I haven't blogged lately. I know, I know, that I should do it more, but things have been a little hectic around here.
Let's start with the boys, as usual... Jason has started his second semester teaching, going well still. Shelley has found a job! She will be a doctor of psychology in Ponoka, at the Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury. She was excited about it. She started Jan. 11. Furthermore, they bought a house in Wetaskiwin, AB! It's 2100 sq. ft; ample space to have family over and an unfinished basement to renovate. They both have to commute, but they each will have only about 20 minutes to drive! Their moving date is at the end of January.
Scott, at last email was on the island of Santorini (one of the islands of Greece). He has had some neat adventures so far and has included some of them in his emails. Too many to start talking about them here. They (he and a friend) have plans on staying in Greece for about 2 weeks then back to Rome to travel to Vienna, Austria and beyond. They are hoping to be in Sweden sometime in April or May. Home will be in June (or when the money runs out) for Jason and Shelley's wedding.
My mom is doing very well. She has settled nicely into her Benson Manor senior centre and she's enjoying the people and the activities very much. She's got a few more friends there that help keep her busy.
Deb is still working. She's helping her dad get out of his house and into a senior's centre, hopefully in the near future. She's keeping busy.
Me. Still working. Still trying to get some photography gigs; I've got one in May with another hopeful in late July. My interpreter's job is temporary until June with great hopes that it will turn permanent for me for the next 3 to 5 years. THEN I hope to completely retire (maybe...)
Please, all of you, take care. Try to send us an email and tell us how you're doing. (include pictures if you want!)
Lovingly,
Rene
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Friday, September 18, 2009
Starting Anew...
Here it is, the middle of September and I haven't written anything here for awhile. Some things have changed and some things stayed the same...
Where should I start? Let's start, as usual, with the boys. Jason has begun his teaching career at Augustana Campus. He's phoned recently and said that all is going well with his classes and he's enjoying it. Deb has left Regina tonight(Friday, Sept. 18) to go visit Jason and Shelley so I'll get more news soon. Shelley hasn't had any luck with finding a job, but she's hopeful for the future.
Scott picked up a short teaching job for the fall. The school is located just 10 minutes from his flat! Teaching is going well, but he has some "problem" children which of course can be challenging. He's still planning on backpacking Europe with Devin when their working visa runs out in December. Deb and I worry about him doing this, but 'kids will be kids!' and we just hope he returns safely in the spring.
Deb, she's still at Rosemont. The job has remained manageable to the point where she is sometimes 'bored' but she finds things to do. She slow down quite a bit on the scrapbooking, but is planning on getting back at it this fall when things quiet down a bit. Our fall is filled! We have Mom's 80th birthday is in October. Jason's convocation is in October, and I have a wedding to do at the end of October. Deb has also planned a short getaway to Calgary to visit a close friend in High River next weekend. As you can see, we're busy.
Me, I'm out of retardment(retirement). I'm working full time (6 hours/day) as a sign language interpreter at Henry Janzen School. I sign all morning and work with two hearing impaired children in the afternoon. The job is challenging and rewarding too. Hopefully, I can do this for a few years before I have retire completely. My photography is going well too. I did a wedding in August. I was happy with many of my shots with only a few that I was unhappy with. The couple were beautiful and the day was cloudy (rainy, too). This help with some good shots, but made some shots tricky(father was grey hair that match the sky!). I didn't take a lot of other shots, but did manage some 'educational' shots at the airport in the restricted area which could be used for teaching purposes.
I'm closing with wishing all the very best for the coming season and hoping that you'll see family and friends as we will be. Good luck until we see each other. Take care.
Where should I start? Let's start, as usual, with the boys. Jason has begun his teaching career at Augustana Campus. He's phoned recently and said that all is going well with his classes and he's enjoying it. Deb has left Regina tonight(Friday, Sept. 18) to go visit Jason and Shelley so I'll get more news soon. Shelley hasn't had any luck with finding a job, but she's hopeful for the future.
Scott picked up a short teaching job for the fall. The school is located just 10 minutes from his flat! Teaching is going well, but he has some "problem" children which of course can be challenging. He's still planning on backpacking Europe with Devin when their working visa runs out in December. Deb and I worry about him doing this, but 'kids will be kids!' and we just hope he returns safely in the spring.
