So California

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This picture captures California culture in so many ways. We were shopping at Smart and Final, a store that offers restaurant size supplies to the general public. Everything is big! As part of environmental awareness, they no longer offer bags. You have to bring your own or buy a bag, just as in Holland. We left our bags in the car and decided to just carry our things. The bag in her left hand contains frozen strawberries to make healthy smoothies in our new Vitamix blender. Making healthy food choices is so Californian too!

This car is a classic old fashioned California car. I asked Juliana to stand in front of it to capture an iconic California image. I also liked that she’s wearing a Coca-Cola shirt. So Americana! I loved the trees in the background and the sun light shining through the sky. Today it was almost 80 degrees outside and gorgeous.

I do love California! What do you love about where you live?

5Sep2013

Shoreline

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The busyness of life continues.

Luckily, I was able to take a break and bring my parents to Shoreline for a long walk in the sunshine along the San Francisco Bay today. The weather was so warm and comfortable and reminds me how much I love California.

This is a great place to be outdoors, despite the stinky smells from the bay and nearby landfill/dump.

There are several walking trails with people out bird watching, walking, running, skating, painting, and participating in water sports.
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We couldn’t have asked for better weather. We spent a good hour walking and then stopped at the Lakeshore cafe for lunch out on the patio overlooking the lake.

Life is good, especially when you take the time to slow down and enjoy it. How was your day?

30Jul2013

Swimming

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The highlight of my day today was swimming with the kids. Typically I sit on the edge and watch them, talking with friends, or reading a magazine eating a snack and having a drink. But today I decided before we left that I would also go swimming.

I actually love swimming and the feeling of being in the water once I’m in. I just don’t like being cold and having to redo my frizzy hair afterwards. That’s what happens when your an adult. Kids don’t think of these things. They just enjoy the pure fun of being in the water.

I swam 15 laps and and also played with the kids. We touched the bottom of 13 feet in the deep end. We did handstands and back flips and got water up our nose. The volleyball was thrown around for awhile and we had water gun fights. I gave Charlie a piggy back ride and held Juliana like she was light and little again.

I loved being in the pool today with them and thought of Irma and how much she loved the water too. It’s great to be a kid (at heart!).

When was them last time you went swimming? It’s never too late for some fun!

28Jul2013

California – I Love You

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Have I told you how much I love California? I absolutely love this place. There is so much to see and do and explore in this beautiful state. I think this is my favorite place on earth.

This weekend we drove from Northern California to Southern California. It takes 5 1/2 hours to drive from my house in the Bay Area to my family home in Thousand Oaks along Highway 101. People in SoCal refer to the highway as THE 101, but NorCal folks prefer to leave out THE article and just call it 101.

Before we left Thousand Oaks, the kids all enjoyed swimming in Irma’s pool with our adopted family.

I loved the feeling of being together and in the water and the sunshine. Christian also enjoyed going for a bike ride with his expat friend from Korea. We kept procrastinating leaving, as goodbyes are never fun.

One of a Thousand Oaks.

I wanted to leave early enough so that we could stop in my favorite city along the way.

San Luis Obispo is where I graduated from college and I absolutely love this college town. I hope we have a home here one day. This is my favorite place because people seem to be so happy. There is a peaceful, zen feeling in SLO town and I want to live where the pace of life is SLO and simple, with natural beauty surrounding you everywhere.

We arrived in time to stop for dinner at Firestone Grill on Higuera Street and sat outside on the patio with the sun still shining. The air was cool enough for light sweatshirts.

Afterwards, we strolled down town and the kids stopped in the candy store, Rocket Fizz to pick out some fun candy and Jeff stopped in the adult beverage store to pick up some fun brews that Steve told him about – Tap It, a new microbrew from SLO. We also had to walk down Bubble Gum alley for the smell of Cal Poly nostalgia.

Continuing on our journey, I actually appreciated the sun shining on my face and the wide open spaces and rolling hills. Jeff always appreciates the fog rolling over the Santa Lucia Mountains from the Pacific Ocean.

Our new minivan is like flying first class. The kids enjoyed their music and DVDs with headphones, Jeff loved XM radio and listening to classic hits, and I loved playing Candy Crush, perusing Facebook, texting my sisters and reading magazines.

It’s good to be home in California again.

