New Year's Eve 2011 and New Year's Day 2013. Look how much Josie and Cody have grown this year!
The Jackson 6 made their entrance at the Edmonton airport at 4pm on New Year's Eve. That was exactly one year (TO THE HOUR) after we met the Connagans at the same spot! There were 13 family members waiting for us in Edmonton and we were able to spend an hour or so visiting with them before we loaded up and headed for home.....well, make that Mom and Dad's home....but close enough! My sister Lori, and her family, Travis, Eric, Rylan and new baby Kason, were all waiting for us there. So excited to see them too! We ate perogies for supper, showed our family a few souvenirs, kissed Kason a million times and then headed for bed. We had been up for 34 hours or so with VERY little napping. It's really amazing what your body can do!
New Year's Day was pretty routine for us. We ate a late breakfast, lazed around most of the day, opened belated Christmas presents and played in the snow. And then we had company for supper. Vince, Mary, Til, Josie and two of their nieces came for one last visit before their departure on January 2. Mom insisted that we all stand in exactly the same spots as the picture we took last year at the airport. Sure glad we did.....would you look at how much the kids have grown?!? Must be a 12 year old thing!
In February, 2011, when our family went to Edmonton for our exchange interview, we were told that it would be difficult to find us a match because: we live on a farm, I teach in a small school in a small village, I teach split grades from Gr. 1-9 and we have 4 kids (make that 4 BOYS!). Howard and I left the interview feeling hopeful but discouraged. We never dreamed that our experience would turn out this amazing.
Vince, not many people could have jumped into my job and ran with it like you did. While so many people see Clandonald as small and isolated, your family saw it was welcoming and familiar. How is it possible that your hometown is even smaller and your extended family is even bigger than the Bardoels??! Your family was the perfect match for us and we couldn't have asked for more. Thank you for giving the Jackson 6 the most amazing opportunity of living at your farm and working at GEPS and NEI. Our lives are forever altered because the 10 of us chose to take a risk. For that, I am grateful.
And so, with more tears and heavy hearts, we said our goodbyes to Vince, Mary and the girls. We will see them again but when and where is yet to be determined. Travel safely and thank you, thank you, thank you. xx
New Year's Day was pretty routine for us. We ate a late breakfast, lazed around most of the day, opened belated Christmas presents and played in the snow. And then we had company for supper. Vince, Mary, Til, Josie and two of their nieces came for one last visit before their departure on January 2. Mom insisted that we all stand in exactly the same spots as the picture we took last year at the airport. Sure glad we did.....would you look at how much the kids have grown?!? Must be a 12 year old thing!
In February, 2011, when our family went to Edmonton for our exchange interview, we were told that it would be difficult to find us a match because: we live on a farm, I teach in a small school in a small village, I teach split grades from Gr. 1-9 and we have 4 kids (make that 4 BOYS!). Howard and I left the interview feeling hopeful but discouraged. We never dreamed that our experience would turn out this amazing.
Vince, not many people could have jumped into my job and ran with it like you did. While so many people see Clandonald as small and isolated, your family saw it was welcoming and familiar. How is it possible that your hometown is even smaller and your extended family is even bigger than the Bardoels??! Your family was the perfect match for us and we couldn't have asked for more. Thank you for giving the Jackson 6 the most amazing opportunity of living at your farm and working at GEPS and NEI. Our lives are forever altered because the 10 of us chose to take a risk. For that, I am grateful.
And so, with more tears and heavy hearts, we said our goodbyes to Vince, Mary and the girls. We will see them again but when and where is yet to be determined. Travel safely and thank you, thank you, thank you. xx
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