CHRISTMAS LETTER 2010

Christmas 2010

I am sitting at my desk looking out at many twinkling Christmas lights. It is a beautiful scene. Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love  joining in the celebration of the biggest birthday party in theworld!

And I am so thankful for God’s love and this reminder of His gift of love in the birth of Jesus.

It is over a year now since we moved out of Gateway and into our condo at Parkway Estates. We have enjoyed our new lifestyle very much. We are very blessed to have such a comfortable home and wonderful neighbours.

As many of you already know, John’s health has deteriorated considerably over the last year. Actually, looking at what he was able to do when we moved in here, compared to now, was a real eye-opener. I have detailed all of that on the blog that I write to update our friends on his condition. For those that do not already know, you can check up on John at http://bjlombard.blogspot.com



In March of this year, we celebrated John’s 72nd birthday with an open house in the activity room of the condo. Over 80 people came to celebrate with him. He had a good day that day and was very blessed by all the love and caring. Our bishop, The Rt Rev Silas Ng gave him a wall hanging of Psalm 121.

NamJun, TaeYeon, OnSol and Haram Cho

We have also appreciated visits from a number of Gateway graduates this year as they  passed through the area. It helps us to still feel connected to their lives and ministries around the world.

The other seniors who live in our condo have been a real blessing to us too. One man comes in every week and stays with John while I go out and do the shopping. Another one comes and sings hymns with him. Several others have volunteered to help out when I need it.

John and Nahal

This fall, John went to speech therapy at Surrey hospital for 12 weeks. Nahal was our therapist and she and John had a wonderful time together. The therapy helped him a lot although he has not been feeling well enough to be consistent in doing his voice exercises in the last month or so. One of the blessings we have is that John has not lost his sense of humour even if he cannot always express it. One week when we said John needed a haircut, Nahal suggested that he should grow it long instead. Next week he arrived wearing a long blonde wig. What a handsome husband I have??????

It has become obvious that I cannot handle the physical care for John (moving,dressing etc) by myself any longer. The disc problem in my back is objecting to the load of lifting him etc. So we now have Home Care coming in three times a day to help with those duties. It is a blessing to both of us. But it means I have to be up at 6:30 am every morning – ugh!! And by the time we have him bed bathed, dressed and bedded down on sofa, I am wide awake and cannot get back to sleep. They come to put him to bed at 10pm and I cannot go to bed until he has had his 11pm meds so I have to “sleep fast”. The Occupational and Physio therapists will be coming to tell us what other equipment we need ie lift for bed, wheelchair etc. The family is increasing and all are doing well. John Jr and Charlene moved from Beijing to Dongguan this past year. He is currently in negotiations for his own TV show on how to do  business in China. Ted and Sabryna welcomed their new daughter, Shyla, on November 27th. Our 7th grandchild. Tanya’s family is growing quickly and flourishing.

John, Charlene and their family

Tanya and kids



Ted and Shyla

Greg

One of our family does live in the area and that is our foster son, Greg. He plans to move back to Langley in the near future and hopefully will be able to spend Christmas with us.

Due to John Sr's health, we cannot travel to be with any of our other kids this Christmas, and due to various circumstances they cannot be with us either. But we have some dear friends coming to enjoy dinner with us and we are looking forward to that. We can still enjoy the birthday party!!

Although this has been a difficult year in some ways, we are thankful for our many, many blessings.

We have been aware of God’s provision for us over and over again. So it is with thank-filled hearts that we look forward to whatever 2011 may hold for us.

O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant.

O come ye o come ye to Bethlehem.

Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels,

O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him Christ the Lord

Christmas Blessings

John and Bev

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