My Love Affair with Food and a (Relatively) New Passion

I feel like I have talked a lot about food and grocery shopping since I started blogging about our time here...probably because it is soooo yummy and I LOVE to eat! I have always loved to eat and I'm pretty sure I ate my parents out of house and home when I was living there. We have definitely taken advantage of the fact that food is so delicious here. The access to local fresh fruits, veggies, meat, and bread, combined with stricter food regulations in Europe have made for a better diet for us here.

Although I have always loved to eat, I have not always loved to eat healthy food. In fact, eating healthy is not something that comes naturally to me. If there are chips and carrots on a plates, I would much prefer the chips. If there is chocolate and grapes on a plate...chocolate all the way! One of the things I was trying to get better at before we moved was eating a cleaner diet, meaning more real food (fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole wheat, etc.), and less processed junk full of chemicals. I wanted that for Cole and me, but even more for our children. We worry so much about vaccinations, medication, too much TV, or whatever, but we don't seem to worry as much about the food we put in their little bodies. So I started to get more serious about this before we left and we began cutting things out of our diet and making changes...what we were eating, where we were shopping, etc. I still eat junk sometimes...I'm a little ashamed to admit that Taco Bell is a guilt pleasure of mine! :/ Anyways, after we moved here, some of those changes took a hit as I was trying to figure out where to shop, what to buy, and where to get clean, healthy food (it didn't help that there are waffles and chocolate readily available almost everywhere)! Luckily, thanks to websites like 100 Days of Real Food and Food Babe, I already knew before we arrived that food regulations are much stricter here and that we would be better able to tell (after translating) what was actually in our food. I am also much more educated on the ingredients in our food and what effect they have on our bodies. I'm thankful that companies are required to label products when they have GMO's in them so that we can at least make an informed decision!

Now that I am more proficient with shopping here (remember this this post?!), I am happy to say that we have been doing much better with eating food that is better for us. I'm not talking about low-fat, low-sugar, or diet options (because they are not actually better), but real food...fresh fruits and veggies, things made from scratch, and things with ingredients that we can pronounce. Although the lack of preservatives, GMO's, and other chemicals that we have in the U.S. is a good thing, it was also an adjustment for me because things don't keep in the fridge or on the shelf for nearly as long as I'm used to. Consequently, I have to go shopping more often, but I don't mind because the food we have tastes so fresh and yummy. I have especially noticed this with the fruit and cheese here! Of course we indulge in local gelato or other goodies from time to time, but for the most part, we are doing better at incorporating these new foods into our diet.

I didn't realize how much of a difference the food here was making on my way of thinking until we went to the American Grocery Store in Antwerp the other day to stock up on some black beans. I am very thankful that there is a place to get black beans because they are a staple for me, but I was shocked by what I saw in there. Of course there is junk food here and we succumb to the temptation from time to time, but I am not used to seeing what I saw when we went there. It was processed junk and more processed junk. I went through the (small) store and looked at label after label. Everything was full of ingredients that I'm not as used to seeing anymore because they are either illegal or require a warning label. Most companies find alternate and/or natural ways to make the same products here as they do in the United States so they can avoid putting the required warning labels on their food. Thanks to articles that I have read on 100 Days of Real Food like this, my eyes have really been opened up even more to discrepancies between food in America and food in Europe. I was also surprised by the size of the packages...from candy bars to bags of chips, I am not used to seeing such ginormous portions anymore!

I was affected enough by the experience that I am now going to be ordering organic black beans from Amazon.co.uk so I can avoid the chemicals in the black beans from the American Grocery Store. We are by no means perfect at this and we still have a lot to learn...of course we still have to pay attention to what is in the food here, but it is so much easier to avoid a lot of the nasty stuff that is in our food nowadays in the U.S. It makes me nervous to think about moving back (when the time comes) and having to worry so much about this stuff again. I love being able to feel good about what I am feeding my family. I'm hoping that, by the time we come back, some of these ingredients will be required to be better labeled or that they will be banned all together! I'm also hoping that our taste buds will be changed in a significant way so that we won't even desire the junk food anymore! Until then, I am going to enjoy the fact that we have access to all this yummy, fresh goodness and keep working towards a better diet!

