“He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:2-5
Dear Family and Friends in Christ-
It’s been a couple of months. \”/ Things were a bit “crazy” around the end of Nov. with Glenn traveling to Togo, children having final exams, Abigail starting with Tuks swim club, her swim galas (swim meets) and her graduation from grade 7, ending the school year (2011) while preparing for the beginning of the next one (2012), and leaving for CA for a month stay. Then we hit the ground running when we arrived back in South Africa as school for my Crawfordians had already started and I didn’t “prepare” for the beginning of school before leaving for CA as well as I should have. We all survived and I think we are finally getting into the swing of things.
California was amazing. The kids had so much fun playing and spending time with their Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts, and cousins. Eliana still talks about spending the night (it was her first time spending the night with anyone – that she can remember) with her cousins Logan, Paige, and Eva and that is the first thing she is going to do the next time we are in California. The weather was absolutely gorgeous the entire time and that made it even better as the kids spent an incredible amount of time outside, running around and exploring the hills behind the house we were staying in. It was just nice to have the entire Fluegge family together and to spend time with them. We miss our family!
Samuel has joined a rock climbing club with his school (pretoria boys high) but will have to end that shortly as Rugby season starts in less than two weeks (march 5 is the beginning of try-outs). He really does enjoy rock climbing but with the amount of boys climbing with the club he spends more time on the ground watching and waiting than he does climbing. This has been frustrating for him.
Abigail is still swimming. She swims 5 days a week for over an hour and it has been good for. She has also started with music. This year as an option class she did not want to do art so we are trying music. She has a music class with her school and then does piano lessons once a week. It’s been really nice hearing the keyboard being played every day. (wishing I had a piano…) Abigail enjoys music and so is enjoying “making” some of her own.
Caleb is in gymnastics twice a week with a club. He is also doing class music as an option instead of art and I have become his “piano” teacher. We are getting along just fine…I think.
Jesse also does gymnastics twice a week with Caleb. He is also swimming 3 days a week at Crawford. The coach has put him with the grade 2′s (Jesse has just started grade 1) and that has been an adjustment. The grade ones spend most of their swim time hanging on the side of the pool or using kick boards. The grade 2′s spend most of their time swimming laps with no help and when they touch the side they are reprimanded. It’s been nice to see Jesse’s freestyle go from flailing to even strokes. He is tired in the evenings after swimming and that has been nice. Finally he using up all that energy that he has.
Eliana has started in pre-school and she loves it. Everyone is her friend and I find that very cute but miss having her at home.
A year ago my parents were here spending six months with us. We truly miss having them around.
The question of giving up something for Lent came up this morning at the breakfast table. It has been decided by the family that we are going to give up smoking. The decision was unanimous.
Peace be to you through-out this lenten season
Susan Fluegge
(Glenn, Samuel, Abigail, Caleb, Jesse, Eliana)
