Information Family of the Month - January 2016

Machiel and Alisia Coetzee, along with their children Sam (PS) and Abby (PS) are our Family of the Month for January.

Alisia writes, “Machiel and I met while he was working in Sudan, and I was living in South Africa. We quickly became friends, and when we met in person a few months later, it was love at first sight. Machiel took me on a sunrise hot air balloon ride 3 weeks later, and proposed. Looking back on it now I can't believe how adventurous we were! After our engagement we put our careers on hold and moved to Jordan for a year to work for the Red Cross. This is where we truly bonded!

After our honeymoon in Mauritius, we were ready to start our family, but unfortunately things didn't turn out that way for us. Our hearts were full, but our arms empty. With circumstances getting more difficult in South Africa, we had little choice but to immigrate. We traveled to Europe and the USA, but fell in love with Houston as soon as we arrived here. We knew this is where we eventually wanted to live, and hopefully, raise our kids. Shortly after our move to America - with a little medical help and a lot of God's grace - we were pregnant....with twins!! Sam and Abby bring us so much joy.

Machiel and I both work long hours, and for their first year we had a nanny caring for the twins at home during the day. When the time came to find a daycare I spent weeks reading reviews and safety inspection records of every daycare in our town. I had a short list of 3 schools, but as soon as I walked into Primrose, I knew this was the place for us! The school was incredibly clean, the teachers courteous and the kids happy and well behaved.

I have to admit that I was very anxious leaving the kids at day care in the beginning. I used to slip away during my lunch hour to peek through the classroom window and check on the twins. It only took a few secret visits to realize they were perfectly happy, safe and well cared for. There were tears some mornings, but we always have a loving teacher with open arms, ready to comfort and hug.

We found a family in Primrose, and we couldn't be happier.”