Soos wat ek die ander dag deur die plaaslike inkopiesentrum stap, voel ek net die einde van die jaar in die lug. Jy weet, net so ‘n vibe wat nie op ‘n ander tyd as November en Desember in die lug is nie. Dit voel of die lewe net gebeur en die tyd net aanstap en as jy een oggend wakker word, is dit verby middel November.
Nog ‘n jaar is amper verby. Nog ‘n jaar om oor te reflekteer. Wat het gebeur? Hoogte punte en laagte punte. Die nostalgiese tyd van die jaar. Iets waarvan ek nie baie hou nie, want dit impliseer dat ek nog ‘n jaar ouer is. In my kop is ek nog al die pad 28 jaar oud. Ek weet nou nie of ek nog soos ‘n 28 jarige, of selfs ‘n thirty-something-year-old lyk nie….maar ek voel nog jonk….vir wat dit wêrd is.
Die maand se skrif op die desk pad is uit Deuteronómium(as jy nou nog nie weet waaroor dit gaan nie – besoek maar gerus my winkel, bestel vir jou een, dan het jy ook ietsie mooi vir jou werkstafel en dan gaan jy verstaan hoekom ek oor random verse skryf). Noodwendig moet ek maar daardie sin daar eindig, omdat ek nou so ‘n lang verduideliking in hakkies gesit het. Moving on!
Nou ja, die boek wat seker die moeilikste is om uit te spreek in die Bybel, is waaruit die maand se skrif kom. Díe skrifvers is vir my so ‘n groot en profound een, (by gebrek aan ‘n beter Afrikaanse woord), een met soveel beloftes in. En die Here sal jou die kop en nie die stert maak nie, en jy sal net boontoe en nie ondertoe gaan nie as jy luister na die gebooie van die Here jou God wat ek jou vandag beveel het om te hou en te doen. Deut 28:13 (Afrikaans 53 vertaling).
Wow. Waar begin mens met die ontleding en dit wat die Here op my hart lê van die skrifvers? Kom ons begin by die gebooie onderhou. Nou ek weet ons is lankal nie meer onder die wet van die Ou Testament nie. Jesus het ons kom vrymaak van dit. MAAR, in die Nuwe Testament verwys Jesus na die grootste gebod. Jy moet die Here jou God lief hê met jou hele hart, en met jou hele siel en met jou hele verstand. Dit is die eerste en groot gebod. En die tweede wat hiermee gelyk staan: Jy moet jou naaste liefhê soos jouself. Matt 22: 37- 39 (Afr 53).
Wat dit vir my sê is, as jy God lief het, en jou naaste, sal jy outomaties die tien gebooie onderhou, want as jy iemand lief het, steel jy nie by hulle nie, of vertel jy nie leuens nie, en so gaan die lysie aan. So ek reken ek kan sê check ek dink ek verstaan die deel in die skrif wat verwys na gebooie.
So terug na die eerste deel – die belofte van God self af. Dit kom nie via iemand anders nie. Dis God self wat hier praat en BELOWE. Dis ook nie ‘n halwe belofte nie, en nie ‘n miskien, maybe baby tipe ding nie. Hy belowe dat Hy MY (en jou wat dit lees) die kop sal maak, ek SAL boontoe gaan, en nie ondertoe nie. Maar daar is ‘n voorwaarde daaraan gekoppel – jy moet die gebooie van God onderhou.
Slegs as jy jou deel doen, sal die Here Sy deel doen. Hoeveel keer doen ons nie iets wat ons eintlik afgelê het toe ons bekeer het nie? Of veronderstel was om af te lê met die sondige mens toe ons bekeer het nie…? Het jy nie dalk weer vir iemand ‘n halwe waarheid, wat eintlik maar ‘n leuen is, vertel nie? Iets belowe en dit nie gedoen nie? Iemand dalk ingedoen, op watter wyse ookal? Seergemaak, geskinder, o die lys voel eindeloos.
Jy sien en dis hier waar dit vir my voel die geveg tussen die kop en die stert inkom. Ons gees is gewillig maar ons vlees bly swak. En dis hoekom ons Jesus nodig het! Alleen kan ons dit nie doen nie. Die duiwel sal jou oor en oor kom condemn, oordeel, sleg laat voel. Laer as ‘n luis, want jy het nou al weer hierdie en daardie nie gedoen nie. Jou probeer aftrek ondertoe.
Maar, wanneer jy werklik bekeer het van jou ou sondige natuur en wel alles in jou vermoë doen om die Here lief te hê EN sy gebooie van liefde onderhou, kan dit mos nie anders as om die kop te wees en op te styg na bo nie? God se genade is groot, Hy vergewe ons as ons iets verkeerd gedoen het en ons omvergifnis vra. Ek kies om God se belofte aan te kleef, alles binne my vermoë doen om naaste liefde (en self liefde) te betoon, asook my liefde vir God.
Ja, ek faal nog soms (ek moes gaan google met ‘n v of f, net so tussen ons, sodat dit ek die regte betekenis oordra). En dis seker maar ook hoe mens leer en groei is dit nie? Niemand is perfek nie, maar ons kan streef na heiligmaking, onderhoud van gebooie. Wees ‘n Jesus-Freak, probeer heeltyd self liefde en naaste liefde betoon en wys, draai weg van ou, slegte gewoontes. Dan gaan jy sien wat gaan God vir jou doen!
Wie wen in jou lewe? Die Kop of die Stert? Wat is die uitkoms van die bannier wat groot gespan is, wat die geveg aankondig – Kop vs. Stert? Ek hoop seer sekerlik dat my uitslag Kop 1 – Stert 0 sal wees, en so sal aanhou!
Now I have been meaning to finish this range of entries for some time now and the whole time something else requires more attention from me. Everytime I sit and write about this, storing a draft version, I feel that it is not right. It feels too superficial and actually nothing that God wants me to publish, if I can put it in that way.
Well, one morning in the shower, I think about all my draft versions that have started to write and just never published, and I think about what it really means to be bold. And just like that, the Holy Spirit comes, drops words in my thoughts, almost like when you put coins into a piggy bank.
I think to myself God is terribly on time. Everything on His time. So what God showed me, is, before you can be bold, you must first know what type of letter you really are. And with that I mean your style, your personality type, your body shape (yes this plays a big role in my opinion), who you are as a person, what you stand for on all levels, not only physically. And of course, who you are in Christ.
Then you have to start making peace with it. Apply self-love. I NEVER knew I was an A-shape body type. I always thought that I did something wrong so that my ass (ag I just have to use this word here and those of you who have heard me talk in real life, will understand that this just accentuates what I am talking about) is so big compared to the rest of my body. Instinctively I always purchase dresses rather than pants, because, oh my hat, finding pants that fit this body is just a losing battle it seems. Inherently God built it into me to choose items that flatter my body more, choosing colors and styles that suite my skin’s undertone better, without me even realising it.
Well then, after attending the Masterclass of Aletté Winckler in April, I learnt so much more about my physical appearance. I learnt to make peace with the fact that my bumb is bigger than my upperbody. It is what it is and it is WHAT I make of it.
Then, through all of this, I am busy with Ethics training from Probeta (I have some catching up to do and this is also why you have not heard anything more from me in this regard), based on personality types as described by Hettie Brittz (Tall Trees). Now this is another eye opener if I can call it that. Again, I could NEVER understand how sometimes, I can just go with the flow and be relaxed, taking life as it comes. And then in other situations, I freak out when I feel something does not happen the way I feel it should happen.
Yes you guessed it – THIS is who I am, WHO God made ME to be. I must learn to embrace it, accept it and develop it. This works on an emotional and spiritual level. So between the two things that I do and have done (Tall Trees and Aletté Winckler’s Masterclass), I am busy exploring and discovering who I am and what I am called for. I am also busy with EI Activator (Emotional Intelligence that expands on Tall Trees), but I have not made much progress there as yet, but I just know that the knowledge that I will obtain there will also just add more and more to this process.
So now that I know that I am an A type body letter, a Palm Tree AND a Boxwood, (I cannot elaborate much about EIA because I have to work a bit more through the material to know what I am there), I can proceed to discover myself with God by my side. He is busy teaching me about food (that I feel wants to overwhelm me every now and then) and what I must do to maintain my temple so that I can do the work which He called me for and placed me on earth for. And of course to develop that which needs developing…now my A can be an A that stands out.
Nou ek dreig al lank om hierdie reeks inskrywings klaar te maak, en heeltyd val iets voor. Elke keer as ek sit en hieroor skryf en die draft weergawe stoor, voel ek net nie dat dit reg is nie. Dit voel te oppervlakkig en eintlik glad nie Goddelik nie, as ek dit nou so kan stel.
Wel, een oggend in die stort, dink ek weer na oor al my drafts wat ek begin skryf het en net nie publiseer nie, en ek dink weer aan wat dit werklik beteken om bold te wees. En so kom die Heilige Gees en begin die woorde in my gedagtes laat val, amper soos wanneer jy munte in ‘n spaar bussie laat val.
God is terribly on time dink ek weer. Alles op Sy tyd. So wat die Here vir my gewys het, is, voordat jy bold kan wees, moet jy eers weet watter tipe letter IS jy nou eintlik. En met dit bedoel ek, wat is jou styl, jou persoonlikheidstipe, jou body shape (ja dit speel ‘n groot rol in my opinie), wie jy as ‘n mens is, waarvoor jy staan op alle vlakke, nie net fisies nie.Wie jy in Christus is.
Dan moet jy begin vrede maak met dit. Self-liefde toepas. Ek het NOOIT geweet ek is ‘n A-shapebody type nie. Altyd gedink EK doen iets verkeerd dat my ass (ag ek moet net die woord gebruik hier, die wat my al in lewende lywe hoor praat het sal verstaan dat dit net beklemtoon waarvan ek praat) so groot is teenoor die res van my lyf. Instinktief koop ek eerder rokkies as broeke, want liewe aarde, om broeke te kry om die lyf te pas is net ‘n stryd. So inherent het die Here dit in my ingebou om items te kies wat meer vleiend is, kleure en style te kies wat by my vel ondertoon pas, sonder dat ek dit besef.
Nou ja, na die Masterclass van Aletté Winckler wat ek in April bygewoon het, weet ek soveel meer van myself, wat uiterlike voorkoms aanbetref. Ek het geleer om vrede te maak met die feit dat my boude en bo bene groter is as my bolyf. Dit is was dit is, en dit is wat EK van dit maak.
Dan is ek ook deur alles deur, besig met Etiese opleiding van Probeta (ek het bietjie opvang werk om hier te doen en die dat julle nog nie enige iets sedert my laaste inskrywings gelees het nie), gebasseer op persoonlikheidstipes soos omskryf deur Hettie Brittz (Tall Trees). Nou dis nog ‘n eye opener as ek dit nou so kan noem. Weereens kon ek NOOIT verstaan hoe ek soms net voel ek gaan saam met die stroom dryf en ontspanne wees en die lewe vat soos hy kom nie. En dan weer in ander situasies omtrent uit freak as iets nie gebeur soos EK voel dit moet gebeur nie.
