And so this was Christmas

I'm sitting here reminiscing about the strange Christmas we had, dropping off gifts and Christmas dinner at our kids' doors. 

Jack was wondering when they would be coming to our house and daddy reminded him that they couldn't because ... remember? The sickness. 

That is something that will stay with me. He's turning four this coming week and it makes me sad that in his wonderful innocent three-year stage he's had to deal with this.

We got to see the Sawyers with Shaun's mom staying there.

She lost her dear husband three months ago and came up from CA to be with her only immediate family.

We, of course, had Tehya with us! 

About mid afternoon we all logged into zoom, for which

our Indonesia family joined us as well,

bringing in some familiar aspect to this gathering.

The kids did a bit of show and tell for us,

as well as some recitings

and something to make us laugh.

We set out on the routine we have ... opening gifts from youngest to oldest.

Then we took  a break to have our dinner and came back for the adults to open gifts,

of which Kari won the prize for being the most enthusiastic!

It is always a joy to watch her open a gift!

She could give lessons on how to show appreciation for every small detail.

It was good to see each family comfortable in their homes,

making the best of this time.

We lack nothing and we are well.

If nothing else, this Christmas has shown us that the very reason we celebrate 

cannot be taken away. 

The world Jesus was born into was dark, 

waiting for salvation from fractions and oppression.

Mary and Joseph were alone because of a Census,

no family to be with ...

yet God chose these events to bring about 

"good tidings of great joy,

which shall be for all people."

Christmas is still good news! 

50 Years in Canada

This year as we celebrate Canada's 150th birthday,

I planted a Canadian Celebration (fire and ice) Dahlia in June

I am one who also remembers Canada's Centennial year,

as the year we came to Canada.

On this weekend, October 7, 1967

our family of five landed in Toronto

where my mom's newly wed brother and beautiful wife met us.

I remember so well that their wedding gifts were barely unpacked 

and they put us up in their home with what they had.

We children slept on the shiny hardwood living room floor 

on new acrylic, satin trimmed blankets

that slipped out from underneath us while we slept. 

But we were with family!

While this new country intrigued us children in many ways,

it was a dream come true for my dad

and somewhat fearsome for my mom.

After a short stay, we got on the train to British Columbia.

The West Coast, was where my dad wanted to put down roots

because of the mountains.

On this train ride we got a good idea of how big this country was.

Looking out of the window, it was the first time I saw snow.

We arrived in Mission on October 25th

where my mom's uncle and aunt picked us up at the train station

and took us to their lovely home in Abbotsford.

Uncle John and my grandfather (mom's dad) were brothers

who got separated when families left Russia.

My grandfather went to Paraguay as a young man

and his brother to Canada, 

getting married and raising their families apart.

Uncle John and Tante Tina included us in their family 

gatherings, with gifts to open along with their own grandchildren

and often visited us in those early years.

The above photo was taken on one of their visits

to our first home in Vancouver.

My dad, an accountant, knew he'd have to be willing to do 

something else to put bread on the table.

He went to Vancouver to look for work

and was hired by a friend to install furnaces.

(This friend is now my step-dad, Abe)

My dad had saved enough money from the sale of

our beautiful home in Brazil to make a down-payment on the above house.

We moved into this new home in Canada in November.

Even as a ten-year-old, I loved the quaint old rooms

and can still visualize the tiny portico,

leading to the living room, then the dining room with a bedroom to the left

and the kitchen in the back.

The kitchen cupboards were painted baby blue.

Off to the left of the living room was a stairway

leading to two kids' bedrooms with slanted ceilings.

It wasn't long and my dad came home with the first car we'd ever had.

It was old, but beautiful to us and we were so proud of him.

Dad worked at installing furnaces for maybe a year and

then decided to take night courses at UBC

to get his accreditation as an accountant in Canada.

He continued working during the day.

Through connections with others who had come from South America

we ended up in a church where we made the best of friends.

