I feel like I am slowly growing, evolving into myself every day. Yesterday I had a bad day. Seeing all the negative. Today I am so full of knowledge that my hopes and dreams will come true.

My husband and I have a dream to build a small cottage on a beautiful plot large enough to keep all our animals. We are moving closer to this by the day. I keep fearing that it will all slip away. But somewhere, nagging in the back of my mind... I know. I know that it is happening. I know it is what we will achieve.

Today I am remembering to be focused on the dreams and the positive reality around me. What a beautiful day.

There are truly no words to describe the love and pride I feel for my husband. I never know how to put it into words. He is my world. After 7 years together: we are still so inlove and the best of friends.

I am hoping for rain. It is beautiful, hot, summer weather here is South Africa. But our mountains and indigenous plants and animals are taking a beating. We have had horrible fires raging for weeks now. So I am really hoping for a little relief soon.

My friend, Lize's, home was in danger of burning down from the terrifying fires we have been having. Francois and I arrived just as the fire was approaching her house. Francois was such a hero fighting the fire. I started evacuating important things for my friend, because she wasn't there yet.

The funny thing is: this is exactly the question I kept asking myself.
The musts, firstly was the pets. The pets were in my car first. Then documentation. (Sadly.)
But then came the sentimental. Anything and everything that meant something and was irreplaceable. Photos, letters, art, jewelry, diaries.

In the end, once Lize had arrived, we realized: after the pets... nothing. nothing seemed important or to have any value. It was such a strange sensation standing there in the smoke and panic.             This moment of clarity.

So. I would say:  a must is something as essential as life itself. Something that gives life purpose to you. My family. That is a must for me. This includes my dogs, my horses, and my husband. It includes my whole family and my wonderful friends. These truly are a must in my life. Life and the living.

The rest is not.

learning
 
growing
 
creating

loving

building

changing