A blog long overdue

Okay,
It's official, I am not a true blogger. I'd really like to be and I hoped/thought I would be but it's just not happening. Perhaps I will try to motivate myself more so I can keep you all informed. Mostly, as my smart husband reminded me tonight, I need to do it for myself and my sanity.

Being back here since Christmas has been great. We really love it here. It was nice to be back in the states. It was definitely a whirlwind though. Our best times were spent with family and friends and a wonderful day spent to ourselves, walking around the farm. It has snowed and was freezing (literally) but the sun was trying to poke out. So we decided to take the new camera out for a few shots. They turned out absolutely beautiful and we feel so blessed to have a place like the farm to travel to and just "be" in.

Another best part about being home was going to Mars Hill. It was one of the things that really felt like coming home. It was awesome just to run into friends and people we see there. To me, there really is something truly special about that place, and no it's not just Rob Bell.

Since we've been back, we finally feel like we live here. It's been about five months and all our paperwork, school stuff, etc. has been settled. We can speak a little Dutch, pay our bills on-line (in google translated Dutch) and we finally figured out how to watch American shows here. Ahhh...the small comforts of home. And just in time for Lost. (Hate to say it, but can't wait!!!)
We love grocery shopping, taking the bus (okay not really) walking around our city and our fabulous church and great church friends. We also finally got bikes, so we are truly Dutch now.

We were blessed two weekends ago to be invited to a friends wedding. She was married in the church we attend and it was gorgeous. She was also a stunning bride. Weddings are mostly the same here, however at the wedding, the bride and groom are already legally married. You have to go to the court and be married before you can have a church wedding. The ceremony was pretty traditional with vows and songs etc. It was cool because the groom's dad married them and the service was in English and Dutch. We also sang Spanish and Portuguese songs. They had a mini reception where they had a sparkler candle on their cake while they cut it. This was really cool. Then they were off to Spain for a honeymoon. For a wedding you get a week off of work no matter what the time and it doesn't count out of your vacation time. (Seriously, in the US we work to hard.)

Segway into maternity leaves...no not for me. My teaching partner is soon leaving me...this deeply saddens me. Her baby is coming the beginning of April and this makes me happy. She however, gets 4 weeks off before the baby comes and 12 weeks after!!!! I also have a Canadian friend who got a whole year off (in Canada) 80% paid. The mom can take half the year and the dad the other half too. What is wrong with the US that we overwork ourselves so much? Sometimes, I think we don't slow down enough to enjoy life.

Being European I can tell you I am looking forward to my next holiday...in 2 weeks!! We were going to go to Iceland and went to book the trip but there were no tickets left for what we wanted to do. :( So we've decided to save up for something a bit bigger during our 2 week spring break and just do something small. We haven't yet decided what we are doing but it's Carnival during the February break so we need to get away. I tell you more about it, after it happens.

At school this week, it has been International Week. SO COOL! Each class studies a different country. (We did South Africa) and Matt's class Hungary. You do activities and learn all about your country and then present it. We are also taking a field trip to the nearby African museum. (Sorry, Chris, it's actually really close to the cemetery too. Next time) On Saturday, the kids and there parents put on a fair and make food and dress up and tell all about their cultures. I am excited and looking forward to this event and all the lovely food. Again, I'll fill you in with more later.

For now, it's up to my snoring husband as it's much to late past my bedtime.
Good night!!!