my thoughts on Miami are that it reminded me a little of being in Durban...
I also felt a deep sense of pride in South Africa...this feeling caught me totally by surprise...
i found myself thinking 'we really can hold our own in the world arena...
we have everything the world has... we r not less than...'
also a profound sadness...made my heart ache...literally...a pain in my chest...
a sadness for how South Africa is always seemingly at risk of tumbling over the edge and into the abyss...
we have everything to lose ... Heaven help us ...
We spent our time shopping at and strolling around the Bay Side Market Place...
which overlooks the Marina ...
and we took a VERY entertaining bus tour of Miami's striking Art Deco District and surrounding areas including the Venetian Pool in Coral Gables,
Little Havana where only adults could enjoy a free shot of very strong Cuban coffee which i absolutely couldn't drink... , we also drove through Coconut Grove where our guide informed us there had been NO crime in the past 30 years...fact or fiction...i am not sure but it sounds great hey :)
and included in the bus tour was a water tour of Biscayne Bay....where we got a good look at the mansions of the rich and famous on Star Island which is an artificial or man made island ...all this cost $60 for the 5 of us...
It was all so brand new... exciting and interesting all at once...
but it has to be said...i most definitely didn't have a chance to totally absorb all that was happening around me because i was mothering my kids and busy being distracted by Bradley...not that i would have it any other way...in fact i wouldn't have done it at all if they couldn't have accompanied us !
Things that struck me as funny or strange or both were...
*At the restaurants at the Bay Side Market Place food could be seen all plated up but not for sale...
like a visual advert of what was on offer in place of a menu...
*The portion sizes were HUGE...and the prices were fair...as far as the dollar goes...
*The day we got on the bus for the tour...my Mom goes and sits near the bus driver... right in front of the large windscreen and i thought "oh my God!!!???!!!???" [sorry] but it really was a decision on her part that i just COULDN'T understand for the life of me...my Mom is an EXTREMELY nervous passenger...and i thought 'oh crap'...here we go...Mom's gonna freak out here on this bus in Miami today...lol...
but she was ok...go figure!?!
*On our last morning in the Holiday Inn the staff in the dining room tried to oooh and ahhh over Bradley and sent him running [as fast as an 18 month old can run anyway] back into my arms lol it was FUNNY they were loud and were waving their arms around wildly and he was just hysterical about it...lol
*I also threw my very own hormonal temper tantrum when we were not allowed to sit near the water and have our drinks because we were not eating a meal...in other words we only ordered drinks and were then asked to move...stinks! and we spent our dollars somewhere else...later my Mom commented a little shocked that i was being 'very aggressive' lol in my defence... i was under a little bit of strain if u don't mind :)
*On this same day the 2 older Dads got lost/separated from us and almost caused us to miss our bus tour which we had paid for already ...that was fun exciting stuff i must say... and as i was still feeling 'aggressive' had had a few words to say about that too...lol
*When i think back i am flabbergasted that we drove down the famous Ocean Drive running parallel to the just as famous Miami South Beach...which we never did see or visit :( we really want to remedy that ... but at the time there just wasn't enough time ...
Photo Time
our little group of intrepid travelers :)
we consumed plenty of virgin daiquiris...yum
Brandon buys Nachos :)
Strawberry...my fav...
Pina-colada ... her fav...
Some Art Deco anyone...?
2 minutes to myself... didn't last though...
Bradley just stayed there for the photo...
back to the shops...
Ed must have been pushing the stroller here...
not a great photo...i wasn't a shutterbug yet :)
Me trying on Forrest Gump's shoes ... see his suitcase and the famous box of chocolates next to me on the bench...
Forrest Gump:
My momma always said, "Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
Way back in early 2007 ... Edwin my husband started talking about going on a family holiday [is there any other kind...not for us anyway] to Disney World in Orlando Florida...and i was horrified...yes u read right... HORRIFIED !!!
At first i thought... Ja Ja ... never gonna happen! too expensive...
But 'it' just didn't go away... like i fully expected 'it' to...
The seed had taken root...become a seedling...and next thing 'It' was ON...!!!
I can clearly remember feeling ticked-off with him...and telling friends about this crazy plan for a holiday my husband had dreamed up....Here's why i thought he was a little nuts...