I am happy.

26Jul2013

One Year Ago Today…

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One year ago today we were on an airplane, beginning our magical journey to the Netherlands. We were at the airport, crying as we said goodbye and filled with a bit of anxiety, not knowing what to expect exactly.

As we were coming back home a couple weeks ago, I cried again before we landed, so sad to be leaving behind the life we built and enjoyed overseas. I’ve been busy every day since we’ve returned, however I don’t feel quite right or settled yet, even though I’m having fun and am happy to see friends and family again. I feel like I’m on the outside looking in, and everything looks and feels familiar but in a different way. I’m hyper aware and that feels a little strange too. For example, I notice things I would have never paid attention to before like the sheer size of Safeway and the American flag flying everywhere.

I think moving back in the summer time was a great idea, but not having any structure or camps set up for the kids has presented a few challenges. I’m working on that and things are getting better already. I’m sure I’ll feel more normal, next year!! Lets just hope it doesn’t take that long.

How long does it normally take to resettle? Anyone know? I’m sure it depends… I’ll just try and be patient and not worry about it. For now, I just feel mixed.

Namaste.

Mid-state Fairgrounds, Paso Robles

25Jul2013

Being Home

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Tonight we went to see the construction progress on the San Francisco 49ers football stadium.

Last time we saw the field, they had just begun excavations. It’s amazing what they can build in a year’s time! The stadium is near our home and driving by in our new minivan and going to Chick-Fil-A for dinner tonight was the entertainment for the evening. We sat outside on the patio, enjoying the gorgeous, California weather. I appreciated not having to cook tonight, and more importantly, not having to do the dishes. It’s the little things that make me happy!

Home sweet home.

Baylands sunset

Good night, friends!

20Jul2013

I Am Home

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I Am Home.

It still hasn’t sunk in yet, but today I just got a receipt! This shirt arrived in the mail as a surprise from Marcia today. It’s proof that I really am home. I cried when I opened it and loved seeing it, thankful to be home and also feeling a bit of sadness that we don’t have our house in Holland anymore. The transition is happening and I’m in the midst of it.

I’ve been enjoying everyday, visiting with and catching up with our friends, shopping and preparing for Charlie’s birthday party next week, enjoying our beautiful weather and the beach, and waiting for Jeff to move back home.

I’ve been car shopping and having repairs scheduled for various household parts and loving on the kids and their friends. It’s nice to be back in the same time zone as my family and friends in California and to be able to pick up the phone and not think what time it is where they are before calling. I’ve been emailing my Holland friends and keeping in touch there too. Transitioning. This is what it looks like for me.

I Am Home.

Thank you, Marcia for my awesome shirt and the welcome home. xo

11Jul2013

Homecoming Joys

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It’s very nice coming home. I had anxiety the first day, but it’s already gone. I didn’t make a lot of plans and didn’t have many expectations, and just have been letting the days unfold. So far, so good.

I’ve loved all your emails and texts and phone calls. Thank you to my friends who have stopped by with flowers, candy, cookies, crumb cake, red velvet cake and dinner! Thank you to April for picking us up from the airport and making us a beautiful welcome home sign. And thank you to my parents for stocking the fridge and pantry and helping us to settle back in, making coffee for visitors and helping me to get some rest. It’s so nice to be loved.

Today Marcia and Lisa stopped by and we sat on the back patio for hours, when they were just planning to stop by for a few minutes. No one wanted to leave, as we chatted and caught up and shared stories. I love my friends.

The kids had friends running in and out of the house, playing basketball and shooting Nerf guns at each other. I loved hearing them play and having a house full again. This has always been my dream… All the kids and friends hanging out at my house. I loved this!

I was craving Mexican food and today was my lucky day! We went to our favorite little authentic, Mexican food place – Taqueria Latina for lunch and I’m still full! We enjoyed the best burritos and quesadillas, chips and salsa!

Right now I’m sitting by the pool with my mom and dad, watching the kids swim with their friends and playing basketball in between sessions of adult swim time when they are kicked out for awhile. These are the best days of summer…just hanging out by the pool and being with friends.

Life is good. I wonder what tomorrow will bring.

Namaste.

P.S. Thank you to all of you who have shared your comments, both privately and publicly about your thoughts on my blog and encouraging me to keep on writing. You inspire me! xo

Isn’t California so beautiful?? I love it here!!

