Two special Ladies

On Monday July 27th, my 52nd birthday I had the privilege of spending the day with my Tante Elly and my sister Roelien. We shared many wonderful memories and I just want to share a few. The first question I had for Tante Elly was...."how did you meet mom?"

Tante Elly and her family moved to Transcona from Holland in January 1955. It was cold! They moved in right down the street from mom and dad on Melrose. There was a stove in their house but it did not work. Tante Elly said to her husband...I saw blonde kids playing outside a little way down the street. So he went over and found out their neighbours were a 'dutch' family. Can you imagine how exciting that must have been?! Dad came over with fuses in his pocket, because he had already figured that might be the problem. That evening Tante Elly and family were already visiting for coffee. And so began an extremely special friendship. Tante Elly shared many stories of how they helped each other through many difficult times. Tante Elly was sick through all her pregnancies and had a nervous breakdown after Bruce was born. Mom always watched her children. And Tante Elly watch our family when mom went to her many church activities.

Then she shared this story:
A few years later...not to sure how many...Tante Elly got a gift of 6 liquer glasses from her husband. This was the first gift she had recieved from him in Canada, because there was just no money. (she spoke often of how both families had no money). Any way...mom was having company and asked if she could borrow the 6 liquer glasses and Tante Elly of course lent them.
But , one of them broke. Mom was hearbroken when she told Tante Elly. (when Tante Elly was telling us what mom said, I could almost see mom). There was course nothing to be done as there was no money to replace it. But mom felt she had to repay Tante Elly and so gave her a silver spoon holder that she had received from one of her sisters.

At the end of our beautiful visit with Tante Elly we had gifts to exchange with one another.
Roelien got a gift bag and so did I.

In Roelien's gift bag....5 liquer glasses...
In my bag...a silver spoon holder....

There are no words to describe that moment.

Hugs
Yolanda

Great is Thy faithfulness...O God my Father.