Deb, she's still at Rosemont. The job has remained manageable to the point where she is sometimes 'bored' but she finds things to do. She slow down quite a bit on the scrapbooking, but is planning on getting back at it this fall when things quiet down a bit. Our fall is filled! We have Mom's 80th birthday is in October. Jason's convocation is in October, and I have a wedding to do at the end of October. Deb has also planned a short getaway to Calgary to visit a close friend in High River next weekend. As you can see, we're busy.
Me, I'm out of retardment(retirement). I'm working full time (6 hours/day) as a sign language interpreter at Henry Janzen School. I sign all morning and work with two hearing impaired children in the afternoon. The job is challenging and rewarding too. Hopefully, I can do this for a few years before I have retire completely. My photography is going well too. I did a wedding in August. I was happy with many of my shots with only a few that I was unhappy with. The couple were beautiful and the day was cloudy (rainy, too). This help with some good shots, but made some shots tricky(father was grey hair that match the sky!). I didn't take a lot of other shots, but did manage some 'educational' shots at the airport in the restricted area which could be used for teaching purposes.
I'm closing with wishing all the very best for the coming season and hoping that you'll see family and friends as we will be. Good luck until we see each other. Take care.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
SAD NEWS
It's been almost 2 months since I last blogged, but it seems a life time! A lot has happened in the last 7 weeks.
My dad passed away on May 13th. Even though it was a blessing, it's still too soon. Mom was the strongest of all and somehow manage to prop up the rest of us. We had his memorial on June 19th to accommodate family being there. I wrote and gave the eulogy: the toughest job I've ever done, but I'm glad I did. I've posted the eulogy in its entirety at the end of this post.
Now some good news. Jason and Shelley announced their wedding! It's on July 3rd (our anniversary) of 2010. The nuptials will be held right here in Regina. Furthermore, Jason successfully defended his thesis on June 2nd and now I can proudly say that its DR. JASON GOERTZEN! Formal graduation will be held in Toronto in October. I'm looking forward to Jason and Shelley walking across the stage to receive their doctorates. WOW! I'm proud.
Scott is finishing up his teaching in England, but has no plans yet on returning home. He is planning on working for about 3 months and backpacking Europe over the winter. May is the month of his planned return. I'm proud of Scott too, surviving his first year of teaching is no easy task, but his was complicated more by doing it in a different country.
Deb left June 27th for the cottage. Her summers have been spent there and she finds it very relaxing. She's taken everything, but the kitchen sink (I had to take it out of the car) with her as she there until the end of August. The car was riding pretty low when she left. She works on the garden, does some maintenance, scrapbooking, and of course reads about 10 books over the summer. She loves it out there.
Me... well I'm home here. I've just finished a 2 month full time temp job at Janzen School as a sign language interpreter. It was both tiring and rewarding. I was in a grade 6 classroom signing for 2 boys. They were great kids! Fortunately, they read lips very well and thus my slow signing wasn't a big factor. I've applied for another temp. job in the fall for the same thing. This time I'll be working in a grade 1 room! Imagine me, helping in a grade 1 room. I'm looking forward to the challenge with renewed optimism. This might be a good retirement job to have! For the summer, I'm will be working a bit at the airport again. I'm also photographing a wedding on the 15th of August! Looking forward to this. I may even get to Seattle to watch the Blue Jays.
Y'all keep well!
The Eulogy of Frank Goertzen:
Our Dad, Frank George Goertzen, was born Feb. 4, 1923, the 3rd child of seven, to Jacob and Margaretha Goertzen in Rosthern, Sask. He grew up on a homestead during the Dirty Thirties. Everyone knows that times were tough during the ‘30’s and Dad’s family had their share of hardships. The family had to travel from Rosthern to Penn, Sask. (some 200+ miles) to take possession of the homestead. The 3 oldest sons, Dad included, had to drive the cattle on foot the whole way. While his brothers went off to war, he quit school at Grade 6 to remain behind to help at the farm. In the late 40’s, our dad got a job working for the Dept. of Natural Resources; clearing bush to build roads. It was at one of the jobs at Cypress Park building the Seven Mile Hill Road where he met his wife, our mom, Kathleen Neely. These early years had a great effect on the kind of father he was to become.
