Eat, Love, Pray - Ruin is a Gift!

This movie, regardless of it's poor reviews, is one of my favorite movies! The story is great, the cinematography is stunning and the are lines after lines of amazing prose! I love it. I'm inspired by it in a different way EVERY TIME I see it!

There are are several impactful scence to me. The one that I want to focus on today, is the letter she writes to David in Italy. The letter goes somthing like this...

Dear David,
We haven't had any communication in a while, and it's given me time I needed to think. Remember when you said we should live with each other and be unhappy so we could be happy? Consider it a testimony to how much I love you, that I spent so long pouring myself into that offer, trying to make it work! But a friend took me to the most amazing place the other day its called, The Augustium. Octavian Augustus built it to house his remains. When the Barbarians came, they trashed it along with everything else. The Great Augustus, Rome's first true great emperor... how could he have imagined that Rome, the whole world as far as he was concerned, would one day would be in ruins? It's one of the quietest and loneliest places in Rome. The city has grown up around it over centuries. Feels like a precious wound, like a heartbreak you won't let go of, cause it hurts too good. We all want things to stay the same David, settle for living in misery because were afraid of change, of things crumbling to ruins. Then I looked around in this place at the chaos its endured. The way its been adapted, burned, pillaged, and found a way to build itself back up again... and I was reassured. Maybe my life hasn't been so chaotic, it's just the world that is, and the only real trap is getting attached to any of it. Ruin is a gift. Ruin is the road to transformation. Even in this eternal city. The Augustium showed me that we must always be prepared for endless waves of transformation. Both of us deserve better than staying together because we're afraid we'll be destroyed if we don't.
~Liz

I love this because in my opinion it focuses on a universal truth... because sometimes things need to be runied before they can be fixed.  Sometime we don't know we are broken.


Patricia Holland once spoke on this back in 1982:

"It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. . . . it is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever. ["Broken Things," an excerpt from Vance Havner, The Still Water (Old Tappan, NJ: Flemming H. Revell, 1934). Quoted in October 1981, p. 5]

I found out last night after several blood test, that I've been so ill because I have mono! I cried at the thought. My brother had mono REALLY bad 2 years ago. He was in the hospital several times. I was really worried about him. Luckily it looks like I don't have it as badly as he did. Now I need to focus on the positive and take care of myself, not over do it and REST - a word I don't know very well. I also need to ask for assistance. I'm bad at asking for it (note: I'm not using the word "help").

This should be an interesting experience, but I'm sure I'm going to learn something interesting from it too.

That made me smile :)

"ps you deserve more then just those compliments."

MAKE HABIT YOUR SERVANT

Consider this statement by Samuel Johnson: "The chains of habit are generally too small to be felt until they are too strong to be broken!" 


Examine your habits. Where are they taking you? 

I AM . . . 
• I am your constant companion. 
• I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden. 
• I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.
• I am completely at your command.
• Half the things you do, you might as well turn them over to me and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.
• I am easily managed, you must merely be firm with me.
• Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessons, I will do it automatically.
• I am the servant of all great men and, alas, of all failures as well.
• Those who are great, I have made great.
• Those who are failures, I have made failures.
• I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine, plus the intelligence of a human being.
• You may run me for profit or run me for ruin -- it makes no difference to me.
• Take me. Train me. Be firm with me and I will put the world at your feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you.

I AM . . . HABIT.






Note:
(I got this from Facebook and there was no author referenced to this). 

Life Changing Conversations

I love having deep, meaningful and enlightening conversations with my friends and sometimes even strangers. Over the last week and a half I have had some amazing conversations that have given me a lot to think about.

Many of them seemed to have some commonalities - being that it really doesn't matter what others think about me (positive or negative), what really matters is what I think about myself. I saw this quote on Pinterest today (follow me here) and I loved it! :)

PS: Merry Christmas!

