Just over one year ago, I had a crazy idea to begin a blog and chronicled the journey’s that makes up the life of Lara, while at the same time raising awareness for Cystic Fibrosis and money ~ mission to find a cure. This blog is dedicated to Emma, my best friend, who showed me how to live life to the fullest.
It all started one year ago today, with a journey that took me to the top of Kilimanjaro and now one year later, just over 24 hours ago, I jumped out of a tiny little plane at 11,000 feet.
There is no end to the adventures I am willing to try.
I am living my best life.
And I love that you are all along for the ride!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY my BLOG baby!!!
~ Stay tuned for my full skydiving story, pictures and a free-falling video full of pure insane adrenaline rushing awesomeness! ~
It is never easy losing someone who means the world to you. Today, as I do every day, I remember my best friend Emma and I celebrate her life. Emma, as you know, is the inspiration behind this blog and my journey to summit Kilimanjaro. I miss her as much as I did on the day I found out she had passed on but her memory dances alive in every breath that I breathe. I know that her spirit flies free and in the end, in the quiet depths of my heart, I can see her still in the rhythm of the waves upon the shore, in the sun setting over the horizon, in the crisp fall air that fills my chest, in the shimmering gleam of each butterfly, skimming the surface between heaven and earth.
“Perhaps they are not stars in the sky…
but openings for our loved ones to shine through to let us know they are at peace.”
~ Author: unknown
“Heaven got another angel the day you left this world behind Heaven got a little better the day it took you away from me I’m missing you today I’ll see you again sometime For now I’ll close my eyes And dream of heaven tonight
The beaches aren’t as lovely The sky isn’t quite as blue Still they’re sweetened by the memory of you The rain is a little bit colder The fire is never quite as warm Still it seems that heaven isn’t all that far
I’m spending a little more time now With the things that mean a little bit more I’m noticing the wonders of this world I love with a little more hope now I live with a little more peace Cause I understand how precious life can be.”
I have so many wonderful memories of Emma, weekends away, a few days spent together at Sun City with her parents, a week spent in Joburg with Emma while she visited her parents, shopping, boys, bus rides, corny jokes, buses blowing over, writing letters in class when we should have been paying attention, playing games, singing, dancing, we did it all ~ our time shared together was filled to the brim and never dull! Emma, you are such a part of who I have become and I’ve always got the memories as I continue in finding out who I’m gonna be. We might be apart but I hope you always know, you will be with me wherever I go. You are my inspiration. You will always be my hero. You will always be my best friend, my guardian angel.
What I love about photographs is that they capture moments that are gone forever, impossible to reproduce, yet a memory saved forever to be looked at always ~ a treasure chest of gifts ~ captured in time.
We shared the best times ~ we laughed so much.
A soulmate in friends ~ I will never forget.
I love you and I will miss you everyday until we meet again.
Heaven was needing a HERO like you.
But thank God for you, for you will always be the wind beneath my wings.
To all those who have already made a donation to The South AFrican Cystic Fibrosis Trust ~ THANK YOU! Thank you for helping someone out there breathe a little easier. If you are new to my blog and you would like to find out what this is all about please read my tab Method Behind My Madness and if you would like to make a donation please Click Here to go through to my BackABuddy fundraising page – All funds go to the SA Cystic Fibrosis Trust and each and every single donation is greatly appreciated.
To all my latest donors, I wish I could thank you all personally for your donations but may my prayers of thanks and gratitude to each and every one of you find its way to you and may you be richly blessed ten-fold.
A Huge Big Thank you to:
The Cottams
Mike Mossop
Benita Olivier
Anonymous
Lyn
The Pepler’s
Lucille (Benjamin) Solomon
For all those brave warriors out there who bravely live with CF and for all those who have passed before us.
Living out the story that is still being written ~ this is my epic journey of living my dreams and climbing the world to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis.
My Seven Summits Journey
2 of the 7 summits climbed!
#1 Kilimanjaro, Tanzania - July 2012
#2 Aconcagua, Argentina - January 2014
Bucket List #7 ~ Standing on the summit of Kilimanjaro
Bucket List #46 ~ Skydiving
Bucket List #64 ~ White Water Rafting
Bucket List #107 ~ Sandboarding
Living My Bucket List
To name but a few of the amazing adventures I've got to experience... The full list can be found on the menu bar at the top of the page.
# 7 on my Bucket List ~ On Friday, 13th July 2012 at 08h45 I successfully reached Uhuru Peak, 5895m, the summit of Kilimanjaro!!!
# 46 on my Bucket List ~ On Sunday, 10th March 2013 I jumped out a tiny little plane at 11,000 feet. What a crazy, insane adrenaline rush!
# 56 on my Bucket List ~ In August 2010 I got to sleep outside watching the stars in the magnificent Fish River Canyon in Namibia ~ Aug 2010)
# 64 on my Bucket List ~ In September 2009 I got to spend a crazy, adrenaline rushing weekend white water rafting.
# 107 on my Bucket List ~ As I do every year I go on an adventure for my birthday to celebrate my life and in 2010 I went sand boarding ~ insanely wild!