Our six-week visit to the states was a buffet of experiences from heart-pumping fun to heart-rending sadness. And everything inbetween. Excellent and exhausting - memories were made (pics to the right). If it were reported in a newspaper it might read something like this:
Headlines - Page 1"The Flikkema family's quest to
get home before Christmas goes from ache to ulcer on the 20th (and 21st) of December - see story page 3."
"Althea Flikkema (Kevin's mom)
passed away January 3rd after a battle with cancer - but not before she spent a snowed-in, fun-filled, post-Christmas weekend with her beloved family at a cabin near Hebken Lake. Before she passed she learned of her daughters pregnancy, she played Five Straight with her children, she hugged her grandson and grandaughters and saw the snowman they made for her. God's perfect love and timing were never more evident then during these days."
"When approaching something as big as a
knee-replacement operation, Ann Wanders (Sandra's mom) found it was good to have a distraction - like grandkids - and a very caring church family who helped out with child care for Sandra, dinners, etc. The surgery was a success. The recuperation is in progress."
Sports+Leisure - Page 2"Eli Flikkema got on some skis for the first time in December in Montana - and he liked it! No fear on the lift - tho a bit more on the slopes - he survived two different days of mom and dad's tips and is eager to try again soon.
Skiing buddy and cousin Johnny could've done with a bit more fear, but was impressive to watch. Sandra and Kevin skied on other days with other folks too and reacquainted themselves with the face-numbing, knee-paining, gear-hauling joy of playing in the powder."
"The other major pasttime for children and their keepers was
sledding. In Big Sky near a ski hill, by the Wanders' house at the park, and at River Rock on Christmas Day... everyone got in on the fun. Mary was reluctant but Eli was fearless, a big change from earlier in 2008."
"Sandra and her other sisters (Janelle, Nicole) spent one day at the
spa getting girly, swimming in a heated pool while snowflakes landed in their hair, getting treated, and enjoying. While the 1.5 hour trip home was the most challenging driving (blizzard, visibility = nil) Sandra has done to this point in her life, it was worth it."
"Pup-tent camping in Florida with the 5-member Moss family (Sandra's sister) added a whole new chapter to Sandra's camping experiences log. It was cold. The trees were beautiful. And the wildlife was plentiful. Beating off raccoons (literally. thankfully the kids were in the camper), chasing turkey buzzards, waiting for a wild boar to cross the road, and watching armadillos rustle for food was a true nature experience. The adults didn't sleep due to comfort issues and some crazy bird that sends mating calls at 2am, but the kids had fun."
"Finally, when the excitement has been too much, train-spotting in Indiana was an activity the children could do for hours on end. Eli and his Grandma also learned how to play SkipBo."
Travel+Weather - Page 3"The Flikkemas quest to
get home (continued from page 1) started out simply enough. But one pilot was missing due to illness and the FAA's rules are lame due to bureaucracy. In short, the plane had to land in Maine to await another pilot who was coming from New York (see note on Delta) before it was allowed to go on to Cincinnati. NY was under a blizzard closure (Delta's decision makers are dumb for unknown reasons. Pilot from Atlanta next time please?). The plane - with said Flikkemas and other victims on board - sat on the tarmac of a small Maine airport for 4 HOURS awaiting aforementioned pilot. No getting off. Only trips to the cockpit and taking breaths of fresh air out of the open boarding door were allowed. Eventually they flew the last 2 hours to Cincinnatti and were immediately shoved aboard a late, late flight to Salt Lake. Arriving at midnight they got to a hotel and a bed around 1am. Back to the airport in Salt Lake early in the morning. Long, long lines and people sleeping against walls. No room on the planes for perhaps a couple of days. Thanks but no thanks. Kevin called Hertz. The family got in a car and drove the remaining distance (about 6-7 hours) to Montana. A 44 hour trip finally ended. The family survived (barely) and had much smoother trips - problem free - during the rest of the trip."
"From freezing their fingers on ski lifts to soaking their shorts in the ocean, the Flikkemas experienced it all this time around. Even Florida gave them
hot and cold in one short week. Amazingly, Sandra and the kids outran all illnesses save one stomach-emptying incident for Mary in a McDonalds (travel weary, probably). Unfortunately, Kevin - having come back 3 weeks early, working, skiing with buddys somewhere in Austria, and wearing himself out - has been fighting illness since the middle of January. Exhaustion was the bigger problem for the entire family. Perhaps the next vacation should be a restful one. Ha!"
