2016 In Review

Well another year is unwinding.

Jan 10 Hector and I flew, Vancouver, LA, Tokyo, Singapore, Timor-Leste. It was 28 flying hours, and 11 waiting hours.  We were very happy to arrive.

The island is not a high tourist place, and Mai and Matt were both working during the week, but that was totally ok with us. We went to be with them and to see where they live, so that for the next 5 years, when they tell us something we can picture it.  

We mostly stayed home, cooked, and kept the kitchen clean, and babysat, kitten Nestor, 

potty trained him, and...

Taught him to wash dishes for his mommy!!  

(actually, we can't claim credit for these last 2 accomplishments)

  Matt and Mai were happy to have meals ready when they got home.  We also filled their fridge top freezer before we left. Staying home was a very good place to be, when it was a humid 37c (100F) outside.  For part of the afternoon, and through the night, we used the a/c, to be able to survive!!!

On Sundays we usually went somewhere, Cristo Rei,

The view of the city (Dili) from Cristo Rei

.2. The 

Brunch on the beach after our hike up 700 or so stairs to Cristo Rei.

the monument honouring the pope's visit,

k-41 beach,.4.  .  

Friday afternoons were for shopping,.Matt would borrow the ADRA truck, and we would all go. 

 During the week Mai sometimes caught a mikrolet (mikro for short), to school & always walked home in the heat because it was to hard to cross the busy street twice, to catch the mikro coming back.  Matt worked on the compound where they live.  

Mai & Matt's house on the left, the ADRA container offices on the right, at the far back the Mission President's house.

Matt & Hector picking Papaya's

The ADRA Container Offices.

The new rented office space for ADRA

After the 1^st week, Hector felt comfortable to walk to a store or market for ingredients, or building materials, as he built some shelves, and a kitty tree, for Nestor.

Nestor on his Kitty tree.

Hector building a fence for the dog they were hoping to get, but that didn't work so well, so they didin't keep him.

Mai and I with the treasurer's house in the background, and a Mission vehicle, when we were there they only had a small motorcycle, but now they have a car.

One Sabbath afternoon, on a walk along the beach.

The building that Mai transformed from Mission Office, to School.

The church

Feb 7 we went to Kuala Lumpur, to visit with our friend Yen from Kelowna, who was home to visit her family..7. 

A view of Yen's family neighbourhood.  

We got to experience Chinese New Year,.

...tour the city for a day,.

Batu Caves

Little India

.

Twin Towers

Mall at the base of the Twin Towers.

...and and we eat out a few times.  

That tall thing was really good!!

Banana leaves for plates

Lovely by the pond evening dinner, with Yen's family.

We took an over night trip out of town to visit Yen’s friend, and attend church.  

Got to participate in a several events of a family wedding,.thefirst was the evening we arrived, and just the boy's side of the family, the second, was early on Wednesday morning, and the last was the evening we were flying out, so we had to cut it a bit short, and hurry to the airport.

Hector, Beth and Yen with the bride and groom.

Upon arriving in Seattle, 

Sweet Leah!!!

we connected with a friend from Kelowna (Marleen at the far end of the table), and skipped our last flight to Vancouver, and drove home with her, getting home 2 days sooner than our bus ticket was going to get us here.  

That was good, as Ronald & Tiffany came for the weekend, to meet up with Royce and Michelle and go skiing, and Nana and Bapa, got to babysit, that was fun, the kids were so good!!

Jadon's T-shirt from Kuala Lumpur  

Jadon and Leah's Indian Outfits from Little India Kuala Lumpur.

When we left in January, I was so sad, as my mom’s youngest sister Leatha, was in hospital, doing so very poorly, I was so afraid that she might pass away while I was gone, and I would not be here.  And my mom’s youngest brother Melvin had shortly been diagnosed with cancer.  It was very hard to leave for 5 weeks. 

But when I got back I was delightfully surprised to find my aunt doing so much better, and she was in the extended care unit, waiting for a care home room to open up.  I visited her weekly, and enjoyed every visit.  Her mind was very clear, and she had determined to be happy no matter the circumstances, and that made visits something to look forward to.  She has now been moved to her 1^st choice care home, and is very happy there, and seems to be improving, can walk with a walker for short distances, is doing puzzles, and getting transit to bring her to church!!  So happy to still have her loving all of us, and keeping us in her prayers.

Leatha at her 85th Birthday

Leath with a volunteer at the care home, very nice girl visiting from Germany for a few months.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t a happy ending for my uncle.  He passed away in May.  That was very hard for his 3 older siblings who couldn’t imagine why the youngest had to go so soon.  It was also hard for me, as he was more like a brother then an uncle to me, my mom’s special little brother, closer to my age then to mom’s.


Melvin & Eileen a few years ago.  My Uncle/brother.  Miss him so much.

Early in May we went to Ronalds for a weekend.  Jadon had a minor surgery, and so were were there to stay with Leah for the day, leaving Ron & Tiff to be with Jadon, wory free.  It was Friday, so I was cleaning for Sabbath, and Leah was playing so nicely by herself, and I kept watch, but she never got into mischeif.  Into the afternoon, she was saying (age 2 1/2) "Nana tea party".  I was thinking she wanted me to make a tea party for her, so I told her I had to finish sweeping the poarch, then we could do tea party.  So as soon as I put the broom away, she was right behind me, but then she ran away into the living room, so I went to see what whe was up to, and here she had the whole tea party set up waiting for me to join her, it was a very special moment for Nana I Leah.

Hector was determined to build another house this year, wanted to start in March, but the framer dragged his feet, which delayed everything all summer.  Had to find new renters for one house for April, hate that job, but seems we got a good family. 

