Legion Remembrance Day Contest

All the kids entered something this year for the Legion Contest and all 4 of them won something!  How fun.

Esther: 1st for Essay and 1st for Poem in Senior

Sarah: 2nd for Colour Poster in Intermediate

Josiah: 3rd for Poem in Junior

Joanna: 1st for Colour Poster in Primary

50th Anniversary guests

Some formal shots (thanks Ralph) of special guests on this special celebration:

Part of the wedding party
Kees Kooy, Albert Nymann (Best Man and the one who set them up), Mary Hosmar (Elly's cousin)

We thank them for coming and making Ralph & Elly's special day more special! 

 We missed Elly's Maid of Honour, Pat VanVliet, and Brides Maid Gonnie Van Hemert (Ralph's sister), and Groomsman Rient (Dad's brother)

Surely they couldn't have imagined back then that this whole big group below would result from this wedding 50 years later!

Dad's sister, Anneke, and Marius came all the way from Holland! 

 

Mom's sister, Marianne & Evert and some of most of their clan

Tony & Theresa (and kids), Krista & Chris (sans kids), Selina

Mom's cousins (Tante Ma Visser and Tante At Wybenga's families

Back L-R: Evert & Marianne, Mary Wierdsma, John & Mary Hosmar, Rita & Wim Wybenga

Front: Adriana & Gerrit Postmas, Ralph & Elly, Sylvia & Albert Nymann

 Kees & Alice celebrated their 50th wedding 2 weeks before us and Gonnie & Jack 2 weeks later!

50th Anniversary Open House

During the  Open House, the Kids and Grandkids
put on a little program to honour our dear parents and grandparents and praise the Lord for His faithfulness.

Christine wrote a song for the kids based on Do Re Me - cute!

and one based on Philippians 4:8-9 which was part of Dad & Mom's wedding text

And the finale: our traditional "The Lord Bless You and Keep You"

Mr.Leendert Kooy was so moved he came up to say a few words

Wonderful to see lots of long-time and recent friends 

Thank you all for coming and helping make this milestone of our parents so memorable!

Tante Anneke - Can you tell we're all Brinks?

Dad & Mom's 50th Anniversary Celebration

The celebration started with a noon-time dinner at Maranatha for the family and Bridal party.

The honoured couple's grand entrance:

Delicious meal prepared and served by the ladies

                  The MCs, Esther and Kenny kept things running smoothly

 

         2 of the bridal party, Best Man, Albert N, and Kees gave little hilarious speeches

as well as 2 family members, Anneke and Marguerite

 

Golden Anniversary!

1965 - October 30 – 2015

With thankfulness to our Heavenly Father

we rejoice with our parents /grandparents

Ralph & Elly Brink

for 50 years of God’s faithfulness to them as a couple.

We thank the Lord for them 

and for the blessing they’ve been to us and to so many.

We pray His continued blessing on them

for as many years as He yet grants them in this life.

                     

                           Dear Dad & Mom,

Although marriages fail all around, 

I’m so thankful that, 

We never had to worry that you wouldn’t stay together

For your feet are firm on the Rock that cannot be moved

And your Anchor holds while the waves of change

Rage around you and beat against the sanctity of marriage.   

Your Integrity and regard for God’s Word  is high

Your faith in God’s sustaining grace  is strong

And your trust in Christ and His promises is sure

What a blessed privilege it is for us, the next generations

 to be given such a heritage and precious faith

that we can now pass on  – through faith in Christ alone

by God’s grace alone! To the glory of God alone!

                         

                                                         Love, Marguerite

Relatives from Holland visit!

Dad's sister from Holland, Anneke and Marius, came to visit for Dad & Mom's  50th anniversary!

So nice to be able to spend time with them, show them around, 

  and have them at the celebration!

So interesting to hear from Dad's little sister her view of Dad's growing up years and family life in their household...

 our trail

Watching Christine conducting choir after church

Earlier that Sunday we got a big surprise!  

I stayed home to sleep and was awakened by Tia scratching at my door and then the phone ringing - only to hear a voice saying that cousin Arent was standing on your doorstep! What!? Opening the door, I couldn't mistake Reint's son - tho its been many years since we've seen him. Yes, you can see the family likeness.

He and Mabel, just "happened" to be driving by and decided to drop in!

When the others returned, they also got a pleasant shock :) 

4 originals Brinks

          Mabel, Marius, Arent, Anneke, Roel - the couples a little mixed up here...lol   

More of the Cottage Week

Here's some more photos of this special week in which the whole clan came together (Lizzi by Skype on her birthday :)) . Praise the Lord for the great weather and protection, fun & fellowship....

 

Our cuties! 

The babies are a month apart and a whole generation!

Heidi & Lydia,  Sharon & Nathan

the send off 

  

The ladies: Betty, Sharon, Christina, Rachel, and below Marguerite

 

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Some of our goofy, fun, great teens:  Maria & Sarah behind Esther & Josh  

and below 

Maria

.... emerging out of the hazy light...

Kenny, Timothy & Rachel

We're so grateful to be able to spend time together in such an ideal setting for relaxing, creating memories, strengthening friendships and family ties...