In Memory of Dianne

We have a funeral in our church family this week.  Dianne Paton, a dear sister in Christ, was taken to heaven suddenly last week.  As we heard in a message this weekend, there might be tears here on earth, but there is rejoicing in heaven.  God decided that her work here was done and it was time for her to be with Him. 

Dianne lived just around the corner from us, so we had the pleasure of getting to know her a little better in the past few years.  Some of us also went over from time to time to help with the leaves or the snow.  We have found it to be such a pleasure that God has given us opportunities to touch lives right here in our neighbourhood. (It's awesome!)

Well, it is very striking to drive past Dianne's house now and see her car sitting in the driveway.  For us as a family, it has given us opportunies once again to think and talk about the realities of life and death.  To consider eternal realities and especially in this world of "things", to see the reminder that Dianne's "things" are sitting there and she is no longer here.  This world, our lives, are not about things.  It's not about stuff.  It's not about our home, our cars, our gadgets, our clothes, our toys, our portfolio, or our books.  You and I were created and put on this earth for one purpose, and one purpose only.  For God. 

Christians mourn.  We still shed tears and we will still miss her.  The glorious reality is that though we might still mourn, we don't mourn as those who have no hope.  We can rejoice and praise God in days like this, because of Christ's work on the cross.  We have a Saviour and a Friend up above who desires that we be with Him where He is. Dianne is experiencing that reality right now.  What a Saviour we have!

I have one daffodil in my garden and it looks pretty isolated out there.  In honour of our friend Dianne, I have captured a picture of that solitary daffodil and posted it here  along with the words of a simple little song that captures my thoughts these days.

I am praying that even though the hurt is still fresh for those who were close to Dianne, we might still be glorifying Jesus in our thoughts and actions.  I pray that we might experience the oil of joy in the place of our mourning and that our heaviness of heart will be replaced by a garment of praise!

"You give and take away. You give and take away.

My heart will choose to say...Lord blessed be your name!"

Dr. David P Murray ~ Easter Weekend

We were fed some wonderful messages at TBC this past weekend.
If you are interested in hearing them, visit the link below...It's great stuff!!!


http://www.sermonaudio.com/source_detail.asp?sourceid=tbc

Taylor's Blog

Taylor has some new posts...

http://taylorjoyphotography.blogspot.com/

Simple Lily Beauty

Woodpecker Visit

Did you notice you can see the two holes he pecked in the tree?  He was very cooperative for me today. I managed to get quite a few pictures before he took off.  He's beautiful!

Easter Weekend 2011

We are enjoying a relaxing Easter weekend.  We have a visiting pastor this weekend and we are being fed some wonderful messages focusing on Christ's work.
On Friday afternoon, we went up to Orillia for a little visit for Oma's birthday and we enjoyed a time of visiting and one of Oma's famous turkey dinners.
We spent Friday night at a Hampton Inn together with the kids.  They enjoyed the pool and I enjoyed watching them enjoy the pool.
Today Rick and I went for a wonderful spring walk by the lake.  I took my camera and captured a few pictures.  It has been a blessed weekend and I have been thankful for the time we could spend with family and in meditation on Christ's death and resurrection.  We have an awesome God!

Song of the Easter Lily

And Can It Be ~ Charles Wesley

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Redeemer Science Fair 2011

The Ninth Biennial Christian Schools Science Fair, held at Redeemer University College, came to completion this evening with a lovely awards ceremony.  (I really enjoy the atmosphere at this Science Fair.)
Six students with five projects represented Trinity Christian School, and they made us proud once again.  TCS was going into this Science Fair as defending champions, so to speak.  Two years ago, when Amber was in grade eight, TCS brought home the first place trophy.  (No pressure, though...)
Trinity came away with a few awards tonight.  Braden VanDyk received a special award for his project's Christian perspective, Taylor received 1st Honourable Mention for her project in the Life Sciences category, Karli and Alex VanderLaan received the Dean's Award, and overall, Trinity received the 3rd Place trophy and a wonderful little cash prize!  Besides those awards mentioned, many students also received ribbons for reaching a certain standard or score.  Special thanks goes to Mrs. Vanderwoerd for her godly example, inspiring teaching, leadership, enthusiasm, and love of science and the students.
I hope it was a great experience for the students.  I think they learn great life lessons at events like this and it is my hope and prayer that God will receive the glory for their gifts and talents and that they will thank Him for the opportunities they have had to explore and learn more of God's amazing creation. 
The evening ended with everyone singing "All Creatures of Our God and King".  We raised our Alleluias to God and we prayed that He might receive all the glory.
And now, to be perfectly honest, I think we are a little tired of the science fair thing and we are ready to put all that stuff away...

Eye Spy 2011

First Eye-spy of the new year.  We hear him (or maybe her, I don't know)...but we rarely get to see him.  The loud pecking even wakes us up some mornings.  Gotta love the woodpecker!

We also enjoy the noisy cardinals around here.  This one decided to eat a snack off the ground.  One of our annoying neighbourhood squirrels did a job on the feeder last week, and most of the seed ended up on the ground. The mourning doves appreciate the seeds on the ground, and apparently this red guy doesn't mind either.

Mooie Bloemen

Beautiful flowers from my man...means floral photo shoot time!



Taylor is 14!

Our Taylor girl turned 14 on Monday.  We celebrated earlier when we visited Orillia, and we celebrated on Sunday when Grandpa and Grandma came over, and we celebrated again on Monday when it actually was her birthday.  What can I say...we love to party! 

I can remember the day Taylor was born, and I can remember wandering the halls in the wee hours of the morning b/c she would not sleep and I was sharing a room with 3 other women with babies...it was a busy Good Friday, that March 28th...

Little Taylor was only content to stay close to mom and sleep snuggled up in my bed.  I don't think the nurses were too happy with her sleeping with me, but a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do.  Thankfully we went home in a day or two, cause I was t-i-r-e-d and I didn't sleep very well in a hospital, especially having to share the bed with a baby.

I thank the Lord for giving us Taylor and for blessing her with health and talents and a heart that desires to serve God.  We pray God will bless her with many more years and keep her close to Him.