One Year

Today marks one year since we left our home with a for sale sign in the front yard, boarded a plane, and moved our family and entire life to Belgium. In some ways, this year has flown by. As I look back over the past year and think about how my life has changed and how I have changed, I am amazed. This year has been one of the most challenging years of my life, but I have grown in ways I didn't even realize I needed to grow. I am very thankful for this year…even though there have been tough times…I am thankful for the opportunity to experience life like never before and to grow into a different, and I think better, person.

One of the biggest things I've had to learn this year is to let go. Those who know me well know that I like to be in complete control at all times. I don't like not knowing what's going on, or not having all the information, or not having a plan. I do not like walking into complete unknown or situations where I might be out of my comfort zone. I've always been this way. But this year has not allowed me to be that way anymore. Of course there have been times over this past year where I have been drawn back into that mindset, but all that caused was frustration and fear. Going into this, there was no way to know what life was going to be like or how I would feel in certain situations. Of course I spent hours and hours researching Belgium; churches, schools, houses, the city of Gent, the Dutch language, food, activities, expat groups, mom groups, etc. I tried to completely prepare myself for what was to come. Little did I know that there was no way to do that. Yes, I was informed about things here, but I don't think there's any way to fully prepare yourself for moving to another country. When we arrived, I immediately tried to get our situation figured out and set. That was impossible because there were too many things that we needed to figure out. There have been many times where I have felt completely helpless and wanted to just quarantine myself in our loft, but that's not helpful either, so I have had to find another way to move forward. Learning to let go has been hard for me, but very beneficial, not just in my life personally, but also for our family. Life is better for all of us when I don't hold on so tightly, when I trust that God is taking care of us and has a better plan than I do. I'm not all the way there, but I think I can say that I have come a long way in letting go over the past year.

Another way I have grown is that I'm learning to appreciate and enjoy being with people who think, act, or look differently than I do. Prior to coming here, I lived a very comfortable life among people who were very much like me…and that's ok. But my world has expanded tremendously since being here. I have written about diversity before and I am so thankful so the opportunity for us to experience different cultures, traditions, and people. We have met so many wonderful people from all over the world since we've been here. Just the other night, a church group meet at our house for a bible study. Aside from the leader and two other people who were from Belgium, no one else was from the same country. There was someone from Hong Kong, Iran, El Salvador, Suriname, Brazil, America, and Ukraine. I have learned that people think and do things very differently, but that that is ok. I can still love and appreciate those who are different than me. I can still interact with and enjoy people from other cultures. And I certainly feel like I have a more accurate picture of what heaven will be like since getting to know Christians from all over the world. I am a much better person for coming to this realization and am thankful for being put in a situation where I can see that the world is bigger than "my world."

One of the best things that has come from this year has been our increased dependence on and trust in God. We have experienced intense loneliness, felt completely lost, been tested in our marriage, bumped heads about decisions, and struggled in many other ways. Through all of that, we have learned to turn to God for strength, direction, answers, and peace. I truly believe that we have a happier marriage and family because we are learning to look to Him first when we are struggling personally or as a family.

I could go on and on about lessons I have learned so far on this journey. This has certainly been an up and down year for me. We have been overwhelmingly blessed by opportunities to travel, meet wonderful people, and grow. We have each celebrated a birthday here and now Harrison has lived in Belgium longer than he lived in the U.S. I don't think I would have chosen this path if I was in control, but I am thankful for it. I am thankful for the growth and for how I will be forever changed because of this. As I think back to this day last year and all the uncertainty, I can't believe that me, of all the control freak people in the world, has survived so far. One of the main reasons that I wanted to keep a blog was to see how we would grow and change during this time and how God has provided for us over and over again. Reading over some of my old posts has done just that…I have been reminded of how blessed we are and how much God has lead us. Today I am thanking God for giving us this opportunity to grow as individuals, as a couple, and as a family, and for teaching us to trust Him.

Just for good measure, here are a few pictures to compare this time last year with this time this year.

2013

2014

First Semester of School

Cameron had a great first semester of school. He loves being there and seems to be learning a lot! The curriculum at the school is very interesting and Cameron has been a part of many fun activities. Here are some of the fun things that happened during the first semester.

He learned about mailing letters to people.

He went on his first field trip to the Ghent University Book Tower.

Learning about the very old books and newspapers in the book tower

View of Gent from the top of the tower

Of course the kids had the most fun running around and playing after the tour.

Fun hats after the tour

Cameron and his friend, Matin

 He participated in Eat Local Day: The excerpt below is from the school's website to explain about Eat Local Day.

Did you know that your food travels an average of 2000 km before it ends up on your plate? On Thursday, 17 October, we participated in Eat Local Day, which helps to support local agriculture and to draw attention to the dangers of CO2 emissions from transporting food long distances. The event was sponsored by Good Planet Belgium, an organization dedicated to teaching youth and adults how to live sustainably. Both the Primary and Pre-primary classes picked apples in the garden and worked together to make delicious, fresh, local apple juice.

Picking apples at the school

Preparing the apples for juice

Juicing

Drinking their yummy apple and pear juice

They celebrated Halloween

Heading to school as fireman Cameron.

Face painting 

In the afternoon, parents were invited to the school to enjoy the halloween festivities and to try some pumpkin soup that the children made for us.

