Macfarlane Newsletter 2015

A very Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year to all friends and family.

2015 did not begin great!  Mum was transferred from her independent living apartment to a nursing home here in Kitchener so I could see to her needs on a daily basis.  She was very well looked after there and spent time getting to know some of her neighbours. Sadly though by the time March came around she was no longer able to move around and spent all her days in bed, mostly sleeping due to the medication she was having to relieve her arthritis pain, She passed away on March 26th. Each day she would tell us that she was ready to leave her physical body and join Dad up in Heaven. We are glad that her days were shortened.

I was so glad to be able to be with mum pretty much every day until the day she passed away. My sister Anne came from England a couple of times during this time and was also there the day mum passed away.  I do miss her a lot! It will be hard to not have her around this Christmas.  I am glad that we will have the whole family with us for Christmas this year so seven grandkids will keep me occupied and in good spirits!!!

DAVID & DIANA

David spent 70% of this year travelling across Canada speaking at different events. I think he is finally realizing that he can't keep up this pace and will hopefully slow down some!! Easier said than done!!  He also did a few entertainment gigs which he thoroughly enjoyed (churches, grandkids birthday parties and shopping malls). The highlight for him was his 3 weeks in Florida relaxing on the beaches in Cocoa Beach. He also had the opportunity to teach a University Evangelism course in Texas. This course will be used across many universities in Africa and other parts of the world.

By the end of 2014 I was walking with a cane and starting the slow healing process of my left knee after my surgery in November. Once I knew that Mum was coming to live in Kitchener, I decided to retire from the university and did so by the end of January.  I haven't looked back since!! My role as 'Nana' is the best job ever! I am blessed to have 7 wonderful grandkids!  I spend much of my time, specially when David is away, with Heather and family. I help out in any way I can and enjoy every minute of it.


Other than Florida last summer, we also spent a week in Phoenix, Arizona. The highlight of course was visiting the Grand Canyon!  Amazing and definitely worth the visit. In October I spent two weeks in Lethbridge with Susan and family. Always love going over to be with them.

This December David and I have been married 40 years. We decided to take a Trafalgar bus tour to Spain to celebrate this coming January. We are really looking forward to it. On our way home we will stop in London, England for 5 days to be with my sister Anne.

SUSAN

Abby and Mia are growing up way too fast!! Abby turned 7 and Mia 4. Abby is in Grade 2 of French Immersion. It amazes me how fast kids pick up a second language. When I'm over I try and help with her spelling tests but I don't have a clue what some of her words mean!!! Abby started taking piano lessons and is also into finger and arm knitting. She make an arm knitted scarf for her cousin Ava! Mia attends a preschool three mornings a week. She is always on the go (dancing, playing drums, singing). Never sits still!! They are so much fun to be around!

HEATHER

As you can imagine, Heather has her hands full with four children and working as a nurse in Labor and Delivery. Ava is 6 and attends Grade 1 French Immersion. Nolan, who is 4, is in full-time Junior Kindergarten at the same school (which makes a little easier for Heather as they now are in the same school!). Both are progressing really well.

Emma and Leah are now 2. Their temperaments are so very different! Emma seems to get into everything! You have to be very watchful when she disappears from your sight! Leah is more prone to sit and play on the iPad! I am blessed to be able to be with the twins quite often!

TORY

Easton is now 1 year old and growing into a very handsome, very blond, little boy!  Tory went back to work in August and found a wonderful babysitter who he loves to be with. A definite answer to prayer for her and she was not looking forward to leaving him!

Scott and Tory are in the process of buying a house which they hope to be in by Spring 2016.




My Bible verse for this year is from Psalm 43:5: "Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God."  It reminds me that in spite of all the changes happening in our world, He never changes!

Love and best wishes,
David and Diana

Macfarlane News 2014

Dear Friends:

Happy New Year 2015!!

2014 has come and gone extremely fast!! Lots of highlights to look back on.

