Marisa’s energy has been improving each day lately. She is getting up earlier and feeling stronger than the day before.
Marisa even went out for lunch today with MY mother, MY sister and MY sister-in-law without ME.
It surely is an answer to prayer.
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Life 
29 comments
Comments feed for this article
October 5, 2007 at 8:24 pm
diane heida
Dear M&M,
I am so glad to hear that Marisa is feeling a little better! Being able to spend time with YOUR family Mendelt is no doubt truly a blessing for Marisa! (and visa versa), it must’ve felt really good Marisa to get out of the house for a little while. We all have so much to be thankful for today, our prayers have been answered, we continue to pray for you guys.
Happy Thanksgiving! Love The Heida’s
October 5, 2007 at 11:15 pm
Paulette
Praise the Lord, I am thankful for this. I check on Marisa everyday and she is in my prayer journal. I pray for all of you that God will hold you up and that Marisa can indeed feel his arms holding her.
Blessings to you all.
October 5, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Kim Teeuwsen
Marisa- glad you are getting some energy and are feeling stronger. Mendelt- sometimes it’s nice to get out with just the girls, don’t feel bad, maybe someday they’ll take you!!!!:) Hope you guys have a great Thanksgiving weekend.
Take care and God bless!
Kim, Dennis, and kids
October 6, 2007 at 4:50 am
Wenda en Harry Haasjes
I am very glad to hear things are improving!
All the best!
Wenda
October 6, 2007 at 8:18 am
Roslyn
MARISA = Determination + Dignity + Courage + Suffering + Prayers + Tears + Medical innovations + LOVE from & to Mendelt + LOVE from & to Zion + LOVE from & to Jacoba Ann + LOVE from & to Zekijah + LOVE from & to her family + LOVE from & to his family + LOVE from & to your friends + LOVE from & to the doctors + LOVE from & to the nurses + LOVE from & to the technicians + LOVE from & to your church + LOVE from & to your community + LOVE from & to any one who has commented on your blog + LOVE of breezy gowns + LOVE from & to the new Mr. VanderVeen + LOVE of LIFE + LOVE from & to GOD = ENERGY
I must have missed many other plusses in your journey. Every one needs to keep them coming!!! This is definitely a true Thanksgiving.
October 6, 2007 at 8:38 am
Ann @ Holy Experience
Thank you, Father.
Thank you for hearing our prayers.
Thank you for blessing, bestowing, gracing.
Thank you for each day.
Thank you for hearing our entreaties on Marisa’s behalf.
We love you, Father.
We thank you for loving Marisa so passionately, unwaveringly, forever.
In Jesus name….
Praying early, throughout and late… you are in our prayers…
All’s grace,
Ann
October 6, 2007 at 9:34 am
Teresa Wunsche (Miedema)
Sounds like you two have returned from Mr. VanderVeen to Mrs. Hoekstra!
I give thanks that your energy is growing and your strength is returning. Your unfailing honesty and courage are ‘awe’some.
I have sent so many people to read your blog – not just as prayer warriors for you, but so that they also may be as inspired by your family and your faith as the rest of us. Anyone who has read your blog will attest to the fact that once you start, you can’t stop — your witness is infectious, and makes us all want to pray harder and longer for you that God’s healing will become real in you!
Wishing you a blessed and loving Thanksgiving 🙂
Teresa
October 6, 2007 at 10:07 am
Kim Reitsma-VanHaitsma
AWESOME!!!
I told you months ago that when you started feeling better you wouldn’t know what to do with yourself.
And Mendelt, are you one of those people who hates to miss out…? Sounds like myself, actually… MY whole family is together for Thanksgiving this weekend.. meanwhile, I am educating Americans on “Canadian Thanksgiving”…. (Someone asked me, “Does that mean you get 2 Thanksgivings?”) Yikes frights.
I am thanking the Lord today for energy. Not alternative energ or nuclear energy, but for MARISA’S energy. And it makes me remember to be thankful for my own, too.
