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A Million Beautiful Pieces May 8, 2018

Doreen’s Door of Hope

When you give, it shall be given to you; a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over

That is what immediately comes to my mind when I think of the founder of Doreen’s Door of Hope. Abigail Runganaikulu and her husband Colin Runganaikulu, are the owners of N&R Fittings http://nandrfittings.co.za/ and stalwarts in our community in Johannesburg South. They have had their share of heartaches and challenges over the years in struggling to conceive another baby after they had their son Ryan. Just as Ryan was ready to begin his married life, Abigail miraculously fell pregnant and in a few short years she had a second son, Caleb and then also became a grandmother when Ryan and his wife had their baby boy. Abigail is our modern day Sarah.

However not too long after Caleb’s birth, Abigail was diagnosed with breast cancer. At the same time both her parents were aging and endured their own traumatic medical challenges. Abigail chronicles her story about this painful time in her insightful book “My Stupid Brain Was Cut Off With My Right Breast”. It is a really great read about one woman’s ups and downs; her love; her heartaches but most importantly her tremendous sense of self and of her God. Abigail’s ability to share her life openly and honestly makes you feel as if you have known her all your life.

Having recovered from Cancer after an intense treatment and raising a new baby; Abigail also faced another challenge: the loss of her mentor and role model, her mother Doreen Challen. As a tribute to her mother’s own powerful story of a young girl born into harsh circumstances and having to deal with trauma and pain from a very young age, Abigail founded Doreen’s Door of Hope Centre in Lenasia. When I read Doreen’s life story on the website https://www.ddh.center/ , I was moved.

I am from the same part of Johannesburg and I could identify with certain aspects of Doreen’s story. I immediately wanted to be involved in some way because Doreen’s story and Abigail’s story resonated so strongly with me.

For that reason I am honored to be attending Doreen’s Door of Hope’s first charity fundraising event; A Masquerade Ball on 18 May 2018, as a Tammy Taylor Mrs South Africa semi-finalist. I feel privileged to be in the company of women like Abigail and the rest of her team, namely Catharina Stoltz, Charmaine Naidoo, Savina Naidoo and Charmaine Berndt.

The Masquerade Ball will take place at 6pm at the beautiful Thaba Eco Hotel.

Please see details on the invite below and contact one of the ladies today to get your tickets or to get involved with Doreen’s Door of Hope.

A Million Beautiful Pieces May 7, 2018

An Unexpected Surprise – When Your Inspiration is Inspired By You

I’ve started jogging twice a week in addition to attending training sessions at a Body20 Studio. To my surprise Savannah asked to join me on my jog.

This is pretty big for us because since Savannah was sick last year, she stopped going out as often. There have been periods of three consecutive weeks where she did not leave our home at all because she felt too ill.

So far this year, she has returned to church with us, is trying to manage her own diet and has even joined me in a photo shoot and on visits to some sponsors for @MRS_SOUTH_AFRICA. And today while I kept my pace in my jog; Michael helped Savannah as she wheeled herself for a few metres.

I would never have guessed that of all the women I would inspire by taking time for myself this year it would be my daughter, Savannah.

How life can come at you in a full circle moment! For so long Savannah was my inspiration and now I can be hers. I’m so grateful.

A Million Beautiful Pieces April 30, 2018

SA Mommy Blogger Awards: Best Foodie Blogger 2017 was Mama Chef Jozi

With much excitement and respect here is the one of the features from @Mamma Chef Jozi that won her the title Best Foodie Blogger. Preparing healthy and tasty meals is every busy mother’s challenge. So Jeanne-Riette aka Mamma Chef Jozi has made it easier for us by sharing her rendezvous in the kitchen as she prepares meals for her beautiful family.

I especially love her concept and the shopping lists and ideas that she shares. As a mum who spent lots of time in therapy sessions and doctors rooms for my daughter with a disability, preparing meals was last on my list. I usually ended up throwing together something that went from a box to an oven. Many of my friends who parent special needs children shared the same struggles and we wished that the thinking aspect of what to cook and what to purchase to cook; could be done for us.

So to Mamma Chef Jozi, I wish I met you years ago but so glad I know you now. To the readers, please be warned of the following: You will read Mamma Chef’s posts at the risk of feeling very hungry afterwards and wishing Mamma Chef was your best friend or close relative so you could drop by for one of her delicious meals.

The blog posts that grabbed the title for her were Festive Freshness – A Holiday Meal Plan

Festive Freshness – A Holiday Meal Plan

and The Easiest, Fluffiest Blueberry Pancakes Ever

The Easiest, Fluffiest Blueberry Pancakes Ever

Please follow her blog for more awesome recipes and advice.

https://mammachefjozi.com

A Million Beautiful Pieces April 25, 2018

PLEASE SHARE And DONATE by 2 May 2018 – Let’s Do This for “Sam The Hedgehog”

Over the years my family and friends who were parents themselves; have at different times said to me that they don’t know how to explain to their children that Savannah is autistic. They did not have the understanding themselves nor the vocabulary to teach their children about Savannah’s unique way of playing and why she seemed so different to them.

So it was a great honour for me to meet someone like Michael Clark at the Jozi4Autism event a few weeks ago. He and his team at MAAN Creative Studio have created a lovely animated short film about a hedgehog who is raised amongst sheep. The movie aims to create acceptance of people who are autistic and it is intended to be available for free.

Please help me to help them meet their crowdfunding goal to get this movie made by following the link. Watch the short clip and then please back them through the crowd funding option. There are only EIGHT days left to raise the funds.

Sam the Hedgehog: Short Film for Autism Acceptance

Promoting understanding of autism, SAM tells the story of a hedgehog raised among sheep.

