Well, the time has come and we have to say goodbye to a country and people we love very much!
Here's what we've been doing, followed by what we will miss.
WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING...
Trick or treating with Ross Wannell
Thanksgiving at our house with Mark Cockriel, Joseph & Daniel Call
Jeff, Heather Call, Jon Mangum
Samuel Call, John, Sara Mangum
Charlotte Call, Kate
Michelle, Michele, Susan, John and Kate at Kate's Primary Program
John as a shepherd at the Johannesburg Stake nativity
Jeff traveled to Malaysia, Dubai and Singapore. He loved catching up with our friends the Dastrups and Woods in Singapore!
Kate received her school's award for her positive attitude and always being kind
We spent a week in Hermanus, Cape Town, and Franschoek
Kirsten and Lorraine McDowell
Hermanus cliff walk
Grotto Beach
Stony Point African penguin colony (they had just released 23 abandoned juveniles back into the ocean!)
We saw Star Wars in Somerset West
We drove through Stellenbosch
Dinner in Franschoek
Vineyards everywhere. So good to have time with Dad!
Cooking class at Leopard's Leap
Chef Pieter de Jager
Babylonstoren Farm
After the family trip and Christmas, John flew to Utah for about 10 days.
WHAT WE WILL MISS...
(the [very] short list)
Visiting Gary Stephens studio
Mugg & Bean brekkies with Denise Gill after dropping our daughters at school
Melissa's Cafe with Lisa Hovgaard and Christine Maritz
Kate's friends at North Sands
The voices
Kate's teacher, Linda Langefeld
Working with Lynda Blore and Maxine Stewart at North Sands
Weekly dog/owner training lessons with Niki Elliott
Bethsia Matjila
Gatherings with this group: Linda Dunn, Jaydene deKock, Tricia Collins, Jenny Cooke, Emi Dunn, Charnell deKock
Samuel deKock
Ann & Lauren deKock (Samuel's Nana and Mama)
Abena Danso
Christine and her Golden, Paddy
Car park attendants
Leigh Chazen
Margaret, our favorite Clicks employee
Ciro, of La Cucina di Ciro
Sandrina Haeck
Winston: Best. Gardener. Ever.
CA, of Cheryl Amy Jones Bakery (where Jeff & Kate went every Saturday morning for croissants)
Spiro at Berliner Meats (where Jeff & Kate went every Saturday morning to get Sunday's braai meat)
Cecilia, the owner of Carmella's, a favorite breakfast place
Heidi Bestor and Connie Haskell
Shelley Seymour
Lynn and Lula, Kate's best friends at the Fourways Gardens park
Frank at Northern Cleaners
Yes, we will totally miss the security guards at our neighborhood's front gate who warmly welcomed us home every day and always lined up to give Kate high-fives as we drove through the boom!
George, Alan, Angela
Edward, Bennett
Elkanyani
Edward, Bennett
Johannes, JoJo
The dog run at K56
Erin Gill
Lawrence the dog groomer
Glenda, receptionist at Animania (who whispered to Emma "You're my favorite client but don't tell the other dogs that" each time we went there)
The FNB Slow Lounge at most South African airports
Chloe, Martin, Charlie, Ross Wannell
Car park shuttles at Lanseria Airport
Justin Mitchell at Avondrood Guest House
Sunday evenings at the deKocks'
Marian Irwin
Angus, Kyle and Michael Klintworth
Rebecca and Michelle Klintworth
Chantal Chikurunhe
Sam Schultz
Pume Ramasimong (...still trying to get her a record deal)
Joshua and Winnie Sixishe, pioneers in so many ways
Refilwe, Thuso, Rato and OR Motlhosi
Rea Lesia
Cecilia Batterbury and her horses and dog Tammy
...The movers have packed everything now but one bed. Jeff is in Switzerland, spending his first night in our new home. John just returned from the US. Our tickets are booked to leave Joburg Thursday night. ...It's time to go.
"Once the dust of Africa gets in your blood, it changes you. You are never the same."
We will always be grateful for the time we've been able to spend in this amazing place with its amazing people!!