A Blast from the Past

Two weekends ago we had the opportunity to host a friend of mine (Lindsey) and her husband (Luke) here at our loft. I have known Lindsey for at least 15 years, if not longer. I can't remember the first time we met, but you get the picture...it's been a long time. Anyways, so my fondest memories of Lindsey are from when I was playing volleyball in high school. We would go to a volleyball tournament every year in the town where her family lived and the team would stay at her family's houses for the two day event. Even though Lindsey is three years younger than me, we always had a special connection...we always got along and I looked forward to seeing her whenever the opportunity arose. I tried to find some pictures of the two of us back in the day, but this was a time before cell phones and digital cameras (hard to believe, I know)...so I don't have any pictures on my computer of the two of us.

Lindsey and Luke had the opportunity to travel through Europe for about a month and decided the make a stop in Gent to see us (and Gent). I hadn't seen Lindsey since our wedding almost eight years ago, so I didn't know what to expect. Since then, she has graduated from college, gotten married, and is now working, and I now have two babies! A lot has gone on since I last saw her. Needless to say, she is still the wonderful person I remember. She has grown into such a beautiful young woman and is just as fun as I remember her to be. Since Gent was one of the last stops on their month long journey, the visit was pretty mellow. Of course we took them to get belgian waffles (twice) and chocolates, but other than that, we just had a nice time catching up and getting to know Luke. I'm thankful that Lindsey is a friend who will forever be good to see and catch up with no matter how long it's been since we've seen each other. I'm kicking myself because I didn't get any pictures of us while they were here, but I'm so thankful that they decided to add Gent to their itinerary.

Next visitors...JESSI AND JACK!!! :)

8 Years

Today, June 25th, marks eight years since Cole and I got married! I remember our wedding day well...it was a VERY hot day. The wedding was in a church with no air conditioning and the reception in a tent   in Cole's backyard.

Despite the weather, it was a wonderful day to celebrate with our friends and family and join together as husband and wife after five years of dating. What a day!

As a side note, our journey started long before that day. Cole and I began dating all the way back in high school when I was a junior and Cole was a senior. High school sweethearts! :)  We have been a pair for a long time! 

Shortly after we started dating (2001)

                                            
                                             We felt so much love and support on that day! 

Since then, we have moved many times, including two overseas moves, worked in several different jobs, we've had people come and go in our lives, purchased and sold a house, added two amazing children to our family, and much more in between. Life has drastically changed since the day we were married. Although many things around us have changed, there are still some things that have remained the same.

First of all, Christ is still constant! Even when we forget or ignore His call to love each other in a Christ-like way or are slow to forgive, God is still there. I am thankful that our understanding of Christ in our marriage has grown and that we are continually learning to trust God and follow His will for our family and relationship. We fail often, but He gives us grace to move forward and forgive each other. What a gift! 

Venice

Second, from the very beginning of our relationship, Cole has been my best friend. We were friends before we started dating and, for me, he has remained my very best friend since then. He knows things about me that no one else knows and he still loves me. We have enjoyed so many adventures together, come through challenges, and grown together. He loves me, even in my worst moments. There are so many things in life that have been richer because I have been able to share them with him. Do we have struggles, yes. Have we been through challenging and difficult times, of course! But the fact remains that there is no one else who I would want to walk through this life with other than Cole. My love for him has grown and changed from a giddy, butterflies in your stomach feeling when we first started dating, to a strong commitment and a desire to experience life with him for as long as we are on this earth. Marriage is not always butterflies and roses...there are times when it's hard, or when we disagree and struggle through things, but we have a God who walks through all of that with us. So I am thankful for the eight years that we have been given and look forward to many more to come! 

Stay at Home Mom

My short time as a stay at home mom has already been one of the greatest blessings and challenges that I have ever had in my life. This job has provided some of the greatest joys and deepest frustrations as well as a love that I didn't know existed until I held our first little one in my arms. There is no way to describe what it feels like to carry a baby for nine months and then hold that little miracle in your arms for the first time...but I will never forget it! I knew I wanted to stay home with our children if I at all could. My mom was home with us and I will forever be thankful that my parents made the sacrifices they did to allow her to be home with us. I know not everyone can be home with their kids or even wants to be, and that's ok, but for me, it was important and I'm thankful that we were able to make that happen. I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting for my life as a stay at home mom, and I'm not even sure if I can articulate what I was anticipating when I decided to stay home, but it's definitely different in reality. Our two boys are wonderful! They make me smile, laugh, and thank God every day. They keep me on my toes, especially now that they are both very mobile. But as much joy as they bring to my life, they also bring frustration, confusion, guilt, feelings of inadequacy as a parent, and prayer, prayer, and more prayer...prayers for wisdom, patience, strength to get through a long day, and for grace! From the very beginning, Cole and I realized that having a child was going to be different from our expectations. When we first arrived home with Cameron, he was sleeping in his car seat. We sat down, looked at each other and said "now what?!" It was like life was forever changed, but it was still very much the same. We had this little being with us now, but there really wasn't anything unusual to be doing at that moment. Oh how our eyes have been opened since that moment. :) 

