Lockdown 735

Lockdown Day 735-31 March 2022

We are in Bloem and surrounds for work, and seeing my Bloem friends again was an absolute joy. My heart is warmed by this group of amazing iron women who inspire me to keep looking up.

The dry Free State air is crisp and the post summer rain green is beautiful, with autumnal temperatures and a cool breeze most of the day.

Seasonal change is a time to dig in and clean out the baggage in one's life, the things cluttering our mind and our surroundings.

This gives new life to the "same old", reigniting order and creating space.

Marie Kondo said, "Tidying up grows confidence. And then you start believing in the future." Good advice. Change is good. Be scared, but do it anyway.

God is a God of order. Stay close to Him with your ear to His heart. He's got this.

Lockdown 734

Lockdown Day 734-30 March 2022

The little things in life can sometimes be the backbone of the great things, and sometimes a lttle thing can be a great thing in disguise. One such example is being faithful in a daily routine. Somehow the word routine went out of fashion after the hippie era had its way.

But routine is supposed to cover the little things so we can focus our energy on the big things. On getting the work done. Routine is supposed to be automatic without much thinking.

It is the same when driving and stopping at a red traffic light. You don't think about it at all, you just stop automatically upon seeing the red light. And when it turns green you go again. If it weren't for those lights and our automatic reaction, things would be hectic.

Such is life. Getting up when the alarm goes off seems mundane and stereotypical, but let me tell you, if you don't stay in the routine, you won't be able to do the great stuff as well as you can. 

As a result, you will most definitely miss out on the blessing because it might have been the great thing in diguise. 

So tonight I am grateful for routine, for being able to focus on what really matters.

God's got this.

Lockdown 733

Lockdown Day 733-29 March 2022

Today I learned to be grateful for mistakes. Even if they make me look like a dumb blonde. My thoughts inadvertently go to a little book I read many years ago, Prison to Praise, written by Merlin Carothers.

With gratitude in mind, I am reminded of a story of a pastor losing his 'sermon writing pen' he was sentimental over. After searching high and low (and probably also throwing a tantrum) he decided the only thing to do was praise God for the pen that was lost. I remember how it didn't make sense to me at first.

But later I realised to praise God for the bad things puts us in a mindset to look for the things to be grateful for. The really important stuff.

So tonight, while feeling sorry for myself, I look up to Jesus and thank Him for my klutzy mistake and the things I can learn from it. I am grateful toward Him for accepting me as I am, mistakes and all.

He's got me. And He gets me.

'Nuff said.

And He's got this, of course.

PS If you're interested in the movie, here it is👇

https://youtu.be/PyyYFwjnbeM

Lockdown 732

Lockdown Day 732-28 March 2022

The question: "How come gratitude is so difficult to do when it has so many health benefits?"

Two of the benefits I listed yesterday, have grabbed my attention. They are especially relevant to the time we are living in.

The first one is gratitude is the catalyst of hope. And not just any hope, but hope for the future. In a time such as this, where people have stopped thinking of the future and losing hope as a result of it, hope is a gift ranking with love and faith.

How amazing is that!

The second one is gratitude increases resilience. Resilience means toughness and is the capacity to recover from difficulties. I am sure all of us are by now a tad tougher after the last two years and have developed the capacity to recover from this pandemic. Wow, what a faith builder this is!

Gratitude grows hope, resilience, better sleep patterns and positive, happy feelings. It also stops stress and burnout.

So what are we wating for? Just say it out loud. And make a habit of it.

#Ggt

Lockdown 731

Lockdown Day 731-27 March 2022

The first day of year 3 of Lockdown starts out cool with a strong drizzle.

I would like to start this 'year' with enormous gratitude.

According to numerous studies about the health benefits of actively practicing gratitude, it can:

✨Improve sleep quality

✨Improve regulation of emotions

✨Create a positive mood and happy feelings

✨Encourage hope for the future

✨Reduce PTSD symptoms, stress and burnout

✨Increase resilience (meaning: toughness and the capacity to recover from difficulties)

I was completely dumbstruck when I saw these benefits. And a question popped into my mind, " if gratitude is this👆 good for us, why on earth is it so difficult to be (and keep on being) thankful and why on earth don't we practice gratitude actively?"

