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What a wonderful trip we had back home! We could not have been more excited!! It started with plane delays and late arrival, but the stop at Taco Bell in the Detroit Airport made it worth the plane delay - and then the waiting committee at the Grand Rapids Airport was overwhelming!! It was so good to see family and friends there. Thank you to all of you who were up late waiting for us!!
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Oh and let me tell you about the HUGS! It was priceless! I could go on and on about the emotions our whole family was having! Maddie and Alex were so excited to see grandparents and aunts, uncles, and of course their friends and cousins. It was hard to take them away from all of that to come back here. I keep telling them that they have a lot to look forward to on our next visit home!
.The things that I noticed that had changed include - Johnny growing up - Those precious pregnant bellies -The little kids that have changed so much (Nicholas, Levi, and Ella), the new Meijers at Cascade, Walmart closing early (WHAT?!?!?), my dislike for Papa Johns Pizza (I loved this pizza before we left), and our dog Riley is taller and better mannered (thanks Dan and Deb!).
.Well we managed to jam pack our 3 week visit with friends and family. It was a busy visit, but one that was well worth it (I am not used to being busy like that). We defiantly are truly blessed!! God is so good to us and I am thankful for everyone that is a part of our lives. Thank you to all of you for such a great visit and hopefully we will be back soon! I/We love you all!!
.Here are some photos of our visit - enjoy - I know there is a lot, but I have to make up for a long over due blog posting!
.The first thing the kids did was go play out in the snow at Grandma and Grandpas!!
The Family Photo
We were soon joined by Dan and his three kids - Chase, Andrew, and Joy and Johnny came out to show us the moves on his snow board! What a blast!
Grandma came out for some fun too!
Johnny! Thank you Johnny for letting us take over your bedrooms and your car! That was sweet of you!
Scott and Alex on the snowmobile
Johnny taking Maddie for a ride.
.Maddie had an eventful visit!! She started with losing her third tooth at Grandmas
Maddie's new smile
Maddie's new smile
Maddie and her cousin Arianna showing off their beautiful smiles!!
.Maddie and I took a visit to Dutton Christian School! Maddie was overwhelmed with hugs from her old classmates and teacher. She spent the afternoon joining the kids at recess and in class! I spent the afternoon going over curriculum to start homeschooling Maddie!
Maddie was excited to be back for a visit. It was amazing to here how the 1st grade classes have been continually praying for Maddie in South Africa! 
Hugs from Mrs. Wells -Maddie's kindergarten teacher
Hug from Maddie's friend Phoebe!
.We had a nice visit with my Mom and John up north. We spent a Saturday together just enjoying the outdoors and each others company. We had a great turkey dinner (we missed Thanksgiving)
.Sledding
Maddie and Arianna having races!
Alex braving the "ol' trusty toboggan" by himself - I was so nervous, but I let him do it - He went down the whole length of the hill standing up!!
Dinner! What a feast - Yes that is Alex sleeping at the table!! The kids were definite troopers being on the go everyday!
This was a common site! The kids sleeping in the car!
.CHRISTMAS PARTIES
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The best part was spending time with the family! There were plenty of moments where I would just stop and pause and take it all in! I enjoyed listening to all the family discussions, eating more than enough food, but what I enjoyed listening to the most was Maddie and Alex laughing and having fun with their cousins. I even had to fight the tears! I miss the kids being so excited and having so much fun. There are times in South Africa where I feel awful for taking them away from all their cousins and friends. They had so much fun! It broke my heart again to take that away. Maddie cried the first night back in South Africa talking about how much she missed all her grandmas and grandpas and her cousins and friends.
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The Veenstra Party
The Veenstra Party
Mom and John
Making a pyramid
Alex - Andrew - Chase - and Jared
Bella - Maddie - Joy - Faith - Arianna
Sara and I catching up! - Hope you are feeling better Sara - Get some rest!!!
.The Leenstra Party
Our annual group photo!
Yes - Alex and Maddie are into the video games! (They are very much used on the long plane rides!)
