the big and the small

One of my favorite days in a long time.

We are so keenly aware that the world is not the same for everyone. That life is filled with challenge, struggle, hardship, and suffering. We live in a place where this is vividly clear and cannot be avoided. This is actually a gift to our family because it has changed us and made us more thankful. And the times we can enjoy and breath deep and take in and catch glimpses of His beauty should be savoured, druken in, and dripping in gratitude. This time here in South Africa has been that for us.
Having to struggle a bit (so small in comparison to many but for us still rough at times) in our daily lives island side makes this time as a family even more special, even more of a gift. Struggle makes joy sweeter. I have a new sense of gratitude for all things big and small ....like fabulously gooey feta cheese and amazing gorgeous unspoiled mountains rising out of the ocean.......things that cause praise to rise in my gut and celebration in my soul y'all!

One of our days in Cape Town was spent seeing all we could squeeze in between the hours of 7am and 7pm with 5 kids in tow. We started the with a doctor appointment (classic us) as Jason has an ear infection but were soon on our way. Chloe was our crazy tour director as we tried to keep up with her lead footed driving, her joy for the beauty around us of her homeland, and some frantic hand waving directions. see...

first stop Muizenberg to book aforementioned and enjoyed surf lessons...and to scarf some cupcakes on the beach...

Then we stopped at Boulders Beach...

for some serious penguin watching (ok chasing)

there was picnicing with penguins, swimming in our clothes, gathering seaweed in abundance, burning our noses, and chatting with others on holiday

then we piled back in and continued on to Cape Point....

we entered the National park with these crazy watoto hyped up on fresh air and adventure..

we parked the cars and made the hike to the top....the kids did amazing too after endless pee breaks and lots of discussion about no complaining rules.

the hardcore kids who bravely made the trek to the top (one barefoot as we lost shoes at one of the previous pit stops) They were richly rewarded with breath taking views...and chocolate cookies!

wild, unspoiled beauty of creation. I can still smell it. The Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet.

we made it up....

and back down!! We were only sorta acting for this pic as we were tired y'all (especially since we carried the stroller much of the way)

then we headed to one more beach-Long Beach

and decided to feed the hungry scalawags because they were being such rock stars.....calamari & feta cheese pizza for all!

we continued on through amazingly gorgeous landscape for the best viewing of the city of Cape Town...overlooking the city with some of my fav people...

one of my favorite memories of this trip was pulling off the road to catch a view of the city and hearing this amazing and loud African music. There was a whole bus load of people who had parked and were dancing and singing while the sun was setting over the city. Anni squeezed my hand and said "let's go dance with them Mama" like right there was where she belonged. I think it kinda was....

ok me too....

J took this video on his phone....you can hear the strong wind, the beautiful singing, and see the joyful dancing and stunning views....



We made it back with sunburned faces and dirty cars and exhausted kids but this was an amazing day. As we were driving the home stretch in the car we were blaring praise music and Jason and I both started crying. Because we were so overwhelmed with gratefulness for our lives, for God's creation, His kindness, His provision to allow our family to experience this all. Everything was stunning. We are small...God is big.