A Season of Visitors!
I have not posted in a while because we have been hosting lovely Americans! The spring in the Netherlands is so beautiful, and I have been soaking in the scenery…
Venice – Part Three of a Travel Trilogy
After our Swiss adventure, we took a 1 1/2 hour plane ride to the famous Italian city of Venice. We figured since we were fairly close, we might as well…
Zurich – Part Two of a Travel Trilogy
When our Vienna stay ended, we got on a train from Vienna to Zurich, Switzerland. The train ride was about 8 hours long, but the scenery along the way made…
Vienna – Part One of a Travel Trilogy
The Dutch people make light of the fact that we spent 8 days in three wonderful cities, approximately 2.5 days in each. The Dutch say that we are typical Americans,…
Exciting Signs of Spring, Kasteel DeHaar, and Pretty Veere
I can't possibly explain how I can love a place so much and find myself thinking of home at the same time. I truly love the Netherlands. The beauty, the…
January in Dutch Land
Christmas in Iowa was again delightful. We spent lots of time with our kids, saw extended family, saw friends when possible, and got wedding planning done in between. The trip…
Life Update and 2025 Christmas Markets
In January we will be half way through our time in the Netherlands. I can't believe it. I am continually amazed at how fast life goes and how thankful I…
The Open Air Museum- ROME, Italy
I'm not sure how to describe the feeling of being in Rome. It is a sense of something bigger than yourself. You feel insignificant in the grand scheme of life…
A Great Birthday Week!
We arrived back in the Netherlands about a week ago after some wonderful time in Iowa. We have been kind of jet lagged this week, but it has been very…
Summer Visitors and Two German Castles
What a fun summer it has been! I am getting used to our new living quarters and it is feeling like home. I enjoy the plants in the back yard,…
Summer Trip: Back to London, followed by Ireland
It has taken me a long time to wade through my pictures for this post. I have hundreds of pictures. So my apologies if this post is picture heavy. It…
One Year as “Jodi the American”
This post won't have much for pictures. It is mainly to talk about the fact that as of July 15, my husband and I have lived in the Netherlands for…
Iowa, London, and the Big Move
It feels like forever since I posted! And that is because I have been on the move for weeks. Well, things are slowing down now, but for a while there…
Like a Dream…Paris
Before I get into our weekend in Paris, I have a little life update.A couple posts ago I talked about the fact that our landlord had decided to sell our…
In My Glory In Keukenhof
Many of you know my love of fresh flowers. I love to grow them and I love to look at them. So I was VERY excited when we decided to…
Zaanse Schans, Flamingos and More!
Hoi allemaal! As you know, life marches on and we are thankful for all our unique experiences here in the Netherlands. We haven't taken any major trips lately, but honestly,…
Flowery and Creative – Barcelona!
Our first experience with the Spaniards did not disappoint! Barcelona gives a warm feeling of history, art and creativity that makes a person want to roam the streets for days.…
Fun Around Goes
I very much enjoy exploring the town that I live in. Almost as much as traveling around the Netherlands! In this post I will show you more pictures of findings…
Turns Out, We Love Rotterdam!
Before I get into Rotterdam, I thought I would give a little life update. Not that there is much to tell. The last couple weeks have been gloomy and rainy. Think…
Back in Dutch Land
Well, we are back in the Mother Country and getting settled in again. It was a little harder to say goodbye to home this time. After lovely times with family…
Christmas Time In Goes
My last post showed you all the glitz and glamour of the German Christmas Markets. Not much can top that kind of Christmas beauty! In this post, however, I want…
A German Christmas Experience
Europeans hold nothing back when it comes to Christmas decorations. I started to notice the stores putting out Christmas decorations at the end of September. And the intensity slowly grew…
Thanksgiving In a New Place
My title is a little misleading. It makes it sound like we are celebrating Thanksgiving in a whole new way. The truth is that today in Goes, Netherlands is no…
Dutch Homes Then and Now
I thought you all might like to see the homes in the Goes area. I can't say I have seen inside many of them. We don't know people well enough…
Oystering with the Noords
When I told my son we were going oystering, he said "Mom, my whole life you and dad have said there is only ONE food out there you don't like,…
Recent Life Events
We just got back from two weeks at home in Iowa. This blog will be random life stuff from the last month or two. Some Nederland things, some not. I can't…
Castle of Ghent
Last weekend we went to a new town in Belgium - Ghent. One of Jeremy's co-workers lives there and wanted to show us around the city. Many thanks to Michael…
Local Places Dear To Us
In previous posts I have referred to the different activities Jeremy and I are involved in on a daily basis. I thought this time I would share "a day in…
“Noord” Is Common. Our Last Name Is Not.