October 6, 2007 at 10:44 am
Jacoba Doris
We had a great time, talking about you:)
October 6, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Laurie Lloyd
This is great news and she must so pleased that life seems to be a little
back on the normal track, even if one baby step at a time. Sorry you didn’t
get to go to lunch with the girls but, God knows she needed to do a girl thing
yesterday. Good for Marisa.!! Continued prayers for the Lord to bless her with a healing miracle. And she is so blessed to have you for her hubby. Keep the love flowing and we will continue to lift her up to the Great Physician in prayer.
Have a most wonderful weekend and enjoy this time together as a family with big HOPE.
Love, Laurie in Ca.
October 6, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Jim and Linda Poelman
Dear Marisa and Mendelt
Good to hear that your energy level is up. Thank you for your courage. Thank you too for your tears. Your love and support to each other is a blessing to all who read your blog.
We continue to keep you in our prayers.
Pastor Jim and Linda Poelman
Sarnia.
October 6, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Andrea O'Neill (Clark)
Marisa, I have been thinking about you a lot this week and I wanted to let you know how much you have helped me out. You see, I have had a really bad cold and it has drained me of all my energy. There were actually a couple of times that I wanted to cry probably just from being so tired and tired of coughing. Anyway, I thought of you and all what you are going through and I said to myself “I have absolutley nothing to moan about – it’s just a cold for goodness sakes. If Marisa can be as strong as she is being through her cancer than SURELY I can handle a cold.” I wish you didn’t have to be, but you are a shining example of how we should all be in our down times. Thankyou
Andrea
p.s. glad to hear that you are getting your energy back -praise God!
October 7, 2007 at 1:51 pm
j&j
soo glad to hear that your energy is up!
this means we can party !
see you soon hopefully.
peace and love***
j&j
October 7, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Fran Vandermeulen
Marisa, you haven’t heard from me for awhile, but I continue to pray for you everyday. Your courage is an inspiration for so many. I often don’t know what to say, how to offer comfort, but I did want you to know I care. When I have a hard day with my grade 5’s I remember you and your patience with the 10 year olds upstairs in Dundas. And I know you would love to have a hard day with excited grade ‘s again,if only for a day ! I am glad you are having better days since the procedure.
Fran
October 7, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Greg
Marisa, I hope you are doing well and am glad to hear that you energy is returning. I miss you guys and look forward to seeing again.
I hope that you guys had a great Thanksgiving.
Love forever…GREG
October 7, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Doreen & Fred Breukelman
So glad to hear that Marisa’s energy level is increasing… THANK YOU LORD! We’ll pray for this to continue!
blessings,
fred and doreen
ps. (thank you SDCH for supporting a fantastic cause)
October 7, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Administrator
Dear Marisa and Mendelt, you are all in my prayers daily and I can’t tell you how much of a blessing and inspiration you are to me. Anytime I start to feel like, woe is me or feeling down, I think about the struggles you face everyday and my problems and sorrows start to shrink away. You are in my prayers and my heart.
In Him,
Briggie
may the peace that only our Lord and Savior can bring, hover over you and be with you all the days of your lives.
October 7, 2007 at 11:31 pm
Diane Bakker
Dear Marisa & Mendelt
Thanks be to the Father from whom all blessings flow,
Praying for continued strength and bright hope for tomorrow.
Happy Thanksgiving, have a wonderful day with your families.
Blessings!!
Diane
October 8, 2007 at 11:12 am
Rebecca Stieva
I’m glad to hear that Marisa energy is returning. It’s one of the many things I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving. Have a blessed day!!
Rebecca
October 8, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Sam & Leona
Happy Thanksgiving to you both! I am very thankful to God for the energy that Marisa is experiencing. Take care, Leona
October 8, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Annette and Rob Schreuders
Happy Thanksgiving to you both!
In spite of, in the midst of, surrounded by, the journey you are on, there are still things to be thankful for, aren’t there?
God’s power is felt, is real, is seen in your lives and we are so thankful for that.
