Banish Bad Breath:

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Read on.......

From me to you

for 2009

Sunday Lunch at the Decock's

There is nothing I like more than to see our kids getting together with their cousins and having a good time. It was great to see Monica for the Christmas Season. She'll be leaving for Toronto tomorrow. We had lots of laughter. Yep, Lynne and Sandra sure took a chance getting married to a Decock, hahaha! (Right click on the pictures to enlarge)

Now Monica watch me, this is how you do it!

I am the youngest and the only girl, which makes me very special! Actually, I am Alyssa and the life of the party!

Cousins, left to right, Evan, Hudson, Alyssa, Lucas and Logan

Sandra and Tim our niece and nephew.

Monica visiting from Toronto and her bro Tim

So much fun being together

Thank goodness for the rec-room and how well they get along!

Three year old Lucas playing alone with his cars. Probably thinking: "I am glad they are not bothering me!" He is such a cutie.

Funny things Ted says!

The other day wanting to start the day on a positive note I said to Ted: “Sweetheart this looks like an other beautiful day!” To which he replied (while looking outside where it was snowing): “Yes, it looks very promising!”

Ted got up at 9:30. I mentioned to him that I had already done my “upon rising” exercises, had breakfast, updated my blog and did my almost one hour run/walk downstairs. Then I added (to make sure he realized what good shape I am in) : “Did I mention that in a little over a year I'll be 70?”
“Well”, he said, do you have any questions about being 70? 'Cause I have a lot of experience!”


Visiting friends on Christmas day, the discussion was about the blessing of giving and of receiving. To which Ted replied: “That is why I like to give to myself so that I get a double blessing!”


For Christmas Ron gave Ted a nice sturdy adjustable cane to which Ted replied: “Thank you Ron, I am very happy with this cane, so much in fact, I am not praying for healing anymore!”

Blessed Christmas to you all

BBC NEWS TODAY!

The Catholic Church opposes gay marriage. It teaches that while homosexuality is not sinful, homosexual acts are.

Read more about the:

Gay groups angry at Pope remarks!

Snow

These two I took as well last night just before going to bed. I could not resist taking about 20 shots of all this beauty.

View of our deck and the park, which normally is so dark we can scarcely see the tree and scrubs. Absolutely beautiful this undisturbed snow!

Beautiful

Few from our bedroom window, see how light it is , this was taken at 11pm last night.

This is the amount of snow we have received so far!

About my previous Blog

I sure made a stir, just by mentioning what I/we think of our grandchildren, holy smokes.

Last week I was at the Christmas concert of our grandchildren, Hudson and Evan. Usually Ted is the one taking pictures but because he was not feeling well he did not come along. I forgot to take the camera.

I was watching other parents and grandparents taking pictures, NO, NOT OF MY TWO GOOD LOOKING boys, of course not, they were NOT important. While I was so proud of them as they were singing their hearts out.

When I was diagnosed with cancer now four years ago and going in for a major operation, I was not concerned for my self. All I wanted was to be well again for, of course my husband. But more than anything I wanted to be an Oma a bit longer, the best Oma any child could have. An Oma who would think the world of them, who would pray for them, buy them stuff etc. Tell them how pretty or handsome and how smart they are.

How children feel about themselves starts at home. At home they are accepted (at least that is how it should be).
At home they should not be criticized, they get enough of that out in the world.

So if I think they are 'God's gift to this earth', I have every right.

Ted ends every debate with: "And I am sticking to it!"

You look at any picture of me with a grandchild, I look ten years younger!!!! I look so happy and content. How wonderful it sounds to hear one of the grandchildren say:"Oma I love you or I miss you!"

Ted and I have gone through a lot, but what keeps us going is having wonderful kids all six of them, because the spouses are just as important, (hey after all, they are the ones making our three children happy). They are all so good to us.

So.... Ron and Lynne, Paul and Jennifer, Yvonne and Jason,
I love you. It has been a privilege bringing you up.

A bit over board?

Ever since we went through chemo, I have been very much aware of germs. At that time we were told, not to go in public places unless we were prepared to wash/wipe our hands frequently. Yvonne might remember all too well that I would wipe the shopping carts feverishly. When we sat down to eat, out came the wipes, except I made everybody wipe their hands as wel. Now I've cooled it a bit but I am still very much aware of germs lurking around.

I have heard people say, germs are good for you. Well why do you now find antibacterial gel-dispensers in Hospitals? Or in their bathrooms they now have instructions how to wash your hands! Why do you not find doors on your way out of the washrooms in Airports? Or at least find a trash can behind the door so you can open the door with a paper towel?

Only your own bacteria are good for you. I have enough of my own , don't need someone else's thank you very much! In the meantime I carry the anti-bacterial wipes in my purse.