I shall consider this a while and continue with this in the next post.

#Ggt

✨Lockdown 730

✨Lockdown Day 730-26 March 2022✨

Tonight at midnight, 730 days will have passed since Lockdown was imposed for the first time in 2020 because of an abominable virus and the vice grip it suddenly had on the whole world. A full two years.

Never did I imagine a lockdown in my lifetime. Two years ago we thought, "how bad can 21 days of Lockdown be?"

Two years ago I thought I'd write a blog each day to diarise my brain on everything Lockdown. Never did I imagine doing this for a straight 730 days. Ever.

But, here I am. I actually did. And here we all are. We made it to this day. Truth be told, most of us struggled, doubted, tantrumed and most probably screamed inwardly.

But, we saw we could, just like Thomas the tank engine, "do this". We began to think maybe we can get through this and maybe we're going to make it. So far, so good. We learned this virus was real. We learned it can be deadly and we learned to live with it. I think.

We also learnt Truth is a Person and the only authority we could trust is Jesus, our omnipresent Saviour, our Friend who laid down His life for us.

So, what better way to celebrate this, than praying with Angus Buchan for rain! Today, he came to stand inside the Kouga dam to pray with the people of the Eastern Cape to Jesus for repentance, salvation and the opening of the heavens, trusting Him for a 100% full dam.

All over we agreed in prayer while listening on Radio Kingfisher, who went there to share the message. What a blessed way to enter a new chapter!

Looking up to God is the way forward. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

He most assuredly and most definitrly has got this.

Lockdown 729

Lockdown Day 729-25 March 2022

Waking up to rain in the night and again at first light, warmed my heart. I inhaled the fresh smell of rain while drinking my tea, wondering how widespread the rainfall is.

Apart from praying for rain, the faith community are agreeing in prayer against the planned abomination of countrywide looting to take place from Sunday.

So tonight I share a scripture from Isaiah 60:18 to pray:

"Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, Neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; But you shall call your walls Salvation, And your gates Praise."

I truly believe we can stop the looting from happening even before it begins by calling this verse out into our beautiful country, just like we can trust God for a full Kouga dam.

Because He's the One who's got this.

Lockdown 728

Lockdown Day 728-24 March 2022

So today I looked forward to a good swim and upon entry, the ocean was almost flat and quite cold with a moderate southwesterly breeze.

The lifesaving champs were already underway for the fifth consecutive day.

I wondered how on earth those bodies must be feeling as I donned my glasses and started the swim to six pack.

I could feel my visibility bubble plucking at my waist, but it wasn't untill we reached six pack that I realised the speed and direction of the wind had increased and was now a force to be reckoned with.

We slogged back at a slow speed with the water interfering with our breathing, making it the most difficult swim I have had to date. This definitely turned my thoughts to my O2 year and what it feels like to be deprived of oxygen on a spiritual level. How it can take the proverbial life out of you.

Apart from the breathing issues (and of course a little saltwater swallowing), working hard to beat the wind had us all feeling like novice weight lifters afterwards.

So tonight, with cold weather on the way, I lie in bed listening to the wind whistling into the window, I offer up a prayer for rain. Lots of rain. For a full Kouga dam. For the people of the region to give everything into God's hands. And for Uncle Angus who will be praying on the dam wall in Saturday.

Because He's got this.

Lockdown 727

Lockdown Day 727-23 March 2022

And so Mr Prez spoke again last night. On the eve of the two year Lockdown mark, with lowest ever numbers it seems they are getting ready to create a new mask mandate.

Instead of being hinged on the state of emergency, it would operate under new legislation and could be applied to any notifiable disease that spreads via the air.

The way I see it nothing has changed. The people of South Africa have already minimised the social distance to zero and do not wear masks outside.

And I feel sorry for all people at workstations in companies or teaching classes etc., who still have to wear masks. How is that different from being in a full restaurant? 🤔 In fact, restaurants are more susceptible to viral transmission than workspaces.

And what about regulations for mandatory ventilation in all businesses? I recently had a really bad experience in a shop where absolutely no ventilation caused me to hyperventilate.

In view of their unfounded fear of this abominable virus, it feels as if the world's leaders have all embarked on power trips with which they only wish to serve their own twisted and diabolical convictions.

