dreams DO come true

I am deliriously happy!! My son Kyle who is a wine-maker in Malmesbury, South Africa (3rd year student) has had a deep desire for 2 years to go to Spain to experience the harvest. There have been some minor limitations ($$$!!!!) but I always believed he would get there. Earlier in the year we spoke of it again but it seemed that with the visa and stringent cash availability requirements etc etc, he might have to shelve the idea.

But I kept believing!

Heeeehaaaaaaaaa...3 September sees him on the plane to Barcelona for a month, working on the farm of one of the country's (and I believe Europe's) best young winemakers. All is sorted!!

Dreams DO come true! Hold on to yours with all you have!

3 things

three things
that are precious...love, self-confidence and friends
that can make a person falter...pride, anger, unforgiveness
that make a person who they are...hard-work, dedication, integrity
that should never be lost...peace, hope, honesty
that once gone, will never return...time, words, opportunities
that will always be uncertain...dreams, success, wealth

(not my own entirely...thanks to an old magazine with no credits!)

fairy dust...dog bones...attitudes to life

I spent an interesting evening in the company of 2 special friends and a whole bunch of other people that were quite an eclectic bunch. It was one of those networking meetings with a feminine touch. Lots of good stuff (like a delish meal and some rather zjujz designer clothing), but as I sat at our table of 10 I heard so much negative comment, mindless, superficial bull#@&% that I could but smile. And then my heart went out to the women who had this rather sad outlook on almost everything as I heard stories of ill health, cancers, despondency....and yet again it just reinforced in me how important our attitudes are.

I once read of a perfectly healthy, happy woman, who after 15 years of a great marriage, had the foundations of her life torn from her when her husband left her most unexpectedly. Within 6 months her grief, bitterness and anger manifested as cancer and within 2 years she lost her battle.

Feelings of hatred and anger, other such intense negative emotions play havoc within us. They are a curved sword that cuts us to the bone...they poison our bodies, minds, souls and spirits, whilst the one at whom they are directed is oft times blissfully unaware of the pain they have caused.

When you feel the urge to use energy on a wasted negative emotion, pause for a moment, consider if the consequences are worth it and turn it around into a gentle, beautiful thought that lights a spark of hope and happiness within you.

And so 3 friends laughed at fairy dust, dog bones and life.....and sent out prayers for joy to overflow in the lives of all.

another beautiful day in paradise!!

These last few weeks have really turned my focus onto the "amazingness" of life! I am totally in awe of how we go about the actions of planning our day to day lives and that is good - one must have a plan, a goal, something towards which we strive. But even with our best laid plans, God has already set all things in place and orchestrates the most perfect outcome, if only we can totally surrender and accept that as the best option. After all the dreams and desires of our heart are placed there by Him if we are submitted. Very often our experience may be one of "why did this happen?" or "I can't handle this" and other "woe is me" expressions of despair. With just a small shift in our perception and a heart that reaches out in faith, acceptance and trust, those "bad" things can be seen as opportunities for growth.

Looking back on my most amazing life, more and more I see that painful experiences only served to develop within me a strength of character, a resolve to turn that which society often deems as negative into positive, and an appreciation of the "ordinary" moments that make life so beautiful. I often joke with friends about this, saying "how strong does He want me to be??!!" Stronger, I guess!

This weekend in particular I know that holding on to my dream for such a very long time, despite going through periods of impatience or doubt, gives that very dream the momentum to bring it to pass. My Dad was a most wonderful man, I was the apple of his eye, being a "laatlammetjie" daughter after 3 sons and 13 years. The one thing he told me which forever remains in my heart was "Hou moed menskind hou moed, die kwaad verander in goed, en die morelig kom uit die duister" - loosely translated "Be strong, my child, be strong, bad always turns into good and the light of a new day comes out of the darkness". How true are his words and my heavenly Father's Hand on my life has made that a reality for me so many times. For that I am grateful.

"Gratitude turns what we have into enough. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion to clarity. Gratitude creates a vision for tomorrow" Melody Beattie, author

Today, be grateful!!