An Echo of Christmas Joys

As the bedding has been stripped once more, towels are on a pile in the laundry room, toys are cleaned up and books put away . . . I sit here and feel the need to reflect on the whirlwind of experiences of these last few days. From past experience, I expect to find the odd tiny sock, soother or little girl’s hair clip to remind me that they have been here. Am I getting used to this life? I don’t know if I ever will . . . but I’m still savoring Natalie’s lovingly spoken “I love you so much” and Landon’s ever ready smiles!

We've spent days sharing meals, gifts, movies and time together! Big boy smiles and excitement about the snow, jubilant expressions about candy apple scent, a personally recorded CD with a beautiful 'familiar' face on it ... and knowing that the ones not here would love to be ... all speak of family ties and making memories.
Some of my favorite things began with receiving pictures of smiling faces via email from those who’d opened their parcels in Indonesia. Then our Vegas family arrived and I enjoyed listening to songs like Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, when she didn’t know anyone was listening ... and reading one story after another...

mostly to prolong the Sweet Pea's bedtime.

Oh, and have I mentioned the snow? Funny how having a little child in the bunch, makes everyone a child again!

The first time everyone went out, we didn’t build a snowman. Later on Natalie kept reminding us, "we didn’t build a snowman " so Papa kept his promise and what a happy little girl we had!So this was Christmas . . . it always sounds like it’s such short lived joy! So much anticipation and it all comes to a sudden end. In our case, if you read between the lines, there was a sadness attached in that the grandkids couldn’t make memories together this time. My tears came when no one saw. I can’t help but remember a German Christmas song from my childhood which speaks of joys that soon pass by, yet Jesus being the only one who can give us joy that will never end! This is so true . . . and it’s because we wish for everyone to know this wonderful truth that we can smile and say we had a wonderful Christmas and know that the joy of the Lord and His daily presence and provision will continue to be our reason to rejoice.

Papa snowman & Natie snowman keeping watch at night

Snowed In

Just a quick update today. I have Trish's bread pudding in the oven and we will enjoy that with a fruit salad for breakfast. It's been so much fun to be cocooned in the snow. I absolutely love the feel of not "being able" to go anywhere but to just enjoy being together. It helps when you have men in the house who enjoy proving that they can still get out with their trucks to rescue a damsel in distress. They will pick up anything I need and so the world's good.

This is a winter that I'm sure our kids will be talking about for many years to come. Come to think of it, there's actually one part of the global warming I don't understand. It's the part that sounds like it's the whole world. Let me know if you feel it.

I guess I should tell you that there are cars in this picture. They are completely burried on the street in front of the house. In the meantime we are nice and warm inside. It's empty under the tree, the grandbabies are enjoying their toys. The big kids will be enjoying theirs too, I think.

I will be posting more, but for now I need to go. Happy Christmas Break!

Wishing you a Blessed Christmas

My wish for everyone this Christmas is to know the hope we have because God gave His Son. Christmas itself is such a wonderful time of year, but when normal pain doesnt' go away, it is a reminder of why God gave. No better gift can we receive than the peace that He offers. I tried every which way to add music to this slide show, but I had to finally settle with a 'silent movie'.

Now, to work on my heart being just as ready. I love this song by Steven Curtis Chapman. Listen to it on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHlbnNUHQGI

Six Years Ago

On this day I want to wish this very special couple a Happy Anniversary!! How fun it is to look back to that beautiful day when you thought you couldn't love each other more . . . and now to see that your love has grown even stronger! Thank you for keeping your promises to each other through the good and bad times. Thank you for allowing God to work in and through you as you grow ever closer to Him and each other.

We love you guys and soo look forward to seeing you soon! Have a wonderful day!

MOM

The word “mom” brings with it a special kind of fondness for someone has known me and loved me since before I was born. In my earliest memories she has more of a caregiver, provider image. This changed to someone who cared about who I would become as a person. It wasn’t until I got older that I came to realize how much I needed her and during this time we became special friends.
I don’t quite know when the next stage began. When does the person who takes the wheel change? When does the daughter become the mother? It seems to me that another stage has crept up on me and slowly the time is coming where my Mom needs me. I want to fight this because I don’t want to be the one that’s needed. It seems to me that she wants to fight it just as much. I pray that I will have the grace to allow her the privilege to be needed, but also to rise up to the challenge of being there for her as we change roles.

There is a season for everything.
A time to hold your baby close
A time to hold her hand
A time to keep
And a time to let go.

There is a time to take
A time to laugh
A time to cry
A time to learn
And a time to give.

