Tag: God
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Pa van der Laan’s Death
Read More: Pa van der Laan’s DeathOn a Wednesday in 1916, Pa van der Laan died suddenly. He had pneumonia and his heart failed. I came from school with Grietje [same age as Dina] — Jan had stayed home because his dad was sick. He met Grietje on her way back from school. Grietje cried so, and thus I came home…
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Family Dynamics
Read More: Family DynamicsTrijn had finished school and thus we were both home with mother. Trijn was small and finely built and was close to mother, while I was much closer to my father. That’s why I loved going to the field with him. In the evening Trijn and I sometimes went to the village where we played…
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The Work Begins
Read More: The Work BeginsWhen I was eleven [1916 – now the oldest daughter], my mother suddenly became ill. Her lungs had torn because of lifting things which were too heavy. Mother needed complete bed rest, and I had to leave school to care for her, to cook meals and take care of the youngest children, Meindert and Tiet.…
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1912-01-13 Trijn Stuit to H. Beekhuis
Read More: 1912-01-13 Trijn Stuit to H. BeekhuisSaturday, January 13, 1912. From Trijn Stuit to H. Beekhuis. Dear brother and sister. Betje (Elizabeth) is still alive. Yesterday morning the doctor said, “she is dying” and that’s how she lay all day and all night. She was already cold. She was entirely alert and conscious. She is totally ready. She asked twice: “is…
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1907 Rientje Stuit to H. Beekhuis
Read More: 1907 Rientje Stuit to H. Beekhuis1907 or 1908 from Rientje Stuit [1891-1908] to H. Beekhuis, Finsterwolderpolder. Sunday. Which date it is I don’t know and now I can’t put that up there, but that’s what it is just about… Dear brother and sister, I had promised you that I would write too sometimes. It is now certainly three weeks ago…
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Settling In
Read More: Settling InAnd so, our marriage started, very simple and peaceful. Harm was busy in the fields and in the stables. We had seven cows and two horses, a few hundred chickens and a stable full of pigs. First, I had many things to do in the house, like painting and wallpapering. The house had become somewhat…
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Cupido
Read More: CupidoA Tale of Deconstruction: He is alone. The dyke is still wrapped in morning mist and the sheep that keep looming up are standing motionless, except for one pleading lamb
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Have Mercy on Us
Read More: Have Mercy on UsSometimes a sudden emotion shivers within. Maybe, back in the garden, you hear a bird singing. Or a grandchild examines your face with pure-serious eyes.
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Opa Vliegt Naar Canada
Read More: Opa Vliegt Naar CanadaOpa Dekker. Tachtig en nog goed bij de pinken. Wat stijf in de botten ‘s morgens, maar tegen tienen loopt hij nog veerkrachtig een blokje om. Een leven van hard werken heeft zijn lichaam niet verknoeid. Nou ja, een wat hoge rug. Bijna een bochel. Sommige mannen die lang turf gestoken hebben houden dat ervan…
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Hoofdstuk Acht
Read More: Hoofdstuk AchtIk denk dat dit maar mijn laatste hoofdstuk moet worden. Het schrift is bijna vol en het valt mij ook steeds moeilijker om netjes te schrijven. Mijn handen beginnen zo te trillen, misschien komt dat omdat ik uren achter elkaar aan mijn tafeltje zit. Mevrouw Franken raad me aan wat meer afwisseling in mijn dag…