{Husband Pieter's Selfie from the Mid Sixties}

Yay; I'm almost DONE scanning!!!

Only some remnants left and the feeling is GREAT.

So many treasures unearthed and relived!

Everyone should do this... archiving their family treasures.

Guess our digital era began with the Millennium year.

But before that, there were fun photos as well.

This Selfie (in a big mirror obviously) by my husband Pieter made me laugh!

Guess this photo has been made at the Open Lucht Museum in Arnhem, The Netherlands or Open Air Museum.

Happy that Pieter did quit his smoking when he turned 50!

This is one of the pipes, his Big Ben Pipo, that we still keep on our pipe rack.

Here, my Pieter is almost 22... A very handsome man, this was at one of his graduations.

Looking at him, he might as well have become a 'Dressman' (male model) with his always impeccable style.

I'm still very proud of him and very much in love as well.

Yes, yesterday my handsome husband turned 87!

Much to be grateful for and we hope and pray that God grants us many more years together.

At least, Pieter too is very happy with all the organized photos now to view as a slideshow on a big screen and reliving many fond moments.

Yes, due to his age also I was in a hurry doing and accomplishing this.

First I've done all his family photos and all of his thousands of slides.

In order to pass them on to his adopted daughter who's also related by blood to his ex, so there is lots of sentimental value in those early photos.

Pieter is the only surviving member of his family and now his Goddaughter and other niece do have that part of history preserved and explained by text.

That was a lot of work; hell it was a MEGA TASK!

LAST I've done our photos and it is amazing what we lived through with our job as International Consultants.

For sure I could no longer do that... not in the health condition I'm in right now, neither Pieter with his heart condition and knee problems. Both of us also do have occasional back problems.

Thanks for your patience and soon I will be catching up!

Happy Easter to my friends in Greece and all others I wish you a Happy Weekend.

Related link:

{Our 6 Vintage Tobacco Pipes and Cheroot Holder} | showing you Pieter's collection
{Royal Wedding invitation + PIETER's Birthday!} | showing a happy husband
 {Dutch King's Birthday Celebration in Atlanta, Georgia} | showing Pieter the day after his Birthday in 2015
{BIRTHDAY} | post from 2013 showing Pieter

{Happy Birthday with a Pain Free Back}

Good news is that I was able to celebrate my Birthday with a Pain Free Back!

That in itself was the BEST gift one could wish for after more than a week of excruciating pain.

Because of my chronic kidney disease I cannot take any over the counter medication and neither did I want to start again on opiates, prescribed by my doctor. 

That's what I took in the end of 2009 when I was diagnosed with severe mid back arthritis...(?)

It resulted in being completely paralyzed, due to a rare auto immune disease and only with  Prednisone I was able to move again. But after taking that for about two years, my kidneys paid a price for curing this Polymialgia rheumatica.

So I'd rather tough it out and take nothing, except my daily supplement from Costco Wholesale the Youtheory Turmeric capsules that come with 180 in a pot.

Will show more below...

First a few Birthday dinner pictures...

Sorry for the poor quality... snapshots taken by husband Pieter with my iPhone, he even left out a friend...

I wore two layers of cashmere, a sleeveless mock neck and the very thin sweater with poetry that I showed in a previous post: {Cashmere Words of Wisdom & Update} 

Feeling doubly warm with this score from Last Call by Neiman Marcus that I also wore when I did FaceTime with Mom, two days before her death...

Since we had to arrange things last minute, due to my condition and not knowing if I would be able to sit through such a 5-course dinner, we were in a cozy group of four friends. Very special evening though!

At Ristorante da Maria from Dublin Farm "Come Home To The Country" I always do eat the dessert as well. Even being diabetes type 2... 
Here they just served mine with the birthday candle on top.

This was the choice of dinner and Pieter and I opted for the salmon.

Turmeric by Youtheory from Costco. Just click the hyperlink to go to my Pinterest board for further info after clicking on the photo!

This is what I have been taking during the time of my excruciating back pain and it sure did give me some relief! Usually I take one tablet per day but I went to two.

