Journals: My Personal Daily Journal

"She had always wanted words. She loved them, grew up on them.

Words gave her clarity; brought reason, shape." - Michael Ondaatjie {The English Patient}

These wonderful sentences sum up why I am such an avid journal keeper. I love writing. I love words. I love the sound of a beautifully constructed sentence, and I love sitting down with a pen and paper in an attempt to organise my often 'all over the place' brain.

I made this journal last December from an old notebook. I covered it with pages from an antique book as well as all the other bits and bobs you can see in the pictures. If I am dead honest, I decided I would give daily journalling a bash, half expecting to throw in the towel after a week or two, but lo and behold, 9 months down the track and I still write {almost} every single day.

It is such a mind-blow to flick back to previous weeks and months and see how much I have grown as a person and how every bump in the road, every conflict, every new adventure has shaped and fashioned me into a different version of myself. It is both amazing and sad to see how the paths of different people can intertwine with yours for a season, before your roads diverge again and you head off in different directions. 

This journal of mine holds my deepest thoughts and feelings as well as both exciting and mundane daily events. I love it. 

There are only about 15 pages of this diary that still remain blank, and I have already bought another old notebook in which I will cover and decorate so that this journalling momentum is not lost.

 

If you are also a journal keeper, send me your pics, I would love to see how other people around the world keep track of their lives and memories.

Journals: Australia Travel Journal

 I took a much needed gap year last year after I finished my final year of school, and headed down under to explore Australia. It was my first overseas trip, so there was great excitement and many unknowns. I made myself a travel journal a few days before I left South Africa, and almost every day of my 3 months in Aus, I journalled my adventures. The pages of this journal now hold the most special of memories from a place close to my heart. It holds stories of times spent with new and old friends, and tales of the discovery of new places and landscapes. It is also home to all kinds of memorabilia, such as bus passes, photographs, clothing tags etc, and I still open my journal {which ended up becoming more of a scrapbook} every now and then and smile as I remember my unforgettable trip.

Ps: I know that this post is about a year too late, but with my California trip coming up, I was looking for inspiration for my USA travel journal, and I figured going through my own personal 'archives' was the best place to start.

 

"A" for "Away"

Let's just say that this whole 'relocating to another country' business is the most long-winded, tiresome, and at times frustrating thing I've ever had to involve myself in. But alas, at long last I have my air ticket in hand and a big fat smile on my face {and if my heart had a face, it would be smilling too.} I am set to depart on September 1st, and my flight route goes something like this:
Durban ---> Dubai ---> San Fransisco ---> Redding
In total, I will be in transit for about 30 hours, and I'm sure by the time I step off that last flight, I will be stupidly tired and in 'moody mode.' 

I am ridiculously excited to step on board that Emirates flight, and am especially happy about my baggage allowance of 46kg's {although I know I will still be sitting on my suitcase when it comes time to try zip that puppy up. Fun, fun, fun.

Sleeps remaining: 30

I love it - August

Just a few things I love about August...
Celebrating life. Celebrating people. Showing externally the love I feel internally. Family holiday. A trip to the mountains. Packing. Organising. Moving. Buying air tickets. Making plans for the future. Plain white T-shirts. Africa. Sunshine. California dreaming. Standing in the firing line of God's blessing. Seeing our ship come in. Promises fulfilled. Thrifting. Double denim. Brown leather. Grapefruit. Winter sunsets over the sugarcane. The north coast. Community. Unity. Farewell. Folk Music. Party planning. Sleepovers and dark chocolate. Appreciating my view of the ocean. Expanding my sunglasses collection. Derek and Li. Changing spiritual seasons. Prophetic words and songs. The goodness of God. Visions of Jesus. Photoshop tutorials. Stamps in my passport. Waving goodbye to friends. Leaving home. My family's sense of humor. Growing up. Hope. Trying not to colour inbetween the lines. Learning. Freshly updated iPod. Foreign accents. Seabear. The smell of my new shampoo. Living for the NOW. Throwing caution to the wind. Snow. Masterchef Australia. Local talent. Making journals. Maps. Suitcases. A pocket full of dreams. Rolled up jeans. Surfing while I can. Writing letters to loved ones. Rooibos tea. Including all things 'Apple' in my life. Compiling wish lists. SLR's. Viewing life from a higher vantage point. Skinny belts. Picnics. Tulips.
...What do you love about August?...