There is a time to speak
A time to remember
A time to ponder
A time to cherish
Before there is no time.

anneliese

Today my sister and I are taking our mom shopping and out for lunch for her birthday. I hope she feels as special as she is; the one who I can call on anytime to pray, to laugh or to cry with me. The one who knows me so well, but always believes the best of me. I thank God for a mother who has never grown tired of serving her family and to whom I owe more than I can ever repay.

Seven Christmas Memories

After reading Judy and Charlotte’s Seven Christmas memories, I started thinking about what I remember about earlier Christmases and decided to take them up on their “volunteering” kind of tag. I like that better.

(1) In Uruguay we didn’t put up the tree until Christmas Eve. Our family of five lived in a one bedroom house. This is my earliest Christmas memory and I have some questions about it. For some reason I remember sleeping in the living room on this particular Christmas Eve. I woke up in the middle of the night and saw a rocking horse by the tree. I don’t remember the morning excitement or anything else, but I do have a picture of the horse and so something about it must be true. Still now in my memory, this horse looked nicer than almost any I’ve seen. It had real hide and fur on it. I don’t know why it’s outside on the photo, but I am about 3 ½ years old on this picture.
(2) I was maybe 5 or 6 when I got a big doll. I think it was for Christmas. I have a vague memory of the tree on a table against the wall and a doll beside it. She was the size of a real baby, but not a baby, rather a little girl. I had an “adopted” aunt in our church who croched some clothes for this doll.

The reason I mention this is because, the sentimental little girl that I was, I ended up taking the clothes along with me to Brazil and then to Canada. (I wasn’t allowed to take the doll to Canada because she was too big – maybe my Mom thought I was as well.) When my girls were little, I let them play with the clothes and when they became moms, some of the grandbabies got to wear the little sweater. (nothing to do with Christmas here . . . but I’m going with the flow)(3) We moved to Brazil when I was 6 and my memories of Christmas are mostly about how exciting the day before Christmas was. All the kids in the community would go to church during the day to practice for the Christmas Eve program. After the practice we all received goodie bags and the most special treat in there was an apple. Apples were imported and expensive, so we hardly ever got them. I remember just smelling the bag was a treat!

(4) One of the most special Christmases that I remember is when we flew to Paraguay to visit my Mom’s family. That’s where our uncles, aunts, cousins and Oma and Opa lived. That is the only “real family” gathering I remember as a young girl and it felt wonderful to be with family even though I didn’t really know them. They felt pretty special because they were sooo excited to see us!

(5) When I was 10 years old we celebrated our first Christmas in Canada and we were invited to an extended family gathering at my Mom’s uncle’s house. It felt pretty strange and exciting to be included in a family gathering of people who had all grown up in Canada, spoke mostly English and almost treated us like poor orphans. They were very kind and we were totally overwhelmed with the way that they included us as though we were also their grandchildren. I know my great aunt shopped at "Woodwards $1.49 day sales" for her Christmas gifts, but to us they were the most treasured gifts!!
(6) Christmas Eve our whole family attended the Sunday School Christmas Eve program in which small and big kids were involved in songs, poems and acting out the Christmas story. My dad was always proud of us when we had memorized our poem and had recited it loud and clear. After the program we went home and opened gifts. How much more fun could an evening be?

(7) When I was 16, my boyfriend (now husband) brought me the most beautiful bouquet of roses and a jewelry box on Christmas Eve. I kid you not, I have never again smelled such sweet roses! That’s what I remember about them, and my mom being very shocked, but excited for me. I was left with an overwhelming feeling of being spoiled and treated like a princess!

Thirteen years of childhood memories . . . now as I look back . . . come and gone so quickly! Yet, it was a time when waiting for Christmas seemed like an eternity.

Twelve Days of Christmas

I get a little bothered by the question, you know the one . .. "Are you ready for Christmas?" What does it mean? I know. . . the gifts, the tree, decorations, baking, cards . . . but in my heart I still feel that I should be "ready" for Christmas any time. Celebrating God's gift, sharing with those in need (and those that are not), showing hospitality, reaching out to neighbors . . . I wish for that attitude in my heart to be all year long! Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful that we have a special season for this, but I can't quite feel totally comfortable with the way we make a project out of Christmas . . . myself included. Often what should be a joy to do, is stressful, because we get so busy piling a year's worth of goodness into two weeks or so.
So, these are just my more serious thoughts today.
On the lighter side, I'm hoping to make someone's day a little easier by suggesting some ideas of some simple, fun gifts to give to those people in your life that, at this time, you'd like to give a little something to. . . the piano teacher, neighbors, the babysitter, the hostess etc. A list like this can get you started and it will be so much more fun once you know what to do, and realize it doesn't have to be costly. It is true that it's the thought that counts. So enjoy (at least the pics) from my house to yours.

something homemade

a photo frame, complete with a special memory

a candle holder with a candle

no one is too old for a storybook

a Christmas tree ornament

a magazine - with a little note of thanks

Rice Krispie Chocolate Roll (click on pic for recipe)

Tim Horton's or Starbucks gift certificate

a tea cup with some teas

a package of pretty napkins

nice smelling hand soap

cookies

You can get the perfect little cellophane bags at the Dollar Store, in the kids birthday party section. They also carry rolls of cellophane wrap and make sure you have plenty of ribbon around.

