Thanksgiving week

Mom came home from the hospital today. Please pray that she regains strength quickly.

I am looking forward to seeing most of you this week. Thanksgiving is truely about family and relationships. You are all a blessing.

Does Brad and Alyssa have news yet about where they are going? Hopefully not too far....

Our sympathies to the Cathy's family - May God give comfort.

We love you all! Bernie & Rosa

"State fair" and more

We had a great time with the Beltman's this weekend, (though our thoughts were definitely in Pella with Mem/Beppe and we wished she could have been here). The time just flew by...Susie, Hannah, Emily and I went to hear Katelyn sing early Saturday morning for her solo/ensemble competition for school. Doyle and Anson went to "iron men" study at church and the three amigos (Jonathan, Justin and Joshua) stayed home....oh ya, Rachelle was still home too...sleeping. At 11:00 the guys, minus Joshua, went to Justin's basketball game. We had a less eventful but fun afternoon visiting, playing cards. Laura Slings (a freind from Des Moines who now live in Minnesota) joined us for supper and the musical...... Sunday included church and a potluck. Then it was time for the Beltman's to leave :0( Thanks for coming guys:0)!
This Thursday we hope to head to NW Iowa and visit Dordt on Friday with Rachelle. In a couple of weeks we'll hit Calvin and Wheaton too. Hopefully we'll hit Trinity another time and maybe Northwestern in the twin cities.
We look forward to seeing some of you on Thanksgiving.....Love, Sylvia
PS-I tried to upload a video but it failed for some reason so maybe I'll try again later.

We are back

We are back ----- We only wish we could come back uneventfully. We had a very relaxing time, we watched lots of movies, lots of reading, got our homework done, lots of eating, a little shopping, and more sleep than we have had in too long. Thanks for all your well-wishing.

Also, Bernie's bday party was a ton of fun. It was so fun to be surrounded by so many family and friends.

We just came from seeing Mem. She was doing pretty good - enough morphine and all is well - I am glad she is good hands.

Bernie and Rosa

Drew- Punk Rocker!

If you read Alyssa's blog you saw a few pics of Drew- We were so glad they came- what a busy night for them- of course we showed him off to some of the neighbors as well. He was also trying to get hold of Bentley! He looks cute in anything- even spiked red hair! -Arlys

More Bernie 50th Ugly Sweater Pictures!

Becky & Rianne

Brad & Drew

John won 2nd place-great choice Susie.- Of course the Dr Suess hat topped it off perfectly!

Silly girls!

Sasha, Kyle & Bernie!

Rosa with her carousel sweater!

Alyssa, Brad & Drew in their ugly sweaters-

Doyle, Susie, Wes & Hannah in their ugly sweaters-

Actually, I think I have seen Doyle in one similar to this a few years back!

Beppe & Drew bond for a short time!

We had a great time at the party- lots of good food & great laughs at all the sweaters & the wonderful stories! Thanks for inviting us to your celebration! Hope your trip is going great Bernie & Rosa-

-Wes & Arlys

As you can see, fun was had by all at the Ugly Sweater party! Hopefully there are some more pictures out there to see! Thanks to all who came! Happy 50th, Dad! :)
Love,
Becky

Veenstra's Thanksgiving

 I love the holidays and family gatherings! It is great to get big doses of family this time of year.  Throw in the food and fellowship and you have a perfect setting for me.  Anyway, I thought I would get out what is happening at the Veenstra's for those who can make it.  This is what I know and below is what I would like each  "family" to bring:  

When: Thursday, November 27, 2008
Where: Mem’s house
Time: 5:00 p.m.

Who: (28 count so far)
Mem
Wes, Arlys, Alyssa, Brad, Drew, Kyle, Sasha
Bernie, Rosa, Becky, Tim, Jesse, Rianne, Brandon
Anson, Sylvia, Rachelle, Emily, Katelyn, Justin
John, Cathy, Travis & Jennifer
Doyle, Susie, Jonathan, Hannah, & Joshua

Supper:

Soup: Chicken Noodle Soup (Cathy), Chili (Susie), Taco Chicken (Arlys), Pea (Rosa)
Nice Bread: Sylvia
Crackers: Sylvia
Salad: Lettuce with Winter Fruit & Lemon Poppyseed Dressing (Susie)

              Strawberry Fluff (Cathy)
Dessert: Peppermint Ice Cream Dessert (Arlys), Pumpkin Pie (mom),
                 Punch Bowl Dessert (Rosa)

Thanks, Susie

State Fair

Rachelle is one of the main character's in the all school musical this year, State Fair! She plays the role of a singer at the Iowa State Fair. We(Me and Justin) had fun heading over to the High School to watch one of the cast's dress rehearsals. The performance was very good, and it was even better on Friday and Saturday! They will be performing again this weekend(November 13,15, and 16). I'm sure that all of you down in Iowa would enjoy coming to see a play based on your own state fair, or to see Rachelle! Below are some more great pictures of the past performances!

Yes, Rachelle is the one in the brown dress, and No her hair is not really that short!

"I owe Ioway more than anyone could pay! So I think I'll move to California(CalifornIA)!"

"Emily Arden and the Fairtones"
Rachelle with "Wayne" her love interest for the play.

After the play, Rachelle and Emily

Me with Rachelle
This play was fun to watch, and I look forward to watching it again!

Harvest Reflections

As most of you know, we can celebrate that harvest is complete! This is definitely a bitter-sweet time for our family to know that harvest is finished.  A lot of emotions were felt as we were working hard to get the crops in.  I can't help but think back on the unusual weather and the changes that has taken place this growing and harvest season. God's provisions and grace for us as we finish this chapter in our life is worth reflection. 

There were a lot of good memories as John, Bernie, Anson, Doyle worked with the goal in sight. They really burned the candle at both ends.  Bernie enjoyed Rosa, Brandon, Rianne, Jesse, and Joshua riding along in the combine (some of them for the first time) keeping him company.  Anson even dared take the combine out while Bernie and John were at their day jobs.   I will always be full of smiles thinking of me being a "temporary farmer's wife" running for parts, testing the corn, and trying my best to have supper ready when they found a moment to eat.  Anson felt complete satisfaction when John and Bernie left him the next morning alone to fix the auger and it worked!  The weather was just perfect for harvest compared to all the delays in planting, the early summer storms, the wet and relatively cool weather we had this summer and the rains in October that delayed harvest.  We were definitely appreciating and soaking in the fall sunshine and great temperatures that God gave us for a whole week to take out the corn.  There were a lot of good times and memories and I'm going to miss not bothering the guys everyday now that harvest is over.

This year there was no more wondering if Heit was ever going to retire from farming.  I'm so glad that John and Bernie stepped in to take care of the details of getting the bins, combine and wagons ready.  The "Big Gray Dog" was getting tired too, but oh the sounds that would come from under the combine as John wiggled his way into places that no man should go and weld a piece shut forever. John has permanent marks on his chest to remind him of his last days under the combine.  Doyle would love to get him a Gleaner N5 tattoo (f/y/i it's the name of the combine) for old time sake. You will have to ask him about the time he called us from under the combine to get the hose to put the fire out.  What would we do without cell phones?  I'm sure our mechanic is ready to let the dog rest and find comfort in not having to wonder or worry if the combine will hold out another harvest.  I'm so thankful that no one was injured.  

November 1st was a beginning date for Mem & Heit.  They would have celebrated their 54th anniversary.  Instead, we celebrated the ending of 2008 Harvest with gladness and sadness.  We will have a lot of time in the next few weeks to reminisce and reflect this past growing and harvest season and thank God for this chapter in our life.