I met this woman once, Marlena, she was one of my dance instructors and she told us that she had decided a long time ago that she was never going to stop doing the stuff she did as a child (riding a bike, sitting cross-legged, walking barefoot and climbing trees). It kinda stuck with me.
So, when I went on a truly awesome Women's Camp this weekend, along with some really cool church-friends, I saw a tree. And I climbed it! Well, I couldn't really resist...there was a rope and it also had a wooden platform built into the branches. Tell me, who wouldn't feel tempted to climb it?
So I did, and let me tell you...I loved it! I think I did it a total of three times during the weekend, and everytime I stood on that platform with a huge smile one my face; Queen of the World!!
Jani joined me. Who's going to join me next time?
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
The Gift of Music
A couple of weeks ago I got a call from my dad; he wanted to give me his old stereo. It’s older than me.
To be honest, I can’t quite remember an exact time in my life that I didn’t have music surrounding me. It was so important to me, I squashed it in right at the top, alongside breathing, sleeping and dancing. When other kids listened to ‘Informer’ by Snow (or whatever song was the flavour of the week during the 90's), I was schooled in the incredible sounds of Journey, Pink Floyd, Focus, The Shadows and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Emerson, Lake & Palmer redefined “drumsolos in stereo” and made me appreciate the benefit of a stereo channel on a hi-fi. Listening to that drumsolo running inbetween the speakers gave me goosebumps, and then, when the basedrum finally kicked in, my dad always had to have his finger on the ‘bass’ knob, because the speakers almost couldn’t take the onslaught. All my friends used to think my dad was the coolest dad ever, because he bought me my first record: Roxette, Joyride. He appreciated Bryan Adams and Bon Jovi along with me, and he tuned my ear to pick up the slightest guitar riff; a small nuance in a drum-solo. Together we would listen to countless songs on repeat.
So, when I received that call, I was really excited. The only thing that bugged me was how compatible his stereo would be with my technology; i.e. iPod. And a girl’s gotta have a CD player, right?
Big was my surprise when he gave me everything I needed to enjoy my music to the full: two awesome speakers, a proper amp, a DVD player (including all the cables needed to hook the player up to the amp) and a cable that enabled me to play my iPod directly through the stereo.
I’m an old-fashioned girl when it comes to my music. I don’t download, I buy a CD (I like the ‘library’ idea to be very tangible) and when I listen to my tunes, it’s gotta be on something that allows me to adjust the base, treble and balance the way I like it.
My taste in music is quite diverse. I listen to pop and hip-hop because I dance; I listen to rock and alternative because it’s good to know there are musicians out there that are still good at playing an actual instrument, and I appreciate classical, blues and jazz because it takes another level of creativity to pull off.
Oh, and I really wanted to tell you exactly what the name of the stereo is, but all I could make out was: “Monarch multiplex complete receiver” and the speakers don’t really have a name written on them, only a funny looking crown on top of an M (I always used to think it looked like some kind of freakazoid Egyptian Camel Hybrid when I was younger). But I don’t care…it’s mine and it’s totally awesome!!
To be honest, I can’t quite remember an exact time in my life that I didn’t have music surrounding me. It was so important to me, I squashed it in right at the top, alongside breathing, sleeping and dancing. When other kids listened to ‘Informer’ by Snow (or whatever song was the flavour of the week during the 90's), I was schooled in the incredible sounds of Journey, Pink Floyd, Focus, The Shadows and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Emerson, Lake & Palmer redefined “drumsolos in stereo” and made me appreciate the benefit of a stereo channel on a hi-fi. Listening to that drumsolo running inbetween the speakers gave me goosebumps, and then, when the basedrum finally kicked in, my dad always had to have his finger on the ‘bass’ knob, because the speakers almost couldn’t take the onslaught. All my friends used to think my dad was the coolest dad ever, because he bought me my first record: Roxette, Joyride. He appreciated Bryan Adams and Bon Jovi along with me, and he tuned my ear to pick up the slightest guitar riff; a small nuance in a drum-solo. Together we would listen to countless songs on repeat.
So, when I received that call, I was really excited. The only thing that bugged me was how compatible his stereo would be with my technology; i.e. iPod. And a girl’s gotta have a CD player, right?
Big was my surprise when he gave me everything I needed to enjoy my music to the full: two awesome speakers, a proper amp, a DVD player (including all the cables needed to hook the player up to the amp) and a cable that enabled me to play my iPod directly through the stereo.
I’m an old-fashioned girl when it comes to my music. I don’t download, I buy a CD (I like the ‘library’ idea to be very tangible) and when I listen to my tunes, it’s gotta be on something that allows me to adjust the base, treble and balance the way I like it.
My taste in music is quite diverse. I listen to pop and hip-hop because I dance; I listen to rock and alternative because it’s good to know there are musicians out there that are still good at playing an actual instrument, and I appreciate classical, blues and jazz because it takes another level of creativity to pull off.
