Going back to Sioux Center is as/more exciting as going home to Indiana for me. I get to see all sorts of people I know and love as well as revel in the small-town life that I grew to love for four years. This time, I got to meet up with extended family as well as my immediate family, and I could spend time with some of my best friends.
Hannah and Travis, whom I got to enjoy an evening of fun with before they were involved in all sorts of stuff for other people. Hannah and I were in Nicaragua together for the semester.
Reunited with family! On Thursday, my parents arrived with Grandma, and we all ate at the Chinese restaurant in town, a family favorite. We've decided it was a better restaurant when I graduated.
Happy to be reunited as brother and sister!
Grandma getting ready for graduation, about to walk out of the hotel room all dolled-up.
Mom, Dad, and I got stuck up in the nosebleeds for graduation. Kid you not, we were two rows from the very highest bleachers you could have.
The graduating class of Dordt College in 2014
A blurry picture of Dirk walking down the aisle to get his diploma
Dirk, the littlest cousin, and Grandma
Enjoying a parent/daughter bonding time in the hotel room. Look, you can see us all since Mom and I are visible in the mirror!
This young man is ready to rock the world!
Hannah, another dear friend with whom I was in Nicaragua, shows off the payaso I brought back from Nicaragua this time. I stayed at her house.
Dirk and Mom at our celebration brunch. Dirk picked up a few good habits during his semester in Washington DC, and we decided to celebrate with a Washingtonian tradition
Grandma came along, too
Dad and I at the celebratory brunch. Waffles, scones, omelets, all sorts of yummy things. Plus free refills on coffee!
Donuts! I had been craving fresh donuts in Nicaragua, and we fulfilled the desire as a family. Yeah, Casey's Bakery!
After a few months in Nicaragua, I'm astounded by the lack of security in Sioux Center! It was worthy of a picture to my foreign eyes.
Since my cousin-in-law also graduated, our family got together for Pizza Ranch (classic NW Iowa). We had a grand time together.
The younger boys passed time with Grandma. Wheelchairs are better than television!
Family picture together after my cousin's baby was baptized. We even color-coordinated accidentally. Happy Mother's Day, Mom!
Playing at the park. Wheels for the baby and for the cousins! Yes, we commandeered Grandma's ride.
So that's the trip of 5 days in snapshots. Family, eating, friends, playing in the park, family. It was a good trip even though it was a whirlwind. On the way home, I opted for a different flight since mine was overbooked, and I got a flight voucher! Definitely a good trip, filled with all sorts of good gifts from our Heavenly Father. It was a huge blessing to be able to go 'home' to celebrate with my family. I didn't realize how important the event would be to me until I was on my way there - and very glad that I had decided to go!
SO glad you could go Adrianna- VERY thankful. God knows what He is doing.
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