As mentioned in my previous post, we did go for a very special reason to The Netherlands, this 64th trip for family and friends.
It was my dear Parents' 65th Wedding Anniversary!
Here Mom & Dad enjoy a serenade by the elderly choir 'Levensvreugd' or Life's Joy in English.
Mom has been singing with them for some 30 years and Dad joined at a much later time.
Mom filled the void of my Paternal Grandmother's soprano voice...
This photo I took on the day of celebration with the entire family of 51 present.
My husband Pieter is looking on, behind Mom & Dad.
Since this is such a rare occasion, my Parents did receive some Royal Mail...
From the King and Queen of The Netherlands...
Also from the King's Commissioner of the Province of Limburg...
Such an embossed seal is quite impressive!
We all together celebrated this remarkable and very rare milestone of a 65th Wedding Anniversary.
A Blissful Relationship with its usual ups and downs.
Even the day after the celebration with dinner in the restaurant, Mom & Dad had a special Mass at Church to say thanks for God's Blessings for such a long Marriage together.
Heeroom, my Great-Uncle Priest, did bless my Parents' marriage, when he was on leave from his mission in Indonesia.
This photo above and below is taken right after Mass with Mom & Dad.
Funny that Mother and Daughter did wear the same colors...
This would be the VERY LAST TIME with Mom together (alive)!
Both in Royal Blue!
Our German Son and family did pay Mom & Dad a visit with a large basket of regional foods from the Eifel area.
Below I show you some Dutch Government statistics about the approx. 7% of marriages that will last 60 years or more, as of 2001.
Almost 14,000 of the entire population of some 16.7 million reached 60 or more years of marriage.
Over 200 couples reached 70 years or more... so there is still hope from Mom & Dad!
Below you see that it did drop for 2010 to only 6,000 couples that reached 60 or more...
Image is from Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek
Image below is also from page 68 in Pdf from CBS
Image is from Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek
Image below is also from page 68 in Pdf from CBS
Very proud of both my Parents!
They do belong to a very rare group of couples that stayed married for 65 years together.
Quite some role models - through thick and thin...
The fruits of a simple lifestyle and hard work together!
Related link:
{March 14, Written Life Message for me by my Favorite Great-Uncle} | previous post by me
how wonderful you have them both, still, and they have each other!
ReplyDeleteDearest Theresa,
DeleteTrue this is a manifold blessing!
Hugs,
Mariette
Oh Mariette you are so very blessed to have and enjoy your dearest parents together, as companions...and wow, 65 years of marriage, I mean, God is good! May HE continue to bless such a lovely couple and to make you happy because of it! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBig hugs,
FABBY
Dearest Fabby,
DeleteIndeed we all are so blessed and let's pray this will continue for some time still. It was such a joyful day for my Parents and for all!
Hugs,
Mariette
that is definitely a mile stone. Very impressive the mail they received. Too many more years together.
ReplyDeleteDearest Daniela,
DeleteA very rare milestone that is as it is only bestowed upon some 7% of the Dutch population. That mail is indeed precious and quite impressive.
We hope indeed that they will be able to stay together for several more years.
Hugs,
Mariette
Deaerst Mariette,
ReplyDeletethis really is a mileston in life, 65 yeears married...WOW ......only few people mange this!
Wonderful! and Mail from the King and Queen....wonderful! It looks like they had a wonderful wedding anniversary!
Have a lovely weekend,
Love and hugs and all the best for you and your family,
Claudia
Dearest Claudia,
DeleteThank you! This was a true milestone in their lives. Being married for 65 years is such a rare achievement. We're mighty proud of them!
Hugs and lovely weekend to you both.
Mariette
Hallo Mariette,
ReplyDeletedas ist toll!
Nach einer so langen Zeit immer noch gesund und glücklich zusammen zu sein, ist ein sehr großes Geschenk.
Ganz liebe Grüße!
Liebe Michaela,
DeleteJa es ist ein riesiges Geschen und eben mehr da die Mutter schon fast 6 Jahre Dialyse macht.
Liebe Grüsse und schönes Wochenende.
Mariette
Dearest Mariette ,really the reason was very special ! You had happy time with your parents and I wish to you to celebrate your 65 th wedding anniversary with your lovely Pieter ! Your must be very proud for your parents ! Have a nice day !
ReplyDeleteDearest Olympia,
DeleteThat was a very special reason for traveling across the ocean!
It was a happy time with lots of fond memories and we truly could thank God at Mass for keeping my Parents alive that long.
Wish we could make that too...
Hugs and happy weekend.
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeletedas ist Glück.
Sonnige Grüße
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteJa, Glück und Gottes Segen!
