Making it through

There is a little hamlet called Riviersonderend that Ray and I stop at when we drive to and from George to visit our family. We have to stop at that small, but very special, bakery along the side of the road for coffee and the most amazing pies. This little bakery has worked up quite a reputation and almost everyone I know who takes that road makes a quick driveby to pick up their favourite pie! We love the pies so much that we asked friends who were travelling back to Cape Town to please bring some back to us - and they did! Our family enjoyed them Friday afternoon :)

Ray and I spent Friday evening with friends at a chocolate fondue - well I didn't know most of the people, but found myself laughing and chatting as if I had known then for ever (I keep thinking, "What a wonderful group of people!") What I loved the most was giggling with my sister, Ray stuffing me with chocolate covered strawberries messing it all over my face, holding me beside the fire and keeping me close while I almost fell asleep on the late night ride home...

I awoke on Saturday feeling rather ill, but I forced myself to go to dancing... it ended up being the most incredible African Contemporary dance class I have been to in years! I had the most fun - even if I felt utterly broken in the end (my legs are still shaking, my shoulders are bruised, I cannot lift up my arms and laughing is agony!) I think that I just needed that brief moment to fly, to express all the frustration of the last few stressful weeks, to be challenged and to push myself to the point of collapse.

And that is exactly what happened... since then I have spent almost two days in bed sleeping. The very last thing I feel like doing is attempting to study for my Biochemistry exam tomorrow (cries) and my Genetics exam on Wednesday (sobs), neither of which I have studied for (blames all the time stealing tests from last week). I do have hope though... when I stare into the week ahead I always feel overwhelmed, yet I forget to look back and see that I made it through the week that was! Somehow (well I know how - by the strength of my Saviour!) I always seem to make it... sometimes more gracefully than others, but I am sure that He will help me stumble along and finish strong. 

I am (always) eternally grateful to Ray for the endless cups of tea, pieces of toast and hugs he has gently given me... (it is always the little things that are truly the big things!) But I better stop blogging and start studying! 

My lovely

I have been sick. And of course it has had to happen at the most inopportune time! Life is overwhelming enough at the moment without having this crash upon me. But it is in times like these, when your weak body fails you and all the pressures of varsity, friends and dancing are piled upon you, that you remember that cannot depend on your own strength and become even more aware of the person standing at your side, holding you up, carrying you along.

R always is lovely. His gentle care of me these past few days has made me feel better than anything I could have done! Whether it is driving me down to the train station these cold, dark mornings because we are too tired to walk, or making me hot chocolate and rubbing my back while I study. From bringing me medicine and tucking me into bed, wrapping the blankets warmly around me. From soothing hugs when I cannot stop coughing or throwing a box of tissues my way. From praying with me before bed, or putting his hoodies on me to keep the ice of winter away, to walking down to the station and waiting there, in the rain or feeble sunshine, for me to collapse into his arms after an exhausting day. From squeezing me orange juice for breakfast and making pancakes just the way I like it, to sending me little messages throughout the day, just to let me know that he is missing me. From saying that I look beautiful, and meaning it, when I feel anything but. It's the little things that make the biggest differences! So thank-you for making me smile when I am feeling awful, for the endless "I love you's", for teasing me to stop taking myself too seriously, for letting me take sips of your coffee and cuddling with me while we talk about our days.  

I know that I am blessed and every day I thank God, amazed, for you.