Two-Day Getaway

This week our friends John and Beth rented a chalet in the Beaver Valley. They invited me to come and visit. So I did. I went up Wednesday morning and came back late in the afternoon today. It was good to get away. The driving was good even though it was hot. I am still amazed by the wind turbines around Shelburne; they look so majestic. We took a drive into Thornbury, walked along the waterfront trail in the heat, cooled off with some delicious ice cream cones then headed back to the chalet for a BBQ'd supper. John and I played several rounds of cribbage and we talked a lot. We all read or did some puzzles. I took some photos for the blog. It was hot and sticky but in the morning it was fresh and much cooler. It was great to get away from Toronto and see the outdoors up there. It was a good break. I'll have to get away more often. Tomorrow is another day. We'll see what is in store for me then. I'm OK and I'm being looked after. Thank you Lord.

That's the way to BBQ

Wonderful meal with good friends

Had to have a sunset photo

Same view in the morning, see the ski lifts

Thank you for your comments and emails. I will continue to write the blog until it becomes a burden.

Visiting Hannah

Yes, this afternoon I was finally able to spend some quality time with my granddaughter Hannah. It had been a while since I was able to give her the attention I would like. I travelled to Mark & Rosemary's this afternoon and while Rosemary had a nap Mark & I took Hannah to the playground at the school just down the street. She was on the climbing/slide structure for probably about an hour by herself at first and then later with another 2-year old named Amelia. She enjoyed herself and expended boundless energy. It was great to see. Later at home while her parents prepared supper I sat and read her some stories from a book about Sesame Street characters. I learned and relearned about Elmo (her favourite), Big Bird, Rosita, Ernie, the Cookie Monster (my favourite), Grover, Oscar and several others. I missed doing this and loved it. Of course, with Ellie gone there were no pictures of this. So I found these from May and June. They will have to do.

Opa reading to Hannah in May on Mother's Day

Hannah & Ellie on the Saturday before Father's Day

It pains me to see Ellie as she was on June 20th even though that was a good day for her. It was only three weeks later that she passed on to glory.

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Saying Goodbye to Ellie

Today would have been Ellie's 64th birthday. This is the day we decided to bury Ellie's earthly remains. Ellie was cremated and we had a short service at York Cemetery just down the street. There was just our immediate family including Anneke and Carel and some close friends present. Pastor Joel led us in prayer, reading from the Bible, some final words 're interment, reciting the Apostles' Creed together, giving us the benediction and singing the doxology together. We had a table on which the urn sat during the service. Behind it was a floral bouquet I arranged in the morning from different flowers picked from Ellie's Garden. There was also Ellie's photo on an easel to the side. The four of us: Henry, Mark, Alida and I lowered the urn into the grave. Afterwards I asked all present to take a flower from the floral display and lay it on the urn. Oscar was even allowed to throw some dirt in; of course, Charlie had to do that too to copy his brother. It was a sad time; but we were only burying Ellie's ashes. She was looking on from heaven and probably feeling sorry for us. She is probably rejoicing there and surely sang the alto part to the doxology. Afterwards we all had lunch together at "our" place. Here are some of the photos that were taken at the interment.

Flowers, urn and portrait

Ellie's flowers and urn (with dirt)

The four of us lowering the urn into the ground

Oscar ( in his Minion cap and tie) laying his flower onto the urn

Alida's turn; notice Jeff & Logan

Melanie, Henry & Oscar (with cat & towel)

Goodbye Ellie

As promised I took a photo of the Morning Glories this morning. Ellie loved these flowers.

Same flowers as last night; what a difference!

Back in the Garden

There is now a different stage to Ellie's garden. I think yesterday I noticed the first flowers on the Rose of Sharon bush just outside our bedroom window. They are magnificent. I noticed recently I keep on saying "our"; when does that stop?

Rose of Sharon

 And all the hostas have been in bloom for over a week now. They will probably need a trim soon.

Hosta Flower

Our neighbours to the east have a crop of thistles such as I haven't seen since growing up in Barrie and seeing in the countryside there.

Thistle Flowers

The thistles are even attracting the butterflies from our cone flowers. I found a lot of bees around the cone flowers too.

Butterfly on Thistle Flower

Here is one of Ellie's favourites, the Morning Glory. Mid-afternoon is not the right time of day to photograph these. I'll have to do that in the morning. Something for the next blog post.

Wilting Morning Glory

I am doing OK. I am busy with all sorts of paperwork and tasks dealing with the aftermath of Ellie's death/passing/promotion. It helps pass the time while my heart is heavy. After all, I am task-oriented; Ellie was the people person. I am definitely more like Martha and Ellie like Mary. I ask God to help change me a little bit at a time.

After the Celebration of Ellie's Life

This is Thursday afternoon and I am alone in the house. I don't think I have been home alone since Sunday, June the 7th when I wasn't feeling well and Ellie and Anneke went to church with Leanne. They had communion that day. That was the last time Ellie was in church. It has been a roller coaster ride since then with Ellie's stroke happening later that day, my illness, her partial recovery and all the visiting. Then this past week her decline and promotion to heaven.

