Holiday Week & New Year's with Oma

Patrice and I have been tucked in cozily together this week following Christmas.

Heaps of snow blanketing our world.

So beautiful but involving lots of shovelling! 

It's frightfully cold outside and since Patrice has had a sniffle she opted to stay home instead of heading out to visit friends so that she doesn't pass anything on.

The dogs love having their humans so close and we let them out to romp and play in the snow at regular intervals.  

When Daniel was still here there were visits with the neighbour's daughter Kelsey and her hubby Stan who were staying there isolating with the virus while their family was up at the ski hill.  

Stan kindly plowed our driveway and their dog Balloo had great fun playing with Winnie and Willow! 

I took Daniel back to the airport on Tuesday so he could get back to work

and Patrice and I had lots of time to play games and relax. 

Winnie's boyfriend Bear came for a visit...

Politely stood at the door asking if Winnie could come out to play! 

She is pretty crazy about him and now he has a little side-kick called Cub who also loves to hang out in the yard waiting for the ladies to come out.

Since I wasn't isolating, I went to visit the Baker's for a fun Christmas luncheon.

I sure love this bunch of precious overcomers! 

I also got to attend a Christmas party at Celia's place. 

Always fun to connect with her sweet kids, one of whom managed to make it home for the holidays from Connecticut despite all the restrictions! 

And of course Celia's mom Ev, who still manages to look like a movie-star in her 80's!

Stopped in at Elsie's to drop something off on my way home and I got to see this vision of loveliness on the cold winter's night. 

There is something so magical about the still snowy nights and all the twinkly lights...

It was a fun outing and good to get back to my cozy small world.

For New Year's Eve Patrice went and picked mom up and we kept her here for the weekend!

She LOVED being with us, especially tucked in for movie night. 

That is Mom's New Year wish for everyone!

"all you people, I love you all the same..."

Pretty cute and all encompassing! 

Good night beautiful world and farewell the the old year... 

CHRISTMAS WONDERFUL

I picked Daniel up from the airport on Christmas morning.

Some delay due to the cold snap and ice, but he's here! 

What a perfect gift and start to a perfect day. 

And Patrice brought mom home for the day which was another beautiful gift!

Thankfully Patrice knows how to transfer her Oma so the taxi service doesn't need to be involved over the holidays.

That is a HUGE RELIEF!

We've had numerous taxi conundrums sometimes leading to no visit, but hallelujah for family.

So many Christmas gifts!

I got Mom's china out for the first time to set the table for memory's sake, hoping mom would notice and be happy about it but she was mostly half asleep all through supper.

But she was with us and we were TOGETHER!

Supper was an over abundance of extravagant goodness! 

The Christmas poppers provided crowns for the royalty that was gathered around my table.

Marsha is so much fun and is game for just about anything and full of laughs so she was another amazing gift for our family this Christmas! 

Mom perked up after supper a bit and sang a few carols with us and played her little instrument along with "jingle bells". 

Pupcake also brings mom so much joy, plus she was surrounded by so many of her favourite people so I think she had a good evening, despite being very tired.

There were just so many magical moments, filled with the presence of God and His goodness.

Life isn't perfect, but it's so very good.

We groan, we wait - we love, we laugh...

As we wait for prayers to be answered and for the fulfillment of all things we can rejoice along the journey,

make merry music,

and enjoy our pups! 

(I found Winnie snuggled next to her gift from Marsha!)

Hope carries us along and abounds eternally.

Thanks be to our good Father for His indescribable gift to us.

This is Christmas. 

I have chosen to open the gift and my cup is full to overflowing. 

Christmas Newsletter for 2021

‘I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”’  Revelation 21:3 & 4

 

Christmas Greetings!                                                         

 

I awoke to a white winter-wonderland and am gratefully tucked into my warm home where I can enjoy the scenic beauty in comfort with my pup Winnie snuggled in next to me.  It is now 20 years that I have lived up on the orchard and everywhere I look there are rich memories and endless beauty.  God is always so very good, despite trials, the groaning world and the raging of the nations.  We are part of a great drama that is playing out and the choices we make will determine how well our story ends. I was reading just now in the somewhat confusing and heavy book of Revelation. I jumped ahead to “the end of the story” because I know that for those who have lived for Jesus it’s going to be exceptionally good. I needed to read about a good ending since I can’t jump to one quite yet in this confusing upside-down world! 

 

This past year has been fairly quiet.  Elsie and I continued taking turns looking after our sweet mama (who turned 94 this year), keeping the rhythm of our Sunday evenings where we would gather together with Tante Hilda (now 90 and as spry as ever) for a good meal and fellowship.  Small, simple, sacred circles of life.  The greatness and grandness of our story always having God in the center of it all, strengthening, encouraging and keeping us.

 

The kids come for visits, always a joy for me.  Sadly, Daniel and Nicole are no longer together but they are both still living and working in Vancouver.  Daniel is working hard as an Occupational Therapist and is playing equally hard on weekends – mountain biking, hiking or skiing.  His cat Leo keeps him company when he’s home! Patrice is still working with the Interns at A Rocha, Brooksdale (Christian Environmental Organization) while living in her Tiny Home and enjoying long walks in the forest with her big dog, Willow. She also came home frequently in the summer to help out with Mom’s care which was a tremendous gift of kindness.   

 

A highlight this year was a family reunion in July.  What a joy to gather and to enjoy many wonderful meals, games and lots of laughs together under the Okanagan sunshine. Vic’s youngest daughter Amy & husband Russell were able to join us with their newest addition to the Rempel clan, sweet little six-week baby Roslyn, who was doted on by all.  So nice to get a four-generation picture!  (Becci’s daughter Alexia & Elsie missing from group photo)

 

Unfortunately Mom started getting weaker and was falling more so we knew it was time to put her into a care home. Before we got that sorted, at the end of summer, we (Elsie, Mom, Tante Hilda and I) got covid but thankfully, with God’s grace, (and Patrice’s amazing help, once again) made it through without any significant problems. Whew! After that we got mom situated in Mountainview Care Home not far from here. We sure miss having her live with us but we still get her here on Sunday evenings for the weekly dinner! 

 

I hope you are keeping well and I pray the Shalom of Jesus into your life and home!  I want us all to enjoy the same ending to this great “real time drama” so it is my prayer that you will seek Jesus and make Him the center of everything.  It’s why He came, after all… “to seek and save those who are lost.”  He is so glorious and precious, His love for us beyond comprehension, He is “the pearl of great price” worth giving up everything to obtain.  His arms are open wide…

 

That’s it for my yearly update!