ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END

Family Photo @ Camps Bay, Cape Town

It is hard to believe that there are less than three weeks left until we return to Canada. As the countdown reaches 15 days, we are experiencing quite a range of emotions. We are definitely excited to see family and friends, and to settle into our Canadian routines, however our lifestyle and pace of life (while in an incredible climate) will be pretty hard to give up (Wesley calls it his ‘trust fund’ lifestyle).
We have made many WONDERFUL friends during our time in South Africa and it is really sad to say good-bye. The good-byes are quite different from when we departed for South Africa, because when we came to SA there was a definite period of time until our return. Now when we are asked “when will we see you again?” the answer is much more ambiguous. Fortunately, SA is our adopted nation, and we will be eternally linked to it and its people, so we will return soon enough. We just don’t quite know when. We are very thankful that the same technologies that have allowed us to remain connected to home, will allow us to remain connected with our South African friends.

Since the last update, we have had a number of adventures and have been visited by some wonderful friends. Click below for Moore. 
(Moore...pictures and stories)

"C" IS FOR COOKIE...or CELEBRATIONS

We are pleased to provide another little update (and photos) from this last month in South Africa. Highlights have included Adrien's frist birthday, Gabriel's first visit from the Tooth Fairy, some new experiences in townships (dinner in Kayamandi, inspiration/heartache at Eagle's Nest school), and Mommy & Daddy's 5th wedding anniversary.

THE WINTER 2011 UPDATE (July 2011)

It has hard to believe that we have completed more than half of our time in South Africa.  Since it has been over 5-months, we thought it was time to share some of our South African highlights and insights.  However, the greatest highlight, by far, has been all the time we have spent as a family.  With the exception of a few weeks in March and April, it has just been the four of us together --everyday!  In hindsight, it is hard to imagine it any other way.  (Maybe we need one of those "I LOVE MY FAMILY!" bumper stickers)

(Click the Link for Moooore) ;)

PS - below are links to some of our web albums

Back to Our Routine

Adrien & Gabriel Enjoying South African Springbok Biltong

We have bid adieu to the doting grandparents that visited. We were so blessed to have had them here. The memories are unforgettable. We have also bid adieu to summer and we are fully immersed into South African autumn.  It is hard to believe that winter is just around the corner, again (we just left it 4-months ago).  Besides our beloved pool being covered for winter, we are also coming to grips with not having central heating (oh, we are so hard done by - kidding :).  To help cope with a cold house, we purchased the next best things: a pick up truck full of firewood and a few electric heaters. We are also settling back into our "normal" routine and feeling more like residents rather than visitors.

Schooling has dominated our lives, which means a whole lot of thunking is going on around our home. We have all been very proud about the successes that Karyne and Gabriel have had at their respective schools.  Additionally, Karyne has completed numerous additional Rotary events and speaking engagements in the last few weeks.

Keep reading for more of the life and times of the Moores.

First Visitors

Over the last two weeks, we enjoyed hosting our first guests, Wesley's parents, Grandpa and Oma.  As expected, we were anxious to see family, but maybe not as anxious as they were to see their grandsons.  We had two fun-filled weeks! Highlights included a tour of Table Mountain, Betty's Bay and penguins, the Cape Peninsula, Gabriel's new goggles and flippers for the pool, and a four-day tour of the Garden Route which included beaches, caving, feeding elephants and ostriches and a braai. But, of course, spending time with Grandpa and Oma was the best highlight of all.

Milestones

Over the past week, we celebrated a number of important milestones. Here is a brief list: Karyne celebrated her 30th birthday, Adrien turned 7-months, he can now sit on his own and he ate his 1st solid food - mmmm, mushed bananas. This has meant celebrations, excellent meals and ... more photos.  The coming week will also mark two months since we arrived in South Africa.  Keep reading about how the Moores celebrated.

A Vineyard, Braais & Bugs

A month...has it really been a month!?!?  Last Saturday marked 30 days since we arrived in South Africa.  It's hard to believe that our time here is flying by so fast. However, we have been able to do a lot of amazing activities and the next two months - with visiting grandparents - promise to be memorable. Continue reading for our last adventures...


The picture above was taken on Valentine's Day.  Gabriel is holding flowers he picked for Maman.  He picked them using an oven mit he found because the roses in the garden "have picks".   

The Cape, the Scrum and Cecil

At the risk of sounding like complainers, we must say that we never anticipated Stellenbosch's February heat waves (uh!). Today, was over 35 degrees and humid!  That said, we are having a blast exploring this beautiful place! Keep reading for our latest adventures and pictures.

Spectacular Country, Already Countless Adventures

It is hard to believe, but we have now been here for two weeks.  We have explored a good portion of the Wine Valley region, met incredible people, and are now settled into our new life and lifestyle.

We Have Arrived!

We have arrived! Our house, the climate and everyone we have met to date have been so wonderful - except the spiders! As expected, we are getting settled and getting our legs under us, while overcoming some jet leg. During the second night, both of the boys were WIDE AWAKE at 03h30 in the morning. (South Africa is 7 hours ahead of EST).

