What Do You See?

For some time now, I've wanted to blog about 'life behind The Wall'. (I'm referring to the 10 foot wall around our house...not "The Wall" by Pink Floyd.) HA! Anyway, these first 2 photos are close ups of the metal spikes that line the top of the wall around our house, and also of the electric fence, that is always turned on. By the way, this electric fence is connected to an alarm, that sometimes blares in the middle of the night.... That will wake you up! You wonder...as you come to your senses and figure out what's going on ..."Has a branch fallen on the fence, or is someone trying to get over our wall to break in?" As our gardener says, "Is it a leaf, or a thief?" You gotta have humor! The gardener's #1 task is to keep branches/leaves/stuff off the fence. Yes, I turn the fence off while he does this task. :-)

This is what I see as I step out the front door of our house...a long driveway, with our remote-controlled gate at the end. The gate is topped with electric fencing as well.

At first, living behind this wall was very unsettling, to say the least. I've gotten used to it. This is the way everyone here lives. It's a shame you have to barricade yourself in your 'compound'. Break-ins are not uncommon, unfortunately. Thus all the security measures and precautions.

Shortly after moving here, a friend told me, "You will get used to living behind the wall. And one day, when you look out your windows, you will not see the burglar bars on the windows, or the spikes and electric fencing along the top of your wall. You will look beyond them." She was absolutely right.

This is what I see when looking out my kitchen window.
I see the bright orange honeysuckle, and the abundance of banana trees.
I also see the lettuces growing in the planter box.

Looking out this angle from my kitchen window, I see this extremely tall palm tree, and the beautiful blue Botswana sky.
Yes, I also see the mop on the clothes line...and the window thermometer. :-)

To me, it's all about how you CHOOSE to look at things. I choose to look for the good. I am blessed beyond measure and have much to be thankful for.

Stay tuned for my next post...which will be about 'special meat cuts' at the nearby grocery store.

My Little Girl is 9 Today!

In honor of our daughter's 9th birthday today - I wanted to share some of my favorite pictures of our little girl.

As a mom, part of me wishes I could keep her little forever! She's growing up too fast for my liking.


In this first picture, taken yesterday,
cantering on 'Culboy'. She continues to take riding lessons - and loves it.

The day we brought the newest member of our family home!

Bib over the head - "Oh Mom, why'd you do this to me? But don't I look cute??!!"
(6 months old in this picture)

Eating Cheerios - and showing us!

1 Year Old

My favorite "black mail photo" - 18 months old

3 Years Old

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for choosing us to raise this precious child. She brings so much joy to our lives! The sound of her laughter is music....even when she SQUEEAAALLLLS! She teaches me to 'stop and smell the roses'. She notices the little details of life, and appreciates them. I love you, precious daughter. Happy Birthday!