Life’s purpose and meaning questions

Life’s purpose and meaning questions

Why are we here? What is it that we offer? How can we present our offering in a way that sets us apart? Simon Sinek explains in a popular TED Talk how the most successful organizations think, act, and communicate if they start with Why. There are similarities between the questions that organizations need to ask themselves and what we as individuals need to ask ourselves.

Personal purpose and meaning

Each of us arrives as a unique individual on earth to contribute to a better society. During our first 18 years, our parents and help us prepare for the cause. We also discover some of our passions and talents. During our late teenage years, we begin to ask ourselves the Why, What and How questions. Having a purpose is an important aspect of a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Some people answer these big questions through meaningful, satisfying work. For others, their purpose lies in their responsibilities to their family or friends. Some people manage to live out their purpose in all aspects of their lives. There are many ways in which we can live out our purpose.

Change is the only constant in life

The one certainty of life is that it is constantly changing. Circumstances around us change, but life experiences and phases cause inner change to take place as well. Change in circumstances can lead to a change in the way we contribute. Sometimes a feeling of boredom, unmotivated, or uselessness causes us to ask the “Why”, “What”, and “How” questions.

The way we live out our purpose and contribute can be very different during different phases of our lives. However, there are always needs around us that we can address through our knowledge, skills, and experience. Usually, it requires us to get out of our comfort zone. It is, however, very fulfilling to live out your purpose.

My own journey with purpose and contribution

People and personal growth are topics close to my heart. I have, therefore, years ago completed a Diploma in Coaching. During the training, we had to articulate our “purpose”. I thought about the role I have played in various circumstances over the years and considered my values. It also helped to obtain the perceptions and opinions of people close to me. I expressed my purpose as follows:

Putting my “purpose” into words helped me identifying ways to put it into practice. I was motivated to take the necessary risks and tackle challenges to move forward.

After all the change and adjustment in Switzerland, I again reached the point where I had to confront myself with the Why, What and How questions? I decided to contribute through coaching. I would like to use the skills and techniques I learned along with my life experiences to help others find answers to their questions.

Please Contact Me if you are at that point where you are thinking about your big life questions and can find value in a coaching process to help you find the answers to these questions in a structured way.

regards

Emsia

Medals for dedication and sacrifice

Medals for dedication and sacrifice

The recent Olympics sucked me in like a strong ocean current. I was on the crest with certain athletes, their coaches, family, and team members.  However, I also shed tears about disappointments and dreams that did not work out.

The Olympic medal symbolizes hard work, dedication, sacrifice and patience. It serves as a motivation for the thousands of people fighting the pandemic worldwide.

Medal of Honour

We are familiar with the US Medal of Honour, the highest form of recognition a military member can earn. For some, the Medal of Honour indicates profound bravery and heroism. For others, it symbolizes enormous sacrifice, dedication, and service.

For people who receive the medal, its meaning is often deeply personal and filled with myriad emotions unique to each individual and their experience. It is a tangible reminder of a difficult time in their lives and often represents enormous personal loss and sacrifice. These ordinary people have done extraordinary things for a better future.

In the last year, I have seen various people who have done extraordinary things for the people they love. These people will never receive a medal for their selfless love and sacrifice.

Burger and Dalene Prinsloo

In a previous letter, I shared more about Burger and Dalene’s internal journey in a foreign country. After his severe stroke on 18 August 2020, Burger spent six months in hospitals in Germany and the last six months in South African rehabilitation centres. Dalene resigned from her job and supported Burger in every way possible. They have a team of therapists, family and friends who also support them. However, I can write an entire book on all their challenges over the past year. They both got Covid, among others.

They are currently in Johannesburg with their daughter to enable therapy for Burger. I share Dalene’s words from recent feedback.

“We are healthy, and Burger is progressing well. He can walk almost 100 steps at a time. However, his muscles are stiff, and he is experiencing pain with the sudden exercise after ten months in the hospital bed. According to the therapists, it sounds like we must stay here for another ten months before we can go home. We embark on the journey day by day in faith, and we know the finish line awaits!”

The pandemic

The pandemic caused a lot of trauma and loss, and many families have lost loved ones. Others lost their jobs or sources of income and security. It takes courage to get out of bed in the morning and fulfil your responsibilities. Superhuman strength is required to sit with your pain, study for exams and help with tasks at home because mom or dad is no longer there.

A letter from a young girl who recently lost her mom and dad touched my heart.

