The Purposed Trek

The Franzen's have been my family away from family. They have been amazing right from the time I landed up until now and until the day I leave. They made my transition to South Africa so easy and as a matter of fact, not once was I home sick because I already had a home upon arrival. They have included me in family events, holidays, birthdays all the way down to many Friday Night Family Nights. They each have played such a huge part of my time here and words can't express how thankful I am for everything. I am going to miss this family so much, but this won't be the last of me. I will be back for visits.

(Skyler, Blake, Rich, Tori, Michelle)

Rich - thanks for making me a part of the team before really knowing me, test driving cars for me since I wasn't confident driving on the other side of the road yet, setting up my bank account, taking me to the DMV and explaining the convoluted process of registering your car, my favorite book in SA - map book, making sure I was always safe, driving me to and from the repair shop, teaching me stick...again, teaching me the ropes so quickly, providing me the opportunity to do what I have done over the past year and some change, making me a part of your family, and most of all thanks for being a friend, a leader, an example, a protector and my family. I am gonna miss interacting with you on a daily basis and you teaching me the funny nuances of South Africa.

Michelle - a friend right from the start, welcoming me into the family with open arms, including me in all the holiday events and birthday parties and letting me help, organizing my big 3-0 with my family, making me laugh all the time, smoothie talks, book reviews, movie nights, Ciao Baby chicken and avo salad, May I?, bringing me food and drink when I was sick, letting me do my wash at your home all the time, rescuing me when my car was stuck in the garage, finding me a place to live, did I mention making me laugh all the time, trusting me with your kids, beating you once at May I, talks I can't mention, hot water bottles, upgrades and downgrades, and some other unmentionable moments :) You rock the house big dude, party nut, happy cat, and fortunately none of those names ever stuck to me. I am gonna miss you a TON!

Sklyer - big hugs, morning greetings, immediate updates as soon as I enter your home, teaching me the life of High School Musical and Hannah Montana, challenging me in rumikube, May I, and Phase 10, sharing your family with me, chatting with my on Skype, all my fun gifts, inviting me to your birthday parties, doing our first mosaic project together, Estcourt roommates and a big thank you for being a part of my life and letting me be a part of yours. Oh and how can I forget Hullabaloo madness - since that seemed to be the game of choice whenever I hung out with you guys. I am gonna miss you Skyler Grace Elizabeth...

Blake - big hugs, teaching me how to play your playstation games - still really bad at it, reading to me, making me laugh, wrestling - even though you loved jumping on my face, telling me I am a great cook when serving chicken nuggets for dinner, doing funky monkey dances, reading your waldo books, trying to convince me Ben Ten is real, hearing more about Starwars than I ever have in my life, teaching you how to skateboard, and sharing your family with me. thank you for being a part of my life and letting me be a part of yours. I am gonna miss you Blake.

Tori - calling me "hey you" for the first month of living here, making me laugh all the time, walking in the door in the morning and greeted casually with a "hey Marc", being yelled at through the gate when leaving "I lub you and I am going to miss you" even though I would be back tomorrow, reading books together, always telling me you liked my hair or I look pretty, calling me "the udder Marci" when dying my hair, screaming "somebody get me my tea" at 8 in the morning, asking me to take you to Disney World to see the princess's, for calling me Cindarella 2 and then Hello Kitty. Thanks for being a part of my life and letting me be a part of yours. I am gonna miss your cute little nose Aurora, Jasmin, Mulan, whichever princess you are when you are reading this.

I got this random urge last week to make homemade pasta, sauce and meatballs for dinner one night at the Franzen's. So today I decided to embark on something that I have always do for Christmas with my cousins and my Mom, with my Uncle Tony standing over critiquing every roll, cut and grate we do. So after "cutting" for many years, that was my job in the assembly line, I thought I needed to expand my abilities and make the dough, learn to roll as well as run the cut pasta on the back of a cheese grater. And now I have pictures to prove I can do it all by myself.

Awesome meal - Priceless!