Today a friend reminded me that my blog hasn't been updated recently.
I shall try, to cram a whole year into one post...?
I shall try, to cram a whole year into one post...?
We spent Christmas and
New Years with Ronald and Tiffany in Nebraska.
On Jan 4 we celebrated Leah’s 1st Birthday at the Union
College Cafeteria where Tiffany’s dad is the director. Unfortunately, Jadon was sick and couldn’t
attend. So for most of the time, Nana, and Bapa stayed with Jadon, then Royce
and Michelle came home and we were able to go and get some of the supper, and
some pictures with Leah.
On Jan 5 we celebrated Hector’s birthday, with a banana loaf Michelle had made. We put candles on, and after we sang, Bapa asked Jadon (3 yrs old) to help blow out the candles. As soon as that was done, he ran to the Christmas tree saying I have a present for you Bapa. He came back with one that was still wrapped, (some gifts for the kids had arrived late and weren’t opened yet). After he and Bapa had à opened it, and he saw the toy inside, he forgot it was a gift for Bapa, but his loving generous heart is what counts, I loved it!!
On Jan 6th and 7th
we flew back to Seattle with Royce and Michelle his truck was
there, then drove home to Kelowna.
In mid-January Hector went to Guyana with his brother Wailu
for a month to work on the family home.
I was happy to stay home, get some work done, and not suffer from the
heat. His last day there, the driver of
the car he was in fell asleep, and hit a parked car. Hector was in the back seat without a seat
belt. He was out cold for some time, as
they pulled him from the car, and got a taxi to take him to a new modern
hospital. He was given x-rays, and CT scan, and kept for several hours. But
released with approval to fly out the next day.
At home he checked with his doctor right away, and all seemed well.
In March, we rented out
our basement kitchen, the largest bedroom in the house, and the basement
bathroom as a suite, to a young couple, the girl is a student, which meant
relocating a stack of boxes, but the furniture stayed, for them to use.
All of spring and summer Hector was working on cleaning the
yard to satisfy the city. In the
process, we had to get rid of our old
school bus that we have been using for storage for over 20 years.
I advertised it on Castanet (like Craig’s List) for 250.00, and had several people call, but the one who got it, was so excited she was ready to pay sight unseen for it!! I said “you can sell the craziest things on Castanet!” That was very traumatic for me, as I had to find place to store all that stuff. There was childhood stuff (mine & my kids) and, the antiques from my parents and grandparents that the kids are to get when they all finally settle down. So now my basement is fuller, and I have 3 extra pieces in my living room.
I advertised it on Castanet (like Craig’s List) for 250.00, and had several people call, but the one who got it, was so excited she was ready to pay sight unseen for it!! I said “you can sell the craziest things on Castanet!” That was very traumatic for me, as I had to find place to store all that stuff. There was childhood stuff (mine & my kids) and, the antiques from my parents and grandparents that the kids are to get when they all finally settle down. So now my basement is fuller, and I have 3 extra pieces in my living room.
We had plans and tickets
to go to our nephew’s University graduation in New Orleans, in May, and another
high school grad in NY in June, but… after a trip to Toronto in April Hector
seemed to be having more headaches. He
went back to his Dr and asked for another CT scan, as one nephew had
recommended after the first reports from the accident were so good, he said
sometimes things show up later. Kelowna
booked him for Sept 20, but we felt that was too far away. So he asked if he
could be scheduled in one of the other nearby cities. Sunday May 3 we went up to Vernon. Immediately after the CT scan a doctor was
there who read it, and found a subdural hematoma, he told him to go directly to
emergency in Vernon, and get checked in, they would send him to Kelowna by
ambulance. Monday about 3 pm he had
surgery, and was home by Wednesday with instructions not to fly, work or drive
for 6 weeks.
So the New Orleans trip had to be canceled. But we did make it to NY in June as his 6 wk CT scan showed all to be well. In May while I was trying to keep him low key on the work, we drove out to Alberta (with Dr’s approval) visited, my mom’s sister and brother in Wetaskiwin, friends in Lacombe, and my cousin in Calgary. While there she asked me to get something from the basement and while there I discovered her hot water tank was leaking. Hector started making calls, and found a company to do the job in 2 days. So about noon we were ready to leave, as we were in the car and she was waving good bye, she got a call they could come right away. She asked us to stay, thankfully we did. In the process the guy broke a water line, and water was gushing into the basement, he had no key to turn off the main, so till his boss got there we were bailing water, and lifting boxes off the floor onto a bed that was down there. After the excitement for the day, we managed to leave about 5 pm, getting home about 1 am. Because of his “no driving” orders, I did all the driving accept the last 2 hrs.