April and June we visited our cabin in Westbridge, and Hector spoke for the church service at the small company that meets out there.  Was nice to spend a little time out there, we love the place, but for over a year we have been looking for non druggies, to rent and care for it, but there just doesn’t seem to be anyone out that far that can be depended on, most of them don’t have jobs, and plan to farm marijuana for a living.  We have listed it hoping to sell, and get rid of one debt, seeing we can’t seem to rent it.

June was a crazy, 
I started cooking at the beginning of the month, 
for 3 events.  



June 20^th my uncle’s memorial, 
and many family here from BC, AB, WA, OR.  

June 24-25, 
Our niece Elisa graduated in Vancouver..13. 

July 1st, our neighbour/cousin’s son got married,.and more family came, including Ronald, Tiffany & kids, Mai, Matt, Royce, Michelle.  Had a full house again. 

July 3^rd 
Mai, Matt, Royce, Michelle, and I went to Alberta.  
Traveled one day, spent the evening, 
and next morning with my cousin Fay in Calgary..

On to Lacombe visited my aunt Violet .who is in assisted living there, and  saw her grandson’s new property, stayed with cousins Rod & Judy, in Morningside, 

next day went on to Wetaskiwin, to see my uncle Sam,.and stayed with his daughter Judy for the night.  

Early morning of July 6 took Mai & Matt to Edmonton A.P., to fly to Ontario.  

R, M, and I came home that day.  Then they had to get serious about packing, and I ended up there for 1.5 days helping, till I was too sore, to pick up another thing.  Their truck arrived on Wednesday the 13^th.  That weekend, they stayed here with us, and Sabbath we went with them to their church, and farewell party on the 16^th.  Royce and Michelle left for camp meeting set up, o the 17^th.  Then I had 4 days to get us ready for camp meeting.

We had our family all together for the week of camp meeting.  Mai & Matt came back from Ontario, and Ron & Tiff, came up from Seattle, so it was a really nice week. The boys got to celebrate their birthday together first time in many years..18.  

Friday night midnight we were all awoke to shouts of fire…evacuate!!  We did, but within an hour were back as the brush pile was under control.  Saturday night, Mai and Matt were taken to Vancouver to fly out for another year.  Sunday Royce took Michelle to Seattle to fly to Florida, and he came back here for 3 days, to finish up some stuff, with his churches, and to do concrete work around his house, 4 years in the waiting.  

His last day was very busy, and we barely got him to the airport on time, but he squeaked in and his bag managed to get on too.  He went to Florida to be with Michelle for a friend’s wedding, then they flew to Michigan on Aug 9, to start his next 3 years as a Masters of Divinity Student.

Aug and Sept were the big push to get the new house ready for renters by Oct 1..19.  Chimneys were starting and I was pushing the bookings into October.  Then October was crazy busy.  There are still a few details to finish, but we rented to 4 young men, sons of friends, and gave them a rent break so that we could go back and finish up later.  We have one lot, that we lived on when Mai-Rhea was born, it is 1.3 acre, and the city has allowe ud now to sub-divide, and plan to put 4 houses onto it.  The first 2 are at the back of the lots, and this one is infront of the one we built in 2011, and there is still room to build another one infront of Royce's house (hope it is not next summer).

For Canadian Thanks Giving, Ronald and family came for the celebration, but it was a triple weekend.  They arrived Thursday evening Friday about 3 pm, we had our Thanks Giving Dinner, and Jadon's 5th birthday party.   

Ane Ronald picked a few boxes of grapes, so that Saturday evening we could start  stemming what had been picked.  Sunday morning, was full into grape juice production.  by the time they left on Monday afternoon, we had about 100 Lieters of juice, and after they were gone, I got another dozen or so.

November rolled around, with very few calls for chimneys to be cleaned.  Hector has gone to Big White, our ski mountain a few times, but his days, have been only about 1-4 chimneys a day, and some days with none.  He has been cleaning up the garden and yard.  I keep trying to get desk work, and other things done in the house, seems I never get very far.

Still have renters in our basement, and this school year, I have a girl from 40 miles south, staying here for college, so the house is full.  When it was time to empty the fountain outside before freezing, I cleaned it up, and brought it into the living room, as I will enjoy it more here than outside, I never have time to sit out there, but I try to get a 20 min nap daily in my mom’s recliner, and I have now been turning it on to enjoy, the sound is relaxing, and covers other noises.

Royce & Michelle are going to see Mai & Matt before Christmas, then joining her family in Australia for the holidays.  We will be going to Auburn (Seattle) to spend Christmas with Ronald’s family.  We will stay to celebrate birthdays, Leah’s 3^rd on Jan 4, and Hector’s 65^th on Jan 9.  He is hoping that some of his siblings will come seeing it is Seattle, and much less expensive then flying into Canada.

As we finish another year, signs about us are telling that earth is running out of time.  Our ticket out of here, is simple.  Get to know the Baby of Bethlehem, & make Him first in your life. He is the way, truth, life, &  the only way to the Father John 14:6.  If you find making a commitment and sticking to it hard, take time to learn more about Desmond T. Doss, the Hero of Hacksaw Ridge, his life is a great inspiration to anyone who wishes to stay true to a commitment they have made. God Bless       

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year

2015

Today a friend reminded me that my blog hasn't been updated recently.   
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 1^st 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 6^th and 7^th  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.

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.

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!!

(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

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 30^th 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.

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. 

Christmas with Ron & family was Dec 3-8, as they went to Nebraska for Christmas.

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!! 

  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.

Nana B. and Grandpa with Jewel.