MARIETTE'S BACK TO BASICS: Angels We Know By Name

Showing posts with label Angels We Know By Name. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Sweet Audrey needs your HELP and PRAYERS

It was on March 11, 2016, that we heard a strange noise when having our 'late' afternoon tea in the living room after a busy day.

That turned out to be the gas burners from a HUGE Hot Air Balloon that landed in our back yard!
Just beside the big pond and they barely managed to get over the huge oak tree that stands next to the pond.

The daughter of a dear friend was inside the basket, it was one of the things still on her bucket list.
After having received two donor lungs, and recovering well enough, she finally was able to realize this!

Audrey aimed at 'drifting' a bit farther to reach her Parents' property but the wind was not enough...

Audrey looking at us, from inside the balloon's basket...

Since then, Audrey has reached another fabulous milestone; meeting the LOVE of HER LIFE and she got married to him on November 4, 2017.

Above photo shows Audrey as a gorgeous Bride, with her happy Mom Jo-Ann, whom I know for decades.

TRUE LOVE... photo taken at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, the 2nd largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.

Audrey wrote on September 6 at 9:49 AM: Today is my 5th lungaversary!!! I have had several moments lately that made it seem like I might not make it to this day!
When you start talking about getting a lung transplant with your doctor, you hear the scary statistics: 80% survive 1 year, 50% survive 5 years, and only 20% survive 10 years! Of course you think you are going to be one of those who will make it to ten years before you need another pair of lungs! And then you hear about people who are 18 or 26 years out with the same pair of lungs and you desperately hope to be in that group!! But the longer I walk this transplant life, the more I see that the stats don't lie. I have known people to pass away during each stage of this process. We all want to get new lungs and live as long as possible but getting new lungs is just a bandaid. It just prolongs the inevitable. What everyone waiting for organs most needs - what EVERYONE needs - is JESUS!!
We are all going to stand before our Creator one day and give an account of our lives. We are all going to be judged on what we did or didn't do. If we haven't surrendered our hearts and lives to Jesus, we will face eternal punishment.
Nobody wants that! Even though I still believe that God has promised me that I will live and not die, I am at peace if God does call me home! I accepted Christ as my savior when I was four years old, and I have followed Him ever since. I may have gone through periods of doubt or anger at Him about how my life was going at times, but ultimately I kept following Him because nothing and no one else was worthy enough to base my life on. So however God chooses to get me through all of this, I know I can trust Him because He has good plans for me! To prosper me and not to harm me... to give me a future and a hope!
Audrey is an Angelic young woman and even more beautiful on the inside than outside!
Her extremely strong Faith has carried her this far, together with the support of her True Love at her side and family, friends and legions of people praying for her, have kept her with us.
But things need to be taken care of...

Right now, Audrey and her husband Kevin need our PRAYERS and HELP!
She had been kept heavily sedated and on the ventilator, for letting her lungs heal after treatment for heavy bleeding...
Audrey's Aid click the link for going there... May God sustain her and let her be with her TRUE LOVE for some more time!

Thanks for your attention and feel free to share this!

Update: On Sunday, October 13, Audrey had her 38th Birthday
On Tuesday afternoon, October 15, she went to heaven...
She now is another Angel we know by name!

Related post:
{UPDATE...} | previous post by me when Hot Air Balloon landed in our back yard...

Saturday, May 11, 2019

Mom is Being Posthumously Honored for her Knitting

Mom's 5th Mother's Day in Heaven...

She no doubt is smiling proudly down from heaven because of the many views of her fabulous knitting!

Mom wrote in a letter from September 17, 1986 (my Maternal Grandma's B'day...) that she'd asked the lady from the yarn shop, for placement of her knitted bedspread at the Hiltho Exhibition.

Hiltho Exhibition is every 4 years since 1967, and is the biggest in the South of The Netherlands.
Mom had tried so hard for the Hiltho '86 exhibition from 26 September till 1 October... click link; then click through.
It just didn't work out for having her work displayed at the Hiltho... to have a booth there was too expensive for the yarn store! But the store owner told her she should bring it for the coming winter, to have it as window display instead.

That's what happened and here my Mom is proudly standing in front of the shop's window with her beautiful work!
I'd forgotten that I too had knitted several squares, before immigrating to the USA...
Mom mentioned that in her letter!