Source: sweet-southern-charm.tumblr.com via Cosmo on Pinterest

My first painting

My family (immediate and extended) has been blessed with creative genes. Almost all my grandparents are/were artists. My grandmother (84) still paints and my aunt (by marriage) just had a gallery exhibit (see us together below). I will post some pictures of their art in the future, but today I want to share a picture I took of the first painting I did - TODAY. I have been visiting my uncle, aunt and cousins in Milwaukee, WI for Thanksgiving (we even had an early Christmas) where I was given some drawing paper, and a small paint set.. why? Because I'd told my aunt that in order for me to come visit, I wanted (and needed) a painting lesson!

So this morning as she painted some projects she is working with, I primed a old canvas with white paint, and then began. It was definitely an interesting experience At first I thought I was doing really well. Things were coming together nicely. It was somewhere in the middle thought that I started wondering - all I could see was a childlike mess. My aunt assured me that I just needed to keep going (even though I wanted to give up). I kept going with her encouragement and a hope that in the end it may look remotely decent and resembling what I envisioned.

A couple hours later, here is the result...

I'm quite proud of it :)

Q: Do you paint?

I'm a Graduate! Now and Then.

Then - 2003

Finally. 7 years ago I began my studies at Brigham Young University (BYU). After many LONG days and hundred of hours of class, homework, exams, tests and hard work I am officially a gradate! I now have a piece of paper with my name on it that says I stuck it out. I made it. I held on for dear life on the Roller Coster of a lifetime (some days it felt like a Roller Coaster from hell).

I celebrated this wonderful time with extended family (my family wasn't able to make it out to Utah from South Africa) and friends. The Cox family threw me a party on Thursday evening after Commencement and pictures.

On on Friday I was lucky to have a great friend, Ashley take pictures of my in my Cap and Gown before my college Convocation. It was all a very surreal experience and now that it's over, I wonder if there could have been something a little more memorable and life altering take place... being knighted by the Queen may have helped.


I guess I thought I'd feel different, but I feel about as different as I do on a birthday - not much. What this does do is put a new perspective to the phrase "It's the journey not the destination that matters." And yet, we place SO much importance on the destination that it is almost impossible to not wait in anticipation for the coveted day of graduation (or any other big day). And now 3 months since the day that I officially became Jacqueline du Plessis, holder of a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, I wonder how different I am to the girl who came to the United States in 2004 with bright eyes and dreams and expectations.

Now - 2011

PS: I was interviewed by a reporter from Deseret News and guess what, my name turned up on the font lead page of the Newspaper. I have a couple friends message and text me about it. Here is the full article: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700170163/2342-earn-degrees-during-BYU-summer-commencement.html

What I've Learned #2

A few years ago I spent some time on trains in Europe. I LOVED it. I traveled from London, England to Edinburgh, Scotland and it was amazing! I also took the Chunnel (the train that goes under the English Channel) from London to Paris! It was cool! In fact I wrote one of my first songs on that train after a distressing phone call from South Africa. In the end I love travelling, especially across beautiful landscapes - I can just stare out the window for hours and usually I get lots of inspiration.

Anyway, today I saw a movie about two strangers on a train going across Europe.  I think there is something in us all that wishes we would meet a beautiful stranger on a train in a foreign country and fall in love - I did :)

This movie is so HONEST and so REAL even if some may thing it to be unrealistic. I found myself really believing these characters and this story. It's a love story through and through, a story of two people who find love unexpectedly. It's shot in (what seems like) one continuous streem of events and covers less than 24 hours and at the end you really feel how much they care about each other. It pulled at my heart strings. 

There is a sequel (Before Sunset) to this film, but I found this the first movie, Before Sunrise (1995) to be significantly better. It's inspiring and a reminder that life is best when we seize the moments that we receive. The performance by Ethan Hawke (Jesse) and Julie Delpy (Celine) are amazing and I found this young couple's conversations and raw authenticity very refreshing! I highly recommend it.  

Rated R for language. 

A Love Story Without Expectations!

I saw SUCH an AMAZING movie tonight! I'm pretty sure I saw Griffin & Phoenix available for streaming on Netflix a few years ago (it was released in 2006), but  for some reason I never saw it until now. It wasn't a big hit as it was just made for television, but it's interesting how often those types of movies seems to really resonate with me. 

