You see the girl in the picture in the background? Her name is Jeanette MacIntosh and thanks to her I am a scrapbooker today. So in a sense that's where everything started for me. This March 4 years ago.This picture was also taken at the first South African Scrapbook Convention in September of 2004. The creating keepsakes team was there (Tracy White, Becky Higgins, Rebecca S, Faye M Bell) and at that convention, I was one of 3 winners in the page competition. Louise Eichner is the organizer of this event.
Early in 2005 God spoke to my heart on the 1st of January. Psalm 45 have always been my psalm... even before I met Jaku, it's been a special word to me. That day, I read the last verse and I just knew something's up. It says: "I'll make you famous for generations; you'll be the talk of the town for a long, long time". Later that month I was watching an Oprah show (the premier of the new season) the one where she gave a car to every audience member. Her theme was your wildest dreams. I was in awe (as the rest of the world). While I was watching, God spoke to my heart telling me: I will make your wildest dreams come true better than any man or woman can do it. You must remember one thing now. I did not know at that time we were coming to Canada. It was not my word (Psalm 45), nor my thoughts (about the dream). I have to tell you this. So that you can know without a shadow of a doubt that everything good in my life started (and will end) with God.
In the mean time we moved to Canada and everything came together for me here. Amazingly so. I was just blessed to see and recognized that God is faithful to His word. The the 16th of February I got this email...
From Louise Eichner. Asking me to come to South Africa in September of this year (ALL my expenses paid) for the 4h annual Scrapbook Expo and convention. Here is a clip form the email she send me:
* It is the largest Scrapbooking Event in Africa
* We cater to 1000 delegates
* It is now being housed in Africa's premier Convention Centre (Sandton Convention Centre ) in the heart of Sandton, Johannesburg
* We attract store owners, distributors and suppliers from Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, Zimbabwe as well as Durban, Cape Town and other South African cities
* We have been humbled by the reputation that the SA International Scrapbook Convention has earned by our celebrity guests from the USA - as one of the premier events in the world!
Celebrities that they have hosted are Rebecca Sower, Becky Higgins, Tracy White and Faye Morrow Bell in 2004 - with Heidi Swapp, Anita Oldham, Karen Foster, Donna Downey, and Stacy Julian in 2005....and Becky Higgins, Annette Hardy, Making Memories, All My Memories, Chatterbox, Heidi Grace, Renee Pearson in 2006.
And this year I am teaching along side… get this… Ali Edwards, Donna Downey, Jodi Holbrook - the marketing director of making memories, Denny Ruffner from that amazing flower company - www.primamarketinginc.com, still awaiting confirmation from Stacy Julian, simple scrapbooks magazine, as well as Melissa Jeffers from Daisy d's as well as Cynthea Sandoval from doodlebug designs...
The trip includes an all expenses paid visit to Cape Town for a weekend and also an African Safari.
Now, only one question remains... wanna come too?
Love and a kiss
Wilna
x
Jacqui... you hit the nail right on the head!! Please email me your address!
And thanks that all of you thinks so highly of me!!
32 comments :
Wow!!! I'm jealous! I would love to visit South Africa...and a scrapbooking convention would be fabulous! Have a great time teaching...you're of the "greats"!
God is faithful! What an amazing and inspiring peek into your dream from the start! This is still the begining for you - enjoy every moment! What a wonderful secret!
Wahoo that is great!!! I "knew" it would be scrapbook related, but being me I HAD to bug you about being preggers haha! That sounds like so much fun! Congrats!!! And I bet you'll have a BLAST!
Wow Wilna! What an amazing answer to a dream...I am so happy for you. I hope that you have lots of fun!
wooooooooooohoooooooooooooo we get to enjoy YOU! I am phoning now to book my space! It is going to be LOVELY to have you HOME! Claire
WOW! That is amazing. Awesome. I love how you give God all the glory for it too. I pray to follow in your footsteps someday - maybe not about going to Africa - but in God fulfilling my dreams - and more than I dare to dream. I think His plans for me are definetely more than I could think to ask. Congratulations to you!!!!
How amazing...what a faithful God we serve!!!! That is awesome news...congratulations :)
How wonderful for you Wilna! So proud you should be! And what an awesome God indeed! :) Way to go!
That is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations Wilna!!
