Hello to all of you. We hope this letter finds you well. 2011 is coming to a close. It is still amazing how fast time flies. It is time again for the annual catching-up-with the Joldersmas.
Martin is well and was busy with work as always. A lot of concrete got poured in southern Ontario. Our monthly concrete bill is often more than we paid for our first house. There are a number of household projects I have waiting for him during the cold winter days. I was thinking how badly we need to replace carpeting upstairs and a little disappointed that it had not stood up very well and then I realized that it was over 20 years old. Lots to do but Martin also deserves some 'down time' and we look forward to some lazy days this winter. Last March in Connecticut Martin got the chance to play a Casavant organ and it renewed his passion for playing. Our organ was on the fritz so Martin searched the internet (yes he did) and found a Conn organ that he very much enjoys playing. We got a new (to us) vehicle this summer. We picked a silver Honda CRV.
Last December 21 (the day before her birthday) Shirley and Jeff had a baby girl named Isabel (9 pounds 2 oz) She is so different from Alexander – he is cautious and she is daring – he first walked at 1 ½ years and she started at 10 months.
When Alexander sleeps over we enjoy it a lot. It is also fun to see him pitch a fit when it is time to go home because our children used to stand at the door begging my mother not to leave. The circle of life.
This fall was particularly busy because I spend a lot of time with Anne and Ken's twins. Ethan John Martin (5 pounds 12 oz) and Moriah Catherine Anne (4 pounds 9 oz) were born 5 weeks early by a last minute c-section on September 16.
They were in the hospital for three weeks getting their feeding sorted out. Both of them are over 10 pounds now and doing well. After so many years of waiting these two children are truly blessings. I love to be over there spending time with them.
I am well as well. I turned 50 in October have no real complaints. A touch of insomnia now and then but, all in all, the old girl is doing ok. I have stayed busy with various things and I never feel bored. We ran two sessions of Home with a Heart – one in the spring and one in the fall – I always enjoy that work immensely. I lead a women's bible study on Wednesday mornings and am on the outreach team at church. I so enjoy it when I can spend time working on the photo albums or jigsaw puzzling. I try to do some writing but the best I seem to be able to do is to blog – and I am sporadic at best. It was fun to reconnect with some gals from my old writing class days.
Over thirty years ago Martin used to leave his Rymal Road East home and go down Upper Ottawa to pick up a cute girl (me, if you were wondering) and now his son Henry makes the same trip from his Rymal Road East home down Upper Ottawa to pick up a girl named Brittany. She is a nice girl and I knew Henry liked her when he cleaned up his room before she came over. Henry still works for John's Concrete Forming and enjoys the work. His vehicle was stolen and ruined at the end of 2010 but he likes the replacement he has. He is still involved with his band.
Andrew is finishing up a year long co-op at Westcam and he likes it there very much. In January he will be back at Mohawk College for a last semester.
He still plays bass for the praise team at church and also does some of the singing. One highlight this year was when Christian songwriter Robin Mark surprised our congregation by stopping in during a service and playing some songs with the praise team. It had been planned ahead of time but we had to keep it a secret. Andrew was playing bass and Anne was on the piano. What excitement that was. The picture is of the pre-service sound check. Andrew played ultimate frisbee on two teams this summer and he loves the game.
As for getting out and about...We went down, with my parents and Arlene and Henry, to my cousin Ron and Michele's in Connecticut this past March for the memorial service of my Tante Paula. Despite the occasion it was good to connect with family again.
Martin and I were so happy to go up to the Soo in May for my cousin George's son Jeffrey's wedding to Laura. Jeffrey stayed with us a couple of years back and we just love those guys and treasure any time that we get to spend with them. I even got up and sang at the reception. Hard to believe, I know, but I did. It was apparently memorable.
We visited an organ museum in Michigan this summer and got up to the Boven cottage.
We also enjoyed time with the relatives at the Joldersma Cousin's Day at Martin and Jenny's. Again, wonderful people we love to spend time with.
We pray that you feel blessed in your life. Keep in touch.
For Martin, Henry and Andrew
Anita Joldersma anita@eleveld.org
