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.
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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.
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