Turmeric seems to be an excellent anti-inflammatory support and also is good for your kidneys. Just click the hyperlink.

We might indeed be able to learn a great deal from countries where this has been used for centuries, such as India, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and as part of Ayurveda and other branches of traditional medicine.

Youtheory® Turmeric Advanced Formula features Curcumin C3 Complex® - a patented turmeric extract that contains minimum 95% curcuminoids.

Costco just had as discount on these and I did stock up and will also mail some to my youngest sister in The Netherlands who suffers from Fibromyalgia. 

{Dutch King's Birthday Celebration in Atlanta, Georgia}

Okay, let's sum up what happened since our trip to Arizona... Husband Pieter had another Birthday on April 29. Next day we drove to Atlanta, to celebrate Dutch King's Birthday with a reception at Naylor Hall in Roswell. Spending one night at the +Hyatt Place Atlanta/Perimeter Center. Only to drive back next day, to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport picking up a dear friend from The Netherlands, who stayed with us for one week.

Here you see the Dutch Honorary Consul, Ewoud N. Swaak (l) with my husband Pieter.

A nice wooden floor was placed on the lawn.

Pieter wore his Agave denim Fit Classic Rocker, in an orange charcoal pinstripe and orange cotton pique Ralph Lauren polo.

The event was being held at the Historic Naylor Hall, an 1840 mansion.

Weather was cooperating very well; far better than the previous day on husband Pieter's birthday when it rained cats and dogs...

For the event I did wear my orange Escada stretch jeans with blouse.

Lovely costumes worn by charming Dutch girls!

The Honorary Consul did speak to the crowd and we sang the national American and Dutch Anthems.

The American Anthem at the top and in Dutch, the Wilhelmus and also translated into English.

My hands holding the iPhone with which I did tape the typical Dutch Klompen Dancing.

Not such perfect ending but still okay...

Yes, I enjoyed this evening tremendously!

In the outside 'tents' they were serving typical Dutch fare... Bitterballen, (click link for recipe!) patatje met mayonaise.

Bitterballen duo...

Kroketten ←click the link. In the past, I loved a Kalfskroket between a whole wheat bun... So yummy!

Inside Naylor Hall there was a buffet with delicious food. Vine ripe tomato and mozzarella salad Field greens with strawberries, pralines, goat cheese & sweet peppercorn vinaigrette

Say CHEESE...!

And more CHEESE...

Are you getting hungry yet?

Very much I enjoyed this Wild mushroom risotto with white wine & fontina cheese...

Thanks to many generous sponsors! Hope you enjoyed it...

{Mom Lived 16 Days Short of Her 91st Birthday}

Mom did get so very close to a lot of milestones...

Reaching her 91st Birthday was only 16 days away on February 12!

Mom, being in heaven now, I love to envision her like she looks here, on Friday, February 21, 2014 during her dialysis. That's our 64th trip to The Netherlands and together with Pieter, we came to visit her during each 4-hour dialysis! Time spent together went by so quickly and it sure did cheer her up. 
Yes, we went 64 times to The Netherlands for visiting Mom and we also had her 4 times come to the USA for staying with us.
Below is what she wrote in our guest book, after her 2nd visit from March 20 till April 17, 1996.

Mom's words: April 17, 1996. Thanks for an unforgettable vacation - Mom Van den Munckhof and Dad Van den Munckhof...

Bedankt voor een onvergetelijke vakantie van Moeke Van den Munckhof en Papa Van den Munckhof

~

Most precious words, for having in our guest book... It makes us feel warm and fuzzy for knowing that our gift of those two tickets from Amsterdam, The Netherlands to Atlanta, USA got that much appreciated!

Received sympathy card from a dear friend, a woman who is born in my hometown and lives now near Atlanta, Georgia. 

Last trip for Mom & Dad, together with us from Amsterdam to Atlanta, her Dad was on the very same flight. That meant 5 people from Horst, The Netherlands!

He went to heaven before Mom did...

~

The heart remembers most what it has loved best.

But it is good because my heart does remember my sweet Mom forever!

