Tessa Lynn (Teddy) is Ten!

 Dear Teddy, 

You were one of our baby grands that was whisked away to another province,

soon after you were born. 

And how we cherished every photo of you growing cuter by the day.

Home was where Mom and Dad and Lacey were.

We enjoyed quick flights to cuddle, read stories,

experience  prairie winters and watching you learn to skate.

We were also so happy that you made your way back quite often.

The first time for Papa's 60th Birthday. 

And ever since, there was something special between the two of you.

In Spring we met at the pool in California

and in summer we had time for sleep overs, back yard swings,

cousin tea parties, trips to the zoo and to the lake. 

There came the happy day when you all moved back.

You started pre-school and how I loved it when I got to pick you up!

Some of the happiest smiles I've seen were when

you could stir and taste something in the kitchen ...

our butter loving girl.

There could never be enough sugar cookies to roll out,

chocolate cupcakes to decorate, peppernuts to cut 

or pancakes to mix. 

And how can I forget to mention the stuffies I'd find in the laundry chute -

a sneaky reminder that you'd been over. 

Teddy, you amaze us with your gift to follow instructions

crafting quietly, whether with cousins or alone.

You express your joy for music on the piano

and your love for the outdoors wherever you are.

You are kind, gentle, creative, smart and just enough of a tease 

that shows you know how to have fun.

What a precious gift you are!

May God bless you and keep you

and make His face to shine on you. 

Keep that beautiful smile!

Love you always,

Papa and Mimi

❤❤❤

When all is Said and Done

I woke up at night and suddenly the word came to me

as to how I feel, it is that I suddenly feel old.

Maybe because as long as I had my mom,

I felt young.

Maybe because I have first hand seen the

impact that she has had

on many who have expressed it now.

It is a sobering thing to wash her last loads of laundry,

bright tops I can still see her in,

 only in my memory, with no lasting charm.

But, the things others have said to me,

the impact she had, 

imprints of how she loved,

cared for, prayed for, welcomed and accepted them -

those are the thoughts filling my mind,

and not just my mind,

but my very being feeling cloaked

with a mantle I've never worn.

So teach me to number my days, Lord. 

Let me remember what will truly matter

when all is said and done. 

 

Mom's Life-story

 

Erika was born on December 18, 1934, in Fernheim (Chaco) Paraguay. She was the firstborn of six children born to Heinrich and Liese Friesen who had recently come from Russia as refugees. She would be first to say that as children they were oblivious to the poor conditions they lived in, as her parents provided a happy home for them. One of her fondest memories was of how they regularly sang as a family after dinner as it was getting dark.

When Erika was 8 years old, her family was hit by a tragedy when her father fell 13 meters down a well shaft, breaking his back and legs. Her mother spent almost a year with him in a hospital in the city while the children were dispersed to different homes and neighbors cared for their farm.When her father finally came home as an invalid, he learned a shoe making trade, taught music and led the church choir. Mom told us how a sheet of music would get delivered within the village from one choir member to the next, to be hand-copied into a notebook for the next practice. She took over her father’s music book when she was 13 years old, just before he passed away, continuing to record the weekly choir music.

When Erika was 12 years old, she accepted the Lord at an evangelistic meeting.  Erika loved school and finished Grade 6 with honors, but could not continue school due to her help needed at home.

Her mother married David Isaak a year later and two more brothers were added to the family. In her later teen years she went to work in the big city of Asuncion, first as a nanny and later on in a hotel. Then, as a young adult, she heard about an opportunity to work in the kitchen for the MCC Home in Uruguay. This is where she met Peter Janzen and they were married on September 1,1956. All three children were born there, Anneliese, Helmut and Monika. 

Early in 1964, the family moved to a Mennonite community in the outskirts of Curitiba, Brazil, where all three children started their schooling. Erika wrote that they lived there for a happy 3½ years, before moving to Canada in the Fall of 1967. She also wrote that wherever they lived, they quickly found their way into a choir, but when they came to Vancouver, facing a new language and a different style of music notation, she thought this was the end of that. However, it was not long before she was in the choir again, while enjoying the fellowship at Culloden MB Church. 

Erika worked hard to help get established in a new country once more, doing house cleaning and then working at Hanson Plastics. Throughout her full time work, she kept the household running with homemade meals and packed lunches. She enjoyed serving in the church kitchen and packing parcels for needy people in South America. On Saturdays she baked buns and cooked a large pot of soup, just so she would be ready to invite someone for lunch or Faspa on Sunday, which happened regularly.