DAVID and DIANA

      David and I took a 12-day Trafalgar bus tour of Italy. It was the best trip ever. Started in Rome, the Vatican,  Naples, passing by Monte Cassino where David’s dad fought in WWII, Sorrento and the Amalfi coast, Pompeii (amazing excavations – definitely worth seeing), Assisi, Venice (the highlight of the trip – we even got to have a musician and singer on our gondola ride),  Verona, Milan, Lugano (Switzerland), Lake Como, Pisa, Florence, Siena, and back to Rome. And we visited many other small towns on the way which were definitely worth visiting – they still live like back in the time the towns were built!

      In November, I was able to visit Susan and family before I had a knee replacement surgery. The healing process is long. It’s been 6 weeks now and still in pain which is meant to subside after 3 months so half way there!! Am  off work till January 7^th.

      In December, my Mum (94 years old) finally got accepted into a long-term care facility here in Kitchener. 2014 has been a hard year for her as she no longer can manage looking after herself. Having her right near me means I can visit her way more often instead of driving Hwy 401 for the one-hour trip to Brampton. My sister Anne has come to visit twice this past year staying with my Mum and helping any way that she could. My brother Paul, Cristina, David and I took Mum out to Bingemans for a Christmas lunch on Christmas day.

TYLER, SUSAN, ABBY AND MIA

Tyler, Susan, Abby and Mia came to Ontario for a short summer vacation. It's always so much fun to see them. They got to enjoy the pool at Matthew and Heather's and the cousins play so well together. Abby is 6 this year and started  First Grade French Immersion. She is loving school, especially singing in her schools choir. 


Mia is 3, and goes to pre-School and gymnastics. They have enjoyed many trips this year to Arizona and Montana visiting the Duncan family.

MATTHEW, HEATHER, AVA, NOLAN, EMMA AND LEAH

      2014 has been a busy year of adjustment for Heather and family They survived the twins first year! They enjoyed a full summer with lots of swimming in their pool - both Ava and Nolan are fish and swim without any floaties. Heather went back to work part-time on a new floor: Labor and Delivery and enjoys it so far. She has her hands full with 4 children under 5 and working. I am often over there spending time with the kids or helping where needed. 

SCOTT, TORY AND EASTON

     Easton James Stevens was born to Scott and Tory. Our second grandson. He is as cute as a button and growing way too fast! He got to take his first plane flight this week as Scott’s family all went down to the Dominican Republic over the Christmas holidays. Tory is planning a visit to see Susan in March. Scott got a full-time job teaching at Woodland Christian School this year and he is thoroughly enjoying it. He is taking his students to Europe over March Break.

That put's you up to date with the Macfarlane family news.

Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

May 2015 be filled with God's blessings in your lives.

Love,

David and Diana

  

Macfarlane News 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014

Another year has flown away and a new one arrives!!  This year my theme is about Thankfulness! Life doesn't always turn out the way we want it to and those are the times we especially need to look for the blessings we DO have in our life instead of looking at what we lack. I am thankful for: being married 38 years; for health - specially to run after grandkids; for a job that I thoroughly enjoy; for a family that loves being together; for the six cutest grandkids in the world, for a God that never changes.

DAVID
David has been up to his usual travels across Canada much of the year - spoke 68 times up and above his regular work schedule! He is thankful to be home over the Christmas holidays. Next year his travels will be more concentrated in Ontario - driving instead of flying - not his favorite things in the Greater Toronto Area.
He is looking forward to our bus tour of Italy planned for late June 2014. 