So the New Orleans trip had to be canceled. But we did make it to NY in June as his 6 wk CT scan showed all to be well. In May while I was trying to keep him low key on the work, we drove out to Alberta (with Dr’s approval) visited, my mom’s sister and brother in Wetaskiwin, friends in Lacombe, and my cousin in Calgary. While there she asked me to get something from the basement and while there I discovered her hot water tank was leaking. Hector started making calls, and found a company to do the job in 2 days. So about noon we were ready to leave, as we were in the car and she was waving good bye, she got a call they could come right away. She asked us to stay, thankfully we did. In the process the guy broke a water line, and water was gushing into the basement, he had no key to turn off the main, so till his boss got there we were bailing water, and lifting boxes off the floor onto a bed that was down there. After the excitement for the day, we managed to leave about 5 pm, getting home about 1 am. Because of his “no driving” orders, I did all the driving accept the last 2 hrs.
The end of June Ron and Tiffany Moved from Nebraska to
Seattle area.
In
July, Ron, Tiffany, Jadon and Leah, Mai & Matt came for a week,
but Royce and Michelle were already booked to be at meetings in Texas. During that time, we had a Dutch Picnic with
a picnic kit that was a gift to Matt and Mai from my cousins in Holland.
We found recipes, for Pannekoek, Appel Stroop, Vegan Hollandaise Sauce, and Potato Mushroom Vegetable Hash. We wore Mai’s dutch aprons, as she was following instructions how to flip the 12” pancakes, and the first one ended up ½ cooked down the front of the stove, and on the floor! We had a fun day.
Jadon surely fits the blond Dutch boy image!!
We found recipes, for Pannekoek, Appel Stroop, Vegan Hollandaise Sauce, and Potato Mushroom Vegetable Hash. We wore Mai’s dutch aprons, as she was following instructions how to flip the 12” pancakes, and the first one ended up ½ cooked down the front of the stove, and on the floor! We had a fun day.
Jadon surely fits the blond Dutch boy image!!
(Back yard fun with Bapa. The jeep is
battery operated, and at 3 ½ Jadon was a pretty good driver, took his sister
for some amazing joy rides!! Was fun to watch them.)
The end of July we all (except Mai), were at Camp Meeting,
Hope BC. Royce is pastoring the
Armstrong, Grandview, and Enderby churches, so for him camp meeting is
“work”. Ron brought his trailer up on
the way to Kelowna, and left it at Hope, Royce then set up our sites, so that
we had 3 trailers together with a centre area for outdoor chairs and tables. The first weekend Matt had joined us (and
brought more stuff to give to R & T, or for us to store), while Mai had
gone to New Brunswick to see her friend Sarah-Jane, and new baby Caleb. He almost waited until she had to leave
before he arrived, but she did get to see him and hold him for about a
day. Because of the new job Ron was not
able to get the whole week for camp meeting as planned, but they did come
Thursday evening of the last weekend.
Tuesday of camp meeting we all (Hector, Beth, Royce,
Michelle) went in to Vancouver to load up the last of Mai & Matts stuff,
and then take them to the airport. They
were off on their next adventure!!! Matt
is the ADRA director for a small country on the eastern edge of Indonesia…
“Timor-Leste” and Mai is the principal of a school that did not exist until she
arrived there to establish it.
Ronald and Royce’s Birthday usually ends up at camp meeting,
and this would be the first time in many years they were together to celebrate
it.
Royce (left) & Ronald (right)
Finally got all 3 grandkids together for a picture!!
L-R Ronald, Leah, Jadon, Jaki, Jewel
(Jewel's daddy (Edgar) joined our family when he stayed with us as a student in 2002)
That box was so much fun, even auntie Michelle got in on it!!
Jadon & Leah
Michelle and Jadon
Royce (left) & Ronald (right)
Finally got all 3 grandkids together for a picture!!
L-R Ronald, Leah, Jadon, Jaki, Jewel
(Jewel's daddy (Edgar) joined our family when he stayed with us as a student in 2002)
That box was so much fun, even auntie Michelle got in on it!!
Jadon & Leah
Michelle and Jadon
In August Hector and I went down to Seattle, on Tiffany’s
birthday, got there mid-afternoon, and spent the evening with the kids while
Ronald took her out to eat. We then
stayed a few days longer, and Royce and Michelle came on Sunday, and in the
evening there was a bigger party for Tiffany’s 30th at a friend’s
house. It was a total surprise to her. Nana, took dress-up outfits for the kids, we
all had fun!! Jadon loves being a
fireman.
