I’m in South Africa this week. Well, for the next three actually. I’m processing the amazingness of being home again after three years away. So, I’m stealing five minutes in between crocodiles, mountain lions, roaring kids and fifty guinea pigs or so to spend five minutes celebrating the written word with you wonderful folk.

Want to take five minutes with me and just write without worrying if it’s just right or not. Here’s how we do it:

1. Write for 5 minutes flat with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button code in my right side bar}

3. Go and tell the person who linked up before you what their words meant to you. Every writer longs to feel heard.

It’s a great way to exhale at the end of a beautiful week.

And for added fun I always throw into the pot something special from DaySpring. I love them and they love you – so much so that…

DaySpring’s created a coupon code just for Gypsy Mama readers! Enter GYPSY20 at checkout and you’ll get 20% off your purchase – including sale items!

Last week the joy ride plaque went to Five Minute Artist #65 Miranda at A Thankful Heart

This week the In the Shadow of His Wing necklace is up for grabs.

OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes for the prompt:

Welcome…

GO:

Airports evoke the most powerful emotions in me. More so than any other venue I can think of. I’ve cried more in airports than just about anywhere else. I’ve cried happy and I’ve cried sad and I’ve had to walk away from places and people that are a part of me. So, to clear customs with baggage piled chin high on carts and boys piled on top of baggage and emotions piled on top of that was a wonder that had me breaking out in goose bumps and grins.

There they were -

All eleven of them. All of them leaning as far over the railings as possible. All of their arms stretched out toward us and we ran into them.

We ran into home and laughter and tears and cameras and flashes and hugs that couldn’t be hard enough or long enough. We all exhaled together and then just looked around and started laughing all over again with the sheer delight of the moment. I would bottle up that feeling if I could. I would bottle it up and portion it out to my boys on the dark nights of February winters in the midwest.

Because that feeling is more than just homecoming. That feeling is the welcome that floods you like hot acceptance all the way down to your baby toes. That is the welcome that’s known you since before you were born and has loved you for years and phases and fashions and choices that color in the who of who you’ve become.

That kind of welcome is the firework show that happens as a family is reunited and no one watching can help but grin. It lights up the dimmest of airports and is reflected in the eyes of everyone watching.

STOP.

We’re two days into our three weeks in South Africa. My heart can hardly keep up with all the happy. Be sure and keep in touch so you can follow along:

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OK, your turn – show me what you’ve got.