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MY "ANCHOR HOME" DIARY
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Jesus, My Anchor!
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Whether life’s seas
are calm or stormy,
Jesus, my Anchor,
is always there for me!
If I always
put my faith and trust,
in my Heavenly Father above,
He will guide with His Love!
No matter what happens;
I have no need to fear,
Jesus, my Anchor, is always there!
C.E.V.A.
August 1999 |
I stayed at "Anchor Home" from Wednesday, August 4, until Tuesday, August 31, 1999. |
| While still at home: | |
1, 2, 3 |
While preparing for my stay at "Anchor", at times, I feel nervous and uptight, but I also know that God will be taking care of me. He always does! He always will! It’s been awhile since I’ve stayed at "Anchor Home." Since that time, they’ve been through a lot of changes in staff. I’ll have to be patient while most of the staff learn how to look after me. |
4 |
Gail and I arrived at "Anchor" at 3:45 p.m. It’s Terence’s birthday - had spaghetti for dinner - 13 people over! Wow! That’s why Anchor Home earned the nickname, "City Zoo!" There were more people for the party afterwards. Nice! After the party , though, when it came time to say good-bye to Gail, I had a rough time. Yes, I was sad, but I also knew that Gail needed a holiday. Everyone needs a holiday at one time or another. |
5 |
While staying at " Anchor Home", people from "The March of Dimes" will be looking after me for an hour and a half, to an hour each morning. The rest of the day, I’ll be looked after by the "Anchor Staff." This morning, someone named Kristy Davis came; (glad that Marion was there!) and got me up, had breakfast. Kristy’s nice. I’m sure things will work out. After Kristy left, the "Anchor Staff" and residents - including me, went shopping at Costco. Mom came in the afternoon. It was good to see her so soon. We had a nice visit. Gail is leaving for Holland today. I think I’ll have fun during my stay at Anchor Home. I’m closer to my family right now. I have a feeling that I’m going to read a lot here. Gail bought me a series of three books on Mail Order Brides. Interesting!! |
6 |
We have good food here. It is Joyce’s birthday today, going to call her later - watched the video, "Gordy" this afternoon. We watched Darlene and John’s wedding video last night. Things are going well - I’m having fun (most of the time anyway, except when Robert Helder is working - just kidding!!) From time to time, I spend time outside reading or watching the residents jump on the trampoline! Some of the counselors do too! It looks like fun! |
7 |
I went to Joyce’s party last night. It was nice to see my family again! Dave and Pam picked me up and dropped me off again. I arrived back at "Anchor" late! I did not get enough sleep. We’re going to Darlene and John’s wedding reception this afternoon. I’m going to Mom and Dad’s tomorrow for lunch. Some days are busier than others around here. |
8 |
It was nice to be able to talk to Rev. Pot at the wedding reception yesterday. Today is Gail’s Birthday!! Hope Gail has a good day! I really miss her! Things are going okay though. (I still think that "Anchor" should hire an octopus!!) :-) It’ll be good to be able to go to Lincoln Church again. I’m glad that Kristy comes most mornings. I had a good time at my parents; they borrowed my "Holland" videos, (should share my things more), phoned Gail too! It was great to hear her voice again! Later on, back at "Anchor", we relaxed in the evening. They do that around here too! |
9 |
I did a lot of reading today - wrote a letter to Gail in the evening. I used the computer in Bert’s office. It wasn’t easy, but I managed all right. Tom does his marathon daily, walking the halls, several times a day. Grace is giving massages. Each of the residents have their own ways of keeping themselves occupied. Jerry likes to talk. Terence does a good job of making me laugh! John Feenstra really enjoy s it when Ken Jager comes over. (John loves lawnmowers!) Henry does an excellent job putting puzzles together. They all love music! The extra page for this diary was inserted since Gail forgot a week. While I’m here at "Anchor", I ask the Anchor staff, or the ladies from "The March of Dimes" to write in for me. My family may write in it as well. When I get back home to Orangeville, I plan to write an article of my experiences here. |
10 |
I went shopping with Marge Stulp and Rob D., today - to a mall in St. Catharines - "The Penn Centre." I bought Gail a birthday present there. I almost ate a plastic fork at McDonald’s! Yuck! (The Cheeseburger tasted better without it!!) Later, Ena Boersema and Nellie Buitenhuis came to visit. I had a good day today. I feel comfortable at Anchor" because the staff is catching on really fast, where looking after me is concerned. (They’ve hired two new people since I’ve come here). We sometimes have serious conversations. Sometimes, they tease me. When they do, I tease them right back! |
11 |