U see we live in South Africa... and that's a 24hour flight [at that stage]
with refueling in Dakar and a connecting from Atlanta to Miami...
oh yes i forgot to tell u...we were first set to go on what was at that stage one of the 2 LARGEST CRUISE SHIPS IN THE WORLD [Royal Caribbean's ...the Freedom Of The Seas...] for a 7 day cruise of the Caribbean...
A dream holiday surely?!.... i hear u saying...
the part of this puzzle u still do not have is that Bradley was ONLY 18 MONTHS OLD at the time...
and still breastfed...
**YIKES**
I am the kind of person who goes with the flow...pretty much...
if the kids can come....i'll go ...
but it was rather a daunting thought...and the logistics were hectic people...hec-tic...
Soon we had both sets of Grandparents on-board if you'll excuse the pun...lol
Edwin's parents traveled alone...and met up with us in Miami...
My Mom and Dad were with us all the way...
U might be thinking...many hands to help Charmaine with the Baby...
u would be OH SO wrong...!!!
Not that they all didn't try...but it was no use...all 3 my kids were extremely bonded to me...
me and my boobs :) I am one LUCKY mommy...read...I am one LUCKY mommy :)
for real...
Anyway...our epic holiday began with a hour long drive to the airport...in a van we hired...
4 adults 2 kids and 1 baby...
lots of luggage...the reclining stroller and Bradley's car seat...in tow
the car seat was for the flights...because even though we did buy him his very own seat on the plane...
i still wanted him buckled into his car seat too... well this plan didn't work and we had to ask the Air Hostess to store it for us... i also wanted him to be properly buckled up on the roads in the USA...
I will say this about air travel with such a small child...it's WORK but totally doable also :)
they DO NEED their own seat.... that's for sure.
So off we went... our weird little band of.... about-to-be world travelers :)
one fearless, very organised leader very intent on leading [Ed] 2 totally awestruck pensioners if a little weary at times [my parents]
1 worried/stressed/harassed but in a calm kind of way... Mama [me] 1 twelve year old [Bianca] a 9 year old [Brandon] who alternated between excitement and nerves in equal measure and an at times overwhelmed Bradley [18months]
a VERY excited but still totally weird little group
and so this is how our adventure began...
and lets just be honest an adventure is all of those things...
highs and lows....highlights and low-lights...all in the mix...
Our little group of intrepid travelers filled up a whole line of seats ...the not so big then big kids at the window seats on my left...then myself and Bradley next to me in the middle with Edwin ... and my parents on the window seats next to Edwin...
Bianca and Brandon saw a little red light through their window and got a fright ...
Bianca said "we r going to die...."
as it was a nighttime flight out... that little red light on the wing looked rater ominous to them...
and i had to reassure them both... while feeling a little afraid of what lay ahead myself...
not easy...
About flying... Bradley was ok during the flight as long as he wasn't restricted to being buckled up for too long...read... he cried every time we landed or took off :( he slept very well for hours and hours actually...fully stretched out over my seat and his...so that means i didn't sleep much or sit comfortably hey ... but thankfully we had a safe flight and landed at Atlanta airport....when we had only roughly 1 hour to catch our connecting flight to Miami...not much time let me tell u...because that place is big....BIG and busy!!!
We also road a FAST train from one side of the airport to the other...u really had to hold on to keep from falling down...
My Dad got pulled aside and questioned during a security check...that was a little scary...
and because he had done some tile grouting without gloves recently...his fingerprints wouldn't scan...lol...
and we had to go through all the strict American airport security check points...taking shoes off and on again...and and and...what an experience it was...all the while keeping track of 2 older folks and 3 kids...and the pram and the car seat and all 11 pieces of luggage...no mean feat!!! Another moment that stands out at Atlanta was when we received our bags off the plane 1 of our bags had been opened and searched...for what i don't know as we followed all the baggage rules to the letter...not wanting trouble of any kind...we were all a little shocked and upset at this...while i was frantically checking if anything had been removed ...for a minute my attention was obviously not on Bradley ... when suddenly i look for him and when i couldn't spot him immediately... fear grabbed my heart and squeezed HARD and i asked loudly "where's Bradley?" all eyes searched around quickly for the shortest among us...he was nowhere nearby...just as i felt myself about to loose my grip on calmness...thinking we are at an AIRPORT!!!...if he has been 'taken' he could be removed to anywhere in the world....we'll never find him...and that was the moment when Brandon my 9 year old decided it may be a good time to let us all in on the 'joke' that he was hiding Bradley [who was standing right there but behind Brandon and between 2 huge pillars that Brandon was standing right in front of] boy i was not impressed and no one laughed....until later....MUCH later...shame... Brandon really got a tongue lashing that day :)
Yes... Atlanta was...
memorable...
