I just spent 3 days with 37 high schoolers on a choir tour. It was a great experience. We had some great times singing, learning and exploring how to be better people.
For the bad press that teenagers sometimes get, they can be amazing people.
Our tour culminated with participating in a High School Music Festival in Toronto with 8 other schools. At the evening concert, each school presented two songs individually and then also some selections sung with all schools together (350 students).
After I directed them in our individual pieces, we left the stage and I was flooded with the grief of missing Marisa.
It was another death in what I call a journey of 1000 deaths.
But we sounded so celestial that I am sure She must have heard us.
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May 3, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Anita Lubbers
Mendelt,
Being flooded with grief sounds overwhelming, I wish for you my friend that I could throw you a life preserver and pull you out of these stormy waters. Our prayers continue to go with you
Anita
May 4, 2008 at 9:27 am
Rebecca Stieva
Mr. Hoekstra,
I just wanted to say thanks for all you did this past weekend and throughout the school year. It was an awesome tour. Still praying for you and your children.
Rebecca
May 4, 2008 at 11:07 am
Theresa
I agree…teenagers are pretty amazing!
That often becomes more apparent when they’re given opportunities, called upon to lead, or around people who inspire them.
The journey…
May 4, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Julia van Staalduinen
Glad to hear you had a nice, music-filled weekend. I’m sure she must have heard you and delighted in seeing you in your element.
As you gear up for another round of difficult “firsts”, remember that we love you and are here for you. Anything, no matter what.
Peace and so much love, dear friend.
May 4, 2008 at 8:19 pm
matt vaandering
i remember when you directed my grade 7 or 8 class (i forget) in singing “acronyms”…and if i remember correctly, we were far from celestial:p
May 4, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Lynn VanderWier
You are right..I have to agree with you, that teenagers can be amazing people.
A special thank you for being the highschool choir director. They have so
much positive things to say about you. I know the kids had a great weekend.
We are all so proud of you..especially knowing what all you have been through.
I have no doubt that Marisa heard the beautiful music from Heaven and was proud of you too!
May 5, 2008 at 12:10 am
Jacinda Reitsma
Thanks for your uplifting comments about teenagers – they get far too much negative press.
The more I think about Marisa and your children it still hits me how much they have lost. Despite Marisa being in a far better place she is not with them. I took the kids for a bike ride after supper and as we were biking along my 6 year old said ” Mom I don’t want you to get old and die” out of the blue the way kids do. I wasn’t sure what to say and so we started to talk about heaven.
About falling off your bike except it would tickle and not hurt, about swimming without having to come up for air; the water would always be warm (but you would still feel wet he pointed out). About soaring through the sky like a bird. And then I told him rather unexpectedly that I wanted to go there first so that I could make sure everything was ready for him when he got there. And I really meant it.
The very thought of being separated from my children between heaven and earth seemed so real and so frightening. It made be think of Marisa and how it MUST be so hard to be away from her beatiful children even in a wonderful place like heaven. Maybe she is making sure it is ready for them.
May 5, 2008 at 7:48 am
Mike & Sheri Nywening
I’m sure she did hear. And I bet she smiled her contagious smile.
May 5, 2008 at 1:09 pm
R&G
Hi Mendelt! It is great to hear that you were so involved with the choir tour! No wonder they sang so celestial with you directing! That is fantastic. Thanks for sharing that with us.
Great to hear the positive side of teenagers. We need to hear that especially when we have a # of them in our household. That was very encouraging to hear.
Continue to think and pray for you in all that you are going through especially when you miss Marisa soooo much. Our hearts go to you Mendelt! Love and prayers R&G
May 6, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Rebecca Lindeboom
Hey Mr. Hoekstra, I read your blog today, after you said we should. I had an awesome time with you on the choir trip! Hope to see you next year too! God Bless, your in my prayers,
Rebecca