.The Dieleman Party
Grandpa showing off his new teeth he received from Maddie
Maddie catching up with Stella (She lives in DC). It was great to see you Amy, Tristan and Stella!!
New PJ's
All the cousins
Alex seeing the real Santa!! This is always a fun tradition at the Dieleman Party - the kids get a visit from Santa Claus. The only problem was they all figured out who Santa was - Grandpa. So this year we decided to throw them for a loop! Uncle Scott (DeBoer) was our new Santa. It was amazing to see the kids faces as they saw Santa come in the room and then they saw Grandpa sitting in his chair - took them all for a loop - I even saw hesitation in some of them as they all had a chance to sit on Santa's lap. Alex still talks about seeing the real Santa - and Maddie talks about how it wasn't the real Santa because he was wearing Crocs! I guess you can't fool them all.
.New Year's Getaway with Friends
.We had a chance to getaway for a few days with our friends the Donkers and Rietsmas! We used Michelle's grandparents cottage! What a great time! We really enjoyed catching up and just spending time together!
The whole gang
Friends Melissa and Michelle
Alex with Scott after a squirrel hunt!
Waiting for a tube ride behind the four wheeler
Zoe - Maddie - Justin
Going for a ride
Maddie and the snow - How Beautiful!
Maddie and Zoe'
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Our visit with Riley
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We got to see Riley again! Scott's sister's family has been taking care of him for us! THANK YOU! Maddie and Alex lite up and enjoyed their visit (I did too! - I miss him).
Maddie and Zach - both missing the same tooth!
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There it is! We had a hard time leaving everyone behind again! The kids did so good on the planes home (they amaze me everytime!). It was nice, but also sad to go home in South Africa. I was hoping to come back to hot weather and enjoy the sun, but we have come home to rain! It is the same temperature here as it was when we left Grand Rapids! I am ready for the rain to go away and for the rest of the summer here.
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What are we up to now - well - Scott is back to work, we are all still trying to get our bodies into South Africa time, I am busy preparing to homeschool Maddie, and the kids are off playing with all of their Christmas toys (did I mention that the kids play so well together!).
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Thank you to everyone for such a great visit - we enjoyed it and are looking forward to the next one!!
Love - Hugs - Kisses - Treasure Every Moment Together
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God is good all the time - All the time God is good!
4 comments:
You were right! by the time I got up this morning, there was a new blog post! Hope you got some much needed sleep last night or will be able to take a nap today. Time to get your days and nights figured out again!
We sure did have a wonderful time with you here. It went by so quickly. Everyone wants a piece of your time when you've been gone from home so long. You are welcome to stay here anytime, and it was nice of Johnny to give up his room and let you use "his" car! He didn't seem to mind at all though.
Were so happy that the trip back to SA went so well considering you were without most of your planned provisions! You have beautiful, precious kids and much to be thankful for. I'm sure they will have some readjusting to do but they will do fine. They didn't seem to mind going to the airport and getting back on the plane as much as I thought they might. Maybe they were ready to settle down a bit too!
Loved the pics and can't wait to hear how things are going again.
Love you, Mom D
Glad you are home safely...I am still really exhausted and trying hard to get rid of this virus and whatever I must have caught with it. I sure wish I could have spent more time with all of you.. Sending you lots of love.
Dear Lia - that was beautiful - it was like reading a book about the lives of the Leenstras. What awesome pictures! What a lot of smiley faces! That last one is priceless - does your dad have it enlarged and framed yet?? It was wonderful that you could squeeze so much into 3 short weeks (even a GEMS meeting and the leaders party!). I hope you all get back on schedule soon and that home-schooling goes well. Love you!!! Aunt Marva
It was great to see you a bit while you were home. Your pictures are great - you really crammed a lot into three weeks! The last one of Maddie and Grandpa is priceless....
Glad you had safe travels - must have been exasperating to not be able to take your snacks and the kids' toys on the plane.
Prayers for you as you begin homeschooling :)
Love and hugs!
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