does the heart good

i swam another 2km's today at the local pool....... i am not one to find exercise 'fun' at all so i am really picky about what i do to get a workout in.  Swimming and pilates has won me over. 
My heart never feels better than after every monday and wednesday morning swim each week.

I miss netball more than ever though............. i don't understand why this side of the world doesn't even know what it is.  That is one thing i am looking forward to getting straight back into as SOON as i'm back home in NZ.

But until then, swimming really does my heart good.

Oh, and i love tumble-turns. 

Filled to be Emptied

"i know i'm filled to be emptied again, the seed i've recieved i will sow...." (brooke fraser, desert song).

i love that verse in the song..........filled so we can give, and emptied to be filled again to give again.
 
My prayer is that i remember this.  That i love better, judge less, seek more of Him and forget more of myself.

More of You and less of me, more of You till You is all I see....

Whistler Wonderland

view from our sweet hotel 'The Fairmont'

so, so incredibly cold

I just spent the last two days away with 3 lovely ladies in an actual winter wonderland.

WHISTLER.

It was a-ma-zing. 

Potentially the most beautiful place I have ever seen and the most snow I have ever been in or experienced in my entire life.  Oh how I loved it.  It was breathtaking.

not a statistic...

April 10th 2009.  Easter Weekend.   
A lot of people have talking about car accidents around me lately.  The above photo is why I have become a bit of an anxious/backseat passenger.  It's really hard thinking back on it all, the 'what if's'........

I remember parts of that night so vividly that the only answer is is that God had me in His arms and only, ONLY by His grace did I make it out alive.  I remember the nurses and doctors talking amongst themselves as if I wasn't there saying how "lucky" I was and how shocked they were.
I remember immediately following the crash how distraught and disorientated I was and I remember cars stopping and people rushing over to me and then everyone yelling and swearing and freaking out as much as me after they had taken one look at me.  I remember blood everywhere.
I remember a lady (I don't know where she came from, but suddenly she was there) getting in on the passengers side of my car, wrapping her arms around me, soothing and comforting me, quieting my screams, letting me know everything was ok and that help would be there soon.  I remember her not worrying about getting my blood all over her or worrying about what everyone else was doing.  That lady was God-sent.

I remember the ambulance arriving and the ambulance officer on duty that night not listening to a word I said about my legs hurting, and I remember her telling me to get out of the car and walk over to the stretcher bed.  I remember her telling me to stop being angry at her.  I remember her giving me bad looks and another doctor doing the same and both of them not believing me when I said I hadn't had anything to drink or 'used' anything.

I remember the long road to recovery.  The face surgery.  The full leg splint.  The cast.  The eye-patch.  The black eye.  The swollen black lip.  The shattered nose.  The nights in hospital.

I still remember a lot and I still can hear the sound of the crash so vividly, which is what makes me so nervous in a car and which is why I want to be the driver and feel in control and not be the passenger.

My left knee-cap, my right foot, my nose, my orbital bone, my cheekbone.  Those were all the broken bones.  My face had gone straight into the steering wheel.

Sheesh, it has made me so grateful for each day of breath, each day I wake up, for being able to walk again and have no complications (accept a crooked nose still) post healing.  It has made me super grateful for all the beautiful people in my life who visited, called, texted, emailed, prayed, took me to appointments, came over to help, and came to take me out for coffee and get me out of the house for a few hours. 

That same weekend I remember hearing about a large number of casualties on the roads in NZ - Easter Weekend always has a high number of fatal crashes.  And I remember getting emotional and wondering howcome I got to be one of the lucky ones.

Every day really is a gift.  A moment to treasure. 
To be thankful.
To give.
To love.
To count your blessings.

I know I have way too many blessings to even count. 
And I know I sound dramatic and there are a lot worse things that people are going through than what I have been through.....but i am just thankful.

In awe.

a love for many things

2010 brought many surprises and changes my way.  I learnt a lot, I changed a lot. 
I have doubted, believed, loved, hurt, cried, laughed, fallen, grown, and understood.
I did so many things that I never expected to do or encounter or experience.  But I am glad for all that the last year has taught, challenged and blessed me with.

And now for a random list of things that I really do just love:
- scarves
- coffee
- God's quiet, comforting whispers
- mercy, grace and compassion
- quotes
- anne taintor (thank you whitney)
- anything antique/vintage looking
- old/used books (love the look of them)
- photography
- snow
- piano/guitar
- new friends
- old friends
- christmas movies
- "friends" marathons
- criminal minds marathons
- packages from NZ
- bright nail polish
- free falling - john mayer
- knitwear
- writing
- "ghetto" neighbourhoods/areas
- vine growing on old brick buildings
- hymns
- poetry
- starbucks christmas drinks
- christmas parties
- the book of Job
- flags - brooke fraser
- boots
- ugly/oversized sweaters
- heating in houses
- when people use my name throughout a conversation
- live music at the Babcocks
- the annual jobilani at the Christians
- new opportunities
- mariah carey christmas
- God's complete and utter provision over my life
- skype
- friend's hospitality
- kindness from strangers
- the snow-topped mountains surrounding me
- giving with a heart full of gratitude
- the use of both my legs (it's a big deal for me after breaking both legs in a car accident)
- my sight
- Atlanta in fall
- Canada in winter
- anna's cooking
- tea-cups
- mandarins
- families
- games nights
- my starbucks water cup
- magnets
- buttons, ribbons, beads
- thrift stores
- unforgettable gifts perfume
- scented candles
- dancing
- old signs/posters/ads
- cottages

That list really does help me to realise how much i have and to think about more ways i can give.


Happy New Year!

some of my snaps