I am back...we landed last week but it seems to take me a little while to get my feet back underneath me and re-enter my reality of work. We had an incredible trip covering the northwest area of South Africa & into Lesotho. On the world map it doesn't look like much but we did LOTS of driving, covering over 2,500 miles. Everyone has assumed I must have tons of pictures but surprisingly I did not take many at all. I didn't realize that I actually needed a vacation from my camera too. And this trip really was about being with my family and watching our boys get to experience the third world and wildlife for the first time. The best part of our trip was just being with my family for 3 weeks. I feel so lucky to have gotten the time and then to be in such beautiful places.
The biggest highlight for me was getting to watch the boys meet & play with kids that they couldn't communicate with but still have unforgettable experiences with. Cooper was fearless looking for ways to connect. He grabbed rocks & taught boys tic tac toe and then went on to make up a totally new game that kept everyone enthralled and laughing. It was so great. The other big highlight was getting back to our villages and seeing a few old friends. I am sharing lots of pictures here and you will see a series of images that show my husband's close friend running up to him when he heard we were in the village. We had not had anyway to notify them of our visit so it was a complete surprise. Their reunion was incredible to witness. The embraces & smiles were endless. And I have just one of me w/ some of my old neighbors as I shared pictures from the past with them from over 15 yrs ago. They couldn't believe we returned and remembered them...how could we ever forget??!! We traveled to the high school to find my neighbors daughter who was in her last year there. I was so thrilled to learn that she had made it through school.
Lesotho is such a beautiful, remote, rugged country that has remained, for the most part, unchanged over the past 15 years, still one of the poorest countries in the world. The best description of what it is like is what I envision the wild west being like. I wish everyone could visit Lesotho!

Before I write anything more I must recognize the exciting news that has taken place in S. Sudan. It is official that the south will become receive their independence in July. Such incredible news and now we need to keep all eyes on Sudan to ensure that the north does not start a genocide in the months and years to come.
This image stirs many things w/in me and I think it is appropriate to share just this one for today...I will not give my narrative and perhaps it will signify something different for you.


I have decided that instead of feeling guilty about not blogging regularly in the past few months (and the month ahead) I just need to embrace my reality that this is my hibernation time (the image for me also translates to my life here). The first quarter of the year is always a quiet time in terms of shoots but for me it is busy closing up my previous year, preparing my books for the IRS (this has to be the most awful part of my job & takes way too long) and thinking about what may be ahead for me. So I am no longer going to worry about my pause on here. Please just continue to check back and I promise to continue to share images and thoughts.
In less than 2 weeks I am going to be having the time of my life as my husband and I are taking our boys to South Africa & Lesotho. We will be returning to the villages we lived in from '94-'96. It will be crazy to return & there is no way to send advanced warning of our visit so we will roll into the mtn villages & I am sure surprise a few people. I am looking forward to sharing this part of our life w/ our boys & for them to see such a different way of life. And to get to spend 3 wks w/ just my family, I feel very lucky, for sure! I have been thinking about our return to our villages for years & I cannot believe it will be happening in 2 wks!!

I'm still here...but somehow the last thing on my mind is to blog. It kind of kills me because I am now so much more happy with my images and I have really enjoyed sharing them with people but for some reason I am not finding words enough to share all my thoughts. So bare w/ me and keep checking back.
I hosted a "Sharing about S. Sudan" night on Wednesday and the turnout and interest in seeing my images and hearing some of the stories behind them really touched me. And receiving so much positive feedback following the night is motivating me to try and find more ways to do it again. It was really, really wonderful. Thank you to everyone for attending and for those who are interested in attending a future even just let send me an email.

Before I share more Sudan images I wanted to give an update on little Georgia if you haven't been following along on her mom's amazing blog that is documenting their journey. Wednesday was an even bigger day for her...she had her bone marrow transplant. She continues to be the strongest little one year old you will ever meet. Please think of her today and send positive thoughts their way! And give your little ones an extra big hug for Georgia today!

Now more from S. Sudan. All of these images were taken in the little town I stayed in, Torit. Somehow I was talked said yes to getting in the cattle corral & a local took my picture. Those cows have such big horns, it never got old watching them walk by.

The historic referendum in Southern Sudan is just 2 days away. I wish I could be there to document the incredible day and the aftermath that will hopefully result in a the building of a peaceful country. There is major concern that the north will not allow the succession to happen peacefully & genocide or a civil war may break out. Please follow what is happening in the news, even though we are on the other side of the world our support can make a difference. Follow this link to show your support.

If you have read my posts that I wrote while in Sudan you may remember that I wrote about running out to the road when I heard chanting/marching going by and could see the top of a flag leading the way. It was an amazing scene & I was over the moon w/ the one minute I got to film them as they marched by. Then I decided to follow them to see where they were marching and then the next 4 hours played out to an unforgettable setting. I found myself as the center of a rally that started building w/ traditional dancers and then the area became packed w/ locals as the Governor of the State of Equatoria drive up & a handful of rousing speeches commenced followed by more dancing until the sun went down. I still can't believe I stumbled upon such an amazing event. This country deserves their freedom!
Here are a few images from that day and hopefully I can get a few videos up later.