This weekend

Tomorrow I'll be flying to Toronto to spend the weekend with my sister-in-law Willy. She was married to my eldest brother Dirk who passed away July 2006. After being married for 60 years, it sometimes can get pretty lonely. But she is not one to complain and tells me they have had a wonderful long life together.


I remember so well as a young girl I was allowed to stay one or two weeks with them during summer vacation. We came from a large family and I had to do many chores around our house, so when I could stay with them that was for me an escape pffffff. Needless to say I was not very happy when they moved to Canada.


I enjoy talking with her because she seems to know more about my parents and my family than I do. I will be picked up from the Airport by her daughter and my niece Nelly and husband Peter. Sometimes during the weekend I will also get to see my nephew Robert, his wife Daphne and their family. Come to think of it we have more family in Ontario than in Manitoba.

She is 85 years old, still drives a car and is an very independent lady.

It will be nice to spend some time with her. We are both looking forward to it.

Border crossings!

I love traveling, except the hassles at the borders and going through the securities at the Airport. I feel I am threated like a common criminal. Then when approved I get a stamp on my passport.

When I get to heaven . . . with Jesus on my passport, there will be no hassles at the border.”

My question to you is:

Is Jesus on your passport? Do you know that for sure? He died for you to guarantee a smooth entry into heaven. In fact, He’s now preparing a place for you there and will one day come back to check passports and take you home with Him (John 14:1-4). And here’s the good news: When you get there, with Jesus on your passport there will be no hassles at the border. Just a hearty, “Welcome home!”

A child

AS A CHILD LIVES

If a child lives with criticism,
he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility,
he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule,
he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame,
he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance,
he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement,
he learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise,
he learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness,
he learns justice.
If a child lives with security,
he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval,
he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
he learns to find love in the world.

My test result!

As I mentioned previously I had to go to the Hospital to have a colonoscopy. That was yesterday and the comment on the form I received read: "Normal colon". That is great news of course. (At least there is something normal about me, hahaha!)

This procedure is not something people want to talk about, but..... we have to.
I do want to stress to all you readers to get serious about it and contact your doctor to set you up with a specialist. As a matter of fact insist on it.

Shortly after Ted was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2001, I asked my doctor about it and she sent me to a specialist and I won't mention his name. He told me I was low risk. He would do the procedure if I was worried and I insisted. I figured why do it and was glad to get out of his office, which was the stupidest thing I have ever done in my life.

Less that two years later a cancer in my colon was so far advanced that they had to remove 2/3 of my colon. A good thing that I was having pain when I did.

The procedure does not hurt. You may have heard stories it does. It used to be years ago. But it is not a bad idea to asked the specialist if he will put you under and if he doesn't, find an other who will.

But please if you are over 40 years or so think about it. You may not be as lucky as Ted and me. Usually from the colon it travels to the liver. Do not believe me? Google it! Many people die from it. You do not want to leave your children fatherless or motherless, think about it!

So va, va, va, Anneka would say! I think it means "get cracking".

Simple Solutions

Simple Smell Solutions
Remove unwanted odors from inside the microwave by heating up a slice of lemon in a bowl of water or a baking soda solution.

Clear Smells with Lemon
Remove fishy or garlic smells from a wooden chopping board by rubbing the board with a wedge of lemon.

Make Your Own Air Freshener
Fill a spray bottle with water and add ten drops of an essential oil—try rosemary, eucalyptus, pine, lavender or citrus.

Put citrus peel down the garbage disposer to clear smells.

Scent of Cloves
Simmer cloves in water for a delicious smell that is welcoming in winter.

Absorb Odors
Place a bowl of vinegar next to the stove to absorb strong odours.

Add the Scent of Baking Bread
Warm brown sugar and cinnamon on the stove to fill your home with the delicious smell of fresh baking. Take care that the mixture doesn’t burn.