DIANA
It's been a busy year!! I continue working at the University of Waterloo 3 days a week (except September and October when I'm there full time). I managed to fit in a couple trips to Lethbridge, Alberta to visit Tyler, Susan and family and take our yearly vacation to Cocoa Beach, Florida in May (a little early this year due to family with child!!). The unforeseen news is that my Mum (who is 93) took a fall in November and cracked her shoulder so has been trying to cope with the use of one hand. I am so thankful that she is recovering well. Her body is weak but her spirit is strong. I manage to visit with her a couple of times a week, as does my brother Paul. The rest of the days she has a wonderful lady from HomeCare who stays with her to help out where needed. Add to this being a "Nana" and I live a full life. The sad news is that my sister Anne's husband Nigel passed away from lung cancer in early July (he was only 61). I am thankful that she was over for a visit in August. It was good to see her. It's quite an adjustment for her to deal with all that's involved with the passing of one's spouse.

TYLER, SUSAN, ABBY AND MIA
I am thankful that we have seen them more than usual this year! Susan and the kids were with us in Ontario for 10 days over the summer, enjoying Matthew and Heather's pool! They were here during the hottest and sunniest week in Ontario. Tyler and Susan took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Japan.  Abby is 5 and she is thriving in a French-Immersion Senior Kindergarten school. Mia is 2 and is into everything.  Keeping up with her sister is important to her! They are both cute as buttons! I am thankful for Skype which allows me to interact with them on a regular basis.


MATTHEW, HEATHER, AVA, NOLAN, EMMA AND LEAH

As you can see from the the family title, Heather gave birth to twins girls on August 23rd! They were born 8 minutes apart! They now have 4 kids under 4 years of age! so to say that she is a busy mum is an understatement!! I am over as much as I can to help in any way I can. I am thankful that there were no complications at birth. It has definitely been quite an adjustment for everyone but Matthew and Heather are doing a great job in raising 4 wonderful kids. She is wondering how she'll manage to go back to work at the end of next August when mat leave is over!

SCOTT AND TORY
Hard to believe Scott and Tory have been married over a year already!  They managed to sneak a week's holiday to Orlando, Florida in November. Scott also managed to secure a part-time job as a High School Geography/History teacher at a nearby school. His other part-time job is working with his uncle in the construction business.  They are both very involved in their church working with youth. They also moved into a townhouse just a couple of kilometers from us which I'm very thankful for.

That put's you up to date with the Macfarlane family news.

Colossians 3:15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."

May your 2014 be filled with thankfulness for God's blessing on your life.

Love,

David and Diana 

MACFARLANE NEWS 2012

Happy New Year 2013!

I know I say this every year.... but where does time go?  It seems to fly by quicker and quicker!! So much has transpired!! Receiving news from friends who are far away is always something I look forward to at this time of the year.

First and foremost, now that David and I are emptynesters, we decided to move into a small town house, about half the size of our previous home. We have been here now for 4 months. We have settled in but there is a lot of painting yet to be done which we hope to make a dent in during the Christmas holidays. Our new address is 617 Eastbridge Blvd, Waterloo, ON  N2K 4C3. We are only a few blocks away from our previous address.
We did not have any holidays left for our yearly trip to Florida but are eagerly waiting for May of next year for 2 weeks in the heat and sun! But we did manage to have 4 days in New York City with David's brother Peter, right after Tory's wedding.  Too much to see in so little time, but we did get to see 4 Broadway shows and take a bus tour of NY City.

DAVID

David seems to have travelled more than ever this year! He started with a conference in Oxford, England in February and has spoken across Canada various times over! Travelling is not all it's cut out to be... it gets very tiring!!

DIANA

Work has kept me busy as I put in quite a bit of overtime due to shortage of staff. In between work, we had a busy few months preparing for Tory's wedding in late July, and our move a few weeks later. Each week I visit my Mum who is now 92 years old. One of the highlights for her is my taking her to church each Sunday. I also love to spend time with my grandkids here in Waterloo as much as I can and try to schedule a couple of trips to Lethbridge, Alberta to visit Tyler, Susan and the girls each year.  I was just with them a few weeks ago. Always so hard to leave! I am so thankful for Skype! Being a grandma "Nana" is the best job in the world!!