Together with mom, they raised 4 children. In 1957, they rented a small house on Broad Street in Regina and Dad now worked for Tobin Tractors, welding and fixing the big Euclid’s. In 1960, they purchased a home on Rose St. where they remained for 49 years. This home was filled with many memories, some sad, some funny, but all found places in our hearts.
We didn’t see much of our dad during our early years growing up on Rose St. Dad was constantly on the road trying to make enough money so that he could feed, clothe and shelter us. He had one brief period away from this traveling in 1960, when he broke his arm. Though this didn’t stop Dad from helping out. Mom was babysitting at the time, and one of Dad’s chores was change the babies’ diapers. I remember him changing a little guy, Danny, I think, and during this change, a stream of pee shot out, straight up into the air. Luckily, Dad quickly covered up the fountain with the clean diaper.
Near the end of the sixties, Dad was tiring of the road trips and he was fortunate to able to get away from it and had more or less of an 8 to 5 job. With this new freedom, Dad was now able to find more time to do the things that he wanted to do. We kids soon realized that Dad was unafraid to tackle any interest, big or small. Throughout the following decades, refurbish and fiberglass a boat (which on its maiden trip was struck by a train), make wonderful oak furniture, grow fantastic tomatoes and flowers, just to name a few. He and mom also joined square dancing, took up playing card games (of all kinds) with friends and still found time to take in some trips: camping trips at Echo or Oyama, fishing trips (On one of these he caught a whopping 22 lbs. jack fish and on another trip catching the worst sunburn imaginable), a bus trip to Texas, and a camping trip to Alaska. We also took a number of trips for family reunions in Minnesota, Alberta, and in parts of Sask. He and mom even found time to become Regina Pat’s fans and had season tickets for many years.
Dad’s circle of friends grew steadily larger during these years. His helpfulness gained him quite a reputation. He always found time to help a neighbour, a friend, or family, unafraid to tackle any job. He and mom had a membership for Oyama Campgrounds near Kronau, Sask. where he became a board member, this was due to all the work he had done around the campsite.
Dad may have not been a very well educated man, but was smart in many ways. And along the way, he taught us kids a number of things:
1. Family is number one.
2. Get an education.
3. Friendship is important and worth cultivating.
4. Never stop learning.
5. Be independent.
6. Have integrity.
7. Plan for tomorrow, but live for the day.
8. Make the most of what you have.
9. Measure twice, cut once.
These were just a few of the many things that Dad taught us and he did this with quiet authority and setting the example for us to follow.
Dad, we thank you, we will miss you and we’ll always love you.
My dad passed away on May 13th. Even though it was a blessing, it's still too soon. Mom was the strongest of all and somehow manage to prop up the rest of us. We had his memorial on June 19th to accommodate family being there. I wrote and gave the eulogy: the toughest job I've ever done, but I'm glad I did. I've posted the eulogy in its entirety at the end of this post.
Now some good news. Jason and Shelley announced their wedding! It's on July 3rd (our anniversary) of 2010. The nuptials will be held right here in Regina. Furthermore, Jason successfully defended his thesis on June 2nd and now I can proudly say that its DR. JASON GOERTZEN! Formal graduation will be held in Toronto in October. I'm looking forward to Jason and Shelley walking across the stage to receive their doctorates. WOW! I'm proud.
Scott is finishing up his teaching in England, but has no plans yet on returning home. He is planning on working for about 3 months and backpacking Europe over the winter. May is the month of his planned return. I'm proud of Scott too, surviving his first year of teaching is no easy task, but his was complicated more by doing it in a different country.
Deb left June 27th for the cottage. Her summers have been spent there and she finds it very relaxing. She's taken everything, but the kitchen sink (I had to take it out of the car) with her as she there until the end of August. The car was riding pretty low when she left. She works on the garden, does some maintenance, scrapbooking, and of course reads about 10 books over the summer. She loves it out there.