“I want to go buy buns after church on Sunday and steal a hot bun from the bag and eat in the car on the way home. I want to step into the chaos where you smell homemade food. I want to run fast to put on other clothes. I will quickly close my room door to hide the unmade bed and my church clothes still lying on the ground. I know mom does not make a fuss on Sundays. I want to turn back time and be at HOME again.”

To all the ordinary people who do extraordinary things, I want to say,

“Your attitude and perseverance, despite many challenges, give me and others hope and serve as encouragement and inspiration!”

Kind regards

Emsia

Life consists of colourful moments

Life consists of colourful moments

Life consists of moments. Moments are like pictures stored in the memory album and always available to slowly scroll through for remembrance.

Last year was a milestone birthday for Charl. Milestone birthdays force us to look back on the memorable moments of life. Charl’s love of puzzles and mine for photos were the building blocks for his gift idea. 

Ravensburger in Germany allows one the opportunity to design a personalised jigsaw puzzle with your photos. The design of the gift provided me with just as much joy as the building did for Charl.

Our life is like one big puzzle

Our life is a big puzzle consisting of moments that shape and colour the picture. There are times when we can only focus on the pieces unpacked on the table that look like a mess.

In times that feel overwhelming, it helps to embark on a creative and therapeutic project to give our subconscious mind a chance to make sense of what may seem confusing. It allows our subconscious mind to look holistically at our lives and see all the pieces as challenges or opportunities rather than impossibilities. We are beginning to understand how these puzzle pieces fit together to create a bigger picture.

Our pictures consist of coloured but also black and grey pieces. The black and grey pieces help us to have more appreciation for the coloured parts. It is the contrasts that make the artwork unique.

We need to create memorable moments

We must create opportunities for memorable moments. For years I have been using December months to go through my year’s photos and sort them. It forms part of my way of reflecting on the year, but it is also a valuable encouragement to be open to new ideas and create opportunities for special moments.

My life is less hectic in Switzerland, and I deliberately focus on just enjoying the everyday moments. I have to be present to observe. My time together with Zander as our youngest is rapidly diminishing. This realisation encourages me to focus on being present and enjoy it when we drink our morning coffee in bed.

I have started to observe activities in the area and changes in nature more consciously when I walk to the store. I make eye contact and smile when I greet the people I pass by. It turns into an enjoyable shared moment that forms part of each other’s day.

We need to allow each other memorable moments

As my sons grow up and start living their own lives, I am more aware of the importance of allowing each other memorable moments. Within a family, individuals have different passions, favourite places and people.

Kahlil Gibran expresses it so beautifully in the following piece he wrote with a marital relationship in mind, but it is just as valid with other close relationships:

Shared moments despite the distances between us

Covid times force us to be creative in our efforts to at least be together in spirit. As family and friends around the world, we embarked on various creative projects. The projects included paint-by-numbers, diamond-dot-painting, acrylic paint on canvas and Lego and other building projects.

We excitedly shared our progress with pictures and thus experienced togetherness.

Regards

Emsia

Words have become my lifeline

Words have become my lifeline

I have never been one for many words. I enjoy deep and informative conversations but tend to listen better than talk. For the past two years, however, words have been my only contact with other people.

The words that I speak and hear

Phone conversations have made me anxious before. Nowadays, a phone call has become my new gift. I look forward to hearing someone’s voice. My weekly call with my mother is like a constant to which I cling. I am grateful for the privilege of hearing her voice. After we shared information about the well-being of family and friends, we discussed our passions and interests. We also delight in the precious moments and positive memories of the past. It is always special to hear my mother laugh.

My boys do not like phone calls either. However, these days we talk on the phone for hours. We have previously expressed our love for each other by spending time and doing activities together. Often, it happened in silence because each other’s presence was enough. We helped each other with tasks or enjoyed little surprise gifts. Touch, as an expression of caring, happened in passing. Words are now all we have.

The words that we write and read

I experience writing as a valuable way to get rid of the emotions that want to overwhelm me. It helps me make sense of how I feel. The paper does not give advice, listens patiently, and gives me perspective. During my divorce, I pinned down my emotions in poetic form. With us moving to Switzerland, my regular letters help me to make sense of events, keep in touch and keep memories alive on paper.

I like to read and often find answers to my questions in written form. Often, I even find encouragement in written pieces, poems, and wise words of people on social media. I have learned to be selective with the type and the source of the information I read. Words have a significant impact on my mind, my feelings, and my actions.

