Out and About: International Kite Festival

We spent weeks planning our visit to the International  Kite Festival.  With boys in the family that love anything that flies, this was the event of the season.  As we came over Boyes drive from Kalk Bay this is what we saw, you can imagine how excited the boys were to get out the car at this point. 

It took us a good 20 minutes to find parking and after a rather inebriated car guard welcomed us to the festival we headed off to see the kites up close.

 This scuba diver was frighteningly real.  His legs and arms were moving as though he were swimming towards us and I kept imagining someone looking at me through his goggles.

These dragons were definitely one of my favourites, though something about the pink one just jarred at my colour senses but they reminded me so much of the little dragon in Mulan.  They were so big you felt like they
might swoop down at you and have you for lunch.

 This reminded me so much of Empangeni. This is about the only place you see gecko's in theWestern Cape.  Definitely not something I miss - though they are so good with getting rid of pesky mosquito's they really are not the greatest when it comes to finding a toilet.

We all spent loads of time staring up at the sky, our necks were all a little tender the next day:)

 Of course there's always some time for a quick cuddle too.  There's always time for that.

Out and About: Kalky's in Kalk Bay

After a slow start this morning with Declan being in bed not feeling well, I ran around the house cleaning all in preparation for my folks coming for a visit with some family friends from Jeffrey's bay.  After lots of hugs and kisses, gifts of oranges and grapefruit all the way from The Bay, we headed down to our favourite fish and chip shop.

Kalky's is such a worthwhile excursion on weekends, live local band playing and loads of visitors coming for a taste of the sea.  The cue is always long but after you order 5 minutes later there's a waitress shouting your number through the restaurant (maybe I should mention that this is not the type of place you want to go to for a quiet romantic dinner - its loud, its local and its busy).  Well with our motley crew, the food was down the hatch within minutes and then we were off to cast a line, watch the seals and watch the fishermen offloading their catch.

Of course once the folks headed off home, we headed off for a nap- with the youngest sleeping, the 3 boys watching some Odyssey dvd's that a friend lent us, we were able to make the most of it.  As the Afrikaans saying goes - "magie vol, ogies toe" (when your tummy is full, your eyes close).

With so many special moments, thought I would just post a few of the photos which made today so special.

Out and About: Cape Town Airport

Our Grant hero returned today after being away for a week.  We arrived at the airport a little early and the children quickly found something to keep themselves entertained...

And he didn't arrive empty handed either, smarties for the kids and the most beautiful flowers for me

With Sean being back we had a day of fun and sun.  We spent the day at the beach, though the wind was blustering some, we were not deterred and each of the kids found something to do!  

Ruthie made some friends, ate some sand, blew a vuvuzela and collected lots of shells with her dad.

The boys got busy with their own activities - Chad started digging a hole to China, Declan joined a group of university students with a game of soccer, and Ethan went fishing off the rocks.

Of course while the boys were busy, I spent some time finding my own treasure:)

After the boys spent the rest of their afternoon swimming in the icy water, we headed off home for an evening of dessert in a cup, cup of coffee and a movie.  Such a good family day!

Reflections:The Blessing of Thorns

Yesterday my little girl Savannah was born and 9 months later, we released her into the arms of our Father in Heaven. Yesterday a friend sent me this note and I don't even know if she knew why she sent it but it reminded me again to remember to be thankful.

THE BLESSING OF THORNS
Sandra felt as low as the heels of her shoes as she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop door.

Her life had been easy, like a spring breeze. Then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor automobile accident stole that from her.

During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. As if that weren't enough, her husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come for the holiday.

Then Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer.

She has no idea what I'm feeling, thought Sandra with a shudder.

Thanksgiving? Thankful for what? She wondered. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but took that of her child?

"Good afternoon, can I help you?" The shop clerk's approach startled her.

I....I need an arrangement," stammered Sandra.

"For Thanksgiving? Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the Thanksgiving "Special?" asked the shop clerk. "I'm convinced that flowers tell stories," she continued. "Are you looking for something that conveys 'gratitude' this thanksgiving?"

"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted out. "In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong."

Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised when the shop clerk said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you."

Just then the shop door's small bell rang, and the shop clerk said, "Hi, Barbara...let me get your order." She politely excused herself and walked toward a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an arrangement of greenery, bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses. Except the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped: there were no flowers.

"Want this in a box?" asked the clerk.

Sandra watched for the customer's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers! She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed.

"Yes, please," Barbara, replied with an appreciative smile. "You'd think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again," she said as she gently tapped her chest. And she left with her order.

"Uh," stammered Sandra, "that lady just left with, uh....she just left with no flowers!

"Right, said the clerk, "I cut off the flowers. That's the Special. I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet."

"Oh, come on, you can't tell me someone is willing to pay for that!" exclaimed Sandra.

"Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling much like you feel today," explained the clerk. "She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she was facing major surgery."

"That same year I had lost my husband," continued the clerk, "and for the first time in my life, had just spent the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel."

"So what did you do?" asked Sandra.

"I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly. "I've always thanked God for the good things in my life and never questioned the good things that happened to me, but when bad stuff hit, did I ever ask questions! It took time for me to learn that dark times are important. I have always enjoyed the 'flowers' of life, but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others."

Sandra sucked in her breath as she thought about the very thing her friend had tried to tell her. "I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God."

Just then someone else walked in the shop. "Hey, Phil!" shouted the clerk to the balding, rotund man.

"My wife sent me in to get our usual Thanksgiving Special....12 thorny, long-stemmed stems!" laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue-wrapped arrangement from the refrigerator.

"Those are for your wife?" asked Sandra incredulously. "Do you mind me asking why she wants something that looks like that?"