God’s peace is felt and is real in your lives because of the prayers of the communion of the people around you, nearby and far away, and we are thankful for that.
God is being glorified through the two of you, more than you or any of us will ever know, and we are thankful for that.
You have been blessed with wonderful children and caring families and we are thankful for that!!
Marisa’s energy is starting to come back and we are SO thankful for that!
May God continue to be your strength and peace and joy and your all in all! We know He will be and we are thankful for that.
You are in our prayers constantly and daily and when I lie down and when I get up and as I go through the day. Sending so much love,
Annette and Rob Steph and Mike too!!
October 8, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Erica
Thanking God for your increased energy level and that you are home together with your family this thanksgiving day:)
Thanking God for many things this day, but you are especially one of them Marisa(Mendelt)…. what a blessing you have been to us who read your blog…..your love , your devotion, your honesty, your strength, your courage, your care, your tears, your love for God… WOW.. .. you inspire me daily!! Thankyou. Praying God will totally surround you and your family this day with all the peace,strength, healing and love that He alone can give.
October 8, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Liz Schouwstra
Dear Marisa and Mendelt,
You have been in our thoughts and prayers so often in the last weeks as you have been recovering from the procedure and gradually regaining strength. I have been reading from 2 Thessalonains 2 and 3 where it reads in verse 16-17: “May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” And then in 3:4-5: “We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.”
I have to think of today as it is Thanksgiving day and how much we have to be thankful for. We give thanks for the way the Lord has been with you in the last months and how He has revealed Himself to you in an amazing and fresh way. Even though there have been “down” times it is by God’s grace and mercy that He has protected your heart. He has given you a spirit of looking forward and one that does not give up. We are thankful for the that testimony of God’s love given to us and shown to us in so many ways. May your heart continue to persevere because of the hope found in Christ.
Love,
Liz
October 8, 2007 at 8:58 pm
G & R
Hi Marisa and Mendelt!!! Good to hear from you again! Great to hear that you have more energy and can be with the girls. Thanks for being open with all that you have been going through even with when you have tears. It is so good to share thoughts and feelings to people who care and love you! With this thanksgiving weekend we do have alot to be thankful for and that includes you as a special family who is deeply thought off and loved. God continue to give you strength, peace, healing and courage. Love and prayers. R&G
October 8, 2007 at 11:36 pm
christina torch
so glad to hear that youre feeling better. i hope every day you feel stronger and healthier. i am overjoyed to see that you are making such a comeback.
i still believe in miracles………
god bless you 🙂
October 9, 2007 at 1:08 pm
david
Hey Guys,
I heard from my mother that the two of you shared a room for a few hours? What are the chances. Anyhow, I am overjoyed to hear that you are starting to feel better. My mom starts her chemo on Thursday, so please feel free to send some of those good, healing feelings her way.
In our prayers,
D&B vdL
October 9, 2007 at 2:18 pm
The Pols family
So wonderful to hear that your energy level is on the rise, Marisa! Yippee! Glad that you got to go out for lunch with “the girls.”
May God continue to give you renewed strength and may He continue to grant you all you stand in need of to keep up the good fight!
Love and prayers,
Cheryl, Andrew
and the boys
xoxoxoxoxoxo
October 9, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Kathryn Ringelberg
It is great news to hear that you have more energy now!
you are in my prayers
dont give up hope
i read an email from Shirley Vanderlaan awhile ago, thats so cool that you guys shared a room together for awhile! what a small world it really is
♥Kathryn
October 10, 2007 at 10:07 am
Ken and Dana Huizinga
Our thoughts and prayers are with you both and your family each and every day as you continue your fight. May you continue to have some good days Marisa and feel like having lunch with the girls more often.
May God grant you all that you stand in need of. The peace and patience that it takes to wait for results can only come from God. We cannot do it on our own. In this world of instant answers we can become so impatient, tomorrow seems to far away but knowing that all things are done in God’s time make it that much easier.
We are sending you lots of hugs and kisses…..
lots of love
Ken and Dana