Tuesday, January 5, 2010

52 Blessings - week 1

On Faithsisters.com there is a challenge for this year to document a blessing every week.
My first one for the year is about how blessed I am to have my job, to have been with the company for 10 years, and how good the company has been to me. And God made it all possible!

Monday, January 4, 2010

End of an old and start of a new Decade


This New Year's weekend it was exactly 10 years since I moved to Johannesburg and started working for Nedbank. So I have been in a very reflective mood. It has been a good 10 years. To commemmorate the occasion, I did a scrap page.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Dreams are good things ...

I have a good life. I have a God that loves me, and through His grace I have so much to be thankful for. I am healthy. I have the most adorable son in the world. I have a job I enjoy most of the time, my job is secure (in these economic times quite an important thing) and it pays me a decent salary. Because of this I am able to afford my dream home (I think God every day for this), and I drive a car that is reliable. It is not the most exiting life, but I really have nothing to complain about.

The problem with having a satisfying life is that sometimes one can be a bit greedy. I am very seldom greedy for more, but events and people this past weekend made me realise that there could be some changes in my life that would be really, really worth while. Realistically I know that these changes will only be dreams (well, in all honesty I actually know they will never come true), but that is the thing about dreams – dreams are good things. They make you smile in bad times in the hope that things will be better soon, and even in good times dreams can provide just that little escape from a world that sometimes can be a bit boring or monotonous.

I don’t do “What ifs” or “If only’s”, because I know I am in charge of my life. I also believe and know that God has a plan for my life that does not necessarily include my own wants. I like to think of myself as level headed and realistic with my feet planted firmly on the ground, and I am really not greedy. But I do so enjoy playing the dreaming game just every so often …. Because then I know that my life could be even better than it is now ….

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

A couple of Sundays ago we sang a song in church that had me in tears almost immediately. The words are below.

As ek in die aand na die sterre kyk
Of die geure van die blomme ruik
As ek sien hoe al U berge ly
Dis wonderlik voorwaar
As die winde deur die bome suis
Of as donderweer U krag bewys
As ek in my voel hoe lewe bruis
Dis wonderlik voorwaar

As ek sien hoe U met mense werk
Met U liefde sonder maat of perk
As ek voel hoe U my lewe versterk
Dan weet ek U is meer as bloot
Maar net ‘n Heer wat
Ver daar bo in die wolke troon
U’s die Heer wat altyd in my woon
Daarom voel my hele lewe skoon
U’s wonderlik voorwaar

As die branders op die rotes breek
Of ‘n blom verkwik ons met sy reuk
Is U baie meer as net ’n preek
U’s wonderlik voorwaar
Daar is niks o Heer vir U te klein
Want U sorg ook vir ‘n blaartjie fyn
En U bloed maak menseharte rein
U’s wonderlik voorwaar

While this is a song of praise to our God that is so wonderful, and close and awesome and loving, I was sad because I hadn’t heard it in so many years, and it reminded me of a time when things were so much different than they are today.

When I was in school and university, I went on many Christian youth camps where we sang this song often. In those days things were so “easy”. All I had to worry about was doing well in school, passing exams at university, and enjoying life. I had no serious responsibilities. No job, no bond, no financial responsibilities, no parental responsibilities. Yet. 15, 20 years later things were rather different. I have a job that I have to keep because it pays a salary that pays bills. I am a mom and have the huge responsibility of raising a child. I live in a time where there is worldwide pressure on the economy.

And singing the song I was sad because I missed those simple times. But immediately I was reminded that I don’t have to worry to much. Because I have the love of a God that gives me strength to cope with any responsibilities and stresses. And even though things may be tough and uncertain sometimes, I can give it all to God to carry. And knowing that made me even more sad, but this time a happy sad. Life has responsibilities. Lots of them. Life has some really though days. Lots of them. But never ever do we have to cope with anything alone. Because God is there right next to us, and carries and supports us every time we need Him. Always.

I am so glad I went to church that day.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Leopard and kill

The Highlight of the trip to the Kruger Park was the sighting of a Leopard with kill. Found out later it was a female. When we got the the tree, the traffic jam was something that Johannesburg can be jealous of! Everybody trying to see, and I still find it amazing that no cars were scratched. Can't say the same for tempers - some people got really agiteated, shouting and waving arms.

I did not let that spoil the moment - she was on the ground when we got there, and then with 2 graceful leaps she was in the tree, where she proceeded to start eating te impala. The sun was on the wrong side, but we could still see her clearly, and it was amazing. This was a moment of a lifetime.








Kruger Park continued












Kruger Park
















Just some pics of our weekend at the Kruger Park. It was amazing, and I loved every minute!