Cherishing family times

April is the "Holiday" Month here in South Africa rendering my children more days off school than actual days attending. With the busyness of life ever encroaching on family time we are embracing these breaks and determined to turn them into Franzenfam memories! With that in mind we set out for a day hike.

An hour outside the city lies the beautiful Magaliesberg Mountains offering magnificent views.

After climbing, hiking....

and posing...

We found natural spring pools! There we offered a gig as we were happy to cool down...

And relaxed!

Often during these special times the arguments fade and cuteness emerges.....

Tori had a couple cute quips along the way....

After hiking awhile she said, "Mom, I don't think walking is my thing." 
And as we climbed the huge rock formations she exclaimed, "I don't know who invented all this but it sure is awesome."

She was right...it was awesome on so many fronts. Cherishing these family days!

Franzenfam Roadtrip

With fall break and 3 weeks off from school for the kiddos we peeled ourselves away from "work" and hit the road. We set out to retrace the tracks we trekked through Botswana and into Zim 16 years ago...this time with 3 kids, a lot more than backpacks and an ipad (thank God).

Not sure what would ensue, on what would become a 3,000+ kilometer road-trip, we revved our engines for adventure. And what an adventure we had...

Fourteen hours from our home in Johannesburg lies a little desert town in Northern Botswana called, Maun. Rich and I spent 4 months based in Maun leading mission trips with Teen Mania Ministry and the local ministry of Love Botswana Outreach in '95 & '96. We maneuvered close to 150 teens through these parts during those months. Guess in hindsight now doing it with 3 kids (and a little added wear and tear on the body) this was a breeze.

SOOO wonderful to see all that has been accomplished in Maun over the course of those years by Jerry and Jana Lackey and their LBM team. Wonderful to sip coffee once again under the star lit skies of the African bush with these 2 phenomenal missionaries and hear stories of God's love and faithfulness! Their "southern" hospitality was appreciated as well.

One of our family highlights here was a horseback safari...







I've never been so close to giraffe...the perks of Africa and friends that have a game farm. :)

After 4 nights in Maun, we headed to Chobe National Park, an hour from the Zim border.

When in Africa...safari. However before ever entering the Park gates we saw plenty of game just on the roads of Northern Bots. We saw elephants, jackal, giraffe, monkeys, and a million donkey. Right outside Chobe Park was a large presentation of elephant....





In the park, hippo sightings were abundant....



and of course lots of these started and ended our days....




After the beauty of Botswana we headed for one more border. Zim welcomed us...


...with more game viewing


wonderful ways to beat the heat....


a special "African" dinner experience where we were robed in national garb...

and "enjoyed" African cuisine...like mopani worms, a first for these two


But the cherry on the top of this African experience is truly a 'wonder'...Victoria Falls.


The water is high this time of year creating such massive spray at some points you can't even see the falls and "rainfall" at other points.


Blake enduring the spray of the falls to capture a pic.





The Mighty Zambezi River


And a moment with a true hero...one that paved "the African way" for so many of us...the founder of Vic Falls and leader of missons as a whole, David Livingstone...

After Zim, an 18 hour journey and the cross of 2 borders would ensue to return us back to Jozi. Refreshed, inspired, encouraged and glad to be out of the car I can confidently say, "We have seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!"

And....

"Ahh, I love living in Africa!!!!!!!!!"

Here we go

Popcorn, Energade, "Boots", the next 40 Saturday mornings.....Soccer Season has begun!!

And this Soccer Mom is ready....



bling and all.....


Here we go........

Blake's Birthday Buck & Bash

Our Blake turned 10 this month and one of the Franzenfam "rights, rituals, & ceremonies" is celebrating momentous birthdays/events with special memories. Double digits is the beginning of the "bigger" birthdays, warranting a special event.

Rich would plan this one. Living in Africa it seemed only natural to incorporate the great wild life into this experience. And being a Franzen hunting is in the blood (forgive the pun). The boys would spend 2 days fishing and hunting together.

The Fishing...






The Hunt...

With disappointment beginning to set in after a loooong day of hunting to no avail the prize was finally won. One shot to the shoulder the buck was down and our new hunter ecstatic.


Definitely a special father-son memory that will last a lifetime (especially with a horn mount as a reminder :))


Later in the week Blake's birthday would culminate with 4 special friends and a sleepover.


I found food (Impala braai/bbq from Blake's hunt) and light sabers were the party highlights. What else does a 10 year old boy need?



Of course seeing Star Wars in 3D was quite enjoyed and helped to spur on the saber activity....



Not sure much sleep was had but am pretty confident all (including mom) will sleep well tonight....


Blake's birthday complete with a buck and a bash...one not soon forgotten!

Happy Birthday Blake; you are a great kid....loved by many but by mom & dad the most!

A Very Special Day at the Beach

We headed to one of my favorite areas on the North Coast for an Impact Africa staff and family celebration and debriefing time. Weather cooperated and the beach was stunning!
One morning in particular will stand out in the Franzenfam book of memories. Skyler was baptized by her Dad in the Indian Ocean!

Our "South African" family was all there in support which made it extra special!

We prayed for her and then "Pastor Dad" proceeded with familiar words that became ultra personal that morning....

"I baptize you in the Name of the Father,




The Son,



And the Holy Spirit!"

Afterward "Grandpa Joe" (Betsy's Dad) trumpeted "Amazing Grace"

And Sky was embraced by our precious teammates....




That morning I woke with a specific scripture rolling around in my heart and mind. This scripture has become a dear one to me over the years which made it even more special to share with my girl.

Psalm 27:4 "One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."

I'm convinced I share this "prayer" with most parents....that our children would dwell in the house of the Lord ALL the days of their life and amidst the ugliness that the world can throw at our kids that they would lift their eyes and keep their gaze focused on HIS beauty!!

We love our girl and are proud of her; she has a beautiful heart for the Lord!

It was a very special day at the beach!!

The Bug Party

Tori wanted a cheetah themed birthday party this year, so being the good mom that I am I threw her a "bug" party...hee! Actually, it is difficult to find cute party stuff this side of the ocean so when I stumbled on the adorable lady bug (they would say "lady bird" here) party stuff in one of our local stores my persuasion skills took over.

The "bug table"....complete with yummy treats such as ants on a log, caterpillar corn, bug cups, ladybird balls, a bucket of bugs and worm juice.


This cute larvae wouldn't be complaining about bugs in his food....

Completing our edible bug treats was the birthday "dirt" cake....


The birthday girl (quite pleased by the way with her party theme and cake of choice)


The party activities....

Team Butterfly



Vs. Team Flower


Team challenges:

The Cocoon Wrap (not to be confused with the Mummy Wrap :) )


A worm eating contest


The bug on a fly swatter relay


The inch worm race

Which for the little ones turned into "bug pile" with Uncle Rich


The whole lot of bugs, including the little larvae joined in a round of "Buzz, Buzz, Sting"...


And Tori's favorite...The Fear Factor Challenge, where to win one must find 3 worms and a bug in the pie of jello using only one's mouth.

Only a few took the challenge






The winner???....the birthday bug and she was pretty buzzed!


And what would a bug party be without bug masks? Each would decorate their own...

Aren't they cute?


I intended to get a photo of the guests buzzing around the garden wearing their masks however the masks were laden with pom poms and too heavy to wear. Typical girls...the more poof and pizzazz the prettier. :)

From cheetah to bug, I'd say this beautiful butterfly was happy with the metamorphosis.