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A New Born, A Toddler, A Body Builder & a Little Seaside Shack

Amanda cover

Good Morning,

Throughout the month of August I am so excited about all the guest writers that are a part of Capture Life.

I will be writing each Sunday about my little family and the start of our new life with A newborn, A toddler, My Body Builder and our little seaside shack.

seaside

What an amazing season in the life of my family.

Look out for

Monday’s with Jeff and Julie Crabtree

Tuesday’s with Em Hazeldean

Wednesday’s with Brisita Rojas

Thursday’s with Jo Hodges

Friday’s with Kate Smithson

Saturday’s with Bethany Bracegirdle

Sunday’s with yours truly.

I am so excited.

Speak soon

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Names

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We chose two names 3 years ago for our children and were very excited at the possibilities.

Maximus- The greatest
Andries- Brave, Man, Warrior
Viviers- Alive

Andries is the family name from my husband Charl’s grandfather.

Just before Max was born this scripture became my promise… From 1 Sam 1:

26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.”

Liberty- Freedom
Elizabeth- God’s promise
Viviers- Alive

Elizabeth is the family name of my Grandmother, her great grandmother who turned 90 this last year.

And a scripture I found as my promise for Libby as she was born was this…

Is 61:1

‘The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;’

I am sure our name choices are not to taste for some, but for me and my house ‘Strength, Loyalty and God’ are so important to our values as a family.

I believe the way we name the next generation, whether in nicknames or family names or dedicated ones, has immense power in shaping their sense of self for the future.

Every nurse who asked our story, because medically when they read my notes it has a twist yesterday, they were all so surprised that we fell pregnant each time without assistance and so quickly.

Little did they know the years of agony.

The 16 year old kneeling in her shower begging God for a miracle.

The 21 year old so shy that no man would ever want to marry her barren.

The 30 something who said I do, with no promise of a family to share with her new beau.

God is faithful.

Miss Libby is truly God’s promise alive to me.

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Miracles.

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Speak soon

Xxoo

Amanda

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No rain = no flowers

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We have had a super quiet but super exhausting week.

We had a false start on Saturday night, where miss v, nearly came to town but then it seems she got stage fright.

That has left me in a funny place the last few days.

Enjoying the moments, really excited about the new adventure beginning but also super frustrated as we got so close and then sent home again from the hospital.

Our little town has had a crazy amount of rain this week which has held me a little captive as well.

Today I read this quote and it made me smile.

No rain
No flowers

It’s funny I have a friend I email sometimes and she is much older than me and lives on a farm.

Whenever the rains come to the farm, they are overwhelmed with gratefulness.

She always talks about the rains in her email.

When the rains come, they know that the crops are okay for another year.

Do you feel grey with the winter rains?

Just like me in these last days of waiting, I feel a little grey and have had enough.

Without the rain

There can be no flowers.

Simple.

Profound.

Speak soon.

Maybe when I’m a mother of two.

Smile

Amanda

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Miracles

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If I could say one word that has obsessed my thoughts over the last week, the word has been miracles.

I can’t explain it.

I’m not a over the top zealot, screaming from the rooftop but if our world needs more of something it is miracles.

I am so over hearing bad news.

I am over hearing about people who have waited year upon year for their dreams to surface.

I am declaring a season of miracles.

Story upon story of wins rather than losses.

Remember the story I wrote about last year, my dearest friend who got the worst news of her life back in November last year?

My dearest friend and her new husband have been through a valley, that no newly wed couple should ever have to go through.

Pregnant, in their first year of marriage, she received news of a brain tumour and a doctors report where they were not sure how the little baby would survive through the struggle of this magnitude.

We were in absolute shock.

We prayed, we gathered, we reflected and I flew to New Zealand in December.

We had the most amazing dinners together, walks along the beach, I went to radiation sessions with my dear friend and we regrouped.

Earlier this year our friends first miracle unfolded, as her little baby girl Abigail Rose Carnegie was born on this earth.

She came super early and fought hard. She was one of the smallest babies born in New Zealand, a tiny 520grams.

This amazing little treasure, fought so hard in the NICU unit of Auckland hospital for over 100 days and she has gone home to be with her Mummy and Daddy in the last few weeks.

What has kept this family stable through this season of intense fire?

Their faith.

My dear friends faith has been so inspiring, the people that have gathered around this family and supported them has been intensely beautiful.

Heaven has been stormed, a new story is being written and the miracle is present.

overcome

This little angel is so purposed, she is a miracle.

She is beyond perfect.

God is so gracious.

My dear friend, continues to wage this war, with courage and strength singing this anthem from Katy Perry with passion.

“I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
‘Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
‘Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar”

The miracle is still unfolding in my friends life and the details have so much colour and life than I can ever give justice too.

As I have prayed and watched my friend walk this journey I have been overwhelmed at her tenacity and her strength.

I ask you to continue with us in prayer, to see the next season unfold with tenacious, bold and courageous miracles.

Another dear friend of mine, spent the afternoon with me yesterday and her courage in the midst of outrageous misfortune has been so inspiring.

My dear friend had an accident with her printing press at her work, what has unfolded is a crazy 3 month ride of trying to save her hand. The initial surgery after her accident went for 13 hours strong and the surgeons lost count of the amount of stitches than went into the intricate rebuilding of her right hand.

As she sat with me yesterday, my heart cried all afternoon, ‘miracle, God, miracle’.

I can’t even explain other stories that are in my world right now, but my heart continues to pour forth.

call to me.

Miracle, Lord, Miracle.

I am sensing a season of change, a season of reaping, a season of miracles.

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you will know that I am deeply contemplative and spiritual, but I am not overtly in your face about such things.

Today, I am stilled by the potential of miracles.

And I am praying for yours and mine, right now.

Miracles.

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Far from perfect

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Our pursuit of perfection completely disables our ability to innovate.

Innovation is not just for the creative professional it is for every one of us.

If we don’t continue to change, to grow, to morph, to mature…

We stay facing the past and stay stuck in a moment that will never be again.

Our world moves so fast now and if you are unable to innovate, you will be unable to keep up with the opportunities availing themselves to us.

But.

Then.

Comes.

Our.

Need.

For.

Perfection.

Are you stuck in a moment because you are expecting perfection?

Are you unable to move past something that keeps you contained because it didn’t end perfectly?

Imperfection makes the world go round.

This is because we are imperfect.

Forgive.

Move on.

Lighten up.

Let go.

Recreate.

Bring your best and let that be enough.

Perfection is overrated.

Speak soon