Thanksgiving

It’s strange to be so far away from family on such a “family” holiday. We’re thankful for FaceTime and wifi calls that make everyone seem much closer than they really are and the fact that it’s just this one year out of a hundred that we’ll be away from home.

We are so blessed to be spending our holiday on this amazing farm and vineyard. From sun up to nightfall I’m constantly floored by the views. I love sitting on our patio overlooking the vineyard and watching the chickens peck for snails while the kids throw peach pits for the dogs to fetch. At night we can sit in the same spot and watch shooting stars blaze across the sky. Charlottes enjoying playing with kids who live here…her famous line was, “on trip advisor it didn’t even mention this place came with a friend!” We spend all day dreaming of a time when we can live on a farm of our own (hopefully one day!)

We have so much to be thankful for! Of course I’m thankful for all the usual things like health and family but this year I have a different appreciation for the life we were blessed to be born into. We’ve seen so much exploitation and extreme poverty here in Africa. We’ve met so many hard working, loving Africans with no possibility for a future it saddens me and makes me so much more thankful for what we really have. We raise our kids in a country where you really can make change in your life. There really are opportunities for those who want them.  Unfortunately, that is not the case for the majority of South Africans.

We’ve been treated to a delicious thanksgiving feast by the farm chef JayJay. It was his first time preparing a Thanksgiving feast…and he killed it!  We had chicken instead of turkey (cause they don’t eat turkey in SA) but it was a meal we’ll never forget.  We got to enjoy a our dinner by sunset and oil lamps overlooking the farm, and the best part, no dishes!! My cup is running over!

We’ll be sad to leave the farm tomorrow but we’re looking forward to heading back toward the coast. Thank you Africa for giving us so much to be thankful for!