2012 Trip -- Washington 2 -- Babies 'n Things

At the request of my dear sister-in-law...

Isn't this little gal adorable?

The toll bridge.. we paid $5 to cross.

My cousin Kyla. She reminds me of a beautiful fairy or elf.

I can never tell these two apart... so I'm not even going to guess which one is Abigail ....

.... or which one is Isabelle. But they are gorgeous and smart and kind!

Grandma had a spider on her corn plants.

My grandma Caroline and Aunt Gail.

On the other side of the family... Uncle Chet was making my cousin Lucas laugh.

Lucas.

Ava and Lucas.

Ava and Lily.

Eli and Grandma Pat. They are having so much fun!

Steven lost his car. He was so upset about that and never stopped talking about it all evening. Even while were eating chocolate cake.

March 25th -- what's on your feet

My favorite socks!

I am ridiculously picky about my socks. When I was a little girl, I gave my Grandma Holter a very hard time about putting my shoes on because my socks weren't exactly lined up against my toes. I forced her to put my shoes on three times before I deemed it was acceptable. Looking back, I wonder how a three year old child held such power. Haha!!

However, all joking aside: if my socks don't fit right, my feet hurt. Weird, eh?

March 9th -- Music

My Grandma doesn't play the piano. My Mom doesn't play the piano. You may wonder where the music genes in all of us Holter siblings come from. Lol. Because some of us don't just play music; it is a passion that fills us.

 However, those genes may have simply skipped a couple generations. My Great-Grandma Dorothy Margaret Chenoweth Vandermolen played the organ. I remember visiting their house and seeing the organ sitting in their living room. I always wished I could have heard her play. Grandma Pat had told me stories about it.

 After Grandma Van passed away, her sheet music was given to family. Her daughter, my Grandma Pat, has many of her books and sheet music and, in turn, she gave some of them to me. 

When I began to play the piano, this piece of music became my goal to play. Because of that, it became one of the first pieces I played with both hands. :-) And after playing it many times, I still think it is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard.

I sometimes wonder if Grandma Van found the treasure in it as well.

Music runs in my blood.

Grandma Irene

Last January, Jesse took me to visit his Grandma. My first impression of her was the quiet voice... wrinkles... blue veined hands...  many years lived. She was 95 years old and very frail looking. Her husband of many decades had passed away several months before, leaving her a widow. I felt it must have been hard being alone for the first time in so many years. But as each person greeted her, she looked so very pleased and happy to see us. When Jesse introduced me as his girlfriend, Irene looked up at me kindly and smiled. Then she gave me a hug as she welcomed me.

It was a delight that her fragility of body never extended to her mind. I listened to her infrequent comments to Paul and the others... each word was purposed; she never spoke sharply or out of turn. In fact, watching the others react to her, and to each other, in her presence, I began to see where my boyfriend's gentle, loving nature had stemmed from. "Ma" was queen of her home and her law was kindness; everyone felt it and everyone obeyed it.

The visit lasted a couple hours, then we donned on our heavy winter coats and shoes and got ready take our leave. Irene bade each of us farewell: as she stood by her door with her walker, she grasped my hand and pulled me to her. She gave me another hug and looked into my eyes. She asked very quietly, "Are you happy?" 

The concern and .... love? ... for me caught me by surprise.. This woman had just met me and she knew only a little bit about me. But I know now that she had been observing me all evening, trying get an idea of what kind of a girl her grandson had chosen to be his girlfriend. And her only question? "Are you happy?" 

It was that way the entire time I knew Irene. She was always kind, always thoughtful. My only wish is that I could have known her a little better. 

January 26th, 2012: Jesse woke me up saying that he had just gotten a phone call. Grandma was not doing well. As soon as I out of bed and dressed, we picked up Jesse's dad from the shop and headed down to Oxbow. As soon as I walked into the room, I felt the vibrancy of her spirit... missing. She lay there, a tiny form on the bed, her raspy breathing filling the room, eyes closed to the world. I don't know how much she was aware of as her three sons and loved ones sat around her. I don't know if she could hear our voices or see us when she half opened her eyes. I think she could sense the love that flowed from us all towards her. I hope she took comfort in it. 

