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Show Volume XIV Issue XV The Ogden Valley news Page 9 May 1, 2007 Auntie Maggie . . . By Drienie Hattingh Greymont, South Africa August 15, 2003 Dearest Drienie, Thank you so much for the photos and letter. You live in a beautiful place. Those mountains! Yes, what is lovelier than God’s nature around us? And the garden and the little stream with the beautiful rocks and trees! To me that is the most beautiful. Rocks have always held a fascination for me. I collected rocks wherever Uncle Chris and I traveled. I placed them all over my garden. I decorated a bowl with ceramic frogs and plants and placed these rocks inbetween— it looks so pretty. I filled another bowl with water and rocks and placed the little fisherman that you sent to Uncle Chris on a rock. I always think of him when I look at the little fisherman because he loved fishing so much. Yes, Drienie, it will be very difficult to leave here someday. Even though I am alone and sometimes sad, my little house and my garden are my paradise. I cannot thank my God enough for the strength I still have to manage it all. Drienie, I saw you do not have burglar proofing or a security gate. People here have high walls around their property and burglar proofing on windows and doors— it looks like jails. Someone wanted to put a steel fence in front of my house and burglar proofing on my windows. I told him that a Higher Hand is guarding me. I have not been afraid, not once, to go to bed. When I go on my knees and ask our Lord to keep me safe, I believe that He will. “The Lord is behind us, to guard us; The Lord is under us, to carry us, The Lord is in front of us, to prevent us from falling, The Lord is above us, to bless us.” Drienie, don’t you think these are beautiful words to live by? It is Sunday afternoon here and it’s cold and raining softly. As I write to you, I’m sitting under blankets. Winter seems to just drag on and on. I cannot wait for spring! My love to you and Johan, Auntie Maggie ********** Ansfrere, South Africa February 2004 Dearest Drienie, Thank you so much for your letter and thinking of me during the difficult time. I had to say farewell to my house where we lived for 50 years. But Drienie, I love my new little apartment at the old age facility. I thank our dear Lord for all he has done for me. I am so happy here. It was difficult to leave my house and garden and all the precious memories but you know, Drienie, it was time . . . ********** Ansfrere, South Africa January 22, 2005 lovely spring morning—the season that Auntie Maggie loved so well. I will never receive a letter from her again. No more heartfelt poems or special Bible verses. At Christmas, I will not be sending that something special off to Ansfrere. I’ll never receive a lovely crocheted table runner or kitchen towel from my Auntie Maggie again. I’ll never hear her happy response over the phone when I call her on her birthday. Then I smiled, through tears, as I Dearest Drienie and Johan, realized what day Aunt Maggie left us. She Thank you so very much for your letter must have been elated to join Uncle Chris and for my lovely Christmas gifts. To think and her God on Easter Sunday Morning. that you knitted it yourself. The scarf will Uncle Chris and Auntie Maggie were be used a lot. The colors go so well with my my Godparents. When I think of them, coat. I spent even now— Christmas that they are with Nelie and both gone, I New Year with see them in Hermina. It their lovely was wonderful little house but now I’m and garden. I enjoying heard that it’s being back difficult to at my little come to terms apartment, with a loved where I am one’s death very happy. if you could I thank God not pay your every day last respects for all that I at their gravehave. side. That It’s Sunday Drienie Hattingh with her Aunt Maggie and Uncle Chris. must be true afternoon and because I it’s raining and we are so thankful to our keep on seeing them in their little paraLord. We really need the rain; it has been dise—Uncle Chris mowing the lawn, Auntie very dry and hot. I am going to mail this Maggie cutting roses. letter tomorrow when the little bus takes us Uncle Chris was my Father’s brother to the Flora Centre. I am so thankful to our and our families visited each other all the dear Lord for this place and all that they do time. Later, after I married, I often had for me… tea with them in their bright, immaculate Drienie, now Auntie Maggie wants to kitchen. Auntie Maggie always had somewish you and Johan a very prosperous 2005 thing to go with the tea—milk tart, or rusks and great success with