Christmas Letter

I haven't done a Christmas letter this year. I always do one! But this has been a busy year, and I wasn't sure what to write. I traveled this year. For me, 5 trips to the US and 2 to Europe is a LOT of travel. There was a busyness that was sometimes hard to deal with. Four of those trips were for my work, 1 was for a week of volunteering with Mennonite Disaster Service, 1 was my husband's convention, and the other was visiting family.
That list doesn't include trips to Manitoba to visit family, a trip to BC (ditto), and many trips to Edmonton and Lethbridge for work.
A busy year. But a very fulfilling one. I love my job. I love my family. And I have the best husband in the world (for me, that is.)
Sounds "Pollyanna-ish" I know. But it's true.
We have our issues, but I think we've learned to deal with them.
Not everyone around us is perfect yet, but we're working on that. Just kidding - I think God is working on us through them. I like to believe that when the Lord allows me to deal with tough situations, it is to make me grow. And I want to do that with a thankful heart. I don't always deal well with these situations. But I hope I'm learning. And I pray that I will continually do better in my quest to become more like Christ.
Thankfulness is something I learned at my mother's knee (as she did from her mother, I believe). It is something that, when I practice it, makes the world a much better place. When I enter a mall with a smile in my heart and it shows through, it is amazing how friendly clerks become. Even Christmas shopping can be fun.
So we are planning to have a wonderful Christmas - not because we're getting all the presents we want... or maybe we are. Our kids will all be here and we'll be together. Who could want more than that.
Well, maybe I can think of 1 thing... a grandchild, possibly?? Sigh... One day! (If my kids ever read this, they know I'm kidding. I promised them I'd be willing to wait until THEY are ready!)

Autumn

Autumn has always been my favorite time of year. (Okay, except in the spring - then spring is often my favorite - especially after a harsh winter.)

I love the colors of autumn, the crunch of the leaves, the smell of autumn... Autumn has a wild beauty that no other season can offer.

So when we happened to be in Edmonton for a Saturday night, we couldn't resist a drive through Jasper Park on our way home. Of course it made our trip about three times as long as it would have been otherwise. But it was worth it. The colors this year were spectacular! It was a gorgeous day for the drive. And it gave Einar and I a much-needed day together.

We try to get to the mountains several times each year, but it never seems to be enough. If we ever move away from here, we'll wonder what kept us so busy that we couldn't spend more time appreciating God's creation. Thankfully, there are also places right here in the city that are beautiful at this time of the year.

But it won't last long... autumn has a way of showing up and then quickly disappearing. And so we enjoy the glimpses we catch, and then wait for the next season to bring it's own beauty.

Simplicity

Life is so complicated sometimes. I guess we make it complicated.

I'm often struck by the simplicity of life elsewhere when I travel. Take Norway, for instance. Everyone seemed to take the time to pick wild flowers. All indoor and outdoor tables at the places we visited were adorned with boquets of wild flowers.

When we sat to eat, there were candles burning. Here, we always seem to be eating and running. When you light candles, the message is 'stay awhile.' It is an invitation to relax and enjoy.

Norway doesn't have many freeways. When we traveled, we often were on what we North Americans would consider a one-lane hightway. But they were intended for two-way traffic. Some roads we shared with the sheep. They didn't blink an eye when we had to manouver around them sleeping on the road. Someone asked if they moved when we honked. I don't think it occurred to us to honk. It was their road, and we were the intruders. When we exclaimed about the narrow roads, we would see a sign telling us that the road narrows ahead!

There are a lot more restaurants now than we saw 18 years ago on our last trip. But it still isn't anything like here. I can't speak for all of Norway, but our experience suggested they still prefer to eat at home most of the time. Eating out was expensive and seemed to be considered a treat.

Fresh food is important in Norway. We didn't see many large farms - the land there is very rocky, so they have to use whatever is available to grow what they need. Many people had a little garden as well as fruit trees. But the wild fruit was also commonly used for desserts and making jam.