Liebe Grüsse,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, What a happy occasion for your parents and their family. Congratulations to all. What a lot of history their marriage has lasted through, and you can plainly see the love and attitude that sustains and animates them. Furthermore, in every one of your posts, we can see how you have absorbed these attributes from them.
ReplyDeleteMany more happy and healthy years of marriage to your parents!
--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteThank you for your wise words here. Yes they lived through a lot of history indeed, having met during WWII and they had to hold on because there was NOTHING at that time, nor even shortly after the war. They had a great attitude and worked hard all their lives, together with prayer. To me they have been true role models in every way for teaching us great morals!
Let's hope that God will grant them more happy and healthy years together, regardless Mom's dialysis which she so couragously handles.
Happy weekend to you!
Mariette
Dat was een mooie gelegenheid! Je ouders zien er allebei erg goed uit. Kom je uit Limburg? Ik wel, uit Geleen.
ReplyDeleteGroetjes, Ada
Beste Ada,
DeleteJazeker, ik kom uit Horst in Limburg en mijn man uit Groessen, Gelderland... Ook niet ver weg dus en hij heeft lang in Horst gewoond ook.
Het was een prácht gelegenheid en een hele zegen dat mijn Ouders er nog zo uit zien en dit mochten meemaken.
Liefs en een fijn weekend.
Mariette
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteI hope your mum and Dad to stay together for more many years with your lovely Pieter with you!
You with your mum of photoa are very beautiful Specially on right hand your face colours with same side you stay together for as much as your years go....
Hugs and love to you!
Michiko
Dearest Michiko,
DeleteThat is also our wish they are granted more time together still and I together with my Pieter!
It was such a coincidence that we both wore royal blue that day... Nice memories from our time together in Church to thank God for so many blessings.
Hugs to you and happy weekend.
Mariette
Wat een feest met zelfs koninklijke gelukwensen! Wat bijzonder allemaal.Jullie hebben allebei inderdaad de koninklijke kleur van Maxima en de prinsesjes aangetrokken! Beter dan oranje! Wij zijn nog niet zo ver al vind ik 43 ook al heel wat :)
ReplyDeleteBeste Marianne,
DeleteEen heel bijzondere tijd voor mijn Ouders. Dit zijn de tweede koninklijke gelukwensen die ze mochten ontvangen, eerder ook al voor hun diamanten bruiloft en nu voor hun briljanten bruiloft.
Die kleur dat was zo'n toeval! Mijn pakje wat ik wilde dragen voor die dag naar de kerk, hing bij mijn vriendin en hun waren er niet... Dus dan maar in het blauw en laat dat precies voor mijn Moeder ook de kleuren zijn geweest. Fijne herinneringen.
Ja 43 is zeker al heel wat en met volharding en goede gezondheid komen jullie ook best zover.
Liefs en fijn weekend.
Mariette
Lovely photos. It must have been wonderful having all the family there at the one time.
ReplyDeleteHugs Kay
Dearest Kay,
DeleteOh you bet that it was lovely for having the entire family together. Such an honorable day for my Parents and the several festivities around that day with royal honors.
Hugs and happy weekend.
Mariette
Beautiful photos and wonderful celebrations!!!
ReplyDeleteYour parents really deserved all those honours after 65 years of marriage!
I wish you and Pieter the same, dearest Mariette!!!!!
Love and kisses!!!!
Marie-Anne
Dearest Marie-Anne,
DeleteThank you and yes, my Parents were most deserving of such honors for such a long time in marriage!
Wish we would live to such anniversary too!
Hugs and love to you,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette;
ReplyDeleteOh, what a celebration with GORGEOUS setting! Congratulations for both of your parents and all of your family. I was quite impressed with thee picture both you and your mother wore the same color close (royal blue). Did you chose yourself?
I always wished my parents could have had 50th anniversary p;)
Sending you Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*
Dearest Miyako,
DeleteIt was a day with a golden edge and one to never forget. Fondest memories.
No, wearing both the same color clothes was not chosen but rather coincidentally as my suit hung at my friend's and she was not home the evening before... So I went to Mass wearing this instead and it turned out Mom too was wearing royal blue that day!
It is the dream of every child for having their Parents reach an important milestone in life such as a golden wedding anniversary. Some couples make it that close to it and than one partner is being lost... Sad.
Hugs and love to you with happy weekend wishes.
Mariette
What a happy and special occasion. Happy 65th wedding anniversary to your parents! Wow only 7% of marriage last 60 years or more. You must be very proud!
ReplyDeleteHow surprising you and your mom both wore royal blue. I think that proves your special connection in the heart :-) I wish your parents many more years of happy marriage!!