The last two days have been difficult but great. It was not easy to deal with Ellie's death but we know where she is. It was good to meet so many of our family and friends at the funeral home during visitation and at the celebration service yesterday. I don't think I have hugged as many people in my whole life. They were mourning with us and reached out with tender hearts. You don't have to say anything; just be there for us. The service was fantastic. The music and singing was inspired. The readings were touching. I think all were touched by the eulogies in which we tried to say something about Ellie as we saw her. She lived to serve. She was such a beautiful person and now she is not here. Thank you for all who gave of themselves to facilitate the service, the visual display and the luncheon afterwards. As a family we hung around socializing outside at our house until the evening and then everyone started leaving.

Today John came to take Karen to the airport for her flight back to China and to bring Anna back to Guelph. Thank you Karen and Anna for all the help you have provided in the past few months; it has been wonderful to have you around and I wish you God's blessings on the days ahead.
That leaves Anneke and her Alida; they are visiting Intervarsity Christian Fellowship friends at York University this afternoon. That leaves me. I am OK with that. I love the quiet; but for how long?

A Butterfly on an Echinacea or Cone Flower plant

I took the photo above from our bedroom window. I have been noticing the butterflies hovering around these flowers for some time now.

While we are busy getting ready to celebrate ... by Gerard

A lot has happened in the last week and we have been very busy. Ellie has been promoted and we are making all sorts of decisions and plans for receiving visitors at the funeral home and preparing for the service to celebrate her life with us over the last 64 years. God has been good to us and given us all the support we need. We do and will miss her for a long time to come.

However, things are still happening in the garden. Friends of ours did a beautiful job of cleaning out the flower beds and our neighbour does a faithful job of mowing our lawn. The place looks immaculate. And then flowers still grow and prosper. Last week I displayed a panorama of flowers. I am showing again the picture with a set of three roses just starting to bloom; this week they are gorgeous in full bloom. I thought you might like to see that.

Roses in bud last week

Same roses in full bloom

What a beautiful creation! And we get to experience God's presence in our hearts in addition to his handiwork with flowers. We are OK. Yes, we mourn Ellie. But we know without a doubt that she is seeing God in all His glory now. And she is no longer struggling to breathe but is probably singing praises in her beautiful alto voice. Ellie, sing for us too.

Ellie has Passed into Glory

Ellie before Cancer

This morning at about 3 am, Ellie breathed her last breath here. She passed peacefully at home surrounded by close family. We paid our respects, prayed together and sang the doxology. Thanks be to God that her suffering has ended. After this I went outside and took down the flag.

We have arranged for you to visit us at R.S.Kane Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 14^th at 2-4 or 7-9 pm. The Funeral Home is located at 6150 Yonge St. (just south of Steeles).

You may visit their website at www.rskane.ca.

A celebration service of her life will take place the next day on Wednesday, July 15^th at 11 am. at the Willowdale CRC. If you have not already done so there will be opportunity to pay your respects from 10 till 10:45 am at which time the casket will be closed. Ellie will be cremated. 

There will be a light luncheon served after the service.

The church is at 70 Hilda Ave. (between Finch and Steeles just west of Yonge).

Gerard 

Ellie's Garden

Good Morning Everyone:

This is Tuesday and Ellie is down. She is just sleeping in her bed not waking up at all. She doesn't eat nor drink anymore. So, it is just a matter of time (hours, days, weeks(?)) before she will join those already singing in the heavenly choir.

But that doesn't mean that her garden is dying. Far from it. With all the rain, sun and heat that we've had it is growing and blooming as never before. I would say it is overgrown; she might even agree with me for once. But she loved it wild and free; that matched her spirit when she allowed it. Here are a smattering of photos of a lot of the current blossoms. I know some of them (roses, poppies, hydrangea) and could guess at some others but wouldn't know how to spell the names. So, flower lovers, just enjoy as Ellie would. Gerard.

I have left the Canadian flag flying and will do so until God takes her home.

Happy (belated) Canada Day.

(by Anneke)

Hard to believe that almost a week has passed since our last blog post. We are living very much in the here and now, and enjoying the precious "present" moments we are given.  The overall situation here is unchanged.  Ellie has her good days (which are marked by more wakefulness) and her bad days when she sleeps the majority of the day.  However, she is pain-free and comfortable.

We have enjoyed visits from family: On Monday Melanie brought Oscar and Charlie for a visit and hugs for Opa and Oma.  On Tuesday Father and Nick came for morning coffee and then stayed through lunch.  We had sweet fellowship together around the table.

Lunch together (L-R: Ellie, Gerard, Karen, Nick, Father, Henry)

On Wednesday Carel and Irene stopped by for coffee and some strawberry shortcake with ice-cream (in honour of Canada Day!).  They were at the beginning of their trip to PEI.  So wonderful to see them, and exchange hugs.  Rosemary and Hannah came for a few hours as well, and the delightful greeting of "Opa!" with the accompanying hug is always welcome.  Henry and Alida (with sweet little Logan) come regularly to help out.  Mark also came all day on Wednesday.  Karen (Ellie's niece) is still here from China which makes the load of caring for Ellie lighter.  SO great to have family around to help, encourage, and walk this road with Ellie and Gerard.

Grandson Logan with Alida - He's growing!

The weather today was beautiful, and so after supper we took Ellie outside for a "walk".  She was in her wheelchair but seemed to enjoy going along part of her and Gerard's usual walking route.

Karen and Ellie

Afterwards we sat on the back deck and enjoyed an ice-cream cone.  We continue to receive help and support from so many.  THANK YOU to you all.  Life is peaceful.  God is good.