More Holland

Circle around the "Grote Markt"
Isn't this amazing?
Like you are all going with us!

The tree you see, there is the street I lived during my teenage years.
The house is close to 400 years old by now. Four stories high with a business on the first floor, (not ours)and a high ceiling with a marble floor, which, yes I had to clean as a teenager. On the third floor was my bedroom. I used to hang out of the window often with my girlfriends, to watch the world go by, (the militaries) as the barracks were just around the corner, so-much-fun!
Sunday morning I could hear all the bells from the various churches, no way could you miss church after that. It was like "Come-to-church-a-good-place-to-be", kind of sound!

I write a lot about it in my diary, which I am translating at the request of Yvonne and my daughters through marriage, Jennifer and Lynne. By the time I am done I will have typed close to 600 pages. I have done 200 so far. I started Sept 2005.
You see, my mother passed away (same cancer I have) when I was 16 (1956). I had to quit school to take care of my father and the household. Seven children with two younger that me. There was no washing machine or dryer, no car to pick up groceries! I had to sew all my own clothes including my younger sibling's. Made my own jewelry as well, because I wanted to look "funky".

I did go to school in the evening,(my mother's wish before she died) where I took (and graduated) after three years with a business degree. Of course I had to do a lot of studying, which I did in the afternoon's. (I am still benefiting from that knowledge now!)

Holland

check this out you might just see us there. This is my home town Haarlem and my street is way at the end of the maket square (right hand top of the page). Like the fartest point you can see! If you happened to see this today (Saturday) this is the market, the tents will be taken down approx 6:00 their time. Come back tomorrow and you will see people just strolling by, Does the weather get nice, well, you see lots of tables and chairs as the Dutch love to have a coffee and watch the world go by!! I know I would!!

Holland

Well a few more days Yvonne and I will be on our way to Holland, four more sleeps Anneka would say. Come to think of it Yvonne talks about "sleeps" as well.

That we are looking forward to this trip is an understatement! We have quite a program as I have eight siblings of which only one lives in Toronto,( he is my big brother!)

Lucky for us that all of them live in the same area, that is, Haarlem, Heemstede, Hoofddorp, Bentveld. For you not familiar with Holland, this is close to Amsterdam. It is a beautiful area with lots to see and eat. Can you say: "Croquettes?"

Every day is taken up with visits to all my brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews. Than of course we will be going to places where I grew up. Those are important to me. When I was sick I wondered would I ever see them again. The Lord has made it possible, first of all by giving me good health and the finances through my job, which I am still able to do. And Yvonne is able to go with me and that has been a wish for her a long, long time! A year ago it was but a dream!

Yvonne has quite a shopping spree planned I hope I can keep up with her!

We will go for a day to the Hague 'den Haag' to see my oldest sister Coby of 80 years going on 30!! Then there is Berty 70 going on 30 and than me 66 years young going on 30, we are quite a team!

Yvonne will fit right in! You all know what she is like! The apple did not fall far from the tree!

Since Yvonne and I both have our birthdays while in Holland (very conveniently) we will experience a Birthday celebration as only the Dutch know how to do. Everybody will come over and yes will bring a gift as well!! My brother Nic and my sis-in-law are hosting it. They have been in touch with me for the last couple of months. I will be forever grateful to them. They also arranged for an appartment for us to stay in in their luxury building!

We will post pictures as they become available.

Great news!

Well the news is good, all the test turned out perfect.
My next appointment will be in six month
Thank you Lord!

Seeing the Oncologist this morning

This morning at 10:10am I have an appointment with Dr Harris the oncologist.
I will be getting the results of the Ultra Sound done in December, all my organs and bloodwork.
This week I heard a few stories of people who got cancer in organs. I got to stay focused on the Lord.
Like being an alcoholic, even after being sober for a few years, they are still supposed to call them selves "An Alcoholic".

Two weeks ago I had a colonoscopy done and that part of the colon I still have, is cancer free!

I just felt you needed to know this as this blog is after all, "my yourney with cancer".

I will report when we come back.

Trudy

Eyes

Yesterday I had my eyes examined. I had not been since three and a half years ago. I was beginning to get trouble seeing the fine print.
So I made an appoinment with Wal-Mart as I wanted to get my new glasses from them. They give excellent service and follow up.

First of all the optometrist looked at my name Geertruida, how unusual he said, then he wanted to know my medical history. I mentioned cancer, he looked at me a bit surprised I might add. He wanted to know how I am feeling. I said: "Great". Then he also wanted to know my prognosis. I answered: " I don't know but I have faith in a Great God."

He was just a very young doctor and the conversation was very easy and relaxed. We talked about my background in Holland, he really took his time, such a nice guy he is.

Then of course I had to look at the letters on the wall, I am sure everybody knows what I am talking about. He also looked into the centre of my eyes with this enormous bright light. So bright I could hardly keep my eyes open. So I commented: "This is what heaven must be like!" "Well", he answered, "never heard that remark before. People usually complain or something."

But I will now tell people "they are entering heaven's light" for a few seconds. We were laughing about it. Then I said to him: "When you are at it, better ask them to be ready!" Again we were laughing and then I said pointing my finger at him: "Yep, and you better are too!" He answered by saying, "not for awhile yet!" That is not what I meant, but felt I'd better let it rest!

I am sure he will not soon forget me and what I said every time he shines that light into his patient's eyes.
Anybody had this kind of examination?

Been thinking!

Million Dollar Bills........ Billion Dollar Bills! Lowest Wholesale Prices and Satisfaction GUARANTEED on bills! FREE SHIPPING on orders over $25.


1 Timothy 6:6-10

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. (Except a smile!)
8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief's.

We can be stingy with the little we have just as with an abundance.
While I do not believe in gambling, which is putting out money in order to get possibly more back. I have no qualms about such projects as EZwin (Readers Digest). Every day I put an entry in for a chance to win.

Have you ever thought about: What you would do if overnight you came upon a Million dollars?
(Most likely what you might do with an excess of $100,00)

My desire?

This I copied from the devotional "Our daily Bread".

Four pastors were discussing the merits of the various translations of the Bible. One liked a particular version best because of its simple, beautiful English. Another preferred a more scholarly edition because it was closer to the original Hebrew and Greek. Still another liked a contemporary version because of its up-to-date vocabulary.

The fourth minister was silent for a moment, then said, "I like my mother's translation best." Surprised, the other three men said they didn't know his mother had translated the Bible. "Yes," he replied. "She translated it into life, and it was the most convincing translation I ever saw."

That is my desire and the greatest gift of all, if my children would say what the fourth minister said!