A Martha Project

For my flight home from Vegas recently, I got myself a Martha Stewart Living Magazine. I don't really keep up with what she's up to, but she sure does have some fun ideas in her magazine and I decided to try one of them. I think it actually turned out, so I am happy to share it with you. It's found in the December 2008 issue on page 230 - a recipe for homemade candied citrus peel:

you will need:
2 grapefruit, 3 oranges, and 4 lemons
4 cups sugar, plus more for rolling
4 cups water

1. Using a paring knife, make 6 slits along curve from top to bottom of fruit, cutting through peel but not into fruit. Gently remove peel. Remove excess pith. Slice each piece into 1/4 inch wide strips.
2. Place strips into a saucepan, and cover with cold water. Bring to boil, then drain and repeat.
3. Bring sugar and water to a boil, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves. Add strips to boiling syrup, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer gently for about 1 hour, until strips are translucent. Remove from heat, and let strips cool in syrup.
4. Using a slotted spoon, transfer strips to a paper towel lined pan and blot off excess syrup with paper towel. Roll strips in sugar and place on wire rack to dry overnight. (the recipe said 30 minutes, but mine were still wet. (I may not have blotted them well enough) They should be nice and dry before you package them up.

(Something fun to add to the packaging was the clip art from marthastewart.com/december-crafts.)
Candied fruit peel goes well as a snack with nuts. It keeps well at room temp. for up to 2 weeks and can be used for garnishes as well.

The Missed Tea Party

A year ago we were excitedly preparing for our kids to come home from Indonesia. As it turned out, they ended up even coming about a day earlier than we had first expected! This, of course, was no problem - it only explains why we had other pre-booked plans for that evening.
We picked them up at the airport about mid-day and when we got them home they decided to go for a much needed nap. Well, all except for Tehya. She got right into the mood of being at Grammy’s and she wanted to celebrate with a tea party!
Sadly I had to run some errands for our staff party that was planned for that evening, but she was prepared to just get ready for this tea party for auntie Kristal, auntie Kari, her mom, Grammy and herself. (She had no idea how far auntie Kristal lives…but she had all the ladies in the family.)
I didn't like going but I left her to play in the family room. When I got back about an hour later I couldn’t believe the sweet sight! The coffee table was set with kids china from the downstairs playhouse. The 5 little plates had bananas and cut up apples on them and there was a carton of milk standing on the table, with milk in the tea cups, as well as on the coffee table. =) Everything was ready and my princess had fallen asleep on the couch, waiting.

Now maybe this would not have been so extra-ordinary if she’d been familiar with our kitchen etc. but this was not the case. She found the milk (which is bought in powdered form in Indonesia) and she found a knife to cut the apples. Thankfully it was only a butter knife. I couldn’t believe how serious she had been about this party…and we had all missed it. Makes me want to cry to think of what must have been going on in this 5 year-old little mind.

People have wondered how I can manage with having our grandkids so far away. Three of them now in Indonesia where their parents are serving with MAF and 2 of them in Las Vegas where their dad is a worship pastor. (yes, Vegas has churches, too) There was a time when I thought that I wouldn’t be able to take it, but over time the Lord has comforted me with a very special verse. It’s found in Psalm 84:11
“The Lord gives grace and glory. NO good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
Walking uprightly here to me means being obedient. This little story is just one of many that has shown me God’s grace for what He’s called us for, that of being parents to kids whom He’s called to minister in other places. From the moment our grandkids walk off the plane to when they leave, we have such wonderful, meaningful times, that sometimes I wonder if we have more than others! I truly feel blessed and can say the His grace is enough. It doesn’t mean that we don’t miss them, but I know that God still cares about our relationships and takes care of that too, with many special surprises.

