A month has gone by pretty fast....

So this week was a pretty easy and quiet week. The boy is on vacation from school so mom and dad are home this week also. I only have to do some of the light house work and setting up tables, some cooking, and laundry this week. Other than that I have been enjoying my free time mostly biking or being outside and also hanging out with my new friends.

My winter coat

I got my first birthday present from my host mom. She bought me a new winter coat when we went shopping in Germany. That night we went to eat at a 5 course restaurant. It was very good but I had to stop at 4. I couldn't have anymore food. I also started to clothes shop again (yikes) meaning I will have to get rid of clothes before I leave. Which I am going to donate the clothes I won't take with me home to the church. I know jeans here are gonna be hard to find because they mostly have skinny jeans for girls.







I went to my first women's time at church and it was very good. It was nice to have my life fill with godly women. I miss New Life and all the women who have inspired me and been there for me. You guys change my life in a way that I never thought was possible 

Was stuck behind this truck for about 10 minutes I think

I was able to visit the Dutch army base this Saturday with my friend. It was good and it was nice to have a Saturday away from Enschede. I also went to buy a birthday card and a present for the boy who is finally 10. My friend help write in Dutch a good birthday wish.












I been reading (still reading) my book "Beyond Boundaries," its taking awhile for me to finish but I feel like every chapter means something to me. So I been reading it when I don't feel right for some reason. I guess that it is for now. Talk to you guys later =)

Week 3

So this week is about the same as the last 2 weeks.(Sorry for the late post)

I went to the zoo on Saturday with the mom and baby. Let just say I was miss the Omaha Zoo more. This zoo here was small and has less animals, but it was fun walking around. The baby favorite animal is the elephant. She was very happy to see those.

 

 

Reindeer

She has been undressing her baby doll all the time

 (luckily not her clothes)

She is also sick this week. Mostly diarrhea and a little bit of fever. Also she is not eating a lot either. I feel sad for her but she is still a happy baby when she is sick.She still has lots of energy and wants to play every time.
I haven't been feeling well for the past few days either, I think its all the food I am eating here and I am not use to it. I also had dutch chinese food and it was different somehow.  So on Monday should be interesting because the boy has a week vacation from school and I think mom and dad are home too (which means I don't have to  as hard as I have been doing this week)


Church was fun on Sunday. I met more people now and I join the choir. I went to the choir practice that they had before the worship night, it was good. I think my favorite song is "Everything na double double," and I learn "Mjin god is goede" in dutch.

So as for me and Phillip, we are done. I guess he chose to follow his pastor and his church advice. Sorry for ranting about his church, I just don't like that church one bit. I don't see going to a church that condemns you is going to church at all. I feel like you should have a freedom of choice in church and the church should show you grace for when you mess up. You shouldn't try to live up to the church standard because its impossible. A church should accept who you are and help you grow with God.

I am fine with it because I told God that he could take this relationship from me and I'll be okay with his decision.

I'll leave with you this " Ik hou van je"

Week 2 =)

To start off. I had my first weekend off. I went to the market on Saturday morning which is like the farmers market that we have at downtown Cedar Rapids but here they have it every Tuesday and Saturday. The sell a lot of fruits and veggies along with clothes and accessories.I couldn't take any pictures yet because I am still afraid of falling on my bike and breaking my camera. Hopefully next Saturday I can get some good pictures for you guys.

I went to the ITC church on Sunday. It was good but I got lost while trying to find it. It was hard for me to ask for direction because here in the Netherlands, people just assume that I speak Dutch. I stop a guy on the street and his English was not as good. He can speak 6 others languages but English was not one of them (sad). So he walk me to the Hospital because the Church was close to the Hospital. So when I found the Hospital I just walk around until I found the church.
Well at the church was like a mix of services all together, it was very long 1030 to 1200. I got a big welcome from the members there now and told them a little bit about myself. They seem nice so far. I'm home wherever I go with God =).  I'm hoping to go to their college bible study at one of the house of one member (first I have to find it).

She brings me happiness and always keep me busy

Having my first weekend alone was hard because I was not busy and the family wasn't here. I got really homesick this weekend. But luckily they will be here this weekend and I will be going to the zoo on Saturday with the mom and baby. I can't wait because I need to get out of the house more and go exploring.

I am starting to meet other nannies in the area. And some nannies are not with the agencies here because since they are a European Citizen they can go work in other countries without an agency if they wanted too. I'm looking forward to meeting these other nannies and also with the possibility of traveling with them in November. I plan on going to Eindhoven for the Glow Festival the second week of November as a treat for myself and a present to myself =). Because by that time  I will be already 25 (its less than a month away). I never thought of having a birthday abroad before without any of my closest friends but I will have find a way to enjoy that day.

We snap chat <3

Wow I can't believe I made it through my second week. Can you believe it?? I am starting a count down because I miss you guys so much and Phillip too.. Having a long distance relationship is the biggest test that I will ever face. I've learn a lot about myself this past week and will continue to learn about myself as the year progress. I know some people that can do the long distance thing but to tell you the truth this is my first long distance relationship and its difficult at times because there are days when I just need to hear his voice but I can't. I can now say he is my other half (we are both very stubborn and won't give up easily). I guess it makes me appreciate our relationship more every time we talk on the phone or Skype each other. Putting my trust and faith with God in this relationship (which is hard).50 weeks left =)

My next mission is to learn how to drive the car (manual drive) and learn dutch... I can recognize some Dutch words like "alles goed" which means how are you (I think). That is how I translate it. But I can't pronounce it yet.

Till next time... Much love from me <3

Survived the first week

Beside learning how to bike again and getting injured. I survived my first week working. I have become a master of laundry everyday and cleaning. Still trying to master ironing clothes and cooking. I found out that I am horrible at ironing clothes. I never ironed clothes back in Iowa. I am starting to get use to the routine everyday. (Now I understand what it is like to be a stay at home mom 24/7.) I want to do that someday when I have my first child.

brother sister love

These are the two kids. As you can see she is tackling her older brother. They are both sweet and the 20 month old is learning my name and getting use to me. I took her on a walk on Wednesday and she really enjoy it. She is full of energy though so is the 10 year old boy.

Their mom works for the Dutch government. She is like the Secretary of State and she gets to travel every where. I think in a couple of weeks she will be heading to Moscow. She is not really home often because Enschede is about 2 hours away from her job so she stays in Den Haag for the week. Dad works in an office (I'm not sure what kind.)

Back yard

 It is still so green here for being Fall. I miss the colors of fall like red, yellow and orange leaves. I guess here the leaves do not change color. The weather is cold... and I mean really cold. It is not like Iowa right now with the weird weather that you guys are having. Don't let the sunshine fool you, the wind can be harsh.

This weekend will be my first weekend off. I am meeting with another nanny today after the family leaves for a weekend get away. Her name is Linda and she is from Germany. The family said very good things about her and she has been good to their other nannies in the past. I'm hoping to go to church this Sunday (if I could find where it is located). I think the fun of it is getting lost on my bike but I have to get use to finding the house first before I decide to take off and go on an adventure on the bike in town. So this weekend will be an adventure and I am going to explore the town and meet new people.

God put me here for a reason it could be for me learn, grow and trust. I still have problem in the trusting areas especially leaving everything to God to take care of like right now. I know he will provide good fellowship for me but I just want it now.

Overall I'm done being jet lagged, now is just the fact of being home sick a lot and some days are very hard because I don't many people here yet and I wish that it was easy to call all my friends when I have a problem but its not. I know it will get easier once I start meeting people and making plans when I don't have to work and I don't plan to travel on the weekends until November.

I love you guys back home and miss you lots.