“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”
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Macfarlane News 2005
“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”
Macfarlane News 2006
Highlights of 2006:
- Trip to Argentina for Diana
- Holiday in Paris and London with David and Tory
- Surprise visit from Tyler and Susan for Thanksgiving
- Theatre shows throughout the year together with friends
DAVID
David seems to have travelled the world in 2006 as he preached in Argentina, Trinidad and Guatemala, as well as his yearly trips across our wonderful country of Canada. In March 2007 he will be travelling to New Zealand and Australia (I plan to tag along with him as I've always wanted to visit this part of the world, in spite of the very long plane flights!!). Presently he is working on his first book which he hopes to have published by Fall 2007. He also managed to take the time to meet his brother Peter in Las Vegas. They had a wonderful time together. I think they took in 6 different shows in 4 days!!
DIANA
Still working at the University of Waterloo Graduate Studies Office. It has been a very busy time, sometimes overwhelming, as graduate studies is increasing the number applicants but the staff remains the same!! I did manage to take a couple of trips to visit Tyler and Susan in Lethbridge, Alberta (once in February and once in December). In December I took my mum (Peggy Jackson - 86 years old) with me. We helped them unpack the last of the boxes from their move to a new home last August. I miss having them around! In April I returned to Argentina after an absence of more than 30 years (never gone back since I left in 1975!) The icing on the cake was taking Susan with me. I showed her all the places where I grew up (Devoto, Martinez, a trip on the Tigre, downtown BA, Devoto School, St. Andrew's School, shopping on Florida and at the flea market). All the getting around was thanks to Peter Macfarlane and my friend Monica Garcia Marchi who looked after us wonderfully. We stayed with Billy and Mary Murchison in their beautiful home in Olivos. I also met with many of my school friends who I hadn't seen in over 35 years - what fun that was!!!In July David, Tory and I took a holiday to Paris for 4 days before travelling on to London to stay with my sister Anne and her husband Nigel. None of us had been to Paris before and we all fell in love with it! Great sights and great food!! London was a time of running around visiting art galleries, museums, castles, churches, theatre show and MANY train stations & subway stations. Tory hadn't been in London since she was 5 years old!
TORY
Tory turned 19 in July. She finished her internship at our church in June. It culminated with a trip to The Philippines where they led youth camp, went to an orphanage and spoke at a church. In all, it was a wonderful learning experience. Tory cut her hair!! She decided to donate her long hair to the Cancer Society to make a wig for someone who has lost her hair due to chemo. In September she started her first year at Wilfrid Laurier University majoring in Global Studies and Spanish (surprise, surprise!!). So far she is loving it! She plans to study abroad in her third year (more than likely it will be Spain). She's taking a few days after Christmas to spend with 14 of her friends from the internship, up at a cottage. Should be a busy but fun time!
TYLER AND SUSAN
Having just come back from Lethbridge, I can tell you that they live very busy lives!! Young people these days are so much more entrepreneurial than we ever were! They are running so many businesses! Susan and Tina (Tyler's brother Rob's wife) look after running two car washes; the boys take care of an irrigation business and a seed-coating business as well as some dealings with Esso. They don't have much down time but they did manage to fit in a surprise visit to see us in Ontario in October. The best surprise ever for David and me!! They got to sleep in some and didn't need to worry about cell phones ringing!! Susan turned 26 this Christmas!
MATTHEW AND HEATHER
They have been married 1 1/2 years! Heather (now 23) has just finished her last semester in Nursing!! She is extatic! Finally no more studying! (6 years of university behind her). She does have to write her final exam on February 7 and her graduation won't be till June. (She studied through last summer so she could finish earlier and start working). She has a job at Guelph Hospital starting January and will be working in the Intensive Care Unit. She loves what she does. Matthew continues to work at Price Waterhouse Coopers although there could be some changes coming down the pipe for 2007.
