Giraffes

Thanks for your prayers regarding our safe travel. We arrived home on Wednesday afternoon, after 32 hours in transit. Our 'sit downs' were mighty sick of sitting down! And, can you believe it? After 32 hours at home, we left for an Iowan wedding. As I couldn't give you many details or photos from Africa, this quiet space in a corner waiting for the wedding seems designed to treat you to safari details.

While riding through the Zulu Nyala game reserve, one of our favorite animals would glide into view -- or peek at us across the trees. The giraffes amazed us, gently loping between the trees, snacking from the top branches. A favorite for all of us was a three week old baby.

Our safari guide, Alan Maloney, assured us that, although constructed of only seven vertebrae, giraffe necks clearly are so long because -- their heads are so far from their bodies! Genius...

Interesting dominance ritual -- male giraffes fight each other by pushing and twisting their necks.

Leaving Soon

...Leaving soon. Putting behind us locks and gates and fences and security... Leaving behind us new friendships, a little sweat (well, more Don than me), a few tears (mine...). Guaranteed -- we have an enlarged heart, inhabited by precious African faces.

...Please pray for our safe return, with a smooth connection in Atlanta. Thirty-two hours in transit will stretch us enough. We don't want to stay in route any longer than necessary. Pray, too, that we'll process what we have seen and felt -- that it will become a part of us. Pray for the Carmichaels and Sally and the Mamas who touch lives here daily.

...On return, I'll get you some photos that will draw you into this place...