Just an other day!

Not much going on in our lives, nothing exiting to report anyways.

Just in case you did not read Ted's post, he had to have his bottom denture relined. We took it in yesterday and are able to pick it up tomorrow as long as we pay the $450.00. Ouch!

You can just imagine what his diet consist of, hahaha! I have never seen him eat this slow!

We were planning to go to Walmart today, I even put my face on, then we decided we really did not feel like it. What ever we need from there can wait an other day.

Last week Ted and I were not feeling that great. I still am not my perky self. I was barely able to walk 30 min this morning. I try to make phone calls when I am walking. Yesterday I talked with my sister in Holland for 50 min. She is getting used to the background noise of the treadmill.

Computer mystery?

Mommy what makes the mouse move around? 

Click on above question!

A delightful surprise

In the beginning of the week while watching our deck with most of the snow gone I thought well, I might be too positive, but by the end of March we'll be snow free. Well I thought wrong.

But we have to admit, fresh snow is beautiful. I don't have to go out, therefore I enjoy it from the comfort of our sun room. Hahaha!

How fortunate for us that our very considerate son Ron came to shovel the sidewalks and the driveway, with the help of our wonderful neighbour. Thanks Ron we do appreciate that very much!

Quips by Ted

These are just a few I remember

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!”

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One day 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!”

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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.!”

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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!”

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The other day, Ted was feeling especially good and wanted to go out. He looked at me and said: “Do you feel like going out, you have your make up on?” He knows I would not go out without putting my face on first.

Me: “No I don't, can't you tell?”

Him: “I can't tell the difference!”

Me: “Sjees, a good thing I do it for myself!”

Him: "Sweetheart, that is because you are sooooo beautiful!"

Something to think about

Fear is a funny thing.

It enlarges whatever we’re afraid of

and shrinks our view of God.

As Christians, we need to reclaim our view of God’s greatness by focusing on His presence, power, and protection when we are afraid.

Such a cute song

Seventeen and what a responsibility!

Saturday November 30, 1957

Yesterday I had to go to Willie’s school to talk with his teacher. He was being punished and he therefore had to write lines. I didn't think it was fair for him to have to write so many lines for what he did

 When I saw the teacher I said: “I hope you don't mind me coming because our Mother passed away last November. But I would like to know exactly what my little brother did to be punished so severely?” “I realize”, I continued, “that Willie is most likely not all together innocent.” The teacher explained the situation to me. 

He might have looked down on me because I am so young (17). But I have been blessed with a good set of brains and a mouth to match! It did not help I wore my hair in pig-tails! I guess I should have thought of that! (Oops where were those brains?)

 At least Willie knows that he is not alone and his big sister will stick up for him. It is difficult enough for the little guy that he does not have a Mother, he is only 11 years old. The teacher canceled the punishment with the promise I'd talk to Willie!

A portion out of my diary translation

2009

As I am typing/translating this, I do get emotional at times and I wonder whether this is actually good for me, I am sitting here with a box of Kleenex.

I remember one day in '56 when Mother was on her sick bed with her door open, I was dusting the stairs and singing at the same time. (I was 16) Mother called out to me and said: ”Meuje (my nickname) don't you dislike doing all that cleaning?” I replied: “No not really Mom, because I am doing it for you, besides, it needs to be done!”

You know what she said to me? “God will bless you for that!”

I have never forgotten. As I have grown in the Lord, a “Blessing” such as my Mother bestowed upon me, is not to be taken very lightly. I think of the whole family, I am the most blessed. If only I would have known at that time what the Lord had in His plan for me!

He gave me a wonderful and faithful husband; he is exactly what I wished for. I wanted to be a Mother so badly. God gave me three children, as a family we were able to serve the Lord, which was one more wish I always had!

My children grew up to love” the God of my youth”. We have a wonderful relationship with each one. It has been a joy to bring them up. They are married with wonderful spouses and as I write this we have eight grandchildren. We both were diagnosed with cancer, of which we are now in remission. God has been so faithful to me.

