Start the music if you like to (song: as long as you love me).

Short version:

Klaas and Eileen met through a mutual relative in Holland.

Detailed Version:

Through very different circumstances, both Eileen and Klaas were single. Although unaware of each other, both were focusing on the positive aspects of life. 

Klaas had quit smoking, started a workout program and was studying for the MCSE exam. (succeeded in Aug 2000)

Eileen had just bought a new house (January, 2000), was picking out a color for her new Toyota Rav4 and looking forward to getting a dog (color not a problem) after her trip to Holland in April with her mother. A mutual relative (yah that is you Bert) suggested they meet online and get to know each other before her trip. He knew both rather well and thought they might enjoy each others company.

Both of us thought nnnaaahhhhh...don't need a friend 4000 miles away. Then Klaas had a 50th birthday that Bert was attending so Eileen said..'Oh, I just turned 50 and it is a nice age to be. Tell him I wish him happiness and will drink a Dutch beer to his health.' A week or so later , Klaas being a polite fellow, emailed Eileen a thank you for her good wishes. Eileen had some questions about turning 50 in Holland so Klaas suggested they ICQ sometime and chat. 

Another  week or so later we were both on line so introduced ourselves to each other. Our attraction was strong from the 1st ICQ. It was kind-of a mystery until we noted each others personality traits. Then it all made sense---and we decided to just 'let happen' whatever come what may.

We enjoyed each other online so much that Klaas decided to take holiday while Eileen was in Holland. We spent time with relatives, paid respects at my greatgranparents graves, went to the lake (oops) ocean (oops)...THE SEA, saw the tulips, Amsterdam, the Mills and got hooked on Dutch koffie about 4 hours after arrival! mmmmmmmmmmm Lekker .

We both knew the first day that our attraction was also strong in person. While relatives were exchanging presents, Eileen handed Klaas a small box and he unwrapped a puzzle piece. Everyone thought this an odd present but Klaas knew immediately it was 'the LAST piece of the puzzle'. When our eyes met, we knew we were falling in love. We tried not to think about the difficulties of living so far apart but just be grateful for finding each other. Remember ...anything can happen, if you let it happen. True romance comes right out of the blue

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Klaas took Eileen on a trip to see Paris and Monet's garden in Giverney, France where we stayed in a French chalet. The owner thought Klaas was a pilot and Eileen worked at the embassy (we just smiled). He gave us a table for two 'amour'. He could see we were in love. Saying goodbye at the airport in May was only possible because Klaas planned a trip to Minnesota in September. 

Whoever invented ICQ, we are very thankful. We have spent thousands of hours on ICQ. Then Klaas arrived in the USA and Eileen took a month vacation. We tried to be normal and just spend time at home but also included meeting relatives, mandatory Turkey Day in Eileen's hometown, local theatre 'How to Talk Minnesotan', walking in the woods next to Eileen's house, time on the Mississippi River and a week at a cabin on the North Shore of Lake Superior. 

Of all the things we did, we enjoyed being normal the most. Oh, on 9/9/00 something special happened. Klaas and Eileen were headed for a very fancy restaurant and Klaas noticed a restaurant called Tulips with a lovely garden. We went back and Klaas (with his sexy accent) was given the most romantic table in the garden next to the flowers and fountain. Then when they discovered he was Dutch...well, the service was excellent. After dinner, he got down on one knee, told Eileen how much she meant to him and asked her to marry him. The whole garden watched. Of course, Eileen said yes. He then put a ring on Eileen's left hand. He said he was combining American tradition (he learned it from the movies) and Dutch tradition. When Dutch marry in Holland, the same ring is moved to the right hand. It is both the engagement ring and wedding band. Ours is a gold band with the infinity symbol in the center. On the inside engraved is 9/9/00 Klaas. On 23/1/01 will be added the wedding date. Klaas' matching ring was delayed due to the 'popularity of the pattern.' They make the same excuses in Holland as in America when they screw up. But he has it now.

Again saying goodbye at the airport was difficult ...... but we planned to be together again in Januari 2001. We have set the marriage date for 23 January 2001 (see wedding page) and now we are back to ICQ, and phone calls.......and problem solving regarding the difficulties of getting married in Holland if you are NOT born there....geeeezzzz! certain papers are required that do not exist in the USA...such as proof Eileen is single and available to marry (and only divorce papers do not qualify!). It takes some very creative problem solving to meet the criteria required by the government bureaucrats.  (see our Visa page)

BTW--We test drove a Toyota Rav4 in September and will pick out the color together in May 2001. The dog? Well, Klaas says he will do enough barking so Eileen will THINK there is a dog in the house!

