AUNT MIDGE IS HOME IN HEAVEN!

Here we are - Andy, Paul and I - visiting Aunt Midge last August.
We had a short but wonderful visit with her and, as always, she was upbeat and happy.
Last Tuesday she went to heaven. She was the only sister of my mom and very special to us!
Margaret and Evelyne Leir (my mom) were born to Norwegian immigrants in Chicago.
Evie married a pastor, who pastored in Chicago and Minneapolis until our dad went to heaven in 1957. Margaret married a missionary and went off to Mongolia. There is an amazing UTube interview with her 73 years after she first went to Mongolia.
I have included the obituary because it is so nice.
Wish we could be with the family in Abbotsford, BC tomorrow!

GUNZEL, Margaret

On Tuesday morning (May 18th) Margaret Gunzel left this world weeks before her 100th birthday and entered into the presence of her wonderful Savior, the Lord Jesus----weakness and death here but joy up There. Born Margaret Ingrid Leir in Chicago to Norwegian parents, she soon gave her life to Christ, and served him wholeheartedly from that day forward. Her fiance (Stuart) left for Mongolia in 1933 and Mom then followed him 2 years later, celebrating their wedding day in Peking that November. Subsequent years of missionary ministry and passion saw them living in Mongolia, China, Hong Kong, Chicago, MooseJaw, and Regina (Saskatchewan), and for the past 34 years here in Abbotsford. Margaret was predeceased by Stuart (1995) and will now be deeply missed but joyfully remembered by her children: Carol of Abbotsford, David of New Mexico, Joy (Chuck) of Washington, Jim (Marion) of Victoria, and Marilyn (Don) of Minnesota. Margaret will be most seriously missed by a number of her grandchildren and remembered well by many great grandchildren. Mom impacted countless people with her effervescent faith --- she was the most real person that many of us will ever know. Many, many thanks to the kind and caring staff of Menno Hospital and to the loving pastoral ministry of Seven Oaks Alliance. A very happy Memorial Service is planned for Sunday May 23rd at 2pm at the Seven Oaks Alliance Church.

My mom and me in 2004,
months before she went to heaven.
Now we miss them both.
They are reunited with my dad and Uncle Stuart who went to heaven in 1995.

Spring in the country

Who said dandelions aren't pretty?

Rhubarb is ready!
Now a bunch is sitting on the counter waiting to be made into a strawberry/rhubarb pie!

FINALLY....

NICE WEATHER!

BIBLE READING AND TEA ON THE FRONT PORCH!
Love it!!!

LADIES' TEA 2010

Last Friday night we had our annual Ladies Tea.

Our youth pastor's wife, Krystle, was our speaker.
She gave a wonderful, clear salvation message.
This is important because the main purpose of our tea is an out-reach to unsaved ladies.

Krystle and her mom, Debbie

The decorations were bright and cheery!

Jennifer and her mom, AnnElaine and Mary
Elaine babysat for Mary's kids years ago.
The night was wonderful...great food, as always...
in fact SCADS OF FOOD!
Good fellowship and fun!
Our biggest crowd ever with 56!

Tulip Time

The weeds and little yellow flowers are doing well too.
The weather and a nasty cold are not helping with my gardening.
Fortunately things look pretty good from the street.
I am thinking of holding a gardening party.
Bring your own gloves! Doesn't that sound like fun?

You are cordially invited...

...OOPS! It is all gone! Lobster on Friday night...
early Mother's Day...
sweet, thoughtful husband...
line-up because of the good price attracted his attention.
Yummy!

BUSY WEEK and we lived to tell about it!

Last week (Saturday - Saturday) we had Evangelist Glen Weeks staying with us for meetings at our church Sunday - Friday. The meetings were a BIG, HUGE BLESSING to all of us; the eating was good too. It seems that we were invited ALMOST everywhere he was invited! The visiting was great. However with all the yakking, we never did take the camera out. We do have a photo of Glen from 1984, but he would take a dim view of having it published. Don't know why. At that time he had dark hair and looked very trim...not saying anything about the present. He first came to Moncton 30 years ago. How time does fly!

So now we are recouping. Personally, I am in a fog but since the sheets are off the bed, I can't, or won't take a nap yet.