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.

Riaan's Edmund Fitzgerald...

Riaan built another amazing Lego creation earlier this month. This is a model of the Edmund Fitzgerald, the Great Lakes freighter that went down with all 29 crew members on Lake Superior back on 10th November 1975. This year marked 50 years since the wreck. Riaan made this Lego microscale version with just a picture of the real vessel. So cool!

Riaan's little "Big Fitz."

The forward section...

And the aft section of the ship.

November Walks...

Back in Detroit, I've made sure to regularly walk our canine family member this past month. She may not be the best when it comes to ignoring squirrels on our walks, but she is the best in terms of being so gentle and loving. :)

Timely reminders on Thanksgiving. :)

Amen!

Farewell Scotland...

After a lovely eight days in Glasgow, it was time to say farewell and head back to Detroit. Eliza and I said some sad goodbyes to the family (Eliza and Jesse at right) on Thursday, 30th October, before Shirley drove us to Glasgow International Airport (GLA). 

We had a relaxing cup of coffee/hot chocolate before joining the long queue at Icelandair's check-in desks. Everything went smoothly and, after saying farewell to Shirley, we were in the security line. Here we talked to a kind lady, who gave Eliza 5 pounds to spend at the duty-free shopping area of the airport. :)

Soon enough we were on our way back to the USA via Iceland, pictured here as we approach Keflavik International Airport (KEF). Our flights went really well, as did immigration and customs at Detroit Metro Airport (DTW), and after 11 hours of travel we were reunited with Candace, Riaan, and Anya. 

Thanks to Montassir, Peter, Candace, and others who helped with Shirley's surprise and making it such a special trip. We're so thankful for this amazing (and surprising) trip to Scotland!

With Montassir.

Eliza says bye to Rhyenn.

With my nephew Rhyenn.

Coffee at the airport before our flight.

Climbing out over Glasgow and the River Clyde.

Leaving the fields of Scotland behind.

Lining up with the snow-ploughed runways in Iceland.

Boarding the plane for our second and last flight to Detroit.

Climbing out of Keflavik, Iceland.

The mountains of Greenland from 35,000 feet.

A picture Eliza drew for the Icelandair crew. :)

Sunset as we near the end of our journey.