For those of you who know my Mum, she turned 86 years old in September, lives at Holland Christian Homes in Brampton, Ontario in her own apartment, and keeps as busy as always feeding patients in the nursing home, coordinates the volunteers for foot care and eye care, visits those that need a friend and anything else that needs doing. She is not without aches and pains, but she doesn't like to make a big deal about them when there is so much to be thankful for! She loves to have her family around her. She is often either at Paul and Chris' or at our home for the weekends. She particularly loves it when Anne comes to visit for a couple of weeks each year from London. I try and visit her every Monday and help out with grocery shopping, or taking her to different appointments. She is very proud of the fact that she passed her driving test so can continue driving!! She doesn't drive out of the Brampton area but she likes her independence!!
I think that updates you on what the Macfarlane family has been up to in 2006. It truly was a blessed year. The fact that God cares about all the little details in each of our lives never ceases to amaze me! He is an AWESOME God!
With all our love,
David and Diana
PS: With all the tragedy and fear going on in this world, my verse for 2007 is Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!".
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Macfarlane News 2008
It feels good to connect once again with friends and family and reminisce over all the events of 2008. Once again, so much has happened and we have so much to be thankful for!!
ABIGAIL GRACE DUNCAN - Our first grandchild
The first wonderful news we received in early February was that Tyler and Susan were expecting!! Yes, we now carry the proud name of 'Grandparents' and we love it!! Abigail Grace (Abby) was born on September 3rd, one whole month earlier than expected!! She weighed in at 5.5 lbs. She was very well looked after in the neo-natal ward at Lethbridge Hospital for 8 days before being allowed home. I was blessed to fly to Lethbridge the day after her birth and stay for a couple of weeks helping wherever I could and of course enjoying holding Abby as much as possible! She is so adorable! Tyler, Susan and Abby were here visiting the first week of December - their Christmas visit. It was lovely for the rest of my family to make their acquaintance with Abby.
DAVID
David once again travelled a good portion of 2008 speaking at conferences, giving seminars and talking in churches across Canada. The highlight of the year for him is always our summer trip to Florida where we spent a couple of weeks at a friend's condo in Venice Beach - always a relaxing time. The latest news is that he has taken on a new job starting in January as the Director of National Initiatives with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada.
DIANA
I continue to enjoy my job at the church looking after the database. Learning the software has been a stretching and fulfilling time. It's good to know that I can still learn the latest technology of 'online' registrations, payments, etc. I took some days to visit with Tyler and Susan earlier in the year as well as my visit when Abby was born. My fitness routine has not been very consistent this year, so we finally purchased a treadmill which allows me to continue to walk, even during our long Ontario winter, right from the comfort of our own home which I'm very thankful for.
TORY
Tory is half way through her second year of Global Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University. At the same time she continues to work in construction (drywalling, sanding and painting). She is involved in teaching dance as well as taking dance lessons herself. When she has some spare time, she makes time for her art (painting with temperas).
She also enjoyed dancing in New York Times Square with her dance team. Also managed to take in a show "Hairspray".
TYLER AND SUSAN
They continue to run their many businesses which doesn't leave them too much time off. Now with Abby around, Susan has more time to be at home. They did spend some time in White Fish and Arizona with Tyler's parents and came to visit us just a couple of weeks ago to show Abby off to family and friends! Abby is so cute! She is a true delight! You can be sure David and I will make some 'extra' trips to Lethbridge whenever we can!
MATTHEW AND HEATHER
Matthew continues to expand his barbecue and fireplace business (they run 3 stores). Heather has been working at our local city hospital floating between the ER and Oncology departments. She has taken on a full-time job in ER starting in January. She loves the hussle and bussle of ER. She has a ton of stories to tell, some funny and some very sad. They bought a dog early in the year (Ella - a miniature dashund). She keeps them quite busy. They are very excited to go to Mexico in January for a week's holiday that they both very much deserve.
My mum turned 88 in September. She continues to enjoy helping people in her retirement complex whenever she can. She did give up her driving this year after a minor accident in the church parking lot which was very sad for her - she misses her independence!
Each of us wish you a Very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy 2009!
Blessings,
David, Diana, Tory
My Bible verse for you for 2009: John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."