I'm happy to say that I got my wish and fulfilled my vow. I didn't really try that hard, God just has a big sense of humor. I married a man from Holland, who did in fact give me my first tulip and who took me to the tulip fields for my birthday this year. It's ok to say, awww. I cried.
The Keukenhof is a national treasure here in Holland, and it is incredible! There is a large garden type section of the park, which Nate and I spent about three hours walking around, and then there are the endless fields that you can take a canal tour through. It was truly a dream come true.
And now, for a little update on how we are doing:
Well, the biggest news is that we are expecting our first child in November. It has to be the second biggest surprise and blessing of our lives after each other. We're unbelievably happy, and I'm finally starting to feel a little more like myself. I had an incredibly easy first trimester and I can only hope and pray that the rest is as good. =)
Nate has been working part-time at the university teaching classes and tutorials. He's slowly working on his thesis, as well as applying for jobs. It has been a real blessing to have him home six days a week, even if he is in his office for most of the day, it's nice to be able to eat every meal together, and to spend so much time together.
When I haven't been cooking, or sleeping, I have been busy exploring, going to schools with my mother-in-law for bible lessons, and trying to learn some Dutch along the way. Dutch is coming slow since we haven't been able to find some good classes for me yet, but hopefully come summer we can enroll me at one of the schools. In the meantime, I have books and lots of people to practice with.
We are currently living in an apartment in Zoetermeer close to family and church.
We are currently praying through some choices and would love for you to join us:
1) Job vs thesis: A job is necessary for two things: a residence permit and health insurance for me. However, a job would mean less time on the thesis, and in some cases we need the thesis for the jobs Nate would ideally like.The residence permit and insurance are not essential, but they obviously make life much easier. So we wait and see.
2) Residence permit vs family visa: We need to apply for one of them by the end of May. The family visa would allow me to stay till, we hope, the end of November. After which I would fly back to California with baby, and Nate will come a few weeks later. A residence permit would allow us to get health insurance for me, and allow a longer stay so that Nate, baby and I can all come to CA for the holidays together. We can apply for the residence permit after we have already applied for a family visa, but then we pay twice, and it makes planning more difficult.
3) Where to have this baby! Home or hospital? It's fairly common still to give birth at home here, but Nate and I both feel a little more comfortable in a hospital. There are pros and cons to both, and we have some time to decide, but we need wisdom for it all.
It's funny how in life it seems like so many things hinge on the other, and yet we are learning to trust that all things will get worked out in the right time. So we aren't worried or stressing, but just trying to walk one day at a time.
Thanks for caring about our little family. We love you all, and miss you greatly.
