Day 34 (3rd June)

I thank you Lord for a glorious and cold morning. The girls have no exams today and are able to stay at home to study. For once, I get to sleep a bit later, wonderful.

I have some paperwork to get done this morning, including finalizing my UK tax return for 2009-10 which is way overdue. Even 2010-11 would be due on a couple of months. I have procrastinated on doing my returns and it has cost me some penalty (Eish!). Let me just make myself a bit happier by defending and justifying myself. Every year, I have to do two tax returns, one in South Africa and one for the UK. The UK one is more complicated and I always have to adjust my submission for one reason or the other including the fact that I should not be taxed in the UK since I’m taxed in SA. So, it’s not a task I enjoy doing at all and I delay doing it till the last minute. Well I over delayed this time and it cost me. Anyway, got it out of the way (at least 2009-10), though I still need to call the tax office to explain some things so that I’m not asked to pay the GBP10k I’ve already been assessed on.

I spent part of the morning assisting a brother on some financial analysis for training he is doing with DTI. I haven’t done pure accounting work for some time now and it was like a refresher. I hope something good would come out of the work for him as well as for me.

Apart from articulating my experiences, insights and reflection, it struck me that there are other learning from this my journey which is more to do with how I am during this time. I already reflected that this period in my life requires focus, structure, diligence or one would get to the end of the six months and have not achieved what was planned and then it would a waste of time and resources. Really this period is an investment for me. I am not earning income but using my savings to achieve outcomes that would not only give me some financial returns, but develop me to a higher lever that would enrich my life spiritually, mentally, emotionally and financially. Other learning is that it is a period of both uncertainty and excitement. I don’t know where God would have taken me to at the end but I know with God, it can only be a better level, hence am so excited to live this next few months. Having the time to ready is fabulous. I’m learning from the knowledge and inspiration of men and women of God. Actually, I think I read men’s book more that women. I love Karen Kingsbury’s books. I shed tears every time I read any of her books. Her stories are so real and moving. She is so gifted and God is using her to minister to people through her writing. It would be awesome to get her as a guest speaker for one of We CAN’s women leadership event. You won’t receive if you don’t ask. This goes on my ‘to do’ list for We CAN right now. Hold on, I need to ask God first. Maybe I will hold on from adding this to my list till I hear from God. One of her books is now a movie titled ‘Like Dandelion Dust’. I’m planning to go and see it for sure, on Wednesday when it’s half price.

It’s so cold today. We have the monthly Divine Encounter service in Johannesburg this evening. I will be padded very well. The Service was great. It’s always awesome being in the presence of God.

We continued to plan for the Women leadership breakfast event today. I spoke with the special guest yesterday and was so happy to learn that she lives in Pretoria. I had been wondering how we would get her to Jo’burg if she lives outside Gauteng. But God is so good how things are working. I’m looking forward to having a cup of coffee with her next week.  She is the owner of Tehillah art. Tehillah means ‘High praises to God’ in Hebrew. What a fabulous name for a business. I’m positively all our women would be so blessed by her experience.

Another day in your glorious presence oh Lord, I thank You.