Thursday, December 29, 2016

Pakjes & Christmas Celebrations

"Pakjes" 

Great-grand daughter, Lydia, surprised Opa and Oma with a personalized mug!


our little ones




Our special creative way of doing a gift-exchange with the whole clan is always a highlight but this year more so for me as I got to experience it through the eyes of a first-timer who had never seen anything like it before.  Plus it gets more entertaining and fun each year with the poems and songs getting better with practice and new poets emerging – Tim V & John both surprised us with their excellent, thot-provoking poems!

Whether the creative wrapping was simple or elaborate art work, it worked well to disguise the gift and keep us guessing. 
Christine's piece of artwork for Rachel & Maurice's artistic family!


Tim reading "Time" as Chris holds the clock (which of course wasn't really a clock inside!)

This was Josh's girlfriend Becca's first experience too

Maurice &Rachel's family made up an amusing song "Ring-ding-ding-a-ling" for R&S's musical family!

In gleeful anticipation of presenting and guessing their "cake" with a "What Am I?  poem
                    hmmm...   a chess game?   Did we guess right?

Ralph & Sharon's musical family made a song for John & Betty's family

                             It's a toboggan, No, its a ...
              Wow!



A skid of building supplies... not for a material house but for building their spiritual house together as a family


                                   
Singing Christmas carols ...
 (very moving for Jay to see how even all the kids and teens sang with their hearts)  

 Delightful that the GKs are willing to share their musical talents


And of course,we mustn't forget the chess players! (pictured here are just a couple of the many that try to challenge Opa)
 




All in all a special day!
Thanks Dad & Mom and all our great family!  (Thanks to Sharon for the photos - the clearer ones are hers)
And thanks most of all to God who gave us the greatest gift of His Son,
and through Him, forgiveness and peace and adoption into His Family!
WOW!! What a blessing! PTL!

Monday, December 26, 2016

Chloe - Great Grandchild #2

Welcome Chloe Christina Vogel, November 18

We praise the Lord for another sweet healthy baby, GGC #2! 
Another covenant child for Tim & Heidi to raise for Him along with Lydia











Saturday, November 19, 2016

Fun in the leaves

Kid-sitting while R&S went on their little anniversary get-away


 Such fun!


 Edible model of a human cell - Bethany's science project:
Jelly - Cytoplasm; Grapes - Mitochondria; watermelon - ER & Golgi bodies;  pomegranate seeds -  Lysosomes,  tangerine (plum better) - Nucleus 

Doing memory work with the kids sure helps me memorize!  Nathan caught on with the signs quickly and joined right in (until the camera came out of course!)


Saturday, October 29, 2016

Thanksgiving

Our special guest for our annual Apple Orchard outing this year was not a GK but a boyfriend! Fun!


     Thanksgiving turkey dinner


              Met Margarita & Damien at R&S - so nice!
                                 beautiful accompaniment to the singing

cute!
 

 Thanksgiving's day hike after church with the family clan


This stroller I found at the curb has sure been a blessing! 
Jay got it fixed up and loves pushing me in it - it means I can go much further by alternating walking and riding! The younger kids and Mom&Dad also made good use of it on this hike!


So thankful to God for all His blessings in Christ!
Thankful for family and friends, love, beauty of creation, health, freedom....!