My Mom

Today I wanted to share that my Mom passed away on June 8.  I've been away from the blog. I wrote her obituary and her eulogy.  I wanted them on my blog so that they could be a part of my story.  My Mom was a large part of my story and I like to think that she will continue to be a part of my life as I enjoy memories, hear her voice in my mind,  remember what she taught me and grieve my loss.

Obituary

Doris Jean Dykstra Vander Haak was born to Henry and Clara (Duim)
Dykstra on January 11, 1937 in Lynden, Washington. She grew
up on the Wiser Lake Road family farm with her sisters Shirley
and Clarice and her brother Dale. It was a dairy farm with Jersey cows,
Belgian draft horses, chickens and a large garden. Her aunt lived up the
hill and another uncle lived across the road, as a child she was surrounded
by family. Doris and her cousin Janet were the best of friends
and had many adventures.

Doris graduated from Lynden Christian High School. She worked at
McLain Drug Store, first in the soda fountain mixing up green rivers
and chocolate malts, later she clerked, and then was their
bookkeeper for many years.

Doris married her high school sweetheart, Richard Vander Haak in
February 1958. Rich and Doris were blessed with a wonderful marriage
and had four children. They bought a big, old house on the
Hannegan Road and for 50 yearsmade many memories there.  

Doris loved her family and friends and she blessed them by being a
wonderful homemaker and hostess. Her Sunday dinners for her family
were her gift. She was happiest when her entire
family was together. There was always enough food, it was always
delicious and there was always room for the grand kids to bring their
friends. Her friends were dear to her and she loved meeting
them for a walk or coffee.

Doris was a member at Bethel Christian Reformed Church,
where she blessed many with her prayers, cards and notes, meals
for the families with new babies, and with visits and
cookies for the widows. She enjoyed making quilts at Bethel
one afternoon a week and working at the LCS thrift store one morning
a week for years.  She was always looking for ways to help
others in her quiet and consistent manner.

Doris loved to go to Hawaii, cruise to Alaska, take road trips and
to go camping. She enjoyed going to her grandkids’ games and
concerts. She enjoyed LCHS basketball games and
tournaments and Mariner baseball.  
Most of all, Doris loved doing these things with her husband, Rich.

Doris is survived by her children, Tami (Fred) Rylaarsdam,
Kathi (Jeff) Jansen,Ken Vander Haak and
Jodi (Bill) Van Straalen and her grandchildren Danny (Jessica),
Sam, Max (Kassie) Rylaarsdam, Derek (fiancee Tia)
and Wyatt Jansen, Zach, Katelyn, and Jenna Vander Haak, Alex (Serena) and
great granddaughter Aurora, Levi (fiancee Katelynne)
and Hana Van Straalen. She is survived by her brother,
brothers and sisters-in-law and
nieces and nephews.

Doris died on June 8, 2018.  She was ready to see Jesus
and to be welcomed at thegates of heaven. Burial will be Wednesday
at 1:15 p.m. on June 13, Wednesday at
Greenwood Cemetery, where sheplayed as a child.
The  funeral service is following at
Bethel Christian Reformed in Lynden at 2:00 p.m. where
her life as a quiet, Godly woman
will be celebrated with thankfulness by her family and friends.

Memorials may be given to Lynden Christian School,
417 Lyncs Dr. Lynden, Wa 98264

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean
not on your own understanding. In all your
ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  
Proverbs 3:5-6

Eulogy:

As I shared at her memorial-

Our Mom was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandma,
recently a great gramma and friend.  She loved on her family and her friends.
It wasn’t just the visits, the meals or the coffee
times, my Mom prayedfor us, by name.  
And by us, I mean probably everyone here.

Last week when we took turns staying with Mom,
I started to read her journals. She wrote briefly most days.
She didn’t include details and sometimes it was more phrases
than full sentences. The weather, if it was clear enough to see
Mt. Baker, what she had done that day, what she made for Sunday

dinner that week, and who and what her prayers were for
and always a reminder to trust God.  Our Mom lost
her sister Clarice and later her sister, Shirley, her cousin Janet,
her friend Marge, her sister-in-law Nelda and
finally our Dad, she wrote,
I lost the love of my life, the day after Thanksgiving.