Me... well I'm home here. I've just finished a 2 month full time temp job at Janzen School as a sign language interpreter. It was both tiring and rewarding. I was in a grade 6 classroom signing for 2 boys. They were great kids! Fortunately, they read lips very well and thus my slow signing wasn't a big factor. I've applied for another temp. job in the fall for the same thing. This time I'll be working in a grade 1 room! Imagine me, helping in a grade 1 room. I'm looking forward to the challenge with renewed optimism. This might be a good retirement job to have! For the summer, I'm will be working a bit at the airport again. I'm also photographing a wedding on the 15th of August! Looking forward to this. I may even get to Seattle to watch the Blue Jays.
Y'all keep well!
The Eulogy of Frank Goertzen:
Our Dad, Frank George Goertzen, was born Feb. 4, 1923, the 3rd child of seven, to Jacob and Margaretha Goertzen in Rosthern, Sask. He grew up on a homestead during the Dirty Thirties. Everyone knows that times were tough during the ‘30’s and Dad’s family had their share of hardships. The family had to travel from Rosthern to Penn, Sask. (some 200+ miles) to take possession of the homestead. The 3 oldest sons, Dad included, had to drive the cattle on foot the whole way. While his brothers went off to war, he quit school at Grade 6 to remain behind to help at the farm. In the late 40’s, our dad got a job working for the Dept. of Natural Resources; clearing bush to build roads. It was at one of the jobs at Cypress Park building the Seven Mile Hill Road where he met his wife, our mom, Kathleen Neely. These early years had a great effect on the kind of father he was to become.
Together with mom, they raised 4 children. In 1957, they rented a small house on Broad Street in Regina and Dad now worked for Tobin Tractors, welding and fixing the big Euclid’s. In 1960, they purchased a home on Rose St. where they remained for 49 years. This home was filled with many memories, some sad, some funny, but all found places in our hearts.
We didn’t see much of our dad during our early years growing up on Rose St. Dad was constantly on the road trying to make enough money so that he could feed, clothe and shelter us. He had one brief period away from this traveling in 1960, when he broke his arm. Though this didn’t stop Dad from helping out. Mom was babysitting at the time, and one of Dad’s chores was change the babies’ diapers. I remember him changing a little guy, Danny, I think, and during this change, a stream of pee shot out, straight up into the air. Luckily, Dad quickly covered up the fountain with the clean diaper.
Near the end of the sixties, Dad was tiring of the road trips and he was fortunate to able to get away from it and had more or less of an 8 to 5 job. With this new freedom, Dad was now able to find more time to do the things that he wanted to do. We kids soon realized that Dad was unafraid to tackle any interest, big or small. Throughout the following decades, refurbish and fiberglass a boat (which on its maiden trip was struck by a train), make wonderful oak furniture, grow fantastic tomatoes and flowers, just to name a few. He and mom also joined square dancing, took up playing card games (of all kinds) with friends and still found time to take in some trips: camping trips at Echo or Oyama, fishing trips (On one of these he caught a whopping 22 lbs. jack fish and on another trip catching the worst sunburn imaginable), a bus trip to Texas, and a camping trip to Alaska. We also took a number of trips for family reunions in Minnesota, Alberta, and in parts of Sask. He and mom even found time to become Regina Pat’s fans and had season tickets for many years.
Dad’s circle of friends grew steadily larger during these years. His helpfulness gained him quite a reputation. He always found time to help a neighbour, a friend, or family, unafraid to tackle any job. He and mom had a membership for Oyama Campgrounds near Kronau, Sask. where he became a board member, this was due to all the work he had done around the campsite.
Dad may have not been a very well educated man, but was smart in many ways. And along the way, he taught us kids a number of things:
1. Family is number one.
2. Get an education.
3. Friendship is important and worth cultivating.
4. Never stop learning.
5. Be independent.
6. Have integrity.
7. Plan for tomorrow, but live for the day.
8. Make the most of what you have.
9. Measure twice, cut once.
These were just a few of the many things that Dad taught us and he did this with quiet authority and setting the example for us to follow.
Dad, we thank you, we will miss you and we’ll always love you.
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