Happy New Year

Hope yours will be good year !

Christmas Eve!

The Fondue














The stockings!















This is hilarious!





























Just what I always wanted!




























There is still more to come!

Reflecting

This morning as I was having my "power" breakfast I was reflecting on how my life has turned out. Some of you may know that I am translating my diary, which I started writing when I was 16 up to the point I came to Canada four years later. Turbulent years they were indeed.

During those years all I wanted was to have a boyfriend/husband who would be trustworthy, and some children to care for. As I was relating that yesterday to Yvonne, she said: "So Mom, you are living your dream!"

How many of you can say that?

That does not mean my life since then has been perfect. I have not always been "A half cup full" type of a person either! But the more I became aware of my capability to trust the Lord, the more I saw Him work in my life, the more I became a "count your blessing" type of a person.

During the last few years we have had three serious bouts of cancer between the two of us, Ted has been diagnosed with Parkinson's a few weeks ago. But....because of faith in a "BIG" God. We are extremely happy.

Thursday we were sitting in the Hospital cafeteria in between tests I had to go through, and looking at each other we said: "How good the Lord has been to us!" I had tears running down my cheeks. We receive so much love from our children, friends and family. Ted mentioned that as he went to the airport to pick up Monica our niece, she gave him three hugs and a kiss. "That felt so good ", he said. Is that a blessing? Of course it is!

Why am I writing this? Because last evening Monica and I were, both with a laptop, reading some blogs. To tell you the truth, we would have liked to comment and it would not have been pretty. So much whining and complaining, please people don't you have something to be thankful for?

After reading the Bible and going to church Sunday after Sunday, have you not discovered the Grace of God?

When you go to University and receive a Masters degree, are you not supposed to earn a living by what you have learned? My granddaughter Anneka has been going to school for such a short time and already she knows how to spell and was helping me writing names on presents!

Paul writes in 2Timothy 3:7 "People are always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth! Paul was scolding them!

A few verses before that Paul writes:"Holding to a form of godliness but denying its power."

That is strong stuff! Oelala! God forgive us!

Good reports

Yesterday Ted had an appointment with the oncology department. A CT Scan was done previously, actually two, one of his body to check for cancer and one of his head. The latter to find out why he has Parkinson's. Well both scans and bloodwork and even his prostrate all turned out okay. Dr Harris told us all tests even if we had tried could not have been better. To which I said, that means Ted has been cancer free for over three years. She shook her head and said, " we don't talk that way!" "Huh?" We both said, "is that because of recurrence?" "That's right", she said.

I have always been very realistic about our situation, but to have a doctor say that so bluntly is indeed very sobering!

And yet we both have this calm assurance that we can say like David:

But as for me (us), I (we) Trust in Thee O Lord.
I say: "Thou art my (our) God."
"My (our) times are in Thy Hand.
Psalm 31:14,15

(This is a verse the Lord gave me while in intensive care after a heart attack 10 years ago. I was visiting my brother in Oshawa ON, for a short vacation and had to remain there for 6 weeks until I was strong enough to travel).

The reason I want to go to Holland is the fact (Ted is not up to going) that I am very realistic.
I am so thankful that Yvonne always dreamed of going some day to Holland with me This day has arrived as we will be leaving January 25. 2006. That is only a few weeks away. Except for a brother in Oshawa, all my brothers and sisters live in Holland. I am the third youngest of nine siblings! My wish during my recuperation was to see them at least one more time!

Before we go I will have a several tests done starting next week and a colonoscopy January 6th.
The medical system has been very good and thorough.
We are very thankful for that.

Been thinking

I have been thinking, about GOD, yes GOD, what He actually means to me.

When I look around me and I observe other Christians, I have to wonder what kind of influence we are. Are we really a testimony for the non-Christians?
Even in our blogging world I have to question what influence we are.

If I were not a child of God and I would be searching, what would I be looking for?
What would you be looking for?
Be honest, look around you and observe people, is there a difference between the two?

*Are they, the believers trusting in God?
*Are they being thankful? Honest? Saying negative things?
*Are they worrying about the future?
*They'r own health and their children's?
*Oh yes, what about money, holding on to it tight, they might need it some day!

