Uganda here we come!

Hello everyone,

This will be my last blog until we get back from Uganda. We leave tomorrow morning at 7:00am from Des Moines and arrive back Tuesday night, June 16 at 10:08pm.

This will be a little different for us. Den has been gone for up to four weeks before but it's never been me being gone, so we'll see how it goes. :) When he's been gone he's also had access to his computer to leave e-mails and I don't think we'll have much access to e-mail while we are there. I've told Den to pass on any vital information so hopefully, you'll at least know when we make it there safely!

Jana and I would appreciate it VERY much if you would keep us in your prayers!

Love,
Arla

Miscellaneous info....

Shane and Jody I still figure on you coming to my place and that works out fine. My work address is 5132 S Cliff avenue in Sioux Falls and the name of the compnay is AMI. If you need directions there you will need to talk to your folks, google it or talk to one of your Uncles ot Aunts becasue I am terrible in directions and don't want to get you lost. I work till 5pm on Thursday but you can stop by and pick up the keys. I can give you directions (i'll have them written out) for you to get to my apartment from AMI. If you won't be at the apartment when I am off work I will just have to run by rehearsal (I will need to know where it is) and pick the keys up from you. Then we can visit Thursday night when you are done with rehersal.

I work again on Friday and will be camping in Adrian the weekend since you will be leaving early Saturday morning. You will be able to drop the keys off to me at the campgound in Adrian (it is right off the interstate) or just call me a few minutes before you get there and I can meet you at the corner and save you a few minutes.

CAMPING - BLUE 24 ----- For the rest of the family I have reservations in Adrian at site BLUE 24 for this coming weekend and the first weekend of June so feel free to stop bye at any time. If any of the nephew and nieces want to spend the weekend with me there you are more then welcome to camp with me.

So Jana, are you done with all your parties? Have an awesome time on your trip and take tons of pictures since I wasn't on the ball your graduation card will be waiting for you when you get back.

Vonda

random stuff :)

Hi everyone! Since Shane and I started our blog I haven't really written on this one (i still check it all the time though :) So i thought i'd say hi :)
Also- I know Chelsea Huenink's wedding is coming up and I'm not sure if any VW's are planning to come but if you are- anyone is welcome to stay at our place!! We have 2 guests rooms (1 with a queen bed and 1 with a single bed and an extra bathroom) We'd love to have anyone stay with us! If not you're welcome to stop by if there is any free time in the weekend. We are planning to go to her wedding though to- should be fun :)
Things in Milwaukee are going well. I had to work this weekend and tomorrow too so thats not super fun but oh well... :) Shane's been golfing this weekend and feeling good so we're happy about that. We are definitely sad that we missed Jana's Graduation.... Happy Grad a day late sis :)
Oh and Vonda- we are hoping that its still ok if we stay at your place next weekend (I can't believe its so soon- fun!!!) for Karla's wedding. Our plan is to leave Wed night and drive half way- stay in a motel- and then drive the rest of the way on Thursday am. So we'll prolly get to Sioux Falls in early afternoon. Will u be working then? Thursday night is the rehearsal dinner, Friday is the wedding, and we're planning to leave early Saturday morning to head back. Shane has a bachelor party for one of his friends on Saturday night that he wants to get back for. So yea hopefully we'll have some time in there to catch up and such!! See u soon!

Scott's trip

Hi everyone,

congratulations to Travis on qualifying in broad jump!! Way to go! I hope he has fun and feels good about his next meet on Thursday. Jana and I leave early Thursday morning, so will not be able to find out how he does until we get home.

Scott's trip to Mexico got called off. Last night they received a text from the head person at IDEA Ministries saying the people alreadly in Mexico with IDEA had to leave due to an emergency situation and those planning to come had to cancel their trip. We have not heard any thing more about what the "emergency" is. Scott and the guys are if course disappointed as they were planning on driving to Minneapolois today and taking off tomorrow.

Everyone else is going out the door for church, so I need to go! :)

Arla

Was the diploma signed?

Just kidding, wanted to let you know I was thinking of you and hope it all went well today. Enjoy the parties and time with family and friends.

Congratulations Jana and I am looking forward to the fall when you move closer to Sioux Falls :)

Love ya

Jana's playing dress up

I am not sure who started it... but it looks like they were having fun. Vonda

At home in OC...

Hi All!

So, I will take Vonda's hint and post some pictures. Instead of deciding which pictures to post on the blog, I am going to include the link to the album I made on Facebook. Hopefully you can all look at them there, if you are interested.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2010645&id=1282920024&saved#/album.php?aid=2010645&id=1282920024&ref=mf

Let me know if it doesn't work...

My trip to Guatemala was awesome! It was so much fun spending time with Danielle and Tony and getting to know what your life is like down there. I think I got a pretty good taste of what life in Guatemala is like, and it is really amazing. The country is beautiful and the people are so nice. I am sure it will be hard to them to leave because it really is their home.

The best part of the trip was definitely all the time I got to spend holding Zoe. She is such a good baby and so much fun! I cannot wait to see her in about two weeks.

