Ode to Friendship

 95. Write a Book/Script


This year has been so full of meaningful friendships. I'm so greatful for the people in my life at the moment; the friends I've know since forever and are still around, the friends that happened by accident, the God-ordained friends, the friends I've cried with, the friends I've laughed with, the friends I've just sat in silence with.


I've come to know the value of community, the gift of people, the grace and truth of being in relationship with people. Life was never made to be lived alone. We weren't made to be alone.


One of my dearest friends I met this year. We've had our awkward moments, silent moments, philosophical moments, many laughs, and even a few tears.
It was his birthday in September. I decided to do something different. I wrote and illustrated a little book for him. It's possibly one of the bravest things I've ever done, definately one of the most rewarding!

My creativity has always been exactly that; MINE.

Creation is a vulnerable thing. It's all the things within you that nobody sees. The ideas and hues and textures, the sounds and silences, all the secrets only you know. Everything risks being seen in Creation. When you create; a part of you becomes real, a part of you risks the opinions of others, a part of you is completely exposed.

I have found in Willem a friend who smiles at my awkwardness and lets me be, a friend who encourages the rawness of reality and walks there with me. I don't have to explain myself, I don't have to be live in camoflage either.

Everyone needs a friend with whom they can just be. Isn't that the intended beauty of life; that we would just be... together... that we would just be.

The Good the Bad and the UGLY...

79. Go for a Picnic.

We all have those gifts we hate receiving. For me, it’s creepy ornaments. For Jess it was Mugs. So as only true friends would do, we ALL bought her the ugliest mug we could find. She ended up with about 15-20 hideous mugs! Seriously? At least the mugs have a function... she won’t have to do dishes all that often!

Frequent Reminders

57. Go to the Botanical Gardens.

A bunch of us went to the Botanical Gardens for a friend’s birthday. It’s only recently though that Jess and I have become what I’d actually deem friends, but I guess this botanical expedition would’ve had something to do with that!

It’s funny how a certain flower seems to be appearing everywhere to me. It started about three or four months ago, I think. God invited me to start dreaming about my wedding day, something I had never afforded myself the luxury of doing. I’ve grown fond of the idea of orchids. They are incredibly beautiful. Roses have never really done it for me!

No lies, I’m seeing orchids EVERYWHERE! I see them when I go shopping for groceries, in movies I watch, in random people’s houses I visit, I even saw one at another friend’s birthday!

God sees me. He knows the desires of my heart. He delights in reminding me everday!

What can one do but smile...

Run Baby Run

73. Do the 'Spar Ladies 10km'.

So we walked 5km's... Ha ha! It was fun, we realised we could've probably walked 10km's... not run though, that would be pushing it!

Next year... Maybe.

Nothing like a breath of fresh air to clear you mind!

"You can't look at a cupcake without smiling."

 80. Decorate Cupcakes.

The past four months has brought such a beautiful family into my life. The van der Merwe family have blessed my life abundantly; each one of them.

Alison has, in a short space of time, become my best friend. when it was her birthday, my sister and I arranged with her husband, Luke to fetch their three beautiful children, Nathan, Hannah, and Abigail. We brought them to our house and we all got our hands sticky icing cupcakes for mommy's birthday!

Once the cupcakes were iced, the card was made, the balloons were blown and the princess crown adorned, we made our way back to their house! What a blessing to be a part of a family's joy! It stirs a hope in me for my family one day!

I close with the thought:

"Life is not boring when you are living with passion while eating Cupcakes."

Set in Stone...

67. Make something with Clay.

We had an "Identity" day for the young adults at church a couple months ago.

There was nothing I hadn't heard before, but I felt challenged to embrace the intricacies of my heart.

There were tables set out with huge amounts of clay for one to merely express what God was doing in the heart. I took a big lump home...

A couple weeks later I made my heart...

I make no excuses for the beauty within my heart, I make no excuses for the broken pieces either. Do you?

Life is as serious as you make it...

40. Get False Nails.

I’d almost forgotten I did this! We had a Winter Ball the beginning of June. So I figured the easiest way to eliminate the problem of wearing these unsightly things for more than a couple hours was to pluck them on for the night!

It was a lot of fun – the evening, not the nails – and I did let my hair down a bit.

I guess we all need moments were we take life a little less seriously!

"You Shall Love Me..."

82. Buy a Ring.

I've been looking for a rose ring for a long time and the other day I finally found the perfect one!

I'm finding that I'm allowing myself to dream more about my wedding day. It's still a bit scary and intimidating for me though, but none the less, I've decided to dream again.