What colleges have you attended?

I went to two and a half.

I worked hard at high school, did extremely well, and finished burnt out and not knowing where I was.

I wanted a year off to work in the church, but like many good girls, I did what was expected of me and went to university. I’d got a merit scholarship to attend the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg. A mouthful if ever I heard one.

Sorry – no photo.

I didn’t have a camera at the time and the media library is at a loss when I type that in.

I got great results in both art and maths, but science seemed to offer a more viable career of the two, so I chose a broad science first year. With no heart for it.

I met someone from Cape Town whose stories of church life and Bible colleges inspired me to go there. I secretly applied to the university and got awarded a bigger scholarship there, so I packed my bags and went to continue my degree at the university of Cape Town.

There are of course lots of photos of Cape Town in the media library.

I don’t know who this is but that could totally have been me: mesmerised by mountains and sea.

There I delved into church life at every level, sensing it was my calling, but my school years had taken their toll and my brain just wouldn’t grapple with the dull, meaningless maths and physics courses I was doing. I finally crashed after a leader in the church let me down rather badly.

So after my second year, it seemed things in my brain had simply shut down. So all funding for my studies and food and shelter was withdrawn.

Two years later I had completed my degree while working full-time. At times work demanded 60 hours a week, and I studied for exams and tests after work and on Saturdays. I insisted on taking rest on Sundays.

So I got that piece of paper that says Bachelor of Science. It’s in a cupboard somewhere.

20+ years on and I haven’t had much of a career, but I’m warm, comfortable, a kitten plays at my feet, my loving husband has a good job and my children are happy. I don’t take that for granted.

I honestly give all credit to God who is faithful. I can see no other explanation.

#bloganuary

Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?

This little thing. I’ve never been a cat person but look who arrived for Christmas. This kitten has brought new realms of play to our home.

She is soft, she cuddles, she purrs. Then at times she gets this wild look in her eyes and I know it’s playtime. She pounces and darts and climbs and slips away from cuddles. My daughter made a mouse toy for her (in the background of this picture), and the tinsel has been a hit with my son.

Thank the Lord for fluff and big ears.

#bloganuary