The biggest news since then is that Johan's father, who lived in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa, passed away on my mom's Birthday last February. It was a complete shock to us.
We had been praying for a trip for our whole family to go visit Oupa Lotriet (the boys had never met him) and our other family there in the spring. Just one week before we received the news, the Holy Spirit had stirred in me that we would be seeing Johan's family in 2012.
One week later, Johan and I were on a plane to South Africa.
I cannot even pretend to describe the hurt in our hearts as we said goodbye to our kids for two weeks and flew off to say goodbye to a man so dear to us, who we hadn't seen in over 7 years.
Out of everywhere we had friends and family step up and take care of our children, bring food, offer rides to the airport,
give cards with money to help with plane tickets food and gas, people stopping over to pray with us, and so much more.
God's hand was in every inch of it.
That two weeks in SA was the most healing time for Johan, and I was privileged to be there with him through every bit of it. We saw and felt God's awesome presence with us everywhere we went.
The hardest part for me was that Oupa Peet never got to meet his two grandsons whom he loved so much even though he had never held them in his arms.
Even today, Johan and I still struggle with the fact that he is gone, since we are across the world from the reality of it. We think of him often and still wonder if it will ever feel really real. If we will ever stop grieving for the years we did not see him. But we know now, that God had and still has His hand in all of it. He brings good out of every situation for those who love Him. We are thankful for being able to say goodbye and for the time we spent with loved ones there.
It was a time we will never forget.
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