Just after we arrived home from the hospital with Cameron

Of course our lives are VERY different since having children, but in that moment, it didn't seem that different. The first week with Cameron was a whirlwind. I was not able to do much except feed Cameron because of the c-section, but it flew by. I vividly remember when Cole wen t back to work...I was scared. I cried for many weeks because it felt like life was over. I didn't realize that the crying and all the feelings associated with being a new mom were semi-normal and that it would pass. It was hard to see past that when all I did all day was watch a sleeping baby, feed him, change him, and interact with him as much as you can interact with a week old baby. I felt like I had failed at being a mom already because I was having these feelings. Life was definitely different!                                                                                                                                         

                                                                             

 

It's hard to explain, but life for me as a stay at home mom fluctuates between so many emotions, sometimes by the minute! It can be fun, boring, frustrating, enlightening, discouraging and heartwarming. 

My first Mother's Day (2011)!

It can be also be lonely at times. It's very hard to succinctly describe (that's probably why this post is all over the place). I can't think of anything else in my life that gives such gratification and joy as well as complete feelings of inadequacy. I had such a great group of moms with wonderful children back home that I could talk to, spend time with, and ask advice. They were in the trenches with me on this journey. I really miss that...

Harrison is here!

Heading home with our two sweet boys!

Mother's Day 2012!

Anyways, so now I live in a new country, have two little ones, and still struggle with the same things...but it seems to be a little more difficult here. There's not really such a thing as a stay at home mom here. Everyone works...it's just a cultural difference. Because of that, there are no indoor playgrounds or gyms open during the day, no playgroups or story times available, or many other moms who are home with their little ones during the day. Also, it rains here quite often, so we are stuck at home a lot! I only know one other mom who is at home during the day, so, in general, I'm left to figure this out on my own. It has sent me to my knees because there have been many times when I have felt so completely inadequate for this job. These children are so precious and such a gift that it seems inconceivable that I could ever get annoyed, frustrated, or bored with being their mother. To me, parenting is the closest we will ever get to understanding the love that Christ has for us...at least while we're here on this earth. I love my children unconditionally (as unconditionally as a human can), even when they disobey or ignore me, push my buttons or test me, etc. And my heart breaks when I see them hurt or scared. I want to protect them the best that I can from all the pain and suffering that comes from a fallen world. I try so hard to remember how God loves us, even when we are frustrating and disobey, and extend that love to my children. But I definitely have to rely on God to help me remember those things because I fail at this quite often. I am constantly reminded that I can't do this alone! When things are going well and I feel like I have a handle on what's  

So blessed

going on, there is a new behavioral issue we have to address. Or my patience has worn thin and I have to repent to God and my children for losing my temper. Or there is someone who wants to give their opinion about what I'm doing (or not doing) and make me feel inadequate. Or life starts to feel boring and mundane and I just want some time for me. Or fill in the blank... There is always something. Being here on my own has really magnified my need to rely on God for help on this journey. Our boys are changing and growing so fast and they need us so much. I never want to let the feelings of frustration, loneliness, inadequacy, or my need for just one minute to myself to get in the way of my calling to raise and love our sweet children. They are so precious and I don't want to take for granted the time I have with them. I am working to cherish little moments with them more. Before I know it, they will be graduating from college, getting married, and moving overseas themselves!! 

Mother's Day 2013

First Solo Bike Ride = FAIL!

One of the things I was really looking forward to when we moved was being able to get around so easily by foot, bike, tram, etc. We have definitely done a lot of walking and taken a couple tram rides, but not much biking. Our bikes needed a little TLC after the move, so they were in the shop for quite a while. We finally got them back two weeks ago and have enjoyed a couple rides as a family since then.  Gent is a very bike friendly city and transportation by bike is far more common and preferable than driving, so I was excited to start taking part in this too. Let me just say that, back home, we went on rides from time to time as a family and Cole like to do more serious biking, but we did not come from a super bike friendly area. There were trails to ride on, but riding around to run errands or get from point A to point B was not our reality. So fast forward to yesterday. I decided that I needed to start getting out more with the bike during the day...explore more parks, shops, other adventures further away, etc. I'm usually nervous doing new things on my own, but I was especially nervous to take my first solo ride because one, I didn't know where I was going, and two, this would only be my second time pulling the boys in the trailer behind me! So the night before, Cole helped me map out a course so I could avoid really busy roads (trams, buses, etc.) and so I could feel a little more familiar with the route.