Dear “God of my youth”,

I love you and I thank you

For all you have done.

I may not have known about Jesus and what He did for me. At least I never mentioned Him, but I sure loved “God” with all my heart. I don’t know what they preached in the Baptist Church where I grew up! I wished I could remember! How I discovered the “ Whole Truth” I will write at a later time. 

God loves us and He meets us where we are and the knowledge we have of Him, that is with me a proven fact.

Our wonderful Health Care System

Do you realize that this weekend we start Spring? Yes we are on the way up.

Yesterday I was at the Ophthalmologists office for measurement of my eyes in preparation of the cataract removal. It is actually fantastic that all that is done for free. That waiting room is full with old people though of which I am NOT one! They must be so happy to get a young chick in their office for a change, haha!

But did you know that only in Manitoba you have to pay for a soft lens? It cost us $300.00 for each eye. If I were to opt for a hard lens it is free but the healing takes longer because of the larger incision. 

Apparently our Province cannot afford it. It came a bit as a surprise to me, but nevertheless we have a wonderful Health Care System. I had my yearly Physical (was also necessary for the upcoming eye surgery) I have been looked over and sent for an EKG, been poked for blood work etc. I have to go back after fasting for the cholesterol blood work.

One my brothers in Holland had a blood clot in the artery in the neck to the brain. This morning he was operated on and everything seems okay so far but he is still in the intensive care unit. Also in our family, two sisters with a heart valve replacement, one brother with quadruple bypass and me a heart attack. So the doctor wants to keep an eye on my cholesterol level since that seems to be a problem in my family. Am I worried? Neh, I don't get worried that easily. I always say: “You do your best and let God do the rest!”

When I was in intensive care after my heart attack in 1996 I saw this Bible verse as it were written on the wall it is found in Psalms 31:14 “But I trusted in Thee o Lord”, I said, “Thou are my God, my times are in Your Hands.”

He is still my God that has not changed!

My fav

Yes He can!

My diary when I was 17

Sunday April 14, 1957

Today would have been Mother's Birthday

This is her first Birthday she is not with us. I woke up this morning and that was my first thought. I talked about it with Father; he had a difficult time with it as well. We all do, it has been such a emotional year without her, at least that is what I found. Father is so very lonely; he sits alone at the breakfast table every morning reading his Bible and praying. He always is very bold about his faith even with his co-workers. That is one thing about my Dad, his faithfulness to God.

So was Mother, when I was much younger we lived in Heemstede, (a smaller town may be 15km away from Haarlem) us being Baptist, in a total Roman Catholic neighbourhood. She would every Wednesday evening have the pastor come over to the house to have a Bible study and singing. During the days prior Mother would go from door to door in our street to invite the neighbours. I am sure she must have gotten many a door slammed in her face. Yet she would continue her pilgrimage through the neighbourhood week after week.

She even bought an pump organ so that they could sing hymns. I always had to go to bed, but I could hear quite a bit, never really knowing exactly what went on there! My older sister Bertha had to learn to play. Mother bought a self teach course called “Klaverskribo”. The notes run up and down instead of going sideways. Mother was as determined as they come.

One Wednesday evening during supper our family got into a fight, which was not uncommon in our household (of nine kids of which two were married by then, all living in a small three bedroom house). I can’t remember who started it. But…it got pretty nasty, words were said, some fists went flying. When you have a couple of hot-headed guys, well need I say more! Even the dining table went for a walk! But by the time the dishes were washed things simmered down as they always did the “Brussee” style, hahaha. All was peace when Pastor Weenink came in at around eight. He mentioned to my parents, it is good to know that there are some nice Christian families around. While Mother of course thought along with the rest of us, “a good thing you weren’t here an hour or so ago!”

My life

An other week has gone by. The older we get the faster it goes!

We are doing very well, every day I tell Ted how happy I am to be able to enjoy this retirement stage of my life. When I wake up in the morning I have to ask myself what day it is. I can't wait to get up.