Ja, jy raai reg – DIS wie EK is, dis WIE God MY gemaak het om te wees. Ek moet leer om dit te omhels, aanvaar en te ontwikkel. Hierdie werk op ‘n emosionele en geestelike vlak. So tussen die twee goed wat ek doen en gedoen het (Tall Trees en Aletté Winckler se Masterclass), is ek besig om te ontdek wie ek is en waarvoor ek geroep is.Ek is ook besig met EI Activator (Emotional Intelligence wat uitbrei op Tall Trees) en nog nie verskriklike vordering daar gemaak nie, maar ek weet sommer daardie kennis wat ek daar gaan opdoen gaan ook net nog meer en meer bydra tot die hele proses.
So nou dat ek weet dat ek ‘n A lyf letter is, ‘n Palmboom EN ‘n Sierboom is, (ek kan nou nie iets sê van EIA nie want ek moet nog bietjie meer deur dit werk om te weet wat ek daar is), kan ek voort gaan om myself saam met God te ontdek. Hy is besig om my te leer van kos (wat my kort-kort wil oorweldig omdat ek voel ek weet niks van kos af nie) en wat ek moet doen om my tempel in stand te hou, sodat ek Sy werk kan doen waarvoor ek op aarde geplaas is. En natuurlik om te ontgin wat ontgin moet word….nou kan my A ‘n A wees wat uitstaan.
In October 2021, when I felt that I had to design the Pink Feathers range, I had no idea what I was letting myself in for, on all levels. Just as well, because if I knew, I probably would not have done it.
What am I talking about? The whole process of having an online store, managing the stock, finding money to pay for it all, but the biggest thing of everything – the photos for the webpage. I did not have a clue. Did not overthink it, because I was so focused on the designs and the physical product at the time.
But none the less. I took the photos in my way and as I saw fit. Looking back, they were AWFUL and the fact that someone purchased anything from me with those photos is actually a miracle!!
In the mean time I was growing during this process, and I decided to change the background, retake the photos, going through the motions of uploading them to my website again. It takes long, just by the way, because you are dependent on your internet speed. Then someone makes a comment on the photos, saying it must be a white back ground, taken from another angle, do this and change that.
Over the Easter weekend I decided to retake the photos AGAIN. The only white thing that I had in the house was a sheet. The lines made from folding, frustrates me, the reflection of the light (I am taking the photos at the dining room table, while the rest of my tribe is watching a movie) irritates me even more. I cannot get the phone’s (yes I use my phone because the Canon camera is also a frustration for me) positions exactly the same when holding it while taking the pictures.
The ring light stand thing that I use, actually just does not work and it feels to me like one huge mess. But now I have to push through, because I have already started the process, so I cannot give up now. With lots of frustrations, as you can clearly see, I push forward. Trying hard not to spend money on unnecessary things.
Some time later (a few months), I had a chat on Whatsapp with Anri Erasmus of Painted Lemons. Can I just tell you how this girl helped me since I got the plan from God? She was the one that I contacted to say I want to design a desk pad. She was the one that taught me about Canva, Creative Market and plenty of other things.
She was the one that connected me with the printers that I use, the tannie that makes the aprons. She was the one that just continued to support and guide me during the whole process. Anyway, I cannot remember how we started the conversation about photos, but I told her that I am not CRAZY about the current photos.
That is when she answered me (in her words) Nee tjommie, jy kry vir jou drie borde met mooi textures. I thought to myself WHAT? Say what now? What must I get? Where does one get the boards that she is talking about? Not too long after that, she sent the link to the boards from Flatlay Studio. Shortly after that another message came through with the app that I must download to take and edit pictures like a pro (and here I believe it stands for professional and not probeerder).
Wow! Such valuable knowledge! I took some money and purchased the necessary items. After the goods were delivered (what felt like an eternity but in reality was only a few days), curiosity got the better of me and I could not WAIT to take photos. I open the one item and think UUUHHMMM I think I purchased the wrong thing, I cannot see how one can take nice photos with this. Well, I was wrong!
One Saturday, while at the Spar, I made an Impromto decision to purchase fresh flowers for the photos. I start to take photos, but struggled with the angle and height while taking the pictures, all because I do not have a stand that works.I continue my photography session, snapping away. I took the pictures inside the house at night (because that is all time that I have). To me they look stunning but I still felt that something is missing.
In the mean time, I Whatsapp Anri YET AGAIN, sharing the photos that I have taken, with her, along with my frustrations. Oh my word, I realise now how frustrating the photographs were to me! Probably because I had no idea what it is that I was trying to do.
She said I must purchase a stand and sends a link on Takealot of one that she uses. She viewed my photographs – giving advice, recommending that I take the pictures in daylight rather than inside with lights switched on. The next day I start AGAIN, retaking the photos. Why I don’t know, because I do not have the stand yet. I start a bit late in the afternoon, and I do not have enough daylight to finish. I continue inside and then I saw the difference between natural light and lights switched on.
I felt so discouraged, because my photos are not finished, the fresh flowers are going to die and we are going on leave. I do not have a stand. I don’t have time to do this in the week, I have to work. The day job’s work does not stop. I decided to put the flowers in the fridge (they are Proteas and I reckoned they will last long), letting the other leaves dry out, putting it in a container to protect it from dust.
The stand arrived while we were on leave. The day after returning from leave, I decided to retake all the photos AGAIN, this time with the stand and some stickers as markers for placing the different items in the same position (I am mos now becoming a pro) in daylight on the stoep. The flowers still look fine so I do not have to go to the Spar AGAIN to purchase some fresh flowers.
Let me just tell you, halfway through this process, when it felt like my back was breaking off from being in awkward positions from taking pictures, I think to myself WHAT WAS I THINKING? WHY AM I DOING THIS? But, I cannot stop now. I have come this far, I need to push through….
Can I just say one thing? I have new respect for website photos. Especially of stationery. Because how on earth do you take photos of these items to make them look pretty and inviting for people to purchase? Anyway. The photography session is done, photos are edited and uploaded to my website. When looking back on where I started less than 1 year ago and where I am now, I cannot help but notice God’s hand in everything.
How He sent me people (ok one person with connections) to help and guide me through the whole process. Anri Erasmus, from the bottom of my heart I want to thank you that you responded to this crazy lady’s Facebook messenger message in 2020. That you invited me to your house to answer all my questions around the Bible that I wanted to purchase, the paint and all the other things I wanted to know. Explaining and answering everything that comes so easy and naturally to you, so patiently to me.
And how you just guided me on and off during this process. When I was stuck with something, sending you 500 messages when I am uncertain about something (only people who have communicated with me on Whatsapp will understand this one), you just keep me calm, explaining everything step-by-step of what I needed to know at that point in time. THANKS for this!!!
Above all, thank you God for the knowledge and wisdom that You gave to me, with what I call God’s crazy plan (said with respect of course) and for the development and growth that I can see in myself on all levels. Emotionally, spiritually and physically. I want to share some photos on this entry of the transformation – where it started and where it is now, the ones that stand proud and tall on my webpage.
This is now truly a testimony of the scripture Anything is possible with God. I hear in my mind how the kids sing-talk together A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD. A-L-L-E-S IS MOONTLIK MET GOD. Something they were taught at Eden Leersentrum. And it is truly so. Everything is possible with God’s help. If a Chartered Accountant can take these types of pictures and be this creative, then anyone can do anything!
The first photoThe next oneWith the sheet and other decór itemsWith Flatlay Studio boards and banners
Toe ek in Oktober 2021 ervaar het dat die Pienk Vere reeks ontwerp moet word, het ek nie die vaagste benul gehad waarvoor ek myself, op alle vlakke, in laat nie. Ook maar goed so, want ek dink nie ek sou dit gedoen het nie!
Waarvan praat ek nou? Die hele proses om ‘n aanlyn winkel te hê, te bestuur, voorraad en voorbeelde te laat maak, geld om alles te betaal, maar die grootste van alles – die fotos vir die webblad. Ek het nie ‘n clue gehad nie. Nie daaroor gedink nie, want ek was so gefokus op die ontwerpe en fisiese produk.
Maar nie te min. Ek het toe fotos geneem op my manier en soos ek goed gedink het. As ek nou terug kyk was dit AAKLIG en die feit dat enige iemand by my iets gekoop het met daardie fotos is eintlik ‘n wonderwerk!!
So groei ek toe nou in die proses, besluit om die agtergrond te verander, neem weer fotos, gaan weer deur die proses om dit op my webblad te laai. Dit neem lank, net so tussen ons, want jy is afhanklik van jou internet se spoed. Dan lewer iemand kommentaar op die fotos en sê dit moet ‘n skoon en wit agtergrond wees, neem bietjie van ‘n ander hoek af, maak so en doen dat.
Oor Paasnaweek besluit ek om WEER al my fotos oor te neem. Al wit ding wat ek in die huis het is ‘n laken. Die vou lyne frustreer my, die weerkaatsing van die lig (ek neem dit in die aand op die eetkamer tafel terwyl die res van my gesin ‘n fliek kyk) irriteer my nog meer. Ek kry nie die foon (ja ek neem met my foon want die Canon kamera is ook ‘n frustrasie vir my) se posisie presies dieselfde vas gehou wanneer ek neem nie.
Die ring lig staander ding wat ek gebruik werk eintlik glad nie en dis eintlik net een vet groot gemors voel dit vir my. Maar nou moet ek deur druk, want ek het nou mos klaar die proses begin, ek kan nie nou moed op gee nie. So karring ek aan, baie gefrustreerd soos jy seker kan aflei, maar ek werk met wat ek het en probeer om nie onnodige geld op fieterjasies te spandeer nie.
Heelwat later (‘n paar maande), gesels ek eendag op Whatsapp met Anri Erasmus van Painted Lemons. Kan ek net vir jou vertel hoe die girl my gehelp het sedert ek die plan van die Here af gekry het? Sy was die een wat ek gekontak het om te sê ek wil ‘n desk pad ontwerp. Sy was die een wat my geleer het van Canva, Creative Market en nog vele ander goed.
Sy was die een wat my in verbinding gesit het met die drukkers wat ek gebruik, die tannie wat die voorskote maak. Sy was die een wat my net aanhou ondersteun en lei het deur die hele proses. Nou ja, ek kan nie onthou hoe ons begin praat het oor fotos nie, maar ek sê toe vir haar dat ek nie MAL is ook my huidige fotos nie.
Dis toe dat sy vir my antwoord (in haar woorde nou) Nee tjommie, jy kry vir jou drie borde met mooi textures. Ek dink by my self WAT? Wat moet ek nou kry? Waar kry mens die borde waarvan sy praat? Nie lank na dit nie, kom die skakel deur vir die borde van Flatlay Studio af. Net daarna nog ‘n boodskap van ‘n app wat ek moet aflaai om soos ‘n pro (en hier glo ek dit staan vir professional en nie probeerder nie) fotos te kan neem en edit.
Wow. Watter wonderlike kennis! Ek haal toe maar geld uit en skaf die nodige aan vir my. Na die goed afgelaai word by my (wat soos ‘n ewigheid voel maar eintlik net ‘n paar dae is), kan ek natuurlik nie WAG om foto’s te neem nie. Ek maak die een oop en dink UUUHHMMM ek dink ek het ‘n verkeerde ding gekoop, ek kan nie sien hoe mooi fotos van dit af gaan kom nie. Wel, ek was verkeerd!
