet I was unhappy. Ministry life was tough and unforgiving (church people can be very nasty people), my marriage was pure hell (she was not at all like the one I had on my list when I was 16!), and my body was starting to pack up.

So, I had to re-assess my life, my goals, my dreams and my ambitions. I started understanding that life is unpredictable and unstable. As a person I have always been tough on myself (I still am!), and every time something went wrong (work, ministry, relationships) I first blamed myself, and tried to find what I did wrong.

As time went by and life kept on knocking me around, and I kept on loosing more and more of the things I though were important to me (finances, ministry, marriage, health), I came to a very important understanding of how life works...

We all have dreams, desires and aspirations for our own lives and that of our loved ones. However, because of the extreme unpredictability of life, things don't always work out the way we had planned (or hoped or prayed or dreamt). Sometime the poor choices that other people make can cost us our jobs, our relationships and our dignity.

And yes, starting over is tough and it sucks! Yet, we have this built-in "reset"-button that forces us to try again. The question is not how many times have I fallen down or how many times have I been knocked down in the past 47 years of my life. The challenge lies in the fact that every time you get up, dust yourself off, look the world in the eye, and say: "BRING IT ON!!"

Is it easy? No! Is it nice? No!! Was it part of my perfectly planned life over 30 years ago? HECK NO!!

But one thing I have learned; one conclusion I have come to: Life is to unpredictable; people are to unpredictable; the world is to unpredictable for me to try and figure it all out. This whole: "What does your 2 year-, 5-year and 10 year plan look like?" (remember school or some interviews that you've been to) just does not work for me.

So, I've decided (about 7 years ago) to start living my life ONE DAY AT A TIME, trusting God for my DAILY BREAD ("Our Father who art in heaven..."). I can do NOTHING about yesterday. I have NO IDEA what tomorrow holds. So, I keep my eyes firmly fixed on today, with my hand in the hand of the One who gave me one more day to try again...

Now some of you might be able to relate to this article, and some might not be able to relate. But that's fine with me. That is why we are all unique; one of a kind.

We have two beautiful children: A boy named Nicah (age 13) and a girl named Juamé (age 4). Both of them answered prayers from God.

When we agreed that we wanted a child we sat together and asked God to bless us with a boy. And 9 months (plus or minus) Nicah was born. His first name means "Victorious in Christ". His second name - Jannes - is a blessing to both his grandfathers (Jan and Hannes), and it means "the apple of my eye".

When I realized that Juanita wanted another child we sat down as a family and discussed whether we are ready for this. As a family we prayed to God, asking Him to bless us with a girl - and 9 months later (plus or minus) Juamé was born. Her name means "surplanter" and we believe that God has great things for her in store. Her second name - Nicolé - means "victory for the people".

I never wanted children, because I've always been convinced that I would make a terrible father. I still do... I am a bad example of the perfect father. I am impatient. I am always in pain, or tired or busy... Yet, I love these two kids of mine with my whole heart. I would cross mountains to, swim an ocean, fight an army to get to them. Yes, I would lay my life down for them.

Parenthood can at most times be very...demanding... Even challenging. And...confusing... Well, that is my experience in anyway. And 13 years later I am still trying to figure our how this complex Rubix Cube called "fatherhood" works.

However, this one thing I have been able to work out for myself: No matter how much we fight and argue. No matter how angry and upset we make each other. No matter how many times I've felt like just giving up... I love them, and they love me. And there is no safer, warmer, more secure place than in Daddy's arms...