There are really three places on this world that best remind one of her own mortality. The obvious is the graveyard, a place a friend taught me is one of the best and beautiful quiet places to gain perspective: life is short, you die, the relatives visit, and then they don’t. If that sounds grim, … Continue reading →

This week has been sunny! At least, this is the third day in a string of cold, frosty, sunny days. And all the Nederlanders are rejoicing. After a December spent mostly in Florida (preceded by a week of a nasty stomach virus), and a January dominated by colds, we had one, single, glorious day (Monday) … Continue reading →

Last night Frans arrived home after four days in Romania. He greeted a worn out, half sick, yet triumphant wife and two sickly kids. One sickly kid was so excited to see her papa that she didn’t even feel sick anymore. He had a rich, full time. Lots of meaningful conversations and the ability to … Continue reading →

A friend told about a sign hanging in a monastery that read, Everybody wants a revolution, but nobody wants to do the dishes. This stays with me as I process my current stage of life and the current US political situation. What does it mean to be an American living abroad, married to a Dutchman … Continue reading →

I meet with two friends every two weeks. We switch between two of our houses, and take turns making dinner, pouring the tea, lighting the candles. We’ve gone through several books, but we are currently early in reading Embracing the Body by Tara Owens. We discuss different aspects under the topic of being created as … Continue reading →

There are three blogs I follow consistently. All of them, interestingly enough, have to do with design and motherhood. Ashley Ann Campbell from Oklahoma, mother of four, photographer, designer, and advocate. Her blog is called Under the Sycamore, and she uses it as a platform to talk design and photography, chronicle her family’s life, and … Continue reading →