This is Mom's letter, neatly handwritten as so many that I received over the years!
Mom was very happy with the offer to have it as window display instead.
She wrote that my sister–in–law Elly, brother Harry's wife, very dedicated was helping her getting all the knitting finished. Elly also had taken the squares apart and rejoined them in a different way, as she'd seen from one of the patients at the nursing home where she worked.

It was quite emotional for making these bedspread photos on February 21, 2014, before going to the hospital again for visiting Mom during her dialysis.
Deep inside I KNEW that this would also be the very last time I would see her alive...
My gut feeling proved to be right.

Less than a year later, I would be up all night and do Face Time with my youngest brother, who sat together with my 2nd brother, at Mom's bedside. Seeing, hearing Mom and talking to her for the very last time.
It was then when I did compose a beginning for a FAREWELL, or EULOGY, to be read...

*

Going Home...

Daddy, brothers and sisters, sisters-in-law and partner, nephews and nieces, family and friends...

We are together in warmth and gratitude to honor our Mother.

A dear wife, dedicated Mother for all of us. Her entire life she has given love with an enormous big heart; without asking much for herself.

This last trip of 17 days away from D'n Afhang, was a difficult route for her but she has accomplished it with pride. She wanted to go home with all her heart, for finally putting her tired head to rest close to Daddy, in her own beloved place, where 7 of her 8 children were born.

Eight children, of which I am the second and our eldest sister is now finally again with Mom!

She almost made it for being married to Daddy 66 years; in love and sorrow.

Working hard her entire life, and yet in her way always trying to pamper us.

She was able to cook delicious tomato soup from own cultivation, with yummy fried onions. Her spare ribs with home-made tomato paste and fried onions were also a favorite.

Baking for the entire family she did also with much love and she herself was fond of ginger cake...

She also loved nougat, that I always brought her back from the fun-fair!

She loved to knit and crochet and in the photo she proudly poses in front of the window where her large knitted bedspreads hung.

Together with Daddy she made trips to Germany, and also to Paris and even four times to Georgia in the USA. Proudly she always said she had two daughters in America; one in great America.

On her bike, she often went to little America on Tuesday’s, on market day, with a gift for her first grandchild.

Meanwhile Mom had passed away and that stopped my writing...

Never could finish it...

*
In Dutch:

Naar Huis...

Papa, broers en zussen, schoonzussen en partner, neefjes en nichtjes, vrienden...

We zijn bij elkaar in warmte en dankbaarheid ter ere van ons Moeke.

Een lieve echtgenote, toegewijde Moeke voor ons allemaal. Ze heeft met een enorm groot hart haar hele leven liefde gegeven; zonder veel voor zichzelf te vragen.

Deze laatste reis van 17 dagen weg van d'n Afhang was een moeilijke route voor haar maar ze heeft het met fierheid volbracht. Ze wilde met heel haar hart naar huis om daar op haar eigen geliefde plek, waar 7 van haar 8 kindjes geboren werden, haar moede hoofd eindelijk te rusten leggen dicht bij Papa.

Acht kinderen, waarvan ik de tweede ben en onze oudste zus is nu eindelijk ook weer bij Moeke!

Bijna heeft ze het gered om met Papa 66 jaar getrouwd te zijn; door lief en leed.

Hard gewerkt haar hele leven en toch op haar manier altijd geprobeerd om ons te verwennen.

Ze kon lekkere tomatensoep koken van eigen teelt, met heerlijke gebakken uien. Ook haar ribjes met tomatenpuree en gebakken uien waren een lievelingskostje.

Bakken voor het hele gezin deed ze ook met veel liefde en zelf was ze dol op gemberkoek...

Ze lustte ook zo graag nougat die ik haar altijd meebracht van de kermis!

Breien en haken deed ze graag en met trots staat ze op de foto voor de etalage waar haar grote gebreide bedsprei hing.

Met Papa samen maakte ze reisjes naar Duitsland en ook naar Parijs en zelfs vier keer naar Georgia in de USA. Trots zei ze altijd dat ze twéé dochters in America had; een in groot America.

Op de fiets ging ze vaak op dinsdag, markt dag, naar klein America om haar eerste kleinkind weer iets toe te stoppen.