I have been so thankful for my dad's dream

and hard work to get us here,

and mom's willingness to fit in.

Next week also marks the day he would be 85

If only he could see us now . . .

his "old" children,

his 10 beloved grandkids, almost all in their 30's, like he was in 1967,

along with 22 great-grandchildren - who did not get to know him!

Till we meet again, 

Thank you, dad!

Just Because

A photo . . .

 because yesterday was mother's day

and I am so proud to be her daughter!

I love that she still has a sparkle in her eyes

and loves me even when I keep telling her,

"Remember?" or "I told you . . ."

Words she likely repeated to me so long ago.

And words I want to stop saying

because that smile

and that sparkle is worth more than what she forgot.

Seize the Day

One way to seize the day is to

set aside things that can wait . . .

to enjoy a coffee and a walk.

Maybe there's an ocean  view to enjoy

or a downtown city street  lined with trees . . .

whatever you find, mark the spot as your Ebenezer  . . .

Living life on purpose forces us out of monotony.

It is a prayer to the Lord, rising from deep within, to

Teach us to number our days,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 92:12

The Lenten Rose

The Lenten rose has to be my favorite early Spring flower.  I remember the very first time I saw a full blooming plant not long before my dad passed away.  When he died, I went out and got one to bloom every year at this time. I was sad when that particular plant did not come back after one particular winter.

We got a new plant this year. 

My H left it in the original pot and just put it into a decorative pot we had 

stored in the shed.

Welcoming us at the front door,

it's pretty green petals continue to hold promise of life.

And speaking of green and celebrating life . . . we have a St. Patrick's birthday boy
celebrating his sixth birthday today!
He's gone ahead of us to California and spending time with his Gramma and Grumpa
I'll get an up-to-date photo when we catch up with him.
In the meantime, have a very fun day, Landon!
May you always stay as sweet as you are today!

Happy Canada Day!

(my mom and dad in front of our first home in Canada, circa 1967)

I may not be born in Canada . . .
but I'm a Canadian because
many years ago, my father made it one of his main ambitions,
 doing all he could, to get his young family here!

In a sense, I am adopted . .
into the true north strong and free . . .
And I could not be more proud of this place we call home!
There are times, choice can have more meaning than chance.

May God keep our land,
so glorious and free,
a place where our children's children and those who come after
will know we've been given much, so that we can give.

 

Hear the Bells Ringing

Hear the bells ringing

They're singing that you can be born again

Hear the bells ringing

They're singing Christ is risen from the dead

The angel up on the tombstone

Said He has risen, just as He said

Quickly now, go tell his disciples

That Jesus Christ is no longer dead

Joy to the world, He has risen, hallelujah

He's risen, hallelujah

He's risen, hallelujah

Hear the bells ringing

They're singing that you can be healed right now

Hear the bells ringing, they're singing

Christ, He will reveal it now

The angels, they all surround us

And they are ministering Jesus' power

Quickly now, reach out and receive it

For this could be your glorious hour

Joy to the world, He has risen, hallelujah

He's risen, hallelujah

He's risen, hallelujah, hallelujah

The angel up on the tombstone

Said He has risen, just as He said

Quickly now, go tell his disciples

That Jesus Christ is no longer dead

Joy to the world, He has risen, hallelujah

He's risen, hallelujah

He's risen, hallelujah

Hallelujah

Lyrics by Anne Herring and a verse added by Keith Green

The Good in Good Friday

Art and words

from the heart of a nine year old today . . .

Tehya, 2012

coinciding with words that strike deeply from centuries ago

" Oh, what a melting consideration is this! that out of his agony comes our victory; out of his condemnation, our justification; out of his pain, our ease; out of his stripes, our healing; out of his curse, our blessing; out of his crown of thorns, our crown of glory; out of his death, our life."

John Flavel, 1671

Grandparents at School

I went back to school for half a day. Three anxious little souls were waiting in their respective classes, for the right Grammy to walk through that door.

