Blessing in Disguise

We are coming to the end of this long journey and we can feel that our simple world is about to change in a big way!

While I will not have complete peace and relief until my husband's feet are actually back on American soil, the date we had been waiting to receive, we now have!

After arriving back in the Netherlands for the fourth time in sixteen months, I scrambled to find a new home for us to live in for the rest of our stay here. We moved from one vacation home to another_ from Aagtekerke to Oostkapelle. We are grateful for the generous people who have given Pieter and I a place to call our "temporary home". We have learned to adapt to any space we are given and make it home, but we look forward to the day we can have a house of our own.

Pieter and I have been holding back our plans and ambitions as we have made the best of our stay here in Holland. Knowing we can finally begin our life together in just a few weeks now is thrilling and overwhelming at the same time! We have had the opportunity to get to know each other so much more and our dreams have only gotten bigger throughout this time!

Just the day before we received the news about the interview, I had already booked my flight back to the U.S. Many lists of pros and cons were made and I decided to make my way back to the States at the beginning of May in order to return to work and collect some savings for a foundation for our new life. We expect Pieter to fly back right behind me around the end of May or beginning of June at the latest.

We know that this all happened for a reason. We have been able to spend time with Pieter's family and make memories together in Pieter's home country. This ride has not been without it's stresses, but looking back on the months behind us, Pieter and I agree that this time has been a true blessing in disguise.

Madame Tussaud's wax museum in Amsterdam

Sean Connery and Pieter 

Lydia and E.T. 

The hustle and bustle of Amsterdam

Anatomy museum_ so amazing!

Fun time with family

 

I have been back in the Netherlands for a week now and continue to try and mold back into my "other life". To everyone back at home, you're missed! The life I have here is the complete opposite of how I live in America and it makes me feel like a different person.

My flight to Belgium started off with a three hour delay. Everyone had already boarded the plane, so cranky adults and screaming children were trapped in this large metal tube for a few extra hours together! Lucky for me, the two seats next to me were empty, so I stretched out and took a nap for basically the entire flight.

Upon arriving in Brussels, I had devised a plan for what I would do if they denied my returning to Europe due to my slight overstay last year. I wanted to be prepared for any possible situation. I ended up talking with a very kind gentleman at border control who let me right in as if he and I had been lifelong friends. He was so welcoming after I had imagined the worst scenario and had built up all my defenses to get them to let me in. Thank you Belgium for being so nice!

The walk to baggage claim seemed to never end. It had to be on the opposite side of the airport! I was so drowsy from my airplane nap and my mind was convinced that it was only four in the morning, American time. My suitcase was one of the first on the carousel and then I was on my way for Pieter to welcome me for what seemed like the twentieth time we had done this. A rainy drive "home" welcomed me back into Holland and from the looks of the flat fields, windmills, and small cars, nothing had changed here!

News on Pieter's visa continues to remain stagnant. The day we countdown to now is March 23rd, which is forty-five days after the papers were received the second time. That is the latest possible day we can hear about when Pieter's interview will be scheduled. That day CANNOT come fast enough. We are so close to the finish line, I can taste it. I can see the welcome back balloons and the plane tickets in our hands, but still... we wait. 

Fourteen months of living this way really can get to you. Near the end of this month we will be looking for another place to live and options are few as spring and summer are popular times for tourists to take up every possible nook and cranny to enjoy the Netherlands beauty. I struggle with the unsettling feeling of not knowing what is next and having to just take it take by day... not my thing.

Beautiful rainy day!

The lunch I pack for Pieter everyday. It's part of my routine!

I brought a little piece of home (and Cracker Barrel) with me. You can't find Yankee Candles here! 

Raisin bread for breakfast, thank you Oma! 

Lydia's attempt at making dinner, so colorful!

Movie night in the new theater in Vlissingen

Nachos with really strong Dutch cheese

Way too fancy desserts, but still tasty.

Pieter and Lydia Update!

For all who are keeping up with the process of my husband's visa via my blog, here is your update!

Last week we were under the impression that we had just a few more days of waiting left until Pieter's interview would be scheduled. We had waited the 30 days as well as an additional 15 days for the National Visa Center to review our paperwork. On Friday, January 22nd we received devastating news that although our paperwork had been reviewed it was missing many of the required scanned documents and one of the financial forms.
At that point, Pieter and I had had our hopes up for planning for his interview and his return to America.