Words are powerful

Words are a carrier of information and emotions. It has an impact on other people. If words become one’s only form of connection, you must choose them carefully. It is vital for the one who speaks it but also for the one who hears it. Words can build, inspire, motivate, acknowledge, and convey love. However, it can demean, discourage, and sow doubt and uncertainty.

Our words are a confirmation to the world of how we see others, our lives and ourselves. When we say something out loud, these words become the truth for ourselves but also for all who hear them. We must select our words carefully to ensure they are positive and convey the truth. We cannot retract our words.

The pen is mightier than the sword

I appreciate the idiom that says, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Written words can convince, educate, enlighten others, and bring about more change than violence or abuse of power can ever do. It allows others to reflect on the words, experience emotional responses, and take action of their own free will.

Words have become my lifeline, and I am grateful to everyone who helps me keep my head above water with the exchange of words.

Kind regards

Emsia

Braai is a South African tradition

Braai is a South African tradition

The love for braai is one of the few things  South Africans share, regardless of race, language, or culture. Braai is a South African tradition. Therefore, Heritage Day in South Africa is also known as Braai Day.

Braai and BBQ are not the same

If I must explain braai to my non-South African friends, I will do it as follows. Although braai loosely means cooking food over the coals, braaiing is not synonymous with barbeque. Braaiing can take place at any time of the day and in any season. South Africans even make coffee and breakfast on a braai when we camp. It is normal to braai during the week to prepare meals. Braai is even sometimes done after a night out since it is a way of being social.

Switzerland has a BBQ season

In Switzerland, there is a definite BBQ season during the summer. During May, the stores start unpacking accessories and food items that are marked BBQ. BBQ items are only available until after the summer holidays. During September, all the BBQ items make way again for Fondue and Raclette cheese which is the Swiss’ traditional way of hanging out with friends and family.

Here abroad, we look at a braai with new eyes. It is like an umbilical cord that binds you to your people, culture, and tradition. With Charl as a vegetarian, we did not braai in South Africa as often as most other people. In Switzerland, we have rectified the situation and braaiing is now high on our agenda.

BBQ options in Switzerland

Compared to South Africa, the meat options for braai are limited and incredibly expensive. Options consist mainly of pork sausage, marinated pork, chicken, and hamburger patties. Fortunately, there is a large variety of vegetarian barbecue options. There are different types of cheeses as well as other vegetarian substitutes for meat. We are now systematically trying out exciting products.

We have inaugurated our braai tradition in Switzerland with a disposable braai, a popular form of braai in the summer along the lake. For the first time, we tried out the disposable braai on the table on the porch of our apartment. The smell and taste and Zander’s excitement were enough motivations to buy a weber braai that works with charcoal.

It took us a while to get up to speed. For example, there are no fire lighters here, but we found substitutes and, in the process, discovered new Weber-related products.

Our braai was causing problems

One Sunday afternoon, someone rang our front doorbell. It was our Swiss neighbour in her wheelchair. Luckily Charl opened the door, and I listened from the room. When she started her sentence with, “I do not like complaining, but …” I held my breath. She complained about the braai and the smoke coming into her house. She also brought along the apartment complex’s lease agreement to show that only gas grills are allowed. We have never read the fine print in German before.

We searched again for the lease on the computer, translating the rules from German only to see that she was right. It was a bitter pill, but we were obliged to return with our hat in our hand. An apology letter and South African rooibos tea had to put the awkward situation behind us.

In South Africa braai on a gas grill is not considered a braai

In South Africa, braai on a gas grill is not considered a braai. We realised that “beggars cannot be choosers”, and Charl ordered a gas grill. Putting the Weber gas grill together was a whole Saturday project. Fortunately, Charl already has good experience with these types of construction projects.

We have tried our new gas grill a few times now. It works very well and allows us to experiment with different items. We tried homemade pizzas, but it still needs process improvement.

Regards

Emsia

My husband enjoys his e-bike more than walking

My husband enjoys his e-bike more than walking

My husband does not like walking. He made this fact very clear to me while we were still dating. He lost a few points in my books because I love walking. However, Charl’s recent electric bike proposal earned him a few bonus points.
Zander is now at that age where he prefers his friends’ company and activities over his parents. His parents, therefore, had to find something to keep themselves busy during weekends.

E-bikes are popular in Switzerland

E-bikes are becoming more and more popular in Switzerland, with one in seven bikes being electric bikes. The e-bike enables cyclists to tackle more demanding routes and greater distances on their bikes than they would be able to do on a road bike.

