Ongoing home renovations

Ongoing home renovations proved a challenge ...... 

Whilst the kitchen and sun room / dining room were in progress, we lived on take aways and Woolies food.

After 2 months, a home cooked meal and the option of home baked goodies, was number one.

The main bedroom renovation, had George, myself and the 2 boys camping out on the TV room floor for almost 6 weeks.
For now, we are done with dust, cement, bricks and chaos :)

First 6 months back in SA

Back in South Africa we tried to prepare ourselves for the truck's arrival, but still at the end of the delivery day about 50% of the boxes landed in the garage as the house was overflowing. Took me at least 6 months to make a dent in the unpacking in between the building projects. 

Yvonne was the first one to celebrate a birthday in Ghana, 2 days after we arrived
She was also the first one to celebrate her birthday upon our return, 2 days after the truck
arrived.

Yvonne's birthday cake

It was great spending time with our family that's just around the corner.

Yvonne's big decision was to cut her hair short and make a hair donation to CANSA .

When we spun the chair around and she saw herself the first time. Looks all grown up to me.

Starting 2012......Moving, saying goodbye to Zimbabwe

After 3 wonderful years in Harare, Zimbabwe we packed to come back to South Africa. With each box you pack, you pack a special memory. And although I was excited about moving "back home", there was also the heartache of leaving behind friends that had become family. 

After a week of packing our 8 years out in Africa into boxes, the truck is sealed and sent home :(
What an awesome and amazing adventure Ghana and Zimbabwe had been......now a new adventure back in South Africa.

Happy 4th birthday Samuel!

On our last "normal" Friday in Zimbabwe we had Samuel's birthday celebration. Since it was also the boys' last day of school, it was bitter sweet. The boys loved going to Jean & Annie and they blossomed whilst there. Samuel's speech improved daily as he copied his friends.

So many sweets & cakes.

Our big boy ........ he loves cupcakes :) so we had a big 4 made of his favourites.

Samuel also loves to blow out candles.


Joy as the candles are out!!!!

We will miss all our friends :(

That afternoon we spent time with our good friends at Jabulani. These children, their amazing "parents" Dorothy & Allen plus all the nannies have a very special place in our hearts. Not only have they been part of the boys' birthday celebrations, but we also enjoyed visiting them.

I was over emotional whilst Allen prayed over Samuel. Looking at the children sitting around the table I realised how amazing it was to have them there. Most of them were abandoned and not given a chance at love and a home - yet here they were, loved abundantly! cherished! special!

Looking at Samuel's development over the past year, we realise that he's improvement can only be from God. We stand amazed at the people willing to get involved in his life in order to enrich it. He is such a little love bug. His smile melts your heart.We are so blessed and humble to have been chosen to parent this little one.

Giving is better than receiving

During our time here in Zimbabwe we were fortunate to play a small part (very, very small) in the work done for orphans, prisoners and the needy here by a group of very dedicated and passionate people called Miracle Missions. They arrange a huge Christmas party for orphans and vulnerable children and aim to provide each child with a Christmas cracker and gift. The girls and I loved being part of this cracking making project and the boys loved packing and unpacking them.

Almost 200 crackers !!!!!

The other Christmas outreach we were involved in (again a small part) together with our generous congregation was an outreach to St Joseph's House for Boys. Each year we tried to give each of the boys a bag with stationary, some personal items (soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, Vaseline), eats and a "special gift" item which is handed out during a Christmas service followed by a party. This year we were able to include a towel and facecloth as the "special gift" item - something that we take for granted each day, is a luxury item for these boys. This year we were also able to bless a pastor and his family who have taken in the orphans of their village.

All the St Joseph's & McKenzie bags - about 125 bags :)

These projects have been especially close to our hearts and we will definitely miss not being involved next year.......but I'm sure God already has new projects lined up for us.

We just need to listen and be willing.

Family Christmas

Our Christmas was very quiet as my brother's son was still on his tour of duty and sorely missed :( Theo Jnr is much loved and we enjoy having him around :)

My family spent Christmas Eve at our house and the boys were allowed to collect their own gifts from under the tree - must say most of the gifts were for them.

Gigi helping with the bigger gifts

Michael was more into tearing the paper and then kicking it around.

Samuel however...........

got his favourite household item........ a mini vacuum cleaner (or hoover as he calls it). I know this is a "girl" gift, but Samuel absolutely loves following me around the house whilst I clean. His occupational therapist also said it's therapeutic for him, so he got one. He was so happy, for the rest of the night he was cleaning carpets all around us :)

Michael also got one (as Gigi felt what the one got so must the other), however he detached the nozzle from the pipe and promptly used it as a "golf club" to hit a paper ball :)

Our littlest rascal :)

Christmas day was spent with George's sister, Marica and her son Jacques visiting from the States.

Christmas Party at school

Early December Jean & Annie had a Christmas celebration at school. This was the boys first Christmas Father encounter together with all the trimmings. Our family have never done the dressing up thing and the boys were not quite sure who this man was handing out presents.

We have been really blessed with the school the boys were in in Zimbabwe. Two awesome ladies who truly loves each of the children in their care.

Jean

Annie

Samuel loved the cupcakes.........until the icing was licked off :)

Not sure what Michael was thinking........just know he is such a cutie pie :)

"Father Christmas" jnr x 2 - yet 2 very different approaches. Samuel really enjoyed himself and made it clear to one and all. Michael again showed his serious side, watching and learning :)

Ouma Ella helping to open our aeroplanes.