Alycia's Adventures

Snapshot 44: Sinterklaas!

2011-12-15T07:09:00.000-06:00

A couple of weeks ago we celebrated the most known Dutch holiday there is: Sinterklaas! Sinterklaas comes from Spain on a steamboat with his helpers who are called zwarte pieten. They help sinterklaas deliver presents and take care of his white horse. Often, they forget something or create some kind of crisis but in the end it always works out. From mid-November until December 5th you can spot zwarte pieten all over the place handing out pepernoten (small hard Dutch cookies), playing music, and performing tricks. Lots of little kids also dress up as a zwarte piet, face paint and all. Apparently zwarte pieten get black faces from going down the chimney....at least that is what they tell little kids. The other more obvious theory is a bit more controversial and therefore I'll leave it out of this little description. Here is what my local newspaper had to say about the zwarte pieten.

Snapshot 43: Before and After-Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-24T05:48:00.000-06:00

Today, most of you are celebrating Thanksgiving with your loved ones. I had so much fun last year hosting a Thanksgiving day dinner, I couldn't resist doing it yet again. The funny thing is, celebrating on the actual day is a bit challenging. After all, who has the time in their work schedule for a 3pm dinner on what is just another Thursday here in Holland? Not even me! So this past Saturday, my neighbors (who are American!) and I hosted a wonderful dinner for our eclectic group of friends--Americans and Dutch alike. For some it was their first official Thanksgiving dinner, and for others it was yet another turkey dinner to remember. Speaking of turkeys, this one was AMAZING! He wins the prize for best tasting turkey hands down. That is a good thing since he cost 70 euros! You didn't read that wrong. 70! He was really a blue-blooded turkey, I think :-) Was it worth it? Absolutely! See how happy we all were with the finished product!?

Snapshot 42: Deciphering the Dutch

2011-11-24T05:37:00.001-06:00

I readily admit that most of you who read this little blog are native English speakers, so this might be a good time to locate google translate on your computer and ready yourself to copy and paste. So much of my energy (and some of my time!) goes to learning Dutch I couldn't help but give you a taste of what its like. I just wrote this assignment for my class...so if you are a native Dutch speaker reading this, beware, it hasn't been corrected yet! For the rest of you, I realize this topic is super strange, but so goes learning a language!

Honden houden van vieze dingen!

Als je gaat door een bos wandelen, zie je vaak honden rollen door vieze dingen.

Maar waarom?! Het is echt een vremde gedrag! Honden houden van sterke

geuren—rottende vis, vogel poep, en dode dieren—alles is lekker voor hun

neuzen. Er is een theorie dat honden hun eigen geur willen verbeteren dus een

hondje ruikt een dode dier en hij is heel blij in hem te rollen! Helaas mensen

houden niet van dezelfde geuren en ze begrijpen niet dat de honden de

markeergedrag heel belangrijk vinden. Een sterk markeergedrag helpt de

honden om duidelijk aanwijzig te laten dus andere honden kunnen hem

gemakkelijk herkennen. Wat er zou gebeuren als mensen op deze

manier zullen gedragen? Bah!

Snapshot 41: Beauty in transformation

2011-11-03T05:43:00.000-05:00

Transformation is often painful. It involves time, sacrifice, persistence, and dying to myself. But when I look at the colors of Autumn, I am reminded of how beautiful the process of transformation can be. Fall wouldn't be Fall without the slow death of leaves as they give themselves over to the process of changing, falling, and dying. I think the same is true for me as I follow Jesus--my life is all the more beautiful as I submit to the process of Jesus transforming me. It requires surrender and death to myself. Sometimes I stubbornly cling to my old self, my familiar ways, but then I'm like a leaf on a tree that never changes, never falls, and never makes room for new growth to occur. It might seem like the preferable and safe option, but then the dangerously beautiful transformation that Jesus desires for me can't take place. Surrender is essential.

Snapshot 40: Pyramids of Holland

2011-11-03T05:26:00.000-05:00

Haven't you heard of the famous Dutch pyramids? Yeah...me either. But in actual fact I got to see quite an amazing Dutch pyramid this week during the Naventure (trainee program for Dutch Navs) retreat. This pyramid was one of many experience-based learning tools we used to help these young leaders understand better who they are and how they lead. Do you know what your learning style is? Doer, thinker, decider, or observer? Get a group of people together, build your own pyramid and I bet you'll learn something about each other :-) My favorite shot is the one from the ground up....

Snapshot 39: I'm melting!

2011-09-28T04:14:00.000-05:00

Apparently if you grow up here you are immune to the rain. Mothers tell their children: "You aren't made of sugar so you won't melt" A little sprinkle here and there isn't so bad. It can even add that extra natural-hard-to-get curl to my hair! But occasionally I get caught in a surprise torrential downpour and think, "Hmmm, I may not be melting but I sure do feel like a soggy cookie that's been dunked in the milk too many times." Maybe I should change the saying. "You aren't made of sugar but sometimes you may feel like a soggy cookie." Doesn't quite have the same ring to it. Oh well. The other day, I walked confidently out of Centraal Station thinking about how awesome the Dutch radar site is where I check for weather. No rain just like predicted. And then, seconds later, the heavens opened up and everyone, Dutch included, RAN for cover. Check it out!

