We had the most wonderful quick getaway as a family last weekend. Life at home is fast paced, busy, exhausting and it’s hard to catch a break. Sometimes I just feel this need to get away and have a timeout with our family, so we did that last weekend.
We drove more than 3,5 hrs south to Shimba Hills National Reserve, one of the largest coastal forest in East Africa. It wasn’t exactly alot of animals there, it was quite desolate, but it was peaceful and quiet. The Shimba Hills Lodge that we stayed at was completely isolated in the forest, built like a treehouse above a waterhole, and it didn’t even have phone reception. It felt like a detox. No iPads, no social medias, completely put our phones away and just spent time together as a family for two nights. Playing games, and doing alot of coloring and walking. It was amazing and so refreshing for our souls. Whilst there we visited Sheldrick Falls, which was a fun experience. It was a 2,5 km hike (each way) down a steep valley and into a forest, and suddenly you come to this amazing and unexpected waterfall. The kids felt the walk was a bit long, but when we came to the waterfall it was all forgotten, and we enjoyed swimming and playing in the water.
We had to be escorted by an armed ranger in case we would see any dangerous animals. He told us that last week they met a group of leopards on their way. But fortunately (or unfortunately?) we didn’t see any animals, only some buffalos in a distance, some elephant tracks and some monkeys on the road.
On this trip I started reading a new book by John Mark Comer, called “The ruthless elimination of hurry – how to stay emotionally healthy and spiritually alive in the chaos of a modern world”, and it really resonated with me. I know I need to make some changes in my life. Highly recommended book in this day and age, I don’t think I am the only one that is caught up by the “hurry-sickness” of our culture.
I am step by step learning to take better care of myself. For too long I have pushed myself too hard and not listened to my bodys limitations and warning signs, putting everyone else’s needs before myself. I still do that most time, not putting adequate boundaries for myself to protect my own health, but I am slowly improving. And one of the things that I have realised fills me with energy and joy the most, is getting away and having some alone time with my husband and kids. So I am so thankful for these two days!
As soon as we came home on Saturday afternoon it was straight into nonstop baking and preparations for Esthers 10th birthday on Sunday. I can’t believe it is ten years since she was born and made us parents. That is actually also when I started this blog, and if you search through the archive, you can find a lot of blog posts from when she was a baby, and as we were step by step preparing to leave Norway and move to Africa.
It was a lot of work, but so much fun to throw her a birthday party. I love seeing the different personalities of my kids, and seeing how they mature and grow into someone unique; Esther is a thinker, she loves to ask deep and big questions and ponder about things you wouldn’t even expect kids to know about. She’s brave, loyal, intelligent, sassy, kind, and has the best sense of humor. She’s growing in to a mature preteen who’s an amazingly caring big sister for Sarah and Leo, and just the right amount of teasing little sister for Ndoro! We’re so proud of her! And – she LOVES horses, just like I did when I was young!
