“Koppie klim!”

A while ago, Franco and Gert climbed the koppie  (hill) behind our house.  Franco couldn’t wait to go up again, so the next weekend all of us went up – except for Oupa who manned the telephone in case someone phoned in connection with a puppy (we had just advertised)  Hendrik was still at church and Frans at work.

The horse trail at the foot of the koppie.

Dorette with Janita and Thelwyn with Sandy

It is quite steep uphill and tough for little ones, so I took Franco by the hand – end of pictures of our way up!  Leading someone up the hill reminded me very much of the about 20 months that I led my mother up the hill: She had her crutch in the one hand, and held onto me – her walking tree – with the other.  I got to know every stone and tree: where to get her to step and where to hold on – her eyesight was very bad.  We used to chat all the way up and i have precious memories of those times - I’ll cherish them forever.

On top of the hill – standing by the plaque Ma unveiled on her 90th birthday.  We had celebration prayer times here on her 90th and her 91st birthdays.  She died two months before her 92nd birthday. 

Janita got out of her carrier and also paid her respect to “Oumagrootjie se plaat”.

Hello Oupa! 

We phoned Oupa Jan to come out of the house to wave at the children.

Janita had had enough of family photos!

Time to go down again – Gert only carried Franco across an opening between the rocks – for the rest they walked down on their own two feet.

Rustyd.  And no, Martelize is not sitting on the edge of a cliff – this is just a rock next to the path.

My precious blue eyed Franco!
Thank you God, for such a precious koppie and such precious times that we have spent – and will spend- there.