Ondertussen is Moeke gestorven en kon ik niet meer verder schrijven...
Helaas heb ik het nooit afgekregen...

This year, on my Angel Sister's heavenly Birthday, I noticed a tremendous increase in views for Mom's hand knitted bedspread, on my Pinterest.

January 11, 2019... Mom's Bedspread was at the TOP!

Hard to believe these figures, yet it was there and on my blog, almost every day, Mom's picture was in the sideline as one of the favorite posts!

Love seeing this photo...

Mom ranks right there in my TOP blog posts and that in only five years!

In seven years she ranks 3rd!

16,309 views...

It made me so happy and feeling oh so proud of her, for being Posthumously Honored for her Knitting!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

Related link:
{Mom's Hand Knitted Bedspread as Window Display} | previous post by me
{HAPPY Mom on her 90th Birthday - THANKS TO ALL OF YOU} | previous post by me, when I took the bedspread photos...

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

{January 11 Angel Sister had 1st Birthday in Heaven together with Mom...}

My thoughts have been very much with my Angel Sister who had another Birthday in Heaven and this time her very 1st together with Mom...

It was on January 11, last year that I talked for about half an hour with Mom; my actual goodbye to her as I did not get any chances later.

That phone call I will cherish for the rest of my life. I congratulated Mom first on the Birthday of her Angel daughter.

We did chat about a lot of things.

Mom had not slept all night... so scared.

But knowing that she could call on all the ANGELS she knew by name, she did calm down.

She also was speaking so sweetly about my Dad. She said: 'I still LOVE him very much!'

Almost on her death bed and still worrying about him!

When I told her that she had to focus on herself now, that all would be well with Dad, she accepted her fate and has been very brave.

On January 27 of 2015 Mom joined my Angel Sister...

MISS them both very much!

But I know they are very close to my heart and in Faith we are forever united.

Related links:
{R.I.P. Dear Mom} | previous post by me

{ANGELS We Know By Name} | previous post by me

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

{Our Christmas Eve Dinner at Ristorante da Maria}

Sorry for posting this late but since December 20, my FeedBurner was not working.

Rather annoying but nothing what I tried, pinging or whatever, worked...
Suddenly it was just back!
And off again after posting this... Arrrgggh.

So a belated post about our Christmas Eve Dinner at Dublin Farm Come Home To The Country at Ristorante da Maria.

Here we are in front of the Christmas tree with a Hot Punch.
There was a pianist who played during the 5-course dinner.

We have had heavy rain with flood warnings and unusual warm weather for Christmas.
Pieter's suit got a bit wet from getting out of the car to the restaurant...

My coat is on the coat rack...
Wearing my new cropped top in caviar from Neiman Marcus Last Call but to me it just is black color.

On the driveway before we left for Christmas Eve Mass.
We had donated a Poinsettia in loving memory of Mom and my Angel Sister Mariet

First Christmas without Mom... but it feels special for having one more Angel that we know by name!

My skirt is from Escada, printed hair calf and I've cut it shorter as it was below the knee and rather frumpy looking that way.
Panty hose are DIM PARIS which I bought in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Pumps are Chanel from Last Call at Sawgrass Mills, Florida.

Pieter's suit is from Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH in Woodbury Common Premium Outlet.

We both opted for the Fish; Red Snapper Fillet.

Appetizer: Potatoes au gratin with smoked salmon...

This was SO YUMMY!
First dish: Ravioli stuffed with Porcini mushrooms, topped with a 4-cheese sauce, white truffle oil, Parmesan and fresh herbs.

Our Fish Entrée: Red Snapper Fillet cooked in foil with a Puttanesca sauce.

Lime Sorbet

Strawberry Ice Cream Bomb with fresh berries and starfruit on strawberry coulis.
That was really heavenly!
Lady Chef Maria is the best in our region and she makes everything fresh and from scratch!
Don't you love Pieter's Espresso cup?!
We had a very joyful Christmas Eve, just the two of us.
Hope yours was likewise pleasant, or your Christmas Brunch, Dinner whatever your way of celebrating was.

Saturday, January 11, 2014

{ANGELS We Know By Name}

We all do know one or more ANGELS By Name... A LOVED ONE that has taken up residence in heaven and is no longer walking with us on earth. But those are the ANGELS that are still walking on our side; ANGELS We Know By Name.

