The generators had been shut down, and with nothing around us except for the African savannah to entertain, several of us sat under the most brilliant night sky I can ever remember. We told stories that made me laugh so hard, my gut hurt the next day. The moon was absent, the Milky Way was the only light around, except for the occasional lightning in the distance from the electrical storm on the edge of the sky. What a glorious night.

For the last two nights, we stayed in a lodge run by the Maasai, just on the edge of the Mara.   

Being the only guests, we had enough space to spread out and enjoy the view of the plains.

It was a perfect place to process this amazing experience we have been having. Occasionally, we enjoyed the company of zebras, giraffes, gazelles, wildebeests and other wildlife nearby.  The girls got a kick out of how close these giraffes let us get to pose for this picture.

During the day, we spent time with children at a Compassion project that had never received visitors. The children were eager to show us their ways, and we danced and danced and danced over the next two days.

Steve and the guys broke away and helped build some computer desks for their new lab at the project, while us ladies hung with the children trading culture, crafts and friendship.

The girls are in their element, and I am as happy as I have ever have been.

On the last night out in this beautiful place, I overheard my daughter Julia say this to Isabel. “I love you Isabel, I am so glad you are my sister.”  Then she gave her a big hug.

As a mother, I thought to myself, life doesn’t get better than this. I can honestly say, the last 48 hours has been perfect.