TYLER, SUSAN, ABBY AND MIA

It was wonderful to have the whole family here in July for Tory's wedding. Abby was one of the flower girls at the wedding and did a wonderful job! She is now 4 years old. A very smart, curious and energetic little girl. She attends Montessori school 3 mornings a week. Mia is just over 1 year old and growing fast!! Susan keeps busy with family and business. Tyler and Susan are looking forward to a business trip to Hawaii in January. The whole family is going to enjoy a bit of rest and relaxation.

MATTHEW, HEATHER, AVA AND NOLAN

Heather is back to work on a casual basis as a nurse in ER at Grand River Hospital. Ava just turned 3 years old and was also a flower girl at Tory's wedding. She did such an awesome job! Nolan will be 2 in March. Fun to have a grandson!! They also moved to a new home in the summer, just a 5 minute drive from us. The fun part is that it has a wonderful swimming pool which they definitely took advantage of during the month of August!

SCOTT AND TORY

The highlight of the year was Tory's wedding to Scott which took place July 28th. She looked beautiful and everything went off without a hitch! They are living in Kitchener close to Tory's work. She is working at State Farm Insurance and is now a Licensed Insurance Representative. Scott is back at school in his year of teacher's college. He is planning on teaching Geography at middle school (grades 7-8). They both graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in June.

As another year begins, I want to share a prayer with you that I read about "getting older":
"Lord, as I grow older I think I want to be known as... thoughtful rather than gifted, loving versus quick or bright, gentle versus powerful, a listener more than a great communicator, available rather than a hard worker, sacrificial instead of successful, reliable not famous, content more than driven, self-controlled rather than exciting, generous instead of rich, compassionate more than competent."

That brings you up to date with some of highlights of the year in the Macfarlane family!

I wish you and your family a very Happy New Year for 2013. May the blessing from Numbers 6:24-25 be with you all. "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace" 

David and Diana

Macfarlane 2011 Newsletter

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012 to all our friends and family. I hope that this Christmas has been one where you have experienced much joy, peace and fun as you celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ with family and friends.
2011 has been an eventful year. Some of the highlights:

• we became the proud grandparents of two more grandchildren! Nolan Matthew was born to Heather and Matthew on March 26th and Mia Frances was born to Susan and Tyler on October 11th. We had the joy of having Susan, Tyler, Abby and Mia here for Christmas this year which was very special.
• Tory is engaged! Scott Stevens has asked Tory to marry him. Wedding will take place this coming summer. Very exciting!

Below is a short description of some of the highlights of 2011 in the Macfarlane family lives:

DAVID
David continued to travel and speak throughout Canada keeping a very busy schedule. He did manage to fit in his yearly trip to Florida for our summer holidays which is always something he looks forward to - sun and heat! He is very excited to be speaking at an international conference in Oxford, England this coming February. He is enjoying being a grandad to his 4 grandkids who think the world of their Pop!

DIANA
I worked at two jobs for most of the year, making my work schedule full time. Since September I dropped down to working solely at the University of Waterloo in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Office. It certainly keeps me very busy, but it is a great place to work in. In February and November I went to see Susan, Tyler and Abby (and Mia in November) in Lethbridge, Alberta. I love to visit with them whenever I can as I miss having them nearby! I'd be lost without Skype!! I can watch Abby dance or sing and I can read her a book over Skype! I also like to spend a day a week helping Heather with the Ava and Nolan. My mum turned 91 this year and is still living in her apartment in Brampton. I go and see her once a week and take her groceries and play games and just hang out. Life is very full at the moment!

TORY
Tory is very excited to be engaged to Scott - with their upcoming wedding in the summer. She has just finished her BA in Global Studies and is now looking for full time work which is no easy task in today's economy! She has a very busy social life and in her spare time finds time to paint homes for extra cash.

