GLORY BABY

I want to say thank you to everyone who has sent us emails of encouragement and comfort during the past few days.

On Monday I went in for a normal 13.5 week check up for our baby. I had Maddie and Alex with me and we were so excited to see the baby again. Our 9 week check up was amazing - we saw the baby moving and a fast heartbeat. But on this visit the baby was only measuring 12.5 weeks and the doctor could not find a heartbeat. I was looking on the screen at the baby and my heart stopped a beat and I just prayed - please let this be a mistake! He just isn't looking hard enough! It was so hard to keep myself together so the kids were not alarmed, I did not feel that they needed to know right then - I still needed to tell Scott.

I got home and told Scott news that I was never expecting to tell. We had lost our baby and we just cried! It seems like we already had these amazing plans for this baby. He/She was so much a part of our family already. He/She brought so much happiness and love.

Yesterday I had a D&C in a foreign hospital, with foreign doctors, but had Scott there every step. I am so grateful for a husband like him. He held my hand and made sure I was OK.

This definitely was a day that we wished we were back home in the states! We do have to say that even though we were far from home - We could feel the love and comfort from everyone praying for us! God is still amazing and even if we can not understand why this happened, We know God is still here. He has comforted us and held us during this time and we feel at peace. We are also blessed with amazing friends here who were also praying and welcoming our kids for a few days. We are sure glad we have such amazing faith and hope in God and that we have such amazing families and friends. We do not know how anyone can go through a sad time like this without God and family and friends!

Please continue to pray for me/us as I woke up this morning with this very empty feeling. I feel like I am missing a part of me and it is so sad.

Pray as we continue to pack and head for home! We are so HAPPY to be going home in 15 days!! We are so excited to get off the plane and see everyone again! We need those hugs!

AGAIN - THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR PRAYERS! WE DEFINITELY FELT THEM ALL THE WAY OVER HERE!!

Not sure how this happened!

Alex lost his first tooth in Africa!!

We still are unsure on how it happened. His tooth was not loose before last night. Alex came down from his room (after he was to be in bed for 2 hours) and told me his tooth was loose. Not really believing him, I checked anyway. Not only was it loose, but it was close to to coming out. I told him that it would be a bit before I could pull it because the roots on one side was still very much intact.

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Then today, the bugger pulled his whole tooth out. "Look Mom my tooth came out"

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We are still confused. He has wished for a loose tooth since Maddie started losing hers. I told him maybe when he is 5 or 6. He is so excited for the tooth fairy to come. (I hope he doesn't start pulling his teeth just for the money!)

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My Zebra Rug Has Come!

We are sending it to get black felt put on the back and to do an outline on the outside of the zebra rug.

I still can not believe that I shot a zebra!

UPCLOSE WITH THE ELEPHANTS

Well here it is Dad - the much promised updated blog! I admit I have been a slacker. Just think on August 15 at 6:15pm at the Grand Rapids Airport, you will all have a chance to welcome us HOME!!

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We have been busy getting things ready to ship home, packing, buying airline tickets, finding a new person to head up ICT, finding replacements for us for GEMS and BUGS, spending time with our friends, and definitely seeing more of Africa and its beauty!

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Last Saturday we went to an elephant sanctuary near Hartbeesport Dam. We took some friends with us - Kelli and Melissa. WOW! It was an amazing experience. We all learned a lot. The kids just had their mouths open wide.

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Here are some pictures of our day:

The elephant posed for the picture!

Listening to the guide talk about the elephants.

Have you ever seen the inside of an elephants mouth? HUGE!!

And then comes the fun part. I was the guinea pig to get a kiss from an elephant. Now I was just thinking a little nudge on the cheek. What I got was a HUGE VACUUM stuck to the side of my face! Gross!! Stinky!! Hilarious!!

My surprised face!!

The "lipstick" left behind on my cheek.

We learned a lot about elephants. We learned how to tell apart and African Elephant from an Asian elephant. The African elephant have huge ears (shaped liked Africa). We also learned that the ear hole of an elephant is in front of his huge ear and not behind - so crazy!

After my kiss and scream, Alex was not too sure about getting close to the elephant.

Maddie was the opposite. She was so excited to touch him. We were able to touch their long trunks, under their hairy chin, their squishy bellies, their tough knees, and their tough bottoms of their feet.

