Christmas blog 2012

 Sometimes you can get so caught up in the day to day that you forget how blessed and eventful your life has actually been over the last year. I just got done reading a family Christmas letter someone else wrote and it made me wonder and think about what I have actually done this last year. So, here I am taking the time to reflect back on 2012 in the form of a Christmas blog (I hope it doesn't bore you...).

How Richard really feels about the French! haha (joke)

Richard (turned 28 this year) has been working hard all year as a project leader at a government institution (Rijkswaterstaat). He's learning a lot and growing in his career, and itching to eventually start for himself. His current job has some nice perks, one of which allowed us to order a brand new (lease/company) car with the options we wanted. We picked up the car at the beginning of the year and it has been a blast! We have had some good road trips this year already. We also redecorated our livingroom at the beginning of the year and replaced our 3rd generation, hand-me-down, gem of a tube and went modern with a flatscreen (partly because the old thing made wierd noises and it didn't fit on our new TV-stand)! This last year Richard has also added some significant big boy toys to his (our) beach hobby. He got a new buggy for his birthday and we added another (smaller) kite to the collection. We've had some fun days on the beach with those things!
We've had some eventful changes in church callings in the family over here this year as well. At the beginning of the year Richard was called to be a counselor in the bishopric... That means he doesn't get to sit with me in the congregation at church anymore and has meetings every other Tuesday night. Richard's father was called as stake patriarch which has proven to be a very humbling and challenging experience for him and the family. You can really see how the Lord is working with him and changing his nature. At the end of the summer I was released as young women's president and called to be the primary president (me? really?). Though I miss sitting next to my husband and am intimidated by my new calling... we are blessed to be able to serve God's children and I am grateful. We also had an amazing opportunity this summer when we were called to teach at EFY. It was such a special experience and the youth are truly amazing!


Wooden shoe museum with Mom and Siebe (father-in-law).

Probably one of the most exciting events of the year was when my mom came to visit! We saw a lot of the Netherlands and took a trip down to Paris (of course!) and over to Germany to see the little village where she lived when she was young. After a fun 2 week visit she headed back home with an even more firm resolve to find a job teaching in Europe after she graduates.
We were watching our wallet this year and decided to do a 'budget vacation' instead of going to the States. We went camping in the Alps in Austria! It was so beautiful and we did some amazing hikes. Again, all these trips were thanks to having an awesome car and gas prices covered by the boss!
I (turning 27 this month) finished my second year of college over here and started my third. This year I am interning as a counselor at a high school on the other side of Rotterdam. It is challenging, but rewarding work. ALSO.. Finally after 3 years and about €2500 (euros) I gained Dutch citizenship! I am now a dual citizen and will have fun using which ever passport is most convenient while traveling! Now we gotta get Richard to become an American!
Other exciting news in the family is that we are getting a new Radford niece or nephew! And, my dad and Suzie have finally picked a day (December 15th) to get hitched! We are so excited for the family and can't wait to visit again in 2013!
We've had a fun, eventful year. Though it's fun to have all our stuff and to travel around, we are most grateful for the really important things. We are healthy, have a home and food, have the Gospel and are very happily married. We are grateful for another great year behind us and look forward to what 2013 has to offer. Here are some pictures from 2012.



I got to take my nephew, Jipster, for a day! 



Nephew Calvin turned 12 in the summer had his first family temple trip!

One of our great hikes in Austria.

Enjoying the view in Salzburg region.

Mom talking to random people in Germany.

Mom and I in France, at Versailles.



Fun activity with friends. Airsoft.

My school trip to Spain.

Cochem Castle in Germany (on we visited with Mom).



Little Jipster having a snack with Uncle Richard after our hike. (Also a pic of the car) :)

Our good friends Kilian and Concetta tied the knot in August! Richard was best man.

 

 God bless you all! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Spring..ish

Winter ended up being really mild here this year which gave hope for a beautiful and warm spring and hopefully a nice summer in NL. Reality has proved otherwise. We had a couple warm days in March and for the rest of the time the temperature has hung between the 50s and 60s. I still have to wear a winter jacket and scarf occasionally. We are hoping it gets warmer faster!

In March I had a 4 day trip to Spain for school. That was the week Holland had warm weather. I was looking forward to sun in Spain... but we got rain and it wasn't all that warm. I still enjoyed my time there though. Girona is a neat, charming city. I finally had a chance to practice some Spanish and by the time the trip was over I was answering everyone with 'Sí' instead of 'ja' haha!

Richard has been working hard at a project for the goverment and is looking forward to summer vacation! I will be finishing up my second year of school here in a few weeks and, well... I'm always looking forward to vacation!

I had an interview for an internship/practicum at a high school here for next year, and they chose me for the spot! In the coming month I will get to meet the people I will be working with and one of the students I will be supporting.

April 30th was koninginnedag (queen's day) again! We didn't go to Amsterdam this year because the city council doesn't allow the big concert that we always went to at museumplein anymore! The weather was beautiful that day though, so we headed up north with Richard's sister (Bianca), her husband (Marcel) and baby (Jip) to hike around in the dunes at Schoorl.

