Letter from the Knapens

I received the year end letter from JW's mother - Anne Marie. Would like to share with you.

There are a whole bunch of nice garphics. I will try to load them later.


Dear all,

2006... A year filled with “for the first times”... For the first time towards, for the first time without, for the first time with, for the first time from, for the first time through, for the first time for, for the first time against, for the first time on top, for the first time under... Nothing but firsts...
Our girls went to Middle School (sixth grade) for the first time and Alexander to first grade...
All three of our earthy children got their first taste of tennis (and they loved it!); Alexander finally got permission to attend his first real drum lesson (how exciting!); Helena and Elisabeth performed in their first piano recital with their wonderful teacher, Melissa Lin.
For the very first time in years, we were able to visit our family and friends in Belgium and for the first time, we traveled with new friends (Dr. Wong, Vicky, Wijan, and Nancy) – and that was fun! We enjoyed a first family trip without the physical presence of JW...
We are still working hard towards the big day of the groundbreaking of JW House; we’re so grateful and happy that we were able to reach and break through the one million dollar barrier and still, we feel thankful and thrilled to so see our piggybank getting fatter...
Jan-Willem became our first Knapen-child to graduate from high school and the first Belgian citizen ever to receive the most precious space and a beautiful tree on Bellarmine’s campus.
For the first time in our lives, we learned what real true Love means --- and pain --- and ups --- and-no-way-around downs since from now on, we would never be able again to physically touch, hug, or kiss Jan-Willem – or to simply scratch his back, his arms, or his legs...
And in between all these firsts, we learned to see, hear, feel, taste, and smell Happiness and to cherish it. Happiness... In every sunflower, in every seed... and in every heavenly dancing butterfly... We learned to share tears of sincere thankfulness and pain and to bear them together; we learned to discover the beauty of Life. We learned more than ever before to live Life like JW did and we managed in a spontaneous way to keep our dear brother and son involved in our daily concerns and rhythm...
I can honestly say that life kept on laughing in our hearts and souls and that we were able to seize each new morning. Sometimes, we felt desperate and in tears but we always managed to end up smiling. Despite everything. We want to thank you for your support at any moment! We want to thank each other and most certainly, we want to thank the Lord! --- We definitely want to thank our angel JW, for taking care of us, day and night, and for reminding us how one can also do it, how one can make things work better...
We love you all; we love each other; we love the gift of Life and Memories!
Last but not least: we profoundly want to thank you for every effort you contribute towards the realization of JW’s dream! Together, we can do it; we will Never Ever Give Up!!!

We wish you Love and Peace in your hearts and on Earth!
Merry Christmas! Have a wonderful year 2007!

Geert and Anne Marie,
Helena and Elisabeth,
Alexander and Jan-Willem who lives in us forever now

On January 7th at 6pm,
we will remember and celebrate
the beauty and the gift of JW’s life
and his wonderful Dream, the JW House…
Church of the Jesuits
Waversebaan 220, 3001 Heverlee, BelgiumEverybody is welcome!