A Memorable Day.

January 18th. It's just a date that sounds like any other date to most people. A normal number on a calendar. A normal day like any other midJanuary day. Yet to me this date is a date that reminds me of God's great love, mercy and grace.

Three years ago today, me and my four siblings were sitting around a table with the Woodrow's five kids. It was a hot Mozambican afternoon and we were, for the most part, done with school for the day. We were all at the Woodrow's house because Mom and Dad had gone to Lolo land to visit some coworkers. Which brings me back to where we were, sitting around a table writing out our "Woodbull Document". A document that "officially" declared we were family. We all wanted to become siblings so why not adopt each other? And in the process of adoption we all needed to have the same last name. Woodbull! :) It was a spur of the moment idea, and maybe it seemed short lived at the time, but we ran with it :) That day 3 years ago God blessed me SO abundantly! He gave me 5 new siblings to add to my already amazing 4 siblings, giving me a total of 9 wonderfully great siblings! Who knew that that one day would spark a wonderful family relationship between all of us. In the past three years we have grown as friends, siblings and brothers and sisters in Christ. It has most definitely been some of the greatest three years of my life! I am SO thankful for each and everyone of them. Words just can't describe how much they all mean to me! I love them so much!

The Woodbull Document.

January 18th. We became Woodbulls on January 18th, 2007. 2008 we celebrated one year together. January 18th, 2009, we planned to celebrate our 2nd year as family, but God had other plans. January 18th, 2009 was going to be another day that would spark a huge reminder in my mind of what a great, loving, powerful and merciful God we serve.

January 18th, 2009. Ian had malaria. And what we thought would be the normal malaria case turned out to be more than any of us could have ever dreamed of. I still remember that day like it was yesterday. I went to bed January 17th a little bummed that Ian was still sick so we couldn't have a party in celebration of our 2nd year Woodbull anniversary. When I woke up the next morning I read a message on Damarise's phone from Sarah Beth saying that she would be praying for Ian as he was in the clinic. The clinic?! My mind whirred. Why would Ian be in the clinic?! We never ever went to the Dr.'s unless something major was wrong. And much to my dismay, something major was wrong. Ian was out of it all day. We (us kids) went down to visit Ian twice during the day. Both times was heart wrenching. All we could hear was Ian moaning. As the day turned to night, Ian's life began to turn to death. There were times when we didn't think he was going to make it. I don't think in all my life I have ever cried as much as I did on that Sunday last year. A Sunday that was supposed to be full of joy and merriment turned into one of the scariest days of my life. We four kids stayed up at our house crying and praying. Around 8pm the Woodrow four came over to comfort us. They, along with some other friends, wept, prayed and encouraged us all night long. When morning dawned Ian was evacuated down to South Africa.

I'm sure you all know the rest of the story. We went through a little less than a week without any signs that Ian would live. And if he did live, he would most assuredly have sever brain damage. Yet God in all of His infinite grace woke Ian from the coma, and not only that, He healed him completely! Ian didn't even have signs of brain damage. He was the same little brother that I had known before! Only God could have done something SO wonderful, powerful and awesome!

And that, that is why January 18th is such a memorable day full of God's love! It's a day that I got 5 new siblings and a day that Ian's miracle began. And the only way I can adequately say what January 18th means to me is to say, "To God belongs all praise, thanks and glory for all He has done in my life!"

(if you don't know the rest of Ian's story click here.)

Farewell to Family

Tuesday night, after a FUN day at Gold Reef City, a local amusement park (a post about that to come once we are in the States and I can upload a lot of pictures really fast ;) ) , we said goodbye to the Woodrows. It was a sad goodbye, not knowing when we'll see them again. But I am SO thankful to God for letting us get to know each and every one of them! They have been a huge blessing to our lives and I will miss them tremendously. Lord willing we will get to see them again in the US. :) I hope so because it is really sad being so far away from my other five siblings. Miss you all Woodrows!!!

Highlights

Ok, time just keeps going by and I keep realizing how much there is to blog about, and how far behind I am. If I were to ever catch up... well, it'd be a long day. So instead, I decided just to post some of the highlights of the past month.... starting back in Nampula. 

Nampula:

We said many goodbyes our last week in Nampula :( It was sad... but I'm SO thankful for all the friends we made in Nampula! I miss them so much already! 