"No...I'm glad you asked," Phil replied. "Four years ago my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's grace and guidance, we slogged through problem after problem. He rescued our marriage. Jenny here (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of what she learned from "thorny" times, and that was good enough for me. I took home some of those stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific "problem" and give thanks for what that problem taught us."

As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!"

"I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life." Sandra said.
"It's all too...fresh."

"Well," the clerk replied carefully, "my experience has shown me that thorns make roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember, it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love. Don't resent the thorns."

Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on resentment. "I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out.

"I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a minute."

"Thank you. What do I owe you?"

"Nothing. Nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me." The clerk smiled and handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you would like to read it first."

It read: "My God, I have never thanked You for my thorns. I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear; teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed closer to You along the path of pain. Show me that, through my tears, the colors of Your rainbow look much more brilliant."

Praise Him for your roses; thank him for your thorns!

Reflections: Letting Go

Tonight I am down 2 children out of 4. Declan and Ethan are sleeping out tonight at two different venues. Though 8 and 7 respectively and very independant, confident boys - its hard to let go. Its hard because I know that no two sets of parents have the same set of values. There is always the fear of what they might be exposed to. None of us are truly who we present to the world and each person hides who they are to some degree. As a mother your hope is always that the things you don't know about a person are things like that they don't like noise, or that they wear funny PJ's. You hope they value age restrictions on movies and games, routine, that their language is appropriate and all rest of the values that we hold dear to our heart.

But again we have to lay our children before God - and trust Him to lead us. This small event made me wonder how I would cope when my children are teenagers one day, never mind adults. As they get older we have to let go little by little, otherwise we could smother them. Especially with boys, they need to learn about independance and strength.

Ode to a Teen

Their collective name can incite terror in many, stirring up memories of their own experience, rapidly bringing to the surface repressed feelings, frustrations and uncontrollable hormones: Teenagers!

This week's column however is not a moan and groan session about what they do (or in most cases – don't do) but rather an appreciation of one specific teen who opened up my eyes to the possibilities within these unique and interesting tribe of human beings and will hopefully do the same for you.

iKhaya LikaBaba (a transition home for orphaned and abandoned babies) recently had the privilege of getting to know a grade 11 high school student from Empangeni High (and the cheerleaders in the background chorus 'Go Empangeni High!') as she arrived at 7.30am and left at 4pm every day to volunteer at our organisation. Her input included looking after babies, stock taking, phoning, filing and general administration. She gave of her time and made a significant impact by lifting some of the workload off our already tired and weary shoulders. What was especially noteworthy was that every day during the holidays, as I drove around doing errands, I saw teenagers hanging around seemingly doing very little.

Here is the moment of truth: not only did she impact our organisation but she now has a unique work experience to add to her CV. Her actions indicate that she cares about others and that she is prepared to go the extra mile, sometimes at personal cost. If I were considering candidates for employment, she would definitely pique my interest and raise her profile above the rest of the crowd.

The many non profit organisations in this area make for wonderful opportunities for teens to get involved, meet new people, broaden their horizon, make a difference in the lives of others and at the same time building a little bit of history and credibility (of course, a nicely written reference always goes down well). We may not have all the facilities available to entertain our teenagers that they would like, but maybe if we could help them look beyond their own needs and see the needs of others, we could raise a generation that grow up to be truly remarkable individuals.

The Power and Privilege of a Nation

I was driving around taking and fetching children to a Holiday Club held by the Calvary Baptist Church in Richards Bay, when I had one of those moments. You know what type of moment I mean? The kind that draws you away from reality and allows your mind to wander, consider and reflect - where not even a car full of rowdy boys can intrude.

I have seen how as moms, we are constantly challenged with aspects of life that causes us - though surrounded by mankind (or in my case Empangenites) - to live as an island. It's not necessarily that we are alone but we are so busy with school, aftercare, daycare, after school activities, homework and all the other activities we are busy with; that we forget to connect with other moms. Often the only way we connect is by having turns to host each other's kids, or maybe while shouting along the side of a school field as our children play in a school match. (Now please don't get me wrong if you aren't like me, I know there are a rare breed of very together moms and you are truly an icon to many. But as for me, I am anything but heavenly , in fact some days I can't find my halo but sense that I am dragging a rather dubious red tail behind me instead! )

But back to the point: Alone we are weak, but together we have power. Now I am not suggesting we grab our proverbial picket boards and stand outside the uMhlatuze Municipality chanting for the rights of women. But we should stand together, help each other, be generous in our time and insights.

Just this week, my children have had a fantastic time at the holiday club. They have loved the puppet shows, songs, activities and of course food. I happened to bump into an acquaintance today and she didn't even know there was something happening in Richards Bay for the children. She was devastated as her son, who has been on holiday the whole week was obviously at home every day with their nanny. What a pity, for her to be left out of the loop. And who is the guilty party? Can I point a finger? Of course not. I am the one. I should have looked around me and said 'Who else would be interested in something like this?' - but my life "is too busy", "don't have time" , "other things on my mind" and the likes. The irony is that in the future I may have grown a friendship through that small act, and she will most likely have kept me up to date of other things she had heard of.

When we stop with our island mentality, we have the ability to have the strength of a nation. We can become better at what we do, have the support we need to cope with day to day struggles and just have fun! But its hard. We don't know who to trust or who to open up to. I hope this column, though often will be about my own personal struggles will be an opportunity for others to do the same and let others in, share of who you are and to enjoy this role that was given to us - that of motherhood. Truly it is a privilege to know that we are those chosen to prepare the next generation to do wonderful things, things that can change the world as we know it.

No painter's brush, nor poet's pen
In justice to her fame
Has ever reached half high enough
To write a mother's name.
~Author Unknown