Griffin and Phoenix is a movie about life, challenges and struggles but ultimately it's about how we can find hope, strength and purpose in love. I'm not a movie reviewer or and eloquent writer, but I hope that if you are reading this you will take the time to watch this movie that will really touch your heart and maybe make you believe in love again! 

I give it 9/10

Poison and Wine - The Civil Wars

Heard this song for the first time today thanks to my friend Trina Harmon on Facebook. POISON AND WINE is genius - lyrically, melodically and overall musically! This song will be on my playlist for a while!

A Hero Lies in You - Be YOUR OWN best friend!

I was thinking of this song tonight... and remembered what my mom told me a little while ago. Be YOUR own best friend. It's a novel idea, but one we probably don't realize! Mariah Carey sure did have some good songs back in the day! And this one is no exception...

HERO

Enjoy the lyrics:

There's a hero If you look inside your heart

You don't have to be afraid Of what you are

There's an answer If you reach into your soul

And the sorrow that you know Will melt away

And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on

And you cast your fears aside And you know you can survive

So when you feel like hope is gone Look inside you and be strong

And you'll finally see the truth That a hero lies in you

"It's a long road When you face the world alone

No one reaches out a hand For you to hold

You can find love If you search within yourself

And the emptiness you felt Will disappear

And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on

And you cast your fears aside And you know you can survive

So when you feel like hope is gone Look inside you and be strong

And you'll finally see the truth That a hero lies in you

Lord knows Dreams are hard to follow

But don't let anyone Tear them away

Hold on There will be tomorrow

In time You'll find the way

And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on

And you cast your fears aside And you know you can survive

So when you feel like hope is gone Look inside you and be strong

And you'll finally see the truth That a hero lies in you"

The TALK - When I am a parent

I'm not sure what I will actually say to my child one day, but I believe a clear, direct, un-bashful talk is necessary. I had to write the essay below for my Heath Psychology class tonight. I figured I'd save the content for possible future use?




Q: At some point in your life you will most likely need to approach the topic of STDs and AIDS within the context of your role as a parent. How will you approach sexuality and HIV/AIDS transmission and infection? To what extent will you discuss abstinence, examples of high-risk behaviors, and/or behaviors associated with safer sex? How will you resolve (what is often viewed as) potentially competing demands of educating your child and instilling moral values? Imagine that you are the parent of a 13 year old. Write a short essay that describes this discussion.

A: Sex is a beautiful special gift from God. It is the power to create life and come closer to our spouse. He has shared this power with us - his children; but, he has also given us rules on how and when we are to use this power. God wants us to be happy and experience joy. When you are married you and your husband can share this gift with each other. You can also bring children into the world. This will bring you great joy and happiness.

Now, the world wants us to think that sex before marriage is ok or a good thing. The media is full of immoral behavior. It is common place in society today, but God has reminded us in the scriptures that we are to be chaste. We are blessed when we live God’s commandments, like the law of chastity, which means that we are to only have sexual relations with our legal husband or wife. When people have sex before marriage, there are serious consequences. First, we hurt our spirit. We also are hurting the spirit of the other person involved. The world wants you to think that if you love a boy, it’s ok to have sex. But, if you really loved each other you wouldn’t want to hurt each other. Having sex before marriage will only bring hurt, guilt and shame. We also offend God, if we break this very important commandment. We can repent if we sin, but this is a serious sin and even if we repentance and are forgiven, we still have to answer to the consequences.

There are also real physical consequences. You know how babies are made, and many kids that make the mistake of having sex before they are married, fall pregnant and are unable to take care of the child. The world says it’s ok to have an abortion, but it is not. That would be a great sin! If ever you are in a situation and you find yourself with a decision like this, come and talk to me. I will love you always. We will help you. Of course we will be sad for you, because I know that this sin is grievous and will not bring you joy. The scriptures teach us that wickedness never was happiness. Remember God wants us to be happy! That is why he gives us commandments. Commandments keep us safe from the devastating consequences of sin. Commandments are there to protect us. They are from a loving Heavenly Father.