I love to see people doing things with their hands. One of Einar's aunts has a loom and has woven all the rugs in her house. Most of them have embroidered their own bunad (customary Norwegian clothing) and that of their daughters. Some of them do hardanger, or knit, or sew. But they all seem to have a craft for the long winter evenings. And their homes reflect that. I think we are losing that custom here in North America, and it would be a great thing to revive. If only we could get away from the TV and computers long enough to complete a project!!

Now if only I would introduce some of this into my own life. I think it's time to turn off the computer!

A Norwegian View

I love moving.

This was a concept Einar's Norwegian family did not understand. They don't move. They settle and stay.

Granted, many of his family are settled on their homestead. Or their mother's homestead. Or their husband's homestead.

And the views... The views from many of the homes were nothing short of spectacular.

Would I want to move from a view like this?

Would I be more settled at the old homestead?

They tried to understand why we move so much. Liv has moved more than we have, and so many of the questions were directed at her. But we really didn't know how to answer.

Why do I like moving? I don't like surface cleaning. When I clean (the way I enjoy cleaning), I clean a small area but clean it thoroughly. Moving gives me a chance to do that to my whole house. It lets me sort and organize.

How much of it has to do with 'unsettledness' - the feeling that I belong elsewhere? I'm not sure. Einar doesn't like moving, and he'd have a greater reason to be unsettled. After all, his first home was not only a different house, but a different country.

My first move was when I was 15. (I still dream about someday purchasing that house.) After that, I have moved frequently. I think our longest stay in one place is our current house which we have had just over 7 years now. I like the house. But not the yard. And certainly not the view!

I think I'll have to settle for less of a view than we saw there... but maybe when we move to our next place, we'll pay a bit more for the view...

Koop Family Gathering 2008

Pinawa, Manitoba was the location of our family gathering for the third time. We have found Wilderness Edge to be accomodating, not overly expensive, with good food and good activities.

There were over 50 of us this year - less than last time, but still more than half of the family. Ages ranged from newborn Keanna to Dad who is 92.

In spite of the fact that I fail miserably when it comes to contacting and keeping in touch with my family much of the time, family is terribly important to me, and so I love this time of reconnecting and getting to know one another again. It is impossible to have meaningful conversations with everyone, but each time there are new surprises when I chat with my nephews and nieces, brothers and sisters.

Of course, it is also a time to spend with my own kids who live far away. We were sorry Paul couldn't make it this time, but hopefully those who couldn't get there this time will be able to make it to the next one in two years.

So - to my family - see you in July 2010 in Pinawa!

MCC Relief Sale

I remember thinking once that when our children were gone, life would slow down. Maybe it has. Maybe we have a few more free evenings together. But we both have jobs that we love (most of the time, at least) and it seems that has kept us very busy this year. Maybe we're just busy with our own things for a change - instead of just running to all our kids events.


One of the biggest fundraisers we have in MCC is our annual Relief Sale. In Alberta it moves around and last year it was in the south in Coaldale, and this year it was in Sherwood Park near Edmonton. Next year it will be in the Calgary/Didsbury area.


I was able to spend almost 3 days up there helping with set-up, taking pictures, etc. I find the quilt auction mesmerizing. Not only quilts are sold, but also other handwork including furniture. I want it all (okay, most of it) but bids often go way off the scale. The people know that if it becomes a 'donation' (meaning if they bid way more than it's worth), they will get a receipt for the access, so they are willing to spend.

Maybe next year I'll get my quilt...

Washington DC

Einar's company's convention was in Washington DC this year, so that is where we were from June 11-17.

As usual, we were in a wonderful Marriott Hotel, and had great meals and were able to connect with people Einar knew and people we'd both met previously.

Mostly, though, it was a good time for Einar & I to reconnect and have time together after my Ukraine Trip.

While he was in sessions the first day, I drove up to the Material Resource warehouse in Ephrata, Pennsylvania for 2 reasons. I needed to get my pic's from the Ukraine trip (I didn't have nearly all of them since my disks were blank when I got home) and I really wanted to take the opportunity to reconnect with Rudi and Mary, who were both in Ukraine as well. I also managed to see Lucinda - who I'd met in Mississippi on our MDS trip earlier. So it was a very worthwhile trip.