Impromto besluit ek een Saterdag, toe ek by die Spar was, om vars blomme te koop vir die foto’s. Daar begin ek toe om fotos te neem, maar sukkel steeds met die hoek en hoogte waarteen dit geneem word, want ek het nie ‘n staander wat werk nie.Ek begin neem en neem en neem. Ek neem in die huis die aand fotos (want dis al tyd wat ek het). Dit lyk vir my stunning, maar ek voel steeds iets kort.
In die tussentyd, Whatsapp ek ALWEER vir Anri en deel die foto’s wat ek geneem het met haar, asook my frustrasies. Sjoe ek kom nou net agter dat die hele foto-nemery vir my ‘n frustrasie was! Seker maar omdat ek eintlik glad nie geweet het wat ek probeer doen nie.
Sy sê toe ek moet ‘n staander koop en stuur ‘n skakel op Takealot van een wat sy gebruik. Sy kyk na my fotos – gee raad en advies en beveel aan om in natuurlike lig te neem eerder as in die huis met ligte aan geskakel. Die volgende dag begin ek WEER van voor af. Hoekom, weet ek nie, want ek het nog nie ‘n staander nie. Ek begin fotos in die middag te neem, daglig raak min en ek kon nie klaar kry nie.Ek neem in die huis verder in die aand en toe begin ek die verskil sien tussen natuurlike lig en onnatuurlike lig.
My moed sak in my skoene, want nou is my goed nie klaar geneem nie, die blomme gaan afgaan en ons gaan met verlof. Ek het nie ‘n staander nie. Ek het nie tyd in die week om dit te doen nie, ek moet werk. Die day job se werk hou nie op nie. Ek bêre die blomme in die yskas (dis Proteas so hulle sal lank hou het ek geredeneer) en laat maar die ander blare uit droog en bêre dit in ‘n houer om te bewaar teen stof.
Terwyl ons met verlof was, arriveer die staander. Die dag na ons terug gekom het van verlof af, besluit ek om WEER alles oor af te neem, die keer met die staander saam, stickers geplak om die verskillende ontwerpe op min of meer dieselfde plek te laat lê (ek sê mos ek raak nou ‘n pro), in daglig op die stoep. Die blomme lyk nog goed genoeg vir fotos so ek hoef nie WEER Spar toe te ry en te koop nie.
Kyk, halfpad deur hierdie proses, toe my rug voel of hy wil afbreek van die vreemde prosisie wat ek in gestaan en buk het om af te neem, dink ek weer by myself WAT HET MY BESIEL? HOEKOM DOEN EK HIERDIE? Maar, ek kan nie nou stop nie. Ek is nou so ver, ek moet maar deur druk…..
Kan ek net een ding sê? Ek het nuwe respek vir webblad fotos. Veral van skryfbehoeftes. Want hoe op dees aarde neem jy dit af dat dit mooi en aanloklik lyk vir mense om te WIL koop? Nie te min. Die fotos is klaar geneem, geedit en opgelaai op my webblad. As ek terug kyk na waar ek begin het, minder as 1 jaar gelede en waar ek nou is, kan ek net die Here se hand in alles sien.
Hoe Hy mense gestuur het (ok een mens met connections) om my net te help en te lei deur die hele proses. Anri Erasmus, uit die diepte van my hart bedank ek jou dat jy hierdie crazy vrou op Facebook se messenger boodskap in 2020 beantwoord het. Dat jy my na jou huis genooi het om al my vrae te vra oor die Bybel wat ek wou koop, die verf, en net al die ander vrae te antwoord en geduldig, alles wat so natuurlik en maklik vir jou kom, te verduidelik.
En hoe jy my net aan en af lei deur die proses. As ek met my hande in my hare sit, en 500 boodskappe begin stuur as ek onseker is (net mense wat al op Whatsapp met my gesels het sal die een lekker verstaan), kom jy, en hou my net rustig en kalm, en verduidelik net alles stap-vir-stap wat ek nodig het op te weet op daardie tydstip. DANKIE vir dit!!!
Bo dit alles, dankie Here vir die insig, kennis en wysheid wat U my gegee het, met wat ek noem Die Here se mal plan (met respek gesê natuurlik) en vir die groei wat ek kan sien in my as mens op alle vlakke. Emosioneel, geestelik en fisies. Ek deel so paar fotos op die inskrywing van waar ek was en hoe dit getransformeer het na die fotos wat nou met trots op my webblad pronk.
Hierdie is nou wragties ‘n getuienis van Met God is alles moontlik se skrif vers. Ek hoor in my gedagtes hoe die kinders saam in ‘n koor sing A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD. A-L-L-E-S IS MOONTLIK MET GOD. Iets wat hulle by Eden Leersentrum geleer het. En dit is wragties so. Alles is moontlik met God se hulp. As ‘n Chartered Accountant sulke fotos kan neem en so kreatief kan wees, dan kan enige iemand enige iets doen!
Die eerste fotoDie volgende eenMet die laken en ander dekorMet Flatlay Studio se borde en banners
Here we are, mid-October already and I cannot help but wonder where the time is going to. I know I have said it in almost every entry (or so it felt like to me), but, seriously, the time goes by so quickly, I feel I cannot keep up! I then look at my desk pad and this month’s scripture.
I compare it with the other versions on my electronic Bible (how wonderful is technology?) just to make sure I have the correct interpretation. And I think I have it!
So Paul (it was he who wrote Corinthians was it not?) wrote here that nothing that we have ever seen, heard or thought about in our hearts, can describe what God has prepared for us. Wow, I think a moment about this and realise just HOW big this is. I think most certainly it refers to the eternal life, but also our time here on earth.
God’s plan for us is prosperity and not harm, is that not so? So why can this not be applicable to our time here on earth too? Practically I can testify about this scripture and what happened in my life. And don’t get me wrong, we need hard and harder times, because that is when we are formed and character is built. But the good times and the prosperous times are needed too.
You see, if I have to think about all my earthly desires that I have, then I think it will be awesome if all my tasks associated with my day job, will be up to date and stay that way. That I have no pressure what so ever and that everything will just go smoothly the whole time, every time. Of course I have a million or three other desires too (we all have this dream about something you know?), but this one stands out to me the most.
So I thought that this was my biggest desire. Well, I was wrong!! You see, during September 2022, God fulfilled a desire for me that I did not think about, heard of before or had seen as yet. You guessed it – the radio interview! What an experience that was! You see, I did not think that it is something that I want to do. And now, said with a tongue-in-the-cheek, it feels like this is ALL that I want to do! The dream job, the one that you always dream about but never get to do.
God fulfilled and surpassed my wildest, biggest desires with that interview. A day or so after the interview, I paged through my desk pad’s scriptures for the remainder of the year and then it struck me – THIS is what God meant with this verse. Now, think to yourself, if something like a radio interview feels big to me, how BIG and WONDERFUL are His plans for us?
It is BIG, very BIG, our brains cannot fathom this, even if we try very hard to wrap it around this. And I think, actually, it is better this way, because now we have something to look forward to! Do you look forward to what God has planned for you? I most definitely look forward to what God has planned for me, Beroepsvrou and my day job…
So staan ons alweer op middel Oktober en ek kan nie help om te wonder waarheen die tyd aanstap nie. Ek weet ek het dit in amper elke inskrywing gesê, (of so voel dit vir my), maar regtig, die tyd vlieg so vinnig! Ek kyk na my desk pad en die maand se skrif.
Ek gaan vergelyk dit met ander weergawes op my elektroniese Bybel (is tegnologie nie wonderlik nie?) net om seker te maak ek het die korrekte interpretasie hier beet. En ek dink ek het hom!
So Paulus (was mos hy wat Korinthiërs geskryf het?) skryf hier dat niks wat ons al gesien, gehoor het of in ons harte opgekom het, kan beskryf dit wat God vir ons berei het nie. Wow, ek dink so oomblik na hieroor en besef net hoe gróót dit is. Vir seker dink ek dit verwys na die ewige lewe maar ook ons tyd hier op aarde.
God beplan mos dinge van voorspoed vir ons, nie teëspoed nie, nie waar nie? So hoekom kan dit nie van toepassing wees vir ons tyd hier op aarde nie? Nou prakties kan ek getuig van hierdie skrif en dit wat in my lewe gebeur het. Moet my nie verkeerd verstaan nie. Die moeilike en harde tye is vir seker ook nodig, want dis wanneer ons gevorm word en karakter gebou word. Maar die goeie tye is net so nodig vir ons tyd hier op aarde.
Jy sien, as ek nou moet dink aan al my aardse begeertes wat ek het, wat ek nou dink awesome sal wees vir my, is dit sekerlik dat al my werk op datum sal wees en so sal bly. Dat ek nie werksdruk het nie en dat alles net die heeltyd vlot sal verloop wat dit aan betref. Natuurlik het ek seker nog ‘n miljoen of drie ander begeertes (ons almal droom mos maar van ietsie jy weet?), maar díe een staan vir my die meeste uit.
So het ek gedink dat dit my grootste begeerte was. Wel, ek was verkeerd!! Jy sien, gedurende September 2022, het die Here vir my ‘n begeerte vervul wat ek nog nooit aan gedink het nie, nie gesien of gehoor het nie. Ja jy het reg geraai – die radio onderhoud! Wat ‘n belewenis was dit nie net nie, jy sien, ek het nie gedink dat dit is iets wat ek graag sal wil doen nie. En nou, tong-in-die-kies gesê, voel dit vir my is dit ál wat ek wil doen! Die dream job, die een waarvan mens net droom en nooit kry nie.
Die Here het my wildste, grootste begeertes met daardie onderhoud oortref. So ‘n dag of wat na die onderhoud, blaai ek deur my deskpad se skrif verse en toe tref dit my – DIS wat die Here bedoel met die vers. Nou kan jy jouself indink, as iets soos ‘n radio onderhoud vir my gróót voel, hoe GRÓÓT is die planne wat die Here vir ons het nie net nie?
Dis GRÓÓT, baie GRÓÓT, ons breine kan dit nie indink nie, al probeer ons hoe hard en lank! En eintlik is dit ook goed so, want nou het ons ietsie om na uit te sien! Sien jy uit na wat Hy vir jou beplan? Ek sien uit na dit wat die Here nog vir my, Beroepsvrou, en die day job in gedagte het…
The whole week, while we were on holiday, I had this longing for the caregiver in our family. As we were travelling back from our sea side holiday, my thoughts wander. To my sister Erika Breytenbach. You see, those of you who are only tuning in to my blog now, may not know this, but she and her family made the choice one year ago to uproot themselves and to settle in another country.
At first I did not understand why I had this yearning and longing, especially now. But then I saw on Facebook how she shared her heart and emotions of being on the other side of the world for one year and how traumatic it actually was with the Pandemic. My heart was crying when I saw this. Then I understood, because, somewhere my brain made the connection with this time of the year and someone dying alive to me, if this makes sense at all at what I am trying to say here. With this I mean, they are still alive, but out of reach for fleshy hugs and physical contact.
I scroll by the entries fast, because I am scared that I will start crying like I did when I greeted them, what felt like 100 times in Pretoria one year ago. We did not visit each that frequently. When I was younger, yes, and before kids, for sure. At that stage we visited them more often. But then life got too busy and the Pandemic and lock down limited travels between provinces.
I call her the care giver, because she is the nurse in our family. She does not like it very much when called a nurse, because she actually is a Sister. And yes, there is a difference. Probably the same as in my career when people call me a bookkeeper when that is not what I am.