This "hang up" will cause us to have to wait another 45 days for the NVC to review our completed packet. We are now waiting to hear that they have received all the new information and I plan to give them a call mid-next week.

Both Pieter and I are anxious for the month of February to arrive, because that is when I am able to fly back to be with him again. Being together makes this process a little more bearable and I guess, at this point, I cannot be picky as to where we wait it all out, as long as we can be side by side, legally residing somewhere!

Once I get to the Netherlands I am able to be there for only three months. It would be ideal for Pieter and I to fly back together in the spring. Having a restricted time limit makes things stressful! Once we receive an "okay" from the National Visa Center they will schedule his interview, he will undergo a physical evaluation, and if all goes well we will be able to book our flights!

There have been multiple hurdles as we have gone through this process the past 14 months. Last February I remember talking with the lawyer via skype, discussing our options and learning just how challenging it would be to get my husband back to Virginia. In February of 2015 I flew back to the U.S. in order to make money to pay for our lawyer expenses. We waited six months to receive an email from the USCIS reporting that Pieter's case was accepted. It took three months to put together all the financial forms, tax forms, and visa application last fall and now we are so close to being done. . .

Please be in prayer for the final stages of this long, difficult journey. Pray specifically that God would allow Pieter and I to travel back to the U.S. together when that time comes and also that we do not undergo anymore "hold ups".

We thank each of you for seeing us through this time and I cannot wait to celebrate with you all when we receive word that Pieter can return!

So Close...

A year ago today I experienced the most traumatic day of my life to date. Since January 9th, 2015 I have grown in ways I never thought would be necessary. A year ago today my husband was denied access into the United States because we did not have a marriage visa.

Since our marriage in September 2014 we have spent more time apart from each other than we have spent together. The strain that this brings on both of us as individuals and as a couple is too extensive to describe. We spend a lot of days wondering if this extended time of separation will affect us in the years to come.

While we have strong reasons to believe that the time of waiting for our proper visa paperwork to get filed is near, we find these last few weeks/months to be especially challenging. Days spent with my life on hold become tiring. I graduate with my Associate's degree in Psychology from Liberty University Online in May of this year. I am ecstatic to finally be finished with step one of many exciting and hopeful plans I have for our future.

I talk to God every night before falling asleep, asking Him to let us begin our life together again, to give us the opportunity to work on building a strong foundation for our marriage, and faithfully telling Him that He will receive all the glory on the day of Pieter's return to America.

One Year

On Monday, it will have been one year since Pieter and I flew out for the Netherlands for the very first time. Pieter has not been in the United States for a year now. I visited Brethren Woods this evening for their annual Christmas party. It was so great to see everyone and celebrate the birth of Christ with friends that feel like family to me. My husband and I have a sentimental connection to that camp and always will, because that is where we met.

It was August of 2012, I hugged Pieter good bye and thought I would never see that tall Dutch man again. Of course, he had no idea I had a crush on him, but even then, in my heart, I knew he was someone very special. If only we knew then how many good bye’s we would share in our future together.

As I drove down the driveway away from camp tonight, I fell apart. My body ached as the tears fell. I thought to myself “My husband is supposed to be here with me right now.” I cried out to God saying “Why me?” and begged Him to “Please bring my husband home to me”. I was heading home to an empty house. I tried to think of anywhere else I could go or someone I could call.

As I regained composure, I went through my phone and began listening to every Christian song I had on there. As my heart was in pain, the words of those songs gave me peace and comfort as I drove home. I felt God speaking to me through the lyrics and although I did not have anyone to talk to or anywhere to go, I felt great relief in knowing that God is always present. In my time of trouble, He was there.


No, this is not an easy time for myself or my husband. Certain days are better than others. Holidays and big events can be lonely and emotional, but through Christ, we find strength. As we look into the coming year of 2016, we are hopeful. Pieter’s visa application is in the process of being completed and will take up to 60 days to be finalized. From there, he will set up an interview and begin his final preparations for returning to the U.S. Our journey through this is not over yet, but we do believe that there is an end in sight.