It is a bonus when the bike’s electric motor kicks in and you have assistance with getting up a hill. The cyclists who ride ordinary bicycles get irritated when an e-bike passes them. We learned to be more respectful and remain behind them on the uphill sections.

Switzerland caters well for cyclists

Switzerland caters very well for cyclists. There are dedicated bike paths, as well as bike stands available everywhere. The Kamoot App on my cell phone shows all the cycling and hiking trails. These bike routes take cyclists through the most beautiful rural parts and ensure they stay off the main roads.

Charl rides his bike to work

The traffic in Zurich is heavy, like in most cities. Cycling is one of the best ways to get through the city. Charl started riding the bike to work and forms part of a weekly exercise routine. Cycling is a great way to travel in an environmentally conscious country.

We explore the countryside over weekends

Cycling is a fun way to experience Switzerland’s beautiful landscapes and enjoy the tranquillity of the countryside. Our favourite is the road to Rapperswil, a medieval town at the bottom of Lake Zurich. We enjoy driving through the forest all along the lake to get there. On our journey, we see and smell the horses, cattle, and canola. At Rapperswil, we spoil ourselves with an Egg McMuffin and coffee by the lake. This way, we gather strength for the steep hill back home.

Cycling tourism

Bicycle tourism is a popular way to spend a holiday these days. It involves exploring the area by cycling from one town to the next. Alternatively, you can stay in one place and make day trips with your bike. There is a cycling route around Lake Constance that we would very much like to do. The road takes you through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, with breathtaking views of the lake and the Alps.

I love speed and have already reached 60km/h on my bike. However, Charl warned me that if I fell or got a speeding ticket, I would lose a few points in his books!

Regards

Emsia

Zug surprised us with cherries and a scooter

Zug surprised us with cherries and a scooter

Great was my joy when I started to see cherries in the Swiss shops. I found out that Zug, which is close to us, is known for its cherries. The Romans planted cherries more than 1800 years ago. For the past 400 years, a cherry market has been held annually in Zug. Zug is also known for its cherry pie and its brandy (Kirsch).

Our outing to Zug exceeded our expectations. Various types of cherries, other berries, and related products were available at the market. We walked away with a box full of sweet cherries and cherry jam.

Cherries bring back fond memories

Bright red, sun-ripened cherries seduce me. I love their shape, colour and texture and the taste is heavenly. In South Africa, their scarcity contributed to the allure. I had precious memories of picking cherries in Ceres with the family during a Christmas holiday. We went home with tired children and bags full of cherries.

Cherries were that year’s Christmas dinner theme. With everyone’s creative suggestions, all the dishes on the Christmas menu contained cherries. There was cherry jam with the pot bread, a cherry and brandy sauce with the steak and a fruit salad with cherries. The meal was rounded off with a snow-white pavlova with bright red cherries as dessert. After Christmas, we were all healed of cherries for a year!

Many foreigners live in Zug

Zug is a beautiful town next to a turquoise lake. In Switzerland, each canton has its own tax rates. Zug is the canton with the lowest tax rate. It is, therefore, popular among foreigners and has an international school. Zug has a Swiss atmosphere, but more people speak English than in the other towns.

Zug, established 800 years ago, has a beautiful old town with cobblestone roads and historic buildings. Musicians with an accordion in front of a restaurant contributed to the atmosphere. They welcomed their guests with music and drinks. We celebrated the day with beer and pizza at an Italian restaurant next to the lake. Eating out in Switzerland is a luxury.

Zugersee surprised Zander with a scooter

Zander went prepared in his swimsuit. When we arrived, we sat on the rocks next to the lake to watch all the ducks and their fluffy baby ducklings. Zander braved the icy water and adapted enough to be able to swim around.

The next moment he saw something that excited him – a scooter that looked just like his scooter. After diving and splashing, he put the scooter, covered in green moss, down by the lake. He intended to clean the scooter and take it home.

Zug yielded far more than we had hoped for. The beautiful town exceeded all our expectations.

Cherry greetings

Emsia

Fun in the green rolling hills of Heidiland

Fun in the green rolling hills of Heidiland

Different languages, cultures and landscapes in Switzerland offer a variety of experiences. Our visit to the eastern part of Switzerland was exceptional. The visit had the added benefit of visiting neighbouring Austria, Germany, and Liechtenstein in one day.

Appenzell

Green rolling hills characterise the Appenzell landscape. We could imagine Heidi and Peter laughing between the goats. We took a cable car up to the Ebenalp, the northernmost peak of the Appenzell Alps. Many people paraglide from the top of the mountain. They tested our nerves with their excited and nervous screams as they jumped off the edge to fly the 770m down.

