Cape Town Chronicles: June 2012

It's winter break and my (Mia's) sister, Jocelyn, and Christian's parents, Paul and Kathy, are finally here! We've been looking forward to their visit ever since we got here, and God has blessed us with three beautiful sunny days in a row to enjoy the sites! Sunset at Camps Bay beach, check! Beach day at Clifton 4, check! Day at the Waterfront complete with sightings of dolphins, seals, and penguins, check! Tomorrow Jocelyn, Kathy (both teachers) and I (interested Mom) will spend the day experiencing life in Lily's class. It's been SO fun and refreshing to have family here...almost surreal. What a blessing.

Today on our boat tour, Lily and Anya had to wear life vests. Neither liked them. Lily told us so much as she tried to comfort Anya. Anya acted as if she wanted to crawl out of her skin having it on. She doesn't like things to be "tight". It was almost as if she felt claustrophobic in it. So after a few minutes of her crying, she finally calmed down and ended up using her vest as a neck pillow....I thought she fell asleep in my lap. She was motionless and calm with her head down on her vest the whole hour until the very end...when she started whimpering again. When she finally pulled her head up and we were pulling in to the dock she said "Well I am NEVER doing that again!" She was very clear about that! Lol! Poor thing...I found out later that she was awake the whole time just trying to cope! Hope it wasn't too traumatic of an experience for her! I'm beginning to see "highly sensitive" qualities about Anya as well these days. Still gaining so much insight from that book, "The Highly Sensitive Child"!

Lily has been saying some precious things as well lately. The other day she said "Mom, guess who I love more than God?" I said "Who?" "No one", she replied. She often prays the most insightful and grateful prayers. It has been encouraging to see the Spirit's work in her life as well, as she is sensitive to tell me times when she makes a poor choice and feels conviction. God has given so many opportunities to help her experience grace in our need for Christ. I've enjoyed hearing more of her thoughts, and am often surprised by her understanding of abstract concepts or how she "connects" the dots of situations. Still waters run deep...she is always thinking and observing! She is really enjoying our visits to the orphanage as well. She almost seems more comfortable there than at school! We've gone the past couple of weeks to just play for the afternoon, and Lily especially enjoys the little girl she asked to be her "friend" on our first visit. The other day she, Anya and Lacy were pretending as they played polly pockets that they were the kids at the orphanage. I see them processing and thinking about the things they are seeing and experiencing in good ways, which is encouraging.

Anya has REALLY been wishing she were in school...or at least that she had a "class" of some sort. Sometimes I hear Anya ask Lily "How was school, Sissy?" The closest thing Anya has to "class" right now is Sunday school, She'll often tell us she made a friend named "Susa", and we'll see random kids at the mall and such and Anya will say "There's my friend from class, Susa"...but it's a total stranger! She just wants to relate. So the other day I was getting candy ready to take to school for a benefit they were doing, and Anya so badly wanted to have a "class" to take candy to. So she said "Mom, can I take candy to church, because we are learning about how God likes candy?" It was almost too cute to say no to! Especially after them learning the verse "Every good and perfect gift is from above" (James 1:17). Lol!:) I keep promising her I will try and find a dance or gymnastics class for her...will have to be after break.

One quick answer to prayer from our last post: God seems to be ironing out some of the differences with our women leaders at UWC...please keep praying for aligning and God's best. We are so encouraged, though, especially by the initiative, leadership, character and honesty of one of our male leaders in helping to resolve some conflict!

Here are some pics from our adventures the past few weeks!