Home Sweet Home

After a beautiful vacation in The Netherlands we returned to our home and loved ones. We had a remarkable and blessed time in Holland, visiting family and friends and at the same time enjoying the country itself with its huge variety of things to do and brushing up on our Dutch and its customs.

Remembering those who died during the second world war.

It’s funny to experience and at the same time really neat to see how different people are in Holland compared to Canada. The Dutch folks love there fries with mayonnaise and raw herring with onions and many more of these kind of delicacies. Henrietta and I joined them, the result was that we gained few pounds, but hey, they’ll come off quickly.



Wedding party and guests going for a lunch cruise through the canals of Leiden.



My princess and me at the wedding

One of the highlights that we enjoyed was a Dutch wedding that lasted into the early hours of the morning and many good visits with family and friends. We also enjoyed a visit with my cousin who lives with her husband and family in a working windmill. We also enjoyed an evening of singing in one of the oldest cathedrals in Holland. This evening was professionally recorded and will be sent out at a later date. Once it is posted I will link it in one of the posts on this blog.


A relaxed visit with family at their windmill at Kinderdijk.

Looking from the inside out

On one occasion we had rented bikes at the hotel we stayed at for a few days, on our very long bike ride through forest and heather fields we encountered a shepherd who watched over his flock of 650 sheep.



Watching over his flocks by day

We spoke with this third generation shepherd for quite some time and about his work but also about how God uses shepherd and sheep as examples in the Bible. He knew all about it because he too was a Christian. It was amazing to see how his dogs kept the flock together while listening to the quiet commands of the shepherd.

Hard to believe that this sign means " cattle guard" ahead

The tranquil setting of the shepherd and his sheep made my thoughts wander back to the Bible where shepherds were people of little importance, yet they were the first to hear about the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and are mentioned about 75 times in the Bible and sheep are mentioned about 179 times. What also came to mind when we saw the shepherd from far away is the story of the lost sheep, thanks to the shepherd of this flock, I did not see any stray sheep, however if the shepherd would not have been there most would have strayed far from home. God, our Shepherd, cares for us the same way by keeping us close to Him, and when we stray he reminds us of it in many different ways.

Do you have Jesus as your Shepherd in this life? Jesus is most willing to be your shepherd, the question is, are you willing? Jesus calls you in Matthew 11: 28 Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."


Quaint little city of Culemborg on the water.

On May 25, I will receive a CT scan with the results on May 30. I am looking forward to receive the results next week. We are still praying for complete healing. I hope and pray that Chemo treatments are not going to happen anytime soon or ever again, however, if this would be the case I pray that God will give grace and courage to take treatments again. Presently I feel fine and even during our time away all went well.

Next week after receiving the CT scan results I hope to post again, until then may God be with you. Thanking you for your prayers.
John