At least Russia is honest about their diabolical war. I suppose there's no chance of the rest of the world coming clean too?

Anyway, my two cents worth of blonde logic aside, there actually are other important things us normal grass-roots-people have control over.

Things such as who we choose to follow. Do we make the government our god or do we make God the ruler of all?

Like it or not, God's Word tells us to obey the laws of our countries out of respect to Him (as long as His laws aren't contradicted) , the Great Ruler of all. The world governments prove by their actions they don't believe He's got control.

But He does.

He's definitely got this.

Lockdown 726

Lockdown Day 726-22 March 2022

And so we said goodbye after yet another wonderful day together, starting out with an early "normal' swim in the waves in the dense morning fog. Laurette spotted a white feather on the indigo water, testimony of God's presence.

We hung in the swells and enjoyed the mystic atmosphere. The Lifesaving Champs were still going on and we saw the start of the 'Nipper' competition for young children. What a great way to train our youngsters to become ocean conscious people!

Speaking of which, the first leg of Sarah Ferguson from #breatheocean1 is done and dusted as she arrived safely in East London! They also did a reef cleanup which saw over 60 big bags of radom plastic stuff collected from the reef.

So I am giving a big shout out for this wonderful and daring swimmer to raise awareness about plastic pollution in our coastal areas. You can follow her journey and see all the wonderful sights of the ocean on the instagram handles breatheocean1 and oneoceanswim or go to this website: breatheconservation.org

So tonight I offer up a prayer for us all to be aware of our environment and to do the little things which make that difference. Because it is after all God's creation. And He put us here to be responsible stewards.

#Godsgotthis

Lockdown 725

Lockdown Day 725-21 March 2022

Today is Human Rights day in our country. So we decided to cash in on the most perfect weather yet and go swimming. Laurette took the plunge into her first ocean swimming experience and actually did incredibly well.

To me it was absolutely fantastic to finally be able to share the feeling and excitement of the open water with one of my core friends.

We topped the experience with a flat white and awesome almond croissant at Remo's Italian.

We lazed through the day resting our ocean-tired limbs and enjoying dinner al fresco on yet another perfect night.

We always tell our visitors about the vicious Bay wind, but have been joking about it ever since Laurette arrived, because she finds it hard to believe what she has been told about this wind, which is so conspicuously absent.

So tonight as I wait for the waning full moon to shine into the garden. I thank God for His Creation and all the little things we aleays just take for granted, like a beautiful day.

#Ggt

Lockdown 724

Lockdown Day 724-20 March 2022

Today we walked along the ragged rocks of Schoenmakerskop just as the mist started to lift. It was a beautiful morning and we decided to go and see what's happening at the beachfront where the SA lifesaving and triathlon championships were held on King's Beach and Hobie Beach respectively.

Although the light breeze was from the East, the water was calm. We had a good view of King's Beach and watched as the lifesaving comnunity fought it out on paddles and boards along a course laid out with buoys. Alongside them were leisure swimmers and surfers also enjoying their splash for the day.

Meanwhile, in Addo Elephant Park a 161 km trail run was being done that lasted over three days. Not for the unfit or faint hearted.

The city was abuzz with sports events with regional swimming champs for high schools as well as a netball tournament at Nelson Mandela University, featuring 11 teams from the Bay and George.

We retire with the new club across from our complex boom-boxing way into the late hours of the evening, grateful I don't live right behind the club, and grateful for another beautiful virtually wind-free day.

#Ggt

Lockdown 723

Lockdown Day 723-19 March 2022

Our walk this morning was a quick one at Schoenmakerskop where we also had coffee at Sacramento before returning home. Much had to be done, because my friend Laurette was on her way to visit for the long weekend!!!

After super excited hellos, we left the airport mid-afternoon, ready for a catch up session of note. We chatted and shared news about our families and kids, retiring after dinner feeling blessed.

I am so grateful for friendship withstanding the test of time and how precious ours had become. As the full moon makes its way to the west, I fall asleep contented and looking forward to what God will bring on this special weekend.

#Ggt

Lockdown 722

Lockdown Day 722-18 March 2022

With the weekend at hand, I motor through house cleaning and diverse work related errands and admin.

