Our Family 2012

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End of the Year 2012...

We sent out Christmas wishes in the mail, by email or on facebook, with a guilty feeling for not enclosing a letter, but it just wasn’t easy for me to get started writing… and so I kept procrastinating. There were so many people I needed to write to, and slowly but surely I’ve been catching up. Some years I send a general letter and copy it to everyone, but this year that just didn’t seem right. Now I'll just post one on my blog... As you already know, this has been such an eventful year, with many sorrows as well as so many joys. Through it all, we may truly say that the Lord in His infinite Goodness has drawn us to Himself over and over again in sweet replenishing love and comforting peace. We’ve been blessed with good health and good prosperity in all things of a material nature. We were blessed with another precious granddaughter, (Jenita Grace, in March). None of our children or grandchildren have been stricken with illness or death and all have a sound mind and good health. We rejoiced with Andrew and Johanna as we saw them united in marriage. We were privileged to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary with all 5 of our children and their spouses. God has seen fit to take out of our family circle our dearly beloved father, who we still miss so much! The place that he had in our lives and hearts is a void that can never be filled, and yet we may rejoice also in this, that he has been relieved of all earthly care, and sorrow and pain have been forever removed for him. He may be restored in the fullness of joy that has been prepared for him by our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ. We cannot wish him back, but only look forward to sharing in that heavenly joy someday… Our hearts were also broken over the parting of ways with our dear pastor and his dear, dear wife, Joan. More than an entire year has sped by since Joan was with us, and it still doesn’t feel real that she will not be coming back. We have been able to truly believe that it was God’s plan and that His way is perfect, yet we miss them so much. We reflect back many times over the years gone by, and often are reminded of things we learned from the many sermons or discussions that have been so blessed for us. We have enjoyed the diversity of preaching we hear every Sunday, and are expectantly praying that God will send the right man to be our pastor. Last Sunday morning Terry Klaver preached a very touching sermon on : ” And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” Jeremiah 3:15. John and Sarah are doing well, and their three children are also doing good in school. We don’t see them often enough... John is very busy in construction with several employees and plenty of jobs going on, and Sarah loves her part time job at Ritchie Bros. Auction. They are excited to start planning the building of a new home, on their own property, so they will be living in an RV setting for a time, perhaps much like Brian and Anne-Marie last summer. Brian and Anne-Marie are still loving their home and are doing well. We are so thankful that Anne-Marie is doing much better, though we don’t like how she still limps badly when she walks. We were there on Monday evening to celebrate Charity’s 4th birthday, and were so proud to see how well the older children help make the household run so well. They make it a habit to stop by for a visit every Saturday, which we always look forward to. Brian and Richard are still working in partnership, with a few helpers. Jocelyn and Jacco are doing well too, we were so happy to be able to visit them in July even though it was only for 48 hours. Now that seems like it’s been years ago… and this grandma feels like it’s time to make another visit. However I will have to be patient since it likely won’t happen again until perhaps May or June. It was wonderful to see how they "re-bonded" with their siblings during those few days together in Ontario, and to experience the church fellowship of our sister churches in the east. It is very encouraging for us, as they now appreciate much more why we did what we did when we asked HRC to come to Chilliwack. Andrew and Johanna are also doing well, keeping very busy with their work. They both have set out on independently working at their new businesses, Andrew with Manny Rumbos at iSign Medio Corp., and Johanna with a friend, Jessica with a home based business called J & J Style. They hope to come visit us for 12 days in January, the Lord willing, and I'm really looking forward to that! Steve and Mary are in Ontario right now, visiting with Steve's family and they also spent an afternoon with Andrew and Johanna. Steve has started his own construction company a few months ago, and is enjoying the challenges of being his own boss, so far. He works with our nephew, Jonathan Lagemaat. Mary enjoys her work at Volume Carpets. Chris’s youngest sister in Alberta had a healthy baby boy last week, this is his parents 70th grandchild, and the 10th child for David and Jenny. So many blessings… We were able to celebrate Dad and Mom’s birthdays with a family get together at Tim and Renee’s home. My relatives in Alberta are also doing well, I spoke with my sister Gerie yesterday, just before she had to go back to the hospital. She was allowed to be home from Friday afternoon until Boxing Day and it went very well. She will be allowed to do that again every weekend. They send 2 nurses twice a day from Lethbridge to her home in Fort Macleod, to help her get washed and dressed. She can now stand with a walker and walk a few steps (bed to toilet, toilet to living room…) but still needs one person to support her on both sides so she doesn’t lose her balance. She has made so much progress, it is amazing. She doesn’t half realize how far gone she has been, and we can only pray that she too will come to know the God Who has upheld her all this time, in a more personal way, for her eternal gain. As for Chris and myself, all I can say is that God has been so good! We have dealt with disappointments this year, and with sorrow, and with hardships that most don’t know about, but we know that God is faithful and He has given us the quiet confidence that He will never put us to shame if we put our hope in Him. We have just recently experienced something quite devastating with our newest layer flock, but again here also we see that things are turning around and we are seeing remarkable production in spite of the losses we had to bear. But in comparison to that, it is nothing when we think of the trauma that the Stam family went through in the past week, and we are so amazed at the progress that Jordan Stam is making, then we can only rejoice in God’s goodness. At the same time we also mourn for the loss in my sister Gonda's family, her sister in law was killed in a traumatic accident a few days ago. It has been a very quiet week for us, our children have all spent Christmas with their own family. Sarah was not well for several days so she hunkered down and rested while John entertained the children with a wonderful pastime: reconstructing his Lego train set that had been in storage containers for many years. We have not been going to the morning services for a few weeks now because of the amount of eggs that have to be collected, but we’ve been listening to the broadcasts on sermonaudio. We thank God for this wonderful gift of technology. We would like to wish all who may read this, a most wonderful and blessed Happy New Year!