The rest of the weekend, whenever Einar was in sessions, I was able to work on my pictures and get them sorted.

We had 2 meals supplied each day, but there were wonderful restaurants nearby and we had great Mediteranean food, Thai food, and on Father's Day, we went out for Afghan food. That was a new experience for us, and well worth it.

Vienna

On our way home, we spent an evening and night in Vienna. Wilf's friends Jean & Gunther were perfect guides to the city, and we saw a few highlights as well as having dinner in a delightful setting.

There were a lot of buskers in the city center and one of them played glasses in a way I've never seen or heard before. I tried to post the video, but it was too large a file - maybe one of my techie friends can tell me how to post it elsewhere and add a link.

More Ukraine

Our trip has a very distinct dividing line - Before Sunday afternoon, and After Sunday Afternoon. We had such a good Sunday morning - sharing in the morning service at the Baptist Church in Yalta; singing "How Great Thou Art" for them with everyone joining in the chorus; taking communion with the rest of the congregation; and being greeted very warmly.

The rest of Sunday is a bit of a blur...or perhaps just something I don't even want to think about. Harry's death, and the subsequent shock and blur of details that needed looking after... times of prayer, crying, and sharing... Not knowing what to think or do... And eventually realizing we had to go on; we had to finish, despite the huge hole in our team.

I can't say that things ever went back to 'normal' but we did attempt to finish our trip following the schedule set out for us. There continued to be moments of tears, shock, sharing, and a lot of praying together - right to the end. But we found reasons for fun and laughter in the midst of it all.


The church in Yalta and the bishop Benjamin were an incredible source of strength for us at this time.

Hard times

In my last blog I mentioned I had expected more hardships on this trip. I was talking about food, lodging, etc. The hardships that have come our way are NOT in that category.

We were enjoying our Sunday afternoon at the beach. Harry was especially eager to swim in the Black Sea, and didn't even test the water before he ran in for his swim. We all were enjoying his eagerness and have a number of pictures of him enjoying the water.

Suddenly our trip was changed permanently. Harry appeared to have a heart attack in the water, and despite efforts by our own team, the medics, etc, he was gone.

I will add more at another time, but for now I'll just ask for you to pray for us, and for Harry's family in Manitoba.

Thanks.

Ukraine - May 29, 2008

I finally have a few minutes to scribble a few lines about our trip.
We've been so busy that I hardly know what day it is, and can hardly think through what all we've done. There are some definite highlights!
The first day, after orientation at the MCC office, we did a Mennonite tour of several areas of Zaporozhe (you'll have to excuse my spelling - I don't have the info handy right now.) It was quite interesting and a good way to be introduced to Ukraine.
Day 2 started with a 3.5 hour drice and we were able to visit the orphanage in Makeyevka as well as the Christian University in Donetsk, where we stayed for night. It was all very interesting and of course the highlight of the day was giving our special blankets at the orphanage. 3 of us brought special blankets.
The highlight for me so far would have to have been day 3. After a 4.5 hour drive we arrived at a hospital. Ukraine is so full of contrasts - the beautiful green countryside and flowers everywhere, some beautiful architecture, and then incredibly run down buildings - most public buildings. Since the communists left, no one is doing any maintenance or taking care of things. It's quite evident in places like the hospitals. After that short visit, we visited with a 23 year old girl who has 9 (soon 10) foster children all pre-school age. The kids were such good kids, and her whole family is involved with the kids. A house has been renovated for her and was really beautiful. Funny, though, how extravagent it looked after some of the other things we'd seen, yet there is 1 bathroom for the 11 of them. What was quite neat about this story is that Natasha (the foster mom) is getting married in July. She gave us each a wedding invitation, and it is quite evident from the photo that he knows what he's getting himself into.
The amount of volunteerism we see here is quite overwelming. The churches and communities are all so determined to help each other and the community that many are working full-time jobs and then volunteering almost the same amount of time.
I could write about a lot more people and projects we've seen, but instead let me give you a few impressions.
Toilets - have to start with those! We do have 'normal' toilets (one's you sit on) in our hotel. But the squatty toilets have been an adventure - IF you can find one by the road when you travel, that is probably what you'll find. But it did surprise me when we went to the Pentecostal church, which used to be a convention centre and is right downtown, and the washrooms were just holes in the floor.
The driving - MCC has hired drivers for us for most of the traveling and I understand why. The cars pass each other whether or not there's a lane there, and sometimes there's only a few inches between the cars. Tailing in order to pass quickly when theres a chance is very common. I'm able to relax, but if I had to drive, I imagine it would be a nerve-wracking experience.
Just for my family and those of you who know me well, I have to say that I am willingly drinking instant coffee and without milk... Some places offer brewed coffee, and it is very good, but many don't offer that.
Food has been abundant and delicious. I expected more 'hardships' on this trip than we've experienced so far...
Hopefully I'll get one more chance to update you before the trip is done.

