Finally! Time for South Africa!

I can't even believe the time is here! We are going back to South Africa in just a few days now. The fun part of that is the "we" as it has always been "I." I had been 6 consecutive years from 2007-2012 and have not been back since 2012. That was the year we reapplied for our fiancé visa, and waited, and waited, and waited. Luba arrived here in late 2013. Due to the immigration process, expense of the trip, my health issue-turned-surgery in 2013-2014, and the wedding, we have not been able to plan a trip until now.

I love South Africa so much. I attribute much of who I am today to my trips to South Africa. I met my husband there and now have extended family there to further tie me to this beloved country.It's also special to me spiritually as it is where God spoke most profoundly in such a deep, true, and direct but healing way. It's in my soul on so many levels (even the wine part of my soul).  

We have been looking at locations of our guesthouse as well as stalking other favorite restaurants and places for months through Google Earth. One of us has been looking more often than the other....

As we pack for our first trip back as a married couple, it brings back so many memories of times we spent in Paarl and Cape Town as well as how hard it was to get here to where we are today. Not a day goes by that I don't appreciate the little things and the ability to cash in on all of those "one days." One day we will have a picnic on the beach. One day we will drive cross country. One day we can just sit in the same space and hold hands. One day we can just be together without thinking of the days left before I leave. One day I won't have to board that plane alone not knowing when we will see each other again. One day we will have "live" conversations and I won't rely on BBM (for the pre-iphone generation, that's blackberry messenger) or What's app to be my lifeline.

We actually just found the Blackberry in a suitcase that Luba used when he moved from South Africa to here. Due to costs, we mainly communicated via free messenger services and emails. Skype conversations were difficult due to limited internet access for him and opposite "sleep-awake" or "at work-at home" schedules between us.

We are so excited to see family & friends! I'm also a tad excited to wine taste as well.

But first, we pack....

We'll catch you from the road! We will have lots of pictures thanks to my early birthday present from Luba:

I'll end with one of my favorite quotes that fits so well as well as my favorite pictures from South Africa....

Love, 
Danielle

"You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart will always be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place." 

-Miriam Adeney