We arrived later that day in Miami ...
Where the taxi ride to the Holiday Inn was ....well how shall i phrase it...
interesting to say the least...scary to say the most...
i remember very clearly thinking to myself...
"did i just survive the last 24 hours...a flight over the sea no less...6 takeoffs and landings in total...to die in a car accident in Miami...?!?" NO WAY!!!
But we arrived safe and sound at our hotel...and i was weak with relief... while the folks had to rest we hit the ground running in true Team Gouws fashion...we went exploring...
That night we were really feeling the aftereffects of traveling across the world and not getting much shuteye on the flight...
we had supper and hit the sack early...what happen next was like something straight from a movie...
I put it down to being a Mama...i sleep light...i look after my kids even while fast asleep ...lol...
a noise woke me...as i surfaced from sleep i realized it wasn't Bradley wanting a quick suck...OH NO......it wasn't my baby...it was the hotels fire alarm...alarmingly loud and clear...the female voice was saying..."this is not a drill...please evacuate this floor...there is a fire...do not use the elevators...use the fire escape...this is not a drill...."......i could not believe my ears!!! but reacted with haste ...i woke Edwin up, we jumped out of bed pulled on our pants and shoes i picked a soft and soundly sleeping Bradley up and called out to Bianca and Brandon to wake up and get up...she listened immediately...he did not...mumbling something about him waiting there for us...that's when Edwin reached out a grabbed him by the arm and up and out of that bed....as i stood by the door waiting...i sniffed at the air for the smell of smoke...and found none...i remember thinking "when i open this door there may be smoke in the passage...i was afraid...and wondering where the fire was....above us or blow..." the whole time the recording was repeating ... we opened the door... no smoke...in that moment i felt like we would be able to get out ok...we looked out and up and down the long passage...others were doing the same ...some were standing around undecided... looking around at everyone else looking at them... we exited our room into the passage...and suddenly we all started moving as one towards the fire escape....down down down we all went...Bianca said again "we r going to die..."....the door at the bottom only had a handle on the inside...nothing on the outside to open the door with...i was wondering about my mom them...had they used the fire exit near their room...? as we went out i asked a young girl to hold the door for me i wanted to go back inside to make sure my parent had left their room which was not near ours but was on the same floor... she put a rock in front of the door and followed the small group of pajama clad people round the side of the hotel...i gave Bradley to Edwin and turned back ... but he stopped me dead in my tracks by saying no i shouldn't go back...i was a mother now...
With a heavy heart i kicked the rock away so the door could close...
I joined the group again thinking it strange that there was not hotel staff to tell us what to do or where to go...
we moved as one around the side of the hotel back to the front...still no signs of a fire...in we went through the revolving door into a lobby filled with people and late evening diners having supper in the dinning room off to the right hand side...i spotted my in-laws eating... a staff member informed us it was a false alarm...that there was no fire...no real danger...Thank God!!
When we got back to our room i double checked that it was just a false alarm...and went to see if my parents had also evacuated...they were still fast asleep in their room...i banged and banged on their door before a half asleep Dad with robot red eyes answered...
I remember a terrible sinking feeling ...what if it had been a real emergency...??
to be continued...
PHOTO TIME
in our front yard...
the day our adventure began...
all dressed in loose fitting clothes for the long flight ahead...
Bradley on his first flight...
us in Miami in front of our hotel
In the months leading up to this moment my husband Edwin played only one song for the family...
I have...
I am...sometimes anyway...
for me...it comes and goes...
I have a perfectly lovely life...
not perfect...no...
but lovely...yes.
Things could always be better...
...but...
things could always be worse too...
For the most part i am a ...
not totally optimistic...
not totally pessimistic...
sitting on a fence...looking at the beauty all around me...
ready to take a photo...
kinda girl...
and
then
i
slip...
When i slip...
i fall...
and
I feel like i am disappearing...into the mist...
U know what i mean...
like when u r driving...
and it's a dim, misty start to the edge of day...
the sun is hiding...
turned off...
lost...