Ukraine - almost there

We are 'on our way' - we spent 1 night in Toronto and are leaving this afternoon for Vienna and then Ukraine. There are 8 of us: Wilf, Judy, and Harry from Manitoba, David from BC, Maynard from Kansas, Rudi & Mary from Pennsylvania, and myself.

If we can find a way to post pic's when in the Ukraine, here's where you'll find them:
http://picasaweb.google.com/wmunrau/UkraineTrip

Ukraine Trip

On Friday I fly to Toronto, and on Saturday we head out to Vienna and then Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. I don't know whether I'll be able to get onto the internet there at all, but I will post my tentitive itinerary so you'll have an idea where I am for the next 2 weeks. I do value your prayers for our group. Thank you!

Material Resources Learning Tour
Ukraine
May 25 – June 4, 2008
Draft 1

Sunday, May 25 – travel day
§ arrive in Dnepropetrovsk
§ travel to Zaporozhye and check in at Intourist hotel
§ supper at Pow-Wow (next door restaurant)
§ overnight in Zaporozhye (Zap)

Monday, May 26 – Zap city
§ Breakfast at hotel
§ Visit MCC office
§ Welcome and orientation by MCC Rep and Pavel Metlenko – Senior presbyter of Baptist Union in Zaporozhye oblast (province)
§ Lunch in the office
§ 14:00-18:00 – Zap city and Mennonite history sightseeing (Mennonite buildings, The oak tree, Khortitza area)
§ 19:00 - supper at Zaimka
§ Overnight in Zap

Tuesday, May 27 – Makeyevka
§ Breakfast at hotel
§ Depart to Makeyevka (3,5 hour trip with a minibus)
§ Meeting with The Good Shepherd partners (orphanage)
§ Lunch at The Good Shepherd, meeting MCC workers there
§ Visit with partners at Donetsk Christian University (DCU)
§ Supper in downtown Donetsk
§ Overnight at DCU

Wednesday, May 28 – Kharkov
§ Breakfast in DCU cafeteria
§ Depart for Kharkov (4,5 hour drive with a minivan)
§ Visiting with partners in Pervomaisk area
§ Lunch hosted by partners in Birke/Sokolovo
§ Depart for Zaporozhye (4 hour drive with minivan)
§ Supper in a restorant along the way
§ Overnight in Zap at Intourist

Thursday, May 29 – Zap
§ Breakfast at hotel
§ 10:00 tea at Mercy Home
§ Devotions -Pastor Anatoly Trachuk (Pentecostal partners)
§ Lunch at Ukraina
§ 14:00 Kichkas Baptist Church - meeting with Senior presbyter Metlenko
§ Visit the Medical Center of Christian Medical Association (CMA in Zap)
§ Visit the Baptist Children’s Center
§ 18:00 - supper at Trakter with Pavel & Irina Metlenko, Olga Rubel (13 people)
§ overnight in Zap at Intourist


Friday, May 30
§ Breakfast at hotel
§ Check out of hotel
§ Morning - travel to Crimea -Simferopol (5 hour train ride)
§ Lunch with partners – ECB Crimea (Senior presbyter Veneamin Yukhimets)
§ Visiting ECB warehouse and other MCC projects and partners
§ Supper
§ Overnight in Simferopol (billeting)