The DeJoungh family :) They had us over our last Sunday in Nampula. It was really nice to visit with them :) They have the most adorable boys ever!!! :D

Margreth came over the Monday before we left to say goodbye :( It has been SO wonderful to have a Mozambican friend :) 

Tuesday we said goodbye to all of our workers and guards :) We have been so blessed with Dona Rosa, Sr. Armando, Sr. Jose, and Sr. Mario. They're like family to us. 

Sarah, Ian, and Andrew said goodbye to Sandy. The LP's, an MAF missionary family, took her to stay with them. But Sandy kept jumping over the walls. Whoops! So, in the end, the family who moved into our house took Sandy and Sandy is now living at our old house :)

Kris made lunch for Steven and us on Tuesday. It was really good! Thank you Kris!

The Roger family :) Damarise and I have gotten to babysit their kids since Portugal and we love em! 

Damarise and I with Noah, Renata, and Asher! They are SO cute!!! :D

Chiboleca, his wife Elsa, and their baby Kenny (named after Dad) came over Tuesday to say goodbye. They have been really good friends of ours while we've been in Mozambique. 

Tuesday night, the pastor and his family had us over for a meal. 

The week before we left we stayed with the Woodrows! What a wonderful way to end our stay in Nampula!

For April Fool's Day, Damarise, Bethy and I dressed up... well... like fools ;) 

We had SO much fun all day saying April Fool's for every little thing :P hehe..

The Woodrow's puppies are SO cute! 

We definitely had fun with the Woodrows!!!

Kent was teaching Gracie how to drive! :D It was fun to watch and Gracie did amazingly well!!! She's only 13 and she is driving super!! And I haven't driven at all! Haha.

The crowd's reactions to Gracie's driving :)

Avery and Gracie making some delicious rolls to go with dinner :)

Damarise and Bethy cooked up their famous lasagna :) It turned out tasty as usual! :D

The Morrison family :) They are a VERY sweet family! And we are so blessed to have gotten to know them! 

Benaiah, Garrett, and Andrew :) three happy friends :)

Damarise and I wrote out recipes for Bethy when she's off on her own :) It was fun to write little side notes on all of them :)

We had our last youth group, Thursday night :( 

The Trip:

Early Friday morning we hit the road...

We passed the Tropic of Capricorn! SO cool!

We also stayed at this lovely little beach spot :) It was really neat how God worked it out! We couldn't get a hold of the place because we had the wrong phone number. Then we realized that is was a holiday weekend in South Africa and the place we were going to be staying at was South African, anddd, we had seen a bunch of South African driving on the road. So we figured that the place might be full, but we prayed about it and asked that if it was the Lord's will that we stay there, that He would provide a place. Well, we pulled up into the beach resort and asked at the reception if there was any room. The guy said, "Yes! Someone just canceled. So you can stay in their house. It sleeps six!" Wow! God is SO good!!! :D

We had a lovely breakfast there... and Andrew got to drink coffee... bad idea ;)

The miles or kilometers on our car reached 111111 :)

We saw some BEAUTIFUL sunsets!!

Nelspruit: 

We stopped by Nelspruit to visit the Kerns :) They just had a baby girl, Wesley Grace, and we wanted to see her :) She is adorable and all the Kerns are doing well :)

While there we had a good ol' American BBQ!!! Mmmm :)

Little Wesley Grace :) She is SO cute! 

Three generations of Kerns grilling hamburgers :) 

Mmm it was quite a feast! 

The Kern Clan! :D They have been a JOY to get to know!!! :D

Pretoria:

After two days in Nelspruit we headed to Pretoria to stay with the Stolks. :) That Saturday we all went to the lake :) It was SO much fun!! And we got to go tubing! Something I had never done before, but I now love!! :D It was a blast! (for more pictures click here)

The Farm:

Sunday, we, with the Stolks, left to a game farm :) Another couple's son-in-law owned a house on the farm and offered that the Stolks, this other couple and we could spend a week in it! :D It was lovely!

We took a bunch of fun sister pictures :)

And we saw a lot of cool animals!

My fun parents :D :D 

We also had amazing food! Ouma and Tanni Anali did all the cooking! Oh it was amazing!