And...
there it is...looming...up ahead...just waiting...
u have to drive straight through this eerie earthbound cloud...
and it kinda swallows u...your car and your kids...
your life... right up...
and it's like u r in another world...
everything looks less clear...
and it feels...less too...
and the 'light' can't find u there where u are...
stuck...
helpless...
Everything
looks
feels
tastes
better when the sun shines down upon your life...
and now that light just can't reach...
through the mist...
can't find u...
can't warm u...
comfort u...
cheer u...
light your path...
show u the way...
The only way out is through...
It's not even like being caught in the shadows...
shadow implies that there is light nearby...
mist means
the things u love r hidden by the mists...
u know u have a good life...
many blessings...
but u just can't 'see' them right now...
all u can 'see' is the swirling mists...
thick and cold and damp...
All u want is for the mist to lift...
to be burned away by the sun...
to let the light in...
and to let u out...
The only way out is through...
i change...
u change...
they change...
seasons change...
times change...
things change...
reasons change...
dreams change...
everything changes...
even moods change...
it cant rain forever hey ...
for all those in the mists of a depression of some sort...
remember...tomorrow will be better...stay strong...C
PS
I have found that 'talking' is my only way 'out'...people are my sounding board...
getting 'things' out into the open...it helps me decide how i really feel about 'things'...
because in the confines of my own head...
they just bounce painfully... going round and round...
and i seem unable to make sense of them...
kinda like i'm on the merry-go-round with my thoughts...
only it's not so merry...
and i am looking...for answers...
and all i see is the blur...
of the park spinning by too fast for me to ever get off...
Recently i had a break through...just by talking to a friend...
the answer was inside of me all along...who knew...?!
it just had to find it's way up to the surface...
speak-up in a brave voice...
and just like that...
feelings became thoughts became words spoken...
and now they have settled deep in my heart and mind...
"I WILL NOT tear down what i have built up with my own 2 hands"
with Gods help i will live in the moment even if it is a misty one...
and i will love mine with a loveXXL
it is my passionate promise... my God given mission here on this earth
and
I will keep my eyes trained on my God... not the storms of mists that may blow through from time to time.
*this post was written a while ago...when i was going through a bad patch.
Hello :) and welcome...to my world...
On my mind today...
I am a firm believer in using your platform....
we have indeed all been given one...
Apart from the obvious...the first that comes to mind are...
teachers...and here i have seen it firsthand ...
how a caring christian teacher will take her faith and incorporate it into the business of teaching ...
I LOVE IT !! because 'they' r my backup ...reinforcing what i have already taught...
i am grateful when my children hear the truth from others that i have no influence over...and they r quick to report to me when they hear something that deviates from what i have spoken of...
or
A beauty technician using her time to encourage, talk and teach... God things during her time spent doing someones nails... A friend loving another friend by providing a meal during troubled times... Prayers promised and then truly said...for strength and courage for another weary worried traveler on this journey...
A sms...bbm...e-mail... to the right person at the right moment can make all the difference...
What are these things ... feelings, thoughts, formed into words and 'spoken'...
Our words r SO powerful...it's actually like a super-power we all already possess ...
and if u think of it like that...
then what r u using your 'words' for...
good...?
or bad...?
I do believe anyone anywhere can be a blessing to another...with only words...
But we r only human and sometimes we 'drop the ball' so to speak :(
Take me for example...just this morning...i could have told the grade 1 boy who came running up to give me a big hug... that Jesus loves him...or to work hard or be a good boy in class and be a good friend...when i returned his hug...
i didn't...i only thought about it as i watched him run off to his class...
today i didn't... but next time i will...!!!
It's too easy to admonish bickering kids to 'be nice' or 'use your friendly words'
and then u expect nothing less than total compliance...?
do u use your nice and friendly words with your partner or your sister or at work or with the car-guard and the perpetually unfriendly lady at the post office that ticks u off so bad that u have steam coming from your ears...and don't even get me started on road-rage *guilty again* i know i don't always do what's right...sadly...
but for the most part i do try...
there is always room for improvement :)
I am becoming...
but one thing i have always been is an "ENCOURAGER"
i forgot that for a while...
but
Someone i don't know... reminded me recently...
with just a few words and a question on her blog...
thanks :)
XXX
Ps
Did u know that to say 1 negative critical thing to a child...is so harmful...
u have to say 10 positive things to undo the damage...