We walked one of the many beautiful hiking trails on top of the mountain from Ebenalp. The hiking trail took us past prehistoric caves, where there is evidence that Neanderthal people lived 40,000 years ago. There are also bones of cave bears and leopards.

We ate cheese like Heidi in a wooden cottage

Our visit to the famous Appenzeller cheese factory was a pleasant experience. We were amazed by the variety of cheeses made with various combinations of mixed herbs. 

We spoiled ourselves with fondue and a cheese platter accompanied by home-baked bread and fruit chutney for lunch. The restaurant looked like a Heidi cottage in the mountains, with everything made of wood.

We bought Appenzeller herbal liqueur. It is still made according to an old family recipe and contains 42 types of herbs.

Heidiland

The Heidiland region utilised the Heidi theme for tourism purposes with a Heidi House in Maienfeld and Heidi hiking trails. One of Switzerland’s well-known natural hot springs, Bad Ragaz, is also in the region. We visited the Tamina fountains that feed Bad Ragaz.

The steam from the hot water created a mystical atmosphere. We felt so small in time when we read that people discovered these fountains already in 1240. People travelled far and sat in the water for up to ten days with great faith in the healing power of the water. The sketches of the baths built of stone reminded me of the baths in biblical times that the sick visited regularly.

Austria and Germany

We were very close to the border and could not resist the temptation to drive through Austria and Germany. In Austria, we explored a beautiful nature reserve. The waterfalls between the autumn-coloured trees took our breath away.

In Germany, we went shopping. Many items are much cheaper in Germany than in Switzerland. On weekends, the Swiss flood the German towns close to the border. They take advantage of the lower prices and the 19% VAT exemption.

Lichtenstein

On the way home, we visited Vaduz, Lichtenstein’s capital, to look at the castle. It was built in the 12th century and is the official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. Lichtenstein is the sixth smallest country in the world and a monarchy. Economically Liechtenstein has one of the highest GDP per capita in the world. It has a significant financial sector in Vaduz. As we stood at the castle, a shiny black car drove through the gates and kept our imagination guessing.

It is a great privilege to get to know Switzerland better. We use our opportunity to discover the different things that each area and each season has to offer. I share in a previous letter more about our experience of the French and Italian parts of Switzerland in the summer.

Kind regards

Emsia

The French and Italian parts of Switzerland

The French and Italian parts of Switzerland

After seeing a few warning lights burn in all of us after a challenging year, we realized that we need an effective pit-stop holiday despite masks, rules, and accommodation and transport cancellations that have flowed in due to Covid-19 restrictions.

We had the opportunity to explore and experience the different regions of Switzerland. Zurich, where we live, is in the eastern German-speaking region. We wanted to see and visit the western French cantons and the southern Italian canton of Switzerland. Each area has its beauty and charm.

The French side of Switzerland

The French part of Switzerland is known as Romandy. Valais, Vaud, and Geneva are three of the largest wine-producing regions in Switzerland. The green vineyards along the shores of the blue waters of Lake Geneva create a beautiful picture. We experienced many similarities between the French and South Africans, such as passion and strong will. Charl works with the French. He says even though he cannot understand their language, there is something in their essence that he can identify with.

We stayed in the Rhone Valley. The Rhone Glacier formed this valley but melted due to climate change. The Rhone River is a milky green colour, and the vineyards are in rows that stretch high up the mountain. One morning we walked over a bridge built over a 950m high rock crevice. We hiked on a hiking trail between the vineyards down to a Medieval village and enjoyed ice-cold apple juice as a refreshment in the heat.

The Italian side of Switzerland

Ticino is the Italian-speaking region in the south of Switzerland. Neighbouring Italy inspired the architecture, food and culture. In Bellinzona, the capital of Ticino, we visited beautiful medieval castles. We stayed in Lugano, which has a holiday village atmosphere. It is right next to a blue-green glacial lake with a lovely waterfront promenade.

We swam in the lake, rented pedal boats, and tried to do Stand Up Paddling (SUP) at Zander’s request. We went up the mountain with the Funicular to see the world from above. On my recommendation, we hiked down. With the heat and all the complaints, it was clear that I was not eligible for the team member of the week award. I consequently suggested pizza and gelato ice cream as a peace offering. Covid-19 restrictions resulted in fewer tourists and short queues.