Pregnancy and the creation of life is supposed to be the most beautiful part of life! God wants us to share this gift with him. You will experience this joy when you are a wife one day. You will get to be a mommy raise your children in the gospel with your husband. The ramifications of pregnancy outside of marriage can be devastating. Adoption is the best option if something eve happens to you or your friend. The Church helps people who cannot have babies on their own to adopt children from people, like teenage girls, who cannot raise a child.

There are also certain diseases that are very bad, that are passed through sex. STD’s are terrible diseases that can result from unprotected sex. HIV can also be attained which is incurable, leads to AIDS and eventually a person will die because of the weakened state that their body is in as a result. There are some other behaviors like using illegal drugs that can give people HIV/AIDS because it is spread through bodily fluid, like blood. Some people who do not live the commandments and the law of chastity and participate in sex before marriage sometimes try to use “protection” against these diseases, such as condoms, but there are often not effective and can still result in sickness and death. The best protection is to not participate in these behaviors. To keep the commandments and to be morally clean and pure.

Elder Holland once said this in the talk the INCONVENIENT MESSIAH,
“This highest of all physical gratifications you were designed and created to enjoy. It is as natural as it is appealing. It is given of God to make us like God. And Satan has certainly capitalized on a divinely ordained appeal. But it is not yours without price. Not instantly. Not conveniently. Not with cozy corruption of eternal powers. It is to be earned, over time and with discipline. It, like every good thing, is God’s right to bestow, not Satan’s. When faced with that inherent appetite, a disciple of Christ must be willing to say, “Yes, but not this way.” In time, with love, after marriage. The right and proper and sanctified physical relationship of a man and a woman is as much a part–indeed more a part–of God’s plan for us as is the eating of our daily bread. But there is no convenient Messiah. Salvation comes only through discipline and sacrifice….In our time the only restraint left is self-restraint. I ask you to say of this highest, most intimate, most sacred physical expression, “Yes, but not this way.” I ask you to be inconvenienced until you’ve earned the right and paid the divine price to know the body and the soul of the one you love. Excuse me for speaking boldly, but this must be said.”

What questions do you have? I will answer any questions you have about anything, that I have said or you wish I had said. I’m open and want you to feel open with me.

PS: This is a great article on CHASTITY and sexuality! Why Standard Night is Substandard by Kathryn Soper!

New Language HYBRID song: I Love You - Ek is Lief vir Jou

Hey guys. I wrote this song with Alisha Merrick. It's in English and Afrikaans :)and it's called I LOVE YOU or EK IS LIEF VIR JOU!
Enjoy!

The GIRL EFFECT & Gifts the KEEP GIVING!

I have spent some time now thinking about how we waste money on giving gifts on holidays and birthdays that are often only temporarily used or appreciated. And then today after watching the new GIRL EFFECT video:

I found a link on their site, where you can buy a gift that KEEPS GIVING! A gift card that has the receiver choses where the gift goes. There are hundreds of ideas from helping fund a year of a girls school, to helping purchase chickens or products for the girl to have a business. I think it is such an awesome idea I am gonna start doing it!!! :)

What Faith LOOKS Like!

In 2008 Stephanie Nielson and her husband had a plane crash and survived horrific burns and injuries. This is their story of healing and love. It will make you happy and sad and maybe you will cry like me. Please take a couple minutes to watch this video:



Stephanie has been a avid blogger and has a WIDE following on her blog since 2005. Click here to read the NieNie Dialogues.

Let us find discover a deeper level of our own faith as we see this example of true FAITH.

Someday, someone...

Could this be more true?

If you haven't yet heard JUST TO BE WITH YOU

by David Archuletta. Listen to it NOW!!!

My website

My website:

http://www.sainusa.info/

HEADLINER

I was so excited the last few weeks in preparing for my first show as headliner. It was a great experience and I got some great feedback. I love to perform and had some great musicians with me. Thanks to all who showed up and supported me in this endeavor.

There will be MANY more shows and songs to come in the future.

Some forwarded emails are good!

TWO WOLVES

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.

"One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

"The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness,
benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER

by Erma Bombeck - written after she found out she was dying from cancer.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime..

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's',more 'I'm sorry's.'

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would = seize every minute.look at it and really see it . live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what. Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.