OH my Wilna.....this is FABULOUS!!!
And, you so deserve to be alongside all those!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! WAHOOO!!!!
I'd LOVe to go with you....but that would only come with a lottery win or robbing a bank (which I wouldn't do!!)
{{{{{HUGS}}}}}
Congratulations. I am sure your class is going to be amazing. Unfortunately I will not be going this year, but I do wish you all the best for your trip.
Love
Ana
That's awesome! I just shows what God can do when we trust Him and we are still and not try yo make our own plans, but follow his. He knows exactly what we need and desire before we even know. You've just inspired me to stay the course, always putting God first and he will bless.
Thank you again just for the blessing your life has been to so many,
Sue
Woo-Hoo Wilna!
That's fabulous news! Wish I could come with you...have a beer at the braai for me okay? ;)
yea Wilna! you must be soooo excited! good for you! :-)
Hooray for you Wilna! Hooray for you! :D Your talent is amazing, you are so deserving and your heart for God is inspiring! Way to claim His promises for your life :) I always love to read your thoughts and hear your good news :)
-laura
Congratulations Wilna! What an honor and a blessing!
WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!! Oh Wilna this is fabulous news!! What a huge blessing for you (and for all who will learn from you and for those who haven't seen you since your move to Canada.) Great News. Cheers!
congratulations Wilna!!!!!! I am so, so happy for you.
If I win the lottery between now and then, I am SO there!!!
-andrea g.
Yippeee!!!!! Cartwheels!!!! Summersaults!!!!! Thumbs Up!!!! Pump the Arm!!! That is so exciting! I am thrilled for you! Being famous in your own country!!!!!! Wow!!!!
ODE TO WILNA
You are an amazing scrapbooker. You are creative, original and inspiring. You have the talent and skill of making others feel the same way without being a "scrapbooking snob". My friend from Just Scrap It says you make her feel like a million dollars everytime you are in the store. You always find something honest and praiseworthy in her work. She sings your praises often. She has said for a long time that you will be the next Ali Edwards. What shines through your blog is not the pride in your work although there is some, naturally, but the pure joy of creating and sharing what you have created with others. You are generous with your time and energy. With your words and thoughtfulness. You are liberal in your thanks and praise of God and how He works in your life. Don't let these things change as you move to greater greatness. I appreciate your blog, your work and your inspiration.
Yippee! So excited for you Wilna! Look what God can do! Kim
God is always faithful to His word, Amen!!! Don't we just have such an awesome God that loves us so :)
I want to come to South Africa with you. You know how much I have been wanting to go there and how wonderful would it be to be there with you :)
Your faith and your ability to "see" God's fingerprints on your life amazes me! I would go to Africa with y ou any day!
How FABULOUS is that!!! Congrat's...take me, take me!!!
AWESOME news! Congratulations Wilna, you're going to do so well and have so much fun! Just wish I was going, too -- I'd love to take your class! Best wishes and safe journey!
Hi Wilna
Congratulations! I am so happy for you, hope you learn that you are so deserving to be up there with the best! Now we have to stop eating so we can save up to go to the convention in September. I wasn't planning to go but now I will have to reconsider.
Regards
Natasha
How awesome for you Wilna...and so deserving. I may see you there too, hold thumbs.
Well Done...
Yay!!! I'm there. I knew there was a reason I booked at last year's convention!!!! Looking forward to seeing you.
Congratulations, Wilna! This is only a drop in the bucket compared to what God can do when we are obedient to His will for our lives.
Blessing on you...
Hello sweet, Wow! That is HUGE! I can see God working in this area of my life too. All good things come from HIM. He gives us the desires of our hearts. He is definitely using you through this art for His ministry. Congratulations! Oh yes, I wanna come too. My passport is all set!
I'll gladly come with you Wilna. Wilna & Ralna, no one will be able to keep it straight or say it with out being toungue tied.
What fabulous, fabulous news Wilna! Congratulations!!!
You are our own home-grown scrap celebrity, we are all so proud of you & I'm thrilled you are getting the recognition you deserve :o)
I will not be at the convention but I am so hoping that we will be able to catch up for an hour or two when you come down to Cape Town!
Keep me posted on your plans - would love, love, LOVE to see you again!
Love
C
xxx
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