February 12, is her first Birthday celebrated in heaven, together with her Angel daughter Mariet.
Like in this photo, I will forever have my Mom at my side...

April 24, 2001 - Dearest Mariet and Pieter.

Thank you so much for the hospitality we received here in the five times that we were here. Who would have ever thought that our eldest daughter would end up living in the United States of America and even become an American citizen. And we certainly never would have thought we ourselves too, would visit there. The United States of America, you did hear so much about and you would watch a movie about

~

Heel hartelijk bedankt voor de gastvrijheid die we hier mochten ontvangen in de vijf keer dat we hier waren. Wie had dat vroeger ooit gedacht dat onze oudste dochter in Amerika zou gaan wonen en ook nog Amerikaanse werd. En we hadden zeker nooit gedacht dat we er zelf ook eens zouden komen. Amerika daar hoorde je zoveel over en je zag wel eens een film over

the Wild West but that was so far away over the Atlantic Ocean that you could only dream of it.

Yet the great miracle came about and in 1987 we flew in a large Jumbo 747, for the first time together with the two of you to the U.S.A. and since that first flight we did come four more times here or rather, four more times for me and for Mom two more times. 

It was terrific for us.

~

het wilde westen maar dat was zo ver weg over de grote oceaan dat je er alleen maar van kon dromen.

Maar toch het grote wonder geschiedde en in 1987 vlogen we in een grote Jumbo 747 voor de eerste keer met jullie samen naar de U.S.A. en sinds die eerst vlucht zijn we nog 4 keer hier geweest of liever gezegd, ik nog vier keer en Moeke nog twee keer. Het was geweldig voor ons. 

For us as down to earth market gardeners from the Afhang (hamlet) to be able to experience this ourselves. I will not go into details because then this book will be full but you ought to read my travel journal at home then you know how intense I've experienced it all, it was terrific.

Once again, thank you so much for the hospitality that we enjoyed in Dublin, as well as at your friends'. 

With best regards and best wishes from Dad and Mom.

~

Om als eenvoudige tuinder uit de Afhang zoiets mee te mogen maken. Ik zal maar niet in details treden want dan is dit boek vol, maar je leest maar eens mijn reis verslagen thuis dan weet je hoe intens ik het allemaal heb beleefd, het was geweldig. Nogmaals heel hartelijk bedankt voor de gastvrijheid die we genoten in Dublin ook bij jullie vrienden. Met heel veel groeten en de best wensen, van Papa en Moeke.

 ~

From Mom's final stay with us, we have no guest book message as their departure came by surprise due to the fact that the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines plane got claimed for transporting U.S. military to Europe.
Mom & Dad had to depart on an Air France flight, via Paris... but since Mom needed wheel chair assistance (as requested by us) and both of them not speaking any French, I managed to get them on an earlier flight; non-stop on Royal Dutch Airlines.
So this we learned around 7:30 PM that next day their flight home was to be and in this rush, they completely forgot to write anything...
Complete with wheelchair assistance and for Pieter and me a gate pass, we did see them off at the gate. 
Then came the final goodbye with tears and all... 
They had to pre–board and thus we had to do it early. 
Dad thanked and thanked us over and over for the good times and for all we’ve done for them. 
Mom said over and over how much she appreciated it and that she couldn’t find words for it, she couldn’t tell us how much it meant to her. 
Glad that we could see them off and Dad emphasized on the fact that on their own they would’ve been completely lost.
That was the very last time that we gifted them with a ticket, for coming to visit us.
We've come 64 times long distance to The Netherlands and had Mom come 4 times and Dad 6 times to the U.S.A. of which we paid twice the ticket for both, twice for Dad alone and half for the first time.
That means a lot more than flying over to attend a requiem mass! 

The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again. - Charles Dickens quote.

The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone. - Harriet Beecher Stowe quote.

Those that attacked us for NOT showing up at Mom's funeral, due to Pieter's health issues because of heart cramps, and me still going to rehab for my hand, we forgive their act of bitterness.
May they too find the Peace that is in our hearts!