She has this ability to keep one calm. Especially in crisis situations. With our car accident 16 years ago, I trusted her more than all the doctors and nurses at the hospital. When my child sustained a head wound from jumping off a bed (with my mom being in a coma at the time), she was the one that I phoned (yes, I panicked and struck a blank as to what to do with the head wound). If a client received a diagnoses of some form, then I would turn to her to explain what is actually meant with this knowledge that we have just gained.
When my mom was in the coma and had to go in for the MRI, she was the one that was standing next to her, cool, calm and relaxed, holdig our dying mother’s hand. Not once could I detect any panic wanting to overwhelm her. I remember standing there, watching her, thinking to myself How do you do that????
I also think of her husband Jaco. How he inspired me to become a CA. Giving crash courses just before exams on how to operate a financial calculator (something I have forgotten long ago and for the life of me, still cannot operate effectively and correctly).
Well then, my dear sister and heavy (a direct translation for swaar when we actually mean swaer – and yes – go and google all the meanings and then you will connect the dots on this translation), I truly hope that your roots will settle quickly on the new soil that you find yourself on. I hear it is hard to immigrate. Mixed emotions when you decide to do something like this. I don’t know if I told you this, but one year ago, on the camp, God confirmed to me that I have to let you go.
Over and over He said this is how it must be. He even gave me a map of New Zealand on that same camp. As if He wanted me to HEAR and SEE that this is part of His plan and that I must trust the process, even if it does not make sense to me.
Love you sis. Our caregiver. Our eldest sister. The one that made slap chips (fries for those of you who do not know and understand the South-African Afrikaans slang used here) from fresh potatoes for lunch, with a white sauce made from scratch. It probably did not happen that often, but it stood out to me from growing up together.
I cried so much when you went to P.E. to go and study there (and no, I cannot type or pronounce the new name for Port Elizabeth so in my mind it will stay P.E.). Because it felt so far away. So out of reach. Little did I know that you will choose a destination even further away. Miss you. Even if we are only a Whatsapp call apart, the time zones are tricky to work around…
I am trying my utmost best to keep the fern alive that I got from you. It almost did not survive winter. But I think I have found the spot for it, where his leaves are green and soft and healthy – I am most certainly not going to move it again. It stands here right next to my computer and when I see it, I think of you. The fern that stands tall and proud on the cover photo of my blog, next to me on the desk.
Until we see each other again. And to be able to give fleshy hugs to each other. Until then I will swallow back the tears. Pretending that it is just a dream. Putting my head in the ground and making the decision to not think about it too much. Because that helps to ease the pain and longing, even if just by a little bit.
The junk journal that came with the map (I made this myself by the way) The celebrations of one year in a foreign country.
Die hele week terwyl ons by die see vakansie hou, het ek heimwee en verlange na die versorger in ons familie. Soos wat ons terug ry van ons see vakansie, dwaal my gedagtes. Na my sussie Erika Breytenbach toe. Jy sien, die wat nou eers inskakel by my webjoernaal weet dalk nie, maar sy en haar gesin het ‘n jaar terug besluit om hul wortels op te trek en in ‘n ander land te gaan vestig.
Eers het ek nie verstaan hoekom ek die verskriklike verlange, juis nou het nie. Maar toe ek op Facebook sien hoe sy haar hart deel van een jaar daar en hoe traumaties dit eintlik was met die Pandemie saam, huil my hart. Toe verstaan ek, want iewers het my brein die tyd van die jaar onthou en gekoppel aan iemand wat lewendig dood gegaan het vir my, as dit nou enigsins sin maak. Met dit bedoel ek, hulle lewe nog, maar is buite bereik vir fleshy hugs en fisiese aanraking.
Ek blaai dan vinnig verby die Facebook inskrywings, want ek is bang ek begin huil soos ek gehuil het toe ek hulle, wat voel soos 100 keer, gaan groet het in Pretoria 1 jaar gelede. Ons het nie mekaar se drumpels deurgetrap nie. Toe ek jonger was, ja, en voor kinders, vir seker. Toe het ons baie meer gekuier. Maar toe raak die lewe te besig en die Pandemie het ons almal nog meer ingeperk met reise oor provinsies.
Ek noem haar die versorger, want sy is die nurse in ons familie. Sy hou nie baie daarvan as jy haar ‘n nurse noem nie, want sy is eintlik ‘n Sister. En ja daar is ‘n verskil. Seker maar soos my beroep en mense wat my ‘n boekhouer noem wanneer ek eintlik nie dit is nie.
Sy het hierdie vermoë om mens rustig te hou. Veral in mediese krisis situasies. Met ons kar ongeluk 16 jaar terug het ek haar meer vertrou as die dokters en ander nurses by die hospitaal.Toe my kind haar kop oopgeval het (met my ma wat in ‘n koma was) was sy die een wat ek gebel het (ja, ek het gepanic en ‘n blank geslaan oor wat om te doen met die kopwond). As ‘n kliënt ‘n diagnose van ‘n aard gekry het, was sy die een vir wie ek gevra het wat hulle nou eintlik bedoel met die kennis wat ons nou bygekry het.
Toe my ma in die koma was en in moes gaan vir die MRI, was sy die een wat kalm en rustig langs haar gestaan het en haar hand vas gehou het. Nie een keer het paniek haar oorval nie. Ek onthou nog ek het haar so staan en kyk en by myself gedink Hoe doen jy dit?????
Ek dink ook aan haar man Jaco. Hoe hy my geinspireer het om ‘n CA te word. Crash courses net voor eksamens gegee het oor hoe om ‘n finansiële sakrekenaar te gebruik (wat ek lankal weer vergeet het hoe dit werk en om die dood toe nie vandag kan reg gebruik nie).
Nou ja sussie en heavy (‘n direkte vertaling vir swaar wanneer ons swaer bedoel) ek hoop regtig jul wortels vestig gou in die grond in. Ek hoor dit is hard en moeilik om te emigreer. Mixed emotions wanneer jy so iets besluit. Ek weet nie of ek vir jou gesê het nie, maar die Here het vir my op die kamp laas jaar, bevestiging gegee dat dit so is, ek moet julle laat gaan.
Oor en oor het Hy gesê dit moet so wees. Hy het selfs vir my ‘n kaart van Nieu Seeland (ag jitte ek weet nou nie of ek dit reg spel nie) gegee. So asof Hy net wou hê ek moet HOOR en SIEN dat dit deel van Sy plan is en dat ek net die proses moet vertrou al maak dit nie sin vir my nie.
Lief jou sussie. Ons versorger. Ons ousus. Die een wat slap chips vars gebraai het vir middagete met witsous van scratch af gemaak. Dit het seker nie baie gebeur nie maar dit staan vir my uit van ons grootword jare.
Ek het my oë uit my kop uit gehuil toe jy P.E. toe gegaan het om te swot (en nee ek weet nogsteeds nie hoe om P.E. se nuwe naam uit te spreek of te spel nie, so Port Elizabeth sal dit bly vir my). Want dit het so ver gevoel. So buite bereik. Min het ek geweet dat jy nou nog ‘n verder bestemming sou kies. Mis jou. Al is ons net ‘n Whatsapp oproep ver neuk die tydsones so bietjie…
Ek probeer hard om die varing wat ek by jou gekry het aan die lewe te hou. Hy het amper nie die winter gemaak nie. Maar hy staan nou op sy plekkie waar sy blare lowergroen vertoon en waar nuwe blare uitkom – ek gaan hom vir seker nie weer skuif nie. Hy staan hier reg langs my rekenaar en as ek die varing sien dan dink ek aan jou. Die varing wat trots pronk in die foto van my blad, langs my op die lessenaar.
Tot ons mekaar weer sien. En fleshy hugs kan uitdeel en gee vir mekaar. Tot dan sluk ek maar die trane af en weg. Maak ek maar of dit net ‘n droom is. Druk my kop in die grond en kies maar om nie te veel daaraan te dink nie. Want dit maak die seer en verlange net so effens makliker om te hanteer.
Die junk journal waarin die kaart was (ek het die self gemaak net so tussen ons)Die vieringe van een jaar in die vreemde.
The other day I went onto social media, on Facebook and saw the memories that were shared 3 years ago. It was a conversation with my son, 10 years old at the time. For those of you who know him, knows that he loves facts and that our house is full of various types of fact books.
None the less, I cannot recall the exact conversation. I almost think that he randomly said something to the effect of “Who is the best mommy in the world?”
With a chest swelling up from being proud, I sit and listen, waiting for Mom of the year award to be given to me by my 10 year old son. But soon all my dreams were shattered. His answer to the question? “An Octopus. Because she looks after her eggs for 52 months.”
I could not help but laugh, and I still laugh when I am reminded about these random facts that we learn every so often from Franco! Never a dull moment in the Potgieter household!
And the Mom of the year award goes to….Mother Octopus!!!
Die ander dag gaan ek op sosiale media, op Bakkiesboek aka Facebook en sien die memories wat gedeel was van 3 jaar gelede. Nou dit was ‘n gesprek met my seun. Toe 10 jaar oud. Die wat vir Franco ken sal weet dat hy versot is op feite en dat ons huis vol verskeie tipe feite boeke is.
Nie te min, ek kan nie meer lekker die presiese gesprek onthou nie. Ek dink amper hy het randomly iets gesê in die lyn van “Wie is die beste mamma in die wêreld?”
Breëbors sit ek en luister en wag om die Ma van die jaar toekenning by my 10 jarige seun te kry. Gou was my drome aan skerwe. Die antwoord op sy vraag? “‘n Seekat. Want sy pas haar eiers vir 52 maande op.”
Ek kon nie help om te lag nie en giggel steeds toe ek herinner was aan die random facts wat ons gereeld leer by Franco! Never a dull moment in die Potgieter woning!
And the Mom of the year award goes to….Mamma Seekat!!!
So not everyone has the privilege to blog about their special day. The special day? Our wedding anniversary of course! Last year was the first year that I had the opportunity to blog about our special day and I even thought, mmmmm….I will not be able to blog about this again!
Well, I was wrong. You see, it is not a Same old, same old, Happy Anniversary, I will choose you a thousand times over, love you to the moon and back standard day. To me, every year that we have been spared together, is an absolute miracle right out of God’s hand.
This year’s anniversary will be different – we are on the road the entire day to our holiday destination. It is school holidays and I cannot remember when last we went to the coast during a school holiday. Decembers do not count, as that was almost the norm for so many years of our marriage.
Well then, none the less. I want to share with the world a bit more about my husband Heinrich. The one whom I prayed for. You see, I was not too specific in my prayer to God about my requirements. There were only two things that bothered me when I was young (and I did not know how to pray in my opinion, especially when I look back now, but anyway, moving on).
The first requirement was – my husband must be taller than what I am. So check God sorted that one for me. The second requirement was – my husband must wear pants that are sized bigger than mine. Yes, you may laugh. But at one stage, when I was young and skinny, there were these short and even skinnier guys who were interested in me. Nothing put me off more thinking I must date or marry a guy that wears a size 32 pants while I was a size 34 at that stage.
Stupid I know! But that was literally the only requirements I had. And come to think of it, it was just as well that I did not give God a longer list of requirements. Because I don’t think I would be able to choose it better than what He chose my husband for me. After 16 years of married life, we are even closer to each other than what we were when we got married. That is how it is supposed to be, is it not?