Our Mom loved our Dad and she prayed fervently
to be healthy enough to care for him to the end.

In all of the loss and illnesses and cancers, my Mom was
praying for your loved ones and for you.  She was so
worried about Uncle Ted and his family, Brittney,
Jay, Aunt Nelda’s boys, Landen, and more. And then Mom would
remind herself that God is good and He would take care of you.
And she’d write a verse to remind herself of God’s promises.

The Lord your God is with you, He is
mighty to serve. He will take great delight in you with His love.
He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Sometimes it was just  little entries.

A.Rod is going to Texas.  A lot of money.

Made almond sticks for the Rylaarsdams, flopped big time. I could have cried.

Didn’t get a deer at hunting camp....didn’t even see a deer.

Eating too much candy!

And sometimes just a simple observation and verse.

Bulb garden is pretty.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace
as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by
the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13.

She wrote about her kids and grandkids too.  I just pray for the grandkids,
May God keep them in the hollow
of His hand. It’s so important that they know the Lord.

And another entry

Each Grandchild is special in their own way.
Pray they walk with the Lord.

I will offer a thank offering to you and call on
the Name of the Lord. Psalm 116:17

Mom left a huge prayer warrior hole.

Our Mom had the gift of giving. She loved to make
Sunday dinner for us, every week. Our kids learned good manners
from her. No one took a bite of dessert until she sat down and lifted her fork.

The kids brought their friends and they were welcome. She baked every week including
a pie almost every week for our Dad.  In fact, sometimes she’d mention in her

journal, (and I’m not going to name any names here) so and so stopped by
and ate Rich’s pie today.
And there were a lot of you!

And while our Mom had a pretty structured and disciplined life she did love to
have fun and laugh with us. She loved it when everyone was at their
house or camping together.  She loved to play games with the grandkids.
Until last week she spent time with her bonus granddaughter Lexi, they played
many games over the years.
She enjoyed playing pinochle with friends.  While Dad was the fun parent
he was also the threat of discipline, and all Mom had to say was… Dad won’t like that.
She used that until the week he died.

However, when we needed to discipline our kids, her grandkids, she immediately
came to their defense and always said, it’s ok, he’s all right, or he didn’t
mean to do it, here honey come to Nana.

Mom loved to go to church, she loved Bible study fellowship, LC basketball
and the Seattle Mariners.  She
only clapped for the home runs when watching the Mariners on TV. She loved to read
but only in the evening as the days were for housework and yard work.

Mom loved her friends, her classmates and her cousins.  

Mom loved Jesus and her family and lived her life striving and
praying to trust in God.

We are going to miss our Mom and we are going to miss her prayers.

Lastly, Christmas was special with Mom, she baked everyone’s favorites,
cooked up a storm and had some serious ideas about traditions.  We opened gifts in order,
but first she played the piano and the grand kids had to
sing carols before they could open their gifts.

And now in honor of their Grandma the grand kids will come up
and sing a Christmas carol or six…

Okay then, maybe not.

MIA in May, My Mom, Maryhill and Catching Up

In the ten year history of this blog I have posted frequently, infrequently and with no schedule.  That said, I haven't gone an entire month without a peep.  May was the exception.

In May the teachers are tired and in meetings. I was substitute teaching a lot  Sometimes it's a field trip day. I got on the bus with 67 third graders and went to the Bellingham Light Catcher Museum. I consider it a success as no third graders were lost.

We celebrated Mother's Day and birthdays.  My sister Kathi and Hubby and Max have May birthdays.

My Therapy Thursday gals and I went to Seattle for an over night stay at the Camlin.  We shopped, enjoyed good food, we swam and had some therapy. It was Leslie's birthday so that was a bonus too. It was at the very beginning of May and it's what probably got my body and soul ready for what was to come.

I watched the royal wedding, several times.  It was everything I dreamed it would be for Prince Harry and Meagan and for myself.

Louis Litt was there, in character, he looked as though he was day dreaming about a mud bath or a cat that didn't belong to him.

