Recap time! 2015 flew by! As we were so busy being outside living our lives, blogging was always simmering in the back of my mind, but not a priority. Now I am making it a priority, as it is very good to look back and reflect on good and bad things, if only to relive the joy or relearn the lessons.
So as I was going through the pictures of 2015, a few weeks ago, it was almost Thanksgiving. Which meant that at our annual dinner, we had to tell the rest what we were most grateful for in the last year. We have been in Holland for 5 years now and in December, almost to the day, it was 6 years since we made the decision to move that I was supposed to graduate. Supposed to, as I completely, irreparably crashed and burned that last exam and have another few weeks to go to the resit in March.
But I digress. As I was thinking about all that I am grateful for, it was easy to see that we are so lucky to have so much that we can take for granted. We have food everyday, a roof over our head, people to love and to love us, the luxury of travelling home every year, job security and most importantly good health. But what I am the most grateful for in 2015 (and this was a recurring theme at the table this year) was my wonderful husband.
This has been another year of balancing (school)work and family life, fun and duty and once again i have realized how lucky I am to have a life partner and best friend to go through all of it with. Together we really are more than the sum of our parts and he enables me to be my best self. And to think it all started with with a plate of macaroni...I hope this new year brings us a lot of travelling miles together and new challenges once the VU challenge is tackled! It was quite a disappointment to fail that exam, I was devastated to say the least. Even though that I believe that the best school is life itself and not the ECT's that I am gathering at the VU, this is still a hurdle I chose to take. It sucks that it has taken so much effort, time and money.
But as I could say a few days later: first world problems. So a few more months of studying and tuition. It is what it is. At least I am not Steve Harvey....
As I had said before 2015 was a year of upping the ante and we did. Worked harder, we loved harder and we tried harder to be kind to ourselves and the ones around us. We also played harder this year, which was needed! We ran harder for sure, one of our favorite ways of spending quality time together in 2015.
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| New shoes for new miles! |
What I think I have learned in the last year is that I felt the best when I probably looked my worst. I will never pay money for a race picture or movie again! I will just keep the medal and erase the mental images from my head.
Kiki Cupcake turned 3 in 2015, we had a low key Koekie celebration. Kiki is now in a sort of hibernation mode, we will see what the new year will bring.
I had my belly button remodeled in November, for a second time since last year I had so much pain I had to go the the emergency room. This time I was scanned and my appendix had to come out immediately. I think J got some new gray hairs out of that experience...
We had so much fun with family this year! We got 2 new family members in 2015, Liv and Alexander.
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| Christmas with the cousins! |
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| Kos di plak by Snaf |
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| Projectile vomiting caught on camera |
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| Family party at SBP with the family |
A family highlight of 2015 must be Daddy coming over. Another spur of the moment decision, but those are the best in my opinion.
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| Alexander |
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| Liv and big brother Finn |
So much good times in the kitchen together this year! We have started baking our own bread in the weekends, it has a certain grounding sensation to pound the dough and see it rise. And the smell in the house is a plus too.
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| Still growing the next donation. This time I'm going for a longer braid. |
All in all, we are doing well! No promises, but 2016 will bring more stories and probably more blogs :o)