One of many sunset pictures taken at camp. 

Discouraging News

All the Christmas tunes say it best_ “I’ll be home for Christmas” and “There’s no place like home for the Holidays”. I decided to return to America for a short stay to visit family and refresh my winter wardrobe before flying back to the Netherlands at the end of December.

So, here I am, back in the U.S. for just a few weeks, or so I thought. . .

How does a person make two huge visa mistakes in one year? It really gets complicated when you are going back and forth across the Atlantic so many times. This was my sixth time across the ocean in a course of 12 months. While I have become a professional at navigating airports, going through security, and staying occupied on a long flight, I have not gotten the hang of these visa guidelines. For anyone that was wishing I was staying longer than five weeks, your wish came true!

As I was making plans for my return flight at the end of December, I came across the “180 day rule” for visiting the Netherlands and other European countries. For every 90 days (by the way, I stayed 107 days) that a person visits the Netherlands they are to wait 90 days before returning. I will not be eligible for returning to the Netherlands until the end of February. Even then, my seventeen day overstay will pose an issue. Re-entry will be a challenge whenever I do decide to go back.

My heart is bitter and torn with regrets. I am striving to stay positive through it all and strong for both my husband and I, but it is difficult. Pieter and I kissed goodbye at the airport in Brussels thinking we would reunite just 42 days after that, but it will be much much longer now.

Our life together in Aagtekerke was wonderful. I had grown to love living in the Netherlands, the country that is such a big part of my husband’s history. We had so many plans for the year of 2016 that we would spend together. Greeting him when he got home from work was always my favorite thing. He was gone all day and I spent time cleaning, doing school assignments, packing his lunch for the next day, and preparing dinner for the two of us. I guess everything was going too well.

While our (American) visa process has shown great progress the past few weeks, we have come across a small bump in the road that may cause the progress to come to a halt. This reality scares both Pieter and I as our time together rests solely on this visa now. It may be March when we are able to reunite again, but it may take until June or July. The time of our separation is indefinite. The thought of that makes me cringe.

All I can ask now, our only hope, is constant prayer that the visa process for my husband will progress quickly.

All we can do now is hope and pray that Pieter is able to return here soon.

As It All Comes Together

Life in Aagtekerke, NL is going well! I have gotten more comfortable shopping on my own, but have yet to figure out the most appropriate way to let people know I do not fully understand their language. Is “I don’t speak Dutch” accompanied by an apology acceptable? Or should I just go with it and speak English, hoping they catch on?! I have become familiar with the series of questions asked by the supermarket cashier, but I still get nervous that they will need answers other than “yes” or “no” or the common “thank you”. I still feel quite self conscious of my cultural differences here, but I have developed an appreciation for some of the quirky Dutch ways.

Once Pieter and I started to build a little life here together with a car, small home, and electrical bike of our own, we started trusting God and giving Him control and we ended up receiving some good news!

With the news of Pieter’s visa paperwork being accepted, the idea of getting back to America has become so much more real to us. We are not in the planning stages yet, but anticipate hearing more positive news in the weeks to come. Next, we send in financial documents and complete Pieter’s actual Visa application. If all goes smoothly, these next few processes should not take nearly as long as the first one did. So, you do the math!

I have gotten settled into a nice routine here in my Dutch life. We feel overwhelmingly blessed to have found a beautiful and affordable cottage to rent for a few months. It has given us space to appreciate our time of being a young couple again. I believe it was only by God’s great provision that we found a place where we can both be comfortable. 

We spend our weekends biking to nearby villages as Pieter shows me around. Saturday mornings are spent visiting a nearby produce stand and going grocery shopping with my extensive shopping list. Pieter has made a detailed monthly budget for us and has been working so hard everyday to make money to support us. I honestly do not know how he does it, but I am thankful to have found a guy with such great work ethic. My week is spent keeping house and I love it… to an extent. Some days the dishes, laundry, and cleaning really gets to me, but my days of working every day will come again soon enough as I anticipate finishing my degree and working full-time once we are back in America.

We have roots here now and I will miss the Netherlands when the day comes that we have to say goodbye to all the simplicity here.

Biking on a beautiful day!

Our special Saturday morning breakfast after a long week.

Bountiful gathering from the local produce stand.