Snapshot 38: Be still

2011-09-09T02:27:00.000-05:00

Learning to just "be" with the Father is a tricky thing. We aren't very good at being still. The to-do lists grow, facebook statuses are left unchecked, phone calls unanswered, tv programs unwatched, meetings unattended, conversations unheard. It takes a lot to say NO, even for a short time to the things that press in on us and say YES to just being with the Lord. Currently, my small group has been reading through the book of Mark. I've been struck by how often Jesus would go away to lonely places to just be with his Father. He was very intentional about this time away, even though none of his followers really understood why and others just saw is as a great incovenience because it made him less accessible. It was important to him. It is essential for me! If I don't get time away with him...whether it is an hour or a couple of days...I start to feel dried out and withered up. I lose focus, motivation, and perspective. I forget who I really am and question what I'm doing here. The wheels spin faster but I feel like I'm getting nowhere. Anxiety and disillusionment replace peace and contentment. I lose myself. I confess, this summer was fun and FULL-- many people, tons of events, and plenty of memories--yet by the end of it all I knew I needed to get away to be with Jesus if I wanted a fresh start to the new semester. One perk of living in the Netherlands is that for the first time in my life I am close to the sea. After all, Jesus spent a lot of time with His Father near (or ON!) the Sea of Galilee. That might be a bit different from the North Sea (hello, coooold water!) but the presence of God is definitely the same :-) Here is a picture of the sunset the day I was at the sea.

Snapshot 37: One Shower to Bathe Them All...

2011-08-23T15:17:00.000-05:00

Three women. One man. 1 crucial hour to shower (before work/class/etc.). The clock is ticking. Can these four overcome all odds and achieve the goal of cleanliness?

And so begins the battle. Well, not really. Now that Matt and Jamie Ross have joined me and Corine at Van Heuven Goedhartlaan we thought it would be fun to demonstrate just how small our shared bathroom really is. We might have three toilets (one for each level!) but that one shower is gonna have to work for all of us. So when I see the little red dial on the door (occupied!) I'm may just have to recalculate how quickly I can get myself cleaned-up and put together! Poor Matt is the one who is really going to suffer....three femail roommates. Sigh. One bonus of living here though (at least for me!)...I don't use a hair dryer at all because I find that biking in the wind for about 10 minutes pretty much does the trick. Now that is a real time-saver. On a side note, I watched part of the Lord of the Rings tonight--that should help explain the title of this blog...I hope.

Snapshot 36: Summer Time Warp at the Homeyer Hostel

2011-08-23T05:30:00.000-05:00

I think I just stepped through a time warp! Yesterday it was April and I was blogging about my wonderful garden and today it is August and raining on said garden. What happened?! 15 souls (at least!) descended on the Homeyer Hostel this summer in the midst of me leaving for two weeks of student summer training programs, one visit from my parents, and one mini-vacation to Verona with my mom. Whew! Glad those beds from Ikea are still standing! But now, slowly, life is returning to "normal" on Van Heuven Goedhartlaan (and if you can say the name of my street perfectly that means you've been a long-term visitor!). I'll try to re-capture some of the finer moments my summer visitors created in this short snapshot montage (could potentially be sung to the tune of 12 Days of Christmas....but with only six days!):

Six Texans biking!

Five Dutch girls CANOE! (one was taking the photo!)

Four take in Utrecht!

Three in the Hiding Place

Two Navs at Zomerkamp

And one tiny cappuccino cup!

Snapshot 35: Glories of a garden!

2011-04-22T06:07:00.000-05:00

It is a delight and privilege to have a garden in Amsterdam (or Amstelveen). I think it is my favorite part of my house...and Bos' too. He loves wandering around my little green space, but even more he loves to go to our neighbor's garden. He has a "backstage pass" so to speak and takes full advantage of it :-) Recently they relaid their patio and Bos had such a great time sniffing around and "playing" in the sand. Take a look!

Snapshot 34: Held Hostage by Beauty

2011-04-21T04:03:00.000-05:00

We were made for beauty. God uses it to capture our hearts and draw us closer to Him. The Keukenhof Gardens must be aware of this fact. But there, it is like beauty on steriods....at total overload of color, light, art, and pattern. It is breathtaking and totally overwhelming. It was almost paralyzing. How could I pick just one picture to sum it up? I can't. So here are a FEW. My suggestion is that you come to the Netherlands in April someday to experience it for yourself. You won't regret it!

Snapshot 33: 30,000 Mensen Wandelden door de fruitbomen!

2011-04-21T03:54:00.000-05:00

I have never experienced anything like this. 30,000 (mostly Dutch) people descending on a small area in Holland that hosts a walk through the fruit trees. Actually you can walk anywhere from 5K to 40K. We opted for the 16K walk. I would call it a hike, but it just isn't that. The whole walk you are with masses of people taking pictures in the fields, sitting in the grass having a coffee or a snack. Stopping in tiny towns where everyone drinks a coffee or has a snack whilst listening to the local "thrown together" orchestra band play music. It kind of felt like a scene from the Musicman but with everyone speaking Dutch and no one singing. Walking is a national past time here. There is a famous 4 day walk in Nijmegen that I thought would be fun to do...but now that I did this one day walk I may hang up my walking shoes. It was an experience I will never forget. Here are a couple of photos from the day...for more pretty photos go to my facebook photo album!

Snapshot 32: British Invasion!

2011-04-12T07:25:00.001-05:00

Last week, I had the opportunity to host 3 lovely ladies from the UK Navs: Lizzy, Becca, and Laura. They spent the week connecting with Navigator students and staff in Rotterdam, Utrecht, Den Haag, and Amsterdam. It was quite a week! Here is my favorite shot of them in Amsterdam:

Snapshot 31: A view from the back

2011-04-12T07:17:00.001-05:00

Ever wondered what it look like when you film your friends from the back of a bike? Click on this link and then you'll know :-) The girls riding are from the UK Navs (as is the girl filming!). The girl pedaling her heart out in the front of the bike....me!

