Back to Basics

All of these public holidays rolled into 2 weeks has really made us confused! Easter eggs for breakfast and scrambled egg-on-toast for dinner - because that's all your stomach could handle after a day of eating! I must admit, I am quite relieved to know that it's out of the way, that it's back to school and work, that traffic is heavy (but normal) and that peak and off peak periods are reinforced and not just HOLIDAY CHAOS from sunrise to sunset!

Don't misunderstand, we've enjoyed some lovely adventures - like a picnic lunch in Elim and sipping hot chocolate drinks while watching the waves at Melkbos beach, the Sonrise service on Easter morning and the Autumn afternoon braai in the rain... All of these (and other) experiences have made the April/May holiday period a memorable (and expensive!) one...and yet, the most valuable times we've spent, was the ones that brought us back to basics -

Like teaching a group of youths how to make Palm Crosses: This used to be such a celebrated event on the Church's calendar and yet this year, just the young people were available to prepare the 500 palm crosses for Palm Sunday. Three of us oldies put our heads together to remember the process and not only did the Church have the 500 palm crosses needed that Sunday, but we had also trained 15 young people for the future!

Like taking time to pick flowers: I think that it means a lot to my Dad when we accompany him and his Dad on their visits to the grave of their wife and mother, our late Grandmother, Naomi. Gramps keeps busy, Dad goes quiet, Mom gets dirty, Dom gets sad as we think of our Gran and we clean up the grounds where she was buried. Jorja got stuck in too, arranging the flowers (that she had picked out earlier from the 'Flower Man') and watching what is going on around her. What a joy to be able to tell her that a graveyard is only a garden of remembrance and that everyone who has Jesus in their heart, is in Heaven with Him!

Like witnessing marriage vows: Yes, yes, I was one of the millions glued to my screen at the time of the Royal Wedding! I couldn't tear myself away during the ceremony - and since we haven't been to many weddings since our own, it was good to sit and listen to the verses and vows that surround this special day. Admittedly, when those be-spectacled faces of the chubby choir boys came on screen, I felt my throat tighten. When the gold horse-drawn carriages, 3m long camera lenses and tiaras are packed away, the newlyweds have no title or throne to speak for them, but only their promise to honour each other and God. What a beautiful piece of history to witness!

When we realise that Easter is more about a sweet victory over sin and death and that sweet Easter eggs are a treat (that can be hidden in the cupboard until we want a treat!);

When we realise that some Sunday lunches are better polished off quickly to give you more time to snooze under warm blankets watching old episdodes of Vetkoekpaleis;

When you give up your electronic gadgets and coveted cellphone signal for a road trip to small Towns along the N2 - where farms smell like horse manure, the old church bell is still rung and the milktart is homemade!... That's when you can look through tired eyes the next morning and know that it's been a good holiday!

It has been a remarkably long weekend and there are more photos to follow in upcoming posts!