new years newsletter

I did get a newsletter done finally and it goes in the mail today.
I will post it here as well. It goes as follows....

Dear Loved Ones

This year I did not get around to writing my annual Joldersma Christmas Newsletter in time for it to be delivered safely into the mailboxes of you - our family and friends - in time for Christmas. So, since procrastination reigned in the newsletter department, I will endeavour to correct that with this missive. I thought I could call it my New Years Newsletter. Just when are we supposed to stop calling it the 'new year' anyway? Either way, I hope to get this to you before it is the old year...

2012 was a busy year for us. Lots of good stuff, some difficult stuff - but we feel very blessed to have our family and dear friends who are on our hearts and in our prayers.

Christmas was very different for us this year. We did not meet for the Eleveld Christmas dinner with extended family, as it had been decided that none of our homes was going to be big enough anymore to hold all of us. My parents went to BC and then the cold/and or/flu started going around and so we were not all together for Christmas Day. Our children did gather for New Years Day and Chinese food as we've done for the past few years. Everyone was there except Henry's girlfriend Brittany, who had finally caught the bug after hanging around all of us germy people. Here we is...

I had brought out the 2012 photo albums for the kids to look at during Christmas and there were 5 albums – granted they are not huge binders – but there are five of them to help to memorialize 2012 for us. We look forward to seeing where God will lead us in 2013.

Both Laura and Andrew finished school (Laura got her degree – with honours from Mac and Andrew finished an engineering course at Mohawk College) so we were finally done with schools – then in September Shirley and Jeff's Alexander started Junior Kindergarten.

Martin has been busy at work – between his sciatica and a bout with bronchitis this summer and then having a root canal this past month he has dealt with his share of pain. He very much enjoys the time he gets to spend playing on the organ. He bought another one in July and likes to play his favourite song and learn some new ones.

Martin and I were able to go up north to the Hotchkiss Family Reunion. We stayed at George and Susan's and had a splendid time. We made lots of memories: Singing to strangers at the truck stop restaurant, a bag pipe kitchen party, church at Pinehill, visiting Jeffrey and Laura's place, me losing epically at chicken-toe-dominoes, me getting picked on by George. Fun : )

We were also able to spend some time this August at the Boven cottage with friends where Martin took a canoe trip that will not be soon forgotten.

Martin's Mom entered St. Joes Hospital in March and remained there waiting for a long term care placement until she passed away in September. Afterwards we realized how much the family gatherings, condolences and conversations were comforting to us.

I ran two sessions of Home with a Heart - one started in March and another in September. It was the first year of our Operation Manna funding and it is such a wonderful privilege to work with Leida and Christina. One of the highlights was when our class was able to cater a luncheon for 70 people. The participants were even able earn some money. I also presented a Service Site about the program at a conference. I can't say enough about the satisfaction that I get from doing this program.

I lead a women's bible study group at church that was particularly meaningful for me.

My brother Jeff and I were able to go to Niagara Falls to see Carol Burnett perform and I got to ask the 2nd last question of her Q&A and got her autograph : )

Martin and I attended some birthday wing-dings in 2012 – Tante Truus's 90th, our friend Tena's 50th and also my Dad's 80th - which was a 3 day event that brought wonderful out-of-town guests including my brother Doug and his family to help us celebrate. I was also able to convince Miss Vanderlingendingenkliengroetehoekabroekastrasmaveld to make an appearance at the dinner.

While I do not consider myself a particularly great hostess, we were very happy to have extended family over after my cousin (once removed) Danielle's wedding to Tim in October and we were asked to host the Joldersma Cousin's Day which is a gathering which we both enjoy immensely. And then there was Ethan and Moriah's first birthday party in September. They have grown so much. My week usually includes babysitting them a couple times.

Anne and Andrew were part of a concert in early December which I missed because I was sick. Thankfully Laura captured some of it on video so I could still 'see' it.

Laundry and blogging, dishes and crocheting,

Puzzles of the jigsaw and sudoku kind.

Reading and bejewelling and Big Bang watching

Have all kept me plenty busy I find.

That is it for now. Stay in touch. God bless and keep you in His care.

(Martin and) Anita Joldersma