Yes, this post has been lovingly visited by my siblings; now 4442 times...

Related links:
{Mom Lived 11 Days Short of her 66th Wedding Anniversary} | previous post by me
{R.I.P. Dear Mom} | previous post by me
{My Angel Sister & Mariette's Back to Basics Explained} | previous post by me
{HAPPY Mom on her 90th Birthday - THANKS TO ALL OF YOU} | previous post by me and LAST time I got to see Mom in person...
{Happy 90th Birthday Mom} | previous post by me

{HAPPY Mom on her 90th Birthday - THANKS TO ALL OF YOU}

As some of you already knew, I have been away for 15 days. Flying to The Netherlands once more, actually our 64th trip to see family and friends in those 30 years as immigrants. A long journey home and this time it was very much in honor of Mom, for her 90th Birthday!
In the morning we'd stopped by Mom & Dad's home to see her and later we visited her during her dialysis in her with garlands decorated room.

Pieter took this photo from my Mom in bed, during her dialysis while she is reading all your comments on my {Happy 90th Birthday Mom} post. 

Which indeed made her so happy and lifted up her spirits as you can clearly see from this photo! 

It was very touching for her to see that 863 people from around the world had viewed this post about her and several left a comment. As well as 264 viewers with several more that had left a comment on my FB Page. This was for my dear Mom quite a milestone; it meant as much to her, as to those winning the olympics at the same time...

We'd picked up Dad at their home and spend the time with Mom at the hospital. Dad treated the staff to yummy birthday cakes. Such a visit makes her boring dialysis session pass quickly.

Next time when we did visit her, without Dad, our daughter Anita made a video call from Indonesia with her Oma in The Netherlands. What a joy for both! 

Our daughter Anita did actually visit her Oma several times, with us together in 2008, when she went with us to The Netherlands. This trip we did visit Mom five times during her dialysis. 

Wish I could keep doing that as it makes the time go so pleasantly fast for her...

Everywhere they had Mom's photo with the magical number 90 hung on the walls, above the door etc.
For a 90 year old dialysis patient she still looks mighty good!

  Flowers everywhere as this is quite a Dutch custom to 'SAY IT WITH FLOWERS!'

This is on a table in the veranda... 

Table cloth is being embroidered by my dear Mother-in-law.

Yes, it was worth our 64th journey home to The Netherlands; sitting on our butt for 8,500 km or 5,281 mi one way...

We came this time for a very, very special reason (more to follow in my next post!) which made us very proud.

Fond memories in our hearts forever!

And once more; THANK you all so much for giving Mom such a special day!!!

Bloggers are the most caring and loving bunch.

{HAPPY Mom on her 90th Birthday - THANKS TO ALL OF YOU} | On FB this story has been

 viewed 528 times.

And 2325 times here...

{Happy 90th Birthday Mom}

Happy 90th Birthday dear Mom; you made it, regardless your kidney dialysis!

Mom, with her soft face...

This photo I took on October 27, 2009 when we visited my Parents during our 62th trip to The Netherlands.

Don't have a more recent one of her yet.

This photo is from March 22, 1996 when Mom & Dad were here with us in the USA for about one month.
She was so happy with these photos where she only got her hair curled, her face powdered to make it less shiny and lipstick on. NOTHING ELSE!
When I gave her this photo in a silver frame, together with some others that were taken of her, she told me it was the best gift she ever received.
Dad could not get over the fact how good looking she was and when we had dinner at our friends' home, she was the star of the evening. All our friends found her looking so much younger than the previous visit in 1987.

Made me feel proud of course; and I still have my Mom!

As of today, 1695 have viewed this post...

When Mom viewed this post with us during her dialysis and at that time 863 people had already viewed this post...

Related links:

Mom got called MOVIE STAR for once she was the CENTER of ATTENTION! | later post about Mom's best gift on video...

