red runs my heart

I’ve been hiding for a bit.  Hiding in February land.

It’s overtaken my life rather rapidly and I’ve had no time or sense to stop.

Birthday’s, speaking engagements, weddings to officiate, jobs to start are just some of the things I’ve found in the land of February.

This week is the first of the last few, that I’ve found an averagely empty calendar. 

Such excitement has filled my mind.

Oh what to do, what to do?

I’ve have definately been thinking non stop of my dear-heart friend and her family in Christchurch, praying for strength to cope each day with the dramas that surround her.

I’ve reminisced about this wedding I officiated over the weekend in the beautiful Lakelands of Rotorua, NZ.

I married my childhood friend (and her man), someone who I did so much life with, a precious woman indeed.

I officiated the wedding in the heat of the afternoon on the side of this inviting lake.

I had the time of my life, seeing friends who I’ve known forever, (see our old neighbous Matt!) and connecting with some I’d not been with for eyons.

Before I went away I’d joked with a few friends that I was staying in a hotel room alone and how boring that probably would be (even though I knew it would be good for me to have some alone time).  I’d commented on how much fun I’d not have, eating breakfast on my own at the fabulous hotel I’d been booked into.

I recall that before leaving, with this information in my head, I took a moment (a very brief moment, not a long ritual here at all) to kind of hand that over to God. So glad I did. A short talk asking Him to watch over my time. I have to keep remembering, and I do know it, but here in lies another testimony of his goodness to me, caring for the inner most parts of my humanness.

Turns out I had a room mate.  An older shy lady who crocheted up a storm for needy people all around our country.  Admittedly the snoring was harder to cope with but she was pure delight to room with.

Turns out I caught up with someone that had been part of my life many a year ago. Absolute bliss.

Not sure if you’ll ever read this but I thank God for hanging out with you over the weekend. You made my weekend.  When you told me things from our childhood that you had remembered, it kind of did this great thing in me.  It reminded me to always make an effort with people, no matter when or where as it might just come back and be a gift!  It was a gift being with you. I laughed a lot.  I was hugely encouraged and enjoyed the incredible companionship you offered.  You made me feel welcome in your world and not alone in my own.  It was fabulous hanging out with a great man who was living and loving life. And it was quite fun testing your blood sugar with my machine.  Well done 6.2.
Thank you, you did my heart good!

My livvy got a card from a boy in her class last week– dear Olivia, thank you for helping me and caring for me. From Hamish.  I asked her about that when i returned home, she replied she had simply helped him with a few things at school.  I think he’ll possibly never forget that, I hope she will learn about the positive-ness of helping another.  What a gift, realising you can make a difference, even when you are a sprog!

It is officially March-time now and as my friend Han Han reminds me in recent conversation, "IT's Ok to say No Sarah, remember how you got good at that last year?"
Whatever comes my way, i so wanna enjoy this journey i'm on, with balance (saying no when i need to) and with all the incredible people that are part of my journey.  I am particularly happy to say that the stranger-man from the wedding who kept inappropriately grabbing my butt, is not going to be journeying with me. I feel he is best left behind.

xx