I want to share something pretty amazing...I will try unpack the events neatly for u...
while we r Christians we don't attend church...we sit together as a family of 5 and watch Angus Buchan in his Grass Roots Sunday morning program...and we r blessed...
we talk about the message and i will usually point out something to the kids that i feel is important...
Well that is what we were doing a while back...
then life happened...
Recently the Holy Spirit has been pricking my conscience...
reminding me...
encouraging me...
cheering me on...
and then a couple of things happened...only a few days apart...
and bit by bit my mind was blown...
thing no 1
i recalled seeing that an episode of Grass Roots was recorded at some stage...
and i wanted to see if we had already watched it...so i could delete it if we had...
we had not...
so i kept it...to watch at a time we overslept and missed the show...
then i forgot about it...
thing no 2
someone i happen to trust in these matters posted something on FaceBook
i had a little read... and watched the 'clip'...essentially warning folks about "Prosperity Preachers"
two things struck me as interesting... one) that for as long as we 'live' we must guard against wolves dressed in sheep's clothing....alarming...for me ?...yes...
two) that in these 'tough economic times'...when the worry over money matters is never far off...
we are to be happy with our lot...that if we have food and clothes...we must be content...
I shared this 'clip' with my teens...over their lunchtime meal...and we chatted for a while too... i also showed it to Edwin that same night after supper...and again we talked...
It had clearly struck a cord in me...but one thing was bothering me...A LOT
if people who knew their Bibles better than i [for i have heard these preachers names mentioned and praised and seen their book to be bought in the stores]...had been 'fooled' by the "prosperity preachers"...how would little old me...see 'them' for what they are...i mean here we r thinking about searching for a church...how would i know...this question along with 'was Uncle Angus teaching my family the right thing...?' burned continuously in my mind and i felt disconcerted...and fearful...a little at a loss...a little lost...
For me...this is just too important to get wrong...!
thing no 3
Sunday morning we overslept...
and over that first cup of coffee in our 'Parlor' we sat talking ...
and feeling bad that we had missed 'church' again... so... we gathered together to watch that episode that i knew was waiting for us un-watched on the PVR decoder ...
and
I
was
blown
away
by that message...
that one random episode...
recorded in April...
watched in October...
God answered EVER SINGLE QUESTION i was asking...
God knew i would need to have those answers...months before...i had even formed those questions...
and amazingly that episode had 'survived' regular checks by one or another of us... for things recorded to be deleted to make space for new recordings...
God's timing once again proved to be absolutely perfectly spot-on...
I kid you not...
I have no reason to...
This is how my God speaks directly into my life and circumstances...
revealing Himself to me and mine... as a God who is near not distant...
a God who not only listens but hears me... and shows me the way...
I am so grateful that my teens got to experience this situation first hand...
it just doesn't get better than this :)
"Life is not measured by how many breaths we take...
but by the moments... that take our breath away..."
as 'they' say...or something to that effect :)
I love love love taking photos...
i take photos every day...
so many things 'catch' my eye...
and i am compelled... to try and see...
if i can capture that 'thing' i just saw...
the way the sunlight...
the way the wind...
the way the shadow...
the way the movement...
it inspires me...
feeling inspired is a feeling i like :)
Then... i can't wait to see what i got...
and it's a huge thrill when i get something good...
Here are some shots that took my breath clean away...
because i was amazed that i took such a photo...
all credit to my camera...of course :)
This is our pool water being agitated by Brandon...
This was a family affair...shooting for this photo...
Shooting for a photo challenge here...i wanted to 'catch' the splash [and i did]
but it's the kids reactions that really pleased me in this photo :)
Bianca is shocked...Brandon is like ...YES!! and Bradley just watches amazed with the ghost of a smile...for me it is... fascination...
The moon on the water did it for me here :)
Playing with the eye...
This is an underwater shot...with Bradley's bucket reflected back perfectly on the surface of our pool...
This shot is how i picture God's love shining down...
I would like to know how it feels to be free as a bird on the wing...
and i am curious to know how flying feels...
Have u ever watched Homing Pigeons...
what a thrill it is for me...the way they move as one...turning this way [they flash silver] and that [they blink black] VERY COOL :) they once even came swooping right overhead and the sound of their wings... pure excitement...the earth didn't move but the air sure did...i felt them in the rush of the wind as they flew away...
pure joy :)
Photography has reminded me just how patient i really am :)