I’ve been here a week. I loved all the company today. Margaret Groenwold, Lenie Vreugdenhil, Corrie Ostermier, and mom came to visit me! It was nice to see them all again! I’m trying to keep busy. I’m almost finished a book. It’s a really nice book. I just don’t want to finish it too fast! If I finish all my books while I’m here, I’m allowed to borrow some. (I have my "anti-worry" book as well). |
12 |
I went out with my sister-in-laws Joyce and Pam, and some of their kids, to Niagara-on-the-Lake today. It is really beautiful there! We saw among other things an Anne of Green Gables doll! I loved it! I have a cold, but hopefully I will feel better tomorrow. Will and Rita Rennick came for coffee. It was nice to see them again. I also visited "Our Little Craft Shoppe" tonight. Boy, do they ever have nice stuff!! |
13 |
I met Bert today. He’s nice. "The Anchor Inspiration Band" is having their band practice tonight. It’s Friday! It’ll be good to see them in performance again! I have a really good book - but I keep getting interrupted. I think Socks is a good dog. We watched another video today. Marion has a whole bunch of videos, including a series of "Christy" videos. I really enjoy watching them! I haven’t seen them all yet! Sometimes the staff get videos from the library. Sometimes, they bring them in from home. |
14 |
Debbie from "The March of Dimes" came to get me up this morning. I missed Kristy. I had fun participating in band practice last night. It was like old times. Maybe I’ll finish my other book today. I wonder, will we getting any visitors today? They have people drop in a lot here. It is kind of nice - for me too. I get to meet new people - even see old friends again! We watched "Christy" - again - on video, another one! |
15 |
Debbie came again. Why do I have to get so tense, so much of the time - especially when it comes to help that I receive from day to day? I should be happy for the help that I get - all of it! I am going to Lincoln Church again today. Hopefully, mom will be able to come to Church too. She wasn’t feeling well last week. It looks like a nice day. We had a sing-song tonight. John Smith belonging to Darlene was here for a bit. |
16 |
Kirsty’s back. I’m glad! It’s cleaning day today at "Anchor." I started a new book. This one is nice too! Rob D has his own built in instrument. Its a very unique sound. It looks like it’s going to be a nice day today. Some interesting stuff goes on around here. I watched some of the staff and residents work in the garden this afternoon. |
17 |
It’s Rev. Pot’s birthday. I hope he has a nice day. It’s sunny again. Maybe we’ll go for a walk later...... Marion wrapped Gail’s present for me last night. Hopefully she likes it. I wonder what she is doing now. I’m going to make a card for her today. This card won’t be made on the computer, but I’ll make sure that it’ll be just as nice! |
18 |
It’s Riese’s birthday today. I’m supposed to go there for supper tonight. It will be good to see him again. It’s another nice day. Hopefully, I’ll hear from Gail soon! I ended up making two cards yesterday - one for Gail, and one for Riese. They turned out really nice! That’s a neat way of doing it, using wooden stamps, different pieces of cloth, and a special kind of powder. We watch lots of videos here, including Andre Reu, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", "Mary Poppins", "Iron Will", and "The Lion King." My sister-in-law Linda and her kids, Jordan, Matthew, and Natasha came for a visit. It was nice to see them again. |
19 |
I had a good time at Reese’s last night. I’m glad the van is driving well. I wonder if mom is going to come visit me today. I have had quite a few visitors already. I wonder if Jennifer is going to come while I’m still here. I bet the baby has grown. She’s almost a month old. I miss my computer. I received a card from Gail today! It really made my day! |
20 |
I love the card I got from Gail yesterday. I miss her a lot! We had spaghetti again last night for dinner. I was fed with two spoons. That was funny! It’s kind of a dreary day today. I’m almost finished my second book. It’s a really good one too. I love it! I have one more book in this series after that. I phoned mom again yesterday. I like the fact that I don’t have to call her long distance right now! |
21 |
Bert, Marion, the residents, and I went to Burlington and Oakville yesterday. We saw the lake and went out for lunch. Later, I cried, but I feel better today. I guess I’m missing Gail more than I first thought I would! I had a good time at band practice last night though. It was just like old times. There was a lot of laughing going on. We were really noisy. It looks like another dreary day, but I’ll make the best of it. It’s a good day to cuddle up with a good book. I love reading!! Sophia and I just discovered that we can e-mail each other. Hopefully, she’ll give it to me soon! Kristy gave me her snail-mail address today. I’d love to send her a Christmas Card. |
22 |
I’m going to Church today in Attercliffe. I’m going to visit my brother James, and his family afterwards. There was a wedding next door yesterday. I think that all of us were lulled to sleep by oldies’ music last night!! It looks like a nice day today. I have trouble sleeping here - some nights are better than others. The noise on my computer is usually what puts me to sleep. |