We understand each other better and I recon we bring the best out in each other. There is the odd occasion where we disagree about what seems like nothing, but, that is also needed and part of the process. Most important of all, we serve God together! In our own ways that suite our personalities best and we trust God absolutely for everything that we do.
Heinrich makes me laugh, has the funniest sense of humor (which I think rubbed off on me but was most probably always there, waiting to be found and developed in the right circumstances), he understands me, treats me with respect, calms me when needed, supports me, trusts me and loves me.
Like I said, I would not have been able to choose better. This is absolutely out of God’s hand that we found each other, which feels like a lifetime ago. I went through Facebook’s photos that I uploaded over the years. It was so nice to see and remember with each photograph, where we were at that given moment in time. Of course I wanted to make a slideshow. But to my frustration I am struggling a bit. So I hope the slideshow will see the light!
It feels so relevant to point out some good memories and a few less good ones of our married life together. In the 16 years of being married, we only moved into the house we are currently living in (yes, we have not had to endure the frustrations and patience of packing up a house together to move and I don’t know if and when we will ever do it). We have experienced together – two children, one ectopic pregnancy, one miscarriage, too many to count dachshunds (sausage dogs), one parrot, a whole lot of hamsters and a Pekingese.
We were even together in a magazine – but that was before we got married so that probably does not count? It was in the Accountancy SA so no major circulations and publications of us in a magazine! We started our day job’s business together, also before we got married…. during our married life a blog was born, giving the world a bit of a look into our lives, we experienced a Radio interview with me greeting the readers rather than listeners, something that we laugh about frequently (of course he tuned in and listened in depth hearing the mistake and not being able to help me to say the right thing).
We survived a Pandemic, wearing masks and sanitizing until end of days it felt. There were tough times, humorous laughing times, good times, better times and just normal ticking over times. But in all these times, God was there. He looked after us, provided for us, protected us. So many silly decisions that we wanted to make, thinking it was a good one, was stopped by God and when we look back, we can just stand in total awe and amazement of His guidance and grace that we experienced! We cannot help but to praise God for this!
Heinrich – I dedicate this piece and every piece that I will write for every year after this to you and our lives together. I thank God every day for you, that He borrowed you for my time on earth. At least you are still taller than what I am and I hope the size of the pants is still bigger than mine and that I did not become dikkes over the years, so that one of my two requirements have not fallen off the list. (Because, yes, I have not been a size 34 for many years now!!!).
May God give you even more wisdom and insight on how to handle things. May He bring us even closer to each other as we move closer to Him. May He still use us as a couple together to reach people, in a unique way, suitable for our unique personalities. Happy Anniversary, love you to the moon and back, choosing you a thousand times over!
So nie almal het die voorreg en geleentheid om te kan blog oor hul spesiale dag nie. Die spesiale dag? Ons huweliksherdenking natuurlik! Laas jaar was die eerste jaar wat ek kon blog oor ons groot dag en ek het nogals gedink, mmmm…ek gaan nie WEER hieroor kan blog nie!
Wel, ek was verkeerd. Jy sien, dis nie ‘n Same old, same old, Happy Anniversary, I will choose you a thousand times over, love you to the moon and back standaard dag nie. Vir my is elke liewe jaar wat ons saam gespaar is, ‘n absolute wonderwerk uit God se hand uit.
Hierdie jaar se herdenking gaan wel anders wees – ons is heeldag op die pad na ‘n vakansie bestemming toe. Dis skoolvakansie en ek kan nie onthou wanneer laas ons in ‘n skoolvakansie gedurende die jaar see toe was nie. Desembers tel nie, want dit was amper die norm vir so baie jare van ons huwelik.
Nou ja, nie te min. Ek wil net so bietjie meer deel met die wêreld oor my man Heinrich. Die een vir wie ek gebid het. Jy sien, ek was nie baie spesifiek met God oor my vereistes nie. Daar was net twee goed wat my gepla het toe ek baie jonk was (en toe ek glad nie geweet het HOE om te bid nie, in my opinie as ek nou terug kyk, maar nie te min).
Die eerste vereiste was – my man moet langer as ek wees. So check die Here het daai een uitgesorteer vir my. Die tweede vereiste was – my man moes ‘n broek grootte dra wat groter is as myne. Nou ja, jy kan maar lag. Maar op ‘n stadium, toe ek nog jonk en maer was, het daar kort en nog maerder outjies in my belang gestel. Niks het my meer afgesit om te dink ek moet met ‘n ou uitgaan of trou wat se broek nommer ‘n 32 is terwyl ek ‘n 34 was op daardie stadium nie.
Simpel, ek weet! Maar dit was letterlik al vereistes. En ek dink dis ook maar goed so dat ek nie nog ‘n langer lys van vereistes vir God gegee het nie. Want ek dink nie ek sou dit so raak gekies het soos wat God my man vir my gekies het nie. Na 16 jaar van getroude lewe, kan ek eerlik sê dat ons nog nader aan mekaar is as wat ons was toe ons getrou het. Dis mos hoe dit moet wees, is dit nie?
Ons verstaan mekaar beter en ek reken ons bring die beste in mekaar uit meeste van die keer. Daar is die odd geleentheid waar ons vassit oor wat voel soos niks, maar, dis ook nodig en deel van die proses. Belangrikste van alles is, ons dien saam vir God! Op ons eie maniere wat vir ons persoonlikhede werk, en ons vertrou absoluut op die Here in alles wat ons doen.
Hy laat my lag, het die snaakste sin vir humor (wat ook op my afgevryf het en seker eintlik maar altyd daar was en gewag het om ontgin te word in die regte omstandighede), hy verstaan my, hanteer my met respek, kalmeer my wanneer dit nodig is, ondersteun my, vertrou my en is lief vir my.
Soos ek gesê het, beter raak kies kon ek nie. Dis absoluut uit die Here se hand dat ons mekaar gevind het, wat voel soos ‘n leeftyd gelede. Ek gaan deur Facebook se foto’s wat ek oor die jare opgelaai het. Dit was nogal lekker om te sien en te onthou van elke foto se neem en situasie waar ons was. Ek het natuurlik als afgelaai en probeer ‘n slideshow maak. Tot my grootste frustrasie sukkel ek so bietjie. So ek hoop maar die slideshow sien die lig! Maar in die tussen tyd moet die day job se werk klaar, want ons gaan met vakansie!
Dit voel so relevant om hoogte punte (en so paar laagte punte) te noem in ons getroude lewe saam. In die 16 jaar van getroud wees het ons slegs ingetrek in die huis waarin ons nou bly (ja, ons het nog nie daai sakke sout opgeëet van huis oppak en trek nie en weet nie of en wanneer dit ooit gaan gebeur nie). Ons het twee kinders, een buisswangerskap, een miskraam, ongelooflik baie worshonde, een pappegaai, nog ‘n hele rits hamsters en ‘n Pekingese saam beleef.
Ons was al saam in ‘n tydskrif – maar dit was voor ons getroud was, so dit tel seker nie? Dit was wel net die Accountancy SA so geen verskriklike sirkulasie en publikasie van ons twee nie! Saam het ons die day job se besigheid begin, ook voor ons getroud was… gedurende ons huwelik het daar ‘n blog ontstaan wat so kykie vir die wêreld gee op ons lewens, ons het ‘n Radio onderhoud beleef met ‘n blaps in hoe ek die lesers groet eerder as luisteraars, en waaroor ons nou gereeld lag (hy het natuurlik in diepte geluister en gehoor hoe ek die fout maak en kon my nie reghelp nie).
Ons het ‘n Pandemie oorleef, maskers dra en saniteer tot in lengte van dae. Daar was swaar tye, lekker lag tye, goeie tye, beter tye en gewone net oor tick tye. Maar in al hierdie tye was die Here daar. Het Hy na ons gekyk, ons versorg, beskerm. Soveel besluite en dom dinge wat ons wou doen en gedink het goed was, was gekeer gewees deur die Here en as ons later terug kyk, kan ons net in verbasing en dankbaarheid die Here loof vir Sy getrouheid!
Heinrich – ek dra hierdie stuk, en elke volgende jaar se stuk wat ek gaan skryf op ons huweliksherdenking op aan jou en ons lewens saam. Ek dank die Here elke liewe dag vir jou, dat Hy jou vir my geleen het vir my tyd hier op aarde. Jy is darem nog langer as ek en ek hoop die broek grootte is nog groter as myne en dat ek nie dikkes geword het oor die jare nie, sodat die ander een van my twee vereistes darem nog op die lys is. (Want, ja, ek is lankal nie meer ‘n 34 broek grootte nie!!!)
Mag die Here jou net nog meer insig, kennis en wysheid gee oor hoe om goed te hanteer. Mag Hy ons net nog nader aan mekaar bring soos wat ons nader aan Hom beweeg. Mag Hy ons nog saam ook gebruik om mense te bereik, op ons eie unieke persoonlikhede se manier! Happy Anniversary, love you to the moon and back, choosing you a thousand times over!
Cleaning your mousepad purchased from Beroepsvrou has never been easier. Like my kids say – Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy! Watch the video below and follow the instructions included….happy cleaning! And of course a special thanks to my sister from another mister, Dora!
The weekend of 9 to 11 September 2022, marked the fifth year of Adorned ministries’ annual retreat camp. The usual suspects were there, if I may refer to them in that way, humorously speaking of course.
The theme of this year’s retreat was Woman. Thea van Rooyen, from Thea’s Poeierkamer did an excellent job with the creation of woman of the bible, all whom were featured in her class on Saturday afternoon.
The theme for the camp was ‘Ishshâh Nâshîym which means Woman.
As usual, we all were exhausted the Friday evening. Tammy (again I have to check her surname because, my word, for the life of me I cannot remember this one!) Tambourlas from WOW Woman of Worth said to me that I was also tired last year, what is wrong?
I realised later, that it is because I have just come out of a busy period work wise, AND had stayed up until almost mid-night the night before, finishing off a car made from boxes for a school parade. Don’t ask. All I can say is, it consisted of three boxes, plenty of spray paint (Chrome nogal), screws, wooden blocks, lace and glue.
Back to the retreat. Confucius tried to take over again the Friday evening, similar to last year. Lynn’s page (from JOTW Journaling on the Way) was just sooooo confusing to us, but I think it was more that we were all just so exhausted!
Confucius tried to take over again, but we managed to overcome any form of confusion that tried to take over.
The venue was changed from last year and I am sure everyone that was there last year and again this year, were very grateful that there was no Donkey keeping us from sleeping!
Again it was not luxurious and at the end of the day that does not matter at all! You only sleep in your room, so I guess you do not need a five star hotel room with room service!
God needs to take you from your comfort zone to a place of almost total exhaustion so that He can work with us. This is my opinion and may not be right, but, when you step out of your comfort zone, God can work more and better in your life.
The word for Woman in Hebrew looked like Greek to me.
Elsie Potgieter
Before I go on about the messages that were brought to us, I want to chat a bit more about the retreat. I woke up one morning, a few months ago, with Carolien and the camp in mind and the words Back to your roots and a sandy brown color in mind. Now by now, I know that God speaks to me in a strange way and I no longer question Him.
True to God’s word – this is what the camp was about. Shortly before the camp, I asked Carolien for more information about the retreat, just so that I could get my mind around it and what it is about, and of course for some inspiration for this blog entry. She sent me a word and its meaning.