Apr 12, 2011 2:01pm

Snapshot 30: Keep your arms and legs inside the building?

2011-03-21T06:04:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, this city of Amsterdam seemed to be literally busting at the seams. People were EVERYWHERE! It was a absolutely gorgeous day and the whole city decided to spend it outside...or in the case of these guys, almost outside. People piled around cafe tables at every sunny spot available. Those who couldn't find tables sat on the ground! The markets were crammed full of people shopping for dinner and looking for bargains on bizarre stuff (see below....yes, that is a dog body with watering can for a head!). And the bikes...I've never seen the streets so crowded. I was just thankful it wasn't my first bike ride into the city...it was quite the adventure :-)

Snapshot 29: Bos' Beach Adventure

2011-03-21T05:55:00.000-05:00

This post is dedicated to the little black dog who is very afraid of all kinds of transportation (except the bike!) but loves the beach.

Bos' adventure began with a traumatic metro ride followed by an even more traumatic train ride (his first!). He hid under the seat most of the journey.

We FINALLY made it to the beach! He absolutely loves racing around like a mad-man...uh, dog. (forgive the poor sound quality of the video!):

He scrambled up some sand dunes to a perfect look-out spot. King of the beach!

Finally, he ended the day the best way possible....with a BONE!

But then we had to travel BACK by train and metro. So much for a good day.

Snapshot 28: Sign of new life!

2011-03-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

The world is waking up around me. It may still be bitingly cold most days, but there are signs of new life springing up everywhere. I can breathe a sigh of relief knowing winter is coming to its end. Today marks the 3rd anniversary of the first time I visited the Netherlands (as an adult!). March of 2008, I walked along the very same path in Amstelveen, marvelling at this country that wasn't my own. Now, here I am--a resident! I feel quite like delicate flowers that are taking a risk and showing their faces to this new world for the first time. It is a new life here, full of challenge, failure, adventure, and hope. One moment I feel confident and flourishing, the next I feel knocked backward by some unforseen wind (not totally unforseen...language, language, language!). But with some nourishement, "Son"light (forgive the pun!), and a little care, I'll continue to grow in this new place I've been planted.

Snapshot 27: Dutch "skyscraper"

2011-02-19T03:12:00.000-06:00

Are you afraid of heights? Maybe you should move here! Recently, I read an article on http://www.dutchnews.nl/ : "Two thousand civil servants who work for the student grant body DUO in Groningen are to get a special course in dealing with fear of heights before moving to their new office – a 24-floor complex, the Telegraaf reports."

Yes, you read that right...a measly 24 story building and people are in desperate fear for their lives. I guess I really shouldn't poke fun though. A couple of weeks ago, I got to go to the top of the Dom Toren (tower) in Utrecht. It is what you would call a "medieval" skyscraper! Did I get dizzy? Um...yes. Did I have a few moments of terror? Um...yes. But it sure was worth the view! Check it out.

Snapshot 26: Caught in the act (gulp!)

2011-02-08T02:54:00.000-06:00

Last night, I was going to ride my bike to Bible study but my tire was flat, so I pulled out my guest bike instead. I've never ridden it at night before and I won't be riding again until I get lights for it! My roommate and I both realized that her bike only had one light and mine had none. I think I said something like, "I hope we don't get caught by the police". But what are the chances of that actually happening in Amstelveen?! The 15 minute ride was easy thanks to all the light pollution in the city. We made it without a hitch! Just as we pulled into our friends place, the police pulled up behind us. Busted. In Dutch they asked us about our mysteriously missing lights. Gulp! I answered in English as my roommmate faded into the background. "Yes officer, you are abolutely right. My bike doesn't have any lights. Ummm, it is my guest bike and this is the first time I've ridden it at night. I just discovered the same thing as you 10 minutes ago! Where is my normal bike? Well, uh, it has a flat tire. Where did I come from?? Van Heuven Goedhartlaan (or should I say Texas?). Am I here for a party? Well, if you call a game night with my Bible study a party, uh, yes. You think I should walk home? Yes, it is much safer, I guess. Did I know the fine was 40 euro? No. Yes, I suppose you should fine me as I clearly know I am breaking a bike rule. You aren't going to this time? Whew. I'm so glad. No, I won't do it again. Yes, I am getting lights tomorrow. You have a good evening too." They slowly pull away, my roommate reemerges and says, "You talked yourself OUT of the ticket!?" The rest of my group has arrived and is standing there with mouths open. Talked myself out of a ticket...not exactly. But was I glad to be an American for the evening? Absolutely. Time to go to the store for some bike lights.

Snapshot 25: Focusweekend

2011-01-27T04:08:00.000-06:00

Sometimes a snapshot cannot capture a moment...especially one that is filled with SONG (or in this case, 1000 students screaming out their group's song.) So here you have it. Two videos...the first is each group attempting to sing the loudest their own group's song. The second is all the Navigators groups singing the national NSV song together. Personally, I like the second one better :-) It was pretty amazing to witness both first hand!

Snapshot 24: Laughing until we cried...

2011-01-18T05:16:00.000-06:00

Its what we do in the Homeyer family. We get together, someone says something funny (usually my dad or brother) and then the unconstrained laughter and tears follow. Once we get going it is hard to stop. This year, I think the Christmas sweaters did the trick. I love my goofy family. Its our uniqueness that makes me proud to be a Homeyer. Singing in public--check. An unsually strong love for Sams Club and Best Buy--check. Laughing until we cry--double check.

