counting the blessings...

I've realised more and more over time that its the little things that count. Its the things that add up, that accumulate and when you look back over time you can't really believe what's been achieved or how you managed to reach the place where you are.

I was just thinking about the small things in my life, the small things in the lives of those around me, my family and friends. Often there are small things that we are appreciative about, but others that we don't really take notice of.

Things like time, we got tenants for our old house, just in time, pretty much to the exact time my parents were moving into our new house the newly found tenants wanted to move into our old house, meaning that we didn't have to pay for 2 houses at the same time...now is that a coincidence? I think not...a blessing rather very well orchestrated and finely tuned.

Other blessings I've been made more aware of are things like weight gain...let me explain that one a bit. My cousin in Canada had a lovely baby, Bronwyn in August and she soon after birth had to have heart surgery (i think the first of 3) anyways I've been following her blog pretty much ever day to check how Bronwyn and my cousin are doing. There are always reports of the little blessings such as weight gain, or stable weight etc. -these are small things we often would overlook. Its just been so amazing to see someone handle such a hard situation (heart surgery of a tiny baby!!) in such a faithful and prayerful way, where you're made to realise each and every tiny blessing that's not simply a coincidence.

The small little blessings that so often we overlook actually add up to a much greater picture, but unfortunately we often get too 'bogged down' or too busy with the "bigger" things in life that we don't have time to consider the little things, the little presents. Its quite exciting when we can look at the day or back over the last week and pinpoint the smaller blessings, when faithfulness has come through. Even the things that seem immensely unimportant and irrelevant to other people...those are often the best blessings in my mind, those that have personal meaning. The smaller blessings when you can quietly giggle to yourself and be reminded that there's so much to be thankful for and so much to look forward to.

I don't know if I'm articulating myself very well...but I'm on a mission at the moment to consider the smaller blessings, the things that we often look past. I don't know- I think its important...

P.S. waking up to drizzle and serenity this morning was a blessing! such a blessing that brought much happiness to my heart! Oh and I included a pic of Bronwyn as I think she's such a miracle and her story so far is such a testimony to God's love and His faithfulness to those who trust in Him and love Him.

home...

So I'm at home, I'm pretty happy about that! If you've ever seen me hyper and excited before, you should have seen me on Saturday morning as we drove through the Botswana border, I felt like a girl of only 4 or 5 once again, who gets excited and full of glee over the smallest of things. It was different this time, it was a trip well timed, a trip much desired and trip so freely given.

As I flew over Jo-burg I was struck at how peaceful and calm the night lights looked, how from the outside, just at a glance things looked so serene and tranquil. Yet I knew better, I knew that being a Friday night there was much chaos, much laughter, along with that laughter however was much sadness, much hurt, much confusion and brokenness. There was much missing, much taken. Within the rays of the bright lights there were many a hurting, aching people. The serenity may have been alive and well in some but for the majority there was no source of such peace, such freedom...

I was comforted this morning by David's writings "The earth is the Lord's, and EVERYTHING in it, the world, and ALL who live in it..." Ps. 24: 1...

It is good to be home...I love my family...

a new thing in my life...

So today I got introduced to "spring day". What an amazing concept. At first I was pretty sceptical when I noticed a few messages here and there about spring day but the more I hung out with Nats and Binksy and then later Ck, the more I realised that the concept of spring day is actually quite appropriate and amazingly awesome. I wasn't sure what all the fuss was being made about, yes I have noticed the flowers and that things seem to be warming up (aside from a few hiccups in the weather here and there), but coming from Botswana I've never really noticed the difference between the seasons aside from the drastic heat of summer as opposed to the freezing winter mornings (which makes things here so much more exciting and I feel like a little girl discovering the seasons all for the first time).

Imagine a whole day purely dedicated to taking time to notice spring, to notice the flowers and the colour. To notice the new blossoms and the fresh air. To take in the aroma that fills so many parts of this campus and to have your eyes completely feast on the slendour of such magnificent colours.

Luckily for me, I managed to soak up the sun with Binks before my prac taking in all the colours and the flowers which I've been more and more taken aback by. I then had tea with some lovely ladies after my prac and managed with very little persuasion to get Nats to agree to a walk in the sun to take in our surroundings. Ck joined us and we went off to a magical place, close to where my new home will be next year. Who could ask for anything more than a wooden bridge, huge canopy trees and lushious green grass. Seed pods which have been made into fairy ships by a few special people.

I couldn't have imagined doing anything else in the way of celebrating spring, flowers in our hair and seed pods floating lazily to the ground. I took a pic of some of our findings as you can see up there. The picture doesn't grant justice to the actual beauty which my eyes witnessed. Such peace fills my heart and I wish I could share the beauty around me with everyone I love, especially my family back home, but one day hopefully they will get to spend spring day here with me. I'm going to enjoy this new found day of delight! Yay for having experienced my first spring day. I know I didn't get dressed up in florals and straw hats filled with an array of flowers, but there's nothing wrong with next year!! :-)

Thanks to all the South Africans in my life for introducing such a wonderful day to me! I did enjoy the creation right here in Grahamstown.