{Mom's 5th Dialysis Anniversary} | previous post by me
{Happy 89th Birthday Dear Mom} | previous post by me
{The Little Black Dress & My MOM} | previous post by me
{Humble Gifts of the 1950s}| previous post by me
{Mom's 4th Dialysis Anniversary} | previous post by me with more pictures of Mom
{60 Years Ago} | previous post by me with Mom's pictures
{GERANIUMS BRINGING BACK CHILDHOOD MEMORIES}| previous post by me

{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!

Related links:

{Our 'GREEN' Bedroom} | previous post by me
{6 Antique & Vintage Italian Angels, Cherubs Putti} previous post by me
{Our Living Room ANGELS - CHERUBS} previous post by me
{Our Living Room} previous post by me
{5 Angels - Putti from Italy & Germany} previous post by me
{Angels & Cross Stitch for Christmas}| previous post by me

Songwriters: ANDERSSON, BENNY GORAN BROR / ULVAEUS, BJOERN K.

I Have A Dream

I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream - I have a dream

I have a dream, a fantasy
To help me through reality
And my destination makes it worth the while
Pushing through the darkness still another mile
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream - I have a dream
I'll cross the stream - I have a dream

I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream - I have a dream
I'll cross the stream - I have a dream

{Papa is 93 today!}

Far away, some 7,083 km or 4,400 miles flying distance + several hours by car, my Daddy - Papa is having his 93rd Birthday. We have been only to one of his birthdays in 1987, in all 30 years as immigrants. That is the price one pays for being far, far away. But on the other hand, nobody ever came to my birthday here in Dublin, Georgia. 

That's life!

Here is a Happy Dad, on the couch with me here in Dublin, Georgia in March of 1993 when he came to Georgia from The Netherlands, without Mom.

I'd given Dad a ticket to San Francisco where we both went together.

Some very fond memories!

Dad in his beautiful garden at a time when we visited them in The Netherlands, October 6, 1985.

His beautiful garden, where several Bridal pictures have been made, is no more as there is now half a village build and many homes surround their now small property...

Only the memories remain!

Here Dad is with me at the Okefenokee swamp in south Georgia on December 1, 1990

Dad at the Riverfront of Savannah Georgia on December 4, 1990

Dad came to the USA a total of 6 times and Mom joined him 4 times; so we do have lots of fond memories of their stay on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. 

In our 30 years as immigrants we visited them 63 times either from Georgia, USA; Italy or from Indonesia.

Related links: {Happy 92th Birthday Papa!} | previous post by me {Papa is 91 today!} previous post by me {Papa is 90 today!} previous post by me {My Daddy - Papa} previous post by me

{ME, Turning 20 on December 3!}

Yes, I am turning 20 on December 3! As a United States Citizen, that is... 

After all, it is not bad to get a second chance in life for starting over and being young again!

It does perk you up.
On Friday, December 3, 1993 we got up at 4:15 AM for driving to Atlanta for the Naturalization Ceremony at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building. At 8:30 it started for 257 people from 60 nations and it lasted only till 9:55 AM.
So we raced back to Dublin; still in time for Rotary lunch. Husband Pieter proudly introduced me as his NEW American wife... 

Twenty (20) years old...

Haha my sweater is 25 years old; got it at the Christiana Mall in Newark, Delaware on Saturday, August 27 of 1988.

I fell in love with the leaf pattern and also because it is cropped.

Nah, that's NOT a new car... It's just an old LOVE!

We got this Infiniti FX35 in Brilliant Silver on August 12, 2005 for Mom & Dad's arrival.

Mom just got a knee replacement and we wanted her to get in and out of a car comfortably so we got this one.

But do you like my new boots? 

Dolce Vita Hayla Suede Ankle boots in black from Last Call by Neiman Marcus with 40% off. 

Black legwarmers are from our local TJ Maxx...

Pantyhose are French Dim that I purchased at Sogo, Japanese department store in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

Jeans skirt is from Escada.

Related link:
{Today I turned 17!} | previous post by me
{My Hat Attack NYC GAVROCHE} | previous post by me, wearing the same Escada skirt
{Dutch American Heritage Day 2005 with Mom & Dad} | previous post by me about Mom & Dad's final visit to the USA...