This time next week, we'll be on an airplane...

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How is it possible that we are starting our final week living here in Hammanskraal? I know this is true in my head and I see it is true when I look at the calendar, but it still does not feel real that after almost a decade of living in South Africa, we are about to become residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

I can still remember landing here with ALL of our luggage, the group of men who insisted on helping us transport said luggage to the car rental agency in the parking lot, and the extreme anxiety I felt when we didn't have any Rand to give a tip to anyone. I remember celebrating Tyson's 7th birthday and Jori's 5th birthday within a few days of landing, and now we will be celebrating their 17th and 15th birthdays just a month and a few days after returning to the US. Where has the time gone?

We have been staying busy since I last wrote. We cleaned the garage and Darin's office is looking more manageable than it has in years. We've gone to a garden centre with a petting zoo, Jori got her braces off, we went for a final meal at Roco Mama's with our framily, said goodbye to dear friends at Tshepo ya Bana, and started the long process of saying goodbye in earnest. 










We also have a lot to look forward to in this last week, including a picnic in the botanical gardens, coffee and melktert at Butterfly, Mother's Day, Mohau's first birthday and a three night sleepover extravaganza with Amo!! We also have Covid tests, packing, emptying the house and saying our hardest goodbyes, but if I keep my focus on the celebrations, food and fun, I am able to remain temporarily in denial about the hard stuff. 

We truly appreciate the prayers being said on our behalf. Please continue to pray that we will remain in good health, have patience with each other, a sense of humor when things don't go as planned, and that we will remember that we have a Father who loves us and will be near to us even in the hard moments. 


Comments

Crystal Roberts said…
I can’t only imagine how hard this must be. Praying for you and your family for health and a safe return back to the states. May you have peace and comfort with your goodbyes...or maybe not goodbyes, but see you laters. Thinking of you all!
May 5, 2021 at 3:06 PM
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