Como in Italy

We took the train across the border to Como in Italy. A heatwave arrived with us in Italy. The Italians are passionate and hospitable people who enjoy and appreciate beautiful and delicious things in life. I could not stop looking at all the historic old buildings and villas with colourful and well-kept gardens. They were built by the rich in Roman times and nowadays serve as tourist accommodations.

Early in the evening, when the sun begins to set, people come out of their living areas with the most beautiful clothes and fragrances. The girls look pretty with their red lips in their colourful and feminine dresses. The young men display their attractive tanned, and trained bodies in white cotton shirts. They socialize with charming music provided by street musicians until late at night. Early in the morning, the smell of freshly ground coffee hangs over all the street cafes. Sparrows stand cheekily closer for their daily bread.

My comparison between Switzerland and Italy

On the way back home, I tried to clarify the difference in experience between Switzerland and Italy. Switzerland is like those very organised families or friends you visit. Everything is orderly and structured. The garden is well-maintained, and the furniture is durable. Mealtimes are at a set time. The meals are healthy and balanced.

Italy is like spontaneous family or friends. There is a lot of freedom to come and go as you please. The house is full of artwork and detail. The visit is entertaining, and meals are made with available ingredients when everyone is hungry.

One visit is not necessarily better than the other. It is just different.

Ciao

Emsia

Unexpected people who become like family

Unexpected people who become like family

Family is not always blood. Family represent those people who choose to have you in their lives. They accept you just the way you are. These people will do anything to see you smile and stand by you through thick and thin. Sometimes they cross our paths in unexpected ways. They are gifts from Above.

Bettie taught me to cook traditional Cape food

Bettie and Edwina

As a young married woman with limited cooking skills and time, Bettie crossed my path as a domestic worker. Bettie took care of our household and cooked the most delicious meals. Easter weekends, Bettie spoiled us with a traditional Cape Easter speciality, pickled curried fish from Cape Malay cuisine. She and Abraham worked on a wine farm all their lives, and Abraham later became our gardener.

Our families got to know each other well and had a lot of mutual respect. We supported Bettie after Abraham’s death and during the drug addiction of a family member. She helped me through my divorce and sat at the main table at Charl and my wedding. When she died of cancer, my grief was the same as that of a family member. She was like a mother to me and an inspiration in many ways.

Au pairs that have enriched my children’s lives

Three au pairs

With Zander’s birth, I could no longer keep all the balls in the air. I decided to enlist the help of an au pair. Inspirational young women crossed my path. Each of them was unique with unique interests and contributed to us in different ways. Their skills also complemented my skills and creativity where it was lacking, as with cake and party decorations. Many of them are now moms blessed with their children.

Their farewell letters confirmed the shared time with us was also meaningful to them. Within a week of our last au pair joining us, her long-standing love affair with her boyfriend, also with name Zander, ended. She utilised her passion for technology to play her hurt away with video games with little Zander. She was his computer gamer friend. She wrote in her farewell letter, “One Zander broke my heart, but another little Zander was sent across my path to heal it.”

Grandpa Frikkie, my husband’s ex-father-in-law

Grandpa Frikkie crossed my path through Charl. He is Charl’s father-in-law from his first marriage. Their bond was extraordinary, and both decided that their relationship would continue after Charl’s divorce. Grandpa Frikkie attended our wedding despite his own emotions.

Grandpa Frikkie reading to Zander

His role in our lives has slowly but surely taken shape. With Zander’s birth, we agreed that he could be Zander’s Grandpa Frikkie. Grandpa Frikkie was at Zander’s christening and attended every birthday party. Once a month, he came to play with Zander on a Saturday morning so that Charl and I could have breakfast together. We were amazed at the projects they embarked on and the games they played.

It was hard to say farewell to Grandpa Frikkie when we moved to Switzerland. He keeps in touch with each of us and shares news from South Africa. He also calls Zander regularly to connect and better understand his world.

Grandpa Frikkie and Zander playing

Even though Grandpa Frikkie is already 74, he is up-to-date with technology. They live in a retirement village, and he uses all his knowledge and skills to help others. He played a cardinal role in assisting the residents with online Covid vaccination registrations. He invited me to join an online bible study, which I experienced as positive and informative. I enjoy the wisdom and stories that he shares.

My father went to heaven shortly after my thirtieth birthday. Grandpa Frikkie is the closest to an earthly father I have. I am grateful for having someone who feels like a father, even though he is my husband’s ex-father-in-law.

Our angels here on earth

People who feel like family are those people who will support us, help us grow, encourage us and be there for us when we need it. God selected them carefully to be our angels here on earth.

Kind regards

Emsia