 I got sick in May, allergies, strep throat, a nasty cold, sinus infection, ear infection, blah, blah, blah.
Doc said I was run down and asked me to lay low for a long weekend.

 In May, my Mom got sick. She was diagnosed with cancer and it is aggressive.  Mom has dementia so we are not treating the cancer.  Hospice has come in to help us keep Mom comfortable.

JUNE

The first weekend in June Hubby had his weekend off so we joined friends in Maryhill for some camping.

 We stayed at Peach Beach RV Park and loved it!

 Hubby and Jeremy were reunited...

We went for a private tasting at Maryhill Winery.  It is gorgeous there and the wine is good.
There were a lot of friends and fun at the winery.

The first  night Jeremy and Rene' made dinner for us and it was crazy good.  We hadn't seen them for months and had a lot of catching up to do over steaks and prawns.

The next night friends came to our site for dinner.  I had gotten a small bucket grill and Hubby used charcoal in it for the pork loin.  It was our first time using it and it works! 

 Hubby mixed some Bee's Knees for a cocktail.  He was busy with cocktails, the pork loin on the charcoal BBQ and asparagus and margarita prawns on the gas grill.

 

We had a good time in Maryhill.  I'll share more next time about our trip home.

I wanted to get the blog caught up and let friends and family know how my Mom is doing.

We got home, unpacked and I went to see Mom that night (Monday).  Mom always says she's fine and has a really beautiful attitude but we know she is experiencing pain and that she is ready to see Jesus.  On Tuesday morning I could tell things were worse for her.  I have two sisters and a brother and we all live close to Lynden.  It is a blessing to share this time with them and my Mom.

At this time we are requesting only visits from family. Please pray for peace and comfort for Mom.

I've missed y'all and I will try to write more regularly again.  Take care-

It's Random

There isn't really anything going on here at the Stone House but I haven't posted for awhile so here comes some random writing.

*Do you plant a garden? I see seed packets and they look so tempting and pretty and then I remember that gardeners have to water, weed, and harvest the garden.  Yeah, that's not happening here.

(photo from the junk gypsies)

*This dinner was leftover lemon turkey breast, pasta, and mushrooms, red pepper, garlic and onions sauteed with wild sage mushroom oil. Super easy supper for me as Hubby did the cooking that night.

Delish.

*I took a screen shot of this photo and then later I was looking at it and trying to figure out why I saved it.  The trailer, the bracelets it was advertising, the chalk on the door.  Hhmmm, nope, it was the steps.  I think I need Hubby to build a set of big steps for Huaka'i Annie for trailer shows. People are always falling out of Annie.  Aren't the pineapples cute?

*My trailer tribe is a lil cray cray at some of the rallies.  There is Hawaiian night, girl scout uniforms, fiesta night, 50's night, Petticoat Junction night(I'm really confused about that one because I am too young to remember that show), 

Western night, hippie night... anyhoo, it's a lot.

I saw this picture and it reminded me of my tribe.  We need to get our game on. If only we had these bowling gowns and bowling ball bags. Those. gloves.  Let the search commence gals!

Rally season is coming!

 *I tend to wear jeans with a black tee, a lot.  If Hubby sees me wearing my uniform and he has on a black tee he insists that one of us should change because we are not those people.  You know, married people that have shirts or jackets alike.  He's right, we aren't the twinning type.  Honestly, I don't think the black tee counts as twinning.  And furthermore, it was my uniform first!

I've been a busy little online shopper.  Hubby and I needed some new clothes for trailer trash parties.

Since we don't do the twin thing I am careful not to go too far and yet have us coordinate.

Our flamingo set.

 Our red, white and blue set, with some gray to tone things down.

I just have to laugh about our trailer fashions because for Hubby and me, it is a stretch.

One of those, who'd have thought?

 * Congratulations to our daughter-in-law, Jess! She completed her masters program yesterday. We are so happy for Jess and so proud of her accomplishment!

*I have a been substitute teaching a lot and have a lot of days scheduled for May.  It's a busy time of year for subs.  It's all good though because summer is coming.

*When I promise random, I deliver.  Enjoy the sunshine today!

