WEEK 39 ~ SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2016

Kim and I thoroughly enjoyed our time away at the Revive Our Hearts conference...it was wonderful to be reminded of God's faithfulness and our task to pray...pray without ceasing. It was nice to meet up with some friends and family there, even enjoying lunch from food truck row. It was a delight to meet our new american friend, Nancy from the Moody Bible Institutebooth...we felt a little like canadian celebrities, eh Kim? Thankful for our time of rest, relaxation and refreshment.

When we got home, Mark had yummy made-from-scratch potato bacon soup ready for us to eat. I was glad to see everyone and I think they were happy too. I was so excited to share the different Christmas ornaments I brought home...especially Carsten who received a personalized ornament!

Alex and Carsten were away at their school retreat while I was gone...they had a great time and are looking forward to next year already. 

I was super excited to put up some fall decorations that I got while I was away...it's the first time really decorating for any season and why not start with the best one? 

 

While Kim and I were away, we were shocked and saddened by the sudden death of a teen in our community. The Hiemstra's posted a couple times on their Clovermead Adventure Farm page...

Our youngest son Jordan has died tragically overnight, as parents we are filled with unbelievable grief and pain. Our staff will open and operate the farm today, but the Pumpkin Festival Events and Beestro food service will be closed. Thank you for your understanding.

Our hearts are broken and our dreams of our youngest son’s future and opportunities have been crushed Friday night. Our Jordan, has tragically ended his life here on earth. He struggled with the deep pain of depression, and was seeking medical and counseling help with the support of our family and two close friends. He wanted to keep it private, and yet in the end he made it so public. We grieve intensely as family but yet we have hope in a better place, like Jordan did. He led our family in prayer at supper, and said "goodnight I love you", but something in his mind made him say and believe that he was too weak and that the internal battle against himself, wouldn’t get better. We covet your prayers for all persons involved, for his close friends and the people that he positively impacted in his short life of 17 years.

Our thoughts and prayers continually found there way back to the Hiemstra family and friends as they prepared to lay Jordan to rest. 

Hiemstra, Jordan Christopher of R.R.4, Aylmer passed away in Aylmer on Friday, September 23, 2016. Jordan was 17 and a student at London District Christian Secondary School. Loving son of Chris and Christy Hiemstra and brother of Justin and Caitlyn. Dear grandson of Adam and Anna Bergsma, Henry and Ann Hiemstra and nephew of Lori Ponsen(Ben), Allan Bergsma(Julia), Ken Bergsma, Barb Vandenbrink(Henry), Terry Hiemstra(Frieda) and Wendy Dieleman(Sam). Born in Leamington, Ontario on July 19, 1999. Visitation at the Aylmer Christian Reformed Church(Caverly Road at South St. W.) on Monday 2-4 and 6:30-9 p.m. where the funeral service will be held at the church on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at 11:00 am. Interment Aylmer Cemetery. Donations to the Aylmer Christian Reformed Church would be appreciated.

Thank you Chris and Christy for selflessly sharing the pain you are suffering in the hope of helping others who may be struggling with mental illness. Your words were both beautiful and inspirational, but it breaks our hearts that you are having to walk this path. Thank you for sharing the wonderful hope in Jesus Christ that He offers to all. May God uphold you and your family, granting you peace beyond all understanding as you journey forward. 

I fell in love with this song this week, the tune and lyrics were soothing to my soul in light of all the events this week. 

The Lord is my Salvation

The grace of God has reached for me
And pulled me from the raging sea
And I am safe on this solid ground
The Lord is my salvation

I will not fear when darkness falls
His strength will help me scale these walls
I'll see the dawn of the rising sun
The Lord is my salvation

Who is like the Lord our God?
Strong to save faithful in love
My debt is paid, and the victory won
The Lord is my salvation

And when I reach my final day
He will not leave me in the grave
But I will rise He will call me home
The Lord is my salvation

Who is like the Lord our God?
Strong to save faithful in love
My debt is paid, and the victory won
The Lord is my salvation

Glory be to God the Father
Glory be to God the Son
Glory be to God the Spirit

The Lord is my salvation
The Lord is my salvation
The Lord is my salvation

Logan Update...He gets to go home

I love spending time with the kids watching hockey and was thankful for the time to enjoy a special game...Savannah, Carsten and I watched the World Cup of Hockey gold medal game and Canada became champions...Canada owns hockey.

WEEK 38 ~ SEPTEMBER 16-22, 2016

I just have to ask this...is there anyone else that has found one of their kid's gymbags (loaded with stuff) from the previous school year in September??? Apparently someone didn't quite finish that task at the end of school in June like she said she had. Let's just say there was an awful lot of trinkets and treasures that we found.

This was a hard week...I was getting over the flu and then Mark got it. After much debate, I went ahead and got my tooth pulled so that I would feel miserable all at once (thanks for the good advice Kim). I have crummy teeth but when you want to pull one out it just doesn't want to come...it took an hour and a half but I got to go home with my new partial...now I know what it was like for Carsten to get used to his retainer.

Savannah, Kim and I slipped out Saturday morning to Family Flowers Fall Festival...it was so neat to check everything out there...lots of gorgeous home decor in addition to the flowers. Thanks Joan from Here's 2 Ewe (https://www.facebook.com/Heres2Ewe/) for the new towels!

Feeling better, we thought we were in the clear and visited with Mark's Mom and took her to YPS singing in the lobby. I love how Olivia (and Sophia) wanted to sit with Grammy Pammy and the special relationship they have. So thankful for great staff to take care of those living at VV.

Unfortunately Carsten woke up that night and was the next one to get sick, followed by Alex (who wasn't going to get sick) on Monday. Savanah got it while I was away...thanks Mark for taking really good care of her!

Logan Update...

Well we almost made it 3 months without having to be hospitalized! As some may know, Logan's been sick with a stomach bug first, then a cold. He was doing so well at home and yesterday we thought he was on the mend, his numbers were all great, minimal use of bipap and no oxygen. Last night around 11, Logan started having some difficulty breathing, and while his oxygen and heart rate were still pretty good, he was working really hard to breathe. We brought him to London just after midnight and he's been admitted to PCCU with a partial left lung collapse. No pneumonia though! We're hopeful that with bipap use around the clock for now, the lung will expand again on its own. Despite all this, Logan's still pretty chipper and has been awake and chatting up the nurses and Drs all night. Please keep him in your prayers 😊

With Logan in the hospital, Kim was taking care of Andrew and Olivia and I think that "Mrs. Savannah" may have became a superhero to them ;) They loved the piano that Savannah passed on to them and their babies.

Tuesday was the day that Kim and I had been counting down for months...we were going to the Revive Our Hearts women's conference but making a fun pitstop along the way in Frankenmuth...a place neither of us had ever been. Our trip began and it was great to explore and forget about our usual tasks back home...we even enjoyed the ultimate pedicure. On the morning we left Frankenmuth, I found a cuckoo clock that I fell in love with for the low low sale price of $1554.00!?! After visiting the clock company, we were on our way to Indianapolis...making a few side shopping trips, namely to Hobby Lobby.

P.S. If you are wondering where all the pictures are of Kim and I...we didn't really want to be in all the pictures and since we had no kids to stand by the cool things we saw, we welcomed Buddy, our gnome onto our trip.

 

What a perfect way to start the best season of all...fall...