If I were to blog about all the experiences I had during my trip, it would be a really long blog, so I will just fill you all in when I see you! We will be in Edgerton/Chandler this weekend, so maybe we will see some of you (except for the Van Zanten's, I guess).

Hope you are all enjoying the first few days of summer, as I am pretty sure all the kids are done with school now.

Love you all,
Darci

Jana ---- is a big girl now!

Jana, what can I say --- you are a big girl now and graduating so I thought I would remind you of other "accomplishments" in your life. Don't worry this is the worst of the pictures I will put on the blog nightly till you graduate. Since most of the Vander Woude's will not be attending your graduation I thought I would use the blog to take us through Jana life from "potty training" to graduation.

Just a quick note, I talked to Darci toinght as she was waiting to board her last plane flight back to Nebraska. She had a great time in Guatemale and will be posting pictures tomorrow. I think most of them will be on facebook, but hopefully (hint, hint) she will put a few on here too.

Till tomorrow nights update, Love ya Jana :) Vonda

Hi from Guatemala!

Hi Vander Woude Family!

I am in an internet cafe with Danielle and Zoe right now, so I thought it would be a good time to update you all on my trip. Sorry, there will not be any pictures as Danielle and Tony´s internet is not working...

I left Orange City at 2:15 Friday morning, and arrived at Danielle and Tony´s at 6:30 Guatemala time (7:30 central time). Yes, it was a LONG day!!

So far it has been an awesome experience! Zoe is wonderful and I just love being the only visiter, so I don´t have to share her with anyone! (I am her aunt, I can be selfish this one time!). Saturday we went to the outdoor market (the demo) and bought some fruit. We also went to the second nicest mall to try to buy some pants for Zoe and get some lunch. It was a fun day, and I got to see what Guatemala is like. Yesterday we went to the hotsprings. It was absolutely gorgeous and I will never forget it! It was so cheap too! ($5) for a whole trip and entrance. and it was so beautiful, I just can´t get over it! Today we are doing a little shopping and just hanging out. And we will be going to school Tuesday or Wednesday.

There is a lot more to tell, but we need to be going. Thanks for all the prayers! The traveling went great, so hopefully the trip back goes just as well! This has been a truly awesome experience so far, and I really love it in Guatemala. It is so beautiful and the people are so nice. And, to be honest, I kinda like the crazy driving... :) I am so thankful to be here!

I will post again when I get home, and hopefully include some pics! And I will also make an album on Facebook for those interested (I am assuming that includes Grandma...) ;)

I hope you are all having a wonderful Monday!

Love,
Darci

p.s. Happy 1st Anniversary Shane and Jody (one day late...)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Shane and Jody - Happy Anniversary.... can you believe it has been a year already? WOW!

You guys have been through alot this past year and understand the vows "in sickness and in health" more then any newlyweds should have to understand them. Shane, I am so thankful you are feeling better and all your health reports are returning with positive results.

Do you guys still plan on coming in a few weeks? Hope so, I know i probably won't see you alot but will still be fun.

For those of you who are wondering about the last post - yes, it is Leon.

Vonda

Who is it? I know the answer but do you?

a walk down memory lane...

a walk down memory lane...

OH NO!!!!!

Caught grandma licking the beaters!!!!! sure don't remember this one!!! grandma

Happy Mothers Day --- love ya :)

Foot

I went to the doctor on Friday and was told that I could officially remove the "boot" and walk with shoes on again. He does want me to get a new pair of orthotics for my feet so I have that scheduled in a few weeks. I have walked around thee apartment all day today in barefeet and I am in shock/ and stunned with the fact I haved no pain! I barely remember a time when I have had no pain in this foot.

When the doctor did the surgery he said " I can't promise I will get rid of all your pain but I will promise to get rid of most of your pain" So I don't know if as time goes on and /or I walk on it more if some of the pain will come back but just having the ability to sit in a chair at work or a home and not have the foot ache is jsut amazing to me. Even if some pain does return, I am so happy I did have the surgery.

The surgery wasn't without it's issues though as it did cause some more damage to the foot in the fact I have lost some movement in the foot and have lost the since of feeling (nerve damage) in even more of the foot. However, again to be without that pain I have no regrets.

That is all from Sioux Falls - to all you mothers out there (especially mine) have a great day tomrorow.

Love ya all,

Vonda

Tulip Time

Hi everyone,

Tonight is the Klompen Klassic which is a 3 mile run/walk to sort of open the Tulip Time activities. Jana is running and Den and I are walking. Should be fun. It's a fund raiser for an organization here in Pella that provides lots of different services to those in need in the community.

Thursday-Saturday is actual Tulip Time. A friend of mine who used to live in Pella will be spending all three nights at our house along with her husband and son.

Weather is beautiful tonight, so hopefuly, it will stay that way for the remainder of the week, although they do talk about some scattered showers and thunderstorms.

Take care,
Arla

a walk down memory lane...

If I remember right this was a surprise wedding shower.