Small Family Christmas

Strange how you can carry grief and joy all at the same time...

Family dynamics have changed as Daniel and Nicole are sadly not together, but there is still joy in my heart to see my kids.

And to see them enjoying each other's company.

A simple Christmas weekend with puppies, gifts, good food and really good company.

The house smelled heavenly, as it always does on these festive days and kids took on the task of carving the turkey.

Now that I've figured out how to include videos I'm adding a few of them for some "real time" fun! 

Patrice made the most scrumptious poppy seed loaf with cream cheese icing to finish off the fabulous meal. 

Finally, here's a bit of family sparring going on between Tante Hilda and Mom. 

That laugh is enough to cheer anyone's day! 

The Eve of Christmas

It snowed just in time for Christmas Eve.

It's a simpler time in some ways.

Big gatherings are not allowed and the normal Christmasy events that are usually keeping people hopping have been canceled.  

But it's not a bad thing, if you have a few precious ones to gather with, that is.

Time to be still, to reflect and to enjoy the beauty of the season and the few precious faces that are allowed in your little circle. 

Praying Jesus will be recognized this year, more than ever now that the many distractions surrounding his birth have been pushed away...

I had a cozy evening writing cards and wrapping a few small gifts.

Not so many gifts any more at this age and stage which is just fine.

There are lights and there is music.

And the joy of kids coming home for the holidays!! 

Patrice and Willow arrived and the puppy shenanigans began again!

So nice to have these beautiful days to rest, play and prepare.

We had lots of fun making and decorating cookies.  I had made lots of little crisp Pfeffernusse in advance so we focused on the sugar cookies.

Patrice made some kind of amazing icing but we were short on colours, as you can see...

I scrounged up a few little decorations and we had fun being creative.

Christmas Eve was spent at Elsie's.  

I had hoped to pick up Chinese Food for something really different and easy, but the lineup was atrocious so Patrice emerged from the store with a unique combination of goodies including Greek Salad, pizza, chips and dip.

We had a sweet evening together and had a good time putting together the following little video for the family. 

Mom kept saying the funniest things when I said "Merry Christmas Mom" to her and this is our final take!

Since it was Thursday evening, Mom stayed at Elsie's and Patrice and I went home, eager to see Daniel who was to arrive on Christmas Day!! 

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift. 

Oh Jesus, how thankful we are that you came...

Dandy December Days

December started off mild which was only right considering our shockingly early snowfall back in October!

The trees took forever to shed their leaves giving our dear Hannah plenty of outdoor exercise.  Thankfully she loves being outside. 

Decorations went up very early this year - anything to cheer and brighten up the increasingly long, dark evenings. 

I know God has divine purpose in giving us this dark, cold, season and I'm grateful for December being a month of so much beauty and indoor lights with such a glorious focus but

I must say that I still generally dread the months that follow...

Since the decorations were up I made up a whopping big batch of "Pfeffernusse" hoping to have plenty to share.  I am forever in search of the perfect blend of spices and crunchiness!

Mom declared them "good" so I was happy.

With ongoing world-wide restrictions in place I was happy to have on-line teaching events followed by prayer and communion with my global family.

And real life prayer and communion with some of my beloved "bubble"!

I managed to get one last wonderful  coffee date with my dear friend Zeldine before she returned to New Zealand to embark on her two week isolation in a hotel and to continue with looking after her elderly mother. 

Leanne stayed with me for a week as she is drifting from kids to friends as she awaits the move in date of her newly purchased, beautiful home with a view. 

We are happy as "two peas in a pod" as we just love visiting over a good meal and playing games. 

Daniel popped by for a weekend at the beginning of December to say hello and to do some mountain biking just in case his workplace had an outbreak at Christmas keeping him from coming then.

I won't complain - any chance to see him is a gift!!

Sunday evenings usually include a face-time visit with Victor and Marcia, This time Marcia treated us to a visit with her puppet whose name I have forgotten. 

Marcia is so good at thinking of a variety of things to keep life interesting in a season which has been particularly isolated for her and Vic in Alberta.  She has even taken up painting, producing some really lovely works. 

Our Sunday evenings together over a yummy meal are a nice anchor in the week. 

Mom stays with me for the next four nights and Elsie goes home to have her "days off".

I had a most delightful visit and "treatment" with Rob & Dianne at a cafe and I really like their motto, it suits me just fine! 

I think they should adopt this in more places! 

Winnie is endlessly cute and provides both Mom and I with entertainment. 

(sometimes annoyance, but we won't talk about that part...)

She's always hoping to be left to snuggle with mom after I tuck her into bed.  

Look at that irresistible little face peeking out! 

There were many mild, beautiful days for the first half of December...

Always nice to feature some canines along with the beautiful scenery, 

or canines without beautiful scenery! 

Featuring Pip, Poppy and Piglet. 

Winter drives, stopping with a hot coffee to enjoy the beauty. 

Lastly, there were some appropriately snowy days leading up to Christmas!

Here's my cleaning lady Val showing me one of her latest commissioned paintings. 

And Ken (and Barb) bringing by a "socially distanced" early Christmas greeting and gift.

Christmas 2020 - The WHOLE Year in Review!

Now unto HIM that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”     Jude 1:24                                           

 

Christmas Greetings beloved Family & Friends,            December 2020 

 

Well, 2020 has certainly been an unforgettable year!  Our familiar “landscape” has altered but our “Landmark”, Jesus - the Living Word, remains steadfast and hopeful. He is constantly full of good news no matter what the media is trying to tell us!

