A note from my dad...

Tonight I was quickly putting away another certificate of attendance (for my CPD activity record) in a file I used when I applied at different Universities in my Matric year (2003). This file also contains my registration documents for the University of Witwatersrand in 2004 as a BSc OT 1st year student.

I found the following poem, quoted by my dad (Gideon Kahl Sr.) to me and written on the inside cover of a ring-file on 26 January 2004 in the Residence Life Office at WITS University, which is the day he had to drop me off at the University... his last-born and only girl in a very big city:

LET GO AND LET GOD
by Ben Hildner

As children bring their broken toys
with tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God
because He was my friend.
But then, instead of leaving Him
in peace, to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
with ways that were my own.

At last, I snatched them back and cried
"How can You be so slow?"

"My child," He said,
"what could I do?
You never did let go."

Just thought it would be nice to share with the world... It's good to find these treasures every once in a while. Makes me realise how much my parents love me and care for me. I don't always show my appreciation, but I hope that reflects some appreciation on my part. Thank you God for such awesome, loving, caring, always-helping parents. They truly did pray me into the person I am today!

Baie liefiPappa!!!!

Ina Kahl's life & passing...

Auntie Trudi, Ronél & Auntie Ina (wearing blue-purple blouse)
16 January 2010

Tonight (Sunday, 31 January 2010), at approximately 22H00, my Aunt Ina passed away after a long time of physical suffering and emotional heartache.

It's been 8 1/2 years since her husband passed away, and her life basically came to a standstill. For without her husband, she had very little reason to live... the only reason for her life on earth, as she had often said, was that God was not yet done with her on earth. He still had plans for her...

But tonight God finally allowed her to go Home to Him, where she will no longer endure suffering of any kind, nor rejection. She's made free, and will spend eternity with her loving Heavenly Father.

We're going to miss her sorely, but we know that this is for the best. May God's love and peace always envelope her. And may her sons come to know what a wonderful, albeit sometimes difficult, woman she truly was. May everyone remember her for her good.

Thank you to everyone who helped to look after her. Those who accepted her unconditionally and took care of her needs. Thank you Mom and Dad for giving her a place to live and giving her a second family. You guys are all amazing...

I love you auntie Ina, and I'm so happy that you can now be in Heaven with your husband and with our Lord Jesus Christ. You deserve nothing less!

Exciting times!

I said I would blog more often this year, and now it's not even happening! So tonight, after reading some of my friends' blog posts, I got into the "blogging-mood" again.

School started with a BANG, although I'm STILL trying to touch ground! We've got quite a few new entries, and that meant a lot of assessments had to get done. Now I still have to write all of those reports, since I'm flying to Cape Town on Wednesday afternoon. I'm starting with my International Interdisciplinary Wound Care Course at the University of Stellenbosch on Thursday, 4 Feb at 07h30 already! (or something along those lines...) It's a rather exciting time in my life, and I'm so happy, because my husband went to the Cape this past weekend and will be joining me (not to study, but to support me) throughout this new venture of mine!

Last year I told myself I won't go back to varsity / studies again quickly... and then on the last day of my exams, as I drove back to Johannesburg from Pretoria, having just completed my Hand Therapy Diploma's last exam, I thought... WHAT am I going to do with myself if I cannot study?

... And then came the answer in the form of my father - he informed me about the IIWC-Course that was being presented at Stellenbosch University's Tygerberg Medical Campus, and I could not resist saying "yes" to the idea of studying something I've been passionate about since I've been 5 years old. You've guessed it right (or maybe not) - WOUND CARE!

My mother is a wound care consultant, and we actually have conversations about various wound care cases during supper (I know, it sounds gross, but I must say I've learned SO much over the years!). This course is also great with regards to OT, as I will be able to choose electives that fall within my scope of practice - especially post-surgical wound care. This is an important aspect of Hand Therapy, and also links closely to other aspects of OT, such as Amputations and reconstructive surgery (e.g. of nerves or muscles). I'm STOKED, to say the least, about the opportunity to study again / some more!

So even though studying this course is an advancement for my career with regards to the attaining of knowledge and honing of skill, this is also the fulfillment of a life-long dream. I'm excited about what I will learn and how I can apply my knowledge later-on in life. I'm glad that I will be able to share more with my mother, and I know she's also excited about the prospect of having her daughter maybe someday following in her footsteps. She just LOVES teaching others about wound care - truly one of her greatest passions (although being faithful to GOD and following His will for her life is the most important!).

Another happy turn of events is that one of my best friends from high school, and close spiritual-friend, has ALSO moved during the December holidays and is now staying a cool 12.5km from our house! We've already seen each other twice within one week, and our planning for a very sociable February is well on it's way! Movies, dinner and lots of late-night coffees is in the pipe-line!