Erika became a very happy Oma in 1978 and loved every grandchild that followed, building into their lives as best she could.  She and Peter moved to Abbotsford in 1985 to be closer to grandchildren and joined Central Heights MB Church. This was a big change for them, because it meant going to English-only services, Care Groups and choir, but Erika was all in. It was hard not to become her friend. 

Erika's life, as she knew it, came to a sudden change when Peter had his first of many disabling strokes before he was sixty years old. His sudden disability to work and function as he was used to were understandably hard on both of them. In 1997 Peter had another stroke that paralyzed his left side and she became his constant caregiver.  When he moved into a Care Home three years later, she visited him almost daily (with a treat) until he passed away in 2007. During these years Erika had numerous eye surgeries due to a genetic eye disease.  However, despite her joy and her faith being challenged, her walk with God continued to grow. She sold cookies by the thousands, donating where she could, sang in the Senior choir, and volunteered at MCC. She enjoyed planting flower pots, spoiling her family with her delicious treats and ever present availability to help, or just to pray. Erika also became a proud first time great-grandmother in 2002.

Erika traveled to Indonesia with a granddaughter to visit her missionary grandchildren, and also to Paraguay with another granddaughter to visit her family. 

In 2011 Erika married Abe Toews, her best friend’s widowed husband. They enjoyed some happy years together before Alzheimer’s began to rob her of her memory in about 2014.  The years of watching her memory fade and especially watching confusion set in were very difficult, first for her and then for the family. The simplest of facts were lost to her and her brain could no longer focus on any kind of order of how to do everyday life.

In January of 2018 she willingly moved to Bevan Village to be cared for by nurses and care aides. Abe visited her almost daily until he passed away later that year. The last kind of activities she enjoyed had to do with singing or listening to music. Even when her speech was gone, she would listen to a song and open her mouth in awe, or was it that she thought she was singing? We may never know, but for now we know that on Sunday, January 16, 2022 heaven’s choir welcomed a beautiful new alto voice and is richer for it. 

The service https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9INPm6P7-xo

Earth's Final Resting Place

Yesterday was the day that would have, in years gone by, 

 brought me to tears just thinking about it.

However, as the day dawned glorious and sunny,

it felt like all of heaven was rejoicing.

We drove caravan style behind the funeral coach to the cemetery.

Six grandsons carried their Oma to her final resting place.

We gathered to listen to words of hope given by the pastor from Mom's church.

Mom's children, grandchildren, great-granchildren,

extended family and some of Abe's family.

A somber time, yet a reality of life. 

The song by Chris Tomlin played 

while everyone had a chance to say a final "auf wiedersehen" 

and place a rose on the casket.

I will post the words to this amazing song.

There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain

I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

There's a day that's drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

'Till we meet again, mom,

I love you!

❤❤❤

At Home in Heaven

After a 7 year battle with Alzheimer's, my mom slipped away from us on Sunday afternoon. Her life was one of joy and sorrow meeting time and again, but her faith remained constant in the One who led her all the way! Oh, how beautiful heaven must be for her now! Auf wiedersehen to a mom, Oma and great-Oma who loved well and was well loved! 

I will write more in days to come. I'm just not there right now. This is just to give a glimpse into these days. I so much appreciate knowing that even my blogging friends have come to love her. 
 

For 2022

World renowned vocalist, Andrea Bocelli, and his family hosted a podcast in his home called, "The Heart of Christmas" in which he was asked about his faith. What he said was very simple, and yet struck me as a profound way of expressing why he believes in God. 

Andrea shared that "faith begins in a person's life when a person asks, what is the reason for life?" He looks at faith as a crossroads. "If you don't want to have faith in God, then you must necessarily have faith in another god called 'by chance'. The second god was one I never liked."  He goes on to give an example of someone standing before Michelangelo's pieta and asking, who made this? Being told who it was, he says, "I don't believe it ... I have never seen this artist." This person prefers to believe that it just happened, maybe from the way the rain fell on it. Andrea goes on to say that life is such a miracle that he cannot attribute it to chance.  Therefore he believes in God.

As we enter a New Year filled with apprehension, unable to make specific plans, I believe that many are asking, what does all of this  mean? Where are things headed?  Do we want to think that we are left to chance or that God has a given us an opportunity to trust Him. 

I believe that we can have peace, knowing that we are not left to chance, but that God desires for us to trust that He is good and that good will win. There will come a day when we will see clearly the answers to the 'why questions' we have. For now, all we need to know is that He is with us and for us. Placing our life is in His hands is the safest place to be. 

I will say about the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust. Psalm 91:2

With love and prayers, wishing you (those beautiful dots on my visitor map) a very happy New Year!