January 2001

A lot of e-mail, a lot of phone calls and a lot of thinking how we could submit all the needed paperwork to get married..... Then we finally where together again.... and the best thing of all we got our wedding license (ondertrouw) on January 8 2001.......now we wait the required  14 days before the marriage ceremony can be performed (To check what you need click here) 

January 23

The wedding was perfect, a speech in English with a well prepared register of marriage ( in Dutch; ambtenaar van de burgelijke stand) Henk de Deugd (thanks Henk). He  told family and friends our story and gave us a wonderful marriage. Our song was played at the starting of the ceremony and as a reward we gave Henk the CD.  We invited our family for dinner in a nice restaurant. The wedding night we stayed in the bridal suite in Hotel Bellevue Dordrecht. To see our pictures click here.

January 25

We delivered  the visa petition I-130 at the consulate in Amsterdam.  The petition was approved and now Klaas has to wait for his interview and the medical exam. This can take about 8 to 10 weeks from now.

click here to read about the procedure and our experiences. 

February 22

Klaas received the dates for his medical examination and the final interview at the consulate in Amsterdam. The medical examination is on March 12 and the final interview is on March 20. 

March 12

Medical exam no problem,  click here for the story

March 20

54 days from beginning to end of the visa procedure.

Today I received the visa.

Last interview and received the visa, click here for the story

March 30

 HOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!         

With 2 heavy loaded suitcases Klaas arrived at  MSP (Airport Minneapolis/St.Paul) and checked in at the INS. After some paperwork , fingerprints and a few questions he was done in about 30 minutes. Customs questioned him if he lived in the country or in the city because of the foot  and mouth disease in the Netherlands. The City it was, so no problems to get in, he had no food with him, not even stroopwafels. The man at customs shook his hand and said "Welcome to America" . Finally home...........

In his passport the I-551 stamp, conditional permanent resident  and allowed to work and travel.

April 2001

In the beginning of the month it was like a holiday but later on it sunk in. Yah Klaas is home really home to stay. He passed his drivers test and will receive his drivers license in the mail in a few weeks. He said that's a joke to get a drivers license this way but what the heck he passed.

Oh and the Rav4...... We bought a different car..... a SUV Suzuki V6 Grand Vitara silky silver. 

Then hunting for a job. Klaas already started to submit his resume to various companies  in January. This resulted in a job interview on April 11. In the interview they asked him how he was going to keep warm in the winter. It's much colder here in the winter than the Netherlands. The short and simple answer ; My wife promised to keep me warm.

Klaas accepted a job as a Sr. Network Analyst and will start his job on May 7.

May 2001 

A great job almost the same Klaas did before and he likes it a lot. Although the abbreviations here are the same the pronunciation is  different so sometimes Klaas has no clue what they talking about but with asking questions he finds out. 

End of this month we have Internet on cable (AT&T Roadrunner) and can use both our computers so we both are happy and do not use each others computer anymore. This is also good to update the website again.

We re-financed the house. The money we gained will be used to finish the basement (extra bedroom and shower) , maybe we will publish some pictures later. Also important is: the house will now in both our names to prove after two years (AOS) we're married and co-mingle our assets.

June 2001

Life is settling down here. The contractor is in to transform the basement in a family room and a bathroom. We have a lot to plan and buy for the basement. So busy busy here. We have made some pictures to follow the improvements.  (If you are really interested you can mail us for details and pictures) 

July 2001

The basement is almost finished. We have done a lot of shopping ( vanity, mirror, toilet, faucets, flooring etc...) 

And.......we have our new second car a Nissan Maxima (No not a royal one)  the color is Sunlit sand exactly the same as in this picture.

Klaas is so proud and drives Eileen in it like she is the Queen of Minnesota. He said; "Its so nice to go to work in my new car. I can't wait to go back home because then I can drive it again." 

August 2001

Almost our vacation

September 2001

Martine, Gert-Jan and Krista where here on vacation

December 2001

First Christmas for us together. There is just a little snow but that makes it perfect.

January 2002

We are married one year on January  23 and very very happy.

February 2002

No green card in the mail.....??????  . Maybe Klaas has to get another stamp in his passport.

March 2002

Still no green-card. We contacted our congressman. Within 20 minutes he was able to track down Klaas his green-card. It will be send out to us. Because on some computers the combination of our town and  zip code shows up  wrong the mailman had send it back.

Ok the green-card arrived.......KLAAS transformed to KLASS so we need to have that changed. It was something we already were prepared for, knowing the INS.

I provided a copy of my green-card to our HR department, nobody have seen the mistake (yet).....

   to be continued.......................