magical

i think that finding time to blog here in South Africa might prove quite difficult. our days are filled with outings and conversations, preparing for meals and long walks. the views and nature are so breathtaking...it is the kind of thing that you want to make time for. rest inside for an hour...or take a walk and sit on a blanket and chat next to the ocean? this is the life.

i had a moment last night. a moment that i literally thought to myself "freeze this" i want to remember this forever. it was definitely a moment that was a culmination of our time here and my day...so i will try and paint a picture for you.

having the Arndts all together for an extended time is nothing short of a miracle.

having my twin brother and older brother meet Claire for the first time is very surreal...exciting...fun..and yet natural. she loves them and they love her. they were meant to be.

Kathryn and Kelly have been with her before and it is almost like she knows it. She has been held, kissed, cuddled to sleep, walked, and ridden on shoulders like she is a true princess. it is hard to describe what it feels like to have your siblings love on your little girl so extravagantly.

We have been exploring Cape Town in all it's glory. World of Bird and Vineyards were some of the first ones on the list...

and i am so full. so full from love and laughing and drinking in our moments together.

and i barely am able to process the vibrant colors all around me and the overwhelming beauty. it is unreal.

and then we went to one of the most beautiful places i have even been for a picnic and "Christmas Carols by Candlelight". in true momma-arndt fashion my mom went crazy preparing a picnic for us kids and we had home-made oven fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn on the cob. topped off with fresh baked cookies.

(brothers, drew and some all nations friends picnicking)

(Claire has stolen marmee's water bottle and it is her new favorite toy!)

and here we come to the moment. We have eaten. We have joked. we have people-watched and compared picnics (some people really know what they are doing)

drew, claire and i have meandered around the grounds...and are at times speechless and then also trying to articulate how amazing the beauty is all around us.

Then we sing carols as someone reads us through the Christmas Story in the gospel of Mark. It is so poignent and powerful to me. the story, the fact that we are reading it together with hundreds of people, the richness of the lyrics that are so familiar to us...

and it ends with us all singing Silent Night. they turn off all lights so it is just us, in nature, with candles and everyone is swinging them back and forth.

harmonies envelop me, first and foremost my mom's amazing voice with incredible harmonies and notes that only she can sing. i am so alive i feel like i might burst. it feels more christmas than anything i have ever done, but maybe that is just my heart feeling so thankful, so overwhelmed by His love, so surrounded by mercy and goodness and my mom's notes are just carrying me off...

it is hard to describe how magical the moment was, but i just felt His presence. and i am so in awe of the Goodness of God in our lives.

so Merry Christmas to all...and may you have moments of His presence these coming days.