Snapshot 23: Failure to Launch

2010-12-18T06:03:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was one of those days that could have been made into a movie. I woke up early for my international flight to Texas and was delighted to find it snowing. Delight is a feeling that must only be able to last for a short time, however. I made it the airport, two suitcases in tow, with the help of a friend--we looked like snowmen by the time we got there! I learned this morning that yesterday is one of the busiest travel days through Schiphol airport thanks to the winter break for schools here. The lines were long but manageable and I made it through security with a bit of time to spare!

10:15am Our flight began boarding about 1/2 an hour late...no big deal...yet. About 150 of us got on the plane, we taxied out, and then the fun began. We got in line for de-icing and were just about to get sprayed down when the pilot announced that the runway was being shut down so the snow plows could take care of the quickly accumulating snow. We couldn't go back to the gate as all of them were occupied by other aircraft.

12:00pm Still sitting on the plane wondering what would happen next. The runway was plowed and then we finally got to be de-iced. About the time we finished de-icing the airport was shut down again, this time due to bad visibility. No gates open to go back to.

2:00pm We have now been on the plane since about 10:30am and the pilot tells us that if he can't get us off the plane or in the air soon, Delta will be fined $23,000 for each person on the plane as we will be in violation of the 4 hour regulation. What is $23,000 x 150?? Why don't passengers see any of that money??

2:30pm We get de-iced again and get clearance to take-off! Yeah! With minutes to spare until reaching our 4 hour max! False alarm. The engine valve (or something) won't work...it is frozen. No go. Delta gets fined big time. No gates available.

3-6pm Captain gets more and more irriated with Schiphol airport. More and more people on the plane are discovering they will be stuck in Amsterdam overnight. Hotels are pretty much unavailable by 3pm. We wait and wait for a gate. No gates available. I start to think about decorating my row as it looks like I will be living here for the rest of the year. I wonder how to hang the curtains.

6:15pm Captain gets on the intercom for the 50th time and tells us we are finally going to be able to get off the plane. They tow us to another location and busses are there to pick us up! The doors of the plane FINALLY open. Ahhhhh...fresh air! But now what?!

6:30-7:30pm Stand in the longest line in the world to try to get transfered to a new flight. Wish I had an iphone. The line was about a mile long....I do not exaggerate.

7:30pm I give up on the line as they announce that transfer desk will be closing. I go through security fully aware that I may never see my bags again. Goodbye amazing GAP jeans that I just bought. Goodbye presents for family. Hope to see you again in Texas!

7:30-9pm I try desperately to catch a train, bus, tram, metro--ANYTHING that will get me home. I think I made it onto the first train going to Zuid, my station. Then I waited for a tram with eager anticipation. Finally, just before 9pm I unlocked my door, said hello to my dog and roommate, and got on the phone with Delta! Two hours later, I had a new flight booked for Monday and a return ticket changed for four days later! The end!

Snapshot 22: Brand in Amsterdam Centrum!

2010-12-15T02:39:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, I was riding my normal tram into the city for class when the driver of the tram announced we would be stopping short of my final destination due to the leidstraat being closed. I got out and started to walk..thankful with no rain present! I didn't get very far before I started seeing firetrucks of every shape and size. The whole brigade must have been on this one street--including some brandweer boots (fire dept. boats!) in the canal. There was a huge crane reaching up to one of the houses on the canal, but I couldn't see any fire or smoke. So the action was pretty much over, but the street remained blocked. That meant I had to book it through the city to get to the university on time! I found out this morning that there was in fact a grote brand op kerstraat (a great fire on church street). Here are some pics of what I encountered yesterday (thanks to the local news for providing said pics as I had no camera on me!)

Snapshot 21: Soup builds community

2010-12-12T10:32:00.000-06:00

It's true. Chicken soup is good for the soul! This week, some of my new friends in my small group were feeling ill. He had the stomach flu and his wife is 12 weeks pregnant and not feeling so good! I made potato soup for the first time and took some to their house (did the chicken soup for our first group meeting, so I thought that would be overkill!). They were shocked and amazed by this gesture. I was shocked and amazed that they were shocked and amazed! Isn't this what community should be about? I was raised in a culture (the midwest and the south) where folks just do this for each other...especially for births, deaths, and illnesses. Providing food is an expression of love for our brothers and sisters. It just makes sense! So our small group is starting a new tradition here--well, actually it is the time-honored tradition I grew up with--we will share our meals together and cook for each other when the time calls for it. I feel blessed to be a part of this "caring for each other" tradition here :-) Just to prove I actually can make potato soup, here is a picture :-)

Snapshot 20: Triple Dejavu!

2010-12-04T06:49:00.001-06:00

Snow. I had no idea what I was talking about a few days ago. That wasn't snow! THIS is snow. Up to about 6-7 inches now. I think the storm has passed for today, but who knows! It wouldn't be so bad if my heater was working. Unfortunately, it is on the fritz! I find there is always a learning curve in dealing with broken stuff in a rental house, but I've never had to do it in another country before. Here's to learning...and more snow!

Snapshot 19: Sneeuw!

