Last week I returned home from just over three weeks away.
Chronologically I was in San Francisco, Bordeaux for VinExpo (with stopovers in transit in Paris for lunch and ice cream!) rural Uganda with Love Does, the Seychelles (off the coast of Africa), and Stockholm, Sweden. I also spent MANY hours in the Dubai airport between destinations.
The beginning and end of the trip were for work with my wine data company, VineSleuth.
The middle, Uganda and the Seychelles, was with my family and was pure vacation… although my mind was certainly on overload, taking so much in, watching, listening, wondering and, well, loving.
For most of the time in Africa I was completely disconnected from the internet: yes, I was experiencing prime Instagram and Facebook- worthy experiences. But I stayed offline to soak all of it in, as best I could. I talked. I listened. I read 5 books. I journaled several times each day. I witnessed true beauty in so many forms. I marveled at the strength of kids and adults who could be broken but are not. I was overwhelmed with love watching each member of my family, seeing each of them in different ways and being amazed by them.
I felt small and useless, as if I was wasting my gifts when I saw all that Bob Goff and his team had done, when I wondered what I should do in response. And then the Holy Spirit calmed my heart, told me to just BE, to listen, and reminded me He will tell me what to do when I need to know what to do. He will guide me.
It was quite a trip. I’m still processing so much… a dinner party at a Premiere Cru wine estate in Bordeaux, and, one week later, a dinner party in rural Uganda with dedicated teachers… the attire and food served were very different, but the energy of both nights and my joy in being able to partake in both was at a high, that’s for sure! I spent part of my birthday on a photo safari where we saw lions, giraffes, elephants and more. I hung out with happy, incredible children– mine, kids on the trip and, of course the kids we met at every stop. I got to help paint and clean a library. I got to listen to stories that need to be shared. I got to fall in love with my husband again daily. And I was a part of promising, invigorating meetings and was able to catch up with dear friends and brilliant minds in the wine industry. It’s a lot to process.
I hope to share more about my trip with you soon. I have so many photos, so many thoughts, so much to share.
But first, I’m off later today for the 5-hour drive to take 2 of our kids to summer camp. One to work, one to be a kamper. (The spell it with a K at this magical place.) I get to make the drive with one of own dear friends from my days at that very same summer kamp as a child. Her daughter and my own are kamp BFF’s. I love it. So many gifts.
What a summer, already.
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