23 |
I saw people yesterday, that I have not seen for a long time. I went with James and Linda, along with their kids, to Jane and Wayne’s for tea, after the second service. It was really nice, seeing them again. Boy, their kids are growing! I have devotions almost every night with a counselor before I go to sleep. It looks like a nice day today. I am reading my third book already. It’s a nice one too. In my opinion, these books have very good authors!! |
24 |
I went to "The Penn Centre" again today, this time, with Grace and Deanna. It was fun! I didn’t spend any money this time. I spent a lot last time. We watched another "Christy" video again last night. I like them a lot. It is a cloudy day today. It’s another good day for reading my book. I hope Gail is still having a good time. I’m sure she is.......... |
25 |
Marg Feenstra came and visited me last night. It was nice to see her again. I haven’t talked to her like that for a long time. The staff are starting to do a really good job with me. I am really impressed!! We were supposed to, but did not go to get our family pictures taken today, after all, because my nephew Adam had a double lung transplant, a few days ago. I pray that God will take care of him, and his family. I still had a good time at mom and dad’s though, even if we didn’t go out for dinner! (Mom’s a really good cook too!!) I saw Tante Willy there. My sister Jennifer was there as well. Is her baby Kimberly ever cute! She smiles already! |
26 |
I found out this morning that Kristy knows about Adam. I hope he’ll be okay. Hopefully, some day, his family can get along again. I got another card from Gail yesterday. It sure is nice to hear from her. It’s cloudy today. I’m going to Rob and Joyce’s for supper tonight - my brother, his wife, and their kids. I get to see my family a lot while I’m here. I’m glad! I made a bookmark, and did some more reading this afternoon. |
27 |
Janet came and got me up this morning. It’s not very sunny again today. It’s Friday once again Friday usually is "Outing Day" at Anchor Home; band practice tonight. We, staff and residents, went to Costco - otherwise known as "The Price Club" again this afternoon. After that, we went to the "Dairy Queen. It sure was yummy! |
28 |
Debbie got me up again this morning. Anchor Home is having a barbecue today. The regular residents’ parents are coming. Hopefully, my mom and dad will be able to come too. I am going to have breakfast with everyone else today. Everyone seems to know about Adam. Everyone I talk to. I might come here for relief some day. It will be a good chance for me to see my family and give Gail a break once in a while. We’ll have to wait and see. |
29 |
Someone named Sara came to get me up this morning. My parents were unable to come to yesterday’s barbecue. They missed a lot of fun - delicious food too! Mom wasn’t feeling well. I was disappointed.......... I’m going to my sister’s house this afternoon after Church. I’m going there for supper. My cousin, John Ludwig, is preaching here, in Lincoln today. It’ll be nice to hear him again. Lincoln’s Y.P.S. visited "Anchor" too. (These people were all little kids when I moved away from this area, to live in Orangeville! I’m starting to feel really old now!!) Even though I prefer living one on one with Gail, I’m really glad that there is such a place as Anchor Home. |
30 |
GAIL IS COMING BACK TODAY!! It will be great to see her again! Kristy is back. She does a good job, taking care of me. I had a good time at Ed and Jennifer’s last night. Their kids are really cute. Maybe I’ll finish my book today. Hopefully, I’ll get to see mom yet. I am supposed to get my videos back. It’s sunny - looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day! |
31 |
I’m glad that Kristy was able to get
me up this morning. Hopefully, I’ll get to see her again some day. She was nice
I’m going home today! It’ll be nice to get back to familiar things again, like
my computer and my electric wheelchair. I was going through withdrawal!! I finished the
third book in "The Mail Order Brides" Series. I still had not too bad a time
here; good bunch of people. It was very interesting at times. Every resident is special in
his or her own way. I will probably be back some time to visit. I am thankful to God for
all the help that I received. Even though it wasn’t always easy, it was a good
experience for me. I’d like to conclude this article with another poem: |
Thanksgiving I’m thankful to God because He died for me! Now He lives again, Never more to die; He is my Saviour on High! I’m thankful that God Is there when I fall. Through Grace Alone, Because of His love; He is there when I call! I’m thankful to God for all of His gifts to me! He knows my daily needs; Freely He will give! Friends and family very dear; Capable hands He sends for my care! I’m thankful to God for the Promises He gives! Though undeserving; If I obey Him, If I seek to do His Will; Forever with my Saviour I’ll live! Connie E. Van Amerongen.
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