The weather is beautiful with a perfect temperature/wind forecast for the SA Triathlon Championship on Sunday.  And with the Ironman happening in a couple of weeks, many athletes are running, biking and swimming all over the Bay.

My O2 year is fast becoming a life giving blessing. Just as oxygen is a life source, God triune is mine, blessing us everyday with His presence.

And with this comes the excitement of what we will see or experience next, learning how to really live one breath at a time, not worrying about the things we have no control over.

Giving God ownership of the things that cause us to fuss and fret, means it is not ours anymore. So why worry? Because God's got this!

Lockdown 721

Lockdown Day 721-17 March 2022

Tonight I share the Passion Translation of Psalm 46, with the heading God on our side.

"God, you’re such a safe and powerful place to find refuge! You’re a proven help in time of trouble— more than enough and always available whenever I need you.

So we will never fear even if every structure of support were to crumble away. We will not fear even when the earth quakes and shakes, moving mountains and casting them into the sea.

For the raging roar of stormy winds and crashing waves cannot erode our faith in you.

Pause in his presence

God has a constantly flowing river whose sparkling streams bring joy and delight to his people. His river flows right through the city of God Most High, into his holy dwelling places.

God is in the midst of his city, secure and never shaken. At daybreak his help will be seen with the appearing of the dawn.

When the nations are in uproar with their tottering kingdoms, God simply raises his voice, and the earth begins to disintegrate before him.

Here he comes! The Commander! The mighty Lord of Angel Armies is on our side! The God of Jacob fights for us!

Pause in his presence

Everyone look! Come and see the breathtaking wonders of our God. For he brings both ruin and revival. He’s the one who makes conflicts end throughout the earth, breaking and burning every weapon of war.

Surrender your anxiety. Be still and realize that I am God. I am God above all the nations, and I am exalted throughout the whole earth.

Here he stands! The Commander! The mighty Lord of Angel Armies is on our side! The God of Jacob fights for us!

Pause in his presence "

#Ggt

Lockdown 720

Lockdown Day 720-16 March 2022

I have often wondered what it would feel like to see a large dam filled to the brim while hanging in the water right in the middle of the dam. A sort of flying-fish-eye-view.

This morning we swam towards the harbour wall just behind the swells going in to the beach. Just before we turned, we took a moment to appreciate the sheer vastness of the ocean we were in.

The indigo water was vast as we hung there, peering out into the bay and on to the horizon. With our eyes almost level with the surface, the 360 degree views were as breathtaking as they were impressive.

I felt as if I could stay there forever, "snapping" pictures for my memory bank, not wanting to forget anything. How special it was.

Back on land and dressed warmly, the conversation turned to Mr Prez and the rumours of dropping the state of emergency.

This comes in the wake of Namibia's ruling yesterday abolishing mask wearing and social distancing in public places and raising the number of people allowed at gatherings to 1000 from tomorrow until 15 April.

Tonight I go to sleep with the beautiful pictures my mind's eye took today. And I thank God that He's got this.

Lockdown 719

Lockdown Day 719-15 March 2022

Imagine doing time travel in your area, to say, ten thousand years ago. No cell reception, no technology, no running water or electricity, or a place to stay, only natural habitat. Would you survive?

Watching the news again tonight and seeing the people queueing at the Polish border to get out of Ukraine, some only with the clothes on their back, ignited a prayer of gratitude in my heart.

In both cases, the key word for survival is other people. People with resources and people who were raised up for a time such as this. I ask myself what I can do apart from physically going there, and the answer is PRAY!

This morning I heard the testimony of a young man who became a paraplegic at the age of 24 after reaching for his phone while driving a mere 70 km/h. He said apart from his faith, the single thing that helped him to keep going, were the people who stood by him through it all, and still do.

Man wasn't designed to live alone. Each person has unique qualities, which when put together, can help them survive almost anything. God has designed us that way. That is why our spirit has been pre-loaded with everything it needs to handle whatever comes our way.

So next time when you are confronted with a step back into time, such as coping without a cellphone for 24 hours, look up. Maybe your step back is having no electricity for a week, or nothing left after your home has been bombed to smitherines, just look up to God.

He will send someone. Someone to help and someone to pray. Always.

Because He's got this.

Always.

