We lost a great man yesterday

A few months ago I posted about Kevin's family, and the things that were going on health wise with his sister Kristi, and our brother-in-law Eric.  Well, with a heavy heart I need to write that yesterday Eric went to be with our Lord.  We rejoice that he is no longer in pain, that he's no longer suffering, and that he is now at peace forever, but he will be dearly missed. 

The following will appear in the GR Press on Friday and Sunday:

Eric J. Fox, age 40, of Grandville, formerly of Jenison, went to be with his Savior on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 after a courageous, five year battle with ALS. His genuine love of life and for people gave him the ability to make friends in minutes. Eric has fought the good fight, he has finished the race and has kept the faith. He was loved and will be dearly missed by his wife of 14 years, Lori; his children, Zach and Maddie; parents, James and Joan Fox; sister, Julie Fox; brother, Jary (Erica) Fox and their children, Emma and Katelyn; parents-in-law, Steve and Linda Kammeraad; sister-in-law, Kristi (Brian) Rogalske and their children, Ashley, Nathan and Emily; brother-in-law, Kevin (Stephanie) Kammeraad and their children, Carlos and Maria; and many extended family members and friends.

Funeral services will be held Monday at 10:00am at Kentwood Community Church, 1200 60th St. SE, Kentwood with Pastor Rob Reynolds officiating. Interment Fort Custer National Cemetery.
Those who wish may make memorial contributions to ALS Association, or Global Partners c/o Rob and DaNae Reynolds.
Relatives and friends may meet the family Saturday from 7-9 pm, Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9pm at Matthysse-Kuiper-DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville) 4145 Chicago Drive SW.
Condolences may be sent online at www.mkdfuneralhome.com or the family’s blog at http://www.ericjfox.blogspot.com/.

November 2009

July 2008

Our Last Days in Bogota - Part 2

On the Saturday that Kevin came back to Colombia, during the day Katya (the owner of Hotel Paris) took Carlos, Maria, and I to a park where she used to take her sons when they were growing up.  It was such a fun place for kids to run, jump, climb, swing, balance, slide, etc!  Valeria (the hotel manager) and her seven year old daughter Camilla also came with us.  So much fun!  I felt honored that Katya invited us.

Carlos and Camilla jumping on the huge trampolines

Camilla and Carlos

Carlos' first photo with Daddy back in Colombia!

The next morning after Kevin flew back was a Sunday, so we all went to the markets one last time.  And then Kevin and Carlos went back to Parque Duque to the zoo, where Carlos and I had gone only two days before with the Schrotenboers.  He really enjoyed it there and wanted to show Daddy the monkeys and to ride on the paddle boats that we weren't able to ride when we were there since Maria was too little.  They had a beautiful, fun, and relaxing time together, playing together and watching the monkeys playing for hours that afternoon!

The next day was our last day in Bogota, and it was a beautiful sun-shiny day!  We walked to the local park, then to Juan Valdez for coffee and their huge cookie, and then on to Maku (the three-story artesian market) for some last minute shopping. 

It felt so good to be together as a family of four, just strolling through our familiar section of Bogota, enjoying each other and taking in our last hours hours of this beautiful country that is now forever in our hearts!

Our last family photo in Colombia!

Our Last Days in Bogota - Part 1

The last day that Natalie was here we went downtown to the Candalaria District.  We visited the Botero Museum, an art museum that was started when Fernando Botero donated over 100 pieces of his art.  Botero is a Colombian arist, known best for his "larger than life" paintings of his subjects. 

This was one of my favorite Botero pieces.  It's simply titled "El Pajaro" (which in English is "The Bird")

Speaking of birds, after the museum and a lunch of traditional Colombian food at this tiny restaurant, we went to Bolivar Square.  (Simon Bolivar is the man responsible for freeing Colombia from Spain in the Battle of Boyaca on August 7, 1819.  Below is a statue of Bolivar which stands near the center of the square:)

The reason I said "speaking of birds" above is because that's what they should re-name the square to:  Bird Square! There were pigeons everywhere!! A few minutes after we arrived at the square and took the photos that you see above, Carlos exclaimed with glee, "It's pigeon land!" He and Maria spent the next twenty minutes running amongst the pigeons in pure joy!

"The Bird Lady," as we referred to her as!  (That's a huge bag of bird seed in her hands.)

A couple of days after Natalie flew back home, I decided that I wanted to take the kids to Parque Duque.  I've heard that it's a lot of fun for kids, with a zoo and amusements rides, and I knew that it wasn't too far out of the city.  (We passed it on our way to Panaca that first week we were in Colombia.)  I invited our friends the Schrotenboers to come with us.  (We met Becky Schrotenboer at the Colombian Connection dinner at the Tanners' house back in November that I mentioned in previous posts.  Becky and Scott and their four year old daughter Ally arrived a few days before to adopt their new son, Will, from Los Pisingos!)  We had a really nice afternoon together!   

That's a squirrel...in an exhibit at the zoo...yes, you read that right!  I found this to be hilarious so I had to take some photos!

Maria, Carlos, and Ally taking a break after all of our walking

The Schrotenboers had to leave the park early, but Carlos, Maria, and I stayed two more hours.  We had a good time together, until we had problems catching the little train back to the front of the park to meet our driver.  To make a long story short, after waiting over an hour for a train I assumed ran regulary (but there were no posted signs that I saw nor did I have a schedule or map or anything), and after I had a complete breakdown, we made it back to the hotel in one piece just before dinner.  Just another adventure in Colombia!

Easter Family Photo