{THANKS for YOUR SUPPORT!}

As difficult this past week has been for us, it did lift us up tremendously for reading all the heartfelt sympathy and heartwarming words from this world-wide Blogger-Family. United as one strong family in Faith. We all meet only temporarily during our journey here on earth. Trying to do our best and leaving a mark, a lasting memory. Those fond memories will sustain us for times to come. Also knowing that it's not only us, every family has its sorrows and grief. So, once again a heartfelt THANKS for YOUR SUPPORT!

We all start out as a perfect bud, like this Indian Jasmine the Queen of Flowers in our garden...

Like in a human family, there are some buds that have bloomed already and are gone, but others follow.

Ants savor the sweetness.

Symbolically:

Parents are gone already...

Than the only brother left, becomes detached from the plant that nourished them all at one time...

Leaves have been attacked and torn up or eaten away.

But life renews.

We have our girls; Liz and Anita and soon our Goddaughter Elvira will have her baby-boy!

Yes, as new buds unfold, we again relive the tenderness of new life of new hope...

No matter how beat up those leaves might look; they produce still beautiful buds and heavenly scented jasmines!

Luckily we had some good rains so they bounce back strong.

Even after the tears we shed to wash our souls, we bounce back strong!

Yes, aging does change the original flower but the fragrance is still there and it still is part of the beautiful family.

We have peace of mind as we did visit Pieter's brother 63 times while he went through this aging stage.

We celebrated many cheerful highlights of his life.

Yes, the final stage has arrived. Ants arrive at the scene to suck the sweet life out of what remains from those once perfect buds, than blossoms... 

Dora & Thé; united again in heaven after having been separated for a bit more than two years.

Even if we ourselves could not be present at the funeral, we got well represented by my Parents and also by our best friends.

THANKS to all of you!

♥

Rust Zacht Broer

♥

Rest Softly Brother

♥

Pieter, Mariet

Liz en Hans (daughter and son-in-law)

Related links:

White Indian Jasmine the Queen of Flowers

{MEMORIES of HAPPY TIMES} | previous post by me about the loss of Pieter's brother Thé

{Wedding Elvira & Bob in 14th Century Castle} | previous post by me

{Double Tragedy...}

Thursday, August 23, will forever remain a very dark day in our memories. Not only is it the day of the funeral of Pieter's brother Thé, but Double Tragedy struck. Our Foster Daughter, Anita, lost her Dad on Wednesday, August 22. He too lost a mean battle with cancer: brain tumor and lung cancer... We are at a loss for words. He was too young to die. Distance in kilometers and in hours makes it very tough but in our hearts we're with both families. One loved one in The Netherlands  and one in Indonesia...

Wish we could hug our Anita and wipe her tears, but we cannot... Be strong girl and know that your Dad is no longer suffering. He fought the short battle and is now without pain in heaven. From there, he can still support and guide his loved ones. 

Happy times when we visited Anita and her parents. Her Dad is to the right. Her little sister is to the left of her Dad, next is her Mom and a boy I don't know. To the left is Anita and me.

Her English teacher is in the back.

Another happy time when we did visit  Anita at her college in Semarang, Indonesia. We took her family and teachers out for lunch, with a colleague of us and his wife and daugher.

Anita's Dad is to the left. Pieter is in the back and Anita is in front of him with her Mom  and I am next to Anita...

Anita's Dad and her Mom at her graduation from the University.

A batik shirt or skirt is considered very formal wear in Indonesia.

Anita's Dad and Mom giving their blessing at the wedding ceremony of their son Bayu and daughter-in-love Imma.

Anita's Dad and Mom giving their blessing to their son Bayu and daughter-in-love Imma, now dressed in her bridal gown...

Reversed...

Formal and happy times together with Dad...

Anita to the right and her brother Bayu the groom and bride Imma in  the center, with Shinta, the youngest sister to the left.

Happily married for over thirty years...

RIP: Rest In Peace till we meet again...

Related link:
{Anita Anggraeni Our Foster Daughter} | previous post by me

{MEMORIES of HAPPY TIMES}

• On Saturday late afternoon my husband Pieter, lost his eldest brother Thé. 
• Now he is the only one left... He did have two brothers up till six years ago. 
• Again, a lost battle with cancer. 
• All that remains are the MEMORIES of HAPPY TIMES. 
• It is not easy for being over 4,000 miles away from The Netherlands. 
• We cannot attend his funeral because the ticket price for a flight, departing next day, is very steep. Also the stress for going on a trip in a hurry is not a good thing for my Pieter. 
• He is a heart patient and we better heed his health as Pieter's open heart surgery from two years ago is not meant to be ignored. 
• Even more emotional since he's the only one left... 
• Having been to The Netherlands 63 times, since we immigrated on August 29 of 1983, is what keeps us upright. 
• We've done what we could and Thé & Dora have always appreciated that very much. 
• For the rest it was just the routine of weekly phone calls and that were happy times. 
• We talked with Thé last, on Sunday a week ago...

• The youngest, Pieter, to the left and the eldest, Thé to the right.
• This is in our living room as Thé came to visit us in the USA, from The Netherlands.
• These are great lasting memories, for us to live on...

• From left to right: Thé, me and Dora the wife of Thé. 
• When they did celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, we went to The Netherlands for celebrating that. 
• Dora did pass away in April of 2010...
• Below this post you find a link about my post {FOND MEMORIES}

• Together in St. Augustine, Florida ~ Oldest City in the USA.

• Thé and Dora my sister-in-love, have been always such generous hosts so I did reciprocate with a High Tea for friends, in their honor.
• Labor of love...

• A special birthday celebration for the middle brother Toon (r).
• Pieter wearing his Zegna suit from Outlet.

Indeed: MEMORIES of HAPPY TIMES.

RIP Thé and one day we will meet again!

Related links:
{FOND MEMORIES} | previous post by me
{Do YOU all know Our Nations Oldest City - St. Augustine, Florida?} | previous post by me