Dutch- bezig English- BUSY!

Ik ben bezig!!!! I cannot believe that five days have passed and I have not updated this blog! I wonder if anyone will still check on us? The weekend went by so quickly, as they always do! Vrijdag night we went, by bike, for dessert. There is a cafe in the woods that has a wonderful patio and is neighbor to a horse ranch. We had drinks and treats then, checked on lessons through this place. We learned that it is a pretty low key ranch for lessons and/or trail riding. By low key I mean in comparison to alot of the riding stables here that are training for competition, very traditional and disciplined. This ranch is run by a mother/daughter team. The daughter, Olga, thought that it would be fine for Olivia to take lessons, as well as go on trail rides on her own horse. We now need to contact her mother to arrange lessons. Hopefully there is space available for us. YEE-HAW, GIDDY-UP!!!!
We drove to Amsterdam Zaterdag, returned the car and took the train into the city. We had lunch then shopped most of the day. Matt got some new shoes and a wallet, I got some new shoes and a purse. Olivia got a new stuffed dog which she named "Buckets" because Anne always says, "love you buckets!". He is very cute and Buckets is a suitable name for him as eh looks like a St. Bernard.We decided not to do a canal boat tour since that would be something fun to do when we have visitors. Speaking of which, Anne and Pete (great friends of ours) are coming over in October!!!!! Pete has a conference in Paris, Anne will travel with him and we will meet in Paris!!! How cool is that? Just so happens that Olivia is on autumn holiday that week AND it's Anne's 37th birthday! Also, Sharon and Cal (Matt's parents) were planning to come in early November, but since Olivia is on holiday that week in October, they are considering what it would take to arrange coming over to Holland joining us to Paris!!!!! Wouldn't it be something if it all works out? Anyhow, back to Amsterdam..... we ended up taking the 7:30pm train home, so that we could see some of the landscape before sunset. Wasn't long after that Olivia zonked out for the rest of the ride. Long day!!!
Zondag we visited an english speaking church. It was no Westwood!!! Very traditional. Stand, Sit, Stand, Sit... They alternate from traditional to contemporary weekly. We will go again this week to check out the contemporary service. Hope it is more what we are looking for. I said to Matt the other day that it is really something that God placed us in a home that is the half way point between an english speaking church and a ranch that we can ride at. Both within walking distance, church one direction, riding the other. Praise Him!!! We biked to the neighboring village called Valkensvaard. They were celebrating their annual flower festival. We made it in time to see the parade of floats that were decorated entirely with flowers! Very impressive.
Maandag we had dinner with Matt's boss, Mason and another colleague named Paul. It was very fun, they were very good to Olivia and I. Also, nice to be with remotely familiar people!!! A welcomed visit anytime!!! Thanks for coming and for a fantastic dinner!
Dinsdag Olivia was late for school because I did not know how to get the car into reverse!!!!!!
Today, Woensdag is Olivia's early release day. We have renamed it "Mac and Cheese Day". This is my attempt at rationing out the limited supply. Needless to say, this is one of the highlights of her week!!!
I have a request for some prayers to go out for Tony and for my Mom. They are both struggling with their health a bit. Tony has some swelling and pain in his neck and his face, went to Urgent Care, they tested for Mumps and something else??? Not sure how he is doing as I have not been able to get a hold of him. My Mom has been without a voice for three weeks and has undergone some tests as well. I will be praying that they both find answers and resolution. It's pretty hard to be over here whem my Boy and my Mama aren't well!!!!
This has turned into a marathon post, that's what happens when I don't do a little every day!!! Just like laundry.
Love you guys, God bless you and yours.
Jen

Dutch-De Schat English-Sweetheart

"De Schat" doesn't sound like a very sincere term of endearment, does it? However, thought you all should know that, although he's in a foreign country Matt still knows how to "sweeten me up". On his way home from work yesterday, he bought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and bicycled them home to me. It is a huge bouquet, which means he rode all the way one handed. He loves me:)
Sounds like a "picture this..." moment!

