Remembering Grandpa Triemstra

Grandpa Triemstra passed away on Sunday morning. Although it was not completely unexpected, it was still difficult. We feel very blessed to have seen him and talked to him, one last time, on Friday. While we were there he told us about the book he was reading, asked how we were doing, and voiced his concerns about how Grandma was doing on her own. The last thing Grandpa said to us was "God bless you." We love you, and will miss you Grandpa. God bless you too!!

Christmas Preparations

Stevin told us where the Dutch store is in Barrie. We shouldn't have gone there... The dutch store is one store where it's hard to leave without spending a little money...

We found one game there that we couldn't say no to...

Here we are preparing for an epic 'Dutch Blitz' battle against Stevin and Katrina (who claim that they can beat with one hand drinking a can of coke)(or something like that).

We'll see what happens this year....

Assemblies Part Two (this is a rant)

I was able to attend yet another Christmas 'Carol Singing' Assembly yesterday at a different public school. This time I thought I'd pay really close attention to the assembly and what was being said. Here's what I got:
#1 - All I want for Christmas are my two front teeth
#2 - I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus (underneath the mistletoe of all places)
#3 - Walking in a Winter Wonderland (and they changed the lyrics from 'pretend that he is Parsons Brown' to 'pretend that he's a circus clown')(Honestly - WHY would you make a snowman into a CIRCUS CLOWN....)
#4 - We wish you a Merry Christmas (in another couple years - I'm sure they'll try to change the lyrics to Merry X-mas...)
#5 - Must be Santa ("must be santa, must be santa, must be santa claus....")(this was a new one for me)
#6 - Go Light Your World (warm sentimental song with a loving message of taking our candle out to the world)

There. Six songs about (?). I think we're tempted to say - well the spirit of the holidays is about love, and giving, and the historical santa claus became a saint because of what he did and who he believed in.
But I honestly don't believe that the children in that assembly walked away thinking "Yeah, Santa Claus was a bishop who gave presents because he believed in a baby named Jesus".
I think the little kids say to each other "what fun songs!" and the older kids walk away saying "How annoying that we sing those songs every year".

There was (some)(however small) consolation in this assembly. The librarian read a story.... Not just any story... "Santa's Favourite Story". A story about elves who go to Santa to ask what his favourite story is. Santa says that his favourite story is the Nativity story. And then the elves are happy because they now know Santa's favourite story. Conclusion - Santa's favourite story tells us about love and that the VERY BEST Christmas present of all - is Christmas itself.

I was happy with the story, and I'm not. And later talked to the librarian about it. She said she chose it because it had two "sides".
I said, "I see... are you a Christian then?" (because there ARE Christians in the public schools) and she said "no, I just believe."

Interesting?

I'm not happy with this story because it confirms what I believe is happening to Christmas - We're hiding the story of Jesus behind falsities. We're saying, "Yay! Christmas! Santa's Bringing Presents! Santa's Awesome! It's about Jesus. Yay for Santa!"

I realized this morning that I'm starting to have a favourite character in the Bible (other than Jesus). I'm identifying with Daniel. Perhaps this is because teaching in a public school asks that I keep a 'close check' on the things I'm allowed to say about Jesus Christ. In other words - Teach, don't Preach. I'll give 'props' to anyone who has the courage to Preach in a public school.

The sad thing is that the public schools are ALLOWED to talk about Jesus. They are fully permitted to TEACH the story of Christ Jesus. They are not allowed to PREACH the story of Jesus. But they ARE allowed to Teach it.
Sadly, They're not teaching it at all.

Christmas Assemblies

I have found that, of late, I cannot tolerate Santa Claus. Okay... that's a bit harsh. I still like Tim Allen as Santa Clause. And I still like the Grinch as Santa Claus. But overall, I'm quite fed up with the guy.
A thought has been creeping, ever so slowly into my head that perhaps we as Christians are too tolerant of Santa. And today, in a Christmas assembly (in a public school) that featured 'Christmas Carols' about Santa... I had enough. I didn't sing them. I only sang the two songs about Jesus. And that was it. It disgusts me that students know more songs about Santa coming to town, and down through the chimney, and not crying because they won't get presents, than they do about Christ our Saviour.
On the other hand. In a public school... they at least sang Away in a Manger (the first verse) and Silent Night (the first verse). Is that something?

Construction

The following is a very clear example of why we, David and I, should not construct anything....

This is a classic example of Geertsema Construction.... Dave kept wanting to build higher and higher!
Note the fallen tower and the cookie cutter holding the roof up! (I can't say anything because I was apparently helping....)













Final Product. Here we have Frosty being held up by Hershey Kisses.

















Here's Rudolph, he even has a red nose. It looks like there's some kind of elf riding him.....












There's so much icing holding this thing together it's ridiculous!

But we had lots of fun and a huge mess to clean up! That's what Christmas is all about, right?!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

No, I do not mean the snow! We've had that for far too long already! And now it's starting to get REALLY cold too! I'm still not sure how a place can get so much snow and not have had even one snow day! Apparently last year they had 3 before Christmas....well we've got two weeks left and I'll take them anyday!

Anyways, what I meant was: Our house is beginning to look a lot like Christmas! We've got some decorations up, the Christmas music blaring, and I've been watching every Christmas special I can on only our 2 channels! Here's what we've been up to:

Our tree....yes, it's fake!

We got a package from SinterKlaus! (Thanks Mom G!)

Garland around the window in the kitchen.

A nice real wreath for the door. (Thanks Mom V!)

Anyways, two more weeks until the first much needed break! We hope everyone is doing well and is enjoying their preparations for Christmas as much as we are!

Respect

After a recent one and a half week experiment in which I (attempted) to let my beard grow out - "To see if the students give me more respect."
Steph asked (foolishly)... "So if I grow a beard the kids would give me more respect?"
My reply -- "Oh... probably... a woman who grows a beard probably deserves a little respect."