Remembering my Grandmother

We called her Omi, in order to differentiate between our Omas. As we were growing up she was very much a part of our family, because she lived with us. Even though she’s been gone for 13 years now, it’s funny, the things that will remind me of her. I thought about her when I was making thimble cookies the other day. Not because she was a good baker (in fact she was not good in the kitchen) but because she was a professional seamstress and I can still see her pushing that needle through the material, using her thimble. Her hands were old and she had a funny nail that looked like it was split in two – possibly from a sewing machine mishap. I think that it must have been quite convenient to have her in our home, because she could mend things to look like new. I don’t think there is a machine out there that could sew buttonholes like she could. I don’t sew, but any hand sewing I do, I learned from her as a young girl … how to thread a needle, hem, back stitch, darn socks etc.

My Omi was born in 1907 in the southern Ukraine. Her extended family owned several large estate homes and factories that produced farm machinery. She used to tell me stories of when she was little and now I wish that I’d paid more attention to the details. She spoke of having a shiny, black piano which she learned to play and cars with leather seats. At Christmas time, space was cleared in the factory and a huge tree was set up. All the workers with their families were invited for a party. They would light the candles on the tree with a long pole and the children received bags with candies, fruit and nuts.

Everything changed with WW1, the Revolution and Guerrilla Warfare that followed the War. Not only was everything taken from them, but they had to flee for their lives, because those who had wealth were pursued by the government. Her family escaped to China, but she stayed behind, having just gotten married. In the next 7 years she lost two children and her husband. She was left with one son, my dad.

During WW2 their village was captured by the Germans and because they were German speaking, they ended up under their protection as they retreated on their way west. She mended uniforms etc. for the army. What sticks out in my memory of what she told me is that, as she was fixing gloves, she would put the glove on her left hand in order to sew it. One day she noticed, too late, that her wedding ring was gone and she realized that it must have stayed inside a tight fitting glove. (Some soldier had only to find the right girl!)

In 1947 my grandmother and my father boarded a ship that left for South America, where they were re-united with her extended family. (they had escaped to China and later emigrated to Paraguay) My dad got his education in Paraguay but then moved to Uruguay as a young man and got married there. Omi followed him there and lived with us or next door to us for many of my growing up years, first in South America and then here in Canada. She was different from what we think of when we think of a Mennonite Oma. She loved Victorian décor, loved to keep up with the royal family happenings, she was very musical (she played the piano, harpsichord and guitar) and of course, loved to sew. In the late 1980’s and into the 90’s she got to babysit her great-grandchildren whom she was so proud of. She would always introduce us, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren, as HER children. ("Dies sind meine Kinder")

In looking back now, I realize that the hard things she went through did not make her bitter, but they made her long for heaven like no one I've ever known. She went to be with her Lord and Savior in January 1996.
So, here’s to the memories that a tiny thimble from her brought to mind.

with great-granddaughters, Julene and Kristal, in 1982

On Another Mother and her Son

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.
This song, written by Mark Lowry, is one of my favorite (what I would call) Advent Season songs, and has been ringing in my head these last few days. It reminds me of the expectancy that we feel in this season, just as a mother has expectations when she’s carrying her child.

I wonder what Mary’s expectations were? In Luke chapter 2 there are two instances where it says that “Mary treasured up all these things in her heart.” I simply cannot fathom what she must have felt. If anyone would have questions, it should have been Mary…but recorded is only one, “How can this be?” and in faith she accepted what the Lord had for her when the angel said, “for nothing is impossible with God.”

During this season of preparations I don’t what to forget how amazing this story is. To think that the Lord of all creation would chose to become a baby, so that He could live among us, identify with us, and show us the way to the Father by His life, death and resurrection. The best gift we can receive is when we humbly open our hearts to Him in faith as well.

Just a Moment in Time

It happened to be that on the same day that I did the last post, Ben called me at noon and asked if I had something for lunch. I said, “Sure . . . in like 15, 20 minutes.” I quickly added some canned tomato rice soup to my dwindling chili borscht, put some buns to warm in the oven and continued baking my Christmas cookies.
We chatted as I baked and suddenly he asked, “What kind of soup is this?” It reminded him of Santa Soup. Oh . . . Santa Soup …. no one will know what that is, since I made it up.
When he was very little, I was making borscht one day and (too late) realized that I had no cabbage. Borscht without cabbage? Well, I did find some red cabbage in the bottom of my fridge and decided to try that. It was close to Christmas and so I told the kids it was Santa Soup. I don’t remember the girls’ reaction, but Ben loved it!
So now, as he sat there at my kitchen counter, a grown young, married man, whom I’m so proud of . . . I wish I could have taken a picture of him, enjoying Santa soup and one cookie after another. . . but it’s stored as a special memory in my heart. A big boy with a little boy shine in his eyes.
So, this week, as you go about your normal life, take the time to appreciate and treasure a moment, because these moments can change so quickly.

