Last year our 2019 Story ended with a flow in and out of our
kids at different times during Dec and Jan.
Ronald and family were able to come up from Seattle in
November, January and February. Royce
and Michelle were here over Christmas, went to Florida for January, and got
back to start their new pastoring job in the Salmon Arm (SA) District of BC, Feb
1st. We were all together
mid-February. On the 13th we
had family pictures taken by the lady that was R&R’s kindergarten teacher. And on the 15th was Mathea’s Baby
Dedication. On the 16th we scattered in
different directions. Royce went home,
Ronald went skiing, and we took Mai & Matt to Vancouver for their flight
back to Timor Leste (TL) on Feb 18.
On our way home from Vancouver we got word that Royce had
gone skiing with the school kids, and on his first run he hit icy snow, took a
bad fall, and ended up with a broken collar bone, which later required surgery
and about 2 months to heal. They were
scheduled to move from temporary housing to the newly renovated parsonage March
1st, but when his surgery was scheduled for Feb 29, he had to rush
to find a truck to get his stuff from storage in Kelowna get helpers to load
here, and to unload in (SA), and all of this involved Hector and I. We went to SA on the moving day of Feb 27,
stayed through March 3, to help with the baby, and other things. Friday Feb 28, Hector managed to get his
sleeve caught in a saw blade that pulled his arm into he saw as it was slowing
down. So there we were… with 2 injured guys. I said, “We don’t’ even know where the
Walmart is, but we know where the hospital is!!”
The spring included many trips to SA, to help with all sorts
of things that Royce needed to do…
We also made 3 trips to Alberta this year. In late January my only cousin from my dad’s
side (age 79) ended up in Hospital, because of a fall. She didn’t break any bones, but it was
determined that she was not able to live alone anymore. When they finally located me, they asked me
to file for guardianship, and that was a long process. I went out in May to file the papers, and by
that time she had been moved 120 km from Calgary to a small town to free up
beds for Covid patients. I had to drive
out there to sign papers to release her from hospital to a care facility, and
within a couple weeks she was moved back to Calgary. Meanwhile, in doing some sorting of stuff,
the will was found, as well as guardianship and trustee forms, that named her
god-daughter & husband (Laura & Phil), therefore I withdrew the
applications I had filed, and no longer have that responsibility. I went out in July to go through more things
in the house, as Phil was planning to get the house cleaned out. We brought a van full of things, and
keepsakes. I found the birth announcements
for myself and my brother!! We went out
in October again for the last stuff that the guy doing the cleaning had saved
for me as he went. A lot of very old
letters, but in one falling apart box, I just found what I believe to be the
wedding picture of our grandparents. My
cousin likely didn’t even know that was in the house, as when her parents died,
she remained living in their house, and she never cleaned out the
basement. It is a sad situation, and it
hurts me to think that my cousin doesn’t know what is happening, and of all
this stuff going to charity, garbage, or auction, and the house my uncle built
in the 40’s to be sold, and most likely demolished for bigger newer housing… The last time I left, I shed some tears, but
just had to put it out of my mind and leave it in the hands of those who she
designated.
Like everyone else we have been locked down for months,
limited shopping, and no church or other gatherings. BC is now in the second wave, and the
restrictions have been tightened until into 2021.
Mai and Matt were scheduled to move from TL to Sri Lanka (SL)in
April or May, with Covid, obtaining the visa for SL has been delayed. They came home from TL for their annual leave
on October 1st and had to self isolate for 14 days. Ronald had saved some of his vacation time
for when they would come home, so that he could also come up and isolate with
them. So, we were all together at Royce’s
place for 2 weeks. It was nice to be together
even if we were restricted to staying on the property. Royce borrowed a 5th wheel for
additional sleeping space, and Ronald brought Royce’s 5th wheel. It
had been at Ronald’s place while Royce was at Andrews going to school. Royce planned to go for it in April when the
roads would be snow free… but then it got stuck down there when the boarder
closed in March. Royce was not allowed
to go get it. Ronald even inquired about
bringing it to the boarder, unhitching, if Royce could just cross and hitch up,
but they said no.
After their isolation was over, Mai & Matt went to
Ontario to visit his family. Their leave
was scheduled to end Nov 8, but they still don’t have visas so are staying here
with us until the visa’s come through, which could still be a good while. We expect them to be here over the holidays. Mathea will be 1 on Dec 13, and the birthday
party will be via zoom.
Hector’s brother Wailu who has been doing mission work in
their home country of Guyana, came home to the US early in the year for some
health issues, and the birth of his first grandchild, and has been stuck there
ever since. Hector is itching to go back
to Guyana with him to help out, but no one can travel, so he is stuck here at
home for now.
We spent some time at out cabin this summer when we weren’t
helping Royce. But for this winter we
have a couple staying in an RV right beside the cabin, and they will be looking
out for everything, which gives us some peace of mind, and we won’t have to
worry about the water or the pump freezing up this winter. We have more repairs to do out there, and
hope to fix up a water system from the creek, and maybe our own hydro as
well. It all takes time. Will see how 2021 unfolds as to what we will
get done. Eventually we hope to sell all
city properties and spend most of our time out there.
When Jadon was a baby, we decided that he should call us
Nana and Papa, but when he started talking he said Bapa, and that has
stuck. Now Jesiah who was 2 in August, has
changed it again to Baba, and Nany, he is a delight. He loves his Baba so much that every day he
asks for Baba, and they must call so he can see Baba. This picture is of Baba, showing him how the
tractor (which he calls digger) works.
How exciting for an old boy and a young boy to do that together.
