A love story of soul connections, family, friendship and the magic of life…
Some people enter our lives in the most unexpected ways, and sometimes the simplest encounters become the beginning of extraordinary journeys.
Our story with Pieter de Wit began many years ago in Coffee Bay, when he was barely 18 years old.
Bethesda and I were staying at the Coffee Shack backpackers when this young man strolled in, loudly asking if anyone had butter. I happened to have some, and little did we know that this simple request would be the beginning of a connection that would continue through so many chapters of our lives.
What followed was a wonderful fish, prawn and crayfish braai shared with our newfound friends, Barry, Lena and Inge, who is all still a part of our journeys. There is something beautifully South African about friendships beginning around a fire, with live music.
Over the years, Pieter has travelled the world as a big-wave surfer, following his passion for the ocean and embracing a life of adventure.
But for me, Pieter has always been so much more than a friend.
He is one of my soul children.
A soul connection that has travelled through the years
Since we met in Coffee Bay, Pieter has been reading cards with me. I have had the privilege of being part of his journey, sharing long and deep conversations, insights and moments of reflection as life unfolded.
As a Soulgrower, there are people who cross our paths and become part of our hearts in a way that is difficult to explain. We watch them grow, find their way, experience life’s challenges and discover more of who they are.
We don’t walk their journeys for them. We simply feel grateful when we are invited to walk alongside them for a while.
I had the opportunity to do a couples reading for Pieter and Amal on our farm some time ago. It was a wonderful experience, and this past weekend, as I stood watching them join their lives together, I felt something deeply meaningful.
For the first time, I could feel in my heart that Pieter was in good hands.
I could see the way Amal embraces him, the joy they share and the natural connection between them. Their love feels like a place where Pieter can continue being himself while building something beautiful with another person.
That is such a precious thing to witness when someone has become part of your soul family.
From Coffee Bay to a surfer’s wedding
We travelled to Jongensfontein for this special celebration, staying at the lovely Airbnb, Op Eie Houtjie, with our son Juan, his beautiful wife Katja and our precious grandchildren, Jana and Lian, close to the festivities.
Although our children and grandchildren all live with us on the same farm, we are each so productive and busy with our own lives that we love the moments long enough to truly connect.
Having this time away together was a gift. It gave us the opportunity to slow down, look into one another’s eyes and simply enjoy being family.
Friday, I felt a little flu coming on and that evening I stayed home with Jana while the festivities continued. Our other friend Pieter was singing, and I received videos of the music and fun. There was plenty of live music because Pieter and Amal both love to jam.
Thankfully, I was feeling so much better on the wedding day and could join in the celebration.
The morning began with the most delicious cakes while we waited for a suitable weather opportunity to hold the ceremony on the beach. And, as so often happens when we allow ourselves to go with the flow, everything seemed to come together beautifully.
White lilies and a little nudge from the universe
Before we left our farm on Friday, I had the strangest feeling that I needed to take some white lilies for Amal.
I had no idea that she would be carrying them as her bouquet and gifting them to the Moms!
I love these moments when something within us whispers a little suggestion, and only later do we understand why.
Perhaps it is intuition, synchronicity or simply the beautiful mystery of life. Whatever it is, I have learned to appreciate these little nudges and follow them when they feel right.
Those lilies became another precious detail in a weekend already filled with meaning.
A handfasting ceremony filled with love
Our fabulous friend Martin Glinister officiated the ceremony, and what a beautiful celebration it was.
Martin and his gorgeous girlfriend, Megan, created his stunning outfit themselves, as well as the rope used for the couple’s handfasting ceremony.
Handfasting is a beautiful symbolic ritual of joining two lives, bringing together two individual journeys as a couple chooses to move forward hand in hand.
As I stood watching Pieter and Amal during their ceremony, with the ocean nearby and the people they love gathered around them, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
I was witnessing more than a wedding. I was witnessing the joining of two lives, two families and two stories, each bringing its own history, experiences and hopes for the future.
And then there was the gender reveal that Pieter and Amal are expecting a little girl!
What a beautiful new adventure awaits them. May their daughter arrive into a world filled with love, music, laughter and the freedom to discover her own path.