Free the Fridge of Smells
Put a bowl filled with clean cat litter in a fridge that is going to be switched off for any length of time to absorb smells.

More pictures Ottawa

Of course we just had to go to WalMart and McDonalds.

A few days prior to my coming I was MSNing with Anneka,

where she asked me, "Oma could we pleeeeeeaaaaasse go to the big "M"?"

"Well of course that is why I am coming". To which she replied:

"Va va va Oma", which according to her means: "Go go go Oma".

Hmmm, all righty then, I wrote back!

These T Shirts I picked up at the Disney Store in Myrtle Beach, North Carolina

In Dollarama they could pick five items.

It took Anneka a few minutes, among it a Carpenters Tool Belt.

When you click on the picture you will see it, hahaha!

One daughter loves cars and the other carpentry!
Yet they are girls ALL the way!

Happy Oma, happy girls

Back home agian

I must have "Sucker" written on my forehead!

They charmed me into getting a stuffed animal at WalMart.

Sorry I am not that good in taking pictures with my cell.

But you get the picture, they are very happy!

We had such a great time together even though it was short we managed to do a lot. As Yvonne mentioned in her blog, we went to Dollarama and what a place that is, and yes I bought a scarf there as well. That is what I miss the most not having Yvonne in Winnipeg to shop with, she has all those great ideas.

Back home again

My husband

Most of you know that Ted has been diagnosed with Parkinson's.
Yvonne has designed a beautiful blog site for him.
Ted does a lot of research and I find these articles incredibly interesting.
We actually know very little of this disease.
You might want to visit his blog and learn more about it,
after all you never know who will be diagnosed next.

http://parkinsonssupportgroup.blogspot.com/

Traveling Oma!

This morning I woke up at 4am and finally got up after tossing and turning. Made my power breakfast and Tim Horton coffee. I have to get ready for the office though a little later. I already did some ironing. I probably will be tired when I come home after work at 5:00pm.

Tomorrow my plane to Ottawa leaves at 7am. (Coming back Sunday evening). So this morning is a practice run hahaha.
What? you say, you are going again? Well it is like this, for a while now I have wanted to visit my sister-in-law Willy who lives in Whitby ON. But all that traveling gets rather costly until Air Canada came with this fantastic offer, "Fly all you want for one month". I am allowed to travel on Sat, Sun and Tuesday. Of course I used it to go to NC, in order to get my money's worth I booked a flight to see Willy the last weekend in April (from Sat the 26 to Tues the 29th. So actually tomorrow I fly for free. Air Canada is loosing on me, hahaha!

This offer was available only for a week or so in March. When we went to North Carolina I bought a regular ticket for Ted, I only had to match the seats so that we could sit together. An other nice thing about this 'flight-pass' is that you can book up to 45 min before departure. No and it is NOT standby either. So this was a fantastic offer.

Anneka and Aila of course don't quite understand why Oma is coming just for one night! The reason being that I have to be in the Hospital Tuesday morning for a colonoscopy and I did not want to cancel this procedure especially after having to wait almost six months for that. We are talking about my health here!

So now I'd better make my self an other cup of coffee before getting ready for work!

Back home from our visit to NC

You can click on each picture to enlarge

My Opa!

April 16 is a special day!

Happy Anniversary to

Ron and Lynne

14 years

We love you!

In NorthCarolina

We are now with our family.
Yesterday we had a good trip. Ted did very well. We flew with Air Canada via Toronto. Beforehand I had arranged for help with Ted. Well I must say the service was excellent. They took us from point A to B, all the while pushing Ted's wheelchair. Not once did we have to stand in line, the AC staff just whisked us past the line-ups for customs and security. The minute we came out of the plane the staff were aware of us. Everything done with a walkie talkie.

We had just enough time to get a coffee in Toronto. The Airport was not too difficult to manage at all as far as customs was concerned. We are so used traveling via Minneapolis, so needless to say I was a bit comprehensive, especially when people kept reminding me what a confusing Airport it is and that you cannot rely on the help they promised to give you. I found just the contrary.