"My Heart Is Filled With Thankfulness" My heart is filled with thankfulness To Him who bore my pain; Who plumbed the depths of my disgrace And gave me life again; Who crushed my curse of sinfulness And clothed me in His light And wrote His law of righteousness With pow'r upon my heart. My heart is filled with thankfulness To Him who walks beside; Who floods my weaknesses with strength And causes fears to fly; Whose ev'ry promise is enough For ev'ry step I take, Sustaining me with arms of love And crowning me with grace. My heart is filled with thankfulness To him who reigns above, Whose wisdom is my perfect peace, Whose ev'ry thought is love. For ev'ry day I have on earth Is given by the King; So I will give my life, my all, To love and follow him. Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend Copyright © 2003 Thankyou Music .

Thanksgiving Memories

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Tribute to Andrew and Johanna on their Wedding Day ~ May 18, 2012

Born on Aug 24, 1988; the exact date he was due! His birth was not as normal as anticipated...he came into the world upside down! The stress of his birth created some anxiety when he didn't start breathing on his own, and his little blue body was whisked away for some special care by the doctors and nurses, but our God was gracious and Drew was soon welcomed by his overjoyed and thankful parents and family.

Drew was always an easy, happy baby, very content to sit and play for hours. His playpen became his favorite corner..... We would leave one side down and he would crawl in and amuse himself or just simply fall asleep!

Did I say crawl? Um yes... That's what he did, as a matter of fact that's all he did until he was 18 months old! Then he finally decided to try out his legs.

As a matter of fact he was into encyclopedias before he started walking... And as he grew up he used our encyclopedias as entertainment for hours at a time. Many a morning he'd be sitting in the hall outside our bedroom door with an encyclopedia open on his lap. And they were always with him in the bathroom, he'd read them every time he'd sit on the toilet!

Drew, I'd love to pass those books on to you, I just don't want to pay for shipping!

At 3 years old he showed some interest in our computer. His Dad bought him a game for the computer, which consisted of a floppy disk that had to be put into disk drive. Then it had to be prompted by several DOS commands, c:\, and then typing the name of the game. His dad bought the game the night before and Drew had only seen him start it one time. Next morning he asked his Mom to start up his new game, but Mom couldn't figure it out. She went  back to her vacuuming and when she turned around, he had figured it out all by himself, after seeing his Dad do it only once.

