What Have You Enjoyed Doing During This Odd Time ?

This blog post is of people who are church members now and also who used to meet with us at OCC.

Do you remember everyone?

Have a look and see all the wonderful things people are keeping busy with.

If you did not get your photo in for this post, send me one for the next one.

Enjoy!!

Pastor Josue at Zoom church. 

Tammy sent these pics:  working on the kitchen, cooking in the garage, and working on the garden... they are enjoying the time at home for now. 

Cherri sharing a nature story with the young people on Zoom SS.  

Little Eliza and baby sister Marigold enjoying online SS.  

Levi enjoying SS

Sister Mila watching online too. 

Liza and Doug's treasures on their Sabbath walk 

A view of Doug and Liza's walk last Sabbath. 

Doug using his time at home to neaten up the junipers. 

Bonnie used her time cooking yummy food for the upcoming week. 

Val cooking delicious food in her home in Norway. 

Lucky husband, Stein getting to enjoy the meal. 

Oh, Val and Stein, it would be fun to share this meal with you.  

Val in her studio, composing. 

Naomi and her daughter, Alicia, practising distancing at the park.

Naomi's children and grandchildren - good to see them again.  

Dexter working at his new job for which he is most grateful for. 

Jody's favourite chair to sit in and read looking out over the backyard and park and greenway. 

Loretta enjoying her new and working stove. 

Bob helping himself to one of those fresh muffins. 

They look wonderful, Loretta. 

Lee-Ann and Terry Sparks - our Pastoral family way way back in the early 1990''s.  Nice to see them now.  They lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan  near their daughter, Sasha and her husband and their two little children. 

Kiera working from home now, giving online Bible studies and sharing Jesus over the internet. 

Lori S ready for work at KGH.

Lauren , Camden and Ali camping out in their living room one morning. 

Gay and Alex's living room window...hearts for the workers helping us in this time and teddy bears for the children to find on their walks. 

Shirley engaged in one of her favourite activities - walking Mojo.

Nadine with her newest project... making a photo quilt. 

Remember Orion?!?!?!  Here he is with his little brother, Emris. 

Three year old, newest grandson for Nadine

Who thought of this... playing X and O's on the car window!! Gay sent this to me of her granddaughter. 

Neveah gets to play too... Who is winning?

Grama and Grampa in their car playing games with their grandkids... so much fun. 

Three happy brothers enjoying Zoom SS.  Lovely grins. 

Damiana enjoying SS on Zoo,

Connor and Grayson's beautifully coloured picture pages from SS.  They are lovely. 

Mikey and Pat on their anniversary.  Congrats you two!!

I had to go out one day and since I was just in my truck I did take a few photos.  Such beauty in springtime. 

Pinkness

Lovely thank you sign for the nurses and doctors, cleaners and safety guards, lab workers, x ray techs... all of the workers. 

Love shines bright in these days. 

Thank you SO much for sending the photos in.  We will do it again this week for any one who wants to join in.  Just take a quick pic of something you are doing in this different time of life.  It will help keep us connected and caring about each other.

For Our Dear Friend Carol

Today ( April 9th )  would have been Carol's birthday!  Can you imagine how she would have liked to have celebrated it?

I am sure it would have been been with a lot of colour and class.

Since the service for Carol has had to be postponed we would like to take a little time to remember her fondly on this blog.

Carol with Roland at their home.  ( PC: Bernadette Jarrard)

Bernadette and Carol - taken by Bernadette's daughter, Sonja

Shortly after hearing that Carol had died, I saw someone posting photos and a few little sentences on FB about what type of lady Carol was. The photos were bright and cheerful and captured Carol so well.  I messaged Bernadette and we chatted some and after hearing about her love for Carol and having heard years ago about Carol's love for Bernadette,  I invited Bernadette to share a few of her memories and time with Carol.

