Day off!

Yesterday I drove here(whilst passing through belgium and the netherlands)

to shop at this

and enjoy these lights

The day started out gorgeous. Drove to Dusseldorf with the plan of shopping for some Christmas stuff, checking out a city I had never been to before and maybe sitting in a starbucks for a bit:) All was accomplished and though the day ended in a mix of rain/snow it was awesome! There may have been one awkward moment in starbucks when perhaps while reading in Matthew I may have teared up and then caught the eye of someone sitting across from me but I think we all escaped relatively unscathed:) Yeah for German Christmas markets, GPS's and awesome travel soundtracks!

Countdown ON!!

Can't wait to see these faces and more!!!

16 more days til I arrive in the states!! I am SOOO excited. Pretty much I become a useless mess when it gets this close to seeing my family so it's always a good thing that there on things on my calendar that keep me focused:) Right now I am listening to Christmas music and baking pumpkin bread! I know-you might think it's past pumpkin bread making days- I mean thanksgiving is past BUT I didn't get to make it even once this year so I am making now. PLUS I am still babysitting(have been for almost 2 weeks) and they have an actual stove(as you might guess) and counter space so i was feeling inspired. As a matter of fact- if I had the other ingredients I would consider making Christmas cookies!! But for now- Pumpkin bread it is. So thank you Mrs. Dovan-one of my second grade teachers-for your awesomepumpkin bread recipe- It has literally made it around the world!!

TRADITIONS

So when I arrive in America I have some traditions. Like the fact that my dad picks me up and always has a few of his famous oatmeal raisin cookies for me to eat on the way home. No one else in the family likes or eats them but they are my FAVORITE cookie in the world and the fact that my dad makes them and remembers to bring them to me makes them that much more precious! Then we drive home and mom has usuallyplanned a home cooked meal that includes lima beans-again you may not be interested in them but they are my fav and they are also grown by my dad:) Can you see why my expectations for a husband are so high?:) Now this year when i arrive home Trisha's kids will be out of school already so I will not be able to surprise any of them at school BUT that does mean we will get to go to Chick-Fil-A together at least 5 times in my first week home:) We will also have our annual cookie baking extravaganza!! This involves a FULL day of baking all sorts of cookies and baked goods while listening to Johnny Mathis on the record player. This has been a tradition for as long as I have been alive and I can not listen to Johnny without wishing I was in my mom's kitchen baking cookies! Sadly Wanda and the girls will not be with us this year because Kari doesn't get out of school until the 23rd- REALLY people??? what if people have baking traditions they have to uphold?! BUT there has been word on the Hunsberger street that Devonand Alexis are quite the bakers these days so I think we will be able to fill in the gaps!

I LOVE traditions- they have a way of making me feel at home and I think it's an awesome way to connect and give a sense of community. I love that my nieces and nephews know and love the traditions as much as I do. I love that I get to SHARE them with so many amazing people. I love that my family appreciates the fact that though we may spend most of the year so far apart, when we are together we get to make awesome memories TOGETHER! New traditions are born every year- like homemade frappachino's on new years:) and the Christmas mice:)

What will it be this year?!!! Can't wait to see!

When there is snow- sledding is ALWAYS a must! this is from last years sledding day! Can you guess which one I am?

Thanksgiving

Tomorrow marks the first in my 35 years that I will not celebrate Thanksgiving Day with a proper turkey and fixings. It's an odd feeling. A mixture of missing the traditions that this day holds along with that odd feeling that this is home now and in this home they do not have the same traditions.

So I will make a list of things that I am thankful for and for 2moro I will be content to say thank you without the amazing food.

a comfy bed to sleep in, a hot shower whenever I want, food in the fridge and cabinets, laughter, good music, relationships, family who are friends as well, friends who are family as well, legs that can walk or run, shoes for various purposes, a car to get around in, God's love and pursuit, the ability to read, joy, iced coffee, airplanes to get me places, memories, pictures that tell stories, love, mercy, internet connection, books that challenge, different cultures, opportunity to cuddle friends babies, peace beyond understanding, selfless people/acts, chick-fil-a, the color orange, life lessons-even the hard ones, wisdom, smiles, wrinkles that show life lived, that God is bigger than my understanding, traditions, that life is new every day, free t-shirts, bathrooms that flush, water from a tap, grace, flowers, fall, sweet tea, a full life, opportunity to share God's love with my friends.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!! I pray that the day is amazing-filled with friends, family, traditions and new memories!

