Noted Postings
The links below are to works by Henry de Jong that are posted on this website. They are listed here for reference and for exchange with publishers and editors. They may not be used without conversation or permission. They may be freely shared as links with other potentially interested publishers,
Full Circle
When our daughter, Laura, became a Christian Reformed pastor in 2017 I had no idea that we had generations of 'dominees' in our family, as far back as the Dutch Reformation. But recent work with My Heritage has uncovered five centuries of faithfulness and a fascinating story line connecting a
Praeludium
Photos from earlier trips to Europe (1971, 1974, 1983). See the Blog for reflections on these experiences.
Terschelling – A place in the heart
Perhaps my father was lucky. There is a place in the world that he called his own. It's a wonderful place that he could visit and remember and which never lost its essence throughout his own variegated life. That place is Terschelling
Forty Years
Forty years is a long time, by any stretch. For us, particularly, these back forty have felt like a lifetime, with two bookends - our trips to Europe in 1983 and 2023 (still to come).
Summer Quest 2023
In the summer of 2023, Wendy and Henry explored parts of Holland and Europe as well, before and after the van der Laan extended family reunion in Stadskanaal.
Family History
It was a privilege for me to delve deeply into the lives of ‘Opa and Oma’ van der Laan in 2019, while editing and assembling the various writings and photos for the book "The van der Laan Venture" -- memoirs of my grandfather, but also of his wife and several
The Nature of Things
It is now already five years since the Christmas of 2016 when we last gathered fully as family in Niagara, some three months after Stiny de Jong's funeral. We were drawn together to hang on to that sense of belonging that only a matriarch can supply. We gathered for a
Music Visualizations
Music is primarily an aural experience. But of the other senses, the visual is next in line. Listeners have long been fascinated with ‘watching’ the music – seeing musicians ‘get into it’ with body and soul, focusing on flying fingers, following along with a score, and reveling in synchronous dance
Young and Old Alike – AACS/ICS family conferences
For me, there’s a string of pearls stretching back from 1991 all the way to 1970. The first AACS (now ICS) August long weekend Family Conference was held in Niagara (Fort Erie) fifty years ago this summer. Along with the ever-increasing number of families taking advantage of the improved camping
Jubilee Native Plant Garden
This is an exploratory proposal to add a large native plants garden to the property of Jubilee Fellowship Christian Reformed Church, in the north-west corner of the property
Teus de Jong Verhalen
Tijdens Henry en Wendy's reis door Europa deze zomer bezochten ze Oom Teus en Tante Pieta met Jaap en Aagie op weg naar Kasteel de Haar. Tijdens die koffietijd legde Henry de verhalen vast die Oom Teus vertelde over het leven op de boerderij in de beginjaren.
Sociopolitical Commentary
A collection of links to religious, political and social commentary that resonates with me.
Native Plant Gardening Resources
An eclectic collection of online resources and books relating to gardening in general, but especially native plant gardening.
Newmaker Notes Comments
Leave a reply. A picture is worth a thousand words. But words are still invaluable.
Folio Wide Page
Folio Wide Page excerpt
Herman de Jong
Writing for his descendants living during the year 2050. Publishing this work is a bit premature, but some of us will not be around in 2050 to read this. So, as Herman would say, let's just jump the gun.
Sarnia Christian School, 1953-1973
Twentieth Anniversary Booklet Written and produced by Herman de Jong In 1973, Herman de Jong (my father) was an upholsterer. Not an obvious choice for authoring this school’s anniversary booklet. Until you know that he taught there, off and on, for fourteen of its first twenty years. He quit teaching
AACS Niagara Family Conferences, 1970 – 1991
For me, there’s a string of outposts stretching back from 1991 all the way to 1970. The first AACS (now ICS) August long weekend Family Conference was held in Niagara (Fort Erie) some fifty years ago. I've made a whole website for this.
The Panorama Page
Taking the Wide View: These panoramas are mostly just casual, hand held affairs. taken on the spur of the moment to preserve a wide view that I found particularly appealing
The Living Vine Panorama
This panorama of Jubilee Fellowship's worship space was taken just after Christmas, 2010.
The Living Vine mural, wrapping around the back, takes up more than half of the panorama.
Harry van der Laan’s own story
An Improbable Trajectory. Harry van der Laan’s own story - Part 1: “… a little bit of fire” - 1936 – 1955
Herman and Stiny de Jong read stories
Once upon a time, I'm sure (though I have no memory of it), my mother and father read or told stories to me and my siblings. Probably every day. Whether they were from the bible or not, these stories pushed us to the frontiers of experience without at all endangering
A Beginning
It's hard to believe that it will soon be forty years since I produced this book, during my break year between studying at the ICS and moving with Wendy to Holland for a year. I'm tempted now to call this "The Beginning and the End", because nothing much came of