Yesterday morning.... I made a plan to ride my bike to the park with the boys, play for a while, then eat a picnic lunch before riding back home for nap time. It was supposed to be in the 80's and really nice, so I was excited to get out. I got up early to get myself ready and pack lunches only to find out that the connecting piece for the bike trailer was on Cole's bike...at his office. He was kind enough to come home to switch it over to my bike and help me get the boys packed up. We left around 9:40 and headed to the park. The trip should have taken 15-20 minutes, so when I had been riding for 30 minutes and did not see the park anywhere in sight, I started to get a bit worried. I called Cole and he told me I had followed the canal the wrong way and was going in the wrong direction! He was willing and able to help me find another way to get back to the park. 25 minutes later, I was at the park, tired, but okay! :) So the boys and I headed to the park to play for a while before lunch. We had a good 10 minutes of fun before Cameron peed in his pants (he is potty trained!!!!) and I didn't have any other clothes for him. So I didn't have any choice but to get back on the bike and head home. I was frustrated and might have been a little short with the boys...maybe that's why Cameron was belting out the chorus of Taylor Swift's "Mean" most of the ride home?! Anyways, off we went to head home. I thought I knew where I was going this time, but once again, after biking for waaaayyyy too long and not getting anywhere that I recognized, I called Cole for more help. He confirmed that I was going the wrong way and needed to turn around. So I gave the boys some water bottles to keep them entertained and turned around to go home. My legs felt like jelly and I was beyond annoyed at this point, so I tried to use my annoyance as fuel to get us home. Between Harrison screaming for the last 10 minutes of the ride because he was tired and hungry and Cameron belting out "Mean," I was ready to loose it. Oh, but that's not all! When I got the boys out of the trailer, I discovered that Cameron had chewed off the top of Cole's nice biking water bottle (I guess in between songs). I got everything put away and brought the boys up to the loft only to have Cameron pee all over the floor!!!!!!!!!!! Did I mention that he IS potty trained?! Anyways, Cole ended up coming home and bringing me lunch. I didn't know this at the time, but he had also left work and rode his bike all the way to the park and back to try to find us and help us get home. He's a keeper! :)

The trip was a complete mess and I felt silly for not being able to get to the park and back by myself, but I'm thankful that I at least tried. I'm also extremely grateful for a husband who, despite being busy at work, took most of the day to help me figure things out. I'm pretty certain that he didn't get much done. He even took us on a ride last night back to the park so I now know exactly how to there. So, despite being embarrassed that I couldn't do it and also being very sore this morning, we will try again! 

A Visit from the In-Laws

This past week we were blessed to have more visitors come see us. Cole's parents (nana and papa) and sisters (Julianna and Aislinn) arrived last Sunday (June 2nd) to spend a week with us! It was wonderful to see them and show them around our new home. It's one thing to show people pictures and try to explain the areas around you, but it's another to have them see it for themselves. We were happy to show them around and let them experience what we experience day to day. It also gave me a little break from being with the boys all day by myself. Of course I love the boys dearly, but it's nice to have a little break every once in a while to shop, shower, or even go to the bathroom without little ones tugging my your leg! :)

The week went by quickly and we did a lot of walking, but thankfully, we are finally having warmer weather, so it was great to be out and about! Here is a rundown of our time together:

Sunday: Cole and Cameron went to the airport in the morning to pick up the family. Because we don't have a large car, they took a train (Cameron was SOOOO excited) to the airport to pick them up. From what I was told, it was a sweet reunion.

After munching on fruit and pastries and catching up a bit, everyone took naps and tried to catch up on some lost sleep. Sunday night, we walked around Gent and introduced the family to our new home. Here are some pictures that were taken on our walk.

After walking around and playtime with the boys, it was bedtime for everyone!

Monday: Cole had to work, so we had a mellow morning here at the loft. 

We took a trip to the grocery store to get some goodies and, of course, play on the bus.

In the afternoon, we took a walk over to meet Cole after work and walk home with him. 

Harrison and I walked home to get dinner ready while everyone else went to walk through Saint-Bavos Cathedral.

After dinner, nana, papa, Julianna, and Aislinn took the boys to the park and to get ice cream (first of many trips to get ice cream) while Cole and I had our Dutch lesson. It looks like they had a great time!