We're very blessed to have Vici and Wayne living so close to us, and God has truly worked in all of our lives. It's like everything just suddenly fell into place for all of us - everything was actually SO sudden that we could not overlook the fact that God had intervened in miraculous ways! He knows our hearts MUCH better than we do ourselves, and I realise now that He is allowing us more time to grow as friends and spiritual-friends /-partners. Together we can pray for each other, carry each others' burdens and bless each other and those surrounding us. Thinus and Wayne have found true friends in each other, and Vici and I could not have asked for more amazing husbands! It's wonderful that we all get along SO well! God is GREAT!

And then, finally, my (and Vici's) other best from from high school got engaged last night! The poor guy could not even go down on his knee since he underwent knee surgery on Thursday (29 Jan). I thought he would ask her on her birthday over a week ago (22 Jan), but the ring was not ready by then, she told me this morning. She's still recovering from the (very nice & positive) shock, but sounds VERY pleased. They're getting married on 31 July 2010, so in exactly 6 months' from now. We are praying blessings over them and their relationship, and hope to spend many more days / months / years with them. God is faithful!

So, with this, I leave you. I have to go and unpack some more stuff (yes - I'm STILL not done with all my moving and unpacking!)... and then precious sleep is around the corner!

Hope your week is a blessed one! And remember to live by the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22&23).

BLESSED NEW YEAR!!!!

It's 2010, and I'm truly excited for what this year beholds!

Yesterday my husband and I moved our last belongings to our new flat at the school where I work. We're very excited (and at the same time somewhat scared) for what this year holds, but we trust that this was God's will and that we are doing what pleases Him.

2009 was a VERY LONG YEAR, but at the same time it flew by so quickly! I'm grateful for all that happened in this eventful year:
- We started attending the most amazing church with amazing fellowship!
- I started working at a special-needs school (which was daunting at times, but mostly great fun
and a humbling experience all-together)
- I started and completed my Diploma in Hand Therapy at the University of Pretoria (PRAISE
GOD - I've passed my diploma with good grades and will be receiving my diploma at the
graduation ceremony on 20 April 2010!!!)
- Thinus and I became uncle & auntie again for the 10th and 11th time! (a girl and a boy)
- My baby-brother got engaged, and is to be married to the most wonderful woman in May
2010.
- THREE of my best friends became engaged - to be married in 2o10!

These are but some of the major things that happened in our lives.

With all of this I just want to thank God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ for standing central to everything that happened in our lives. Through Him we are capable!

May 2010 be an amazing year. May God bless you, keep you and make His countenance shine upon you and give you peace!

Shalom!

Such a long road to go...not really!

My husband has been on my case for the past few weeks now as to why I haven't recently blogged. I must say, life just kinda SWALLOWED me!

Shortly after my last blog, I had to get 4 assignments done for my Hand Therapy Diploma, and then fortunately, it was SCHOOL HOLIDAYS! For 10 glorious days I was allowed to just rest, do some serious sewing, go and watch an international cricket game with Thinus (he's NEVER been to a stadium to watch even a local cricket game - it ws the ICC Champions Trophy, New-Zea land VS South Africa ), and spending time with the nephews and nieces. What a stunning time.

Then it was back to school on Monday, 5 October, with my birthday following on Tuesday, 6 October. It was a very quiet birthday spent with family, baking cake and cupcakes. My mother and Thinus spoiled me so much, both buying me new sterling silver rings - I just love it! I also got money to spend, and bought a few picture frames, TEVO Vacbags (to vacuum pack-store clothing, toys and linen in) and CD's! Truly nice! Not to mention, I got to see my friends on Saturday, 10 October for a small get together with lots of cake and cooldrink - and Guitar Hero on XBox (Thinus bought 2 Gibson Les Paul Guitars for the price of 1, and then a week later got one of the Guitar Hero Games 2nd hand). My friends all loved Guitar Hero, but I truly suck at it! It was so encouraging though to see all my beloved friends, so sad for those who could not make it...

The past 2 weeks at school was spent in discussions and assessing children - it's really been hectic! We also had our annual prize giving ceremony, but in our school's case it's actually FOUR prize givings, since we have children aged 3 - 18 (preschool to final year high school). Truly hectic, but very awesome! And this coming week we're starting with the Gr.12 final exams - CRAZY!!!!

I also am studying since my final exams for my diploma is in 2 weeks time, which is just TOTALLY hectic, but I will survive :-) Especially since I was the one who paid for this diploma - it really motivates me to not fail anything. Just read the cartoon below to understand how I feel about studying right now - even though I'm paying for my diploma.

Then it's back to school for about 2 weeks, and then Summer Holidays!!!!! Can you gather that I'm excited? I can't WAIT for more holidays, even though I recently returned from school holidays.

So, that's me, and with photo's that will hopefully follow soon!

God Bless!!!!