Scott had his fun too! He was almost as tall, but definitely not the same weight. Temba (the elephant) was 7 years old and weighed a lot. Here are some African elephant facts:

African elephants are the largest land animals with body growth continuing for up to 30 years. Bulls (males) may reach a height of 9-13 feet (3-41/2 m) at the shoulder and weigh between 9,000-13,000 pounds (4,500-6,000 kg). Cows (females) are smaller in size, averaging 7-9 feet (2.5-3 m) at the shoulder and weighing between 4,500-7,000 pounds (2,200-3,000 kg). An adult elephant will be almost as tall as it is long. The ears alone can measure nearly 6 feet (2 m) high and 4 feet (1.5 m) wide and weigh almost 100 pounds (45 kg).

Madison loving the day!

Madison walking an elephant.

Wow - what an amazing experience she had!

Alex softening up as the day went on.

Not sure if Alex is walking the elephant or pulling the elephant!

He was so afraid the elephant was going to suck in his jacket (I would be afraid of my whole hand)!

Feeding the elephants

This picture is for Grandma Leenstra - notice the tongue sticking out in concentration - I think that is a Boersma trait!

The elephants loved Alex - He would give them so much food at a time!

Maddie would give a little at a time and then the elephant would wait until more was put in before he put it into his mouth.

Another great experience and I am so glad we have had this opportunity!

This is who we went with - Kelli and Melissa. Kelli (in the black jacket) left for home to Ohio on July 15. She lived in South Africa for a year working for Ambassadors in Sports. She is getting married in Seattle in December! I am so excited for her. I will greatly miss her, but what is so awesome is we will only live 6 hours from each other. It was great to meet such a great friend in Africa! I wish her all the best in planning her wedding!

Miss you already Kelli, but I will see you soon!! God Bless You!

THE RUMOR IS TRUE!! WE ARE COMING HOME!!

A few days ago I asked the kids to get their shoes on because it was time to go. Alex with the greatest excitement says "Are we going home today?!?"

Not today Alex, but in 6 weeks we will be heading home! The news is bittersweet. We are so excited to go home and "start over" and to especially see our family and friends. On the other hand we are so sad to leave here. We have really met some great friends and we feel like we have come to a "normal" here. Scott (I am sure) is disappointed in how things are turning out for the business, but is still hopeful for the company after we leave. He is still working hard! Actually yesterday was his first sale!!! HE SOLD 200 blocks!! YEAH! Funny how that happens a few days after a decision has been made to come home!

Anyway, the kids and I have been spending extra time with our friends here. We went to another animal sanctuary with our friends Laura and her kids Caleb and Samuel. Laura has become such a dear friend to me. She is so full of encouragement, excitement, and just plain fun!! She is a type of person who you want to be around because of all her positive energy!

Here are some photos of our day together. While the kids played in the sandbox (almost 45min) Laura and I got to just enjoy time together. It is so sad to me to leave friends behind. It was easier leaving friends in the states because I knew I would see them again soon, but here it is much harder! I am not sure if we will be back (or at least anytime soon).

Oh and the first picture is of Maddie and her new smile, missing a tooth!


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Presenting Maddie and Alex performing Father Abraham

Enjoy this clip! The kids spent some time practicing and then performing. They have the giggles by the time they are done!!

As Decisions are being made....

We just want to say thank you to everyone who has sent emails of encouragement and all your prayers! We greatly appreciate them. This has been a crazy adventure for us and we are grateful for everything we have seen and done. This was a little piece of encouragement Scott received recently and I thought I would share it:


.......If it seems almost insurmountable at times, remember that time seems to give answers as to what the Lord's programme is. He is in control always, and He has a plan that goes well beyond our finite business plans.....possibly He even plans that we table/abort our plans 'til a later date or 'til things open up at a future date'. ......Possibly He wants us to wait 'til the developer gets clearance in a year or two before going forward......whatever happens I can assure you that you'll look back on these things/experiences as growing and memorable ones.

We will keep you updated!

My Ponytail Palm aka Elephant Foot

A couple of months ago Scott and I decided to do a little landscaping. We took a long time to decided what to do and where to put the plants. It was a hard decision to even put plants in knowing that it is a rental property and that we are not going to be able to take it with us when we move.

Anyway we decided on this awesome looking palm - the ponytail palm. I loved it because the leaves were long and went to the ground:

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Sample picture of what they look like and what ours did look like a few days ago!:

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Here is a picture of what they could look like if taken care of properly:

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Here is a picture of our ponytail palm after our gardener decided it needed a "trim!"

This is what Scott found when he came home and I was a Holiday Club! Who does that to a tree that doesn't need trimming! SO SO SAD!! I wouldn't be so upset if it was actually trimmed evenly! Not sure what animal character he was trying to make. Do you see the vision he had?