We are made to shine. Stepping out into the role that we were created for.
Lynn Grobler – Journaling on the Way
It looked Greek to me. But it was actually Hebrew. Same difference right? No, not at all. The word was (and yes, I too cannot read or pronounce the word, so you are not alone AND I had to type this from the advertisement image) ‘Ishshâh Nâshîym.
Around about this time in writing the entry, I realised that this is going to be a longer than usual post. This is purely because I am trying to capture three days’ worth of events in one entry. Splitting them up will loose the essence of what I am trying to say. So make yourself a cup of tea or coffee and proceed reading. I am also only doing this in English, so sorry nê – geen Afrikaanse weergawe nie….
So the Greek aka Hebrew word means Woman. Lynn’s message was for us to shine and her page was a cutex bottle with glitter. It was higher grade stuff – making this cutex bottle. It involved a whole lot of folding and sticking things together with the green Tombow glue, NOT the blue one!
I ended up purchasing both from Tammy’s shop, only for it to probably lie in my bag for a year to dry out again (I don’t stick stuff in my bible that often). Eventually we got it right! She continued with her message to say that the word Shine stood out to her as she was preparing for the camp and the message she was to bring to all. We need to step into the role that we were created for.
The message from Soria Vermeulen was Daughter of the King
EnDeo Bible Journaling
Saturday morning, Soria Vermeulen (from EnDeo Bible Journaling) presented her class. Her message was Daugther of the King. An ever so delicate face made by a Cricut machine (everyone is on this bandwagon now about this machine and it can apparently do everything except make coffee and do your admin for you it seems). A very handy thing to have, especially if you are into Bible journaling. One day I will have one is one of the thoughts that I have had about this machine…..making my heart’s desires known to God in the process too…
So again there was a little bit of confusion. Not as much as the night before, but it also seemed every time I sat down to do a page, exhaustion overwhelmed me. Perhaps because I was relaxing and did not have to worry about meals for my family for an entire weekend? Anyway, the confusion was with the sticking of the delicate face….some people gave it lots of glue making it impossible to handle and stick down.
Soria finished off by reading a poem that someone wrote, confirming that we are strong women, no matter what happens to us. The Saturday afternoon it was Thea’s turn, from Thea se Poeierkamer. My word, all I can say is that I just LOVE this woman and her personality and sense of humor! She was the one that drew and painted all the Dollas van die Bybel as she calls them. The ones that were used to advertise the retreat.
Dollas van die Bybel
Thea van Rooyen – Thea se Poeierkamer
But first, before we can do anything, we have to fold something. This is Thea’s thing. There was a bit less confusion than last year. Those who attended will understand that the junk journal is just way above all of our heads and you need ten post graduate degrees to do that one it seems.
We folded our little envelope and then we could move onto the good and exciting part of the class. Making a cross with a Dolla van die Bybel on. She explained all of them, who they are and random Dollas were handed out to all the ladies. She further said that pencils and paint don’t talk back so you can do ANYTHING with them!
I believe that God gave each person the Dolla that they should have gotten, as there is a special message behind it for all of us. Part of the kit that we got was a sterfbed geheim hand made item from Thea. It looks like a doily and gives the cross just a bit of depth and texture. There was even a lady that just did not want Eve, but Eve kept on following her no matter what she tried to do!
Of course in between everything we were trying to rest and had our meals, which were lovely by the way, journaling in between. Now up to this point, if I had thought these pages and the cross that we had to make were higher grade, well I had it wrong.
Carolien’s class was higher grade, explaining the content and roots of the words God, Man and Woman.
Carolien presented the evening class. And she whipped out some Greek aka Hebrew words and meanings for us. I lost her half way through as my brain was just too tired to capture and grasp everything. But, I understood the core message. There is a little bit of God in a man and woman (please see the pictures in the gallery then this will make more sense).
And a little bit of a man and woman in each other. The same thing that is in the Greek aka Hebrew word for God, man and woman, gets removed when we fight and do not have God as the center of our lives. Then we are only left with fire and then we all know what fire does – everything is destroyed and goes up in flames so to speak.
This time round I had the privilege to serve people. Last year I was on the other side being served. Sobbing and crying like I have not done before. But I can tell you, all those tears, healed the wounds and scars that were left in my heart over time and by so many things that happened to me all through my life.
Just by the way – I was not always this chirpy happy person that I am now. I can feel the change in myself that God has brought over me since the Adorned Camp that I attended in 2021. My first camp. The life changing camp. The one where the Pink Feathers Range was born.
Being used by God was such a privilege. Never in my life have I experienced God in this way. He was talking to me in pictures. As we served people, He gave me visions. They seemed strange to me but when I shared them, the Holy Spirit did the rest and helped with the healing process in all the ladies.
Through all of the serving of ladies, God served me too through them. I received confirmation that I did hear correctly with Beroepsvrou (something doubt is trying to take away very so often) and I further received revelation about the black colour of my Beroepsvrou apron, something that I also was unsure of and why it had to be black.
Somewhere over the weekend (I forget whether it was the Saturday or Sunday), Carolien revealed the first Afrikaans bible, designed by her, which has been a process of two years! A gorgeous hard covered, ring bound bible, split between the old and the new testaments called Die Sierlike Kuns Bybel. She explained the Strelitzia flower on the cover and why she chose this. And I must say, this is something that wants to be done! In spite of all the challenges and delays, God made a way for this Bible to see the light!
Don’t compare your journey with the person next to you. The battle is normally in our minds.
Anri -Painted Lemons and Rochelle – LaRochelle Crafts
Sunday morning we were joined by Anri Erasmus (from Painted Lemons) and Rochelle Rossouw (from La-Rochelle Crafts). Man, I just love these two ladies. They are opposite of each other but complement each other so well! Again we had to do math on a Sunday morning. After all the crying and lack of sleep the night before, we had to cut and paste something after measuring it.
We were confused but we managed to get it right. And then of course Anri and her colour mixing came up, to mix flesh coloured water colours! We got it right, with a bit of effort and struggle, but we managed it! The essence of their message? Don’t compare your journey with the person next to you, the battle is normally in our minds.
The retreat was closed off by Thea and her folding again. Just in case we have an empty box of long life milk and needed a wallet of some sort. She showed us what to do, where to cut, place brads (I know them as split pins but the fancy scrapbooking term is brads) and then an elastic or string to close it up. So now we all know (and have forgotten again) how to make a full cream beursie.
We packed up, greeted and parted our ways. Of course I was almost half way home when I thought I had forgotten something. I turned around, rushing back like a mad thing, only to not find it there. Of course I had packed it up and put it in my suitcase without me even realising that I had done this. This just proved to me that not all the thoughts in our minds are from God….but maybe I had to go back to say goodbye a second time, for what ever reason!
Thea closed off the camp with the folding and cutting of a full cream beursie from an empty 1 litre box of long life milk.
It was fun being on the retreat, mom guilt tried to take over but the Holy Spirit showed me that us as woman need to spend time with Him alone too. Without our families. To fill up our cups. To get that intimate relationship with God going so that He can romance us, like Carolien said, filling us up with the truth that the devil tries to destroy with lies.
My prayer will always be that God will bless this ministry of Adorned through Christ to new levels, more, higher, all to the glory of His Name and Kingdom. So that women’s lives can be changed one page at a time. One entry at a time. One day at a time and one camp at a time.
The presentersThe poemThe Greek aka Hebrew wordThe Greek aka Hebrew words of Lord, Woman and ManThe new bible
It is Thursday morning. I woke up with sore muscles in places that I did not know had muscles. The reason? Death by Cross Fit the day before. My word, I did not know that my arms and so many other places can be stiff and sore from a WOD (Work out of the Day). I was sitting proverbially speaking, with my hands in my hair (and sometimes with hair in my hands too).
The entire week, actually the entire month, I have been thinking about this month’s scripture on the desk pad and I am not sure what I want to write about. But as time progresses and it becomes mid-September, I start to relate with the scripture even more than before…
It frequently feels as if I have this anxiety trying to squash my heart and breath from my body. It is 15 September and I am still trying to get through and finalise the admin tasks following the month of August. Why is it taking so long this month? I can just not figure out why it feels like I am held back when it comes to work!
My online shop for Beroepsvrou is faulty too, to top it all off! Suddenly, overnight the WooCommerceplug in (let me now use the fancy lingo so that I sound like some or other clever Trevor while I am busy) is just gone and not installed. HOW this happened is unknown. I do not know.
I experienced a fleeted moment of panic, tears wanting to overwhelm and consume me. My excitement of the past few days is almost stolen by this. It is as if it wants to tell me that I lied over the radio interview that I had. It is impossible for anyone to always look for the positive in everything.
And really, the trials and tribulations that I spoke about, how am I handling that now? Am I still walking around with a song in my heart? Why is my work now even further behind than what it was last week this time? Only 5 business days have passed since then, I am working everyday, feeling like I am running around like a headless chicken, not getting anything accomplished. WHY??????
Then I decide to go and read the scripture for this month again. Philippians 4:6-7 (AMP) Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].
Do not be anxious or worried about anything. Let us start there. Of course I am concerned and worried about time that is ticking by with the speed of white light, while my work pace seems to be that of a snail (not the snail in Turbo and at that speed – a real, genuine-enuine slooooooow snail’s pace it feels). Then on top of that, I am anxious about my online shop. WHY????? What now???? Must I redo everything? Back to my day job – how am I going to get everything submitted by the deadline date of 24 October 2022?
There is so much to do? I MUST exercise, that I am not going to give up for anything in this world. Because I know, if I do not exercise, I am going to lie around on the couch and become a potato so to speak. Then I may as well go and exercise and be productive and do something constructive. Ok God, I think to myself. I am now going to try REALLY HARD not to be anxious about ANYTHING that is bothering me. Done. Ticked off the list.
But in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your requests known to God. Ok, so this tells me that I must talk to God, prayer, something that I am doing, so I think I can tick this off my list. Petition this I am doing ever so often, especially with my crisis with the online shop. Do you have any idea how long it took to set up that shop?????
So I recon that I can tick that off my list too, because in my spirit I am crying. I cannot sit and physically cry, in the first place I am potentially going to look like I don’t know what, with make up smudging.
In the second place I am, in my opinion, only going to waste time by crying. I have things that have to be done, I cannot waste more time with crying. And thirdly, ag I don’t even know why I should not cry, I just know that I should not cry. That leaves me with the last part of the verse – thanksgiving.
I wonder what Paul (it was Paul that wrote the letter to the Philippians right?) meant with this. I think that I must praise God and be thankful that He is going to repair my online shop, that He will let time stand still so that I can get a head with my work and not feel like a failure the whole time. So, THANK YOU God for that which you are going to restore, have restored already and that which you are busy restoring as I am typing this.
And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. After typing away at the preceding paragraphs, it feels like I am feeling less anxious. The supernatural peace I know, I have experienced it A LOT in my life. Especially when I cease to try and do something myself, leaving it for God and His capable hands. Because let us face it – He is our Maker and His hands are more than capable. He is more than capable even if we still try and declare Him incompetent by taking everything onto ourselves.
My heart is feeling more at ease and my mind and heart, (that which springs forth all things in our lives), must also find peace. I must now start to speak as if it has been restored. Ok, I think I get it! Thank you God for the restoration on all levels of things that are bothering me, that things are going to be resolved in the blink of an eye (God you know my deadlines and pressure that I am under and I know that you are going to resolve everything very quickly). I pray this in the Name of Jesus! Amen and Amen!