Well, as you can all see, Drew has grown up to be a fine young man, who we are very proud of! We have watched how God has directed his ambitions and desires in a way of service to the Lord. Drew, we appreciate your sincere desire to be walking as the Lord teaches us to do in His Word. We have seen your integrity and humility,  from the way you chose your friends, to your work ethics and the activities you chose to be engaged in. We are thankful for your love for the church, and the years you helped our home church by running the sound system and assisting in the sermonaudio distribution.

We knew that Drew was praying for a special girl to become his wife... He was not interested in just any girl. And in Gods remarkable providence that girl was the one and only Johanna de Haan! We do regret that this means your future life will most likely be spent in Ontario, and wish you could be much closer. But we know that the God you both love, is everywhere and He will never leave you or forsake you if you cleave to Him and commit your life in His Hands.

On this day our thoughts go back to April 5, the day that you were in Calgary and in Gods divine providence, you were able to visit Opa Slingerland on his deathbed... Your Opa was also praying for both of you and rejoicing in your future together, he rejoiced in God's choice for your wife, but he knew he would not physically be here.

We want to welcome Johanna into our family; thank you Johanna, for taking on this responsibility of becoming Drew's helpmeet! We're very happy that Drew probably won't have to eat Sidekicks 4 or 5 times a week anymore!

May God bless you both, and may you have many safe journeys to the West Coast! We love you!

Dad, Mom, and all your brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews of the Den Hertog clan!

 

May 2, 1957 - 2012: My 55th Birthday!

Yes, it's true! And although it's hard to believe, I have reached my 55th Birthday! We can only look back and say: Where have the years gone? Days, months, and years seem to fly by faster all the time. Yet we may say that God has been faithful and so GOOD for us... We are still able to enjoy good health and the ability to care for each other and the farm as well as many other things which we enjoy.
The day began with one of the worst jobs we have every year around my birthday: training young chickens to find their feed and water after moving them from the pullet barns into the lay barns where they will soon begin their work. It's a tough job that leaves me totally spent and exhausted. But we managed, and were able to do the rest of our work that day as well. During our morning coffee time we were able to Skype with Joyce and her girls, who sang Happy Birthday to me. In the afternoon Brian and Anne-Marie stopped in with their children, who also came to say good-bye as they were leaving on their cross-country trek the next morning.
I missed my Birthday call from my Dad...
The best part of the day was that we were hosting our prayer meeting that night. We had a small group but our discussions and the prayers were inspired by the Spirit of God which we felt was among us. I was brave and read a meditation that I had read a few days earlier from Spurgeon:

April 27, 2012 "Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope."Psalm 119:49

"Whatever your especial need may be, you may readily find some promise in the Bible suited to it. Are you faint and feeble because your way is rough and you are weary? Here is the promise--"He giveth power to the faint." When you read such a promise, take it back to the great Promiser, and ask him to fulfil his own word. Are you seeking after Christ, and thirsting for closer communion with him? This promise shines like a star upon you--"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." Take that promise to the throne continually; do not plead anything else, but go to God over and over again with this--"Lord, thou hast said it, do as thou hast said." Are you distressed because of sin, and burdened with the heavy load of your iniquities? Listen to these words--"I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions, and will no more remember thy sins." You have no merit of your own to plead why he should pardon you, but plead his written engagements and he will perform them. Are you afraid lest you should not be able to hold on to the end, lest, after having thought yourself a child of God, you should prove a castaway? If that is your state, take this word of grace to the throne and plead it: "The mountains may depart, and the hills may be removed, but the covenant of my love shall not depart from thee." If you have lost the sweet sense of the Saviour's presence, and are seeking him with a sorrowful heart, remember the promises: "Return unto me, and I will return unto you;" "For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee." Banquet your faith upon God's own word, and whatever your fears or wants, repair to the Bank of Faith with your Father's note of hand, saying, "Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope."