SUSAN
Susan is very busy looking after her family. A new baby is always a lot of work with many sleepless nights. Abby is now 3 years old and so much fun to interact with. She is very bright and very chatty! She is attending a Montessori preschool two mornings a week. Work at their Kawasaki-Yamaha Motor Sports store keeps Tyler very busy.

HEATHER
Heather is also busy at home with two young children. Ava turned 2 in September and Nolan is 9 months old. She will be returning to work in the Emergency Department at Grand River Hospital on a casual basis at the end of February.

OUR FOUR GRANDCHILDREN:
Nolan,Ava, Mia and Abby









That pretty much brings you up to date with the Macfarlane news. David and I would like to wish each of you a wonderful New Year.

Love
David and Diana

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!

2010 has come and gone, once again... ever so fast - and it's time to let friends and family catch up with some of the events that happened in 2010 in the Macfarlane household.

The highlight of 2010 was a bus tour David and I took for our 35th wedding anniversary last June. We landed in Munich, Germany and for the next 10 days travelled on a luxury tour bus through The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria and back to Germany, staying at 5 star hotels along the way. What an amazing trip it was! I got to see the country sights and David got to see some of his art museums! A splurge definitely worth taking! We also managed to get our yearly 2-week Florida trip in albeit a little later than usual (September) but this time we flew there and rented a car.

DAVID
David has done an exceptional lot of traveling across Canada this year, so much so that we went on points to Europe in June, Florida in August, San Diego in October and even managed to help Heather go to Lethbridge in May, as well as me taking two trips to Lethbridge all on his points! In January David spoke to his biggest crowd ever, over 7000 people at the MTS arena in Winnipeg and has just finished writing a book called "Ignite Your life"which will be out shortly. For more on David's ministry and video clips go to: http://www.davidamacfarlane.com/

DIANA
I have enjoyed getting to know both my granddaughters! I took a couple of triple to Lethbridge (in February and August) to see Susan, Tyler and Abby. I miss having them live close by, but Skype is definitely the next best thing! We get to connect on a nearly daily basis. I get to read to Abby and David gets to do puppets! Lots of fun!! Heather, Matt and Ava live a few blocks away so I get to babysit Ava whenever they need a break! Right now I'm working two different part time jobs (due to some financial setbacks). I have returned to the University of Waterloo, working in the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department. As well, I get to visit my Mum (who turned 9o this year) on a weekly basis, ensuring that her shopping is done, playing games, taking her to church and doing whatever is needed. She has had some setbacks this year in that she is having issues with back and shoulder pain (arthritis) which has made her a little unsteady on her feet, so we purchased a walker (which she does not like using!) and a cane which she remembers to take with her but still prefers not to use! All in all, her health is good and she continues to bring a lot of joy to all the people she visits in the homes where she lives. She is always ready with an encouraging word!

TYLER, SUSAN AND ABBY
Tyler and Susan sold their car wash businesses and bought a Yamaha business, expanding their Kawasaki store into a Yamaha/Kawasaki Sports store. This is a huge relief to Susan who no longer is at the beck and call of people calling with issues at the car washes or counting money on a weekly basis. She is very busy looking after Abby (who turned 2 in September). Abby is a very busy girl! She is very bright and curious! She knows all her numbers to 10 and knows her letters, sings all sorts of songs and knows everybody's names! She is exceptionally chatty and giggles constantly! I'm excited that they are coming to visit us in January. Heather and I get to look after Abby while Tyler and Susan attend a conference in Florida for a week. On their way back they'll spend a week with us before heading home. It should be lots of fun! A milestone for Susan and Tyler is that they both turned 30!!