Last year we bought a groupon deal with some friends for an airsoft adventure game day in Liége Belgium. We finally used it last weekend. We weren't sure what to expect at first because when we originally bought it we thought it was for paintballing. It ended up being soooo much fun!! We all had to put army gear on and we got some heave duty guns. There were multiple groups and 2 teams were made from the groups. We were the rebels and the other group was the national troops. We played out several missions throughout the day. The setting was awesome (but actually pretty unsafe if you think about it).. it was an old broken down village-like place where windows were broken out everywhere, broken walls and cielings, manholes in the ground that you had to watch out for etc. It was at the end of an airport runway, so we heard airplanes flying close overhead and the sound of our airsoft machine guns. At the end of the day the score was tied 2-2 for missions won. I still have a red spot on my leg from being shot on the first mission haha!
Here are some recent pictures!

We went out to a dance cafe with the students
on our last night in Girona. It was funny
because the highlight of the evening was not
dancing and music, but...
BINGO hosted by these rumba boys! haaha!
It was entertaining for a while, but it took forever
and we just ended up heading back to the hostel
after a while. The Dutch students were determined
to show them what a 'real' party night out is like
when they came to Holland.



Traveling transavia to Spain...

Taking off and going up with the sun.
I had to be at the airport at 4.30am!!



Girona by night.

Girona by day.



Our hostel

View from the bridge crossing in to historic old Girona



Waiting for the train at Barcelona airport

One of the nicer days.

One of the presentations from a social worker
at a foundation for youth

Lunch in Spain is like dinner at 2pm..
real dinner is at 8pm or later!
The youth learning culinary skills to use in
the job market made our lunch. YUM!

The romanesque Girona Cathedral

Potluck dinner provided by Girona Uni. students

Some of the crazy students from the
social education program @ Girona Uni.

Heading into Barcelona for the day!

Sitting near the port in Barcelona...
lots of walking around that day!

A stand inside the market in Barcelona.
Everything was so organized and pretty!

Playing on the lions at one of the monuments :P

Richard taking our nephew Jip (pronounced Yip)
for a ride up the super long staircase at the dunes.

That's a lot of stairs! Go Jip!

Run for it, mommy's coming! He is getting so big!

With my love at the look out and brownie break :)



Baby in a tree!

The 5 of us at another look out point near the end of the hike.
It was a perfect day and Marcel and Bianca treated us to patat
to top it off :D

Richard ready to take his kite-buggy
out for a run!

A couple weekends ago we headed down to
Brussels for the weekend. Here is Richard with
Manneke Pis!

A real, warm, fresh Belgian sugar waffle with
warm dark chocolate, strawberries and whipped cream
SOOO YUM!

Can't leave Belgium without the Bonbons!

Airsoft group!



I didn't do it!

Yeah... we're tough!

These two are supposed to be getting married in August.. Not a good
sign if they are ready to shoot each other already!! haha

Well, that's all for now!!

3 years into our 'Happily ever after'.

 

You are my hero and my best friend. You have added so much goodness to my life and you are more than my better half. You have held my heart from the beginning. I knew I loved you before I even met you. Because of you I have the strength to be everything I want to be. The very thought of you brings a smile to my face. I don't know what I have done to earn having you in my life, but I do know that I am so incredibly blessed and grateful to have the privilege to take on your name, to forever love you, and enjoy your sweet love for me. I love you more deeply than I can possibly say. I will stand by you, care for you and love you for always and forever. You make me so happy.

I am eternally yours. I love you babe.

(Words from our wedding ceremony here in the Netherlands.)
Happy Anniversary babe!! 

Happy NEW YEAR!! (update)

This is a post I started in January and now finally finish (better late than never)!

Looking back on 2011 I can say we had a successful and blessing filled year. Until I take a moment to reflect, I don't always realize the great blessings that I've had and how good my life really is! So, now that a whole year again has flown by, what really happend that year? Here is my (probably full of holes) flashback of 2011

Richard graduated from college
I got my propedeuse (First year of my bachelor at a Dutch college)
2 of our best friends returned from their missions: Kilian and Ramona
We had our first year as temple workers.
Richard and I celebrated 2 years being happily married (and many many more to come!)
My baby brother got married in the Salt Lake temple... Which means we also had a GREAT vacation in the states and got to spend a lot of time with the fam.
My BFF came home with me and visited for a week.
We and our families have been blessed with good health.
And sooo many more great things (little and big) blessed our 2011.

We celebrated New Years Eve with our good friends the Croese's. It's become a tradition and we always have a great time!
Here are some pictures as a flash back of 2011 and our New Year's celebration :)

New Year's dinner gourmetten with the crew at the Croese's

"We are family! I got all my sisters (and brothers) with me!" Trev and Ali's wedding

Christmas with the kids

Me with my BFF at the windmills

Visit to Drenthe for the family and a walk in the pretty purple heide.

One of our little hotel overnighters and the beautiful rainbow we saw just outside :)

Doden herdenking Rotterdam.

Me and my young women at the NAI museum



One of our many family walks in Kennemer Dunes.



Another day walking in the beautiful dunes!

Congrats Richard! (Graduation was in Feb. 2011)

Queen's Day Amsterdam

Anniversary date at the beach :)

Squash with our friends. SO FUN!



Bye-bye 2011. Wishing all the best in 2012!

 Most recent news for our new year... we got a new car!!