October my
daughter-in-law’s attended the women’s retreat with me at Camp Hope, it was
very nice, we all enjoyed it. Ronald had
brought his trailer up, and he and the kids and Bapa, went camping up on “J
Hill”. They had a fun weekend, and so
did we. Although just meters away, the
kids didn’t know where mommy was, so no surprise visits from them.
Upon arrival, we had a quick celebration of Michelle's birthday, before us girls headed to the lodge.
They found a puppy friend,
and loved the campfire.
After that, Hector got a
ride home to Kelowna, and Michelle and I headed south. She stayed with Tiffany for a day, while I
proceeded o Portland for a Birthday party of one of my childhood to now
girlfriends. It was a rush to get to
Portland by 6 pm after leaving Hope about 11ish. But I made it and was among the guests when
Margie arrived to be totally surprised!!!
I stayed overnight with my cousin Karen, then the next day drove back to pick up Michelle. In spite of a 1.5 hour delay because of an accident, we left Seattle about 2 and got home by 8 pm. Royce was here, and they stayed overnight before going home to Armstrong.
I stayed overnight with my cousin Karen, then the next day drove back to pick up Michelle. In spite of a 1.5 hour delay because of an accident, we left Seattle about 2 and got home by 8 pm. Royce was here, and they stayed overnight before going home to Armstrong.
Our chimney season has been slow this year. But probably for the best. Hector is doing quite well in many things,
but he seems to get tired much faster now.
For the busiest part of our season he had help from a new to Kelowna man
who was looking for a job, which helped a lot.
Normally it should still be quite busy, but this year we have been lucky
to get 1-3 appointments a day for the last few weeks.
We drove to Auburn Washington (Seattle area) to see
Ronald & family in their new to them house, that they just bought and moved
into. They are about 30 min from his
work, and in a country setting, on 1 acre.
The house is older, not in terrible shape, but will need some touching
up. The yard will create plenty of work
for them.
Our plan was to go on Dec 3, so Hector could fly out to Florida at 9 pm for a mini family reunion from Dec 4-6. But by watching the weather, we decided the best day to travel was Dec 2, before the snow and rain arrived. Our trip was a little stressful (compact snow, and fog) on the first lap, from Kelowna to Merritt via hwy 97c or also known as the "Connector". From Merritt to Hope it was bare and wet, but very sloppy with all the dirty water spraying our windshield. From Hope to Auburn, it was bare and dry, and we were thankful for that.
The family members that were able to make it to the Reunion.
Our trip home was on Dec 8, we hoped to leave by 9 am, but it was more like 9:30, and raining, soon to be torrential, but eased, and then another stretch of heavy rain, once across the border, we did have some periods of rain, but some stretches of damp or dry roads, and God blessed with no snow or ice all the way, even the highest summit was good!!
Our plan was to go on Dec 3, so Hector could fly out to Florida at 9 pm for a mini family reunion from Dec 4-6. But by watching the weather, we decided the best day to travel was Dec 2, before the snow and rain arrived. Our trip was a little stressful (compact snow, and fog) on the first lap, from Kelowna to Merritt via hwy 97c or also known as the "Connector". From Merritt to Hope it was bare and wet, but very sloppy with all the dirty water spraying our windshield. From Hope to Auburn, it was bare and dry, and we were thankful for that.
The family members that were able to make it to the Reunion.
Our trip home was on Dec 8, we hoped to leave by 9 am, but it was more like 9:30, and raining, soon to be torrential, but eased, and then another stretch of heavy rain, once across the border, we did have some periods of rain, but some stretches of damp or dry roads, and God blessed with no snow or ice all the way, even the highest summit was good!!
We spent some Christmas time with Royce
and Michelle on the weekend of Dec 19, a few days before they leave for Florida
to be with her family.
January 7 we went to Vancouver to spend some time with brother, Soljer (Nadira & Elisa), cousin Tanuja (David), and our other grandchild, precious “Jewel”, and her parents Edgar and Jaki. Jan 10 we left for Timor Leste, via Singapore. We were with Mai till Feb 7, then spent a week with a friend in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, before returning home on Feb 15.
January 7 we went to Vancouver to spend some time with brother, Soljer (Nadira & Elisa), cousin Tanuja (David), and our other grandchild, precious “Jewel”, and her parents Edgar and Jaki. Jan 10 we left for Timor Leste, via Singapore. We were with Mai till Feb 7, then spent a week with a friend in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, before returning home on Feb 15.
