Just...because.

I have been very scarce on this blog for a while now [ja, ja...apologies, apologies...]. So, I thought, why not post some photos?

So here are a couple of my favourite shots from a visit to a place I simply adore... the KwaZulu-Natal ♥ 

 just because :)

Raw talent in action

And lastly...
Ballito, making me long for a good board and some time on my hands...
xx

It's a new year, it's a new look!

 It's 2013. It's already February. It's been [almost] a year since I started this blog.It's time for some change, people! So it's very obvious to see that I have given my blog a bit of a... face-lift...I hope you recognize it!  ;)

Over the past few weeks I scoured tons and tons of blogs, (I'll post links of my favourites soon) and I grew tired of my blog's looks. It felt so worn-out and lame in contrast to all the fantastic designs the other blogs had. It was all fresh and modern, and I got excited reading them, but going back to my blog, there was nothing. Nothing. As in: I didn't feel any excitement for it anymore. No enthusiasm and ideas for new posts...Nada. I saw no LIFE in it! :(

So. Fast forward a few days later, and I've finally succeeded in getting my blog to inspire me again. Where I looked at it previously, thinking, "Ugh...", I know look at it...and smile.

I hope you like it too!

Check That off my Bucket-List...

 I don't know whether you have picked it up through my past blog posts...but I have wanted to learn how to surf for a relatively long, long time. I love surf photography (as much as I love photography as a whole) and I l o v e the ocean. I think the ocean is one of God's most awesome creations--scary as it can be at times.  But during the vacation I was on for the bulk of the month of January, I learned to surf! Which was like, the highlight of my holiday...and probably an experience I will never forget.

Yes, I do admit that I still need a LOT of improvement when it comes to surfing, but during the roughly 5 hours that I have surfed in my life now (facepalm...what?? only 5 hours?! I rest my case.) I learned a couple of great lessons which apply to life outside the water. The most important lesson of which was perseverance. After about 2 hours trying to surf, I was so exhausted that I couldn't even push myself up from the board. The waves got rough and hard to move through, and in my opinion there was a lack of really good waves to "surf." I was aiming for better waves than those miniature little "foamies" that kept pestering me... But even though those waves were small, they packed some punch! I was so tired of lifting my board continually and not getting a chance to surf while others around me were getting better with each wave I [also] missed. But I remembered just when I felt like giving up that I had to persevere and, most importantly, focus on having fun (as our instructor had pointed out very clearly at the start of the lesson) and not on the others' surfing. Just then the right wave came and I got onto my board, and stood for the first time. This hit home because in any tough situation the key to conquering it is not in letting yourself stay down, or worse: bail out, but the key is in pushing forward while trusting God to give you strength to do it, because most of the times there is light at the end of the tunnel.

[Another thing I learnt--of course--was that surfing doesn't come easy, especially for those less fit than others... For 4 days (or was it more?) I felt every muscle in my body ache--it felt like the aches were actually working through one muscle after the other, so I was limping a lot. My legs also felt as if they were sweltering and pounding (a.k.a. bad sunburn, so a top tip for anyone wanting to surf is: cover yourself with sunscreen until you look like a snowman), and I had bruises all over the place. However, it felt good to know that all these ridiculous aches and stuff were for a worthwhile cause.]

Heading out for the 1st time & not knowing what we were letting ourselves in for...

And the next day we went back, immense pain and all, because the surfing bug had bitten us...

End of Year Syndrome

Have you ever had a feeling where you feel sort of restless inside, but don't know what it's for? Like it's an anticipation for something exciting to happen soon, but yet you have no clue why you even have the feeling...  For a while now I've had this feeling. and then at the same time I do want some change in my life--for the better, of course--not that I need it so badly, but I just want to experience something different for a change. Repeat. For the better... Because so many people are so desperate for change in their lives that they seek new experiences in all the wrong places. That's NOT what I want; I want something uplifting, maybe so effective that it's life-changing. I suppose it's because I realize that 2013 has a lot in store for me, and there's also the fact that my vacation is near and you never know what to expect--life is an adventure! Both are definitely factors. But, plainly put, I am yearning for something new, because for so long now it's just been the same routine over and over. And this excitement isn't helping. Because it's making it very hard for me to concentrate on the tasks I have to get done before I can kick off my shoes and just relax. 

So...after writing this long post...I realize I have a typical case of what I now call "End of Year Syndrome." I think a lot of people get this. Isn't it so obvious? Do you have it too? The year is coming to an end, and I'm so excited for the new experiences that lie ahead that I'm all mixed up. My ability to keep my excitement in tow, my concentration, and even my work ethic: all gone with the wind. Therefore, I have just diagnosed myself with End of Year Syndrome. If you are experiencing the same things, I have just the right treatment for you (although I have to admit it might not be exactly...enticing...). So here's your prescription: Byt vas en sit skouer aan die wiel, jy is amper daar. Afrikaans for: Hold on and work hard, you're almost there:) 

And while you're at it, don't count the days...make the days count! (Mohammed Ali)

x

The NSP Rule

Ever heard the expression "the power of prayer?" Well, today one thing after the other just went wrong. And I don't believe in bad luck. Then I remembered that God reminds us through 1 Thessalonians 5:17, to "never stop praying." So, immediately stopping everything in the midst of our very busy schedules, my mom and I asked God to help us, and sure as can be, He did. Isn't that the power of prayer?

That's why I abide by and believe in the NSP Rule. "Never Stop Praying." It doesn't mean we have to pray every single second, because of course that's not really practical. But it does mean that in every situation, good and bad, Jesus Christ wants us to talk with Him and if we really listen...He'll talk to us.

Life Right Now

It's December. End of year. Holidays are near! And I have quite a time lined up for me. Here's a sort of overview of things up and coming this December...

• I've got about 2 more weeks of school left until it's officially VACATION TIME.
• And 3 more artworks (and other school work) to do before that...
• I am thinking of joining an exchange student program in 2013... which costs a lot of thinking time and research--really time consuming. But I'm praying and it's a fun process, so hopefully things go well!
• Christmas is seeeriously near and I'm reaally excited. Family, friends (a bunch of little boys running around, me chasing them, and eventually them scaring me with a little spontaneous present....a frog.), presents (nothing big, just little special things, and to us its symbolic of the Gift God sent us more than 2,000 years ago--Jesus Christ--which is really cool), and deeelicious food! Oh, dare I get started on the food? 
• For Christmas I want to donate to a missions organization, I think one that helps people in India. I'm excited to do that! 
• And last, but not least, my gran is visiting us for the holidays. I'm so GLAD she'll be here, because I have this tough accounting thing to do and she's a pro at that, so good thing she's joining us for the festive season.

Right now I'm wondering what's happening in other people around the world's lives during this Christmas season. Drop a comment and let me know! 

But wait! Yesterday I discovered some awesome Roald Dahl quotes from his books. He's my all-time favourite kids books writer. One of the most fantastic quotes is this one:

“If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face. And when that person has ugly thoughts every day, every week, every year, the face gets uglier and uglier until you can hardly bear to look at it.
“A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” 
― Roald Dahl, The Twits

And with that, au revoir!

The Spicy City

A week ago I had the privilege of visiting the über awesome city that is Durban. Where it never really gets...cold. Even on an overcast and rainy day, Durban gets suuuper warm (and humid). Besides having a year-round summer, Durban is a hub of all things wonderful and colourful, even though it has its flaws like any other city. But the good overrules the bad. So from the Golden Mile next to the beach to the different eras' architecture, from the friendly (and often quirky and interesting) people to the spicy Indian food, I just fell in love with this unforgettable city again.