A tribute to a legend

On Saturday night, I was sitting at home alone drowning in a sea of craft supplies, when I clicked 'refresh' on my Facebook page, which is something that has become more habitual than intentional these days. I then saw a stream of friend's statuses that chilled me to my bone; news of the death of a friend.

I froze as I sat on my carpet and then began praying inbetween sobs, and trying to make believe that it was all just an untrue rumor...

Although I had only called Mike a friend for a few short months, he was somebody that I got along with from the word 'go.'

I remember the night we met, we sat and chatted about life and times, and shared stories of our gap year travel experiences, and all the places we hoped to one day explore. 

That night as we all sat on a friend's rooftop singing folk songs as Mike strummed on his guitar, I was glad to have made a new friend.

Even though Mike was not a very close friend of mine, it didn't take a rocket-scientist to see what a beautiful heart he had, and what a warm and friendly guy he was. He was a lover of music, people and Jesus, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that as I write this, Mike is beholding the glory of God in heaven, whilst singing along with the angels. Our loss is heaven's gain.

Mike was just 20 years old when he died, around the same age as myself and most of my friends. At this age, it is common to think that you are invincible and untouchable, and while I am not a person that lives in fear of death, this has taught me so much about the beauty and fragility of life.

Yesterday, I sat on my veranda in the sunshine and whilst watching dolphins swim through the ocean, I realised that Mike's death has put so much into perspective for me and a lot of my friends.

It taught me that life is too short to care more about 'things' than people. Too short to sweat the small stuff and allow your joy to be lost for even a second. Too short not to tell and show the ones you love just how much you love them. Too short to live life for the sake of pleasing others at the expense of your own dreams. Too short to live as a slave to money and spend your life striving for more of it, and too short to wait until 'tomorrow' to follow your heart and live the life you were created to live.

Cheers to you Mike, a true legend that lives on in the memory of everyone who had the pleasure of calling you 'friend.' Although your life here on earth is no more, it echoes on into eternity.

I am grateful for having the privilege of knowing you, although only for a brief time. I will see you one day in heaven where we will all party with Jesus for ever and ever. 

My thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences go out to Mike's family. May the surpassing peace of the Lord encapsulate you and may the angels surround you each and every day.

{Photo by Julie Patrick}

Help a brother out

Can some kind soul please invite me onto Google+ already? Don't make me ask twice. Gosh, I feel all left out and stuff. Ha ; )

Recipe: Pumpkin cupcakes with cloud frosting

I haven't posted a recipe in ages, but found this yum looking one, and thought it needed to be shared because a good cupcake recipe is like gold to a baker.
What I particularly love about this one is the icing or as the American's call it 'frosting,' and I am almost slightly reluctant to try this out because I can see myelf having a major O.D on the baking mixture before the poor cakes even make it to the oven.
Here is the recipe for "Pumpkin cupcakes with cloud frosting" as seen on the 'Always With Butter' blog.
Happy baking!

The Frock Exchange

Calling all Durban ladies that {like me} have a closet full of clothes, yet nothing to wear. 
If you'd like to fix this problem, read the invitation below for 'The Frock Exchange' that will be hosted this Saturday, the 31st of July at Plum Boutique Hotel.
Unfortunately I will be at a conference so I can't attend, but I'm sure the bloggersphere will be packed to the hilt with photos from the event once it has come and gone.
To everyone who is attending, enjoy, and I hope you bag yourself a pretty frock.