Saturday, May 31
§ Breakfast with hosts
§ Visit an outreach of CMA Crimea in villages
§ Lunch with CMA team
§ Depart to Bachtchisarai castle
§ Travel to Yalta
§ Overnight in Yalta

Sunday, June 1
§ Breakfast – in church
§ Participate in Baptist Church Sunday service
§ Lunch in Yalta downtown
§ 14:00-16:00 visit material resources recipients
§ 16:00-18:00 walk and supper along Yalta coast
§ Overnight in Yalta

Monday, June 2
§ Breakfast in the church
§ Visit Levadia Castle (Yalta Conference, 1945: Churchill-Stalin-Roosevelt)
§ Bag lunch
§ Travel to Zaporozhye by train
§ Supper - McDonald’s eat in train
§ Overnight in MCC apartments in Zap

Tuesday, June 3
§ Brunch at MCC Rep’s apartment
§ Wrap-up/evaluation
§ Going to the Market/shopping
§ 15:30 depart for supper out of town
§ Early supper at old Mennonite Home in Roochaevka (close to Zap)
§ Overnight in MCC apartments in Zap

Wednesday, June 4
§ Breakfast in the apartments (food will be provided in the evening)
§ Packing
§ 11:15 lunch together in the MCC office
§ 12:00 depart from Zap to the airport
§ 15:00 flight departure from Dnepropetrovsk (?)

Our Neighorhood

I often wish to live out in the country again, but as far as neighborhoods go, we have a wonderfully diverse one. Today we walked down to the Sikh temple to watch the Sikh parade.

It was a beautiful summery morning; perfect weather for a parade. Einar and I were among the handful of caucasians there, but everyone was extremely friendly and those we spoke to were very willing to give us any information we asked for.

We already know we love Indian food, so it was an additional treat to be able to sample a variety of things we'd already tried, along with some that were new to us.

I love the colorful sari's and turbans and the richness that a diversity of cultures brings to a community. Just another reminder of why we live in this community.

50

Yes, I'll admit it - I'm 50 now.

The toughest thing about being 50 is admitting it... I was quite proud of being "not 50 yet."

Even though you realize at 45 that your life is most likely at least half over, at 50 that becomes more real. Who lives past 100? (Who wants to, anyway?!)

It hailed and snowed on my 50th birthday. Good thing I'm not superstitious. I refuse to take that as an omen. Instead, I want to count my blessings...

I am strong and healthy.

I have a wonderful husband with whom I love to spend my evenings and weekends.

I have great kids who live too far away, so we never see each other enough, but we communicate as much as we can with all of our busy lives.

My mother is gone now but I am left with great memories of an incredible woman of God. I still have my father and 12 siblings and their families and feel blessed to have been given the gift of a large, loving family.

We have great friends and a wonderfully supportive church. If I were to list the people in my life that are a blessing, both here in Calgary and elsewhere, the list would go on and on, and I'd probably miss someone important unintentionally, so suffice it to say, we have an incredible group of friends and family.

I have a job I love - I can honestly say I love Mondays.

I have a relationship with Jesus Christ, who has adopted me into his family, and is working on me daily, to make me more like Himself. I still have a long way to go, but He loves me unconditionally and never gives up.

And so, as I look back over 50 years, I feel immensely blessed.

The family

We are always thrilled to have our kids come home. Matthew & Kirsten came for Andy & Shanon's wedding and stayed a few extra days. I was able to take a morning off to spend with Kirsten, and we had a wonderful time. They reserved last night to take me out to dinner (and my birthday is still a long way away!) and it was wonderful.

Kirsten played her flute at the wedding and in church on Sunday and shared as well in church about the work in the North End. A few people told me this weekend that I must be very proud of my kids, and I sure am. What really makes me happy though, is to see them happy in their marriages, and to know they are loving & serving God.

They left this morning, and this afternoon Einar will be back from Des Moines, Iowa. So life will get back to 'normal' around here.