Oh, and I really wanted to tell you exactly what the name of the stereo is, but all I could make out was: “Monarch multiplex complete receiver” and the speakers don’t really have a name written on them, only a funny looking crown on top of an M (I always used to think it looked like some kind of freakazoid Egyptian Camel Hybrid when I was younger). But I don’t care…it’s mine and it’s totally awesome!!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Best Friends
I miss you guys so much!
Everytime I think about either of one you, or all of you, I smile. It's always a bittersweet memory, because I remember and treasure the crazy, mad, fun and freaky times we had, and I miss it so much all the same.
Thank you for your friendship, your love, your care and the amazingness of who you are.
God really knew exactly what I needed when He sent me you.
Heline, Melissa, Liandi...I love you so much!
Monday, May 11, 2009
It's My Job
A Crime Scene Investigator has to have a very strong stomach, in my opnion. Within minutes they could go from having a pot-roast lunch, to scraping up guts and brain-matter from the pavement, taking it in their stride; no twitching, blinking or even a hint of disgust. Mind you, I obviously don't think they had strong stomachs the FIRST day on the job, but we all know, without a doubt, that you get used to your job, to such an extent that certain things don't affect you the way they used to.
I know this may sound like a random thought, but I am going somewhere with this.
When the soldiers beat and crucified Jesus thousands of years ago, they were doing their job. We tend to wonder why the heck they didn't flinch, or realise what they were doing. It was horrible, disgusting, emotional, painful and wrong.
It was their job. This wasn't the first time they had crucified someone and it most certainly wasn't the last. Most of them had gotten so used to the sight of a criminal bleeding from their hands and feet, that they didn't even look twice. They seem heartless, but I think I understand.
It was their job.
Wanda
I know this may sound like a random thought, but I am going somewhere with this.
When the soldiers beat and crucified Jesus thousands of years ago, they were doing their job. We tend to wonder why the heck they didn't flinch, or realise what they were doing. It was horrible, disgusting, emotional, painful and wrong.
It was their job. This wasn't the first time they had crucified someone and it most certainly wasn't the last. Most of them had gotten so used to the sight of a criminal bleeding from their hands and feet, that they didn't even look twice. They seem heartless, but I think I understand.
It was their job.
Wanda
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
All The Children Of The World
When my sister first asked me to help her keep the little ones in our kids church busy this past Sunday (it was a long weekend and all the usual stuff made way for more games etc.), understandably I was a bit weary. Give me teenagers any day, I can handle them, interact with them, communicate with them. But the young ones, well, I guess we’re just on a different wavelength. They are totally gorgeous, sweet and adorable, don’t get me wrong, they’re just not my forte.
Luckily my sister knows me well enough, she knows my strengths and weaknesses, so instead of asking me to tell them a Bible story, she asked me to teach them a few dances. Yay! I was really ecstatic and while working on the choreography, you would expect me to get in touch with my inner child again, right? Wrong. See, I decided a long time ago that I was never going to grow up in certain aspects of who I am. I still jump around and do all sorts of crazy things (this behaviour, without fail, causes my sister, and on occasion my mother, to just shake their heads). So, inner child, healthy, kicking and screaming, thank you very much.
Okay, right, this brings me to Sunday morning and teaching the dances to the kids. Wow! What a lot of fun! I honestly couldn’t stop smiling. There was a little boy who insisted on standing next to me and playing the air guitar to his heart’s content. Another little boy stood RIGHT IN FRONT of me and had such concentration on his face, it was hard not to start giggling. A beautiful little blonde girl, dressed in pink and denim, never stopped smiling and jumping.
And then I realized: These are the children to which the world is such a scary and huge place, and it is our responsibility to teach them, to prepare them wholly to take their place in the grand scheme of things; the universe; the endless expanse of eternity. And, according to me, teaching them to never forget how to have fun. You've seen the pictures of my fun-filled Sunday morning. Enjoy them, and may I suggest you find a tree today, and climb it just for the heck of it!!
Wanda
Luckily my sister knows me well enough, she knows my strengths and weaknesses, so instead of asking me to tell them a Bible story, she asked me to teach them a few dances. Yay! I was really ecstatic and while working on the choreography, you would expect me to get in touch with my inner child again, right? Wrong. See, I decided a long time ago that I was never going to grow up in certain aspects of who I am. I still jump around and do all sorts of crazy things (this behaviour, without fail, causes my sister, and on occasion my mother, to just shake their heads). So, inner child, healthy, kicking and screaming, thank you very much.
Okay, right, this brings me to Sunday morning and teaching the dances to the kids. Wow! What a lot of fun! I honestly couldn’t stop smiling. There was a little boy who insisted on standing next to me and playing the air guitar to his heart’s content. Another little boy stood RIGHT IN FRONT of me and had such concentration on his face, it was hard not to start giggling. A beautiful little blonde girl, dressed in pink and denim, never stopped smiling and jumping.
And then I realized: These are the children to which the world is such a scary and huge place, and it is our responsibility to teach them, to prepare them wholly to take their place in the grand scheme of things; the universe; the endless expanse of eternity. And, according to me, teaching them to never forget how to have fun. You've seen the pictures of my fun-filled Sunday morning. Enjoy them, and may I suggest you find a tree today, and climb it just for the heck of it!!
Wanda
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