Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Ladies' Fellowship
So, tonight I have a whole bunch of ladies/gals from the church coming to our 'Secret Garden'. Once a month, we meet at someone's home to have fellowship, savour baked goods, and sharpen our knitting skills. Hahaha... I'm not exactly the knitting type, so I usually just watch those who are in admiration. It has been a wonderful way for me to meet people from the church- young and old. I volunteered to host for tonight, and I have about an hour before they will all drive up and try to cram into our tiny cottage. I had to borrow blue, plastic chairs from the school because we don't have enough! They don't exactly fit the cozy ambience, but beggars can't be choosers. I have baked some fresh apple/berry pie (I even made the pastry by hand :), raspberry cheescake cups and the famous "Teresa Cookies"... although I almost destroyed those by forgetting to double certain parts of the recipe! These evenings remind me again of how thankful I am to God for such a warm church family. Even though I don't knit, they still accept me :)...imagine that!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Happy Birthday, Grandma
My Grandma Procee is someone whom I admire and love. I'm privileged to be named after her. She is a strong and godly woman, who has spent so much of her life serving her family and church community. I have always been close with her; she has filled my heart and mind with sweet memories.
Just a few of them to share: I remember her packing a picnic for Marlies and I so that we could spend lunchtime in our hayfort. She included my favorite bottle of fruit juice, and I felt deliciously spoiled. I think my sweet tooth syndrome was spurred on by her constantly handing out Dutch candy. Grandma let me play beside her as she weeded her vegetable garden and then later taught me how to snap the ends off of beans before cooking them. She taught me how to peel Yukon gold potatoes without wasting. Whenever I slept over, she would tuck me into bed and sing a few Dutch songs (It created incessant giggles under the duvet- I'm sure Marlies remembers this :)! Today I was shopping for teacher supplies, and I came across a book for children with removable plastic stickers. It triggered a memory of Grandma buying this for me on one of our grocery trips, and then topping it off with a colour-candy sprinkled donut! I can vividly recall her scurrying around during family gatherings, trying to keep everyone's plates full of homecooked and homebaked treats. Grandma allowed me to take on the role of interior decorator, and I felt quite lucky picking her garden roses and arranging them into an antique vase. Winter months dropped lots of crisp snow on the Procee farm, and this meant Grandma and I could cross-country ski again, with our fuzzy, tag-a-long pup, Goldy. How could I forget her steadfast trust in the Lord during her painful battle with cancer?
I really could go on and on and on. I have especially fond memories of visiting her when I grew into my teens and now into my twenties. She was always someone I could talk easily with. I enjoyed cleaning her house, and then stopping for lots of coffee and cake breaks where we would chat about her past. As a history enthusiast, I loved listening to her recollections of WWII. There is so much to learn from our grandparents.
Grandma, I love you and am so thankful to God for the blessing you have been in my life. You are a true witness for Christ and you live and walk in service and thankfulness to Him. Thankyou for everything you have sacrificed throughout your life for your family, and for the godly example you have set. I can only hope to be half the grandma you are someday!
Just a few of them to share: I remember her packing a picnic for Marlies and I so that we could spend lunchtime in our hayfort. She included my favorite bottle of fruit juice, and I felt deliciously spoiled. I think my sweet tooth syndrome was spurred on by her constantly handing out Dutch candy. Grandma let me play beside her as she weeded her vegetable garden and then later taught me how to snap the ends off of beans before cooking them. She taught me how to peel Yukon gold potatoes without wasting. Whenever I slept over, she would tuck me into bed and sing a few Dutch songs (It created incessant giggles under the duvet- I'm sure Marlies remembers this :)! Today I was shopping for teacher supplies, and I came across a book for children with removable plastic stickers. It triggered a memory of Grandma buying this for me on one of our grocery trips, and then topping it off with a colour-candy sprinkled donut! I can vividly recall her scurrying around during family gatherings, trying to keep everyone's plates full of homecooked and homebaked treats. Grandma allowed me to take on the role of interior decorator, and I felt quite lucky picking her garden roses and arranging them into an antique vase. Winter months dropped lots of crisp snow on the Procee farm, and this meant Grandma and I could cross-country ski again, with our fuzzy, tag-a-long pup, Goldy. How could I forget her steadfast trust in the Lord during her painful battle with cancer?