I decide to move my focus to MY responsibilities. That which I am required to do now. I have someone that can assist with the online shop, hopefully a back up that can be restored or something simplistic like that. But my EDP work (the tax business), there I must move my bumb and work faster. The birds and angels are surely NOT going to do my work for me. I must still carry my weight there and do what I have to do!!
And the peace of God which transcends all understanding….I hear the words echo through my mind. I feel less anxious, in spite of the sore muscles and anxiety that I felt earlier. I know that everything will be resolved quickly! God is good ALWAYS!!
After I finished this entry, (the Afrikaans version), and started to focus on work again, the person that was assisting me with the webpage, let me know that the shop is in a working order. All the data is there. It is unexplainable as to WHY this happened and seems to be something that happens. I leave it at that and thank God for favor that follows me in all my days!
Dis Donderdagoggend. Ek word wakker met seer op plekke wat ek nie geweet het spiere het nie. Die rede? Death by Cross Fit die dag voor dit. Liewe aarde, ek het nie geweet my arms en als kan so styf wees van ‘n WOD (Work out of the Day) nie. Ek sit spreekwoordelik met my hande in my hare (en dan soms met hare in my hande ook nog).
Nou die hele week, eintlik hele maand al, loop ek met die skrif op die desk pad en is ek nie seker wat ek daaroor wil skryf nie. Maar soos wat die tyd aanstap en dit middel September se kant toe staan, begin ek meer vereenselwig met die teks.
Dit voel of ek kort-kort met ‘n beklemming om my hart sit. Dis 15 September en ek probeer nogsteeds van Augustus se administratiewe take en my eie maandeinde finaliseer en afsluit. Hoekom vat dit so lank die maand? Ek kan net nie my vinger op dit plaas oor hoekom dit net voel of ek vasgehou word en nie vorentoe kan beweeg met my werk nie!
Om alles te kroon, is my aanlyn winkel van Beroepsvrou foutief. Skielik oornag, is die WooCommerceplug in (laat ek nou maar klink soos hierdie ongelooflike slim IT boffin terwyl ek besig is) net weg en nie geinstalleer nie. HOE dit gebeur het weet Vet alleen. Want ek weet nie.
Ek het so ‘n oomblik van paniek, die trane wil-wil my kom verswelg, my opgewondenheid van die afgelope paar dae kom steel en weg vat. Dis amper asof dit vir my wil kom sê dat ek gejok het oor my radio onderhoud. Dis onmoontlik vir iemand om die positiewe altyd in alles te soek.
En regtig, die trials and tribulations waarvan ek gepraat het, hoe hanteer ek dit nou? Loop ek nogsteeds met ‘n lied in my hart? Hoekom is my werk nou nog verder agter as wat dit laas week die tyd was? Net 5 werksdae het verloop sedertdien, ek sit tog elke dag en werk, tog voel dit of ek soos ‘n mal vark rond hardloop en eintlik niks uitgerig kry nie. HOEKOM????
Dan besluit ek om maar net weer die skrif te lees. Filippense 4:6-7 Wees oor niks besorg nie, maar laat julle begeertes in alles deur gebed en smeking met danksegging bekend word by God. En die vrede van God, wat alle verstand te bowe gaan, sal julle harte en julle sinne bewaar in Christus Jesus.
Wees oor niks besorg nie. Kom ons begin daar. Natuurlik is ek besorg oor die tyd wat aanstap teen die spoed van witlig en ek wat werk teen ‘n slakke pas (nie die slak Turbo se spoed nie – ‘n regte egte staaaaaadige slak se pas voel dit). Dan bo op dit, is ek besorg oor my aanlyn winkel. HOEKOM??? Wat nou???? Moet ek alles oordoen??? Terug by my day job – hoe gaan ek die sper datum van 24 Oktober 2022 haal met belastingopgawes wat ingedien moet word?
Daar is so baie om te doen? Ek MOET oefen, dit gaan ek vir seker nie opgee nie. Want ek weet as ek nie gaan oefen nie, gaan ek net soos ‘n vrot vel op die bank lê en niks doen vir daardie uur nie, so ek kan net so wel maar gaan oefen en iets produktiefs doen. Ok Here, dink ek by myself. Ek gaan nou regtig BAIE HARD probeer om NIE BESORG te wees oor alles wat my pla nie. Done. Afgemerk.
Maar laat julle begeertes in alles deur gebed en smeking met danksegging bekend word by God. Goed, so die vertel vir my dat ek met die Here moet praat, gebed, wat ek doen, so ek dink ek kan hom afmerk van my lysie af. Smeking die doen ek gereeld, veral met my krisis van die aanlyn winkel. Het jy enige idee hoe lank dit gevat het om die winkel op te stel???????
So ek reken ek kan dit ook van my lysie af merk, want in my gees sit en huil ek. Ek kan nie nou sit en fisies huil nie, in die eerste plek gaan ek moontlik soos ek weet nie wat lyk, met grimering wat op al die verkeerde plekke gaan wees…
In die tweede plek gaan ek net tyd mors in my opinie. Om te huil. Ek het goed wat moet klaar, ek kan nie nog tyd mors om te huil nie. En derdens, ag ek weet eintlik nie eens hoekom ek nie moet huil nie, ek weet net ek moet nie. Dit los my met die laaste gedeelte van die vers – danksegging.
Ek wonder wat het Paulus (dit is mos Paulus wat die brief aan Filippense geskryf het?) met dit bedoel. Ek dink ek moet die Here dank dat Hy my webblad se winkel gaan herstel, dat Hy die tyd gaan laat stil staan en sodat ek net bietjie voor kan kom met my werk en nie soos ‘n mislukking voel nie. So, DANKIE HERE vir dit wat U gaan herstel, reeds herstel het en besig is om te herstel soos wat ek hierdie tik.
En die vrede van God, wat alle verstand te bowe gaan, sal julle harte en julle sinne bewaar in Christus Jesus. Na ek die bostaande paragrawe getik het, voel dit of ek rustiger begin raak. Die bonatuurlike vrede ken ek, ek het dit al BAIE in my lewe ervaar. Veral wanneer ek net ophou om iets self te probeer doen en dit los vir die Here en in Sy bekwame hande. Because let us face it – Hy is ons Skepper en Sy hande staan vir niks verkeerd nie. He is more than capable al probeer ons Hom onbevoeg verklaar deur alles op onsself te neem.
So my hart voel rustiger en my sinne, nou hier neem ek aan dit wat ek praat, want ek verstaan nie andersins wat dit sou wees nie, maar my sinne moet ook vrede kry. Ek moet nou begin praat asof alles reeds herstel is. Goed, ek dink ek het dit. Dankie Here vir die herstel op alle vlakke van goed wat my pla, dat dit sommer in ‘n japtrap uitgesorteer gaan word (Here U ken my druk en sperdatums en ek weet sommer U gaan dit vinnig uitklaar). Ek bid dit in die Naam van Jesus! Amen en Amen!
Ek besluit om maar my fokus te verskuif na wat EK nou moet doen. Ek het iemand wat my kan help met die webblad, hopelik ‘n back up of iets met die winkel herstel. Maar my EDP werk (die belasting besigheid), daar moet ek my boude beweeg en vinniger begin werk. Daar gaan die voëltjies en engele NIE my werk vir my doen NIE. Ek moet daar nogsteeds my kant bring en my deel doen!!
Die vrede van God, wat alle verstand te bowe gaan….eggo die gedeelte van die skrif vers in my gedagtes. Ek begin rustiger voel, ten spyte van al my seer spiere en beklemmings wat ek net nou gevoel het. Ek weet sommer dat alles vinnig uitgesorteer gaan word! God is goed altyd!!
Na ek die inskrywing getik het en weer begin werk het, laat weet die persoon wat my help met die webblad, dat die aanlyn winkel reg is. Al die data is daar. Dis onverklaarbaar oor HOEKOM dit gebeur, maar is blykbaar iets wat gebeur. Ek laat dit daar en dank die Here vir Sy goedheid en guns wat my volg in al my dae!
With a lump in my throat, sweat breaking out in strange places and child-like excitement, I got in my car and took the trip to Pretoria. It is Thursday 8 September 2022. I have been invited for an in studio interview at Radio Pulpit in Kilnerpark.
It would have been telephonic and I was comfortable with the idea of a telephonic interview. I reconed that I will be very comfortable in my room and then I must just pray that a Hadeda does not scream right by my bedroom window during the interview.
On short notice the telephonic interview was changed to an in studio interview. Arrangements are made to fetch kids from school (by a wonderful friend who selflessly and instinctively offered to help) and just like that, God let everything fall into place so that I could have this wonderful experience.
I was a bit paranoid that I would say something wrong and that I will clear my throat the whole time. And even more so about WHAT will be asked. Must I prepare? Must I ask them to tell me what they are going to ask me? How does one do this? How does it work?
I decided to rather not ask my hundred and ten questions and just to take it as it comes. All the way to Pretoria, I tried to recall the presenter’s name. I know it starts with a Ch but cannot remember anything else. Perhaps his name is Christo? I wonder by myself.
I was so caught up in my own thoughts, that I did not go slow enough around the bend, past the second tollgate close to Zambezi off ramp. I triggered a speeding camera….
I arrived at the building thinking how convenient it is to have Google Maps on my phone. It took me to the front door. At first I drove around the building and parking area, because I could not find the gate to the parking area. At reception I say that I have an interview with….(and then I search on my phone for the name) Charles. Thank goodness I did not call him Christo!
Charles’ spirit was so open to what God wanted to say through me, this in my opinion, made everything easier and smoother. Like a peanut I asked him for a photo (and I used the word neut in the sentence too, because, let us be honest, the moment is just too big and overwhelming and then we end up using wrong words on top of everything else).
He agreed immediately and we took a photograph together. The receptionist took one from me alone too and she did a good job to capture the moment. In studio Charles (now I must remind myself to type his name correctly) explains how everything works.
He refers to the headphones, I think he called them kanne, but I cannot remember if this was the right word. He explained to me how it works and that I will hear myself over the headphones. I asked him if it was not going to be weird? He answered by saying Yes a little, but also not too much. One gets used to it quickly.
He puts me at ease by telling me that he was also nervous the first few times that he was hosting as a presenter on the radio, so my feelings are quite normal. He offered to take a picture of me in the studio. If it was not for my ears my smile would have gone right around my head.
I was in my element! Charles gave a tip before hand – when greeting I must say Charles and listeners, so that the audience feels included in the interview. The red light goes on and the interview starts. Charles talks about my blog and readers and there my brain goes and grabs a hold onto the word readers rather than listeners.
I was on my nerves and greeted Middag Charles en lesers. In my mind I said listeners. But, none the less, the interview proceeded and the nerves that were gnawing disappeared in the blink of an eye. We talked and laughed and I forgot that I was in a studio.
The time flies by, I felt like talking more and sharing more with everyone about flamingos and why my business cards have flamingos on, why it reads Pink Feathers for God. The interview captured the essence of my blog so beautifully, explaining more what it is all about.
I am still in awe about what God did for me with this radio interview. I did not even KNOW it was something that I really wanted to do. He knew my heart’s desires even before I knew it and thought about it!
