What Helps Me Be Strong?

Sunday Afternoon – May 3^rd 2020 

I was called as the Discovery Ward Relief Society President last Sunday.  
It’s been a week of getting to know what’s changed in Relief Society administration, and finding out about many of our Sisters that I don’t know yet, choosing counsellors and a secretary, proposing them, and making contact with them – two of whom I do not know yet.  
I realized today that if I walked past them in the street, I would not know them.  Sobering…!  
A brave new chapter…  And on we go.  
How will we make meetings happen?  
How will we conduct our business in these circumstances…? 
We’ll find our way…

I’ve always wanted to attend “BYU Women’s Conference.”  
Because of Covid 19 affecting the whole world, this year BYU Women’s Conference was a digital event.  
I got to spend about six hours on Saturday watching the Conference.  
What a spiritual feast!  
I look forward to sharing some of parts of the sessions with those who might be interested as time allows.

We are now on Stage 4 of lock-down.  
I’m not sure what has changed – except that we are all required to wear cloth or other effective face masks when we are out and about for essential shopping and visits to doctors and other essential journeys.  
I’ll find out on a need-to-know basis, or I’ll hear over the radio or internet.  
What a wonderful day to live in!  I’m glad to live now.

This week’s question…  Who helps me be stronger when I need to be?  In what way?

I’ve been thinking a lot about that…

My Heavenly Father helps me be strong when I need to be.

I know I’m His Daughter.   

I’ve made covenants with Him.  I want to keep them. 

I am a Disciple of Jesus Christ.  He helps me be stronger when I need to be.

The more I learn about Him, the more I want to be His Disciple – want to follow Him.

These pictures help me remember to be strong:

  

Prophets, Apostles and those that speak in General Conference help me to be strong.

So have those who have articles printed in the Church magazines.

They help me see what I otherwise might not see.

My husband helps me be stronger when I need to be. 

I have learnt some “street smarts” and to be more realistic, down to earth, from him. 

I’ve learnt lots about how many in the world think, speak and behave from him and his family.

It’s been a truly useful education.

I’m bolder than I would otherwise have been able to be.

My children have helped me be stronger when I’ve needed to be.

I’ve gained insights and experience from these four very different and dearly beloved human beings.

FAMSA and LifeLine have helped me be stronger when I need to be.

I’ve gained deeply valuable information and experience working for them/ with them.

I’ve learnt how to manage, living in this world, speaking in terms they might better understand.

My Tai Chi group helps me be physically stronger than I might otherwise be.

My WeighLess group and leader also motivates me to be strong and helps me manage my weight as well as supportive and encouraging tips like these almost every day.

My beloved family and friends are truly valuable to me. 

Although I don’t see or hear from them often, I know they are there.

They give me honest feed-back.  That’s precious to me.

Now my Relief Society presidency Sisters will also help me be strong when I need to be.

Also my Relief Society Sisters have been a source of valuable learning, a refuge and strength to me through many years.  I’ve learnt a lot, about a lot, from and with them.

I’m reading Paul’s letters in the New Testament at the moment.  He helps me be stronger. 

So does Abraham in the Old Testament, and Jacob, son of Lehi, in the Book of Mormon.

Actually, there are many people I know, and many I don’t personally know, that help me be strong when I need to be.  
Joyce Meyer’s ten or so minutes in the morning on Radio Pulpit has been a great blessing in my life.
Bongi Gwala on SAFM.  
Oh… too many wise ones over these many, many years to remember and mention…  
I’m grateful for those who have lived great lives and accomplished many types of great deeds and shared their experiences.

I just hope I can be strong for my whole life. 

I also know that though I am weak I am strong. 

I also know that my weaknesses can be turned into my strengths.

I’m grateful for those from whom I’ve been able to borrow strength in my years leading to now.
Among them the police, lawyers, doctors, homeopaths, physicians, financial advisors, Bishops, supervisors, professors and others.

What makes me stronger from them all?

I’ve learnt how I want to be, and how I don’t want to be. 

I’ve learnt to be a better woman, wife and mother, in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother.  
I’ve gained vocabulary, and increased comprehension of so much, and increased integrity and maturity!  