2010-12-01T08:18:00.000-06:00

In the movie White Christmas Rosemary Clooney sings that she would like to wash her hair and face with snow. Just thinking about trying that is making me cold! Right now, we are having extremely cold weather for the Netherlands! This time of year it doesn't normally stay in the 20's F (-5 or -6 C) for days in a row. And it certainly doesn't normally snow! But there is proof in the picture...the snow is here to stay. At least for this week! Brrrrrrrr! I am re-thinking this "I ride my bike everywhere" thing! I did, in fact, ride into Amstelveen city center today--a 10 minute ride--and have decided my face can't handle much more of that. Here is what it looked like on Monday night at my place...Bos has the right idea.

Snapshot 18: Thankful for Thanksgiving

2010-11-18T10:33:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving arrived early in Holland this year. Actually it is a miracle it arrived at all since it is an American holiday (and Canadian!). I had the honor of hosting seven Dutch friends and one very helpful German roommate for this turkey of a holiday. The turkey, named Burt by my roommate turned out to be delicious...thank you to whoever invented oven bags for turkeys! Can anyone tell me how to find the wishbone though? Still in the dark on that one! So after hearing a round of what everyone was thankful for, we dug in and enjoyed what might be one of my favorite evenings in Amsterdam so far. It really felt like being at home with the all the noise, laughter, and copious amounts of food!

Snapshot 17: Holland's Got Talent!

2010-11-12T13:41:00.000-06:00

Hello all you blog readers out there...you baker's dozen (ish)! I've taken a kliene pauze (small break) since my last post, but this should make up for it! Many years ago, my Uncle Rick made us some amazing wooden stilts. My brother and I spent hours in our driveway perfecting our stilt skills. I had the chance to prove my hidden talent once again this summer when some friends were visiting. Apparently, walking on stilts is also a Dutch past-time (like WAY past). How fun it was to resurrect my talent and get it caught on camera :-)

Snapshot 16: From point "A" to point "B"

2010-10-13T05:25:00.000-05:00

The Dutch word for map is kaart. Can you imagine using a big paper kaart while trying to ride a bike through the narrow streets of Amsterdam. I'm just not that talented. Somehow, to my "foreign" eyes all the canals kind of look the same and the street names are hopelessly long and hard to remember! So before I ever moved to this land where biking is easier than driving, I decided to invest in a TomTom GPS because they orginiate from Amsterdam! My Canadian guide (yes, I put a Canadian voice on my GPS...he makes me smile, eh.) almost always knows which canal is which, and getting from point "a" to point "b" becomes a fun adventure instead of a stressful ride! Has he failed me a couple of times? Well, yes...but overall, I take great delight in riding all over the city with the confidence that I will in fact make it to my final destination in a timely manner. And now I've made a game of it...I turn the TomTom off frequently to test my memory of places I go on a regular basis. I am very proud to report that I can now make it to the University of Amsterdam and back without any assistance from my electronic Canadian friend....eh.

Snapshot 15: Trein Tijd (Train Time)

2010-10-02T04:51:00.001-05:00

I never thought I'd say this, but I don't miss my car. Well, maybe sometimes like when I go to Ikea, I miss it, but for the most part, I like the trams, trains, and busses. The trains are particularly wonderful because I don't get "car sick" on them unless I am riding backwards :-) It gives me time to study Dutch, read my Bible (I just made it through the minor prophets...Zachariah was my favorite), and occasionally watch an episode of The Amazing Race on my ipod! This particular train ride the weather was very Dutch (rain, rain, rain) and I was very Dutch too...well, studying it anyway. Ik vind koffie lekker (I like coffee)! The whole chapter was on food, meals, ordering out, etc. Very practical. I like practical. Too bad I didn't bring my practical umbrella...would have been very helpful once this train ride was finished!

Bonus Mystery Snapshot!

I got to see (for free!) a band I love...they made it big back in 2001. I'll send a prize to the first one who names that band :-)

Snapshot 14: Just around the corner...

2010-09-18T03:38:00.000-05:00

There is a square (plein) in Amsterdam that is always interesting to ride by in the tram...on the bike it is a little scary because it is so crowded! There is usually something that is "crowd catching" to watch. I often wonder as we round the corner to the square what will be on display for that day. The guy with the tennis ball on a string selling his invention? Maybe the guy playing a bass? Or street performers doing some kind of rather uncomfortable looking acrobatic routine? Indeed, the tennis guy caught my eye first, but then I saw it...a really BIG ice sculpture of a bottle with a sword stuck in ice next to it. Very "King Arthur" if you ask me. So if some guy pulls the sword out does he get a prize or a kingdom?! I don't know. I was on my way to Dutch class and had to stay on the tram, wondering for the rest of eternity if there is a new king in Amsterdam.

Snapshot 13: Routine Adventure in het Bos (Forest)

2010-09-13T05:46:00.000-05:00

Some things in life are routine...and this routine is one that I love! Since moving here, I've had the joy of taking Bos to his namesake, the Bos (forest). It is about a 10 minute ride from here and this time of year it is quite lovely. The Bos was made during the Depression years as a way to give people jobs. Almost 80 years later, it is a wonder to think of all the labor that went into this "man-made" forest.
Bos and I have a routine when we ride there...
1. Ride past the local hotel and see what people on the veranda are eating or drinking.
2. Get out of the basket and check out the nearest bush. (this is Bos, not me)
3. Ride alongside Bos while he sprints for the field where the mice live.
4. Watch Bos dig like a mad dog for mice that never seem to appear (to his credit he caught one the other day)
5. Yell repeatedly to my suddenly deaf dog to "come here!".
6. Get back in the basket all wet and dirty. (again, Bos)
7. Enjoy a slightly downhill ride home past the cool looking kitchen store that sells brightly colored trash cans and really expensive cutlery.