Carol was like a second mother to me through the years, in fact we’ve been friends since I came with my Missionary family from Kenya to Parksville in the summer of 1990. Having worked and lived in Kenya for 8 years I had lost touch with how most Canadians lived or dressed. Carol quickly stepped into the mentor role - taking me to delightful clothing consignment shops to help me get updated. It was so much fun shopping with her and afterwards I emerged - popping with colour! In fact I never met a bolder yet quiet spoken woman such as Carol. She wasn't afraid of colours and she knew how to wear, sew and paint them. She wasn't afraid to mix up patterns either. Pink floral patterns stood against lime green plaids. Shocking Fuchsia pink walls next to dark grey or yellow ones. Lime,turquoise,yellow pillows lay side by side on her white chesterfield. It was a feast for the eyes and wonderful to visit her and see how she had decorated this season's theme on her dining room table. Many beautiful meals later (won't forget Carol’s yummy vegetarian meatloafs and wonderful whipped up deserts.) We kept in touch. Carol was always there, listening, advising, sharing photos of recipes and home decorating via Pinterest. Now, it feels so strange to me. I still reach for the phone, dial and then pause... I realize she's not there anymore, but she will always be there, in my heart.

Cooking and creating in her bright kitchen.  PC:bj

Carol plumping a pillow.  PC:bj

Visiting time at BC camp meeting at Hope.  photo belongs to bj 

Did you have an opportunity to visit Carol in her home?  There was so much beauty around and lovely things to enjoy looking at.  Colour and pattern were her thing and they looked exactly right. Photo by bj

Carol with her granddaughter, Jamie. 

Carol and her friend, Donna.  Island friends stay true friends it looks like.  PC:bj

Busy sewing in her home. PC:bj

Carol was so excited for this wedding.  On one visit with her she told me all about it.  Here she is attending the reception and having that big smile on her face.  From Elle Rojas - FB page photos. 

 Granddaughter Elle Rojas shared these thoughts about her Grama.

On February 29, 2020 we lost our Grandma, CarolRoland Stickle. She was an incredible and inspiring woman. Here are a few of the MANY lessons my Grandma taught me:

- There is ALWAYS enough room at the dinner table, everyone is welcome.

- Pray for people, anyone and everyone. Keep praying, every day.

- Possessions are fun and pretty. However, material items are worthless compared to human relationships.

- There is no such thing as too much colour.

- There is no such thing as too much whipping cream.

- If someone is difficult to be with, spend as much time with that person as they need. Illuminate God's love always.

- Nothing should be boring or plain. I.e. store your milk in an antique pitcher.

- At church, there is no excuse for your Bible and outfit not to match.

- Leave your door unlocked, everyone is welcome.

- Give, give give. Give your time, money, talents, food, etc. Share God's blessings.

I am so blessed she was my Grandma. As our Grandpa reminded us, we do not have hope, but rather the assurance of seeing Grandma in heaven. I can't wait to see you again Grandma. ❤️ T

Roland and Carol enjoying Julie and Jeff's wedding despite the rain showers.  PC: gq

Carol told great children's stories.  PC: gq

the children enjoyed listening as did the adults. PC:gq

a wonderful couple  PC:gq

Helping Alison figure out her flowers for her wedding.  Such a helping person and also so excited for the girls getting married too.  They loved her advice and all she did for them.  PC:gq

I 

Carol doing her part at a cooking class at OCC

At the cooking class. 

Another story telling time by Carol....her matching shoes to her skirt.  PC:gq

Carol had such interesting Sabbath School's.  This time she was dressing the manikin and each item she explained about.  Very creative.  PC:gq

Beverly helping Carol with the dressing. PC:gq

The finished product.  PC:gq

I think she enjoyed the colour pink and she enjoyed flowers.  PC:gq

A beautifully set table. PC:gq

Carol was a lady of such creativity doing diverse things.  She could bake and cook, she could be a wonderful hostess - along with Roland being a wonderful host, she could play the organ and tell stories. She could help out in VBS and cooking school. Carol did not seem to be afraid being seen and doing her part and doing it well  She could greet people at the door at church and at her home.  One of the things I appreciated about Carol was the way she wrote little emails to tell me how she enjoyed this blog.  Once she told me that she saved  every photo of Roland that was put on the blog.  That really made me happy to know she was saving and enjoying the photos.  How it helped her feel like she was not missing out on everything at OCC.  She also let me know she prayed for me.  That is the best feeling in the world - to know someone is praying for me/you.  I will miss Carol very much but I will try to be more generous, be more willing, be more caring.  Rest well... for now. See you in the morning.
GQ