I’ve learnt to love more, be more compassionate, patient, understanding, grateful, balanced, imperturbable, confident, genuine, peaceful, temperate, open, happy and cooperative than I used to be able to be. 

I’ve learnt to mind my own business more. 

I’ve learnt to let other people take care of their own business more. 

I’ve learnt to be healthier than I used to be able to be. 

I’ve learnt to enjoy my every-day life more than I used to be able to. 

I’ve learnt what is fun for me.

I’ve learnt to respect myself and others more. 

I’ve learnt to be a better home-maker and property-owner than I used to be able to be.

I’ve learnt to be a better citizen than I used to be able to be.

I love that, imperfect though each one of us is, we can learn, live and, love together. 

I love that I’ve learnt to set reasonable limits for myself and others too.

I’m glad I learnt about

Firm, Fair and Friendly;

Guide, Protect and Bless;

Verbal, Vocal and Visual;

Submissive, Aggressive and Assertive;

Persecutor, Rescuer and Victim;

Problem-solving, Appropriate and Flexible;

Green, Yellow and Red;

Correlate, Reduce and Simplify.

And many more!!!

What a journey I’m on! 

I’m glad I’m making it. 

I’m learning to be myself. 

I’m glad to be who and where I am at the moment.

I’m glad to get to know each of you better too. 

Onward, ever onward… Stronger, ever stronger… Always sufficient for our needs.

Carry on carry on, carry on – as long as I am able and well as I’m able… mind, body and spirit.

This from off my fridge...

Friday Afternoon Walk with Angela Simon

 Angela invited me last Friday to walk at the Botanical Gardens.

We had a lovely time together.

I really appreciate my friendship with her.

At the bird hide...

 

 

Some SERIOUS bird photographers

with BIG lenses...

 We had a cooldrink at the restaurant.

And off home.

Warm at the start of the afternoon, and getting decidedly cold by the time we left.

We made a good memory.

I shall miss seeing her often.

My Friend Debbie Donly

Debbie and I went for a jaunt together last week.

We had a lovely ride and lunch together in the country.

Thanks for being my friend for decades!

We always enjoy ourselves together - whatever we decide to do.

Sometimes we have lunch together outside in the lapa in their back garden - 

peaceful and lovely space.

Llew and Debbie came for supper and Home Evening Monday this week.

"Make new friends,

Keep the old,

One is silver

and the other is gold..."

My Trip To Carole

Serious fire at Crown Mines.

A Cash and Carry store went up in flames.

Carole lives in Alberton.

These pictures on my way home - off the toll roads.

Mondeor/Ridgeway.

Lovely hillside.

Impressive Mosque.

Heading towards Johannesburg and Rifle Range Road.

The fire still raging.

Such promising clouds!

Fire engines.

Some moving inspiration...:

"Mistakes are always forgivable

if one has the courage to admit them."

Back in Maraisburg area.

Florida.

Near Hoerskool Florida (just ahead past the robot.)

At Carole's I enjoyed their storm.

I came home to our storm!

Most welcome rain.

I have known Carole since I was a teenager.

She and I have shared many years of friendship together.

I love visiting there!

I cam home feeling refreshed.

A Pause Last Saturday at Whispering Pines

 Five months later... To celebrate Gail's birthday in May...

We visited Whispering Pines in the Magaliesburg for lunch.

Three or four km out of Magaliesburg we turned to the right and went along this

gravel road for three or four km. 

We dined in comfort and style in this Country retreat.

Then we came out and sat under this magnificent Pin Oak tree.

Cool and shady.

  

Really Pleasant Pause.

Patio Project 18th April continued...

Another loadshedding sign:

"We are fully guaranteed!"

And then a menu for when there is loadshedding.

I felt odd taking the picture with the person standing right there,

so I took this picture from further away.

Our Virginia creeper has gorgeous Autumn colours later on,

we see them beginning to change colour now.

Glenn and Neville working along on our patio project.

The boarding on the inside is all done on two walls, the west and north.

The south boards on the inside, and the whole east wall still to go.

In this picture they are sorting out the electrics.

See Neville kneeling on the ground next to Glenn?

I think they have enjoyed the comraderie.

I know their knees hurt...

There is a cushion there, and sometimes one or the other uses it.