Family Reunion 2010

We had our annual “De Vos” family reunion on Gene and Lalie’s farm, Goodland in December.  I missed my mother.  She was such a practical woman and planned these events very well.  To have a place where we, as a family, could get together is the reason why she bought the farm, where we now live, in the first place.  However the family has since grown so large that is far more practical to have it at Goodland, where there is lots of space for everyone. We are now the “old people” and our children the “adults” and the great grandchildren the children.  It makes one realize how short life is!  It feels like yesterday when my sisters and I were the mommies of little ones, constantly busy taking children to the toilet, helping them in an out of swimming things, rubbing on suntan lotion and wiping sticky hands! 
I did not have my camera with me on Saturday when the L’s and Wally and Jessica were also there, but here are some pictures of Sunday morning.

We had our Sunday “service” at 10:00 in the hall.  We started by singing Ma’s favourite hymns and then Ruth and Dirk shared their horrific experience three months ago and how it had strengthened their faith: In September Ruth was in a hurry to get to work and she asked Dirk to help her to get the bakkie (pick-up) started.  Their nephew, Matty, had come unnoticed out of the house. The bakkie jumped and Matty was squashed between the wall and the house.   At first he seemed lifeless, but his grandfather, the missionary Erlo Stegen, picked him up and walked with him in the garden and prayed… he soon seemed much better and they rushed him to the hospital.  There a series of miracles happened: he was not going to survive the operation, but he did; his leg seemed white and lifeless and they were told it would have to be amputated… but after prayer, the leg was pink again…. and yet in the end he died.  The answered prayers were God’s way of saying that He is in control.  Scripture that Ruth had received (Ps 139) said “When I was woven together…All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”  This gave them great comfort.  Matty’s  parents gave a thank you letter for all the prayers and support they had received.  The scripture they mentioned in the letter was 1 Peter 5: 6-11:  “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.  Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”   We were all humbled and amazed at their faith and love and especially their determination to “LOOK UP!”

Elsabe and Koos with some of their grandchildren.  (Their 11th and 12th grandchildren arrived this month.  Jean on the 14th morning  and Luca today, 29 Dec 2010. Hendrik en Stella, Martin en Sharon: Veels geluk met die kleintjies.  Hoop julle is almal by die volgende familiefees!)
 
Koos, Jan, Cobus with Carien and Netta.

Martelize, Hendrik and Thelwyn

The family lining up for coffee and brunch after the service.

Birthday boy Jan (Cobus and Netta )with his new train.       Abia (Nelia and Jopie ) asleep in her pram.

Carien (youngest of Cobus and Netta) busy on the floor of the hall. Below: Urielle (Jopie and Nelia) and Elsabe (Cobus and Netta) with party plates.

Below: Dirk and Ruth’s 4 children: Arno, Ria, Josh and Rudi.


Eugenie and George.  (Are we hearing wedding bells??)

Ethie and Jansie (our 7 highway girl)


Last goodbyes on the stoep.  (The French don’t greet when they leave.  The Afrikaners don’t leave when they greet.)
Family, I love you!  You are all so special.  I’m looking forward to New Year’s Eve when some of us will get together again!  Hurrah for family!