 

I started out 2020 with a trip to Disneyland and Mexico with a very dear friend. Our timing was perfect as we went in January and we had SO MUCH FUN!!!  This has been especially delightful to look back on as we realize it might be some time before these sorts of trips will be allowed again.  

 

My personal world didn’t shift much after covid hit, as I was able to host gatherings on my beautiful, big outdoor patio for much of the Spring, Summer and Fall! We just carried on with our Wednesday night prayer meetings, worshiping under the beautiful sky and proclaiming God’s goodness.  I had friends and family over for meals and Mom and I spent lots of time outside, enjoying the garden and warm weather.  Vic and Marcia came for several wonderful visits as we are all in one very happy bubble, and even Vic’s daughter Becci came with family making the summer feel like a real holiday! 

 

Elsie started sharing the responsibilities of looking after mom when the community day programs shut down in March.  She takes Mom for 3 nights a week and I take her for the other 4 which is a wonderful arrangement.  Thankfully Mom is still mobile and so very sweet.  Her level of confusion has increased but she usually knows who we are and is very happy to sit and listen to sermons and to sing along when I play the piano. Tante Hilda is now almost 90 and is still leading a vibrant life, living on her own and going for long walks to the beach and visiting with friends as restrictions allow. Every Sunday night we all have dinner at my place, often followed by prayer and singing.

 

Daniel and Nicole are both still working in Vancouver and I didn’t see them much due to their restrictions since they both work with the public. It was a hard year for them. Nicole got her Social Work Degree in the Spring (sadly, without any fanfare) but thankfully she was able to complete that and has continued to work on the downtown East Side with the marginalized.  Daniel is loving his job as an occupational therapist which is a very good thing since it took him six years to complete that degree!  

 

Patrice moved into her unfinished Tiny House in the Spring. Its completion has been slow because of restrictions, but her brother and Dad have been helping her get things done as they are able. It’s settled on a lovely piece of property at A Rocha where she continues to work with the Internship program.  She also got a big poodle puppy named “Willow” in the Spring!  

 

Incidentally, I got a puppy too, so we have so much fun whenever Patrice comes for visits.  Willow and Winnie (say that really fast, over and over!!) spend hours roughhousing outside or playing inside so we have endless, joyful entertainment!  The whole “puppy” thing was pretty exhausting for a few months but thankfully they grow up fast and things are much more settled now.  Ladybug continues to be a beautiful, faithful friend – she has learned to tolerate Winnie but prefers to lounge in peace and comfort enjoying treats. She is 13 now! Our other elderly queen. 

 

I also had a lovely young lady named “Hannah” move in the house to help me with bigger jobs around the house.  She is a great addition to our tribe and is a huge blessing to me.  I’m so grateful for God’s purposes and plans and oversight in my life.  I can always trust Him and I live in a world defined by the Word of God – especially Psalm 91. Mom and I often pray those words out loud. The Word of God is my anchor and joy!

 

May you be blessed as we enter 2021 and may you find Jesus to be your source of life and peace.  He is the great “I AM” – everything we will ever need is in Him. 

 sus,

Backyard Holidays

Summer holidays arrived for me in a wonderful package of extended family guests!

Vic's daughter Becci and her sister-in -law Maja were having a "YES" holiday with their sons and I got to be part of the excitement simply by providing a landing pad for their fun and games.

The energy and activity created by this duo was amazing!

They were also super helpful by making most of the meals and doing swift clean up.

It was so great that Vic & Marcia's holiday here happened to overlap with theirs so the joy was multiplied.

These young men were polite, helpful and so much fun. 

We had a picnic at the park while the boys played in the water.

Tante Hilda loved the chicken taco's Maja and Becci cooked up on their handy dandy tiny cook top.

And there was a skate park nearby where the boys displayed amazing skill on their scooters.

Nerve wracking to watch, but apparently fun to be a participant.

I was invited to go on their boating adventure which was an absolute blast.  It has been years since I've been on a boat, but there was enough manpower to get me safely tucked into a comfy seat where I could enjoy the wind and waves.

It made me so happy to see Vic being able to spend time with his daughter and grandsons.  Life is so busy in Calgary for all of them so they don't get that much time together but this holiday was a perfect opportunity to make some memories.

A lovely, sunny Okanagan day to enjoy the water.

Card games were played in the evening to bring a quiet end to yet another active day.

Of course we had Oma over to see the grandkids and greats even though she is in a bit of a blur with all of the activity.

She still knows them and loves being together with family. 

The girls made sure to pick up lots of the best fruits that summer has to offer so we were snacking to our hearts content!

Somehow Luca ended up winning "be a king for the evening" so the two older boys created delectable desserts for him.

It was a rather serious contest to create the most desirable one and I think it was Cedric who won.

Leaving Luca to be the one who had to do the chores. 

When they first arrived Maja and Becci weren't so sure about my scruffy nervous puppy but Winnie managed to win their hearts in her weaselly little way.

There was just so much fun and love in the house. 

Martin arrived rather late in the game, but we put him to work pretty much right away and he took down a poplar that I have been wanting to remove for some time.

He is always up for a challenge and there were plenty of helpers to cart away the branches and cut up the trunk.

It was quite a day of accomplishment as Martin also removed a pine tree that was not looking so good anymore around the side of the house. 

Whew!

What a bunch of troopers!

It was an amazing week and a good time was had by all!