Here are several shots of our journey, plus a video. That snorting is Bos, not me.

Snapshot 12: A little lost in translation

2010-09-06T03:22:00.000-05:00

While visiting the Kastel de Haar (even though that was the owner's name, the word "haar" nowadays means "hair") we ran across a couple of signs that were well meaning, but a little off. See if you can spot the mistakes. Remember that Holland is very flat and below sea level...that makes the first one quite funny. On a similar note, I had to write a paragraph in Dutch about my summer vacation for my language evaluation. This was a slight problem since I don't know how to speak in the past tense and I didn't take a vacation this year. So I talked, in present tense, about my friends coming to visit me and taking my Bos to the bos (forest). It was humbling, very humbling. So in comparison, these signs are light years ahead of my own language skills, but still funny, nonetheless!

Snapshot 11: When it rains....well, you know the rest!

2010-08-26T11:43:00.001-05:00

Wow, today has been a "typical" Dutch weather day. I have to admit, I'm not fully used to it! Neither is my shed. Look at all that water! It was about three inches deep in the front and the back tire of my bike was completely submerged. This is going to be a problem! Then I walked down my newly laid path (my labor of love for the summer) and opened my newly fixed gate only to find the whole alley completely flooded as well. No more shortcuts out the back garden...at least not today! I've included a shot of my garden path as well for those who requested pictures. It isn't done yet, so if you have a strong desire to come over to Holland, I've got a job for YOU!

Snapshot 10: Homeyer Hostel on Holiday!

2010-08-24T04:22:00.000-05:00

Just a few days ago, I had two new roommates move into the house! Right before they moved in though, some friends who work in North Africa came for the week. It was a delight to share life and "holiday time" with Andrew, Christy, and Julia. We toured a castle (a bit of a rarity in Holland!), went to an ancient village where almost 800 windmills used to operate, spent a lot of time watching Jane Austen movies (sorry, Andrew!), and ate a lot of stroopwafels together. It was refreshing and fun to have them here and I thoroughly enjoyed watching Julia explore her new surroundings. She and Bos were not the best of friends, but she was very curious about where he was ALL the time. It was sweet and kind of hilarious. I've included a video of her falling asleep on my couch. Too cute.

Snapshot 9: A quick cuppa at Starbucks

2010-08-24T04:12:00.000-05:00

I think I've mentioned this before, but one thing I love about where I live is that Schiphol Airport is about 30 minutes (by public transport!) from my house. That means when I get a last minute message from friends who are stopping for a layover, I can run over and grab a cup of coffee with them! Elizabeth, one of my girls from Arkansas, went on a medical missions trip to Tanzania and flew through Amsterdam. I was so thrilled to meet up with her on her return trip. A little taste of home was just what I needed that day. Elizabeth and I always met at Starbucks in Arkansas, so it felt very "normal" to walk into the airport Starbucks and see her sitting there. It was surreal and wonderful :-)

Snapshot 8: Lovely Leiden!

2010-08-24T04:07:00.000-05:00

Oh dear! This "snapshot" a week isn't going so well, is it? the funny thing is, over the past few weeks, I've taken pictures for this blog and thought, "I'll post it when I get home". Well, I confess, my brain is still in summer mode, but now the school year is about to begin and suddenly I feel the urge to catch up again...so this will be a turbo snapshot!

I went to Leiden (a very quaint town just south of where I live) to visit one of the women I'll be coaching this year, Kya. She was a wonderful hostess and showed me all of the cute little spots in Leiden that make it so picturesque. I'll be traveling there about once a month as I work alongside Kya who is starting Naventure (Dutch internship program with Navs) this year. Already, I am encouraged by her stories of seeing God show up in her fundraising. Pray for her and all the other Naventure interns who are in the midst of fundraising for the first time. Pray that the God who owns the "cattle on a thousand hills" will bless them abundantly and for His glory.

Leiden is so "photo-worthy" that I'm including two shots! Enjoy!

Snapshot 6 and 7: Holland goes on holiday!

2010-08-07T04:00:00.000-05:00

Somehow I've gotten sucked into the time warp of summer here. Where did July go?! Apparently everyone here goes on vacation and they take July with them! So here I sit in the first week of August and I find myself a couple of snapshots behind in my blog. So without further adieu, here are snapshots 6 AND 7 rolled into one!

Snapshot 6: Taken over by Russians!
Actually, they are all American Navigators, but this group spent their summer on a mission trip in Russia. In this shot, they are giving "Russian" smiles :-) The six women stayed in my house and had the fun task of sharing one shower between all of us. In case you are wondering, it takes 7 women about 2 hours to get ready when sharing one bathroom! Thankfully, the guys stayed across the steet at Lau's place. I couldn't have handled all of them! It was fun to hear about their summer adventures serving Jesus in Russia. I also got a kick out of being tour guide in my new city. We took a canal tour...something I hadn't done since I was seven! Now I can say that I highly recommend taking a canal tour if you only have one day to see the old city of Amsterdam. It is by far the best way to cover all the "pretty" spots in the city in a short amount of time.

Snapshot Six: Zandvoort and Zee
My new friend Janneke (daughter of one of the Country leaders here), accompanied me to take a dip in the North Sea! Brrrrr! Actually, I am very proud of BOTH of us. We went ALL the way into the water after much shrieking and squealing! I'll attempt to post a video of Janneke running into the water on her first attempt at conquering the cold water!