Spring Camping

 I signed up for the Sisters on the Fly La Connor trip which is during tulip festival in Skagit County.  My friend Jean and I went a day early.  It was sunny on Thursday  not raining on Thursday and since I didn't have a sub job I decided in the morning to pack up and hit the road.

I am so glad that I did, it was nice to set up without rain and it gave Jean and I more time together.

We set up and promptly left camp to find a happy hour.  We landed at Nell Thorn for cocktails, croquettes and calamari.  Not a bad a way to begin our weekend.

Because of the wet conditions the only tulips I saw were the ones in my trailer. I stopped at a Kiwanis tulip stand on my way into town.  There were tulips in town but we didn't go to the fields.  It was more cozy to have my butternut soup in my dry trailer.

 Jean and her husband, Steve are leaving this spring on a year long trip around the states.  I am so happy for them.  They are downsizing, selling their home and taking off in their new trailer.  They will decide where they will live next after touring the states and checking out their options.

Jean and I spent time getting her travel blog set up and her Chatbook options ready for all of the great photos she'll be taking on their journey. We also played a lot of cribbage, as I am not one to gloat I shall not speak of it again.

 I have loved getting to know Jean. Jean and Rene' were the sisters that invited and encouraged me to join Sisters on the Fly. No one really needs an invitation to join but honestly, that is how  it works. Most sisters get an invite from another sister and so it begins. 

Jean is the sister that sets up a welcome party at each event.  She is inclusive and charming. She is very creative and I love being around that energy.  When Jean traveled for business she would reach out to other sisters in whatever city she was visiting and arrange to have dinner.

I am going to miss Jean a lot but I am so happy for her and Steve.

As long as they end up back in Washington State, where they belong, I'm good.

Jean, happy trails! And then, get back where you belong!

What I Did on my Spring Vacation

Spring vacation began with Easter.  Dinner was at our house so actually the break started with cleaning and cooking.  It felt good to get the house tidy. Everyone came after church for dinner.

We had beer hunt instead of an egg hunt, since the kids are all adults now and we are always looking for ways to keep their attention.

Hubby was on midnight shift and when he got home on Monday morning I drove us to George, WA to visit Max and Kassie.  It was really fun to see them so happy and to see all the projects they had done at their house. Building fences and painting have kept them busy.  Hubby set their new closet door. Kassie made us a delicious dinner using one her Pioneer Woman cookbooks for the recipe.

I went junking a morning to Franny's sale. 

Huaka'i Annie came out for the camping season.  I gave her a good spring cleaning.

It is amazing how much stuff accumulates in a small trailer.

It gets really messy, working in a small space with way too much junk.  I sorted, cleaned, made the bed and started to restock.

I think I will like having the big coffee pot for heating water when I wash dishes.  When I go alone, I sometimes use Starbucks Via.  I'm not going to make a fire and a big pot of cowboy coffee for myself.

A trip to Dollar Tree where I picked up drawer organizers, a mirror and sticky tabs for mounting, drawer liner, and some smaller perishables.  I like to buy their vegetable oil, small syrup and few other items, that are trailer size.

Then I start playing with vignettes.  I have a new tray and I wanted to try it.

New p.j.'s for camping, yes please!

I think I am really going to like my new to me Hudson Bay blanket.  It may not be an original but it is definitely good quality and warm. I think it's the Pendleton copy.

My train case was needing some work so I traded it for the one I'd made for Max and Kassie's wedding cards.  The drawer liner and some arrows stenciled on top finished it for me.

I also found the refillable travel size containers for my contact solutions at the dollar store.

I had sent for some natural skin care products from Amazon to leave in my train case for the season.
The Mad Hippie, hmmm, I don't consider myself to be a hippie but I'll give this a whirl.

Do you use the nail polish remover with foam in a jar?  I have for quite a long time and I just found a travel size.  Face wipes are essential for camping.

Annie and I are ready for camping!
Spring break already seems long ago.  It was a good time to see family, organize our house, and get ready for camping season.  That is all well and good but next year we are going someplace warm.  The rain is starting to get to me and to Hubby.
Good thing I got ready to camp because now I am camping!