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.

November: Family time!!!

November brought a visit from Oupa & Ouma, my parents. The boys could literally not keep their hands of their grandparents, almost as if they could not believe they were here in person. We spent our last weekend of their visit at Troutbeck, Nyanga. So special.

George took this amazing photo on the way there. Only God can paint such a perfect sunbeam through overcast skies.


The timeshare chalets from a golfing tee on the opposite bank.

We are here.......... note the golf course in the background :)

The hotel complex, chalets, golf course & stables - this photo was taken as we came back from World's View.

In the blink of an eye the mist would start rolling in........awesome.

The Saturday morning we went to World's View - a lookout point in the Eastern Highlands mountain range. The view is spectacular!!!! God's country for sure.

Shopping is never far........ soap stone sculptures are very popular in Zimbabwe.

Unfortunately the mist had rolled in by the time we got back to the chalets and George & Ellen had to postpone their golf game. However we had booked the boys for pony rides which turned out to be full grown horses used for the mountain trails :) Have to say I was more than apprehensive about the whole experience.

Samuel with his riding helmet........ success only until he saw the horse, then wanted nothing more to do with "safety first".

Because of no helmet, size of horse and initially frantic actions, Samuel was not alone on his ride.

He enjoyed it so much we had trouble getting him down and away from the horse.

Michael looking serious and ready for business.

After his ride with the trainer, Michael wanted to do it alone. Be still my heart!


Sunday morning was bright, clear, no rolling mist, so out came the golf clubs. I did mention George's favourite part :) the 9 hole course......actually Ellen was pretty excited about it too. Do love their passion for the game :)

Marina & Yvonne walked with the boys to meet George & Ellen. All taken from the comfort of my recliner on the chalet patio :)

It was truly a special weekend and we would have loved to stay the week. It is an amazing part of a very beautiful country, we have been blessed to have been able to live here the past 3 years.

Marina is so in love with the place she is still telling one & all that its the perfect wedding venue :) Yep, George is having heart palpitations at the thought of them having a special friend........and then we're not even close to talking leaving the nest & all that :)

Again so blessed at having a gap year with the older two - although they have lots of plans regarding volunteer work, some which includes travelling.

October: All in Pink

October was all pink as we took part in a Breast Cancer awareness campaign. All the children wore pink......easy for Yvonne as she loves pink, not to bad for Ellen as she has a collection of cancer awareness bandannas which included pink ones..... but Marina who only loves / wears black, purple and her jeans.... a different story :) But she did it like a trooper and even painted her nails pink!

Have to say the boys look very handsome in pink. On the other hand it doesn't matter what they wear we think they are the 2 cutest boys around.

October was also the beginning of our journey for 2012 as we knew George's contract in Zimbabwe was coming to an end. Various options were placed on the table and we were in a "waiting period". Never easy to be there as we knew we would only know for sure by the end of December.