Harrison joined in on the fun

Getting soup for us

The last thing Cameron experienced before we left for Christmas break was a visit from Sinterklaas (saint Nicholas) and his helpers, the Zwarte Pieten (Black Petes). I'm not really sure what to think about this because, in the U.S., this tradition would be highly inflammatory. However, it's a big tradition here, so the children received a visit. Below is a little more information about Sinterklaas. 

Sinterklaas is a traditional winter holiday figure based on Saint Nicholas. He is celebrated annually with the giving of gifts on Saint Nicholas' eve (5 December) in the Netherlands and on the morning of 6 December, the feast of Saint Nicholas, in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Northern France. Sinterklaas is an elderly, stately and serious man with white hair and a long, full beard. He wears a long red cape or chasuble over a traditional white bishop's alb and sometimes red stola, dons a red mitre and ruby ring, and holds a gold-coloured crosier, a long ceremonial shepherd's staff with a fancy curled top. He traditionally rides a white horse. Sinterklaas carries a big book that tells whether each child has been good or naughty in the past year.

A Zwarte Piet (Black Pete, plural Zwarte Pieten) is a companion of Sinterklaas, usually portrayed by an adolescent in blackface with black curly hair, dressed up like a 17th-century page in a colourful dress, often with a lace collar, and donning a feathered cap.

Cameron doesn't look completely terrified! 

Even though I was worried about missing out on time with Cameron and wasn't sure that I wanted him to go to school, this experience has been very enriching for all of us so far.  I'm looking forward to seeing what adventures are ahead in the second semester!

A Difficult Couple of Weeks

Since returning from our Christmas trip a few weeks ago, I have been having a hard time feeling settled. I don't know if we went back and forth too many times in too short a time or what, but I'm just  having a hard time. It was hard to come back from our first trip home and it took a week or so to feel back to "normal" here, but it is taking a bigger toll on me this time around. I spoke with a sweet friend here in Gent yesterday about this and she told me that it was normal to go through this process…to have somewhat of a honeymoon phase when you first arrive where everything is new and exciting…but that real life would eventually come around and things would not always seem to fun and exciting. I am definitely feeling that these days. I have really had to fight the urge to give in and say that I want to go back home. To pack everything up and just go back to normal life back home. It's been a struggle for me to want to venture out and find things to do, to foster relationships (both at home and here), to try to meet new people, to want to learn Dutch, or to do much of anything. I have been feeling overwhelmed trying to make decisions about school, life, how to get more involved, etc., and in the end, I don't make any decisions at all. Instead, I end up doing nothing! I know this probably seems frivolous and a little bi-polar; frivolous because, in reality, we are so abundantly blessed and have been given way more than we deserve. These "problems" that I've been dealing with are so small compared to all the terrible things that are happening around the world, but this is my reality. Bi-polar because, for a while, things were great here and I was wondering if I would even want to come home. Even as I write this I feel a little crazy!

My sweet friend reminded me yesterday that I have to remember that God brought us here for a reason…a very specific reason. To accomplish something that only our family can do. She reminded me that, even if the purpose of this journey is to make a difference in one person's life, that God has a plan and if we can remember that, we can make it through this time with hope and a positive outlook.

I am so incredibly thankful that she was able to speak words of wisdom and truth to me at just the right time. There is no use in feeling sorry for myself and wasting this experience. I want God to use us and I am going to work hard to remember that there is a plan in all of this. Even though the tough times are hard, I also know that God uses times like these to draw us close to Him and and to teach us things…most importantly, to trust that He is in control!

Happy New Year!

Gent is so beautiful this time of year. There are lights and decorations all over the city and a winter festival with a Christmas market (food, gifts, etc.), rides, and other fun things to do with the family. I was excited to get back after our trip to the U.S. so we could catch the tail end of the holiday festivities.

Street by our loft

Giant ferris wheel in town

Christmas market with the Belfry tower in the background 

Rides

Top of the ferris wheel

Top of the ferris wheel

Harrison LOVED the fries!

There is also an ice skating rink in the middle of town. We had a great time teaching the boys (and trying to remember) how to skate!

I remember being here at this time last year to look for a place to live, schools, etc. It was beautiful, and still is! As I think back over this past year, I am so amazed by what has happened. We sold our house, our cars, packed up all our things, moved to another continent, and started a life here. We have had some of the highest highs and lowest lows this year. We have faced many fears, been pushed beyond what we thought we could handle, and had some struggles, but we have also experienced God's provision in ways that we never have before. This year has been exhilarating, scary, frustrating, fun, stressful, and completely amazing all wrapped up in one! I can honestly say that I have never experienced a year like this before in my life. I think Cole would agree with me when I say that we have grown in our marriage, as parents, in our faith, and as individuals more this year than ever before. and we have received so much support from friends and family back home as well as new friends here in Belgium. We even had some amazing friends and mentors from home offer to drop everything and fly here when we were going through a specific struggle and needed support. I can't think of one time this past year where God did not provide us with exactly what we needed to get through a struggle, or fear, or stressful situation. This year hasn't always been easy, but this opportunity already has been so worth it! This experience has forever changed us and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to grow, learn, and experience this journey with my family! Happy New Year…I'm looking forward to much more traveling, fun, friendships, and life in 2014!