When she passed away, late Saturday evening, there was mourning. We all felt a sense of loss and finality. But there also was a feeling of gratefulness that she was no longer suffering. The woman who loved is experiencing the great mystery of eternal life... eternal existence. We don't know exactly what she is knowing... living... having... right now. But we do know that the world was brightened by Irene Twietmeyer in those 96 years that she walked the earth. 

Thank you, Irene. 

update... photos

We're back home again. Had a lovely visit with my grandparents and other relatives... I couldn't get over how lovely Washington is in the summer. So green, so lush, so bright.

The singing was a success. PTL! We were worried up until it was time for the performance but when it was time, it went very well indeed.

And, last but certainly not least, we were able to stop in at our friends in Lethbridge and visit them. It's such a blessing to see and talk with close friends. God has been very good to me.

When we got home, I opened another envelope from the package that my friend sent me for my birthday... and found this poem. If you can take the time, will you tell what your thoughts are about this poem? I especially like 2nd, 3rd and 4th stanzas.

God Knows Best

Our Father knows what's best for us,

So why should we complain...

We always want the sunshine,

But He knows there must be rain.

We love the sound of laughter

And the merriment of cheer;

But our hearts would lose their tenderness

If we never shed a tear.

Our Father tests us often

With suffering and with sorrow;

He tests us, not to punish us,

But to help us meet tomorrow.

For growing trees are strengthened

When they withstand the storm;

And the sharp cut of the chisel

Gives the marble grace and form.

God never hurts us needlessly,

And He never wastes our pain;

For every loss He sends to us

Is followed by rich gain.

And when we count the blessings

That God has so freely sent;

We will find no cause for murmuring

And no time to lament.

For Our Father loves His children,

And to Him all things are plain;

So He never sends us pleasure

When the soul's deep need is pain.

So whenever we are troubled,

And when everything goes wrong,

It is just God working in us

To make our spirits strong.

--Helen Steiner Rice

Well, we are almost to our water supplier and internet provider ;-) so I should get this ready to post. :-) God bless you, my readers... and bring you to a more clear understanding of God and his goodness.

In Washington! :-)

I'm in the van with my mother, sisters and dearly beloved grandmother. :-) It's a pleasant morning in western Washington, with the sun filtering down through the trees, a slight breeze making the leaves tremble with joy. We're on our way to town to pick up ingredients for making homemade icecream for the anniversary party. And Grandma is talking about making salmon for dinner. :-) So, it's a happy time at the moment.

I was wondering if you all could pray for us? We are scheduled to sing at the party but a number of us are battling colds. (Surprise! :-P) As the head of the group, I'm feeling a little stressed. I know that it will all work out for the best in the end, but I need patience and wisdom as I make decisions that will be pleasing to the Lord. It will be fun to see everyone again and a little nerve wracking singing for them. LOL! A lot of these people have known us since we were babies. ;-) Lovingly, of course. Hehe.

The trip went fairly well. The first day, Ruth got car sick.... she didn't warn anyone so it went on her pillow and Hannah's sleeve (who was seated next to her). Ruth hadn't been feeling well all day, so it wasn't a big surprise. Needless to say, we were so very glad to arrive in MT that night! 17 hours on the road that day and over 11 yesterday. That's a lot of hours on the road. We were doubly glad to finally see our grandparents again. :-)

Happy Canada Day!! :-)

Prayer request

My Grandma recently emailed our family to tell us that she's scheduled for knee surgery on Dec. 8th... For years she's had pain but the dr. told her that it was only arthritis... but now they have discovered that she has torn the meniscus in her right knee.
It's not a serious injury but any surgery can be risky. Combined with this is that Grandma has had some very serious health issues the past year. Would you please join us in prayer for her safety/health?
Thank you!