{A Happy Saint Nicholas with Chocolate Letters + Update}

        A very stressful week with a Happy Ending!

Dad is home again and did NOT need any heart surgery at all.

Prayers did get answered big time and we all feel so blessed.

My sister Gerd with daughter Lindsay did bring Dad home this afternoon.

Perfect timing for Saint Nicholas!

This is last year's order of Chocolate Letters for Friends and Extended Family...

Most people prefer MILK chocolate; what is your preference?
Mine is DARK...

Husband Pieter's is MILK or MELK in Dutch...

Before my sister Gerd, with her daughter went upstairs to Dad's room at the VieCuri hospital in The Netherlands, Lindsay did IMPROMPTU play at the Grand Piano:
Lindsay's version of Comptine d'un autre été l'après-midi by Yann Tiersen
Just click the above link... ENJOY! Sorry but Gerd has deleted said video...
And last but not least; THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Chocolate letters are great gift ideas for Santa Claus...

Related links:
{Chocolate and Silver Alphabet Letters for Saint Nicholas} | previous post by me
{Since 1896 Dutch CHOCOLATE LETTERS - Have YOU Tried Them?} | previous post by me
{Chocolate Letter LOVE} | previous post by me

{My 22nd Birthday as an American!}

YAY, I finally, after full 7 days could call my Dad in the hospital in The Netherlands!
One of my brothers did turn around and made sure that Dad's package of TV, Radio and Telephone got hooked up. 

He had been deprived of this for SEVEN full days.

The good news is that his heart seems to have been just OVER STRESSED.
Dad is like my husband Pieter a very hard worker and he'd been doing some physical jobs prior to all this.
Prayers got answered and after this medical test, through the vein in his wrist, things look positive and we hope that he can go home on Saturday!

Now his Australian Brother and other elderly choir members can call him as well.
At least he has a very happy American daughter!
~ 
Thank you all for your sweet comments during this very difficult time for both of us.
My Dad in The Netherlands still does not know anything about his real heart condition.
On Wednesday they were supposed to check it out but there obviously was an emergency with another heart patient and the cardiologist had to postpone Dad's procedure.
They have planned that now for Thursday...
BUT there still is no phone connection! It is available at the hospital for EACH patient but needs to be hooked up and then of course relatives and friends need to be informed about the direct number.
Also my uncle in Australia, Dad's younger brother is being cut off from any contact, as well as all those living long distance that can't be there in person..
Let's hope that soon they will start using their brain and heart as Celia from Celia M. High Heeled Life & Resilientista so well wrote on my FB Timeline.

BUT...

December 3rd is my 22nd Birthday as an American Citizen!

Photo is from September 12, when we went to the Dublin Theatre...

My hair is shorter now.
Being an Escada fan, I'm wearing an all black Escada outfit; Spanish style pants, top and sandals.

Related links:

{Today I turned 17!} | previous post by me
{December 30, 1993 U.S. flag flown over U.S. Capitol for both of us!} | previous post by me
{1993 Today, the American Flag was flown for both of us...} | previous post by me
{ME, Turning 20 on December 3!} | previous post by me

{There You Go Again... Update}

SORRY for having been missing in action but this is why:

On Thanksgiving Day, while we were having a lovely dinner at the home of our 'American Family' my Dad was having a heart attack and ended up in the hospital.

This is a photo, taken on Friday afternoon when my brother Piet (he took this photo) with brother Jan and sister Gerd went to visit Dad at the hospital.

Jan used his iPhone 6, for letting Dad do FaceTime with me.

Exactly the same way as he did with Mom during her final days...

This is what I had on my FB on Saturday, asking for prayers as we are waiting about the outcome for Dad's health.

It looks like he has CHF (Congestive Heart Failure) since he had a lot of fluids in his leg and difficulty breathing.

This morning, at Church, I snapped this shot from our Church bulletin where Dad's name is being listed among those needing a prayer.

Both of us do strongly believe in prayer and we are grateful for all that do pray for my dear Dad!

Mom & Dad have both knelt at this Christ Episcopal Church together with us and Dad sang at this Church...

So many memories and people in this town know my Parents.

~ 

Okay, now about the THERE YOU GO AGAIN...

Being over 8,000 km away from home it is NOT easy dealing with a parent that is in the hospital or on his/her death bed.

Dad holding me as baby...

Like in January of this year, when I lost my sweet Mom after guiding her 17 days during her hospital stay.

I owe a lot of gratitude to my sweet and very close brothers (2) and other brother and  sister.

But there are 2 more that are rather toxic!

