Today, as I arrived at the Ogden Temple, I changed my mind about what I was going to do. I left my clothing bag in the car and went inside. As I received the names of the women I would be proxy for, I began to cry. There on paper were 5 Dutch women's names and they were all born between 1858 and 1862. The most amazing thing to me was they were all from the town that my father-in-law, Bart, was born in the Netherlands......
GRONINGEN. Dutch names are difficult to pronounce. They have two consonants together in a word that we aren't used to pronouncing like, Grietje, Rijks, or Hervormde. All of the women's first and last names were pure Dutch and difficult to say....only one, Clara, was easy. I felt such peace knowing that I was blessed to have a connection with these Dutch women, me being of adopted heritage, traditions, and loving the city of their birth. I hope that I might visit Groningen someday. Even though I am only Dutch through marriage, I have a great love for my in-laws and the Dutch traditions and stories I learned from them. Was this a coincidence? I KNOW it was not. Another 'tender mercy' I receive every day of my life. 
HILLECHIENA AND HINDRIK WOLTHUIS
John's grandparents came to America in 1928
This is a picture of Groningen that shows a sailing vessel similar to the one that my father-in-law and his family (9 children) lived on in Holland. Hard to imagine living on a boat, isn't it?
5 comments:
Thank you for sharing that story. I marvel everyday at the "tender mercies" in my life, something very evident this year at Cedars...love you!
That is such a neat experience. I am glad that you were able to do those names!
that is really neat, thank you for sharing.
I love reading your stories. You amaze me with your strong faith and the knowledge you have. You are so wonderful!! I love you!!
Veronica, Its nice to think that we are all connected as the family and children of a loving Heavenly Father. I spent some time in this city on an internship in college. It is a beautiful place.
Post a Comment