Donuts, Floyd and Hair

By vicki on June 26, 2011

Last night, Lloyd and Eddye and I decided we would get up early this morning to buy a dozen donuts at the Johnston HyVee and drive 3 hours Northeast of Des Moines to surprise Reuben&Heidi, Eden and Harper for breakfast. We knew they had biked to within a mile east of Larymer, Iowa yesterday, and were camping overnight in the yard of a farmhouse near lots of trees on the south side of  hwy 24. We also knew that they usually pack up camp and start biking anywhere between 8:00-9:00AM. So we left our house at 5:00AM and easily found their camp spot promptly at 8:00 just as they were eating their oatmeal.  Breakfast quickly morphed into donuts for “dessert”. It was so fun to surprise them!

Just about done with the donuts and about to pack up camp

Lloyd playing peek-a-boo with Harper across the bike gear

A tender moment with Eden

About to take off from the farmhouse

we took one of our bikes along and took turns biking with Reuben&Heidi until their first play/snack break. Whoever wasn't biking followed by car

On the way back to Des Moines, we thought ALOT about Vicki’s Dad as we passed through a little town named Floyd. Can you imagine that? Floyd, Iowa!

After being Floyd-ed out, we arrived back to Des Moines about 2PM. Today’s outing was well worth the early rise and 6 hours of driving. Iowa country-side is actually very beautiful!

When we got home, Eddye asked if I would help with relaxing her hair. It’s about a 40 minute process involving various chemicals, shampoos and rinses. This was my second time, so hopefully I’m learning the skill and her hair turns out even more beautiful than it did last time we did it in March!

Mama hairdresser

Looking forward to supper on the grill tonight, and a nice summer evening out on the deck!

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Celebration Weekend

By vicki on June 20, 2011

We celebrated Eddye’s  June 8th adoption this Saturday with a party at our house.  It was a great opportunity for some of Eddye’s friends and support people to meet some of our family and friends.  Approximately 60 adults and 23 children joined us for this celebration event. The house was packed, and it was great. Vicki’s Mom and Dad, from Racine, WI, drove to DSM to join us for the weekend. Kristin&Curt, Emma, Claire and Levi as well as Kim&Paul and Marley came from Grand Rapids, MI.   Reuben&Heidi, Eden and Harper, who were as far as Madison, WI on their year-long bike trip (www.pedalpoweredfamily.com) decided to leave their biking equipment in Madison, and rent a car in order to come to DSM for the weekend. We all missed Nick and Jess from Denver, who were unable to join us for the weekend, but we enjoyed a very long (almost  3 hours!)  group Skype call on Friday night. Technology nowdays is quite amazing!  

Eddye met her Grandma and Grandpa Veenstra for the first time this weekend

Kristin, along with her siblings, helped manage the kitchen island (where most of the food was) during the party

Another Kwaak

Our dining room table turned into a display table for pictures and items that were important to Eddye

Kim&Paul with Eddye

Reuben with Harper

 

Curt with Levi

The whole Dudley family joined us for the celebration

Little Mikey is absolutely precious!

Salome and Isaiah with Eddye

Eddye and Liz, who was our official photographer

Joan and Bob and family, former foster family from Carroll, IA

All the mothers together.....Molly, Vicki and Joan

Three of Vicki's beloved Sophie Seekers were able to attend

Kimberly Klein (Eddye's former high school english teacher from Carroll) and family

Eddye and her advocate, Leah and Leah's daughter, Sophie

Reuben and Heidi and Harper with his Great-Grandma in kitchen, mid-party

A mother-daughter moment

Three like-minded women:)

Sisters

 

Our grand-daughters and Mikey playing in the still ice-filled "pop-bucket" once most of the guests were gone.

Great-Grandpa and Paul over-looking the kiddies

Little girl fun in our front yard during the party

Thanks to all who helped us celebrate Eddye’s entre into the family!

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Welcome Eddye!

By vicki on June 8, 2011

Eddye’s adoption is now official!  We met with the judge at the Polk County Court House this morning at 8:30AM to make things legal. Several of Eddye’s best fans accompanied us into the courtroom.  We were fortunate to have a kind, smiling  judge who asked very few questions. Within minutes, the adoption decree was granted, and Eddye was our daughter. Wow!  Is that all? Salome did a great job as lawyer for the case.  We couldn’t have negotiated through all the paperwork and process without her.

After leaving the courthouse, we all met at Gateway Market for a celebration brunch.  While we were waiting for our food, we took some pics:

Welcome, Eddye Jean Vanderkwaak! We love you!

Thanks to Salome for being our lawyer. We couldn't have negotiated through the adoption process without her!

Eddye's good friend, Sam, came along to the courthouse. Sam was adopted by another family in Des Moines about a year ago.

Several after-care workers from Iowa Homeless Youth Shelters accompanies us to the courthouse as well. Leah, on the left, has been Eddye's official Advocate. This is the first time that one of Leah's "kids" has been adopted!

Praise God for strong supporters!

Post brunch lingering in our corner at Gateway Market

 Later in the day, Eddye and I went to Sacred Diamond to get her adoption “momento” from Lloyd and me–a tatoo that she’s wanted for quite some time.  Here she is looking through the various lettering options available:

So many options! It was hard to decide.

About to start.......

Here it is, on Eddye's left wrist. "Beloved". A word loaded with meaning and identity. Long story! You can ask sometime, if you want to know more.

Left and right wrists, both full of meaning and promise!

 

Welcome to the family, Eddye!  We’re so happy to know you and to love you!

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