Hi guys! Today is New Year's Eve and we just survived a toboganning adventure! Now we are making partzilke. We are hanging out and enjoying the day. We'll go to Grace and Joseph's a bit, then see some Christmas lights, then eat a late supper - tacos and refried beans! We love you all. - Brenda for all of us

Merry Christmas Family! (Dwayne how did you get the letters RED?)

Well, it is a beautiful Dec. 26 today! Al and I went for a long walk in our neighborhood. The sun is shining brilliantly and the temps must be close to zero. We went to check out the outdoor rink at the end of our street, on Ness Ave. On New Year's Eve, we are all going to go skating and maybe play some hockey with our newly equipped hockey goalie, Muki! Mom and dad and Patsy and Scott and kids are coming over. We'll make "partzilke" and skate and then have a mexican supper and who knows what, to welcome in the New Year.

Teresa and Markus, mom tried your phone number and it didn't work. How is your holiday going? I'm sure it's nice to get away and see new things.

Dwayne & Shannon, we're so glad your mom and Kathy finally arrived, bags and all! Poor Kathy! Enjoy the beautiful Gramado and the warm weather! How's Jasper's black eye? All better?

We went to Al's mom's Dec. 24, visited with his 92 year old uncle Diedrich Dyck and his cousin John. Then later also his Aunt Anne, and we went to see his "Tante Zus and Tante Nite." They were appreciative that we stopped in. Dec. 25 we had our own little Christmas here and then went to mom and dad's for lunch with Joseph and Grace. Poor Grace was really sick with a cold and flu which Al and I are just getting over. Then we went to Danny and Irene's for supper (who needs to eat any more!!!!) and a movie. They are enjoying their sweet new little baby girl, Brandy.

Now we are both on holidays for two weeks. I plan to do some scrapbooking and reading. I am still working on the album of our dating year. Then I'd like to make a wedding album with maybe 20 of our favourite pics enlarged? Not quite sure yet...It's just nice to have some time to ourselves.

We wish you the hope and joy that Christ brings. He is good all the time. He is the Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.

Love, Brenda

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!!

We hope you are all having a great Christmas, wherever you are. Every one has made it here, after some delays and as of this afternoon, all of our bags got here, too. We are walking down town tonight to look at the lights then returning to open one of our presents. The rest we'll open tomorrow morning.

Thanks for the treats mom, they were great!

Again, Merry Christmas to you all,

D&S

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JADEN! I hope you have a great day! I guess your grandma is coming soon! You will have a lot of fun I'm sure. Don't eat too much birthday cake! I heard you're eating more and more. You're probably getting quite tall. We love you Jado!

Brenda

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSI! Wow! It is exactly one year ago since we were all in Brazil and so much has changed since then. But I remember so well the anticipation of the baby and it is a happy memory thinking back to hearing the good news, and hearing how Scott surprised Teresa and Markus by taking them to the hospital to see the baby! Then when we came we got to see this precious little baby. And Shannon, you were such a trooper going out to the sitio with us after delivering a baby only days earlier. I'll never forget that. Give Jessi a big hug for me.

We are praying for you Dwayne and Shannon and Scott and Patsy as this crossroad time for you guys. God has a plan and we trust He will show it to you clearly. It may be different than you had thought it would look. He loves you and has the best in mind for you.

I'm at school right now, so I've gotta go have lunch now. It'll keep me going this afternoon! The kids are very hyper, afterall, only 5 days till Christmas!

Love,

Brenda

Hey everyone,

Just a very quick note, I need to get on my way to the bus station to go to my P class. But...

Tres, I checked out the website and had a few good laughs. I didn't get through it all, but I will go back another time.

Patsy, I guess if you talked to Scott he must have made it through, so that's good. We look forward to hearing his adventure stories. Give us a call when he gets back and before you go meet Jack.

Brenda, Thanks again for the work your class did to help us out and also for the gifts.

We had a wonderful time at the sitio this passt weekend. Got some flowers planted and leaves raked up. I will go back today to finish planting and bring a couple of supplies out for when we go at Christmas.

Tomorrow we are going to Caxias to do the, what we believe, is the last step in te process of getting our permenant visas. We got a letter that said we just need to bring in the proof that Jessi was born in Brazil and they would be happy to give us aour visas.

Only 8 more days till Gwen and Cathy get here. We are really looking forward to having them. This year feels abit more like Christmas. Decorations in our house, no pregnancy and birth in the middle of it make a world of difference.

Well gotta go,

Dwayne

I forgot to mention that Niklaas is doing exams this week. Wednesday morning it's a grade nine algebra exam, in the afternoon its science. thursday and friday are history and english (i'm not sure which is on which day).

Teresa

Hey, Tres, thanks for the website, we'll check it out. Just want the family to know that Scott is out of the water and on his way back to Ontario. He will be arriving on Friday here in Winnipeg. We were so glad to hear his voice again. I'll let him write(which he never has done!) to you and tell you all of his wacky experiences.

Patsy

Scott, why are hemorrhoids called "hemorrhoids" instead of "asteroids"?

I was checking Christian comedians for Emily for Christmas and found www.rickandmick.com/funnies , if you need a gut splitting laugh, check them out.