Thought I would write a bit about U.S. citizens living in the Netherlands with a Dutch last name. It causes some confusion among the Dutch people, which is kind of…
Drawbridges and Locks
I find the water life in the Netherlands so fascinating. So much of residents' daily lives revolves around the sea, canals, bridges over the water, tunnels under the water, ports,…
Worship in Belgium
This might be a shorter blog entry, but I thought it was worth its own post. This morning we made the trek just across the Belgium border and attended Antwerp…
Weekend In Amsterdam
My first experience with Amsterdam! We took the train in on Friday and stayed until Sunday. Public transportation is really well coordinated here in the Netherlands. It isn't expensive and…
Living Among Dutch People
This week marks one month since we landed on Dutch soil. Of course we still feel like foreigners, that might not ever change. But we are starting to make a…
Watch Out for the Bikes!
I have to dedicate a post to the many bicycles here is Goes. They are everywhere in the Netherlands, but this is the area I am most familiar with. Bikes…
The Neighborhood on a Tuesday Morning
Well now that you have seen my apartment, let me take you around the neighborhood! And Tuesday mornings are especially fun around here because the Market is open. The Market…
One Week In – The Goes Apartment
In some ways it is hard to believe we have been in the Netherlands for one week already. In some ways it seems like an eternity ago that we got…
The Ride Over The Ocean
We have arrived in Goes, Netherlands! The town name is pronounced "Hoose." About 30,000 people reside in this town year round. It is beautiful. On July 15, we took a…
My Ides Of March, First Year Struggles
I am happy to be writing this blog from Florida! My family is on a spring break trip. We have four teenagers with us. We enjoy gifting kids with fun…
My Journey Toward Kids Hope
I live in this community and see kids that concern me. I don’t know who they are or where they live. But I wonder if they get enough to eat…
Smile Filled Encounters
Can't believe I haven't posted since the end of October. As much as I love to write, recently it feels burdensome to put down thoughts on paper (so to speak).…
Our Third Year With A Great Kid
And just like that, Ky is into his Junior year of high school. Seems like yesterday he walked into our home with his parents as a 14 year old child.…
A Quiet Hello From A Lost Friend
How are you all doing these days? Coping with the existence of Covid? Tolerating the new school procedures and policies resulting from it? Avoiding the riots and destructive behaviors that…
Quarantined With Teenagers
Quarantine has not been easy for any of us. I have found many good points in my situation, but challenges too. I know it has been much worse for others.…
A Chinese Summer Student?
So, to recap Ky's year a bit... He returns from China to Iowa last August and his sophomore year starts as it should. We later celebrate Christmas with him, his…
Reality Hits- Initial Response to Losing a Friend
You the reader could have predicted this post. I write to process. Right now there is a lot to process. The most important in my mind being the loss of…
Exercise Encounters As A Forty Something
It's time for another post about exercise. This time I am not giving any advice or talking about my latest routines and practices. I am talking about the perils of…
Hey. No Saving Seats.
Several years ago I went to my daughter's elementary school band and choir concert, only to come home frustrated about the spectator seating situation. So frustrated in fact, that I…
Suddenly A Chinese Sophomore
It occurred to me that I haven't updated on Ky's return! The four of us went back to the airport on August 19, thankfully not in the wee hours of…
Graduation Brings Complicated Yet Hopeful Mom Feelings
My son walked across the high school graduation stage this past May. At the time, I wanted to write about graduation and all the feelings that come with your firstborn…
Nature’s Messages- A Loved One Lost
I am sitting out in the country, waiting for my daughter to finish her job of picking corn for a friend's farm. I am not a farm girl. My growing…
Anniversary of a Brain Tumor- An Update
One year ago... Since I blogged about this important incident in my life a year ago, when it was fresh and new and stinging, I feel I should update. I…
Leaving the Airport as Four
After nine months as a household of 5, we are back to four. Last Sunday we brought Ky to the airport for his long awaited trip home. All five of…
Unusual Case of Senioritis- Good People
I love to pass along positive experiences. Heaven knows enough of the opposite gets broadcasted. Why not do my part to sow some good seeds?
Seasons of Thunder
Thunder rolls again. We have had rain galore here in the mid west United States. I don't mind except that my little town has an issue with sewer system back…
Spring Gets A Blue Ribbon
Despite a few drawbacks, Spring still takes first place in my world. I can't help but smile when I look outside at 7am to see an abundance of yellow sunlight.
Recognizing Good Ones
We live in a world where the media loves to broadcast the terrible. The actions of intentionally evil people fill our heads and our ears on a daily basis. Human…
Mysteries of Loss
When my husband and I married 22 years ago, we had everyone in our lives. By saying we "had them", I mean every family member lived happy and healthy lives.…
Losing an In-Law, An Initial Response
Family dynamics change when one member is lost. So does perspective.
A Glimpse of Heaven
Gifts come in all colors and feelings. And sometimes during the night.
Seed Starting Revisited
Around a year ago I wrote a post entitled January Brings Gardening to the Brain. After last year's experience with starting flower plants from seeds, I would like to revisit…
January 14, 2006. A Loved One Lost
Thirteen years ago today my mom celebrated her last birthday on earth. She turned 55. Back to the Day January 14, 2006: I take her and some of her friends…
Happy Birthday Blog!
As much as I try to keep my posts focused and directional, this one might be a little lacking. I can't help but feel a little reflective and futuristic at…
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