It's...

It's the valleys that make the mountains so immense.
It's the rain that helps us appreciate the sun.
It's the frosty mornings which hastens us to warm homes.
It's trampling through mud that makes gumboots so attractive.
It's going without that reminds us of so much we really have.
It's the tears that burn which help to purge hurt.
It's holding on so tightly that makes us eventually let go.
It's doing what's right instead of justifying who's right.
It's losing our way sometimes, that makes us realise how far gone we are.
It's turning back round, to find our way home again.
It's making each step count, to map out a life journey.
It's walking humbly with our Almighy God, that is required of us.

There is always a 'silver lining' even in the darkest of clouds. With our God there is always hope.


RUGBY FACTS:
because there's always hope New Zealand will win the World Cup this year :)


* During a soccer game in 1823 a young man by the name of William Webb Ellis picked up a soccer ball and ran with it through the opposition defence to score the first try in history. And whilst it was not an overnight sensation, by about 1830 it had become an accepted part of the new game and Rugby Football was born.

* The rugby ball was initially made by a shoemaker and consisted of handstitched leather casing and inside was an inflated pigs bladder.

* The first Rugby World Cup was contested in 1987 between 16 invited nations. The complete finalists of the tournaments is as follows:

1987 - New Zealand (29) v France (9)
1991 - Australia (12) v England (6)
1995 - South Africa (15) v New Zealand (12)
1999 - Australia (35) v France (12)
2003 - England (20) v Australia (17

* Famous rugby players (just to name a few): Pope John Paul II, Sean Connery, John F. Kennedy, J.R.R. Tolkien, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Russell Crowe, Chris Farley, Meat Loaf...