Delanie called last night so things are falling into place for us to stay at her flat Dec 28 - Jan 2. She lives a 2 minute walk from Hyde Park and walking distance to Buckingham Palace. Enily is doing a book report on Princess Di so she's excited about seeing things in London.

Teresa

Hey family,

Jasper wants to say a big thank you for all the blogs, e-cards and birthday blessings. She had a lot of fun at her party and so did everyone else.

We got the girls' ears pierced for their birthdays. There was a few tears shed but after all was done they are quite proud of their new jewelery. Jessi's ears were so thick and dense that the earing bent in her ear and the lady had to take it out and straighten it with some sort of pliers. She had pain but quickly recovered. Jasper was more ticked off and said to the lady after the first one"You don't do that!" with a very disgusted look on her face. Funny but understandable!
Will try to get a better picture of Jasper for you to see her's as well. Lidi is happy that people are now calling Jessi a pretty little girl and not a cute little boy!


Kathy got her visa on Monday so she is relieved and excited. She was one of my bridesmaids and has been a great support for me for many years even though she isn't a christian. She has been searching for a long time and is wanting more for her life. Her biggest block has been the hook to New Age which is so out there in society, T.V. etc and is quite luring. Just pray that we can continue to be a witness to her and that she will see clearly that Jesus is the true saviour.

Have a great day!
Shannon

Hi all,

Tomorrow sammy moves to New Zealand. he has lived here for 9 years and has been one of Niklaas' friends since we first arrived. They started out being they only two boys in the class. His dad is taking over AIA in New Zealand (which is where he's from). Niklaas has been near tears all day - please pray for him.

I got an email form Sam Kraines - remember her? She is pregnant and making some great choices. She has felt God tugging at her heart for the past year, has moved home to learn about parenting, has kept her job and done great for a year, has been drug/smoke/alcohol free for over a year. She's due in May adn desires for her child to be raised in the church. I'm thrilled!!

Teresa

Happy Birthday Jasper! I sure wish I could give you a big HUG! You are very special! I hope you have a fun day with your family and friends!

As for our family, Al is at the gym as I speak. I finished parent-teacher interviews today and it went well, but I am exhausted. I took a little rest. I felt incredible anxiety before these interviews. Some anxiety is normal, but this was irrational. It's still a remnant of fear or anxiety attack as I've experienced in the past. This was minor compared to those, but I want to get to the bottom of it. I have been going through "attachment" growth with Al, meaning that it takes me longer to attach - emotionally expecially. I don't know if this makes sense, but pray for me in these areas.

Tonight the Chrsitmas events begin. We have a dinner theatre at church tonight, Charles Dickens "The Christmas Carol." It is being performed by the same group that our cousin Don was acting in - in the passion play. So, I wonder if he will be part of it tonight. I am very excited as our neighbors Gwen and Roger are coming with us! They live across from Paul and Lisa. They have three kids. He is a cop and works with Conrad Lescheid!

Then tomorrow we are prepping all day for our Christmas party at our house. We are making a turkey dinner, meatballs and rice for 17 people! It will be pretty full at our place. Married and single friends, hoping to introduce some of our single friends to new singles! Wink! Wink! Audrey Loewen is coming (Lori's sister!) and Syl and her husband Jonathon, to name a few. Should be fun!

Nice talking to you!

Love, Brenda

Happy Birthday to Ja(s)per!! Or is it Jasper already? We hope you are having a happy day celebrating your birthday. We will miss seeing you this Christmas, but I know you will have a great time with your grandma and "auntie".

My child phsycologist friend helped me see that this thing with Emily started while Dd was here. Like me, Emily needs to be having fun and laugh, and of course we didn't have much of that while Dd was here. I felt emotionally torn apart, but as an adult I can figure how to ut myself back together again. Emily probably felt the same way but doesn't know yet how to put herself together again. We are now in the process of helping her do this. It doesn't help that her teacher is very like Dd - negative and bitter. Please keep praying for her. We are seeing her happy more than not these days. Please keep praying for us - I'm completely exhausted of this being on gaurd every minute I'm with her. But if it helps, I'm willing to do it.

We got our first Christmas card today - December 01. Tomorrow we get our tree and then on first advent we decorate it.

Teresa

Happy Birthday to Ja(s)per!! Or is it Jasper already? We hope you are having a happy day celebrating your birthday. We will miss seeing you this Christmas, but I know you will have a great time with your grandma and "auntie".

My child phsycologist friend helped me see that this thing with Emily started while Dd was here. Like me, Emily needs to be having fun and laugh, and of course we didn't have much of that while Dd was here. I felt emotionally torn apart, but as an adult I can figure how to ut myself back together again. Emily probably felt the same way but doesn't know yet how to put herself together again. We are now in the process of helping her do this. It doesn't help that her teacher is very like Dd - negative and bitter. Please keep praying for her. We are seeing her happy more than not these days. Please keep praying for us - I'm completely exhausted of this being on gaurd every minute I'm with her. But if it helps, I'm willing to do it.

We got our first Christmas card today - December 01. Tomorrow we get our tree and then on first advent we decorate it.

Teresa