Surprise I'm Home!

Surprise I’m Home!

On June 18th I left from the airport in La Paz, Bolivia on my secret surprise trip home. I had been planning this trip for the previous few months, and was extremely excited to be able to spend time with family, friends, and to see the birth of my new nephew. My sister, along with a couple close friends, were the only ones who knew I would be coming back. I had to have some people on the inside in order to help me pull off this surprise. I had a few set backs and almost had the surprise exposed a couple of times but managed, with some help, to keep my arrival under the radar. 

My flight out of La Paz, Bolivia

I had a great time surprising my parents, brother, and niece and nephews. The stories are a bit too long to share, but it was something I won’t ever forget. I had a great time planning and strategizing on how best to pull it all off. 

I guess I should start with the reason that brought me back to Michigan. When I left for Bolivia in January, I had no intentions of coming back home during my two year contract that I have with the Franciscan Mission Service. Those plans got changed when I heard that my brother, Jared and his wife, Kristen were due to have a baby at the end of June. I didn’t want to miss the birth of my nephew. It was a great reason to be able to come back and spend quality time with my family and friends. 

Now onto some highlights from my trip...

• Birth of Blake Christian Redell on June 25th, 2012. What a little cutie. 

• The Surprises-The surprise of my parents and brother were definitely the most dramatic. 

• Kayaking with my parents down the Rogue River.

• Spending the afternoon with the Owens family and seeing Luke and Eliza’s new baby girl Grace.

• Going with Jared, Kristen, and Family (surprise) to walk through and see their new house in Grand Rapids. Yay! 

• Lots of changes going on for my brother and his wife with their new house, new addition to the family, Blake Christian, and new coaching job at Northpoint Christian. I am very excited and happy for you. It was great spending time with Jared, Kristen, Trent, Trey, and baby Blake. 

• Going to Jessica Majerle’s open house and being able to spend time talking with the Majerle family as well as old basketball players, teachers, and people from the community. Super happy to see Coach Majerle doing very well after having his brain surgery to help treat his symptoms of Parkinson’s. What a blessing for him and his family. He has also just taken the coaching job at Grand Rapids Christian-I guess I’m going to be a GRC fan now. 

• Spending time with my grandma, Cleo Cavitch, our angel who humbly shows us all what it means to work hard, be optimistic, love deeply, be grateful, and be joy-filed.

• Spending quality time with my sister, Sarah, her husband, Ryan and their two energy filled children Rylan and Brandt. We had lots of fun playing in the water. Since you couldn’t go to Cochabamba, Cochabamba came to you.

• Going up to northern Michigan and spending time with two great long time friends Josh Bosman and Dave Nykerk as well as other friends from high school. We had a great time staying at a cottage right on a beautiful lake. 
• Spending time with Zach and Jordyn Osburn. They are expecting their first baby this August, and I am very excited for them. Also got to spend some time with Zach’s parents Paul and Barb and see the new house they just moved into. I also want Ben and Annie Osburn to know that thoughts and prayers are with them. 

• Nate Parker and his never ending selfless service of picking me up at the Detroit airport at midnight and driving me all around Michigan for a couple days. I can’t leave out his epic food performance at Denny’s at 1:30 in the morning which awarded us 10 percent off the bill...There might have been an incident in the bathroom though...

• 4th of July party that my parents had at their house. I made a typical Bolivian dish pique macho to bring a little of Bolivia to the US. It was great spending time with family and friends. I also received the best gift money can buy, a book, and have to say its been great so far. It has definitely made an impact on me and my spiritual journey. Thank you Aldo.

• Playing some tennis with my dad and sister. We played a bunch of two verses one games. It was great to be out there all playing together and having fun. I think that was the first time the three of us have played together. 

• Going to Coach DeKuiper’s house and chatting about life. It has been great to get to know both Coach DeKuiper and Coach Majerle and families on a deeper and more personal level since high school. I also got to to see his wife, Rachel, packing up for her third service trip out to Haiti. I’m sure the group had a very powerful experience there.

• Chatting on the phone with many friends and catching up on life. 

• Two great conversations with my brother Jeff Aley from Alaska. I am so thankful for his impact on my life. Mt. Redoubt here we come...get ready old man!

• Letting my brother beat me in Tennis. Aren’t I a good brother? He actually beat me fare and square, and now I get the next year and a half to be humbly reminded of that. I think I’ll have a little motivation for our next match!

Two of my nephews Trey and Trent

                                     

There were lots of other great moments throughout my trip that weren’t mentioned above but were very special to me. I am so grateful to have had this time with loved ones. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my life and has helped make it one filled with love and joy. We may be far apart physically but the love and memories I have from my family and friends I carry with me in my heart. You are never far from me. 

Me with niece and nephews minus the newest addition Blake

Great picture of Rylan and Trent tubbing 

I wish I took more pictures with my camera. There were lots of pictures being taken I just don't have access to them right now.