Light

Just quickly...I was editing some pics and when I had this one done, Psalm 119:105 sprang up in my mind. :)

Travel

I travel a lot--inside my country of course--and get to meet tons of people and see tons of things. It's awesome but also not so awesome.We have to drive everywhere, and depend on other people for accommodation and other stuff. This past weekend my dad and I went to the city where I lived a few years ago, and I got to see some friends and see a movie (we don't have those around here:-/), etc. etc. It was 100% fun, but I was so tired after everything that when we came home today, I slept for I don't know what amount of time. And let me just tell you: I don't take afternoon naps. It's so not me.

Anyway, something random always happens on these trips, and this time it happened while friends and I were driving "home" after the movie. So we were waiting in the parking lot (getting burgers at a garage) and then a beat up red Toyota drove in.............with a guy sitting in the front passenger seat holding his surfboard against his door. It was a...very alternative way to transport your board. I wanted to get a pic, but my flash was on and all I got was the dust on our window. aaaargh!!  I ducked at the speed of light, and then my friend told me they were looking at us....and waving.  She was freaking out because it was so embarrassing, and I was laughing like crazy. We sure looked guilty...because they saw the 2 of us staring at them before I even tried to "archive" them, and now there was only 1 person in the back. I'm so bummed I didn't get that photo, but next time I am rolling my window down for sure.

But...
I quickly drew what it [sort of] looked like. =]

Big Sis

I have this old black statement t-shirt somewhere in my closet that reads in big letters “BIG SIS.” Ironically, the t-shirt is way too small for me now, but many a big sis or big bro (figuratively I mean…) experiences the following event somewhere in their lives…  My little sister is now a teen. Unfortunately for me, the older sister, she has also developed a new independence and stronger own opinion.  I have been so used to ordering her around (I have to admit) and getting my way, that this was quite a shock to my system… It just exploded on me, although I know it’s been coming for some time. But I’m not writing  this to complain; I’m writing this because I realize she needs to spread her wings, and I know it’s not going to be a walk in the park for me. Don’t get me wrong though, we have been best friends ever since…well, ever since forever.  And that’s how it’s going to stay.

May God bless our awesome friendship so it will never fail, and give us many more a ridiculous giggle, Mealworm.

Patriotic

so you walk up the street past some Chinese stores in a ZA town, and suddenly a group of guys approach you, encircle you, and start patting you on the shoulder. "My friend, my friend!" They keep shouting, with huge menacing smiles spread across their faces. You know "daar's 'n slang in die gras" (Afrikaans idiom literally meaning there's a snake in the grass), and as a reflex action you lift your arm up to push them away; I mean, they're invading your personal space and you don't even know who they are. One second later they're running for dear life down the street, around the corner, laughing like hyenas. Then you notice your cellphone is missing. You've been served.

But then again, life isn't so bad here. In fact, South Africa has [in my opinion] the best climate in the world. It doesn't really get below freezing where I live, and not too hot either. Not too much rain, not too dry. We even get some snow in certain parts, which, when you're staying in a quaint old cottage, is perfect for an idyllic winter break-away.

Besides a wonderful view almost wherever you are, South Africa has a very colourful history, including the good and the bad. And we are a rainbow nation! Despite still struggling with racial differences, there are tons of people from different cultures and backgrounds who come together as great friends and can relate without judging each other because of skin colour. I speak from experience.

And yes, although many people immigrate to Down Under or the UK, we locals can still enjoy the spectacular coastline, mountain ranges, and nca (c is a dental click formed by placing the tongue on the back of front teeth and pulling away, as if sucking air...n-'C'-ah) Indian briyani, Afrikaans boerewors, Zulu/Xhosa ipap, and oh-so-delicious melktert (milktart). We have 11 official languages, 9 provinces, awesome cities, and random treasures of all types all over the country to stumble upon (e.g. Vintage stores...ice skating rinks, home-bakery stores, our own little Eiffel Tower in Bloemfontein:D).

I don't think I'll be moving anytime soon. :-)

the writer

Since I was a leeeetle child I wrote short stories about princesses, kings who painted huge castles :O, and stories based on apples. Yep, apples . I've always wanted to write and publish a book, and it's number 3 on my bucket list.

Since I've been 9 yrs old or something, I would start a story--not really having a plot--hoping I had a future best-seller here, bust I'd just reach the first few paragraphs before my creative juices supply would run dry, or I would get bored with it. I'm still doing that now. However, thanks to this blog, I can write short stuff with an ending, which is a good thing. I need experience.

I've been praying real hard for a worthwhile, smart, fun, or even gripping subject to write a book about for a very long time. I know it's going to come some day. Patience. But I just hope I have enough determination by then not to drop it after a few sentences!

So to all the aspiring writers out there: if you want to write, & you have something worthwhile to say, don't wait around for better times or whatever, JUST DO IT.

All the best
Lara

"Writing is a lot easier if you have something to say."
Sholem Asch

Sea Sounds

I can hear it... The distant swooshing of the waves as they crash and tumble into the water from which they rose; the soft fizzing sound as they retract into the horizon to swell and tumble again in all their glory. As I hold the seashell that I picked up while scouring the beach for shells of interesting colours and shapes against my ear, the nostalgic feeling engulfs my heart and brings me back to those wonderful days at the beach. Even though I'm not standing facing the Indian Ocean with my feet covered with coarse, light-brown sand, the shell I'm holding against my ear takes me back to a place filled with wonder and joy. How I wish I was there now, diving into the salty, cool, blue water. This is one of my favourite memories. One that can easily be relived just by taking a shell that's lying around my house, and holding it against my ear. Some sand that I never managed to wash out of the shell escapes and falls on the floor, but I don't mind. It reminds me of all the times I spent at my country's extraordinary seashore.

Respect

Recently I started noticing the foul language in films, books, music…most media for that matter. One thing that really stood out the most for me though, was the unnecessary and incorrect use, in my eyes, of God. Yes, I am a Christian, and it does upset me when God’s name is used in vain. It might seem so conservative and boring and predictable and old-school of a Christian to say that, but honestly, how would you feel if people used your name disrespectfully? Sure, it may be the norm to use God's name like that (and it might even not be disrespectful in your eyes), but is it really necessary to throw it around like any other word? Because that draws the line for me: It just isn’t any other word. I’m sure people of other religions [and convictions] will not be so happy if others use their god(s)’s name in vain. But then a lot of people don’t realize what the “OmG” phrase implies, or they just don’t care. All I’m asking for is respect. Just like it is expected that we respect the gods or heads of other religions, at least show respect for the God I believe in.

What really puts me off too is that a lot of Christian films are not as professional and entertaining as I would wish them to be (but I do realize how hard it is to make a film), and other mainstream movies insult God, so the options on my menu are limited. I don’t think I can wait until I make my own films one day, and I’m not even sure they’ll be nearly as good as I want them to be. What then can I do to make a change? Well, I’ll pray for satisfactory Christian films, and intelligent films that aren’t derogatory of my faith.  The rest is an open road, and my spiritual/moral GPS will guide me further.