Christmas is coming

I have already begun to listen to Christmas music-and I LOVE it! There has been this poster circulating the web about how Nordstrom's is not decorating for Christmas until after thanksgiving- a one holiday at a time policy. 7 or 8 years ago I would have held this same philosophy. Especially given that Thanksgiving has ALWAYS been my favorite holiday. I love it because it does not include the stress of picking out the prefect gift AND it involves eating copious amounts of amazingly good food. The problem is that it is a purely North American holiday. They do not celebrate it over here. I have found ways to celebrate every year with a variety of friends but it has never been the same since leaving the states and SO -I welcome an early Christmas with open arms. I welcome the fact that my neighborhood has already put up the Christmas lights over the streets. I welcome the fact that the other night I walked past a restaurant and they had their Christmas tree lit in the window. I welcome the fact that yesterday I met a friend at the only Starbucks in Brussels city and they had red cups, Christmas music playing and Christmas coffee for sale. I welcome the fact that Brussels has begun setting up for the Christmas market. I welcome these things because they do not bring the fear and panic of the crazy Christmas season in the US. Christmas here is more laid back, it's twinkle lights, candles and drinks with friends. It's ice skating on the square and getting churros at the market:) It is more about special moments with special people then about finding and buying a gift someone probably doesn't NEED anyway. And in the midst of it I seem to be able to remember a bit better the reason we celebrate-Jesus birth in a manger. The fact that our all powerful, all knowing, all loving God came in the form of a baby and HUMBLED himself to be born in a manger. He is about relationships- about loving people before they ever love him and so I welcome this celebration with the joy that comes from knowing I have been loved for eternity and that I have received a gift that I can not and need not repay. So for all my North American friends- I will join you in eating amazing food this month but I will ALSO begin celebrating Christmas a little earlier than you:)!

Lately

It has been a very busy few weeks. I really am not quite sure where september went but I welcome October with open arms. October is, for many reasons, my favorite month. The least of these is that no one looks at me oddly when I wear my varied collection of orange clothing. Another is the introduction of candy corn into everyone's diet. There are just SO many ways to eat those niblets of goodness! I prefer to start at the top-for some reason the white part is my least favorite- and then eat the orange bit and savor the fat yellow bit for last. I have my technique perfected but I would assume there are many other ways to delight in the goodness of candy corn. I also love October for the colors. Everything just looks beautiful this month. The trees start to turn, the forest floor turns orange and golden, there is that brilliant red ivy climbing the sides of buildings. And every once in a while you get that perfect crisp fall day to go for a walk! AHHHH October is here and I love it!

Just because I have not been blogging here it doesn't mean that I have not been up to exciting things.

Several of my friends moved away-and by "away" I mean to australia and california-so about as far away as one could get! Before they left we spent the day at an abbey near Brussels. It is a gorgeous abbey with ivy growing everywhere and Ben kept saying he felt like he was in the Lord of the Rings:) Here are sarah, Julz and I at the abbey.

So everyone talks about the crazy cows we have in Belgium. They look like they are on steroids. So if you haven't seen them before- here is a photo though this guy isn't as muscly as some!

Spent some time on the "Brussels Beach." Each summer they build a "beach" along the canal. Let's just say it's a good thing this is at night because the canal is disgusting and I am not quite sure that the allure of the sand makes it any better but-hey-we went anyways:)

Had a picnic on the grand place-everyone should experience this at least once in their life-or maybe once a week:) But it was fun and there was even a light show at the end of the night!

Then a few weeks ago I went to visit some friends in the UK. They are dear friends that moved from ATL to the UK this summer so I was anxious to visit and see how they were adjusting. We took a few little trips to castles and towns and just hung out a lot.