Afterward I was so overwhelmed by messages of people close to me. Some joked and said that I am famous. I just laughed, because I am still me. Of course, if I have to do a career change, I will choose radio!! I think I will enjoy chatting with people, day in and day out about their lives and what God has done for them.
Some of my clients also joked and asked if I do not have enough work to keep me busy. While driving home, I could not stop smiling. I even had a conversation with God, talking out loud in the car, saying to Him thank you soooooo much for this!!!!! It was sooooooo nice!!!!!
I want to close off by saying that I know God has big plans for those who love Him and obey Him. That is also all that He wants – obedience and an intimate relationship with Him. Make disciples of the nations. That is our task and the instruction given to us. Where I can, I chat with people about Jesus. Telling them what He has done for me in such a short time. What He is busy doing with Beroepsvrou.
Big things are coming. That I can feel in my spirit.To tell people about Him and why you must have Pink Feathers for God. And if you are still wondering about the Pink Feathers and Flamingos, contact me and then I will come and tell you and others at the same time about it. Why not?
Goeiemiddag Charles en lesers….I can still hear the error echo through my mind. I grin every time I think about it. This is God’s way of keeping us humble. We are not perfect. At least I did not say Christo! That would have been a disaster!!
Charles, I trust that you will be reading this entry. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for putting me at ease in the studio, explaining everything so nicely about what to do! To Radio Pulpit and Jeanine, thank you for the opportunity and privilege to share my story with the listeners (not readers).
Above all I want to thank God. That He fulfilled my heart’s desires that was not yet known to me. I am excited about what the future holds!
Met ‘n knop in my keel, sweet op ongewone plekke en kinderlike opgewondenheid, pak ek die pad Pretoria toe aan. Dis Donderdag 8 September 2022. Ek is genooi vir ‘n in studio radio onderhoud by Radio Kansel in Kilnerpark.
Dit sou eers telefonies gewees het en ek was gemaklik met die idee van ‘n telefoniese onderhoud. Ek het gereken ek kan op my gemak in my kamer wees, en net bid dat daar nie ‘n Hadeda skree reg by my kamer venster nie.
Op kort kennisgewing word dit verander na in studio toe. Reëlings word getref om die kinders na skool te gaan afhaal (deur ‘n wonderlike vriendin wat onbaatsugtig en instinktief geoffer het om uit te help) en die Here laat net alles in plek val sodat ek die wonderlike ervaring kan beleef.
Ek was paranoid dat ek verkeerd gaan praat en heeltyd gaan keel skoonmaak. Nog meer ook oor WAT gevra gaan word. Moet ek voorberei? Moet ek vir hulle vra watter vrae gaan hulle vra? Hoe doen mens dit? Hoe werk dit?
Ek besluit toe om maar nie al my honderd en tien vrae te vra nie en dit net te vat soos dit kom. Al die pad Pretoria toe probeer ek die omroeper se naam onthou. Ek weet dit begin met ‘n Ch maar kan niks verder onthou nie. Is sy naam Christo dalk? Wonder ek by myself.
Ek was so ingedagte dat ek nie stadig genoeg gery het om die draai na die tweede tolhek naby Zambezi nie. Ek laat toe ‘n spoed kamera afgaan…..
Ek kom by die gebou aan, Google maps se aanwysings is darem maar gerieflik is dit nie? Dit vat my tot by die voordeur van die Radio stasie. Ek ry eers om die gebou en parkeer area omdat ek nie die hek kon sien nie. By ontvangs sê ek dat ek ‘n onderhoud met….(en soek toe op my foon die naam) Charles het. Gelukkig het ek nie hom Christo genoem nie.
Charles se gees was so oop en ontvanklik vir dit wat die Here deur my wou sê, dit het sommer, in my opinie, alles makliker en gladder laat verloop. Ek het soos ‘n neut vir hom gevra vir ‘n foto (en het die woord neut in die sin gebruik want, kom ons wees eerlik, mens voel so bietjie oorweldig deur als en die oomblik en praat deurmekaar en gebruik vreemde woorde).
Hy het dadelik ingestem en ons het ‘n foto saam geneem. Die ontvangsdame het een van my alleen ook geneem, en sy het ‘n goeie werk gedoen om die oomblik vas te vang. In die studio beduie Charles (nou moet ek myself heeltyd herinner om die regte naam te tik) hoe alles werk.
Hy verwys na die oorfone, ek dink hy het hulle kanne genoem, maar ek kan nie onthou nie. Hy verduidelik hoe dit werk en dat ek myself sal hoor in die oorfone. Ek vra toe of dit nie weird gaan wees nie? Hy antwoord en sê Ja so bietjie maar ook nie eintlik nie. Mens raak dit maklik en vinnig gewoond.
Hy vertel my dat hy ook maar op sy senuwees was die eerste paar keer dat hy op die radio as omroeper was, so my gevoelens is heel normaal. Hy bied aan om ‘n foto te neem in die studio. As dit nie was vir my ore op my kop nie, sou my glimlag reg rondom my kop gegaan het.
Ek was omtrent in my element! Charles gee ‘n tip voor die tyd – wanneer ek groet, moet ek Charles en luisteraars groet, sodat die gehoor ingesluit voel in die onderhoud. Die rooi lig gaan aan en die onderhoud begin. Charles praat van die blog en lesers en daar gryp my brein die woord lesers eerder as luisteraars aan.
Ek was op my senuwees en groet toe Middag Charles en lesers. In my kop het ek gesê luisteraars. Maar nie te min, die onderhoud gaan voort en die senuwees wat geknaag het verdwyn soos mis voor die son. Ons gesels en lag en ek vergeet ek is in ‘n studio.
Die tyd vlieg verby, ek voel ek wil nog vertel en deel met almal, oor flaminke en hoekom my besigheidskaartjies flaminke op het en hoekom daar Pienk Vere vir die Here op staan. Die onderhoud het egter die essence van die webjoernaal (kom ons gebruik die mooi Afrikaanse woord) vasgevang en waaroor die webjoernaal gaan.
Ek sit nou nog in verwondering oor wat die Here vir my gedoen het met die radio onderhoud. Ek het nie eens GEWEET dit was iets wat ek graag wou doen nie. Hy ken my hartsbegeertes nog voor ek dit geweet en gedink het!
Na die tyd was ek oorweldig met boodskappe van mense na aan my wat geluister het. Sommige spot en sê ek is nou famous en dan lag ek net. Want ek is steeds net ek. Natuurlik as ek ‘n career change moet doen sal ek radio kies!! Ek dink ek sal heeldag en aldag met mense wil gesels en onderhoude voer en hoor waaroor gaan hul lewens en wat die Here vir hulle gedoen het.
Sommige van my kliënte spot en vra of ek nie genoeg werk het nie. Soos wat ek terug ry huis toe, kon ek nie ophou glimlag nie. Ek gesels sommer hardop met die Here en sê vir Hom soooooo baie dankie vir die!!!! Dit was soooooo lekker!!!!!
Soos wat ek afsluit, weet ek net dat die Here groot planne het vir die wat Hom lief het en die wat gehoorsaam is aan Hom. Dit is ook al wat Hy soek – gehoorsaamheid en ‘n intieme verhouding met Hom. Maak dissipels van al die nasies. Dis ons opdrag. Waar ek kan, gesels ek met mense oor Jesus. Vertel ek wat Hy alles vir my gedoen het in ‘n kort tyd. Wat Hy besig is om te doen met Beroepsvrou.
Groot dinge lê nog voor, dit kan ek sommer voel in my gees. Om mense te gaan vertel van Hom en hoekom jy Pienk Vere vir die Here moet hê. En as jy nog wonder oor die Pienk Vere en Flaminke, kontak my dan kom vertel ek sommer vir jou en ‘n klomp mense almal saam. Hoekom dan nou nie?
Goeiemiddag Charles en lesers….eggo my blaps nog deur my gedagtes. Ek grinnik elke keer as ek daar aan dink. Dis God se manier om ons humble te hou. Ons is nie perfek nie. Ten minste het ek nie gesê Christo nie. Dit sou ‘n ramp gewees het!
Charles, ek glo jy gaan die inskrywing lees. Uit die diepte van my hart, so baie dankie dat jy my op my gemak laat voel het en mooi beduie het wat om te doen! Aan Radio Kansel en Jeanine, dankie vir die geleentheid en absolute voorreg om my storie met die luisteraars (nie lesers nie) te kon deel.
Bo alles wil ek net die Here bedank. Dat Hy my hartsbegeertes wat nog nie by my opgekom het nie, kom vervul het! Ek is opgewonde oor wat die toekoms inhou!
Just the other day I was driving in my car. I decided to listen to Spotify via the blue tooth of the car. I felt like listening to a specific song, which I found and started to play.
You see, the first time when I heard this song, which my sister-in-law introduced me to, I thought, jôh, it is a bit of a wild one. But it grows on you. I realise more and more that there is somewhere a techno rocker inside me that wants to break free for a spot in the sun.
As I was sitting in my car, jamming and singing (yes I am one of those people that look weird to other drivers), I thought to myself that this is HOW I feel about Jesus. I really have this urge in me to tell everyone about Him. And which I am pretty much doing.
As the guy sings in the song Lemme Tellya, it is as if he is hammering on Jesus and you cannot help but to sing along JESUS! JESUS! JESUS! Well, this was just a quick feel good post. A little something to listen to and to jam on if the opportunity presents itself.
I relive the words of the song I am closing off this entry, thinking of my head bobbing and jamming moment in the car….Lemme tellya ’bout Him, Jesus is His name. And I’m all about Him, I live to bring Him praise. He is the way and the truth and the life, God is three in one. Reigning undefeated, our God has overcome. Jesus (Jesus) Jesus (Jesus) Jesus (Jesus)…..
Net laas week ry ek in die kar. Ek besluit toe om na Spotify te luister oor die Bloutand (blue tooth) van die kar. Ek is toe sommer lus vir ‘n spesifieke liedjie wat ek toe opsit.
Nou kyk, die eerste keer toe ek die liedjie hoor, my skoonsussie het my aan hom blootgestel, toe dog ek jôh, hy is bietjie wild. Maar, dit groei op mens. Ek besef opnuut ek het iewers ‘n techno rocker binne in my wat wil uitkom.
Soos wat ek sit en jam in die kar, al singende (ja ek is daai een wat weird lyk vir ander bestuurders) dink ek by myself dat dit is OOK hoe ek voel oor Jesus. Ek voel regtig hierdie drang in my om net vir almal te vertel van Hom. En wat ek pretty much doen.
Soos die ou sing in die liedjie Lemme Tellya hammer hy op Jesus en jy kan nie anders as om saam te juig JESUS! JESUS! JESUS! nie. Nou ja, die was net ‘n vinnige feel good post. So ietsie om te luister en net saam op te jam as die geleentheid homself voordoen.
Ek herleef weer die woorde van die liedjie soos wat ek hierdie inskrywing afsluit en dink aan my kop knikkende jamming (daar is maar net nie ‘n lekkerder woord as jamming om te gebruik nie) oomblik in die kar… Lemme tellya ’bout Him, Jesus is His name.And I’m all about Him, I live to bring Him praise. He is the way and the truth and the life, God is three in one. Reigning undefeated, our God has overcome. Jesus (Jesus) Jesus (Jesus) Jesus (Jesus)…..
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