Happy New Year!

-Our Christmas Newsletter -

December 2014

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! It’s been another year that God has blessed, and enabled us on…

“We’re blessed”: we say and hear that a lot – both from those who know Jesus personally, and those that don’t. Usually, we say that when the good times are rolling, and for the short times, when things are falling into place. (Or if you’re like me, you say that, during the shopping trip, when all four little ones, are quiet and helpful at the checkout lines –phew - and someone remarks about how well they’re behaving!) But what happens to God’s goodness, and His gifts to us in the hard times? Most of us don’t say the “blessed” word, as much then. But for those who do – they are the ones who really know what blessings can look like. And for them – it’s not a cliché, it is a resolute reality.

“We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life, are Your mercies in disguise.

 We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise.”

We are blessed – blessed to have such a great God who gives us incomprehensible mercies – new every day.

For this Heikoop family, some special blessings of this past year included: having my mom come help out after baby four was born, flying to Alberta for a Fehr family get-together in June, having my sister Anne-Marie visit in August, going on a Heikoop family cottage week and enjoying water and sand, having two Heikoop brother’s getting engaged, (Tim to Lannette Bye – wedding on Jan 10^th - and William to Amanda Daae – wedding in late April) and for me, going to Cuba to meet up with my two sisters and mom for a week away! Other simpler blessings were: James and I working on our kitchen renovation together this December, and getting our first “second” vehicle, for me to have during the day.

 A harder “mercy” from this past year was my nephew Titus’ accident- which most of you know about. Cam and Lisa’s little guy (1 ½ at the time) – choked on a peanut in May, and was without oxygen for 20 minutes. The Lord sustained him, and he is still with us, but his brain has little response. Watching my brother and his wife, serve their little guy who doesn’t talk, barely moves, and can’t understand them in the same way anymore, is such a beautiful thing – though at a high cost. We’re still praying for that miracle, and God is using his sweet life to impact many.

My Grandpa Jost, was given a new mercy, as he was taken into Jesus’ presence in October. He was an amazing and godly man that we’ll miss a lot. Yet, are so thankful he is with our God, and so many other loved ones in heaven. Until then…

Our darling Amy Elizabeth (9 months) was born March 8^th at 8lbs. 13 oz. James & I had tried to get away before baby came, but the only available weekend away, was two days before the due date. So we thought we try. We enjoyed a nice evening with dinner before – surprise! – labor started. We made it home from Niagara Falls 2.5 hours before she was born! She loves her siblings, and being mauled over by them. She is the first one to really look like my side – a little Fehr. Starting to clap with her hands, and getting close to standing alone is just as fun to watch as with the fourth child, as the first. Still a little miracle each time.

Laura (2) does a great job keeping up to the older two, in wants, likes, and dislikes. If Erik wants a green plate, so does she. Her darling vocabulary make James and I sigh in delight over her cuteness. She wants to be a “pin-cense”, (princess) like Katy.  Laura has a real knack with Amy, and though just out of babyhood herself, she is like a big girl to her sister.

Erik (almost 4!) is still all-boy, and all cuteness. His love for tractors, trucks, scooters and balls continues, and a new interest in mazes has emerged. He is our logistics’ man – telling us the way to go in the van, and if there is a conflict of how to get everyone somewhere, he thinks it through and tells us how the scheduling should unfold for all of us. Both Erik and Katy have been taking swimming lessons this past year and loving it.

Katelyn (5 ½) – our excitable fun-loving girl.  She is doing really well in beginning to read, and is the one that makes life abit more fun. She was a flower girl with cousin Benjamin Dyck at Auntie Sarah’s wedding to Jonathan Eeleman in August, which she absolutely loved! She and Erik are such a good pair in playing, and I love watching their creativity at making tents, car washes, tea parties– despite the mess it brings. (All these messes are so good for my selfish heart)

James and I are still continuing on with what we’ve been given to do so far.  Parenting together is an awesome and challenging work (but I get to do it with the greatest guy!), and we’re in the beginning stages of homeschooling. James is continuing his work in sales at Whitebird, and I have casual work in photography – and designed my website this spring: www.lizheikoop.com.  We continue to love and be loved by, and work alongside our church family – and I’m ever so thankful for these men and women God has led us to fellowship with.

May the Lord bless you all with a wonderful time with your loved ones ov

er the Christmas season. May He give you His peace, and joy as you serve others with His love. And in whatever you are facing right now – whether in a glorious season, or a time of challenges, may you see the obvious and hidden blessings of Christ. For, it was in obscurity, and hardship, the Prince of Peace was born. He – the Ultimate Blessing – in disguise. Merry Christmas!

With love, James, Liz, Katelyn, Erik, Laura and little Amy

“Blessings” lyrics by Laura Story