In York we went into the cathedral and they were having a service. At the end you could go and have one of the pastors pray for you. It was a really moving experience-which I unabashedly took a photo of:)

Here is a picture of the outside of the cathedral.

and Macey and I at starbucks:) Macey was my roomate for about 4 months 6 years ago. Now she is in the 10th grade and is gorgeous and so mature and I was blessed to be able to eat many of her baked goods while I was there:)

I flew to the UK on an airline I had never flown before(flybe). I was a little concerned that it wasn't a real airline when I booked the tickets and I am not saying they were excellent but not awful either. Here is the view out my window as we landed in Manchester. The fact that the wheels were not under the plane but on the wings lets you know how small the plain was:)

Well that's all for now- many more adventures to come!

You know you've been out of the country too long when . . .

So apparently I have been living outside of the USA for a little too long and no longer remember general holidays actual dates. I tend to remember when the 4th of July(kind of self explanatory) and Christmas are-they keep the same date every year. But those tricky holidays that switch dates every year- well they get me all kinds of confused.

Like yesterday when I was on skype with my mom. It was September 1st and in my head that meant it was labor day- you know- the day where you can no longer wear white? but she mentions something about MONDAY being labor day. . . I tried to play it off but it took me probably a full 30 seconds of going over it in my head to remember that YES indeed labor day is not ALWAYS September 1st but the 1st Monday in September. REALLY- are they just trying to confuse those of us who longer live in America?

can't we make more holidays like 4th of July?- cuz the name really helps me remember the date!

Yes I am still alive!

I know I have been missing for quite some time but I have many excuses-which include but are not limited to being in france and then the states for a month!

So for this moment I will leave you with a little teaser of my time away.

2 of my sisters came to YoungLife camp with me and I made them go on the giant swing:) They may tell you they hated it but they loved it:) they even willingly went on the Zip line the next day!

We also spent the annual week at the shore-here we are being hardcore!

This was my view in France when I went to YoungLife camp to work! God's handiwork is AMAZING!

Bulgaria Hysteria!

Just got back from our annual YoungLife service project. We went to Bulgaria this year. From Brussels we took 22 students and 4 adults. It was an absolute blast! I am still exhausted and a little sick but it was all VERY worth it!

Here is the program team of "Bulgaria Hysteria"

One of the murals we painted at the school for kids with disabilities.

Alyssa getting to use the saw!

Emily and I on the work site

The girls on the beach!

The whole Brussels group in front of the other mural.

With some of the kids from the school

Stephen and his posse!

Our awesome Brussels leaders!!

Paul got to come back and be part of Brussels!!

You know your a people pleaser when . . .

Ok so everyday when I go to the gym I pass one of those blinking signs that has a radar in it and it tells you how fast you are going. Now I have seen many different varieties of these types of radar signs over the years and some are more motivating than others. The ones that just blink your speed-not motivating AT ALL-i can look at my speedometer for that. Then there are the ones that blink your speed and how much the fine$$ would be if they caught you. A little more motivating but still . . who's there to catch me. Well the one I pass on the way home from the gym takes another approach which I find VERY motivating. It flashes your speed and then if you are below 50kmp it gives you a ☺ or a ☹ if you are going over 50mph. Now I am NOT joking when I tell you that every time I go by-if it is on ☹ I slow down to earn my ☺. Sad I know-but so true-way to go radar sign inventor you have figured out how to motivate me to slow down-it's kind of like getting a sticker when you were in kindergarten- ONLY BETTER!!!

happy new year 1319!!

