2009 and The Whirlwind...

As this year prepares to close and start a new and exciting journey, I am amazed at how much my life has evolved and bloomed. At the beginning of this year I was still pregnant, and at the end of it I have a 7 month old daughter who brings so much joy, intensity, laughter, mood swings, exhaustion, fun and delight to my life. I now also live in a different state! A place that I love despite being quite far away from all those that I rely on for support and encouragement. I have gained and lost 26 kilos and still working on losing more! I have made some new friends, although I still miss my old ones more and more as time goes on (which probably shouldn't happen, but I have learnt and reaslised the value and depth of their friendship). I gained another beautiful sister in law in July and another very special unofficial sister in law, who will be having my first niece in the new year. What will the new year bring?

• For myself I hope that I will be able to read the whole Bible in a year...this is always my New Years resolution but this new year, our Church is going to go on the journey together and carry each other through it! Perhaps this is the only way I will be able to succeed!
• Along with Lauren and Rachel (and anyone else who wants to join in) I hope to take 365 photos, one photo a day...for my creative outlet, which isn't getting nourished very well.
• I hope to get my drivers license FINALLY...something I need to do for my own sanity!
• Continue to eat well and live well by exercising everyday!

As I look back on this past year, it is easy to see how God has blessed and provided for all my needs despite at certain times, life looked dismal. What have been the milestones in your life in the past year and what would you like to change at the start (and during!) 2010?

"She gets up while it's still dark..."

I am sitting here listening to my favourite childhood music, the Boney M Christmas Album, using a clean desk, my mineral water beside my hand...and just a little bit scared about starting a new blog...It has been a while...

I felt like I had to start afresh with a new blog, a new way to be creative, a new perspective to match my new life that has changed so dramatically over the past year.

To welcome you ALL back (all three followers that I asume that I will have! :) I will begin by sharing with you the journey that I embark nearly every morning. Somewhere between 5-5.30am on a good morning, I wake up to go out on my back verandah to exercise. Some may call that discipline, I call it a necessity...it is probably the only time of the day when I am guarenteed my quiet time, when Isabelle and Luke are still sleeping. Just after 5, after the sun starts to peak its warming rays over my part of the world, fruit bats fly over my house, heading towards the ocean and sunrise. I am not a huge fan of bats :) but I love the silence, the chilled air, the peace of the morning. I am still a little tired at this time, but at the beginning of my workout, I have the chance to glimspe a small part of God's beautiful creation. This is an important part of my day, as seemingly small as it may be. While I am still trying to figure out why I have woken up so early, I am conflicted between the idea of trying to 'get fit' and 'be healthy' with the call from God to focus on strengthening and beautifying our inner-selves, the more valuable and treasured part of our bodies to Him, but often the overlooked attributes in society.

My devotion that I read this morning focused on how to cultivate and rejoice our femininity. Proverbs 29:10-31 is an illustration about a woman of noble character. Rather than comparing myself and noting my many shortcomings, I tried to open my eyes to what a noble woman is able to do, many of these things that I enjoy doing myself! She selects wool and flax and CREATES beautiful things! She gets up while it is dark and prepares food (I do half of that part...still need to work on the delicious cooking part for my husband!) She is a wise business woman, who would've thought that a woman of the Bible could earn money! (add sarcasm here) She cares for the needy and speaks with wisdom. Charm and beauty fades, but a woman of God is to be praised...thats the part I need to remind myself everyday...work on the inner (and a little bit of the outer) but do it to the glory of God, remembering and rejoicing that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

"Everytime you reach out in love, perform a deed of kindness, soften your heart in forgiveness, show a little extra patience, and follow through in faithfulness-other people experience the character of God through you." Elizabeth George ~ Remarkable Women of the Bible