Natalie's kindergarten class was all decked out like a jungle. She showed me her journal and her beautiful scrapbook with all of her artwork. We had stations in the room to visit, one at which she showed me how well she could do sign language. It was a special visit I will never forget.

Paeton, almost shy-like yet, proudly showed me to his desk, where he read to me a recent report he had researched and written. It was several pages long.

I loved it! Especially since I could visualize the orangutans that we visited with him in Indonesia.
We also worked on a little exercise on how school was the same/different when I went to school. I told him we did not do art in elementary school. He showed me his artwork around the room and as we looked out of the window, he told me where he plays hockey at recess.

Tehya welcomed me with uninhibited joy to her classroom. There I had to sit down on a chair, like an old lady, for a photo op. She promptly jumped on my lap and gave me the biggest, almost smothering hug as the photographer clicked. She also had an exercise ready, one in which I had to practice my nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs. She's smiling at the funny story being concocted.

She took me to the gym to show me more artwork, and asked me to find her name.

When I could not see it, she took down her page and folded it up to show me.

The morning culminated with snacks in the gym and a program by all of the classes except for the Kindergarten class. It was so nice to get a feel of the school and the commitment to excellence tampered with good humor. A song that one of the classes sang was called Elephants Have Wrinkles. One of the students thought it would be a good one to sing for the grandparents. I wonder why?

Home For Christmas

Christmas Day turned out to be a very windy day, so windy that our lights flickered on several occasions and I was thinking of back-up plans for the turkey to get done.  Chris and Julene with three super excited kids had their rocking session on the ferry coming from the island. They were the first to ring the doorbell. Of course I had to take a photo of this momentous occasion. The doorbell rang again and . . .words don't need explaining for the beautiful sight . . . Ben and Kari and Co. . .  followed by our photogenic Shaun and Kristal with their three new Canadians.

Papa has a routine with the smallest ones and they remember every time they come in. They get a review of who everyone is.

All day long, I really felt like this could not be happening.  I actually wondered how one does a family gathering .  .. one in which I suddenly felt like I was my mom. When I first saw this photo, I had this feeling of everything being surreal, like I was in heaven, looking down at the future. How can one suddenly have a table-full of grandchildren eating turkey dinner?



Meanwhile, in the dining room, the table was set only for the adults to enjoy after the kids were done.

I probably enjoyed this time most of all! Eating together and anticipating the rest of the evening.

I realize we are starting traditions with this day and, in years to come, we will have to do the same. I think this is one . . . the grandchildren by the tree. (Landon, Paeton, Tehya holding Koen, Natalie, Makenna and Lacey. This is Makenna's first Christmas in Canada.




Gifts from uncles and aunts were opened before our early dinner. The rest were opened after the adults finished dinner.

Can I say again? It was soooo good to be together!

It will be the Christmas long remembered for the first time we had all three married kids home for Christmas together.

Ten Special Moments

My eyes teared up as we followed our kids, in caravan fashion to the airport on Saturday evening. Three vehicles . . . everyone there .  . . even little ones had somehow earned the right to stay up past their bedtime on this special night. For some reason this made me very happy. It's a picture left for the imagination.

The moment finally came . . . and when it did, it happened so quickly, I wish it could have been slowed down to capture every face . . .

and every "welcome home" embrace!

 The look that lingers in my mind is one of Natalie's shining eyes telling all that nothing could be better . . . her cousins have come home!

The midnight snack around the kitchen counter after baths.

The fireside to warm some shivering bodies first thing in the morning

and setting a late breakfast table with anticipation for the day after a good night's sleep.

Everyone getting settled around the Faspa table in the afternoon

and actually stopping for a pose!

Cousins enjoying a special moment with their ice cream before bedtime.

My mom and Abe dropping in . .  . on her 77th Birthday.

 It's been a perfect twenty four hours!

 And it's time to go to sleep.