Yesterday my daughter-in-law, Christine, and I headed to Toronto to go to Ripley’s Aquarium with Trina, Gary, Mina and Volker. We had a good time!
California Crochet
After finishing Mina’s afghan I had a request to make Kwazii for Volker. Kwazii is a former pirate in the show The Octonauts. I bought a pattern from Etsy and started. But I didn’t get it finished before leaving for California. I dutifully packed all the necessary parts into my carry-on luggage, intending to work on it on the plane.
First thing I discovered – I’d brought the wrong crochet hook! I have previously travelled with my case of crochet hooks, but I also almost lost them in security at the airport, or it felt like I almost lost them. Some of my hooks came from my Grandma Roth and I do not want to lose them, so I don’t take them anymore. So no crocheting on the plane.
Trina did not have a 4mm hook, so I had to buy a new hook. In the US Amazon is really amazing; I decided to buy a set of hooks, 2mm – 6mm, for less than $10 with the exchange! a really good deal.
Once I had the right hook, it didn’t take me long to finish Kwazii. I redid his whiskers as I didn’t like the first set. Volker was pleased.
Mina wanted a toy too. So I crocheted another character from a pattern book that Trina had purchased. This is Tweak: 
Then Trina decided to try crocheting a toy while I was there to help. She chose a Vegimal, Tunip (also from the Octonauts), to start. She caught on quickly and decided to make more. Volker is quite in love with the Vegimals.
It’s hard to hang onto all your friends and climb around on the playground equipment too!
Mina also wanted a Vegimal, so I made one with a different yarn and smaller hook
This is the size difference, my Codish and Trina’s Tunip:
And here are my two favourite children
How I do love them!
Two Volkers
This has long been my favourite photograph of Volker and our kids; now, it seems, it is a favourite of our grandchildren too.
I took it after Peter and Laura Burkard’s wedding – Trina had been their flowergirl – one year before Volker’s death.
Since moving into their new home Trina and Gary have had family photos sitting on the floor of the stair landing. Little Volker has just learned to climb those stairs. This is what happened:
Trina says he has very little interest in any of the other pictures, just the ones with Grampa in them.
Mina recently was “missing Grampa Volker,” so that photo is now hanging in the children’s bedroom.
Christmas Eve Dedication
In the Mennonite Church babies are not baptized, adults are. However, we do have a Parent/Child Dedication service. As part of the Christmas Eve service at Bloomingdale Mennonite Church (after the ice storm put an end to Sunday’s service) my little grandson, Volker William Burkard Gehiere was dedicated with his parents and the whole congregation.
Text written by Trina, read by Gary:
“I think when we name our children the names we chose are often really wishes we would like to bestow upon them. There is something that speaks to us in the name that we want to pass to our child, it may be frivolous or psychological but there is something.
In the case of our little boy it is more so the latter. The wishes are many and varied but most if not all go back to the name and the man he was named for, his grandfather, Volker Willi Walter Burkard. We wish him to be kind and compassionate with a great sense of humour, a maker, someone with a wonderful spiritual life, a beautiful loving person.
Today I hope we are helping him in some small way fulfill those wishes.”
Barb Smith-Morrison’s blessing as she carried Volker through the congregation:
Volker, God loves you. May you grow to love God and to serve humanity. May the gracious Spirit of Christ and the fellowship of God’s people bless your life this day and all days.
The congregation’s commitment:
Gary and Trina, we support your calling as parents and accept our calling to love, support and encourage you. We offer the gift of ourselves, our lives and example to nurture your family as you grow.
Volker and Mina, we pledge you our care and love. We promise to encourage you as you grow into all that God has created you to be. We welcome you.
Ripley’s Aquarium
Yesterday I met Trina, Gary, Mina and Volker at Ripey’s Aquarium in Toronto. What a fun place that is! I highly recommend it for a good place for a family to spend a couple of hours. Unfortunately I don’t have a lot of pictures because my camera isn’t wonderful in low light and Mina moves too much for the light conditions. However, I’ve put the best I got into a slideshow.