I really could go on and on and on. I have especially fond memories of visiting her when I grew into my teens and now into my twenties. She was always someone I could talk easily with. I enjoyed cleaning her house, and then stopping for lots of coffee and cake breaks where we would chat about her past. As a history enthusiast, I loved listening to her recollections of WWII. There is so much to learn from our grandparents.
Grandma, I love you and am so thankful to God for the blessing you have been in my life. You are a true witness for Christ and you live and walk in service and thankfulness to Him. Thankyou for everything you have sacrificed throughout your life for your family, and for the godly example you have set. I can only hope to be half the grandma you are someday!
Bizarre Situation
A really bizarre thing happened today.
Sam's rugby team was planning on having some sort of fund raising dinner near the end of May. I received an email a few weeks ago from a woman who said there was a "Cora's Gala" scheduled for May 22, and asked if I was willing to volunteer. I was expecting some sort of email like this, so I immediately replied and said I could help with serving the dinner. A few days later, I received another email thanking me for my assistance, and informing me of the dress code (all black), time and address. So, I jotted it down on our calendar and didn't think about it again.
Well, today is the day of what I thought to be a rugby team dinner, so I decided to double check my email for the details. I typed in the address and couldn't seem to find it. For some reason, my NZ Google Maps kept returning to New York, USA! I asked Sam to help me...lo and behold, we found Cora's Gala planned at some Poly Prep school in the United States of America!! I couldn't believe it! Apparently, I replied to a woman who sent an email to the wrong address! Talk about a mix-up!
Sam's rugby team was planning on having some sort of fund raising dinner near the end of May. I received an email a few weeks ago from a woman who said there was a "Cora's Gala" scheduled for May 22, and asked if I was willing to volunteer. I was expecting some sort of email like this, so I immediately replied and said I could help with serving the dinner. A few days later, I received another email thanking me for my assistance, and informing me of the dress code (all black), time and address. So, I jotted it down on our calendar and didn't think about it again.
Well, today is the day of what I thought to be a rugby team dinner, so I decided to double check my email for the details. I typed in the address and couldn't seem to find it. For some reason, my NZ Google Maps kept returning to New York, USA! I asked Sam to help me...lo and behold, we found Cora's Gala planned at some Poly Prep school in the United States of America!! I couldn't believe it! Apparently, I replied to a woman who sent an email to the wrong address! Talk about a mix-up!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
24 Hour School Day
My school's college level classes are participating in World Vision's 40 Hour Famine -with a twist. Instead of fasting, the students are going through a 24 hour school day. I'm not sure who came up with this idea or how it exactly fits in with the "40 Hour Famine" theme, but the students have already raised over $3000, which is a record for the school. Of course, Sam and I are privileged to have some late hour supervising :). It will be the first time I have taught English class at 11pm!
Monday, May 17, 2010
To Kill a Mockingbird
I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. (Atticus) ~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it. (Atticus) ~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it. (Atticus) ~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
Sunday, May 16, 2010
NZ Tidbits
While waiting for our chicken pastry dinner to finish cooking, I figure I should update our blog before everyone loses interest in it! Here are some random tidbits of information concerning our every day life:
1. I am currently teaching To Kill a Mockingbird in my Year 12 and 13 English class. I am a real admirer of this masterpiece by Harper Lee, and am ecstatic that my students have also connected with the story. Every day I look forward to our lively discussions surrounding racial injustice, identity, superstition, law, prejudice and innocence. If you have not read this novel, please log onto amazon.com or sprint to your nearest library.
2. Sam played a superb game of rugby last Saturday, which earned him the title: "Player of the Week". He came home with a fat glass mug as his reward.
3. I bought a funky silver hand on sale in our town. "Whatever for?" you may ask. Sam thought his wife was rather bizarre when she pulled it out of the shopping bag. It's my new necklace holder-- kind of a creepy/ultra-modern look. Like I said...random information.