As many as 1 in 68 children born today are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. As yet, nobody knows the exact cause. What we do know is that this growing community needs to be heard and seen. “Sam the Hedgehog” is a short film about a hedgehog raised among sheep. Told in verse, it shares the message that ASD individuals should be celebrated and accepted as they are. Once the film is made, it will be made viewable and shareable online, free of charge.

Here’s their website:

http://samthehedgehog.com/

Follow them on social media:

Support their campaign:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/sam-the-hedgehog-short-film-for-autism-acceptance-animation#/

A Million Beautiful Pieces April 22, 2018

Throwback to the blog post that won the SA Mommy Bloggers Most Inspirational Blogger Award

When Love is Not Enough

A few people have asked me which blog post won the SA Mommy Blogger Award for me?

It was “When Love is not Enough”, first posted on November 13, 2017. I am reposting it today, and I am also excited to announce that I will feature each of the category winners over the next few weeks. From travel to food to education to comedy to great stories about real people; watch this space for more beautiful people who share their talent through the platform of blogging.

When Love Is Not Enough

Features April 17, 2018

Won the Best Inspirational Blogger Award for 2017

On the 6th April I was announced as SA Mommy Blogger’s Best Inspirational Blogger. It is was reward enough to be recognised and I had no expectation of receiving anything else. But to my delight, goodness keeps coming my way.

Jacqui Bester from the blog One Messy Mama and the organiser of the SA Mommy Blogger Awards, informed me that I have been rewarded a set of wine glass trinkets from Muppie Lounge. Something pretty to dress the wine glasses that will hold the beautiful Deetlefs wine.

I have also been gifted a Make-up Makeover by Ryno Make Up Artistry.

Mercy me…. If this is how 40 begins… Bring it on!

Thank you SA Mommy Blogger Awards, Ryno Make Up Artistry and Muppie Lounge.

#thisisme

The Post Newspaper Feature – Families raising autistic kids, adults need support

While the world dedicates April to Autism Awareness in our house everyday is Autism Awareness and Autism Acceptance.

That is the message we spread.

We are humbled to be featured on The Post newspaper today to share Savannah’s journey as an autistic person. It is with deep respect for the autistic journey that we hope other families will be inspired. Please note as a family our personal preference is not to use the term Autistic Spectrum Disorder but we prefer to say that Savannah is autistic. We only have so much control over what goes into print.

To Savannah. We hope that these strides make your personal journey more tolerable.

I am bruised. I am brave. This is who I’m meant to be. This is ME

I am so excited to try my hand at making a video for you instead of writing a blog post. From the song track This is Me “I am bruised, I am Brave, This is who I’m meant to be, This is ME” was what was playing in my head as I made this video. My team and I are learning about video editing and we aim to improve all the time. For now we hope you enjoy this offering from us.

Thank you in advance for watching:

A Million Beautiful Pieces March 9, 2018

Why am I entering a competition for a title?

Yes, I’ve entered Mrs South Africa. No, I am not having a mid-life crisis or a re-visit to my years when I was a girl that dabbled a little in modelling.

I am in fact having a reawakening; a renewal if you will. I will be forty this year and I have spent all my adult life dedicated to giving my daughter Savannah, who is a person with special needs, a life of dignity and value while building our family.

I have raised my second daughter, Talisa with the understanding that life is not always fair but you still have to be fair.

Over the years Talisa watched me patiently teach her sister a great many lessons. Some of which Savannah grasped and other lessons she may never learn.

Talisa understands the fight of a mother who didn’t quit. She knows STRONG because she is raised by a strong woman and is a sibling to a strong woman.

This year Talisa will also know that strength is also Beautiful not only tired. Strength is not only long suffering but it is also Joyful. Strength is not only the ability to keep going when life doesn’t go your way but it is also the ability to do it with Grace.

Being a mother to a child with special needs already made me a strong and confident woman but the chance to compete in the Tammy Taylor Mrs South Africa Women Empowerment programme makes me a strong and powerful woman with a cause beyond my community.

My community are the mothers who are caring for adult children. Those mothers who quit careers to become carers. Or who are working hard to provide for their families while coping with facing forever with an adult who will never be able to care for themselves. They are the woman who are left behind (posted on, 15 February 2018 http://amillionbeautifulpieces.co.za/2018/02/15/sue-robins-left-behind/).

My community are the mothers who make quiet sacrifices yet continue to uplift their communities. The mothers who continously fight for their child’s right to dignity and quality of life and do it without the need for recognition or being hailed as a hero. The mothers whose lives are bound to their child with special needs in ways no one else will understand, and they accept that no one ever will. Yet everyday they rise to do it all again.

For my community, and proudly as Talisa’s mother, I am excited to join with the 99 other #bonfide women as we jointly pursue the crown in honour of all women. Sounds strange doesn’t it, but it is what only women can do… Work together even though we already know there will be one winner. As women, we understand that often in life it is the journey that is often the prize, not the destination. However, the destination is a lovely reward.

For Talisa, I hope this year you will learn that being a woman is fun and exhilarating. I hope that as I put myself first, you too will learn to do the same.

For Savannah I hope as I pursue a dream, you will find your motivation again. Life is hardest on you but you are by far the strongest woman I know. I promised you “I would not change you for the world, I’d change the world for you” (author unknown), and I will always hold true to that.

For my readers, I hope you stay with me on this journey as I rediscover the joys of being a woman who already has the heart of a warrior.

Why? Because women need women, and for once I need to do something that doesn’t need reason or logic. I still get the opportunity to share myself in the way that is true to who I am, by inspiring and working alongside others for a cause.

I need you to please follow me and interact with me on the following platforms: To vote for me: Annelize I’ll add this later at my laptop.

To vote for me: