We just got back from two weeks at home in Iowa. This blog will be random life stuff from the last month or two. Some Nederland things, some not.
I can’t really describe the feeling of coming home after living in the Netherlands for 3 months. For the most part, it feels like we never skipped a beat, that our home is the same and we never left Iowa. It offers immediate comfort and happiness.
Yet I think Jeremy and I are different now. We carry another culture and people with us that we can’t forget. We both said that we missed many things about Goes while we were gone. And I didn’t realize it, but I missed the language, or maybe what it represents. When I got on the plane in Minneapolis to fly to Amsterdam, I heard one of the stewardesses speaking in English but with a heavy Dutch accent. I had an immediate smile on the inside. I thought, “Oh, I missed you all!” It brought a peace that welcomed me to my second home.
Time in Iowa
Life was busy at home in Iowa! We saw many family and friends, trying to catch up on their lives and sharing about our life in the Netherlands. We also had a lot of physical work to do in our yard and flower beds to prepare for winter.
Our kids came for one of the weekends. Kyle our international student came too. That was so fun! I meant to get a picture of us and all our kids but I forgot and could kick myself.
The picture above is our daughter in law’s guinne pig. Blueberry came along for the weekend too. We also had extended family over for supper on a Saturday night. So good to see them all.
Jeremy and I also tackeled a new endeavor while we were home. We are renting our house! We came across a family that needed a place to stay for a time, and agreed to let our house be their landing place. We feel really good about this arrangement. I think God has called everyone involved to this place and time.
We did notice the absence of our beloved dog Charlie during out trip home. I had to put Charlie down a little earlier in the year, but we hadn’t been together as a family since that hard day. Charlie was almost 15 years old! He was failing physically and didn’t seem very happy anymore, so I did the very difficult deed of letting him go mercifully. When we were all together for the weekend, we definitely noticed the “empty seat at the table”, so to speak.
A Big Birthday In the Netherlands
Jeremy and I both got the pleasure of celebrating our birthdays in the Netherlands! Mine was the most recent, and I spent the day in Middelburg! I took the train in the morning, only a 25 minute ride or so. During the day I took a boat tour, shopped and went to the Zeeland museum.
I have had several people recommend a certain store here in Europe called Dille and Kamille. There is one in Middelburg so I made a point of stopping there. It is such a fun place! I would liken it to something like Crate and Barrel. It is a trendy kitchen, knick knack, natural soap kind of place.
When I first entered the store, I saw some white candle houses. One of them had my year of birth on it! And since it was my birthday, I decided it had to come home with me. Turns out that Dille and Kamille were celebrating 50 years in business, and that is why they were selling houses with 1974 on the front. Such a fun day.
Special Visitors!
We had some fun visitors recently too! The Van Kootens were taking a family vacation around Europe and stopped to see us! It was so fun to have lunch with them in Goes and catch up their lives in Iowa. The boys are growing so fast!
Coffee Time!
Above is how koffie is generally served in Goes. It is given in a glass drinking glass, one that needs to be returned. Not much for To Go cups around here, and certainly no drive through coffee places.
The above drink is a Macchiato. It is hot and served with sugar, a tiny glass of water, and a cookie. The cookie will look familiar to alot of you. 🙂
Above is how I drink koffie at home in our apartment. Jeremy gave me this Zeeland mug for my birthday. The inside has two words, “Vloed” toward the top of the mug, and “Eb” toward the bottom. This refers to Zeeland’s relationship with the ocean. Sometimes it floods (Vloed) and sometimes it recedes (Eb)..
Dutch Chili?
Since the weather has gotten cooler, we have been thinking about Chili even here in the Netherlands.
Look at the picture. Which thing doesn’t belong? Yes, I brought Walmart Chili Powder back with me, assuming I couldn’t find it in Goes. And I was right. But I did manage to find the rest of the Chili ingredients at the local grocery store. It probably won’t taste exactly like Iowa Chili, but I know it will do the trick.
Fun Random Pictures
We saw this moped in a hotel lobby in Amsterdam. It couldn’t be more Delfty or Dutchy. Made me laugh. We joke that it would be great Christmas gift for Jeremy’s mom. Pella would love it!
The outdoor market in Goes offers many Amaryllis bulbs! I couldn’t believe the full crates they had to choose from! None for me sadly. I don’t have a yard.
I am so excited about my new suitcase! I love the color! My old suitcase was assaulted by the airline. It lost a wheel between Detroit and Des Moines.
I decided to end with a beautiful view of the catholic church behind our apartment. The every day outside lights are beautiful enough, but last night they were having a concert of some kind inside. Various colors were emanating from within. This pic was taken from my back deck.
Until next time everyone!
