Everything will be ok

Books

I confess - I adore books and journals and beautiful stationery.  I cannot pass a bookshop without browsing.  I usually always buy something delicious.  These are my treasures from a recent trawl through Exclusive Books at Cape Town airport...

book lover - that's me

my stash of books

I love this gorgeous journal

what shall I use it for?

maybe notes for my Italy trip in September?

hmmmmm.....

the inside beauty of the journal

loved this old style ledger

it has lots of tear-off 'to do' lists inside

I love lists

I'm a list-maker

Eyes of Love

"we can choose to make our love for each other

what our lives are really about"

                         ***Werner Erhard***

I wrote a piece recently about the need to "wear our shoes of peace" (taken from a teaching by Joyce Meyers).  It had such an impact on many people, me included.   And then this week on Joel Osteen's weekly TBN program (Sundays at 5pm), he spoke about the need to see people with eyes of love

Joel encourages us to see people through eyes of love, compassion, mercy, understanding and kindness.  We need to believe the best about people.  Everybody is struggling along and doing the best that they can, so we need to be so much kinder than necessary.  Everybody has the right to have a bad day; it doesn't make them a bad person.  Give people the benefit of the doubt.  Love people back to wholeness.  Stop judging people and start healing by seeing people with eyes of love.

May I remember to wear my shoes of peace and my eyes of love everyday.

Dinner at Jamie's

London was unseasonably warm with the lowest monthly rainfall for March in 40 years - so happy that this South African did not freeze her butt off! 

Highlight : I had dinner at Jamie Oliver's Italian Restaurant in Canary Wharf

Italian nacho's starter

Chocolate brownie with icecream

My dessert was the chocolate and fig tart

with orange creme fraiche

My colleagues

One of my goals for 2011 is to try new restaurants.  I'm keeping a list which I will share with you from time to time.  I rate the experience at Jamie's as 7 out of 10 - it was good but not excellent.  The service was also very slow, although our waiter was very friendly.  My main course of porcini mushroom pasta was bland and rubbery, but the starters and dessert were good. 

On the following night, we had dinner at Hazev Turkish restaurant in Canary Wharf - the food was outstanding and scores a mighty 9 out of 10.  The food was fresh, very tasty, and the service was very fast and attentive.  Take note Mr. Oliver

Random thoughts

Just some random thoughts this Sunday morning...

• bought some awesome Sketchers wedgeheel shoes for winter

• I did 4 scrapbook pages on Saturday - I miss scrapbooking when life gets too busy
• Martha Stewart paper punches are awesome - go visit http://www.scrap-a-doodles.co.za/ for the latest arrivals in South Africa
• I'm off to London for the next week - more work than play.  Must go and pack now - I need lotsa warm woolies for the frosty UK weather!

Blessings to you

Scrapping on the move

My friends usually come on over and scrap at my home, but this year, I'm needing to be more mobile and attend crops away from home.  Here are some of the ways that I organise myself for scrapping on the move

Pack 'n roll cart on wheels

fold-up basket which now holds my SLICE machine

pvc bag from Harrods - holds stamps, ink and tools

"Tartan Tabbies" pvc bag from Scotland - holds my letter stickers

plastic folders from the plastic shop at Lifestyle Garden Centre 

or Scrap-a-doodles holds pre-packed layout supplies

this caddy is from the days when I was in to decoupage,

it stands permanently on my scrap table

Shoes of peace

The last several weeks have been really tough for me.  I'm coming across so many people who are angry and mean-spirited.  They are in such a rush and they push and shove and growl at the world. 

I love the ministry of Joyce Meyers and in her CD teaching 'calm down and cheer up', she encourages us to "wear our shoes of peace".  The fruits of the spirit include joy and peace.  When I come across people who are angry and charging at me, I'm trying to wear my shoes of peace and to consciously choose peace by backing down and walking away.  It's not about letting people walk over us; it's about choosing our battles wisely.

2 Corinthians 4:we've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralised; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do.  We've been terrorised, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken.  What they did to Jesus, they do to us - trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, He does in us - He lives!

Layout to share

This is a scrapkits layout (http://www.scrapkits.co.za/) - they do a monthly kit for subscribers.

I really like the folder idea

Rejection

Some comfort today from Christian author Beth Moore...

I have chosen you and will not throw you away. 

Don't be afraid for I am with you. 

Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you.

I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:9-10

If you've suffered a serious case of insecurity, you need to make sure that you're letting God tend to it.  Putting up a front doesn't work.  God knows exactly what happened and what a toll it took.  He knows the number it played on your mind.  Let Him bring you peace.  Let Him tell you you're worth wanting, loving, even liking, pursuing, fighting for, and yes beloved, worth keeping.
Whatever you do, don't reject the only One wholly incapable of rejecting you.

Blessings and joy to you this weekend and always.

Calm down and carry on

The last several weeks have just felt so incredibly tough, as though everyone is angry and short-tempered, like people are finding fault with everything and overlooking what's good in the world.  I don't like this.  So I've been diving into my stash of beloved books and magazines and the Bible.  I have found a ton of wisdom and encouragement.

"Life can deal us blows, and no-one feels constant exhiliration.  What's attainable though, is comfort with yourself, satisfaction with your work and a quiet knowing that you don't need another possession to be all right"
          *** Oprah ***

"I go forth, alone, and stand as ten thousand.  I realise I am not the first person to face big challenges.  This has been done before.  I can do it again, maybe even better"
          *** Maya Angelou (poem called "Our grandmothers") ***

B R E A T H E.  Slow down.  Calm down. And then carry on.

Blessings to you.

Soul Restoration

I have finally finished my Soul Restoration e-course by Melody Ross, see www.bravegirlsclub.com

The course outline : a lot of the content is very deep and very personal so I can only share a bit with you.  The lessons were great, some of which were about letting go of past hurts, a timeline of your life to date (I'm not quite finished with this little project yet), embracing our weak parts, celebrating the success of doing things despite all the challenges in our life ('she did it anyway"), identifying patterns in our life which support or sabotage us, and then making promises to myself.  

From a practical perspective: I had a few problems downloading the pdf files and the videos but eventually managed (after applying lots of patience).  I work on 3G, so if you have an ADSL line, you will manage more easily.

Here are some of the pages from my album...

What happens after the course?  I have decided that I will take some of the lessons / promises and transfer them onto 'truth cards' that I can keep in my bag as a constant reminder to self about how I want my life to be different / better. 

Was it worth it : absolutely YES, but you must set aside time to focus on the lessons, watch all the videos and do the projects.  You also need time to reflect on the learnings

Be who you really are

Cape Town

3 things from Cape Town today...

1. It is HOT HOT HOT at 36 degrees - sheeesh, I'm wilting
2. Cape Town has that 'scorched earth' brown and black look to it, as they only have rain in winter
3. I'd rather be in cool green Jozi today