SO a few weeks back I went to the Bulgarian embassy here in Brussels to get a visa for my friend Said who is coming as one of our leaders on service project. He attempted to come last year but at the last minute(literally 2 days before) we realized that he needed a visa and we did not have enough time to get it. So this year we were on our A game! and got to the task months in advance. It was quite a little adventure. First of all picking up Said on the side of the road:) after trying to find him by the statue only to figure out that there were 2 statues and we were each at different ones! Then finding the front of the embassy and trying to buzz ourselves in. I ended up talking into one of those intercom things and NO ONE was on the other end-yes I looked a little crazy. Then we drove to the back entrance and were greeted by a Bulgarian guy who spoke no French, Flemish, english or persian(all languages that between the 2 of us we could have functioned in) so we proceeded to wait in line only to be told when we got to the front of the line that we needed to fill out a bunch of papers. Problem was that the 1st guy did not speak and of our languages so he could not give us the appropriate paperwork. SO we got out of line and I got right back in line while Said filled out the papers. When we got back to the front of the line the guy was checking Said's answers. He pointed out a mistake- Said had put the wrong year down for his birth year. I looked at him and was like "what! how could you not know your birth year?" and he proceeded to call me out on my ignorance and tell me that in Iran(where he is from) they are on a totally different calendar and thus when he moved here the people who issued his documents had to count backwards to figure out the year that we would use.

So fast forward to this past saturday night when I get a call from Said asking me if I wanted to come with him to a Iranian New Year's celebration. Well regardless of whatever else I had planned the answer was YES!! I would love to ring in the year 1319!!! and eat amazing Iranian food and try my hand at reading and speaking persian! SO Sunday afternoon I joined him and his family at their church for a New Years celebration. I sadly did not take any pictures but it was quite an event! But I wish you a very happy 1319!!

concerts

It has been the month of concerts. To be honest in the past I have rarely if ever gone to concerts. Most of that came out of the fact that I was not that into music. That's not to say I don't love music-cuz i do! but I didn't really follow the "music scene" and pretty much only knew big names artists that one would hear on the radio all the time. Things have changed in the past year or so. I think I have found my genre of music and therefore have done a bit of research into similar artists. This has also been helped out by the fact that some of my good friend in BXL are VERY into music. So in the past 5-6 weeks I have been to several concerts- some of them more my style and some as a result of friends and students. The first concert was with students-THE SCRIPT-an irish band came through town. I was smart enough to get tickets ahead of time(it sold out early) and went with a few high school students. It was a decent concert- the lead singer was a bit full of himself but I am guessing that a lead singer of a rock band should be a little cocky? The next concert 2 weeks later and more my style- IRON & WINE. I was quite excited about this concert and was actually the one who organized my friends to go. Sad to say it was very disappointing. The music was all changed up and slightly self-indulgent and I walked away feeling like the best part of the evening was going out afterwards. Then the week after that we had our YoungLife fundraiser concert where we had THROW TELEVISION open up for RUE ROYALE. Both amazing bands and quite possibly my favorite concert so far! Monday night was yet another concert- KT TUNSTALL was in town. Fiona got tickets way back when and though I did not know much of her music-let's just say black horse and a cherry tree was probably the only song I DID know- the concert was quite good. She was fun and unassuming and gave a great show. We started out pretty close to the front and since I am somehow taller than most Belgians I had a pretty good view of the entire stage(even the awesome orange drum set!) We ended up in the back after a near fainting scare from Fiona but all in all a good concert

No more concerts for a while but it sure was a fun month!

all in a day

Sometimes I crack up at my life. For instance- today by 1 PM I had

1-been to french class where of course I spoke french and as much english as I could get my neighbors to speak:)

2-Gone to the car dealership because this morning I wanted to check my oil but the hood would not open. SO I went to the dealership to see what I was doing wrong-YES i did try reading the french manual first but it just said to do what I was trying. The problem was NOT me-but a loose cable so the nice french belgian checked my oil for me:)

3-went to the grocery store where I got to speak the little Flemish I know(thank you and I would like to pay with credit please:))

and then back to my place- yes 3 languages in 1 morning-

only in Belgium where not only can they not choose a language but we also hold the record for longest time without a government! GO BELGIUM!!