Dearest Tamago,
DeleteThat was so very special indeed! Such blessings for all of us to have them still around.
It was quite surprising indeed to see Mom too wear her royal blue to Mass! There surely is a deep connection in the heart; one that also erases the great physical distances between us.
We pray for more blessed marriage time together!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette, This was such a glorious occasion. I am so glad that you and Pieter were able to be there. It seems there was a grand celebration... So wonderful!! Your Mom and Dad looked so good. Your Mom's appearance belies her kidney disease. She seems to doing nicely and has such a wonderful smile.
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed weekend, Ginger
Dearest Ginger,
DeleteThank you so much and it was really a glorious occasion!
Mom and Dad both look very good considering their age and yes, Mom belies her kidney disease; she's a warrior.
Wishing you and Bob also a lovely weekend.
Hugs,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeletees ist ein Segen, wenn man 65 Jahre beieinander ist.
Was haben sie alles erlebt?
Ich wünsche deinen Eltern noch eine Reihe glücklicher Jahre.
Einen schönen Abend wünscht dir
Irmi
Liebe Irmi,
DeleteOh ja es ist bestimmt ein Segen um so lange beieinander zu sein!
Sie haben sehr viel erlebt und immer mit Hoffnung weiter gemacht, so ein grosses Vorbild.
Wir beten dass sie noch glückliche Jahre zusammen haben dürfen.
Liebe Grüsse und schönes Wochenende.
Mariette
A momentous occasion indeed! And certainly cause for celebration. How absolutely wonderful that they were honored in such a special way. I think that it is absolutely fantastic for the country to acknowledge such an accomplishment. All the best to your mom and dad and many more blessing of health and happiness. Tammy
ReplyDeleteDearest Tammy,
DeleteThank you for your comment and yes, it is fantastic that The Netherlands does acknowledge such accomplishment, that should be followed by more.
We hope they will continue to be blessed and can stay together for some more time.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette,Happy 65th wedding anniversary to your parentsl!Lovely pictures!!How wonderful you have them both, still, and they have each other!
ReplyDeleteWish you a great weekend!Hugs!
Dimi...
Dearest Dimi,
DeleteOh those pictures show joy and this trip has given us fond memories forever!
It is such a special blessing for still having them and even more so for having each other.
Happy weekend to you.
Hugs,
Mariette
You have a beautiful family Mariette. Happy anniversary to your parents. WOW 65 years!
ReplyDeleteDearest Dee,
DeleteThank you so much and yes, that was a big WOW!
Hugs,
Mariette
65 years together is bloody amazing
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteThat sure is very amazing!
Hugs,
Mariette
Maravilhoso....Feliz aniversário...
ReplyDeleteCumprimentos
Dearest Fernando,
DeleteThank you; that indeed was marvelous.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to your dear parents on their 65 years wedding anniversary! Such a wonderful milestone and you must have been so happy to be reunited with all your family on this such momentous occasion. You and your Mother look beautiful in your Royal blue outfits.
Sending hugs and wishing you a lovely weekend
Carolyn
Dearest Carolyn,
DeleteThank you so much and yes this was a very special and quite momentous occasion for being reunited with 51 family members!
Oh, the Royal blue outfits was such a coincidence; I could hardly believe it myself.
Hugs to you as well and happy weekend.
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeletewas für besondere Ehrungen deine Eltern erleben durften zu ihrem 65. Hochzeitstag.
Wirklich ein gesegnetes Paar. Nur wer sehr alt zusammen werfen darf kann es erleben. Ein Hoch auf deine Eltern. Mögen sie noch schöne Jahre miteinander verbringen dürfen.
Liebe Grüsse
Julia
Liebe Julia,
DeleteJa diese besondere Ehrungen waren sehr schön für meine Eltern um so etwas erleben zu dürfen. Die Einsegnung zur Hochzeit, 65 Jahre vorher bei meinem Grossonkel hat wirklich gehalten. Bestimmt hat er vom Himmel her noch dafür sorgen können... Wir beten dass sie noch eine Weile zusammen sein dürfen!
Liebe Grüsse zum Wochenende,
Mariette
Wunderbar, liebe Mariette! Das gibt es in der Tat nur noch selten heute, wo viele bei dem geringsten Anlass gleich auseinanderlaufen.Dabei muß man sich mit jedem neuen Partner auch wieder zusammenraufen, ein jahrelanger Prozess, der bei manchen gar in der 3. oder 4. Ehe mündet ...
ReplyDeleteMeine Eltern waren auch bis zum Tode meines Vaters verheiratet und wir selbst sind auch schon wieder über 30 Jahre ein Ehepaar ;-) So vergeht die Zeit.