Lockdown 718

Lockdown Day 718-14 March 2022

With the weather still dark, cloudy and 16.5°C, the water was approximately 15°C and the short swim sweet! 

After the swim we tackled the beach which was full of wastewater debris. We picked up masks, take-away cups, a lot of plastic including empty bottles, chips packets, balloons, sweet wrappers and even shoes.

I have to say I was ashamed for the human race who don't even give a hoot about their environment. In a way this is also a war. There may not be moms and kids fleeing for their lives, but the number of fish and sea animals who die at the hand of the human race is a disgrace.

Among the careless people there's also the municipality who are not maintaining wastewater pipes and their filters to stop these things going into the ocean.

Also, a much worse problem has now shown its head: raw sewage. And it doesn't seem as if the people in charge really care about what's (not) happening at the treatment plants, and worse, the fact that raw sewage is pouring into the Bay.

The health of everyone using the ocean is at stake. Not to mention the detrimental effect on tourism. Concerned athletes and interest groups are also worried about the upcoming triathlon in the Bay this coming weekend.

So tonight I offer up a prayer to God to take back His ocean, because I don't know what else to do. Or maybe He should teach the human race what conservation is. Regardless, I also pray for everyone who sees these wrongs to help where possible and report immediately.

We can change it one chips packet at a time. Little things with God go far in His kingdom. Make it count. Even if you're living inland, be concious about waste disposal and recycling and do what you can to make a difference.

#Ggt

#oceanlover

Lockdown 717

Lockdown Day 717-13 March 2022

Time for a Sunday celebration. We were woken up this morning with a lightning flash and thunder, and wonderful cool, fresh rain!!! Thank you Lord!

By sunset we had 24mm in our gauge, also hearing from friends in the Langkloof who got 30mm and it is still steadily coming down.  

Gratitude was our mantra for the day as we celebrated our friend André's birthday and his amazing recovery from Covid last year.

As we sat around the table filled with their family and friends, I counted blessing upon blessing. And saw the love in everyone's hearts.  The words people of the earth  come to mind.

And through it all I experienced God's tangible presence, knowing that He's really and truly got this.

So here is one of my favourite songs just to celebrate our blessings, hoewever small they are, in a tangible way:

https://youtu.be/iZMLoBIz8wQ

#Ggt

Lockdown 716

Lockdown Day 716-12 March 2022

Today was a normal Saturday with our long walk along the promenade. Beautiful cloudy conditions with a slight breeze from the east and a promise of rain in the sky.

But at 11:00 all that changed. The humidity and the temperature went up, the cloud cover dissipated and the wind was nowhere. Searing hot describes the feeling when we arrived home and I went out to hang up the washing. It felt as if my skin was burning.

With any hope of rain dashed, we sat it out under the fan untill the sun set. I sat outside untill late and eventually retired under two fans, eternally grateful we have no loadshedding during the night.

With the boombox of a new pub not far from us thumping into the night, I pray to God for rain. For forgiveness for the Eastern Cape and a full Kouga dam. And for people to look up to God. Because He's got this.

Lockdown 715

Lockdown Day 715-11 March 2022

Today I want to give a shout out to all the people who have been victimised or robbed/stolen from.

This morning when I arrived at our Tribe's assembly point, one of our swimming partners was completely rattled after her car was burgled and she lost all her valuables such as her phone, ID, driver's license and bank cards.

The CCTv footage showed three men who did this through remote 'jamming' in the time she went to take the shopping trolley away.😡

She is a disabled person over 60 years old. Who is that cruel? Poverty is not an excuse for exploiting a woman. And poverty is certainly not an excuse to rob a pensioner. Not to mention a disabled person.

Although it is not a habit to become negative about our crime rate, this incident does deserve a mention for a number of reasons:

1. We are all in this together. Make a habit of helping your fellow countrymen by looking out for them.
2. Develop a safety regime for yourself to prevent things like these happening to you: be vigilant and over-cautious, choose your parking space and feel your doors once you've locked your car and watch your car for a couple of minutes from a distance after leaving it.
3. Help and teach other persons in the same parking lot to do the same, so criminals who are watching will perceive you as a threat rather than a target.

To bemoan crime will not stop it. Our ultimate protector is God and putting our lives in His hands is the ultimate way. He does have you in the palm of His hands, and He's most definitely got this.