Reef, Amal and the beautiful meaning of family
One of the most touching parts of the celebration for me was watching Reef, Pieter’s eight-year-old son.
Seeing the way Reef accepts Amal so wholeheartedly, and the fun they have together, touched my heart deeply.
Family is not only about how we are connected. It is also about how we make one another feel and seen. It is about the space we create for each other, the laughter we share, and the willingness to welcome someone new into our lives.
Watching Reef embrace Amal and their connection reminded me that love can grow in so many beautiful ways.
When a new relationship brings joy not only to the couple but also to the children who are part of their lives, there is something especially precious about that.
May Pieter, Reef and Amal continue to share their laughter, adventures and special bond as their family grows.
And with a little sister on the way, another beautiful chapter is about to begin!
The beautiful people who make up our lives
A wedding is also a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with people whose paths have crossed ours over the years.
It was lovely to meet the families and spend time with so many special people who have become part of Pieter and Amal’s story.
We were delighted to see friends from Africa Burn, Martin and Mari, whom we hadn’t seen in more than ten years.
Another special moment was seeing our sweat lodge friend, Martin Jacques Beukes, who introduced us to his new love, Nastassja. What a lovely lady she is! It was wonderful to meet her and share in their happiness.
Our amazing artist friends Ingrid and Riaan, who live just up the road from us, were there too. Having the opportunity to spend meaningful time with them away from our usual farm routines made the weekend even more special.
There is something so lovely about gatherings like these. Different chapters of our lives come together in one place, reminding us how interconnected our journeys really are.
Celebrating Chris, little Crisé and family
Another beautiful part of the ceremony was the presence of Chris and his adorable two-year-old daughter, Crisé, who travelled all the way from Bloemfontein to Mosselbay, where they jumped in with us as we gave them a lift to Stillbay.
Chris gave a wonderful speech during the ceremony, as did Amal’s brother.
Their words added such a personal touch to the celebration, reminding us that behind every couple is a whole community of people who love them, support them and wish them well.
These are the moments that make a wedding more than a beautiful event. They give it heart and meaning.
Every person brings a little piece of the story, and together those pieces create memories that will be treasured long after the music has faded and the last guests have gone home.
When everything flows
Bethesda brought our music system and stretch tent to help make the festivities possible. Friends shared their music, talents and generosity, and everyone contributed in their own way.
The changing weather, the waiting for the beach ceremony, the delicious cakes, the lilies, the music, the handfasting and all the reunions seemed to flow together into a magical weekend.
It reminded me of the way life often unfolds when we stay open to its possibilities.
We cannot always plan every detail. Sometimes we need to wait, sometimes we need to rest, and sometimes we simply need to trust the journey and enjoy what is happening around us.
From that young man asking for butter in Coffee Bay to standing at his wedding in Jongensfontein, watching him begin this new chapter with Amal, what a privilege it has been to witness the journey.
Love runs deep
Dear Pieter and Amal, may your marriage be filled with beautiful adventures, deep love, laughter, music and the freedom to follow your dreams.
May you ride the big waves together, navigate life’s unexpected currents and always find your way back to one another.
May Amal continue to be a loving partner to Pieter, and may Reef always feel the joy and security of being part of a family where love has room to grow. And may your precious baby girl bring even more wonder, connection and happiness into your lives.
As I stood watching your handfasting ceremony, I felt superblessed with gratitude for being part of your lives.
I thought of the young surfer we met all those years ago, the cards we have shared, the couples reading on our farm, and all the moments that have brought us to this beautiful day.
I thought of the friends reunited, the families brought together, the children embracing new beginnings and the love surrounding us all.
And I was reminded that life is not measured only by the places we travel or the adventures we experience. It is also measured by the people whose journeys touch ours, the love we are fortunate enough to witness, and the privilege of being there for one another along the way.
Love runs deep.
Some connections are formed in a moment, others grow over years, and some become part of our hearts in ways that words can hardly describe.
May we never be too busy to look into one another’s eyes, to celebrate the people we love, to welcome new connections or to recognise the extraordinary blessings hidden in ordinary encounters.
Superblessed with gratitude for soul connections, family, old friends, new beginnings, beautiful synchronicities and the privilege of witnessing love in all its forms.
With love and a heart full of gratitude,
Superblessed with Gratitude