When I read this, it reminded me vividly of an incident that happened some 27 or 28 years ago... and I was able to share this with our prayer meeting group. It happened on a day during the time that I was

really struggling... I wanted to know that I could live my life in a way that would please God, but no matter what I did and how hard I tried I felt like I was falling deeper and deeper into despair and finding no peace or hope. Then my doorbell rang, and there stood Mr. and Mrs. A. Krul Sr. They had come to deliver an envelope from my parents, because they had visited them in Alberta. They were very observant, and asked if they could come in. So we sat at the kitchen table, and Mr. Krul managed to get me to open up and share what was burdening me. After giving me some encouragement they left, but later they came back to give me a photocopy of a portion of a sermon by Ralph Erskine: SERMON XXXIV "Faith's Plea Upon God's Word". To make the long story short, this incident was one of the moments that made it possible for me to finally see the LIGHT! It was part of a long line of happenings that changed my life forever. I have always remembered Mr. Krul as one of my mentors who led me through the desert of my life and taught me to find the answers to my struggles in the words of Scripture...
 

Romans 8:1-2

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

 

In Loving Memory of my dear father...

On April 7th, 2012, the Lord took Dad to be with Him in glory...

God saw you getting tired
and a cure was not to be
so he put his arms around you
and whispered,
"Come to Me"

With tearful eyes we watched you
and saw you pass away
and although we love you dearly
we could not make you stay.

A Golden heart stopped beating
hard working hands at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best.

 

As many of you know, my father became suddenly ill last week Thursday night (March 29, 2012) and it now appears he had suffered some strokes. He was cared for in hospital but we saw him decline and then rally again somewhat, so that after being there for almost a week and observing some hopeful signs of recognition, we decided to return home. Chris had come home on Tuesday already because it was so hard to tell how long he could live yet. On Wednesday afternoon Adam and Annie, Marty and Jess (with little Jonah) said their good byes to him, and he did respond in recognition, also when Marty read the Bible and prayed and spoke to him, he seemed to want to say something. Wednesday evening Andrew (our son from Ontario) came from Calgary, where he had been working for 3 days. Providentially he was able to get a ride with his cousin Caroline, so he was able to sit at Opa’s bedside and observe him, and say goodbye. Thursday morning I brought him back to the hospital at 6 am so he could have a few more moments with Opa, and then he returned to Calgary with his cousin again. I stayed there at his bedside and couldn’t bring myself to leave the entire day except to go down to the cafeteria for coffee or something to eat. He had been more awake for longer periods and he had longer moments where we knew he was recognizing us, so it was good to just sit with him. All the other brothers and sisters came and went as we had been keeping a 24 vigil at his bedside in 2 hour shifts, but it was starting to become routine to leave and expect to see him the next time… He was soundly sleeping during the evening but I knew the nurses would be coming in to reposition him as they had been doing every 2 hours or so. They came in at 10 pm and he did wake up. Three of my brothers were with me, and Wim said to my dad: “Judy wants to say goodbye because she’s going home to Chilliwack tomorrow.” He was looking directly at us, and then at me and he puckered his lips like he wanted a kiss… I kissed him and said goodbye… and thanked him for all his love, his prayers and guidance and told him I would miss his phone chats and letters… he was emotional too, though he had a hard time but we could tell by the way his lips quivered and his Adam’s apple was moving… after I left, he fell asleep and that was the last time that he showed any response or recognition to anybody. This morning my sister Jannie (from Holland) and my oldest niece, Meta, were with him and they noticed his color change, they called the nurse, and then he was gone already. He peacefully fell asleep… to wake up in eternal glory!

We have lost a praying father, and a Godly patriarch to our large family circle. It has been a wonderful week in the sense that so many of the grandchildren spoke of the place Opa had in their hearts and lives, and the saintly influence they will always appreciate having in their lives. Our loss will be his gain. We mourn but not as those without hope… “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” (an email I sent to several friends...)

We experienced peace and loving fellowship throughout the preparation for the funeral and burial. Of the 76 grandchildren, all but 9 were able to be at the funeral and at the reception that followed. Opa would have been so pleased to see the large gathering of his children and grandchildren together. The funeral service was done by Rev. Sonnevelt, who loved Dad dearly and he shared in many touching ways what he knew Opa would have wanted to say to them. God was with us as we celebrated the legacy of our Dad, who was a sinner saved by grace!  The funeral service can be heard here:

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=581205774

"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green!" Psalm 92:12-14