This is my first post to write in a long time from US soil. We left Kenya on November 24th and spent 9 days with my mom's family in Dussuldorf, Germany. What an amazing trip! We had so much fun meeting all of our relatives there. Thanks so much to Connie, Lothar, Natalie and Nicole for their hospitality. We arrived in the States on December 4th. We were received by Taylor's parents and stayed with them for a few days before heading to Ruston,LA. Our sweet Hunny (Taylor's mom) had arranged some much needed shopping and hair cuts. (We were lookin' a mess!)We loved spending time with family and friends celebrating Christmas. We have missed them so much! Playing with and meeting new cousins has been so fun for our girls.
And yes....we are cold. I have been chilled since I left Africa.
A group of sweet friends from our home church, The Bridge, in Ruston had a 3 bd/2 ba house FULLY furnished, 2 cars, and pantry and fridge stocked when we arrived. WOW. What an amazing blessing. We could not even imagined a more comfortable place to stay. A house to ourselves...really! Oh my gosh, there is also hot water, a washer and dryer and no bugs. We are living a life of luxury for sure!
Our family is doing well and feeling refreshed. It is amazing what dinner or lunch with a friend can do for the soul. We battled with some illness this last few weeks, but are doing much better. You would think germs would run in terror from our "tropical disease immune" bodies. Taylor has really liked being able to do some hunting. You know you are back in Louisiana when you pluck ducks while drinking you morning coffee! Taylor and I have enjoyed getting to spend some time alone. We have had plenty of date nights and a week long trip to Colorado. And the girls have enjoyed that time being spoiled by their grandmothers and spending time with babysitters...their favorite! My girls have also enjoyed some things like: automatic doors, drinking from the sink and learning to close a door (we have only screen doors).Some things they have had to rediscover are dishwashers, clothes dryers, coke machines, huge grocery stores, juice boxes, closed toe shoes, commercials, and hot baths without the use of the stove. (All of these items have had to be explained). Missionary kids :)
We go back to Kenya on March 11. So we have about 7 weeks left. I know they will be just as fun as the last few weeks!
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| The Kempen's dinner table in Germany...a good place to be! |
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| Connie (my mom's cousin) Yum. |
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| Sight seeing |
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| Connie and the girls after a stop in the candy shop |
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| Us with Connie and Lothar |
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| Natalie and Nicole! Such sweeties! |
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| Decorating the tree at our place in Ruston. |
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| All done. |
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| Andi and Pops just catching up. |
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| Lucy riding a dog and Lainey about to choke on marshmallows. Fun times. |
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| Christmas in TX. |
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| Eli...a crazy cousin we missed so much. |
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| Christmas morning in Shreveport with our sister and brother and double-first cousins. |
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| The girls riding my brother , Seth's horses. |
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| What could be better than cousins and horses? |
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| Lainey heaven. |
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| Eli and Andi |
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| Lainey with she and Taylor's morning kill. 3 wood ducks. |
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| A morning out with their Daddy......the most awesome Daddy ever! |
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Keystone, CO with the best man in the world.
P.S., this was my first time to see real snow! |
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| Me and a huge horse. |