Dutch-Houtskool English- Charcoal

I scored some charcoal!!! Where? you ask, at the garden store of course! Duh, why didn't I think of that before. At home, in the states, I would say to Matt, "Could you please stop at Halla Nursery on your way home, I'd like to grill tonight." Jeez, who thinks this stuff up? Anyhow, I bought some and I also found a firestarter can, just like the one that Perry bought for Matt. I wrapped it, as a surprise for him, in the dutch newspaper that comes to our house twice a week, since I have already read it front to back, "wink". HA! I seriously sit for an hour every time that blasted paper comes and try to read it! Oh, well it will come in handy for grilling tonight!!! 'Spose our new neighbors will come running, chanting "The Wilson's are cooking Johnsonville Brats!" ? (you have to watch american TV commercials for that to happen.)
Thankful that it is the weekend, it's been a long week. It will be good to "play" a little. Tomorrow we will get up early and return our rental car to Schipol Airport. We plan to spend the day in Amsterdam, maybe do a canal boat tour. We will return to Eindhoven by train. That will be fun for Olivia since it will be her first time.
Thanks to all of you who responded to my blue mood and filled me up with your words of love and encouragment. Makes all the difference. Will post again soon!!!

Dutch-Het paard rijden lessen English- Horse riding lesson

Goede namiddag! ( Good afternoon) It is 2:15p.m. here and I am getting ready to get Olivia from school. She was feeling better this morning so we biked. It was beautiful, we rode through Geneper Park the whole way. It is a park in the city that is designated for bike and bus traffic. We saw only two busses, otherwise it was just us biking through the woods, over tiny bridges, past a cafe that you can only get to by bike or horse....very peaceful. I stopped on my way back to pet and feed a couple of horses, there are horses everywhere here. I miss Cloud!!! When I got home I looked up some stables, hoping to get Olivia and myself into some riding lessons. I was very disappointed to find out that they do not give lessons to children under eight years old here, only one place does and there is a very long waiting list. I will definately keep looking. In the mean time we will have to continue to wrangle up our own lessons after dark!!!!
Okay, so I can upload photo's now...do ya think I'd be able to rotate them as well? Sorry for the stiff neck!!!!!!

Dutch- Goed Gedaane English-Well done

I tried. I swear, I tried. I brought Olivia's landscape to school. The receptionist was lovely. I smiled at everyone I encountered on the way there. I went to find a cafe to get a koffie and write two letters..... nothing openened until 11:30. I decided to shop. I found a cute Children's shop and bought a night light for Olivia. I brought the butterfly one from home from Grandma Sharon however, due to the power conversion it does not work. So , I got her a fairy night light. This is good, I'll make her day! I get to a cafe, order a snack..... she can't take my card and seems irritated that I do not speak dutch. I like Old Dutch potato chips, shouldn't that count????? Anyhow, I get my fries with mayonaise and a coke and settle down to write a letter to Kathy and Tony. Olivia has half days on Wednesday so, I pick her up. We decide to go home and cook Scooby Doo Mac and Cheese (thanks Mema!) part way through.... there's no milk. Oh, well we make do. Then. I suggest "Let's surprise your Dad and make his favorite meal" So, we bike to the store, in the rain, and get all we need. Turns out HORRIBLE!!! Steaks are tough. Salad is gross and well, enough is enough. AAAAGGGHHHH!!! I know this is just the adjustment period. Tomorrow will be better, I will try again. Well done.

Dutch- Leeg English- Empty

Ik voel leeg! I feel empty. So, does the fridge! I am so used to grocery shopping at $200.00 per trip, now....if it can't fit in my bike bags, it's too much!!!!! Yesterday was a hard day, from start to finish. There is soooo much confusion about our resident's permit, Matt's work permit, our birth certificates not having some "golden seal" on them (literally a golden seal!!!) Without these things we cannot even get a car registered in our name or get Dutch health coverage. I feel more and more respect every day for the legal immigrants in our country, and feel less negative about illegal ones too!!!!!! Not to mention, in America they are required to take an "entrance exam", if that were the case here, they'd have me sailing on the next ship out.
Okay, enough of that. When I post later today, I promise there will be something wonderful to share. I am heading out now to find it!!! Actually, I am biking to Olivia's school because she forgot to put her American Landscape in her bag. The children were to find a landscape of their home country, bring it to school to share then, they will paint a replica. I can't wait, Olivia painted a replica of Renoir's Garden Bridge painting, in Kindergarten and it was beautiful. This will be fun because she chose a view of Split Rock Lighthouse on Lake Superior. Fun for her because she has been there. Gotta run (ride!) God Bless you guys, I miss you.

More........

Happy 40th Birthday to Bret!!!! May the sun always rise to meet you, may the wind always be at your back........... God Bless you!!