lazy winter days

[Roadtripping up to see my person's family after we picked up his parent's surprise birthday present - a puppy!]

 [The changing views from our car window - mountains rising high, rolling green fields, others shorn golden yellows and rich oranges from harvest, thick forests with swiftly flowing rivers, orchards bare of fruit - their branches swaying in the wind, tractors rumbling alongside the winding roads, sheep with playful lambs dotting the countryside, cattle grazing, a lone hawk soaring far above, watching the clouds get dark and heavy, driving through the falling rain...]

[A warm puppy asleep on my lap after stopping for the most delicious homebaked pies at a roadside farm stall in a small village - flaky, buttery pastry, filled with yummy goodness, sipping hot coffees and nibbling on little treats taking shelter under an abandoned gas station, rain dripping and dripping down...]

[Everyone has fallen in love with this adorable, playfully naughty, tiny puppy - and he loves his new family!]

[Our lazy days have been filled with taking "Tigger" for walks, sleeping blissfully late, cuddling up, warm in bed, bundled under blankets with books and a sleeping Tigs, becoming obsessed with Star Wars, making dinner for the family, laughing around the breakfast table eating flapjacks with syrup and bacon, listening to "Moonlight Sonata" as the rain quietly falls on an icy winter's evening, eating toffees, driving late at night to go and buy our favourite sweets and then eating them all on the way home, wandering the mall hand-in-hand looking at glittering diamonds, the dreams of the future becoming a tender reality*]

 [Lying together on the grass in the fading sunshine, admiring God's glorious creation and the beautiful sunsets]

 [Dancing in the firelight, swirling and twirling, happiness bursting forth - thank-you Lord!]

dear daddy*

Wishing my dad and very happy father's day! I am truly blessed to have such an incredible dad as you, kind, eternally patient, unconditionally loving, godly beyond belief, gentle yet firm, disciplining us in a world that pushes for freedom without boundaries, but most of all I just want to say thank-you for teaching us the Word of God, always pointing us to our Father in Heaven, for making Christ the centre of our family. For as long as I can remember I can hear you reading the Bible to us at the dinner table, leading us daily in family devotions, I remember us praying each evening together, kneeling with my little hands clasped, amazed at your wisdom and quiet passion for the cross and standing in awe of your great depth of understanding of the Word. You have made it a joy and privilege to grow up in such a household, reflecting my Heavenly Father, personifying Him in with your life. 

Gathering the mists of my memories - a collection of happenings*

Perhaps one last post, looking back on this past semester, before tomorrow's new adventure begins!

Every story is a collection of happenings. Here is what I am able to remember, gathered from the mists of my memories...

[Distant summer weekends spent at the beach]

[Waiting at the train station, in your arms, watching the sun rise]

[The views from my train window]

[Rainbows over the ocean]

[Making every possible mistake in the lab, being the last to leave, but laughing the whole way through]

[The lights shining from Jameson Hall, walking up those frozen steps, so quiet, just before an exam]

[Exploring the mountains with my best friends]

[Standing on top of the world]

[Olympia cafe - every week after church]

[Spending time with old and new friends]

[When something small makes you smile]

[Growing to love you more and more every single day, in the million little things you do for me, so selfless, so incredibly wonderful, humbled and amazed, forever thankful]

[The Annex - weekend breakfasts with my best friend, sitting at our favourite table, rediscovering our neighbourhood, hearing the click of the camera, eating the most delectable treats, wandering through antique book stores, vintage boutiques, you spoiling me, dreaming of the future, pure happiness]

[Contentment - walking the dog with you]

[Tribeca - out with the family, out with friends, out with my best friend - gourmet burgers, toffee coffees, white hot chocolates, red velvet cheesecake, but best of all the conversations]

[Endless hours spent in the hushed silence of the library, using every last ounce of energy to study, study, study]

[Warm days means that the whole family gets together for a barbecue]

[Loving my parents - grateful for everything]

[When my beautiful sister came to visit from South Korea for just a few days - the smiles, the laughter, the stories, the busiest week of going out here and there having the most fun!]

[Walking across campus every morning, feeling at peace]

[Day dreaming on my train rides home]

[Eating The Creamery's most amazing ice-cream on a lovely winter's day]

[Watching the seasons change, beautiful golden yellow, burnt orange, fiery red Autumn leaves fall, dancing through their rustling carpet, under bare Winter branches, rain falling down and down and down]

[Home]

But what about those late, late nights spent studying for exams, or the Easter weekend spent with you, or sitting and cheering for our friends riding the Cape Argus, or all those photoshoots spent at your side, the time spent with friends, those spectacular sunsets walking along the beach, meeting new people, overcoming fears and learning to trust again and again in God alone,  those prayers, our evenings at Bible study, being encouraged, those times we sat on Jammie steps in the sunshine, catching up, eating lunch, those moments spent whispering on the couch, or cuddled warm in bed, under piles of blankets, indulging in chocolate and tea, reading book after book as the rain pours outside, laughing in lectures, baking our favourite chocolate chip cookies, being a part of Youth, those dark times of feeling alone, forgotten, disheartened, you hugging me so tenderly that I want to cry, making toasted sandwiches and mugs of steaming soup, and so many other happenings, so many others... 

Star of the Morning

Hours away from writing my final exam but I have this song playing through my mind...  

Beautiful Saviour
Wonderful Counsellor
clothed in majesty
Lord of history
You're the Way
the Truth
the Life 

Star of the Morning
glorious in holiness
You're the Risen One
Heaven's champion
and You reign
You reign
over all.

Comfort. Hope. Perspective. Goodnight* 

A dark road.

"Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.”  

{J.R.R. Tolkien}

Forgotten in the corner.

That feeling. When your heart seems to stop beating, sinking lower, down to the depths of dark self-pity. The loneliness creeps in, its silent tendrils slowly surrounding you, ensnaring you with its cold bitterness and quiet rage. Forgotten in the corner. Discarded without a thought. Left behind while the world keeps turning round and round.

I watch you in the distance. I see your smiles. I hear your laughter. I can almost touch your joy, but I have not been invited in. You have not included me in your memories, but shut me out, alone and abandoned. It hurts not be a part of what I once was so vital in, a friendship unravelled, left in the shadows to pick up the pieces of shredded string. You have moved on into the sunshine, carefree and happy, but please, please don't forget me as I try to live without you. 

Endure

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

 {Hebrew 12:1-3}