We’ve been back home for a few days, and I’m still struggling to find the words to describe our magical three week trip to South Africa over the kids’ winter break. I’ve finally given up and given over to the reality that whatever words I use to describe all that it was will fall far short, as it is with the most beautiful and true things in this life.

It was my third time in South Africa, James’ second, and our boys’ first. It’s been a high priority for us to take the boys, particularly before Ian gets closer to the end of his HS years, as my time there in 1992 and our shared time together in 2005 has had deep and meaningful impact on who we are and how we move in the world today. 

My love affair with South Africa began before my family’s 1992 trip when four young people came to Atlanta on an exchange program in 1989 with the Diocese of Atlanta and the Diocese of Kimberley Kuruman. Even after all this time, we each describe our connections to one another after that first meeting as immediate, deep, and forever. My two sisters and two brothers, Brenda, Theresa, Vernon, and Russell, arrived during a very cold Atlanta winter. While they were in the states, our home was their home, my momma was and is their momma, my daddy their dad, and my siblings their siblings.  When we D’Huyvetter’s went over during the Christmas of 1992, we visited each of our siblings in their towns and got to meet their families and loved ones, but I haven’t seen most of them in person since then. 

So though there were many magical, breathtaking moments of this trip, getting to spend time with these four and meet their people was a top highlight. My Momma and her love was so thickly woven through each of our visits, and being with each of them brought her close in so many beautiful ways.  Being able to introduce James and the boys to all of them, to be in their homes and in their cities, to hold their hands and see their smiles and hear their laughter…I’m still weepy about it all, overwhelmed with gratitude that we were able to make it happen. 

And gracious, to know that they are not our only beloved family in South Africa humbles me beyond words. I got to see my brother Xabiso after too many damn years apart. We got to spend Christmas Day and Boxing Day with our beautiful family, and we shared meals and stories, danced and laughed, hugged, cried, toasted and talked about Momma, and were so filled up by time with all of our beloveds. 

I don’t know how I got so lucky to be a part of this greater human family of mine, as well as this smaller (large!) family, but sho, I am grateful with every fiber in my body. They are the best of the best, and their joy and friendship, sisterhood and brotherhood, kindness and laughter, and their love…it is just so overwhelming in its beauty. 

There were more than a few tears shed before we left, and there’ve been more than a few since we’ve gotten home. I’m weepy that it’s over but also weepy with gratitude at all that we got to see and do and experience. 

This trip has marked me forever, and James and the boys, too. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so filled up at the end of a trip with this crew (especially not three weeks overseas with 5 dudes!) and for that I’m deeply grateful. I’m grateful, too, for the chance for each of them to know the heart of me more fully through this trip and these people and can’t wait to see how it continues to impact them as they grow.