Tuesday: Cole had to work in the morning, so we had a lazy morning at home. Even though it was lazy, it was also a super exciting morning because our long awaited couches were finally delivered!! As you may recall from this post, when they moved our things in before, they used a lift outside the loft and brought things in through the window. That's what they did with the couches as well.

Everything was going fine until they had the last couch in the window. They came out and told me that there was no way they were going to be able to get the couch through the door without taking the door and frame apart. The leader of the crew told me that the best thing for us to do would be to let him take the couch back to the store and then we come back and pick out another couch. I must have looked like a crazy person when he said this because when I said, "are you serious," they all laughed at me!! We ordered these couches 10 weeks ago!!! I was not about to wait another 10 weeks, but thankfully, they were able to come in a different window with more space through the door. So we now have our couches!

Relaxing on the new couches!

After the couches arrived, Cole came home and then went to the train station to pick up his Uncle Craig from the train station. He just so happened to be in Europe at the same time as Cole's parents, so he decided he would make a quick stop in Gent before heading home. When the boys went down for their nap that afternoon, I hung out on the awesome couches while everyone else went to explore more of Gent. They visited Saint Bavo's Cathedral, Saint Nicholas Church, and the Castle.

Saint Bavo's Cathedral...all covered in scaffolding 

Saint Nicholas Church

Castle of the Counts

They also wondered around the city a little more. After the boys got up from their naps, we went to meet the group and took them to get their first Belgian waffles (also the first of many). We went to a place that is quickly becoming one of our favorite places to get waffles called 3.14. It's a little cafe in the Groetenmarket that has a window facing the street where you can buy fresh made waffles directly from the waffle maker!

You have lots of options for toppings, though they are yummy plain! I'm pretty sure everyone else agreed that they were delicious! :)

After waffles, we headed to Patrick Foley's Irish Pub for dinner. Cole's dad is Irish, so we thought it would be fun to eat there with them.

Eating outside with their sunglasses

Wednesday: We took advantage of the beautiful weather and decided to take a picnic to the park.

Afterwards, we took a a boat tour through the city

For dinner, we went to a Vietnamese restaurant called 't Wokske. The food and atmosphere was just ok, but I did take a huge step out of my comfort zone and tried a small piece of squid!

Squid!

Noodles and veggies

Thursday: We decided to take a quick trip to Brugge. We walked through Sint-Janshospitaal which is one on the oldest preserved hospitals in Europe. We also ate outdoors and explored the city.

Representin' in Brugge! 

Passed out after a morning in Brugge

After our time in Brugge, we headed to Oostende to visit the North Sea. It was a beautiful day, so we assumed it would be nice to walk along the beach for a while. However, when we arrived, we discovered that it was FREEZING and crazy wind! We only stayed for about ten minutes, but we can say we've been there!

Cameron insisted that we go to the water to throw some shells in and would not take no for an answer...so to the water we went!

Friday: Friday was a mellow day here. Cole had to work, so we met him for lunch at a little Italian place, called Il Trattoria. The waitress only spoke Italian, but we were able to communicate enough to get a couple pizzas.

Once we were home and put the boys to bed, the girls, minus Julianna who had to head home, spent the afternoon shopping...or maybe I should say drooled over things we couldn't afford! We went into many shops I have always wanted to visit, but have never been able to with the boys. We also got some great chocolate and chocolate covered strawberries!

Saturday: We took advantage of having some babysitters and went to a little cafe for breakfast in the morning. We went to a place near our loft called Le Pain Quotidien. Even though they flat out refused to give me cheese on my scrambled eggs (what?!?), it was a nice morning and a yummy breakfast. 

One of the only things that Cameron wanted to do with nana and papa was go the his new favorite swimming pool. So after breakfast, we spent the morning at Rozebroeken swimming and playing. While the boys finished up with swimming, the girls went to get some supplies to finally plant some flowers and plants on our patio. We spent the afternoon potting all the plants.

Basil, mint, and tomatoes

Even though my mom always had beautiful flowers and a wonderful garden, it's not something I ever really took an interest in. It's not for lack of her trying to teach me that I don't have a clue what I'm doing (I was thankful for help from Cole's mom to get this accomplished)! Anyways, my plan is to see whether or not I can keep these plants alive before adding to the collection...I would love to add some more fruits and veggies!

Sunday: Cole's family had to leave Sunday, so he and Cameron loaded everyone up and took them to the airport early in the morning.

We are thankful for the opportunity to have had Cole's family here. Everyone agreed that the waffles and chocolate at least met, if not exceeded their expectations! I'd say thats a win! :)