The brother who thinks he is in charge has completely left me out of the family App so I will not receive any updates or know who is visiting Dad on any given day.

Yesterday, my toxic brother went to visit Dad in the afternoon - no update to anyone!

In the evening my toxic sister went to visit Dad in the evening - no update to anyone either!

Dad 7 days in hospital without phone connected ←click link for Pdf with 70 comments on FB and scroll down a little.

That is living through hell, plain torture for NOT knowing anything.

Neither have they provided Dad with a phone; so I cannot call him.

Only when my close siblings visit Dad, will I receive any update. 

A photo is so welcome; like the above first photo.

Today it made me very happy to hear again an update. 

Guess what the toxic brother who thinks he is in charge did to me in January?

He forced me to take down ALL photos from Mom.

{R.I.P. Dear Mom} with Mom's sweet photo... (you can click the hyperlink).

I had to take down all the photos that were made here in Georgia, while Mom was visiting us.

My toxic brother threatened me with being left out of my Parents' will if I did not take them down.

Although I never understood WHY, I have given in, hoping it would restore the peace in our family, after first making screen shots of each and every single comment of sweet people from around the world.

Like on my blog above, I had lots of comments on my FB posts.

It was what carried me through those tough times as we could not be at the funeral for two reasons: I was still having physical rehab and also because we were paying huge medical bills at the time.

click to enlarge...

All those comments meant the world to me; they did lift me up and also very much my dear husband Pieter, who suffered heart cramps from all the stress and hurt caused by those toxic siblings who did never consider my dear Pieter's age of 86! That's NOT how you treat the elderly...

At 7:00 PM the 'day' ends on Blogger and Pageviews get counted anew.

On the actual day of Mom's death, up till 7:00 PM, I did have 1,550 pageviews...

From 7:00-9:00 PM when this was taken, it were 102 pageviews.

No words can tell you HOW grateful I am to those that lifted us up.

From so many countries, from all religions and I respect them all.

On FB, I did get again numerous comments and visits on my post: R.I.P. Dear Mom ← just click it to see the Pdf with everything I'd saved before deleting.

Mom is in heaven  ← just click it to see the Pdf also.

 Sweet foster-daughter Anita from Indonesia, did video Skype me from their car, before I went to bed on Saturday evening.

She always has been very loving and supportive.

So, once again I did put Mom's photo back on my blog.

As the oldest daughter, I don't want to be a victim to this kind of useless bullying by those toxic siblings again.

Bitter siblings keep viewing that post very frequently; up from 630 views (see above) to 1763 now...

They have fed Dad with lies and made up stories, trying to cut me off.

That is so rude for manipulating a grieving Dad at his frail age of 94!

It proves of a sick and hateful mind.

Let us hope they will change and above all, letting Dad have a peaceful time till he will join Mom in heaven.

That is very much our prayer!

{Mom was only 50 days short of her 7th Dialysis Anniversary}

Mom was so very close to making it into a record for completing her 7th Dialysis Anniversary; only 50 days short!

My beautiful Mom, opening the front door of Afhangweg 8 in Horst, The Netherlands for my 'late' husband -– on my wedding day. 

She is so happy looking and this is the house where she came back to, for her last breath.

Mom in Church on my wedding day, with my baby-brother Jan to the left...

It was on February 9, 1973...

Mom congratulating me after Church... 

Looking oh so happy and for sure she is now together in heaven with my late husband Frans...

~

“The things you can take with you: Love, Trust, Respect, Joy. The things you leave behind: Everything else.”  ― Robert Charles Waldron

Mom during the reception, where guests do present the gifts.

My Paternal Grandmother is seated here and the lady with the black/red dress was my aunt, married to Dad's younger brother. She too went to heaven after having had kidney problems and going through dialysis...

My hair was till my waist at that time!

I will show you my self made simple wedding dress another time.

~

“We should keep the dead before our eyes, and honor them as though still living” ― Confucius

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

Those are great quotes...

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!

{Cashmere Words of Wisdom & Update}

It is now over one month, since my Mom went to heaven and I want to THANK all of you for your sweet comments, emails and any support that we have received. It feels good for having such an extended network of friends that do care and are there for one another during times of trial.

YES, I am doing fine! Photo from February 8, when we went for a walk around the neighborhood.

Success - Realization - Compassion - Divine - Reality - Present - Courage - Awakened - Enlightened - Beauty - Love - Patience - Thrive - Temple - Vibrant - Spiritual -  Pure - Truth - Joy - Karma - Immortal - Dharma - Soul - Kindness - Meditate - Simplicity - Laughter - Discipline - Fortitude - Dream - Passion - Sacred - Faith - Calm - Serve - Trust - Create - Prayer - Peace - Grace - Liberated - Reborn - Focus 

When I did see this Cashmere knit top on sale at Last Call by Neiman Marcus, I had to have it...