This week I have been working quite a bit on the correcting of my diary. I have translated the entire four years (from my 16th untill I came to Canada when I was 20). It took a long time to go through the entire four years. (close to 700 pages). But as I go through it again,  it does not surprise me that I am happy to do as I please at this stage of my life. I was thinking today I should post a portion. The problem is that it is a continuous saga, and taking just one section out of it would not make much sense to the reader. But I am looking for something.

I am hoping to have it printed may be next year. That is the year Ted and I have been married 50 years and I'll turn 70. May be I should calculate that again, that does not sound right, hahaha!

Won't be long now!!!

Am I falling apart?

So..I went to the Dermatologist this morning. The appointment was set up by my Oncologist last July. That it how long it took for them to have a look at a few suspicious spots on my legs.

I have what you call Bowen's Disease That sounds serious but it really isn't. at least for now there is nothing to worry about (which, I wasn't). Bowen's disease, which is also called squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCC in situ), is a form of skin cancer. The term "in-situ" added on the end tells us that this is a surface form of skin cancer. "Invasive" squamous cell carcinomas are the type that grow inward and may spread. SCC in-situ is also known as Bowen's disease after the doctor who first described it almost 100 years ago.

In June the spots will be removed and sent to a lab. But again this is a precaution as it might turn into something more serious. After some joking around with this sweet older doctor I happily returned to Ted.

Paul trying to be a Southern!

Ophthal mo what?

Yesterday I went to Dr Rao (Ophthalmologist). I have been seeing him ever since I had my eyes checked three years ago by an Optometrist who noticed an abnormality inside my eye. Which, Dr Rao has decided, is something I probably was born with. Only in the last decade or so have they been able to look inside an eye. Dr Rao took pictures and those looked rather creepy.

But my eyes have been gradually getting worse. I told Dr Rao I feel like wiping my glasses several times a day. That means I am ready for a Cataract surgery in both eyes. He had mentioned that during my previous checkup, so yesterday it did not come as a total surprise The first eye is to be done April 23rd the other a month or so later.

Yesterday I was at the clinic quite a while. Several eye drops were put in, which made my eyes sore and headachey for pretty well the rest of the day. On top of that I also had an allergy of some sort. I slept most of the day. Ted looked after me pretty well (I don't mind being catered to). He is so very happy to have me home again after being away for a week.

It was good to be with the kids down south. Baby Nico is so adorable and what a good baby he is. The girls just love him and that is fun to watch. The week went by too fast. At least I was able to help out a bit. Jennifer has her hands full especially since she also home schools Sammie. One of Sammie's subjects is to learn Dutch, what do you know! She is a smart little girl. 

Some pictures

Final pictures at the Airport

Climbing a Locomotive, Sammie is being very daring here!

Below: Oma what ye talking about!!

A moment with Sissy

Playing a game to relax

Look what I brought with me to NC,

 yes and for that all the schools were closed

We went to an Asian market and yes that is what they sold!

Talking about gross, yuk!

Snow?

Here I am in the South and what do you know, the forecast is snow from 3-5 inches. In Atlanta, which is quite a way from here there is much excitement.
We did not get that much here, but because of the low temp there might be slippery road conditions. They are very hopeful in this house hold that it stays this way until Wednesday so that somehow by miraculous intervention my plane is unable to leave.

I don't think this going to happen. But if it does, well my slogan is as always: "Go with the flow".

We are all having a good time they enjoy me being here. Jennifer tells me that there is nobody who brings a more "gezellig" atmosphere. I make coffee and tea, bring it all in on a tray with the necessary snacks. Yesterday I made "Sunday Lunch", it was a nice spread if I may say so myself!!

Yesterday we talked to Opa on the Web Cam (what a wonderful invention) and I showed the baby. I talk to him a few times everyday and am so thankful when he tells me so and so called. It gets very lonely for him but he never complains.

For the rest I have been taking lots of 'one minute' videos with the camera, even brought an extra card with me. While I am here I am unable to post any because this laptop does not have a card slot.