Business+Money - Page 4"The only business that gets done on vacation time is
family business. And that's a good thing. Much of it was fun. For a week or two much of it was hard. Having shouldered much in the last year while Althea was ill, Matt had his kids - all six of them - to help carry the load during the toughest days. God is good."
"Vacation Tip #32: When renting a car on vacation... Do NOT reserve less than 20 minutes ahead of time, request a booster seat, or rent one way to a small town like, say, Bozeman Montana. Doing so will result in a large hit to your credit card. However, when your other choice is to risk not getting home for Christmas (such as in this entirely "hypothetical situation"), do it. And be grateful it was there to rent at all."
Life+Entertainment - Page 5
"Following a big family hike, in the snow, to frozen-over Grotto Falls, the clan experienced a classical memory-making moment in the parking lot: babies locked in the truck. To keep the girls warm (Mary - almost two, Hanna - just turned one) someone put them in the truck..... with the keys. Mary is almost two. She did what comes naturally at this age and pulled levers, turned the wheel, pushed buttons. Including the 'lock' button. The next 20 minutes were a comical mix of pleading, teaching, cajoling, and jimmying that finally resulted in Mary pushing the 'unlock' button on the keyfob. She got to be the star/hero (as well as the culprit, though that is debatable) and enjoyed every minute of the entire incident. A few were worried. Sandra thought it was hilarious. Hanna slept through the whole thing."
"Sidebar: How to Build a Snow Cave! You will need: 3 grown men with advanced educational degrees, 3 large shovels, 2 small shovels, and 1 stick to poke randomly through the snow searching for a way through. Also, 1 excited 4-year old boy for motivation. Begin with a large, plowed hill of snow. Add two days of free time, snow gear, fireplaces for warming/drying, and hot chocolate breaks. Result: one cool cave with two entrances, a snow chair, and even a diversion tunnel (for 4-year old boys)."
Editorial+Opinion - Page 6"If there is one thing children - and parents - never tire of, it is the simple and
cost-free pleasures of being. Snowball fights, making a snowman and snowangels, sledding, doing the 'Flikkema Flip' with Papa, reading books, throwing bread crumbs into a pond, playing at the park, finding sticks, wrestling with uncles, taking 'horsey rides' on Grandpa and 'bull rides' on Bill, watching trains.... and doing all of them with the people who love them the most. The simplest things are the most wonderful - God designed it that way. Our children don't have a clue what it is to
not be loved. And neither do we."
"More
people were kind to us, showing God's love to us (without even a thought) on this trip than can be mentioned in this blog. In short: Wanders of Belgrade, Bethel Church Family, Distant Family (Close Friends), Neighbors, Old Friends (thanks for wrapping your arms around us over the internet and phone lines), FeG Church in Germany, Greene Road Church in Goshen, and the rest of you. We noticed. We thanked God for you. We love you."
On the Thursday before Ash Wednesday the men go to work with ugly or old ties on because their female coworkers cut them off right before lunchtime. This happens every year. Kevin has on both occasions "forgotten" to wear a tie. No explanation had been given to me for why this occurs. The kids have a huge all day party at school consisting of eating, dancing to fun music, and parading through the school in a single file line saying "Alle.... Ab!" I believe this means "We look.... ridiculous!" but I could be wrong. And anyway, the kids had a blast at all the celebrations (school, baby playgroup, town party, themed bday party). Kevin and I did not participate though the adults do join in and have their own parties as well. Having seen the costumes for adults in the stores... I was afraid to go. More pics here.
Of course for us February also means we celebrate Mary's birthday. She is now TWO folks. Mary can do everything on her own, thank you. I have found her recently wearing a shirt on her legs, standing next to the potty with her pants down ("Mom! Like Eli!") and digging in the refrigerator which she recently got strong enough to open. We had a small party and she loved opening presents. Mary's personality at 2 is sweet and funny. She loves to dance and is very, very determined. She is always a joy. We are having a blast. For party pics click here.
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