I work for people who admit they do not believe in our God, nor any god for that matter. But actually, many a believer could use their attitude in many instances.

You know what they say? The churches are like a puppet show. One church has a better one than the next as if they are in competition. Competition about what!
As if they each have a different Bible they comment, because one believes this, the next one believes that!
In the business world Christians are shafting them!
They also see children of believers not being able to get along in their marriages. While the parents are not able to function because they are so worried instead of bringing it to their God. Yes that is what they are saying people.

You know what would really impress them?

*They would like you to bring it to a God who created the universe. Right?
*Who made something out of nothing, right?
*Who came to earth in the form of a man and dwelt among us, right?
*A God who tells us, " I will never leave you nor forsake you!"
*A God, who hears our prayers, knows our thoughts! Right?

This is what we have been telling them!

Up early!

Lately I have been waking up early every morning.
Today no exception, 4:00am.
I tried to go back to sleep.
I couldn't because my throath hurts, so I took some vit C, still hurts!
Then some anticeptic spray, still hurts!
No use, better get up, 4:30am
Made my "power" breakfast and hot coffee, still hurts!
Now I have the time to read some of my favourite blogs and make comments, still hurts!
Right now as I am writing it is 6:00 am, still hurts!

I 've got to get rit of this, have to be at the office at 8:30

Just thought you'd like to know!

Winnipeg

Christmas tree

Wow, I did not realize I would get this much static by putting the Christmas tree in the family room downstairs. When I mentioned this idea to Ted. Well, his comments were, it would never work, the tree is too big, there is no room etc. I thought to my self I will make the room! Even if it meant taking some furniture out, even if it meant leaving the bottom branches out as it became to wide. Well I manage to do all these things.
It seems the whole family is wondering why I would do such a thing, holy smokes!

I will tell you why. I figured, we eat upstairs, "our tradional fondue", then go downstairs to open up the presents and Monica, "do our picture thing". By this I do not mean the picture taking thing!

When all is done we adults go upstairs and the grandchildren can play with the new toys and watch a video. We all know how a room can look after the opening of presents. This way I can leave it till the next day and not have to stay up all hours of the night to tidy up.
So......that is my reason for doing it this way. It seemed to make all perfect sense to me!

On the other hand, since Ted and I are always upstairs I miss seeing my "master piece of a tree"! Even though to some people (and I won't mention any names) say it is sooooooo seventies! Ha, ha, ha!

We will see how this works this Christmas.

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Feeling good

Today is one year ago that I began to get pains alarming enough to make me go to the Hospital. I have come a long way. I guess you don't realize how bad you feel until you are better. Better I am that's for sure. How thankful I am to God for my health and energy.





I put up the Christmas tree today. This morning I had to move a lot of furniture in the family room to give the tree it's rightful place ( which is different than previous years as the tree was upstairs). This afternoon I got some help from Anneka with the decorating. I won't say what Yvonne was doing, you can read that in her blog!
I started decorating the house last week and still have a bit more to do.
When I pulled out all the decorations last week and again today the Christmas tree and whatever goes in it, I could not help but think of our dear long time friends Els and Ken Penner, who so graciously offered to take down our Christmas tree last year when I was recuperating from my surgery. At that time as I laid down on the sofa they just went at it. That was love in action, I don't think I will ever forget that day! I was just going to leave it with the attitude, "I'll get to it when I get to it". I knew that Ted would not have the energy for all that work. But after it was all done I breathed a sigh of relieve.

I am not a person who changes the colors of our tree because it is so seventies or eighties. I love to hang items made by our children when they were younger; they hold a special meaning for me.

Like the small ribbon with a couple of used communion cups to resemble "bells", made by Yvonne.









Or the "silver swan" with the tail clipped off by Ron who had gotten a hold of a pair of scissors when he was four (I tried to fix the ornament).














Or the napkin holders made by Paul,
which I pin on the wall every Christmas to the disgust of Jason!










Or some of the ornaments I bought my first Christmas in Canada, you know what? You can't find those anywhere! May be on E-bay, who knows!
Now, that is what putting up a tree is all about, every year there are more memories.

Happy "Memories" to all of you!