Winter Sun Dog...

We saw a beautiful sun dog on a frosty afternoon earlier this month.

Riaan's Tenth Birthday...

Our firstborn entered double digits on Sunday, 7th December. We started the day with a delicious Hobbit's Breakfast before he opened his presents. We headed to church later in the morning, and he enjoyed seeing some of his friends there. In the afternoon he had more friends around to celebrate his special day, and we all loved his coffee birthday cake. :)

The next morning, I took him out for a birthday hot chocolate at a nearby cafe. It's been amazing being his parents and seeing the changes, as he becomes less a boy and more a young man. As always, here's last year's birthday post. 

Riaan and Candace the night before his birthday.

Birthday breakfast early on the Sunday.

Traditional birthday biscuits from Grandma.

Reading a card from his Granny and Grandad in Cape Town.

Opening his presents!

His delicious coffee cake, with Lego minifigure candles made by Candace. :)

Sledding Fun...

While winter in Michigan is bitterly cold, there is also ample opportunity for fun outdoor activities - like sledding! We spent an hour or so sledding with friends in Dearborn. I joined the children in going down the slope several times. It was so good to make some fun winter memories together. :)

The girls had so much fun! :)

Christmas Decorations...

These children did a great job decorating our Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. Last year, we didn't put up any decorations, since we travelled to Scotland for Christmas. We weren't going to miss out this year. :)

First Snow of the Season...

We had our first big snow of the season over the last weekend in November. (29th and 30th.) Our children and the canine family member had a wonderful time playing in the fresh wet snow. Since the end of November, we've had consistently snowy and cold weather, so the white stuff is still all around us here in Metro Detroit.

Eliza made this adorable snowman...

While Riaan's minifigures discovered a mummified mammoth!

Detroit Riverfront and Downtown...

We visited an amazing new Detroit Riverfront park the day after Anya's birthday. (Friday, 28th November.) It was quite chilly, but the children all enjoyed the fantastic, fast slides - and the animal-themed playground!

After spending an hour or so there, we drove into the downtown area of Detroit, where we caught the Detroit People Mover.  This is the equivalent of the subway (except it runs above ground) and is free. We rode it twice, as it offered a different perspective of the city. :)

Riaan comes out of the bear slide.

The beaver play area.

The otter.

And out comes Eliza!

Heading into the station to catch the People Mover.

Each station has an amazing tile design.

The train approaches the platform.

Scenes of Detroit from high up.

Windsor, Ontario, just across the Detroit River.

The Detroit Princess riverboat.

The old mariner's church on the Riverfront.

Anya's Fifth Birthday...

Our youngest, Anya Joy, turned five on Thursday 27th November, which happened to be Thanksgiving Day this year! We started the day with a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs, and then she opened her presents.

In the afternoon we shared a Thanksgiving meal with good friends, and they all sung Happy Birthday to Anya. We all enjoyed delicious chocolate cake to celebrate the birthday girl. Anya also received well wishes from family and friends in South Africa, Scotland, Indiana, and elsewhere! As always, you can see how much she's grown from her last birthday here.  

Birthday breakfast - yum!

Eliza reads the birthday card from Granny and Grandad in Cape Town to Anya.

Opening one of her presents. She was so excited!

She had help from her siblings building her new Lego set.

Harvest and ESL Thanksgiving Dinners...

Our church has a thriving ESL ministry, where people of all backgrounds can come together to learn English in a safe, welcoming environment. The church also hosts an annual Thanksgiving dinner for the students, providing opportunities to share in conversation away from the classroom. There's also a harvest dinner where church members come together and share in a meal. It's a great month of ministry opportunities. :)

Church members share things for which they're thankful at the harvest dinner.

With Candace at the harvest dinner.

The ESL Thanksgiving dinner is a bring and share meal, with opportunities for connection and fellowship.

There's also worship in Arabic and English.

Amazing November Skies...

A few photos of the heavens, taken during the month of November. We chased the Northern Lights, stood in awe of a spectacular sunset, and marvelled at cloud fingers in the sky. :)

Green and red pillars of the Northern Lights faintly visible from Maybury State Park.

Waves of clouds one early morning.

This must have made an amazing sight for passengers inbound to Detroit Metro Airport!

Remembrance Day...

In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

(John McCrae)

November Markets...

Candace had an incredibly productive couple of weeks in November, where she had stalls at two craft markets in Metro Detroit. At the first market in Dearborn, she was joined by a Mercy Ships friend (and her daughter), and together they manned a table, selling soaps, lavender products, and handmade dolls, amongst other items. Riaan also sold perler bead creations at the second market in Novi.

Candace heard about the second market through another Mercy Ships friend of ours, pictured with us at right here. I knew Hilary from the Benin Field Service in 2009. It's amazing how these Mercy Ships connections intertwine into life here in Michigan.

Candace's homemade soaps and handsewn dolls for sale.

Riaan's perler bead creations.

Candace's table at the market in Novi.

The market was in a church hall.