MATTHEW, HEATHER AND AVA
"Baby Sprout" is on HIS way for April 1st!! No names given to us yet but we do know it's a boy! That is quite a novel idea for us!! As you can imagine, we are all very excited!
Ava turned 1 in October. She is a very sweet girl and I'm so blessed to have her live nearby! Not quite walking on her own yet, although she gets herself around holding on to the furniture or else down on all four! Heather had 2010 off till September and is now back at work in the Emergency Dept of our local hospital so she can take another maternity year off starting March. She is working every weekend, which allows Dad, mum and mum-in-law, aunts and uncles to look after Ava while she works or sleeps (depending whether she is on night or day shifts). Meanwhile Matthew continues to grow their fireplace and bbq business.

TORY
Tory is a very busy 23 year old! She is juggling working at Chapters Bookstore on the 5AM shift, goes off to University, often hangs out with Heather & Ava, does painting jobs on the side, teaches dance to some of the younger grade girls... all this apart from her social life! Right now her goal is to be done her degree by next Christmas! After that we don't know! It will all be subject to what jobs she can get!

Thanks to all of you for keeping in touch via Christmas cards and newsletters. We wish you all God's best for 2011. May this year be filled with many blessings and memories of a lifetime!
"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all." 2 Thes 3:16

David and Diana

Macfarlane News 2009

Dear Friends and Family:

Blessings and best wishes for you and your family as you celebrate Christmas and the New Year. May your home be filled with peace, joy and the love of God. May this be a time to reflect back with thankfulness on all that He has done and continues to do in each of your lives.

We have much to be thankful for in 2009. Topping the list is the latest addition to our family: Ava Elizabeth. Ava was born to our daughter Heather and Matthew on October 25th, weighing in at 8.9 lbs.

DAVID:
David continues to travel much of the time, mostly to our western provinces, speaking at different conferences, conventions, seminars and churches. He did get to enjoy 3 weeks in Florida once again over the summer, which is always the highlight of his year. This year we had Tyler, Susan and Abby join us for one of the weeks which added to the fun of our vacation.

We did have a visit from his brother Peter for a few days in the summer. This always makes for an interesting and boisterous time!

He also visited with his Uncle Chris, who turned 101 last July! Uncle Chris took a plane trip from Lt. Louis, MI to stay at his eldest daugher Cathy's home in Michigan! It was such a lovely day that he came with us for a walk down the road with his walker stopping a couple of times to rest.

DIANA:
I have cut back on my work hours. I am now only working Tuesdays and Wednesdays. This gives me more time to spend visiting my girls, and especially my granddaughters!! Hopefully, in 2010 I will be able to travel with David on some of his out west trips (more than likely stopping in Lethbridge to visit Tyler, Susan and Abby!) I also wanted to spend more time with my Mum. She turned 89 last September. She is still very active for someone her age, but finds herself with less energy than she would like!

David and I are celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary next year, so we have booked a bus tour of Europe for next June. We are excited to see parts of Europe that we have not visited before (Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest, Prague).

TYLER, SUSAN AND ABBY:

Abby turned 1 year old on September 3rd. Wow! Where does time go! She is now walking everywhere and is a very busy girl! They are not able to be with us this Christmas, but Susan and Abby came to visit us in Ontario on Dec. 7th for a week. What a busy household it becomes having a little one around!!

MATTHEW, HEATHER AND AVA:

As you can imagine, their lives have changed forever! Heather is on a mat leave for a year. It's so much fun to have them living close by so David and I can babysit whenever Heather needs to do some grocery shopping! As you can tell from the photo, Matthew is a hockey fan!! Kind of cute!

TORY:
Tory continues her 3rd year Global Studies degree at WLU. Amid the studies, she has a part-time job at Chapters (she goes to work for 5:00AM!). Of all the places to work, this suits Tory the most as she is an avid book reader. Once a week she also teaches dance (hip hop) to young girls as well as participating in a class herself. Put that together with her social life and, as you can imagine, she is one busy girl.
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This puts you up to date with what is going on in the Macfarlane household.

Thanks for allowing us to share our lives with you. We would love to hear from you when you have a minute. Family and friends are very dear to us.

David and Diana
A friend is one who knows us, but loves us anyway