4. There is a Dutch family in our church who has recently started making stroopwaffels. Sam and I were so excited about this that we ordered two packages which totaled 16 individual waffles. Um... we ate them all within 24 hours. If only someone would start making droppies.
5. A common phrase around here is "Sweet as". When I first heard it come from one of my student's mouths, I thought they were swearing. I was shocked at the blatant audacity of this person saying it to my face! However, I soon realized that the last word truly does contain only ONE "s" -- rather annoying for an English teacher to constantly hear these "half similes".
6. I miss Ontario "green bins" for compost.
7. New Zealand's most famous icecream is called "Hokey Pokey". It's a sweet butterscotch flavour and contains "heaps" of honeycomb chunks.
8. Almost every week we are invited to a family's home for dinner. We feel blessed to belong to such an incredibly hospitable and welcoming church, where the gospel is faithfully preached every Sunday.
9. I never thought I would say this, but I am thankful for facebook and how it keeps me up-to-date with family and friends back home!
10. Most people in New Zealand do not own dryers because the warm weather works fine.
My chicken dinner is probably burning by now... Hope you enjoyed reading a bit about our lives. Thanks for checking in!
1. I am currently teaching To Kill a Mockingbird in my Year 12 and 13 English class. I am a real admirer of this masterpiece by Harper Lee, and am ecstatic that my students have also connected with the story. Every day I look forward to our lively discussions surrounding racial injustice, identity, superstition, law, prejudice and innocence. If you have not read this novel, please log onto amazon.com or sprint to your nearest library.
2. Sam played a superb game of rugby last Saturday, which earned him the title: "Player of the Week". He came home with a fat glass mug as his reward.
3. I bought a funky silver hand on sale in our town. "Whatever for?" you may ask. Sam thought his wife was rather bizarre when she pulled it out of the shopping bag. It's my new necklace holder-- kind of a creepy/ultra-modern look. Like I said...random information.
4. There is a Dutch family in our church who has recently started making stroopwaffels. Sam and I were so excited about this that we ordered two packages which totaled 16 individual waffles. Um... we ate them all within 24 hours. If only someone would start making droppies.
5. A common phrase around here is "Sweet as". When I first heard it come from one of my student's mouths, I thought they were swearing. I was shocked at the blatant audacity of this person saying it to my face! However, I soon realized that the last word truly does contain only ONE "s" -- rather annoying for an English teacher to constantly hear these "half similes".
6. I miss Ontario "green bins" for compost.
7. New Zealand's most famous icecream is called "Hokey Pokey". It's a sweet butterscotch flavour and contains "heaps" of honeycomb chunks.
8. Almost every week we are invited to a family's home for dinner. We feel blessed to belong to such an incredibly hospitable and welcoming church, where the gospel is faithfully preached every Sunday.
9. I never thought I would say this, but I am thankful for facebook and how it keeps me up-to-date with family and friends back home!
10. Most people in New Zealand do not own dryers because the warm weather works fine.
My chicken dinner is probably burning by now... Hope you enjoyed reading a bit about our lives. Thanks for checking in!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Duck Hunting III
This past weekend, Sam and I visited some church friends who are sheep farmers and live in RURAL New Zealand. R-U-R-A-L! Besides getting sick from the windy gravel roads, it was an enjoyable day. Thanks to Sam's sharpshooting, I have fresh, FREE meat! That's a real bonus because grocery prices around here are ridiculous!
Trip Around North Island X
It's about time I posted these pictures. There are so many to choose from (literally thousands)! On my two week school break, Sam and I traveled the North Island of New Zealand with two Dutch friends. We were so amazed by the variety of landscapes and the unique beauty each of them held-- we soaked in thermal hot springs, climbed a mountain glazed with ice, sailed the ocean blue, explored steaming volcanoes, snorkeled through turquoise reefs, hugged gigantic trees, and much more! Nature truly does reflect a glorious Creator God! Enjoy!
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