9Jul2013

Day 348: I Am Home

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It’s weird to think I woke up in my Holland house this morning, and I’ll be going to bed in my Sunnyvale home in a couple hours.

It’s 2:30 am Holland time and just before dinner at home. I’m feeling a bit delirious, yet trying to stay awake for at least a couple more hours.

I am happy to be home again, although I have to be honest and say I felt really confused coming back. I am feeling the transition, feeling sad as I let go of my house, community and friends in Holland and leaving Jeff behind for two more weeks. And then happy as can be, seeing my parents and April and my home and my neighbors and the neighborhood friends dropping by.

Julie came by for a cup of tea and biscuits, and the kids walked to the park and went swimming and rode bikes like we never left. They just picked up where they left off almost a year ago.

Mom made a pot of her spaghetti sauce and the whole house smelled good and welcoming.

I cried as we were landing at SFO, afraid to land and seeing the airplane crash remains still on the runway. I felt really sad, thinking of what I am leaving behind and a bit anxious about the transition back to life as it used to be but isn’t anymore the same. I know it’ll all come together, as it always does…just breathe and relax, right? It’s all good. Life is good!!

And I have the most amazing friends and family all around the world now. Can’t wait to catch up again! xoxo

28Apr2013

Day 276: Two Lives

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Everyone assumes I’m excited to move back home and I am. But I’m also nervous and have anxiety over it. I want to move back and I want to live here a bit longer. And I get to do both, but I have stress about moving and leaving my home here. My life is good here in Holland. And my life was good in California. It’s that yin and yang thing that is constant. And I’ll flow with whatever comes my way, but it does cause stress and I just wanted to mention that as I feel it and move through it.

I have great friends, who I enjoy every single day here. And I have great friends with shared history back home who are waiting for us and want us back (thank goodness) who we want to see and hug and hang out with again too.

But today I hung out with my friends here – I picked up Charlie from Joseine’s house and shared a cup of coffee with her, while the kids played outside and ran around together and talked us into another sleepover. How could I say no? We walked over to see her new home being built and she shared with me the details that she’s been planning for a year and a half, if not longer. She is passionate and I loved hearing and seeing her vision, and that she was sharing it with me. She is quietly proud and chose to let m be a part of her journey and dream, which I think is really cool. It made me not want to move just yet, because I won’t be here when it’s completed and I want to see it and be a part of her joy. I know I can come back someday, but I want to be here for the housewarming when it’s all done. You get it, right?

At the same time as I was enjoying my friends here, Jeff is back in California and enjoying our friends there. He went to Jessie’s soccer game and saw her score a goal.

He went to Costco and bought ribs to grill/smoke on the Traeger with Steve and is enjoying his last day there before heading back to us in Holland, probably drinking a tasty margarita in a green glass from Megan, with salt!! He went to deliver gifts to Becca from Juliana and helped to keep us connected with our loved ones back home. I love that he is there enjoying the yin and I’m here enjoying the yang. 😉

As he was getting ready to grill, we were just leaving a BBQ with Patti Beth & Amy & Mindy and their families. The weather was sunny and cool, and the kids – both young and old, played together, laughing and chasing and enjoying one another. The parents all brought food and wine to share and we had a potluck – just like we do in California.

It’s weird, in a good way.

Knowing that we’re leaving makes me savor the moment more than ever. I’m hyper aware that there won’t be many more and so I want to be 100% present and I am, and it’s weird to feel that. It’s kinda like a gift to really enjoy and appreciate your friends. I know, I’m sappy. It’s just who I am. I’ve always been like this and will probably drive my kids nuts. Hopefully I’ll know when to be quiet. 😉 I’m sure they’ll let me know.

During the car ride to J’s house, the sun was shining, flowers were blooming everywhere and Jack Johnson sang to me:

“And there will always be stop and go and fast and slow
Action, reaction, sticks and stones and broken bones
Those for peace and those for war
And god bless these ones, not those ones
But these ones made times like these
And times like those
What will be will be
And so it goes
And it always goes on and on…
On and on it goes

But somehow I know it won’t be the same
Somehow I know it will never be the same.”

And so it goes…

Namaste, friends. Thanks for reading and sharing this crazy journey. xo