Ever thought about items you pick from the dairy shelves, into the cart, onto the belt at the cash register, put into the bags by the cashier who just handled money and credit cards, hands you a pen (used by the previous customer who coughed in his hand) to sign your name. You then come home and put it all in the fridge to be handled by your whole family the next couple of days? Oh and yes they add more to it by NOT washing their hands after just coming home from school, church etc. For your information, I (anti)wipe the yogurt and all other containers, cheese, butter etc.

Over board? Don't think so!

Oh and here is more

And..... some more

Blogs in our family

http://www.parkinsonssupportgroup.blogspot.com/by Ted
http://www.decocktt.blogspot.com/ Ted's personal
http://www.yvonneparks.blogspot.com/
http://www.lynnedecock.blogspot.com/
http://www.rondecock.blogspot.com/
http://www.sammiedecock.blogspot.com/
http://www.jenniferdecock.blogspot.com/
http://www.joannwalraven.blogspot.com/

Some of my favorite pictures

Above Samantha in ballet

Down in North Carolina what do you do when you don't have snow? you use the fake kind! Samantha and Eliana

Well that is Aila for you! Always clowning around!

Alyssa loves playing with Evan.

You have to agree they are a bunch of good looking kids! Ted said this week: "After I look at our grandchildren, everything else seems like crap! (TV, material things, etc) Hahaha! He is only a little bit bias.

Big news for Winnipeg

You better watch out,
You better not cry,
Better not pout,
I'm telling you why:
Soon IKEA's coming to town.
I'm making a list,
And checking it twice;
Gonna find out
What's important and nice.
Soon IKEA's coming to town

THE GLENN BECK PROGRAM

December 15, 2008

Sarah Palin's home church in Wasilla, Alaska got severely burned over the weekend, and there is a good chance this was arson. The media hardly blinked at the story---could you imagine what the response would have been if Barack Obama's church was burned? The response should be one of outrage---however, when it's those evil hatemongering religious zealot conservatives who are the victim, then it seems to be no big deal in the media's eyes. Glenn's reaction can be read here.If you want to help this small town recover from the $1 million in damages---contact them and ask what you can do to help.

Wasilla Bible Church Email:

church@wasillabible.org

1651 W. Nicola Avenue

Wasilla, Alaska 99654

1-907-376-2176

Click here MSNBC news on the fire.

Candles

There is not much going on in my life, unless anybody is interested in my Candle experience.

I love candles and burn them every evening. So when I was shopping at JYSK a couple of month ago and saw these tall candles on sale, I could not resist. They were called "Church Candles" about a foot and a half tall. The problem was when I lit them, or at least one of them it would start sizzling and then went out. It almost seemed like there was water in the wax or the wick. Once I had it going the candle only burned in the middle leaving a wall. I ended having to cut it down so I could see the flame. So I started collecting all those pieces along with some other half burned containers of wax.

Today I decided to melt everything and make new ones. Since I like Cinnamon I added some to the melting wax. It is quite a job but fun.

So now I have some nice (smelling) candles to burn again.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

What a great day to stay home!!

Looking after the Grandchildren continued.

A moment with Opa, she would not come of his lap for anything. He found all sorts of children songs on YouTube Below playing with Lego, look at her precision fingers. All three of them were making something, which took a lot of effort the way they were at it!!

Looking after the Grandchildren

I always like to do puzzles with the little ones as early as possible. I always did it with our children. It helps them to learn perseverance and solving problems. I showed Alyssa all the pieces and pointed to one where to place it. As we went on I told her to turn and turn to make it fit. It did not take long for her to catch on. When she finally saw her finished picture she said: "Is a Boob, (Bob the tomato from Veggie Tales) do more??. After the first try she recognised the big eyes, how cute is that!

Below: "Okay guys, I really don't need your help!"

Back again!

I have been kind of sluggish this week due to a cold. The coughing keeps me awake. I suck on Dutch licorice a lot that helps, except I am not a great fan of it. One night one went down my throat, it would not come up nor go down, that was panic city for a while, pffff!

As I mentioned last Monday we had an appointment with the Specialist for Parkinson's.

Ted's medication has been increased so he will or might feel better.

We did find out though, (strange after all this time), that protein interferes with the medication. It has to be taken at least an hour before he eats any protein and taken five hours apart starting at eight in the morning. I will have to wake him (so the Doctor tells me).

They suggest he does a trial period of 14 days of not eating protein during the day. Because we need protein it should be taken with the evening meal and there after. So we have been doing that. Ted's comment was: "No fair taking cheese from a Dutch man". Hahaha! I guess it is a choice he has to make.

So far he has not noticed anything. The shaking is getting worse. Occasionally spilling stuff. He still has his good and bad days physically. Yesterday he went to the store by himself to pick up some groceries and he survived. I just did not feel up to going with him yet.

Yesterday I put up the Christmas tree, it took me all day. Ted could not understand why it had to be done when I am not feeling well. My excuse? We are in the first week of December. What is the use going through all that trouble for two weeks? That makes sense doesn't it?