Du ähnelst Deiner Mutter wirklich sehr!
Viele liebe Grüße auch hier
Sara
Liebe Sara,
DeleteEs ist in der Tat wunderbar und sehr selten! Wir sind also sehr stolz dass die beiden Eltern es geschafft haben zusammen. Es ist so schade wenn eine der Eltern sterbt bevor man so einen grossen Tag erreichen kann...
Die Zeit vergeht ganz schnell aber ich glaube nicht wir schaffen es beide um auch 65 Jahre verheiratet zu sein.
Danke für deine Wörter!
Liebe Grüsse,
Mariette
65 years! That is so wonderful! What a beautiful celebration. To love and be together for 65 years is an amazing thing now-a-days. Fantastic. And everyone looks so wonderful in the photos!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to your parents!
xo Catherine
Dearest Catherine,
DeleteThank you very much and indeed this was a wonderful achievement.
Happy weekend to you and stay cozy.
Hugs,
Mariette
Można tylko pogratulować tylu lat spędzonych razem i życzyć jeszcze wielu w zdrowiu. Rodzice się z pewnością cieszyli ze wspaniałej imprezy i, że zobaczyli swoich bliskich przy sobie. Pozdrawiam.
ReplyDeleteOne can only congratulate the many years spent together and wish you many more healthy. Parents will enjoy the wonderful event and that they saw their loved ones with you. Yours.
Dearest Giga,
DeleteThank you so much and yes, one can only congratulate the endurance of two people staying together throughout so much in their lives. Quite some role models and it seems that my Great Uncle did bless their marriage in a very special way. We were so happy for being part of this celebration on the other side of the ocean!
Hugs to you,
Mariette
how wonderful you have them both, i love your blog you have a new follower from Chile
ReplyDeleteDearest Angélica,
DeleteThank you for your comment and for following. Indeed it is a blessing to have both Parents still alive!
Chile is a very special country for us as we had our Church marriage near Osorno, Chile...
Hugs,
Mariette
Lieve Mariette,
ReplyDeleteDat het een prachtige Briljanten Huwelijksdag is geweest schittert van de foto's af!!!
Zoveel mooie herinneringen om op terug te kijken voor je lieve ouders dat ze dit samen met al hun geliefden mochten vieren.
Zó mooi vind ik de foto van jou samen met moeder in het blauw,jullie hadden zonder het van elkaar te weten voor die kleur gekozen lees ik in reacties,maar ik zie dat jullie beiden ook dezelfde vrolijke twinkeling in de ogen hebben.....en dat is niet toevallig,zo moeder zo dochter☺☺.
Lieve groet,Ger
Lieve Ger,
DeleteDank je wel en já het was een prachtige Briljanten Huwelijksdag. We kunnen er hopelijk nog lang met de ouders samen over napraten.
Ja, dat blauw was puur toeval maar eigenlijk best grappig ook. Moeke was ook zó voldaan na de H. Mis als dank voor hun 65ste huwelijk dat ze mogelijk ook daarom zo'n vrolijke twinkeling in de ogen had. En ik was ook blij dat we er samen mét hun waren; mooi alles afgerond en daar zijn we ook speciaal voor gekomen.
Liefs,
Mariette
Van harte gefeliciteerd met het 65 jarig huwelijk van je ouders. Heerlijk voor allemaal dat jullie er ook bij konden zijn. Je moeder straalt op alle foto's.
ReplyDeleteWat een vreselijke tornado was er tijdens jullie afwezigheid op het thuisfront. Gelukkig is jullie huis gespaard en heeft al het werk z'n vruchten afgeworpen.
Lieve groet,
Beste Willy,
DeleteJa het was heerlijk om nog eens allemaal samen te kunnen zijn en Moeder straalt inderdaad. Ze is zó blij dat ze dit heeft mogen meemaken, ondanks de dialyse.
Ja, die tornado was wel schrikken maar gelukkig was er niks met on huis tijdens afwezigheid en de voorzieningen om het water rondom ons huis weg te houden hebben ook voortreffelijk gewerkt. Een hele opluchting!
Liefs,
Mariette
Ooohh wat speciaal...gefeliciteerd hoor met je ouders...enne... wat lijk jij ontzettend veel op je moeder!!!
ReplyDeleteBeste Marianne,
DeleteJa, heel speciaal en ze mogen er beiden trots op zijn. Kennelijk ziet iedereen dat heel duidelijk dat ik op mijn Moeder lijk. Laten we het hopen dan mag ik ook oud worden.
Liefs,
Mariette