Some Things Never Change

The other day Julene was telling me on the phone how Paeton had gotten out of bed , come into the kitchen and asked, “Remember how at Grammy’s house I had a snack before going to bed?” (Our sweet boy is 4 years old and he’s thinking back at least half a year because they’ve been back in Indonesia since May.) She asked him, “Do you want some cereal?” to which he readily agreed.
I also remember him sitting on the counter last winter and enjoying his bedtime Cheerios. It brought back memories of 20 years back when Ben did the same thing . . . only he often lay down on the counter, and as I’m thinking about it, it was probably because there was a cabinet in the way. I showed Paet the photo of uncle Ben and he quickly got into the right position, because, after all, anything uncle Ben did or does he wants to do also.
Why don’t I just show you the two pictures and you can see for yourself what has changed and what hasn't.
(Just like in the coloring books…..)

Paeton Ben - winter 2007-2008

Ben - winter 1987-1988

A time to iron and a time to refrain

To start off I need to say that during this episode, blogging or taking pictures was the last thing on my mind – I’m still new at this. Everything got promptly trashed and cleaned up. However, the next morning, I was able to re-enact this for your amusement. With love from the ironing queen!
Right about now I admire anyone who would never even THINK about ironing a nylon camisole. It was near the top of the pile . . . I was thinking for a tiny split second and then … no, I was hoping the iron wasn’t hot enough yet. Well, you see what happened.

And for anyone who’d like a better look . . .

I feel the need to justify myself somewhat and that is that I’ve never had this bad of an ironing blunder in my life . . . and I iron every week! I love the look of piles of laundry ironed and folded neatly, like in a store.
Oh well . . . I can go back to Smart Set and buy another $15 camy, but I was quite worried about my $90 iron.

What to do? My always loving, supportive h is snickering . . . as I go to google how to clean nylon on an iron.

So I hauled out everything that was suggested. (Oops, the salt never made it into the photo shoot, but then, it didn’t work anyways) I’m not sure what worked in the end, because I ended up soaking up some nail polish remover in a paper towel and letting the iron sit on it. I also tried scrubbing with soda and finally just sprayed it with oven cleaner (careful to cover up the steam holes). Then I sat down and had a piece of cake.
When I got back to the iron and started scraping again, it suddenly came off, all in one easy piece. I couldn’t believe it!Now I know that you may never iron something that doesn’t need ironing, but you may just drop the hot iron on your carpet or get it close to a plastic bag . . . and then you’ll know what to do. I’m just happy my iron is good to go again.

Plane Chit Chat

I sat beside her on the plane. She was a beautiful woman, around forty years old. Surprisingly, she was rather nervous about flying and I was thinking of how I could give her some assurances. As we talked she seemed to relax and she proceeded to pull out a book about dogs. Getting excited, she began to tell me about her passion for dogs, showing me pictures, suggesting I get this book too and read it. I listened about how inhumanely some dogs are treated and noted her burning desire to do what she could to free the dogs.

I, however, in one sense, sat there speechless. (I mean - anyone who knows me would see this situation as humorous - enough said) How could her excitement about dogs just spill over, while I, also, had something important to share? Yet, the words were stuck in my throat. Why is it that she could freely let me know about her love for dogs and I couldn’t tell her about my love for God? Oh, I so wanted to tell her, but my fear got in my way again.

As I’m mulling over this strange show and tell, I’m wondering . . . did God send me someone to show me how simply it’s done? Couldn’t I just have pulled out my Book and told her that she does not need to be afraid to die?

A quote I heard shortly after this incident went something like this: (I need to look this up)
“I’d rather tell you the truth and have you hate me than tell you lies and have you adore me.”
I pray that I can speak the truth in love and not worry about offending, but rather remember the possible eternal consequences of not saying something.

You've Got Mail!

We stopped in Seattle on our way back from a trip. As we often do, we thought about what time it is on the other side of the world and decided to send a quick email to inquire about a Christmas list, since we wanted to do some shopping the next day. Good thing for blackberries!
The following morning we received a specific list just before heading to the store that we would need to go to. From a place where naked kids play in muddy rivers and their moms hang their laundry on railings of the shacks they float on, she had checked out a gift on-line and sent us the name brand, color etc. of a special item. All this while we were “on the road”, so to say! Quite amazing, I thought.

Sometime later there was a beautiful little bulky envelope in our mailbox. There was no mistaking where it had come from with all of the stamps on it!! I held it for a while and just enjoyed looking at it! I began to think about all the people who had been involved in bringing this tiny, precious package half way around the world . . . from the hands of loved ones to the exact right home! This too, suddenly seemed amazing!

There are some things emails can't send . . . Thank you, Julene