The voyage to SA with two children went much better than we could have anticipated (praise the Lord)! During the LONG, 17.5-hour flight, both boys slept between 12-14 hours! It was incredible.  They went down to bed on the plane without any issues and awoke completely refreshed and in great moods. The only time Adrien cried was when we were disembarking the plane.  (Perhaps he just didn't want to leave the plane?  Or perhaps he was only expressing what the rest of us were feeling?  Some of the passengers actually chuckled at his timing.)  Most importantly, we felt the Lord's presence on the flight.  When we found our seats, a flight attendant came over and offered to ask the passenger sitting beside us in the row of four seats to move to another seat.  This allowed us to enjoy the comfort of four seats even though we had only paid for three.  The passenger's move also allowed Wes to sit across the aisle from two Christian guys involved in sports ministry.  How perfect!  Wes exchanged contact information and is looking into volunteer ministry opportunities while we are here in the Western Cape.  Across the other aisle, Wes also met a missionary ministering in Malawi.

Regarding our luggage and transfers, we were VERY blessed not to have any issues arise.  In fact, in Johannsberg we were given VIP treatment and rushed to the front of every line because we were travelling with an infant.  When we arrived at the Cape Town airport, we were met by members of the Blouberg and Stellenbosch Rotary clubs, including Karyne's most welcoming host and mentor from the Ambassadorial Scholarship program. They drove us to the house and helped us settle in.  They were even so kind as to leave food for us at the house.  Karyne's host also drove her around town the following afternoon to allow her to get a few groceries for the family.

A Heartfelt Thank You

Over the last year we have tremendously blessed by our families and friends. Everyone has been so welcoming and loving to Gabriel and Adrien, and very patient with our various life changing moments. Throughout all of these experiences, Mamie and Papa (Karyne's mom and step-dad) have made so many sacrifices and given so selflessly to our growing family.  We wanted to say an ENORMOUS THANK YOU to Mamie and Papa for how they have blessed each one of us in more ways than we could ever mention. We are forever grateful!

4-3-2-1 Blast Off!

T-minus 4-days until lift off. The count down is on (and running much too quickly). The bags are nearly all packed and weighed (don't want to incur extra charges!).  Everyone is getting very excited and nervous, all at the same time (oh, the inner turmoil!). All passports and visas are in hand, and family and friends are beginning to get a little leaky around the eyes.

We will be travelling with 7 large pieces of luggage, 5 carry-ons, 1 infant car seat, 1 stroller, and countless little cars, activities, games, diapers, changes of cloths, etc. --- all of the essentials for our long voyage and year away.

In total, we will be travelling for just under 30-hours. Our flights will take us first to Washington, DC, then on the LONG trans-Atlantic flight to Johannesburg (17-hrs, with refueling in Sénégal), and finally on to Cape Town. We will be greeted at the airport by representatives of the Stellenbosch and Blouberg chapters of the Rotary Club.
(BTW - It is summer right now in Stellenbosch, with temperatures reaching 30C... We are not going to miss Ottawa's wind chill....)

FALL 2010 UPDATE

During a recent "date night", Karyne and Wesley reflected on the blur that was the last year. Neither of us have had, nor anticipate having again, such a year of change – Gabriel’s rush adoption, our month in South Africa, adapting to life with an active toddler, Wesley changing jobs, unexpectedly getting pregnant, Karyne going back to work, Adrien arriving 6-weeks early, 5-weeks of NICU in Victoria, renting our home and moving out a month early, and now, preparing to go back to South Africa for 10 to11-months. Pheewww!

Yet in the midst of the change, God has continued to prove he is faithful and has truly blessed our wonderful family in more ways than could be recounted in our blog.

Anyone who hopes in the Lord will renew their strength and rise up on the wings of an eagle. Isaiah 40:31

Home Sweet Home!

The FOUR of us are FINALLY HOME! 

Gabriel -- What A Wonderful Son!

As promised, we owe all of you an update on our dear Gabriel.

Our transition home could be summed up in one word---amazing! Gabriel truly makes being his parents an incredible, fun and fulfilling experience.

Since returning home, he consistently fills our home with laughter, joy and the innocent curiosity of a child. As the French would say, he is full of "joie de vivre". As parents, we have been blown away by how adaptive he has been while his entire world has changed! From learning a new language, colours, the alphabet, making his bed, sports, singing and baking, Gabriel approaches every activity with a sense of endless wonder and intrigue.  He also has a contagious laugh and personality, is fiercely independent, and is, overall, a VERY intelligent little man! Additionally, he loves cuddling (especially when it is “Mommy time”), and is affectionate and compassionate, especially if he senses someone around him is not feeling well.

We have also been blown away at how quickly he has learned English. He is speaking in complete sentences, and using proper nouns and verbs. Essentially, he has learned a new language in seven months.

(We may be biased, but we are not making this up!!!)  Daddy only wishes he could learn French that fast!