Italian adventures

There are many moments in my life when I step back and have to tell myself- "this is my life!!" Some of those moments are in the best of times and some not:)

As far as best of times go- Since November I have been to Italy not once but TWICE!! ridiculous-I know!! considering I had not been since my "european adventure" of 1999 it is pretty impressive:)

Trip 1-In november I went with my amazing friend Kate who was living in Spain at the time and wanted to visit Rome before she moved back to the states. We stayed in amazing apartment right around the corner from the Colosseum. It was so much fun to walk around Rome and eat lots of pizza and Gelato with one of my dearest friends. We met lots of fun people, heard opera being sung outside the Pantheon, took illegal pictures:), and mastered the art of public transport in Rome-it's impressive believe me:)

a picture in the colosseum looking out towards the Roman Forum-amazing history!

in the Roman forum-I actually learned how to use this type of fountain by watching Eat, Pray, Love- at least i learned something:)

My favorite outfits of the trip- really -do they have to make the Swiss guard look like clowns?

Trip #2- For my birthday back in October my 2 dearest friends in Brussels gave me an amazing gift. They planned an adventure for us to Italy in january-figuring we would need an escape from the dreary belgium weather! We flew to Pisa and then stayed in acute little Tuscan town at the top of a hairpin turn mountain road. We built fires every night and walked around fairly deserted italian villages during the day. These ladies are amazing and I am so blessed to have them in my life. We chatted and chatted, made s'mores in our fireplace at night and ate breakfast on the rooftop terrace.

IN pisa taking the obligatory-"it's gonna fall without me" picture

Fiona, me and Sarah in Pisa

Eating on the rooftop- it was sunny- but COLD!! hey coming from Belgium we will do anything for some sun!

In one of our tuscan villages:)

Thanks ladies for giving me the best present ever-TIME with you in an incredible setting!

more watches

This one goes back to a blog I posted about 1 1/2 years ago titled "daughter of a farmer" which involved my ingenious fixing of a watch with electrical tape. Well that watch that I was fixing was one of about 4 that I had from my days of living on Hilton Head Island when the Nike outlet was just around the corner and it was cheaper to go get a new watch than get the battery changed. Well each of those watches eventually ran out of battery and was replaced by a clone watch and being the pennsylvania dutch girl that I am I did not throw the unused watches away-i mean they may be useful SOMEday. That means that YES they have moved through 3 different countries! So over the past few years I have replaced the batteries in each of those watches and worn them until they actually broke(I mean seriously friends they are made of plastic-they were bound to eventually break). And when they broke I fixed them with electrical tape for as long as they could be fixed and then and only then did I throw them out-NOOOO!!! i did not throw them out-are you kidding?- I mean someday someone might come up with a way to reattach plastic watch bands to themselves- I put those watches in the medicine cabinet to wait for that day! So back to the watches which hadn't fallen apart, been fixed with electrical tape and then retired to the medicine cabinet. Over Christmas I took the last one home with me in hopes of changing the battery. On my last day there I realized I had not gotten the battery changed so I decided to go to Wal-mart to get a battery. What I forgot to take into account was the fact that I did not have a way of getting the back opened and I did not know what type of battery I needed and at Wal-mart or any other store for that matter they will not change said Nike battery because they cannot guarantee the waterproofness of it afterwards. I mean come on!-I am not going deep sea diving, I just want a watch that works! I will take all responsibility for the lack of waterproof abilities! So I waited at the watch counter for like 10 minutes hoping the person that came would hand me the tools so that I could open it and find the battery number and replace it. The lady comes and was about as helpful as I was when I worked at Wal-Mart for 1 month back in college-in other words she looked at me, said she couldn't change it, she didn't have the tools and there was a place in the mall(20 minutes away) who might change it. Now any other time that would have been my excuse to go to the mall and get Chick-Fil-A but it was my last day in the states and I wanted to avoid the mall. So long story short- I came up with the plan to go to the eye glasses part of the store and borrow one of their eye-glass repair kits that they sell. So I stood in the store and used their handy tool to open the back of my watch only to find that they did not have the correct battery-drats! well wal-mart got an extra 97 cents because I bought that repair kit so I could take it to the rite-aid and buy the correct watch! (and while I was there I found this stuffed "Woody" pillow that my nephew freaked out about when he opened it for his bday- he is a HUGE toy story fan!) So thank you wal-mart for all of your help! Oh yeah- and this being the LAST watch in a long succession of identical watches-it is also the best because the indigo light actually works! way to go out with a bang!