Today Paul & Rachel are heading to Thompson, MB, for a new job for Paul. He'll finally be able to fly! They are excited about this move, and although it will be sometimes be hard to be in a new place without any friends or family, at least it's not as far away as India! I'm looking forward to hearing about their new life there.

This blog is supposed to be about my life, not my kids, but sometimes it's hard to separate the two.

Travels

So far this year I've spent a few days in Akron, Pennsylvania (work-related meetings), a week in Mississippi with Mennonite Disaster Service, and a weekend in BC. Einar will go to meetings in Des Moines, Iowa this month, but then the REAL travel begins.

From May 23 to June 5, I'll be on a Mennonite Central Committee Material Resources Learning Tour to Ukraine. There will be several other Material Resource Coordinators on this trip as well as 1 or 2 others. I am looking forward to seeing the country of my anscestors and learning much about MCC's work there.

Less than a week after I get back Einar & I will be going to Washington, DC for the Interstate Convention. These conventions have been highlights for me in the past: we stay in hotels I would never pay for from my own pocket, and the food and company is top-notch. I am looking forward to it again, but this year there are other trips occupying my mind!

Like our trip to Norway in August. Einar's cousins are planning a cousin-gathering, and we decided to go for that. Einar's sister, Liv, is coming with us, and it will be wonderful to be out there in summer, see the family there, and experience a bit more of Norway. It is such a beautiful country. This time seeing a fjord is at the top of my list (after family, of course!)

My own family gathering is in Manitoba in July, and we are heading there as well. I'm thinking I might actually get tired of traveling yet this year! No, probably not. Not as long as there's good scenery and people to shoot with my camera!

Beautiful BC

It is still March and it is green! Not Calgary, of course. Vancouver! This has to be the hardest time of year to be living in Calgary – we know it will remain brown for another month or two. In Vancouver, the daffodils are blooming, as well as the creeping phlox, some rhododendrons and many tree blossoms. It seems a world away from Alberta.

It has been a wonderful day. Einar & I decided to be tourists today, and so we went to Lynn Valley Canyon first thing this morning and had a wonderful cardio workout on the trails there.

When we arrived at Stanley Park around 10, there was plenty of parking and we paid for the day. The map we picked up told us that parts of the seawall were closed, but that turned out to be false. I don’t think either of us had walked the complete seawall before, but we did it today. It took about 2½ hours altogether, with a few short stops along the way.

We hit Steveston harbor next, and enjoyed the cute shops there. Fish & Chips were on the menu for dinner… something we haven’t had for a long time!

Mom had prepared quite a night lunch for us which we enjoyed along with her great stories from Madagascar. She even had some stories about her folks which we hadn’t heard before. Her dad’s parents were with the Seaman’s mission in Amsterdam and that is where he was born. Her mom’s father was a sailor, so they lived in Durham, South Africa in order to see each other more often, and that is where her mom was born. Interesting. Her mom was orphaned quite young, and was then raised in Norway by an aunt, and never got to see her sisters again. It’s always fascinating to get a glimpse of previous generations and what they had to go through.

I've wanted to start a blog for a long time, but when I do, I wonder what I should write. (Using the word 'do' was not a grammatical error... I have started one before - just can't remember where it is!!) What could anyone else possibly find interesting in my life? I have a wonderful husband, 2 great daughters who have both married wonderful men. A contented life doesn't necessarily make for a good blog.

So I will do this for me, and if you find yourself reading this and get bored, I won't be offended. (Especially if you don't tell me that I bore you!)

I just left a job I loved... but I love my new job even more. My daughter reminds me that I love it because it's new. I love to set things up and organize them to work well, and then I get bored. She is right. But I'm hoping there will be enough 'new' stuff here to keep me interested for years and years.

I went with Einar to work last Saturday and our drive took us through Okotoks. I have often wondered how long I'd survive in Calgary - I really don't consider myself a city-girl. I think I've done well to live here for almost 17 years. I'd love to live in a smaller town. Okotoks appeals to both of us. It would not be a longer drive for Einar, but my drive would be much longer and through a busier part of the city. Would being in a smaller town be worth the drive? I wonder.