Snapshot 5: Dutch Navs Sing National Anthem

2010-07-24T16:17:00.000-05:00

Check out over 200 Dutch Nav students singing their national anthem after the football team beat Uruguay in the WC.
http://www.facebook.com/v/961167510449

Homeyer Hostel--Snapshot Four

2010-07-13T09:13:00.000-05:00

My sister came up with this delightful alliteration--Homeyer Hostel. So yes, I am the proud hostess of the Homeyer Hostel in Holland! Maybe I should have a sign made? I had my second set of American guests come and stay in my new home. Karen and Susan, Nav Staff from NYC came for a cultural experience and to attend Zomerkamp (check out the NEXT snapshot for more on that!). Although the intention of this blog is to give a snapshot every week, I was so engaged with my new temporary roomies that the blog was forgotten and the fun began. How can I pick just one memory when so many sweet ones were made with these dear friends? One fine evening (right before Susan arrived...so sorry she didn't make this snapshot), Karen, Bos, and I rode out to the Amstel River. It was my first experience biking along the river, but it certainly won't be my last. The Jane Austen-like houses, the baby horses frollicking, and the beautiful sunset made it an evening worthy to remember. There was even a windmill...one of the eight still standing around town. I had to keep telling myself, "You live here! Really, you do!!" I look forward to showing many more guests at the Homeyer Hostel this truly captivating sight. Maybe you'll be one of them!
On Sunday, I have the honor of hosting six American girls for a couple of days. They are part of a group of ten coming back from a Navs mission trip to Russia. I love living in a place where so many Navs on missions trips have layovers. They will be resting, debriefing, and enjoying my simple and semi-Dutch life on Van Heuven Goedhartlaan.

Stay tuned for the next blog posting soon...I'm awaiting a few photos from Susan who was a better photographer/videographer than I at Zomerkamp 2010.

Bos found a Ruby on the Metro...Snapshot Three

2010-06-24T04:36:00.000-05:00

The panting grew louder and louder as the metro tunnel darkened. Bos hates tunnels, loud noises, jolting movements....really anything to do with riding the metro. But ride we did! Thanks to his doggy anxiety attack, God showed up in the subway. I believe in Divine introduction--meeting someone you weren't expecting to meet at a moment that is unpredictable and not sought after. In fact, in this city where I know so few people, I've asked God to introduce me to people He'd like me to meet. As Bos and I were about to take our leave from the metro, a girl sitting across from me asked me about my panting friend. "Is he hot?", she said. I laughed, "Not hot, just anxious! This is his first long trip on the train". Thus began my almost 2 hour conversation with Ruby from the metro. Bos may have found Ruby (or vice versa!), but God is the one who connected us.

She walked up through the metro with us onto the street and I asked her which way the market was. She said, "I have until 12:30, I'll just walk with you." I was a bit suprised, but thankful for this sweet girl who was so eager to tell me all about the market, her schooling, her animals, and her love of her boyfriend of three years. The more she talked, the more I thought, "This was no accident!". I suggested we stop at a cafe to get a drink and let Bos rest, and was delighted when she readily agreed. We talked about her desire to have kids, the tatoo she wanted to get, and the time she fainted because she smoked pot before getting her ear pierced. With pride and tenderness she showed me a picture of her rather burly looking boyfriend as she told me that he had recently sort of proposed. She wasn't entirely sure if he was joking or serious!

She was on her way to see a doctor about her sprained ankle, so as she got up to leave, I told her I would pray for her ankle. I will be praying for so much more as well...this sweet girl needs Jesus. Her namesake, Ruby, is very fitting..something precious, something to protect, and something very valuable. I hope she someday understands that their is a KING who calls her precious, cares for her deeply, and values every part of who she is.

The Art of Waiting--Snapshot 2

2010-06-13T16:30:00.000-05:00

Just take a number. That is how all things "official" are handled here in the Netherlands. Whether you want to take care of paperwork, return a product, buy a train ticket, or order transport service at Ikea, your first step is that magical piece of paper with a number on it. The really great thing is that not only is the number posted on your ticket, it always shows up on a little screen that tells you exactly where to go once your number is called. The day that I visited the IND (the place that makes you "permanent" here) I laughed because my number was 757...did they know I was the daughter of a pilot? With fear and trembling, I made my way to booth 14 where I would hand in my application for a residence permit. I was the only person in the room and ended up meeting with a very charming, very helpful man who was just ready for his weekend to begin. So within 5 minutes, my paperwork was submitted, my fear and trembling was a faded memory, and I began to play the very familiar game of waiting again with his polite words ringing in my ears..."just two to three weeks for approval and then you will be able to get your residence card from the IND office in Amsterdam." So now, I am anticipating that day when the approval letter arrives and I get hear the gentle rip of paper as I pull my number out of the little box at the Amsterdam IND. What a glorious sound it will be!

52 Snapshots of Holland--Take 1

2010-06-02T04:29:00.000-05:00

In the mornings, Bos watches for movement in the grass while I watch for movement in the air! One of my hopes in finding a house was that it would be close to the airport so that greeting international guests would be easy. CHECK! Neighbors grumble that the flight path to the airport isn't supposed to be here, but secretly, I love watching the planes take-off just to the north of where I live. It reminds me of home! If only my dad were here to tell me the names of all those planes. So far, all I've got is 737...I think! Speaking of international guests, I had my first visitors from the US, Matt and Jamie Ross. I'll post an extra picture of them in this very special "first" blog in this new series of 52. We went down to Museumsplein (Museum square) where the "IAmsterdam" sign awaits thousands of visitors each year. Jamie made a comment to me while we were strategizing where to take their picture. She said, "I wonder how many people you'll do this with while you live here? I bet it will be a lot!" I hope so! I think in my guest room, or entry way, I may start a wall of pictures of guests taken at the "IAmsterdam" sign. It will be a unique "guest book" of sorts! So are you ready for your picture to make the wall? Come on over! Here is the first shot that will grace it...