Waiting long enough, it went down from $ 298.00 to $ 89.50!

Love its Words of Wisdom; like Life's Complete Poetry!

Aside from that, this very Cashmere top I will treasure forever, as I wore this during the last FaceTime call with Mom; 2-½ days before her death. 

Here I am wearing it on my black Escada jeans from the Last Call Neiman Marcus Outlet in Orlando, Florida and with my sleeveless black cashmere mock neck underneath for added warmth.

Suede boots are also from Last Call.

Yes, I have lost weight, all the way down to 50.9 kg (112 lbs) I went back up to 51.7 kg (113.7 lbs) on January 21 and now I'm around 52 kg (114.4 lbs) and feeling great; which is important!

Mainly I have been worrying about his guy... Husband Pieter had heart cramps or Angina Pectoris.

Guess it was from all the stress and emotions from the last couple of months.

On February 17, Pieter got all the results from his Cardiologist from the Electrocardiogram, Nuclear stress test and Echo and he does not need surgery. On March 10, he is seeing his Heart Surgeon. We were so happy! 

It is only 4-½ years ago since Pieter had his quadruple bypass + stent placed in his neck—and these heart cramps did scare us.

Ironically, his previous appointment with his Heart Surgeon on January 27, got cancelled... that was the day Mom went to heaven!

I want to keep this guy next to me for many more years; God willing!

Continuing our Blissful Relationship...

On the day that my youngest brother did FaceTime, while he was visiting Mom in the hospital, I did walk outside with my iPad, so husband Pieter too could see Mom and talk with her. 

It was when Pieter almost had finished the 57 m (187 ft) long Wood Trail from the greenhouse up near the house.

Huge tree roots had lifted it up, so Pieter did take it up entirely, put new wood beams underneath and took all rusted nails out and drilled in life-time warranty screws. 

He also put side boards alongside, for keeping the soil from getting washed by rain onto the trail. 

Pieter did treat it with a wood preservative.

Here I proudly stand on the finished Wood Trail on January 28, the day after Mom went to heaven, together with Speckie–girl).

Just iPhone pictures but you get an idea...

Love this quote:

'I wear the key of memory, and can open every door in the house of my life'. - Amelia E. Barr

Thanks again! ♥

{Challenge Accepted + Easter Photos}

On March 19, I already did receive a challenge request from Alessandra, in Italy, for listing 10 things that make me feel good. She is writing the blog: Shabby but ohh so chic!! ←click for getting to her blog.

Okay, now it is my turn for listing those 10 things, after having waited till first several other challenges got taken care of. 

After our trip to Curaçao we first got our tax papers done. Will write about our Curaçao vacation soon; promise! 

Our garden was also begging for weeding and still needs lots more done. 

On Saturday we finally hung the long crocheted peacock curtain at our friends' home. That was a gift from us and after I designed them, a sweet elderly lady in The Netherlands did crochet them for me. My task was for sewing on numerous brass rings for hanging. My husband Pieter, did hammer in the brass nails for the rings... Mission accomplished and even before Easter!

Happy Mom in the USA...

Okay: 10 things that make me feel good...

1. Looking at Mom's photo, taken while here in the USA, still makes me smile when thinking about all the great times when we had Mom & Dad over to visit us in the USA. Seeing Mom so relaxed and happy in this photo, being on vacation and enjoying it. She worked hard all her life, gave birth to 8 children and had her health issues.

She looks like an angel with her pink feather boa. A nice transition for when she really will become an angel...

2. Calling each Sunday after Church with my Mom & Dad and hearing their voices. Feeling blessed for having Mom still around after 4 years of kidney dialysis.

3. Happy times when video calling with Liz or Anita, our daughters.

4. Having my soul mate Pieter still with me and healthy and strong again after his open heart surgery in September 2010. Enjoying the trips we make together, while talking for hours on end in the car or when walking.

5. Enjoying a cup of coffee, or our version of Chocof (Chocolate from Dutch Cacao + Coffee) with some dark chocolates with pomegranate (from Costco).

6. Getting into a fresh made bed with clean linens, it makes me sleep like an angel under the down duvet and on the down pillows.

7. Having breakfast in our bay window in the sunshine and having fresh flowers from our garden.

8. Having friends around the table for dinner and enjoying a home cooked meal together.

9. Gardening together at our great property that we can claim all as our own. Such a treasure compared to what you can own in the Old World.

