Christmas Greetings!

Yes it is the weekend before Christmas! I wanted to explain the real true meaning of Christmas. It all started many years ago...when the angel of the Lord appeared to Mary and told her she was going to be with child, "behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel...which being interpretedis God with us". She was going to carry a very special child. This child would be the Saviour of the world! That wonderful night a special child, a King, a Priest, a Saviour was born into the World, "and they called His name Jesus". This child grew and taught many people in the temples. He spoke against rules of the Scribes and Pharisees, He brought joy to little children, He brought healing to the sick, He comforted those who mourned...and the list could go on and on. And yet we all rejected Him, we all spat in His face...and yes sadly enough that list could go on too. But this wonderful King loved us in spite of all we did and died for us. This Saviour of the World sufferend Hell so that we might have life eternal! He suffered the rejection of God so that we could talk to Him face to face. Christmas is about the wonderful gift our Lord Jesus Christ has given to us! How can we thank Him for showing us unconditional love? How can we thank Him for giving us this awesome gift!

This Christmas the Lord took Tante Tena home so that she could be Home for Christmas! Grandma Bronsveld is also Home for Christmas! And if you accept the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ this Christmas...one day you also will be Home for Christmas!

May the Lord richly bless you all this Christmas and may you truely find the real JOY of Christmas this year!

Five Days Till Christmas!

Yes there are only five days till Christmas! Nathan is due to arrive here in Ottawa tomorrow evening! We plan to Christmas shop, watch movies, and just spend time together as brother and sister!

At home things are settling after Tante Tena's funeral. The kids all have Christmas holidays now...which is nice for Mom giving her a bit of a break. James and Melissa are planning on driving out to Pennsylvania to visit Melissa's family back in the USA. They will be back in time for celebrating the New Year in Orangeville with our family.

Here in Ottawa I have the privilege of working a day shift on Christmas. I pray that I may be able to bring Christmas cheer to those who are not well!

That is all for now...once Christmas is over I will have more news to tell you. At this point I want to wish you all a Blessed Christmas and God's richest blessing in the New Year!

In loving memory....

Today early this morning the Lord called home to Himself a faithful servant and dedicated prayer warrior. Tante Tena VanNoort was recieved in the arms of our Lord and Saviour this morning after a short but difficult battle with cancer.
The Lord had given Tante Tena a long a fruitful life. She has been such a blessing in our family. I remember the many times she came over to do mending for Mom. She would sit in the corner of the couch, drinking a cup of coffee and mending socks. We would have lunch together as a family on those days with usually egg salad sandwhiches. Tante Tena would share her many stories of her nursing career with us. I remember the times I would go to her house and help her spring clean. On those evenings we would sit together on the couch and she would be knitting slippers or baby outfits. We would talk and Tante Tena would bring out her photo albums. We looked at pictures of the babies that she delivered. She loved telling me her stories of when she was a nurse.
Tante Tena loved plants. I will never forget the poka dotted plant that she had. She gave me trimmings from it as that was how she collected most of her plants. She grew beautiful plants!
Tante Tena strongly encouraged and supported my desire to go into nursing. I know she prayed a lot! To the very end Tante Tena always asked me how my nursing was going.
I will never forget the time she came over and got to hold my little brother Daniel. She was so excited to be able to see him! At this point she already was frail and failing in health but she came to Orangeville and held him in her arms. She loved our family...she knit many pairs of slippers for us faithfully a new pair every year. When I came to visit her in Holland Christian Homes, shortly before she passed away, she would always ask how the family was...there was always such a look of love in her eyes!
I thank the Lord for the time we had with her. I will miss her greatly on this earth and I can't wait to see her in Heaven. She has a special place in my heart! I will carry her memories with me forever!
Thankyou Lord for the example Tante Tena has had in my life! Thank you for the many times we had together! Thankyou for taking her home to be with you in glory!