This Picture was taken on my way to Middelburg Mphumalang.... My hometown..... made me smile....
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I surprised my family after our Nigeria Trip on the 6th of december. My friend Melissa helped me plan the whole thing and i must say it was the best time EVER!!!! One never really relizes just How important family is until yo go away.... and then it hits you....
Spending time with my parents, siblings, nieces, nephews and great niece and nephew really just brought me to a place of realization.... Family is the foundation, and it doesn't matter How fancy the circumstances are when one is building.... if your foundation is flimsy, your building is set to tumble!!! I found such strength in mere laughter with my mom and waltzing with my dad. I found joy in giggling with my sisters. I found contentment in talks with my brothers. I found hope in dancing with all the kids. I found inspiration in singing songs with my family.... i found love with a new engagement, Anniversaries, birthdays, and Christmas.
When we drove to Middelburg, I was taken back to so many trips made to joburg only on holidays and funerals. And now this time driving to visit home.... well what was always home to me... NASARET. Finding it the same and yet so different. For one, our house for more than 25 years was no longer the same.... Our street a little emptier... Quieter... some have passed on, some have moved away like us, some were just on holiday but it just really took me back.... The humble beginnings. Church in mom's classroom for years and soccer at the stadium on sunday afternoons. I was peaceful and yet restless.... excited and a little anxious... Knowing that God has brought me such a long way..... i felt overwhelmed with emotion!!!!
Saying goodbye was hard this time.... Really hard! Normally i just rush in and out... But this time was different. More meaningful, More Memorable..... This time was truly one of the best visits i've had in years! I saw most of my good friends, spent quality time with them! I ate everything South african:) I just lived, loved,laughed and danced
So for 2011.... I'm planning to do just that....
LIVE.... every moment to the full, be present in all situations, enjoy each step of the way
LOVE.... everybody!!!! God commands us to LOVE one another!!! Love deeply
LAUGH... A LOT MORE AT EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING.... don't take myself too seriously!
DANCE.... people don't dance anymore.... we should do it more often....
This holiday i saw how dancing can fill a room with UNITY, JOY and LAUGHTER as i watched all my family dance together.....
My aim is....... TO DANCE MORE!
A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE READING THIS, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE FOLLOWED MY BLOG and tweets AND SUPPORTED MY JOURNEY. I'M SO HONORED TO SHARE A PART OF ME WITH YOU!!! GOD BLESS!!
lois
Wow Lois, I am so inspired by this blog. Even though I live in Port Elizabeth right now, my HOME is a town outside of PE (about a 40 min drive) and I haven't been home since July last year (thank God my parent came to visit twice a month). While reading this blog, I just realised how important it is to celebrate your roots (where you come from). Which is something I haven’t done in so long. After reading this I long to walk on the gravel roads, look at the clear starry sky at night and drive through town waving at every single person you pass by because that's what people from small towns do. That is what living there is all about. Almost 80% of the residents know each other and you all form part of this one big family. You find a sense of belonging and family there that you won't get anywhere else. Celebrating your roots is so important. I have to also add that I’ve also realised that you need to be open to God taking you places and not be glued to the comfort zone you are in. It's all about allowing God to direct your life as you follow Him as He enlarge your territory but most importantly never to forget where you come from. Where you come from is what's molded and shaped you into the person you are today. Not to bash bigger towns or cities but I can truly say that the values and beliefs instilled in me today is mostly because I was raised in a town like Humansdorp. So thank you for taking me back there, I needed to be reminded. God bless you Lois
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