Just like dear friend Celia M. High Heeled Life & Resilientista wrote about a special Angel: Tribute to an Angel in her post before...

Guess all of us have one or more special ANGELS that we know by name!

In my case it is my sister Mariet, the one that was still born on January 11, the year before I got born. Her life on earth did not even start, only in the womb she lived for 9 months.

Such a tragedy for my Parents, especially Mom for loosing her baby after all the pain and labor.

They took it away from her, without letting her cuddle it and all baby clothes were hidden.

Such was the advice at that time.

It makes me cringe when I think about it even now!

But the next baby that came into their lives was me, and I got my older sister's name Mariet.

In honor of {My Angel Sister & Mariette's Back to Basics Explained} I have added 'te' to my name as to try and live life for her as well.

My sweet ANGEL sister Mariet for sure is walking alongside and who knows when one of us will join her on the other side...?

Like ABBA sang: I Have A Dream, (click for video and the lyrics follow under post) I believe in Angels and so do I, our home is full of beautiful hand carved wooden angels from Italy as you can find from the links below. They always have been part of my life!

Friday, January 11, 2013

{My Angel Sister & Mariette's Back to Basics Explained}

January 11, marks the date that my Angel Sister Mariet was still born... She would have been my older sister and my entire life I've wondered how she would have been like. In an earlier post of November 23, 2010, I did write about her Birthday and I will repeat it here:

By the end of the year I was walking on crutches...

On January 9 of this year (2010) I was in the hospital being almost totally paralyzed with very high fever that they couldn't knock down at first.

It was on January 11, that I cried in my hospital bed; on the birthday of my still born sister 'Mariet' who would have been almost 13 months older than I am.

I told her that I was NOT yet ready to see her in heaven...

After four days in the hospital they put me on Prednisone and the pain went away.

Again I could MOVE! What a joy.
Being diagnosed with a very rare auto immune disease, I was now on the mend!
♥

For my sister Mariet, trying to live for her as well, I've added 'TE' behind my name.
♥♥

That's the story behind my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics.

Anyway, most people here in the US had difficulties pronouncing Mariet, so this works well.
They have chewed it out like Muwrit or Muwreet... A good example is: 1993 February 8 — Ma Hawkins Group in Dublin, Georgia ←click link for YouTube video

A name is very special and I'm proud for adding something for an Angel I Know By Name; MY SISTER

Related link:
{# 148 and my blog is 1 year old today!} | previous post about my sister

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

{Post # 148 and my blog is 1 year old today!}

Today marks a very special day as on November 23 of last year I did launch my very first blog-post about Romancing the Home.

At that time I was very sick, in excruciating pain and could not even get to my PC... Only a second blog-post I launched on December 13, showing: {Fragrant Paperwhite Narcissus flowers in early December}. Together with a reply to Johanna Gehrlein from Silber-und-Rosen-Shop about her question.

By the end of the year I was walking on crutches...

On January 9 of this year I was in the hospital being almost totally paralyzed with very high fever that they couldn't knock down at first.

It was on January 11, that I cried in my hospital bed; on the birthday of my still born sister 'Mariet' who would have been almost 13 months older than I am.

I told her that I was NOT yet ready to see her in heaven...

After four days in the hospital they put me on Prednisone and the pain went away.

Again I could MOVE! What a joy.
Being diagnosed with a very rare auto immune disease, I was now on the mend!
♥

For my sister Mariet, trying to live for her as well, I've added 'TE' behind my name.
♥♥

That's the story behind my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics.

Anyway, most people here in the US had difficulties pronouncing Mariet, so this works well.

So there came my next blog on March 21, about dear Friend Johanna Gehrlein's: {Splendid book about Silver Rose Flatware}. That is about my passion: Silver Rose Flatware.

Only since April 4, I know my statistics as I was way behind with everything and slowly did catch up on my daily life's routine.

Not bad for only seven-and-a-half month of data:
6,544 Visits
34,859 Pageviews

6,544 Visits came from 74 countries/territories

It just so happened that recently, country # 73 is Georgia! Living in Georgia/USA this is special.
The First Lady of Georgia is Dutch born Sandra Roelofs.
So this is a double-Dutch connection...

MARIETTE'S BACK TO BASICS

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