“I hope if you ever have a son, you name him Vern. There should be more Verns in the world. I could teach him my profession-welding. Well, not really the welding part, just the burning part.” — My dad. 

These are things I miss out on while I’m half-way around the world…

I finally stepped foot into my parents house last night, it felt good to be home. I had 15 minutes to shower and get out of the house for Christmas Eve–that part wasn’t so great (especially when the ‘ole baby powder in the hair to hide the grease didn’t work out so well–but that’s another story…).

My dad grew up in a country church that my grandparents still attend when the can (they’re in a nursing home now) and it’s been family tradition for us to go their Christmas program on Christmas Eve for years. It was fun to be back–and as usual, I got the giggles. It’s probably good we walked in late and the rest of the family was on the other side of the church, our laughter was a little less contagious that way.

Today was fun too. I throughly enjoyed the after presents game of Cranium and my mom acting out “low rider”. My brother humming “somewhere over the rainbow” and Grandma Fluff impersonating Bill Clinton were also highlights. There’s more, but I don’t think anyone will find it quite as funny as I do. I will say Grandma Fluff is a force to be reckoned with in wii bowling (pictures to follow…).

I feel really blessed to be home for Christmas this year. It’s been amazing to spend the last week with friends and family. It’s nice knowing that this isn’t the usual quick trip and that today, when we left my grandma’s, it wasn’t goodbye, but see you later.

I’m anxious to get back to Africa, but for now, I’m really excited to be home.

my 5 year old cousin, Luke, was taking photos of the lovely landscape on our drive yesterday. 

jealous?

We’re back in JoBurg and as much as the last couple of weeks have been absolutely amazing, I’m really ready to be home. I even called the airline today to see if I could switch my flight a day early (no luck yet, I’ll try again in the morning…).

72 hours and counting…

There is a guest here from Michigan this week. BUT, he grew up in Iowa. When I found this out yesterday I was a) not surprised [there is something about him that made me think that immediately after meeting him] and b) excited. Maybe because he reminds me a little of home…

Tonight’s dinner conversation revolved around 4-H, FFA [and no, I never really wanted to be a future farmer of America--it was more out of a favor to my ag tech teacher, okay, that doesn't sound any better...] and the increased cost of farming equipment. And I loved it! 

Granted, I think I got my fix tonight. I’m okay if I don’t talk about the price of soybeans and corn for awhile. But, I did enjoy it..

done. //

My cousin Luke is 5. I was talking to my aunt tonight. He came home from school this week with a book, it was 3 pages. 

if you could drive anywhere, where would you go? Luke’s answer…Florida (he said it was to “see Katie”, he knew i didn’t live there anymore, but said “he could still go on the rides…”). 

if you could take a airplane anywhere, where would you go? Luke’s answer…Mexico

if you could take an air balloon ride, where would you go? Luke’s answer…Africa

that makes my heart smile.

My grandma spent years working at the Forest City Summit. She wrote the society section [I think that is what its called...].

ie. Mr. & Mrs. Jones had their daughter, Shirley, for dinner Friday night. They exchanged birthday gifts and had cake. 

She took early retirement when they wanted her to use a computer. 

I’m totally identifying with her tonight. My friend told me to get twitter. So, I did. A mix between blogging and instant messager, I’m told. I’m so confused! And then, I’m told to get another application to use it. So, I download something else so I don’t have to go the website [at funkatron.com, no less...].

On the plus side, despite my confusion, I was able to check my messages today…I got a message from a friend I haven’t talked to in months. That was exciting! So, maybe this will all be worth it…

Oh, and I have plenty to do tonight, but instead I’m spending time “twittering”.

76 days:

bitter: 9 friends I’ve lived with since January head back to America, I know that I probably won’t see some of them for a long time…

sweet: a few of my favorite people are flying across the ocean to hang out with me in South Africa for two weeks (and that brings a HUGE smile to my face!)

91 days: 

bitter: I’ll leave my American friends in warm and sunny South Africa while they finish their holiday

sweet: I’ll be on my way home to see mi familia! 

94 days: 

bitter: I’ll be leaving my family after just a couple of days for a long weekend (of work…)

sweet: I’m headed to the Sunshine State…I love Florida winters and I’ll get to have an incredible reunion with incredible friends

98 days: 

bitter: I’m flying back to Minneapolis during one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. hello, delayed flights and lost luggage!

sweet: whohoo for a white Christmas! Last year, I worked Christmas Eve and Christmas day (17 hours a day-ish) so I’m really excited to spend it at home.

I missed my Grandma’s 85th Birthday. She and my grandpa just went into a nursing home this week. He’s about to be 93. Here are some of my favorite memories with Grandpa and Grandma Tjarks…

Dear Grandma,

When I think about my childhood, my mind immediately jumps to spending the weekends with you and Grandpa. I looked forward to coming over to spend the night so much! I can’t believe that you both played along when I talked about how I wanted to live in a big city and asked you to play “taxi” with me. I’ll never forget you sitting in back with me, Grandpa wearing his top hat chauffeuring us around Britt. We would stop at the dime store and look around and then later you’d be so patient with me as you taught me to sew. Sorry I wasn’t such a good student! I am going to try to start to quilt again though, this time without a machine, I’ll let you know how it goes.

Do you remember when we went to the Winnebago County fair and dad [i'm just assuming it was him, because it seems like it's something he would do--sorry pops!] locked the keys in the car. I had to have been really young because we had the car before the Tempo, and we had to all squeeze into someones car [I feel like they were random people that offered to drive us, but I could be wrong], ride home and then I had to crawl through the window in the living room to find keys to go back to the fair and drive the car home. I remember even then seeing the look on your face and knowing how ridiculous you thought the whole situation was.

I don’t know if there was a Christmas Eve service where at least some of us didn’t get the giggles. And it’s so true when they say laughter is contagious, because it would start with one of us [probably me] and pretty soon it would errupt down the entire row, most likely at the most inappropriate moment of the evening. I know you were home with Janet, but a couple years ago Grandpa spilled wax on his pants and we all lost it. Betsy, Lindsey, Erik and I were laughing so hard. We couldn’t even look at each other for the rest of the night without starting to giggle again [and yes, I did say this was just a couple years ago...]

I don’t know why, but this always cracks me up…whenever we would leave your house, Grandpa would go outside and try to get the neighbors dog all “riled up”. He would bark at it, or do whatever it took to get the dog barking. You would just laugh and tell him to stop. Oh, and for the record, a Tjarks family gathering will never be complete without Jello. I think you started that. And playing cards with those president cards you had, do you remember those? I loved those cards! And Racko [still one of my favorite games] and Othello. Othello rocked, I don’t even know if you can still buy it anymore. You and Grandpa were always so patient with us, and I’m pretty sure you always let us win.

I love you! Thanks for all the memories. And I can’t wait to see you and Grandpa in December.

Katie Jo

I think most of us refer to the plot of land (aka 2500 acres) we live on as a game reserve. There are wildebeests, zebra, blesbock and all sorts of other African creatures roaming through the mountains. However, today I saw a different side of what lives among us. It might be more accurate to say we live on a farm. There are cows, pigs and chickens. The neighbors farm maize (corn) and I think I saw a Pioneer sign on the way home from town the other day.

Here’s Enoch with the chickens. He’s a funny guy, his wife Mimi works in the kitchen. We all call her gogo Mimi (Grandma Mimi).