Oh The Places You Can Go!

We have come a long way and it is finally setting in that we have a place of our own now here in Arnemuiden! The feeling is surreal after all we have been through.

Pieter's family has been more than understanding as we have come and gone from their home so many times. I remember back in 2015 we were living out of just one bedroom. We were ecstatic when our search for a place just for the two of us ended and we found a small (very small) room for two on a housing website. That accommodation lasted for about three days and we were back at the Tramper's! God has always provided us with a roof over our head and people to take care of us nearby.

Our next home was in Aagtekerke, nearly twenty minutes outside of Arnemuiden and nothing very useful nearby. We made some great memories in that tiny little trailer that was placed in the backyard of some much larger homes. It was there that we tried an "only fruits and vegetables" diet (short-lived), it was there where I finished up my online degree in Psychology, and where I watched scary movies by myself while I waited for Pieter to get back from work. The owners of that rental home were a true blessing to let us stay there for many many months as the unknown of Pieter's visa continued to weigh us down daily.

After a long fall and winter in Aagtekerke, we knew we had to be moving on. One should not overstay their welcome! So, after scrolling through dozens of housing websites and contacting many reluctant home owners, we came across a quaint beach home in Oostkapelle. This house brought us new hope as we lived there at the time where Pieter's visa was approved and everything was looking very bright for our future! I can close my eyes and remember a day spent in Oostkapelle just like it was yesterday. I had the TLC tv guide memorized and the television stayed on almost all day, keeping me company in the quiet of this spacious home.

Our time in the Oostkappelle beach house, with so much possibility in the air, was brief. After I spent a summer back in the U.S. our search for a new residence had to begin again. By this time, the monotony of packing and unpacking had worn us down. There was no excitement and newness to a new home, and we began to feel tired of having nothing to really call "our own"...

Upon  my next arrival in the chilly air of a late Dutch fall, we had found a vacation rental on the other side of Oostkapelle that was a renovated barn. How neat! We resided here and celebrated our first Thanksgiving together as a married couple. I joined in on the festivities of Saint Nicolas Day and we took our first Christmas card photo together right outside that home in the freezing cold. At this time, we had learned to make the most of every moment and to be thankful for the provisions God had allowed us during our journey from house to house.

Just this past spring, trip number seven for me, we were fortunate enough to be able to occupy Pieter's grandmother's home. With so much space and so many memories from years gone by seeping from the walls and the framework, we were truly grateful for the opportunity to reside in this home. We enjoyed picnics on the roof, watching gorgeous sunsets over the railroad tracks, evening strolls down the abandoned lane nearby, and having a garden to plant and maintain. Beautiful spring and summer days were spent there in the very last days the home would remain in the Tramper family. It was an honor to call it home for the short time that I did.

Now, another Tramper home is in the making. A small (not as small as our first place) apartment near the center of town. With a touch of Pieter's sharp style and a sprinkle of Lydia's colorful charm we are busy making this ordinary space into a haven of safety, love, and hope for ourselves. It was a long journey to get here and we anticipate adding much more to this journey as the years go by.

Making the Transition

It is that time of the year again! I am back in Holland and getting settled in once more. I woke up to gray skies and a rainy day- very discouraging, considering how negative that works towards fighting jetlag. Now, the gorgeous sunshine and blue skies have come out to greet me in Arnemuiden as I sit on the couch, windows open, drinking in the cool evening air.

Our apartment building

My flight and time at the airport all went very well, but having an overnight flight left me more groggy than usual the next day. The jetlag gets me every time!

I was anxious to tour our new Dutch apartment upon my arrival. It is quite a lovely space that my husband and his family worked hard to make look so nice. Now I just have to find a place for everything we have accumulated over the past two years!

I will keep myself quite busy as I get used to “keeping house” again. Oh how I have missed dishes, laundry, sweeping, cleaning, and planning/making dinner! I guess it is good to be back to our little life again, but it will take some getting used to.

A new addition to our lifestyle this time around is the fact that I will be working from home- putting in a few hours every day as a Plexus ambassador, working to improve upon my online business. I will also be taking Dutch lessons twice a week at the local library!

I have been struggling with comprehending, reading, and speaking the Dutch language since the first day I arrived in the Netherlands back in December 2014 for our short, three week, stay. While I have come quite a long way in understanding conversation around me and knowing certain phrases and words, becoming more confident in speaking Dutch, and being more independent here, has been a goal of mine for a while. I have high expectations for the class and for myself, but I am not sure if I am up for the challenge, so I do ask for your prayers as I try this new approach!

Learning Dutch 

During my time away from the U.S. I will try to post every few weeks to keep everyone informed and to remain connected to my friends and family back home. I miss you all and thank you for your continued prayers as I try to balance this “back and forth” life.  

Summer Highlights

After taking a few months off from blogging to soak up every second of summertime that I could, I am back! My arrival back to the United States started off with my little brother's graduation from high school. I am relieved that I am able to plan my trips around being here for monumental and memorable moments like those. I am so proud of my brother and how much he has grown in the past two years. He has become a great friend, advice-giver, and listener for me over the past few months.

My summer involved a whole lot of working. I worked day in and day out as a waitress, but took in every moment knowing it would not last long. I continue to be overwhelmed by how much I enjoy my job and the people I work with. It will be a sad "see you later" once again when I have to leave later this week.

While most of my days were spent working, of course I made time for fun as well! My family was able to vacation for a week at the beach and although it stormed most of the days, just having the family together was enough.

Other highlights include- days spent with friends, my 24th birthday, plenty of cuddles with Hampton (our cat), jump-starting my Plexus journey, getting my hair cut off, and just recently starting a gluten-free diet! These days it can be difficult to picture a clear future, but I remind myself to focus on the little blessings each day brings.

This week, my summer ends. I fly back to my second home to make some more memories, have some new adventures, and spend some much needed quality time with my husband. Our days are no longer spent counting down for our immigration paperwork to be filed and approved. That became less of a focus when we realized how much it was consuming our lives and keeping us from living in the present.

Upon my arrival to Arnemuiden, I anticipate seeing our new apartment as Pieter and his family have been working so hard to get it sanded, painted, decorated, and furnished. It is nice to know we will finally have a place to call "ours" when I am there. We have been in several different vacation rental homes during past trips and this will be a great, positive change for us!

As I fly out this week, I ask for continued prayer for safety, clarity of mind, and peace. I have flown more than sixteen times in the past two years, but I still get anxious about airport security, border control, and fellow passengers that will be accompanying me on my flight.
I will do my best to keep my "blog followers" up to date once a month on any news, trips, adventures, or progress that is made during my September to November trip!