your writing. or cookies. The last time I visited them, Lots of love to you all, eleven years ago, I spent a whole day with Auntie Maggie them. They treated me like a little girl again. We had tea and walked through ******** the garden and they took me to lunch at “Hullo Drienie.” My Mother’s voice their favorite restaurant in the countryside. reached me from far away. They even bought me little gifts. Uncle “Mammie!” At first I’m happy but then Chris left us four years later. The last time I realize something’s wrong. I saw Aunt Maggie, two years ago, she “Drienie, I’m so sorry . . . Auntie Maggie lived in a very small apartment. She was passed away early this morning. She had always thankful for whatever God brought another heart attack. They wanted to do an on her path. I gave her a wind chime for anagram but she refused. She told Hermina her little patio. In my mind’s eye, I see the that she just wants to close her eyes and join garden she left behind—her paradise. Uncle Chris—it was time . . . At the end of February, I received the All the color seems to drain out of the last letter that Auntie Maggie would write to me. Of course, I did not know it at the time. There was nothing profound in the letter; it was no different from the countless letters that I received since we came to America. As usual, the letter was full of gratitude for all that her Heavenly Father gave her—her health, her family, her little apartment, and the nature that surrounded her. ******** Ansfrere, South Africa January 29, 2007 Dearest Drienie and Johan, Thank you so much for the lovely Christmas angel and the fragrant hand cream. Auntie Maggie wants to thank you for always remembering me. Thank you also, Drienie, for again subscribing me to Guideposts. I pass it onto friends when I’m done reading it. I also received the Valley Views Magazine and loved reading your stories about people in your Valley and I enjoyed the story about the Knitwits in the Valley Newspaper. I’m glad that you received your Christmas presents— the crocheted kitchen towel and book— hope you enjoy the book. I am so happy that Johan is back working and so much better. Thanks to God. I had a wonderful vacation with Nelie and Hermina. I still love my little place and my health is also good— thanks to God. I do a lot to keep busy. I cook and bake and baked rusks today. And I still crochet kitchen towels and coat hangers, like the ones I send you. On Tuesdays, the bus takes us shopping and we eat at Wimpy Bar. I really enjoy it. Thursdays are Hermina’s day and I spend every Saturday with my sister. I’m so happy to still have a sister. I also walk early in the morning and at sundown. God’s world is so beautiful at these times. While walking yesterday, I thought of a poem I read. Our Lord’s character is reflected in nature: His strength in the majestic mountains, His life giving force in the bubbling fountains, His trustfulness in the continuous waves washing onto the shore, His love in the life giving rain, His faith fullness in a rainbow after a storm and in a green blade of grass breaking through a burned field . . . - Emelia Drienie, poems like these are like food for my soul. Auntie Maggie wants to wish you and Johan a wonderful and healthy 2007. Lots of love to you and Johan, Auntie Maggie. Subscriptions available for out of area residents at $18.00 annually. Send payment with mailing address to: The Ogden Valley news P O BOX 130, EDEN UT 84310 VALLEY ART CLASSES! Variety art: Hand building in clay, wood, paper. Drawing skills, painting, cartooning. Fun activities in every class! Starting: June 4 through July 9 Ages: 11 to adult Teacher: Douglas Wood ( Art instructor in Ogden and county schools and Weber State University.) Location: Classes are in Liberty Community Pampered Chef Fundraiser Benefiting Irene Rawlinson Tuesday, May 1st at the Home of Jori Torman 3018 N. 4975 E. Across from Snowcrest Jr. High Our class filled up fast last year! Call . . .745-3083 1-3 p.m. & 6-8 p.m. Bored this summer? Irene was diagnosed in February with Adeno Carcinoma, a rare form cancer. As her friends and community we would love to be able to help her with the mounting medical expenses. Thanks to the help of The Pampered Chef’s corporate fundraising program (All consultants commissions being donated) Please stop by for a few minutes to support a worthy cause. (Light refreshments will be served) All orders will be in by Mother’s Day! Can’t attend but would still like to help order. Online orders will still be accepted through May 4 at <www.pamperedchef.biz/chefjori> Go to order products and enter Irene Rawlinson’s name! |