10. Watching our seven felines frolicking in our garden and being purrfectly happy - just like we!
~~0~~

Ten things is by far not enough for listing it all... 

It is a joy for reading your blogs and for visiting you around the world!

Now I would like to pass on this 10 point challenge to:

1. Kerri from Artisanbella

2. Claudia from NuNu's Garn-und Stofflabor a multi-talented lady that is also great in English.

3. Véronica from Los Mundos de Nika Vintage who is also very artistic.

4. Michiko from Michiko who needs ALL our help and support after her severe accident on December 15. We need to give her lots of BLOG-LOVE. 

5. Ginger from Savannah Granny who has been having health issues and today is her Birthday so she needs some BLOG-LOVE too.

Okay, mission accomplished in about three weeks...

Don't feel pressed for taking this on. But it is my aim always for helping some others by sending visitors and hopefully followers, their way. A friendly word goes a long way!

Hope we soon will have flowers again like here, from our own garden. 

We lost most roses last year due to the heat and drought but we do have the first ones blooming already.

Happy Easter setting from previous years...

• The book from which I  made the organdy ribbons for the eggs...

High Tea/Coffee for friends...

The bay window is a favorite breakfast area and for all settings.

Have a nice week!

{Il Divo - Amazing Grace + Personal}

One of my favorite groups is Il Divo; 'divine male performer' in Italian. This operatic quartet of four male can really sing! The Spanish baritone Carlos Marín (my favorite!), Swiss tenor Urs Bühler, American tenor David Miller and French pop singer Sébastien Izambard. So which one is YOUR favorite of these four? Let me know...

Source

For me this day is certainly Amazing Grace as it is exactly one year since Pieter had his successful open heart surgery...

{Our Dinner with + Gift to our Medical Friends}

After quite a wait we finally managed to get together with all our medical Friends. Yes, Friends with a capital F! They went the extra mile for both of us. First in January of 2010 when I got almost completely paralyzed and ran for days a high fever that didn't want to go down, they all came together to see me at the hospital. Two Internal Medicine doctors and one Radiologist. The latter traveled after work the two hours to my bedside, with his wife. I was even given some delicious home cooked Indian food from the other friend, the Internal Medicine doctor's wife. We know each other for 28 years! It feels so good to leave your well being in the hands of caring, true Friends! They found a cure for my rare auto immune disease and I was quickly on the mend and therefore forever grateful to them.

In September when Pieter had his heart attack, without the usual symptoms, he was sent off per ambulance to the next big city for treatment by a good heart surgeon, who did his quadruple bypass surgery. Once again, I felt secure for leaving Pieter into the hands of dear medical Friends.

So naturally, we wanted to do something for them in return, something special and from the heart. Due to all sorts of family circumstances we could not sooner get all together than July 19. We made reservations at Ristorante da Maria with Lady Chef Maria and Heinz. This time we had her cook vegetarian Indian food, for all of us. We worked in India for over ten years for Pond's India and for another company in Poona, so we LOVE the spicy food.

Now to the special gifts that I found in Germany, in the north near Hamburg. Elvira from the blog Rosengärtchen (Rose Garden) not only creates fabulous Christening gowns and such but she also designed very unique handbags with Peacocks, which she called Secret Garden.

This one caught my attention in her blog: Tasche Secret Garden and in her online shop. Knowing that the Peacock is a very special symbol in our Friends' culture, I contacted Elvira after she made me a Rose Bag: Tasche Romantic Rose und eine Uberraschung and shown also here: {Introducing YOU to Romantic Rose Handbags from RosenRomanze Germany}. Asking her if she would be able to make three of those. She wrote back yes; all unique items and thus different, but she was more than happy to make them for me. That was in October of 2010...

Elvira used blue seed pearls, semi precious stones and metal rose bead buttons for a closure on this luxurious bag. She designed it such that one looks through a window of an old Palace into its secret garden, where peacocks proudly show their beautiful feathers, between the flower beds...

Also the inside of the bag shows this romantic floral paradise, with on its trails here and there a peacock feather... like on the inner-bag with multiple compartments for cell phone etc.

Elvira made this unique design by using different materials such as linen, cotton batting, wool, and decorated it with fancy embroidery and lace.

On a string, attached to the bag, is a pouch that closes with mother of pearl buttons, for securing money or keys.

Secret Garden Bag 2 with a tassel.

Secret Garden Bag 3.

With a lot of thanks towards Elvira for letting me use her photos!

Which bag would you like most?