Lockdown 714

Lockdown Day 714-10 March 2022

Still on the topic of large bodies of water being good for us, I wonder if a drought can have similar effects on us to that of war. If a large body of water can have health benefits , the absence of such water can most certainly cause the opposite.

Being subjected to prolonged drought measures causes mental issues as does a state of emergency for a long time. I can't help but wonder if this is why the people of the Eastern Cape are feeling the effects more deeply.

So tinight I share a video of water relaxation. Just sitting snd enjoying a river view like you would when in nature. Once open you can turn your phone to see left and right down the river.

https://youtu.be/ofUi0jY--jo

Be blessed!

#Ggt

Lockdown 713

Lockdown Day 713-9 March 2022

The Bay is very active this week. The dolphins were spotted yet again in large pods just off the pier. A moderate east breeze moved in overnight to create rocking chair swells, as one of the tribe described it.

So I decided to go and walk at Schoenmakerskop with Roxy, enjoying the crisp air and awesome view of the ocean.

I thought about the self care regime consisting of time with God, water and exercise I wrote about last week. How exercise can include a conversation with God ánd water.

Water is life, and drinking it is paramount. But spending time near a body of water such as a fountain, stream, dam or even the ocean, has a profound effect on our being.

The University of Exeter conducted a number of studies that proved humans not only need the green, but also the blue.

In fact, a direct link between health and the proximity of large bodies of water was found. Even city dwellers with daily exposure to man made water features reported better physical and mental health than those only exposed to green.

So tonight I offer up a prayer for the drought stricken Eastern Cape and the direct negative effect it has on its people and their spiritual wellbeing. For those in the Bay who never go to the ocean once in a while.

And I pray for a 100% full Kouga dam, because God has the power and I firmly believe He will fill it.

#Ggt

Lockdown 712

Lockdown Day 712-8 March 2022

After a very smooth and surprisingly easy swim this morning, I returned with the pooch to see the Orcas that were seen in the bay.

They were far for the natural eye, but I got good visuals with binoculars, with which I also saw a dolphin pod feeding on a school of fish near the harbour wall.

Seeing the abundance of sea life gave me hope for marine conservation, albeit in the wake of the plastic pandemic. Recently, a young lady by the name of Sarah Ferguson, started an epic swim from Durban to Cape Town after earning a Guinness world record in 2019 by swimming around Easter Island in record time.

All this to raise awareness for plastic pollution in the coastal ecosystem. Follow her on Instagram by searching breatheocean1. For those not on social media, here is the link for the SA People article in which the link to instagram can also be clicked on:

https://www.sapeople.com/2022/02/21/sarah-ferguson-begins-epic-1500-km-swim-from-durban-to-cape-town/

She has completed 12 days of swimming and a record 45km today in the Agulhas current! So far she has seen many "chips" packets 😒.

She has also seen lots of marine life and was also treated to a dolphin pod's playful visit.

So tonight I offer up a prayer for Sarah's amazing quest and for her success already apparent. For sustenance to complete this 1500km challenge she gave herself a year to finish.

And for God to carry her through it all.

#Ggt

Lockdown 711

Lockdown Day 711-7 March 2022

Today I decided to try out a short swim along King's Beach just behind the waves to test my back.

What a wonderful feeling to be back in the ocean after a week's absence! It did me the world of good and proved my back is on the heal.

The physiotherapist confirmed this after an infrared treatment of all the muscles revealed all was well enough to start swimming longer distances again.

Later, while struggling to reconnect our faulty router, I thought about how incredibly connected the world is at this moment in time and how we literally are lost when we don't have access.

I wondered how being cut off occasionally maybe isn't such a bad thing. Like a kind of "down time" to re-focus on what is really important and necessary.

At the same time I wonder how prepared we are in the event of a total internet crash or shut down. Much like the Russian locals and Ukraine people who have no access to news updates or internet. Basically they are in the 'dark'.

Many will say it will never happen just like many said the whole world will never be taken over by a virus.

The only sure thing to bank on no matter what happens, is God. God the Father, God the son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. He is omnipotent (all-powerful) , omniscient (all-knowing) and omnipresent (everywhere at the same time) . Walking with Him is the way to go. Because He's got this.