I think the coolest part of the whole week though was getting to WALK with giraffes! It was amazing! :D Giraffes have always been my favourite animal, and getting to walk out into the field where there were.... it was WONDERFUL! 

Spending time with the family was also a big highlight of the trip :)

The stars! Oh they were beautiful every night! :D (And Damarise did an excellent job capturing them on picture :D )

All the kids who were at the farm :) (Us five and Eldon, the Stolk's grandson)

The house we stayed in. It was huge and lovely! :D

Oom Philip and Tanni Anali :) They couple who's son-in-law owned the house :) They were a really sweet couple! ... (For more pics of our time at the farm you can go here and here)

And there we have it! There are the main highlights of the past month!! :D Sorry it has taken me so long to blog them :)

"We Are Family!"

January 18th, our Woodbull anniversary, came and went without much of a celebration due to Ian being sick and down in South Africa. But, two months later we finally got around to celebrating! Yahoo! We have been Woodbulls for over TWO years now!!! Wow! God is SO good in giving me five more amazing siblings :) 

So how did we celebrate two spectacular years?

Saturday night we Woodbulls went out to eat at a restaurant in town. It was fun and tasty :)

Sarah and Gracie, my beautiful little sisters!

Andrew, Benaiah, Sarah and Gracie :) The greatest younger siblings ever!

Bethy and me... and Kent :) 

Oooo look at that pizza! It was delicious! Thank you to the parents for paying :) 

We got home later and had some delicious homemade icecream and brownies!! Thank you Aunt Julie, Benaiah, Andrew and Bethy! 

Then we hung out and talked :)

The boys played computer games :P

The next day we went to church with them. It was nice. Kent led a bit of the service and did a great job! Way to go Kent! 

After church and a fabulous lunch (Aunt Julie is an amazing cook!) we took some family pictures :) Getting ten people to smile for a picture is fun :) hehe... actually everyone did really well! :D 

Getting ready for our first family picture :)

10 happy siblings! Thank you God for the gift of family!

Younger brothers ;)

Getting ready for another picture. 

I may sound biased, but I have the best nine siblings ever!! :) Each one of them is special and makes the Woodbull family complete :)

Looking into the Woodrow's well... "To jump or not to jump, that is the question."

:D Awww... what good looking siblings I have :D 

Then the fun began :) Haha, we decided to make a pyramid. We had the perfect amount of people... but could we do it?

Ready, set, go! Take 1: We're getting there. Damarise and I were in the middle on the bottom at first... 

Take 2: Kent and Andrew switched places with Damarise and I, so they were holding more weight :) Thank you bros!! .... And we're almost making it! 

Take 3: "And the walls came a tumblin' down" or... pyramid ;)

Haha! It was a blast!

Take 4: Yes, yes, yes! We are almost there!!!

Take 5: Oh no! It's gunna collapse! 

Take 6: Our final one! Everyone is up... haha... it's the dented pyramid :) But it was definitely fun! :D

Sarah our wonderful prop gofer :) hehe... she has some interesting carrying techniques. ;)

This picture got a bit whited out, but it is all the Woodbull sisters :) I'm so blessed! I have the most wonderful sisters a girl could ever dream of!!!! They are amazing, fun and godly sisters... not to mention beautiful :)

The Woodbull brothers :) Haha... all off in their own world ;)

All serious.. except the Andrews :P 

There we go! The best brothers in the whole wide world!!! I could have never asked for better brothers! They are all very sweet, gentlemanly, and godly. And handsome :) 

Haha... digging the lil' bros out of the wheelbarrow :P

Family around the car :) 

And, of course, a goofy picture :) 

After all the pictures we went inside to do our Woodbull traditions. Read our Woodbull document. "Officially" stating that we have adopted each other and are now Woodbulls :) YAY! Pray together... and we tried to sing a Woodbull song :P

Benaiah handing Kent the Woodbull document to read. 

Kent reading it to all of us :)

There it is!  :D 

Bethy reading it :) 

Putting it away for the last time for a while. Who knows when we will all be together again to celebrate our Woodbull anniversary. I hope not to long! 

Well, that is the end of our Woodbull celebrations. It was a fun time getting to hang out with each other. I can never thank God enough for how much He has blessed me by giving me nine amazing siblings!!! I love them all so much and am so thankful for each one of them!!! Happy 2nd year anniversary Woodbulls!