The AC staff said already from afar: "Those have got to be your grandchildren!" As Sammie and Eliana came running up to us. Very touching to see them NOT being afraid at all and so happy to see us especially Opa.

Tomorrow we'll be going to Mirtle Beach. I am not sure I will have an update in the next couple of days. We have been taking lots of pictures all ready and more to come.

The middle!

Read the following timely article.

About:

"Don't fiddle in the middle!"

Our beautiful daughter!

As much as I know that Yvonne is exactly where the Lord wants her to be, I do miss her!

I miss her laughter, her advise on clothing (I never shop in "old ladies stores"). This is a joke between us. We were walking in a mall looking for something new for me. Stopping in front of a store, I said: "No way am I going inside this "old ladies store"! When Yvonne replied: "But Mom, you are an old lady, lets face it, you are in your late 60's!" Yeh well, take me where they play wild music, which I actually hate, but that is a sacrifice I am willing to make, hahaha!

A daughter becomes a friend, without the Mother to child relationship, with that I mean the respect due to me. This is what Ted and I love about our children. But right now I am addressing Yvonne.

I love you sweet, more than you'll ever know

Some of my fav'

This picture was taken on my last August trip to Paul, Jennifer and the girls.

Sisters, taken last year, I miss them so much!
I am so glad I still have this wonderful three-some close by! Hudson and Evan holding Alyssa.
Anneka on our October trip to Ottawa, isn't this cute?
Guess where I am in this picture? A photo-shop one? Hahaha!

A blonde goes to the doctor and tells the doctor her complaint.

Blonde: "Doctor when I touch my head with my finger it hurts, when I touch my knee or my elbow it hurts. What is happening to me? Every where I touch it hurts!"

Doctor: "I know what is wrong with you!"

Blonde: "But doctor, you have not even examined me!"

Doctor: "You have a broken finger!"

Birthday

Below our daughter-in-law Jennifer is celebrating her Birthday today.

Happy Birthday Jennifer

Shopping Carts

Okay, is it just me who thinks shopping carts are the grossest things around?

First of all the handle bars, which everybody touches, including "the devil and his old mother", (a Dutch translated saying). So you put your stuff inside it, such as: butter, cheese, milk, candies, ice cream, salad dressings, well you know all the things we need on a regular basis.

So while contemplating this enormous serious problem, Ted and I walked into the grocery store, got a cart, like everybody else including a mom who told her child with his dirty boots to sit right where I will have to put my cheese, milk etc.

Now I don't blame that mom, after all, I have done it with my grandchildren, so that I don't have to run after them. Nevertheless, it still makes for a very unappetising situation.

I could suggest to grab a bunch of plastic bags and place each item in one, but than we have to deal with the environment, too many plastic bags. Or may be they could come up with a liner? Or have a teenager who wants to make money, hose them down? Hahahaha! Or we could walk through a sanitising tunnel on our way into the store?

Well, in order to make myself feel better, I wipe each item with a wet cloth when I come home before placing them in the fridge. Am I carrying this too far? I have mentioned before I have a very vivid imagination.

Got to love this one, Samatha NC

Cousins loving each other

I just could NOT resist posting these pictures.

Top picture Hudson and Anneka and then Aila and Evan seem to want it to last for ever!

A Winnipeg school teacher's story

This one made me laugh!

One of an all-time favorite "school teacher" story is about a kindergarten teacher who at the end of an exasperating day had to put boots on all 31 of her students before she sent them out in the snow.

As she struggled to lace up the last boot on the foot of the 31st student, the child looked at her and said, “These aren’t my boots.” Thinking that she would have to go back and re-boot the whole class, she furiously ripped off the boots only to hear the kindergartner say,

“They’re my sister’s boots, but my mom let me wear them today.”

Hello hello, Jesus speaking!!!

Matthew 16 (NIV)

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, (and us).

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?
Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.