I have an ikea...I mean idea! I should buy a bike!

2010-05-18T13:11:00.000-05:00

I've landed in Amstelveen! After THREE trips to Ikea, yes THREE, I think I have most of the big furniture for my house. Now, I truly just need to buy a bike and I'll be set (oh, and a microwave, a couple of more chairs, and a shoe rack for the hall...too bad money doesn't grow on trees!). Thanks to the helpful Ikea lady, I also know where my misplaced cell phone is. She called one of my Nav friends and then I had the priviledge of reading on facebook the location of my phone. Ah the joys of shopping while jet-lagged! You just never know what will happen.

So far, life in the Netherlands has been a flurry of activity. Some very helpful Nav collegues cleaned my house for me while I went shopping (at Ikea, of course!) just an hour after my plane landed. Poor Bos went from being trapped for 18 hours in his kennel to being left with strangers in an unfamiliar house with those dreaded things called stairs. I think he almost had it when at the end of the day, the vaccuum cleaner was brought out. Poor little guy! But after day one, we both started to settle in to our new home. My neighbors are American and very helpful and kind. They biked with me to the grocery store my second day here so that I could stock up on the basics. Thank goodness they were there because the store didn't take credit cards and didn't have an ATM. This I find very funny and very inconvenient. If you are Dutch, you always use your pin card which is connected to your bank account. You can use that pin card for pretty much everything. If you are a foreigner, you have to pay with cash or hope that the store takes credit. HAVE to get me one of those Dutch bank accounts!

My neighbors also took me over for drinks (very common activity!) at our Dutch neighbor's house and we spent a lovely evening out in their garden. Even Bos got to join us for the last hour per their request. Now I have Carl's (Dutch neighbor) book about his life in America, England and various other places. He used to work for CBS and has also produced operas. He is turning 80 this year but looks about 65. Both he and his wife have the most fascinating stories about the many places they've lived and the lovers they've had or would have if they weren't too old (seriously). Can't wait to get to know them better...I find it slightly hilarious that I described my job as helping people step closer to Jesus no matter how little or much they know Him. Light and darkness colliding! Anyway, it was a memorable evening and a great way to begin life here. Bos agrees.

So they really DO have lots of tulips!

2010-05-06T09:49:00.000-05:00

Just a couple of weeks ago, I found myself at a very famous flower parade in the Netherlands. I had one Saturday free in my one-week trip and took the opportunity to go to the famous Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse. Little did I know that when I got on that tour bus I was not only going on the busiest day of the year, but also would have the opporunity to watch the annual flower parade with 500,000 other excited flower fans! I think it must be a bit like attending the Rose Parade...but with Dutch themes! Here are some pics I took from my phone. Update...I think the move on May 14th is a go...waiting to hear back from a few more people about funding. PRAY!

Spring Newsletter

2010-04-15T14:07:00.000-05:00

2 Minute Toyota!

2010-04-07T14:42:00.001-05:00

Have you ever wondered how long it will take to sell a used vehicle? Until Saturday, I really didn't know because I'd never sold a car before. But now, I'm a car selling pro...well, kind of! The story of how I got my car was a miracle. I never thought the story of how fast it sold would top it! About 2pm this past Saturday, I took a few pictures of my Toyota, put it up on craigslist about 10 minutes later and grabbed a soda. When I came back to my laptop, I had an email from someone interested in seeing my car. I've learned that on craigslist, this is pretty normal, so I wrote back telling the prospective buyer to call me...the more serious ones are the ones who call. Within two minutes, he called me asking if he could come by to check out my car. This was a wonderful idea...no wait! I hadn't cleaned it out yet! Thanks Dad for the many years of teaching me how to keep my car clean. It really paid of on this particular Saturday. Within 10 minutes, it was clean and ready to show! Little did I know that would be the last time I ever had to clean out my car! This nice man from Bangladesh showed up with his wife and cute little boys in tow. He scrutinzed the inside, we took it on a test drive, and he tried to bargain me down (I only dropped by $200!...yeah for me!). And then he wrote me a check for the deposit! Done. Sold half an hour after I posted it on craigslist! Jesus was laughing as I ran around my house in a tizzy trying to take care of all the details in that very short time frame. Why is it that sometimes He asks us to wait on Him...and wait, and wait...and then other times, like this one, I can't seem to keep up with His Mighty Hand moving all the pieces into place. Whew! It was a good suprise, Him showing up like that, even if I did run around like a chicken with my head cut off.

Winter/Spring newsletter

2010-03-14T14:49:00.000-05:00

The blue house that wasn't

2010-03-02T00:15:00.001-06:00

This week finds me in Omaha, NE where I had the honor of being a part of Community Bible Church's annual missions festival. What a blast it was to spend time with this very special body of believers. I find that the older I get, the more nostaligic I am every time I am back here. As is my custom, I drove by our old house and was shocked that the blue house had turned green! The tree my dad planted in our front yard has grown so big it looks like it should be in the forest behind the house. The Starbucks that is within walking distance of the house would have been a really nice perk (no pun intended!) back in the day....but then we wouldn't have biked to the Quik Stop and bought our fair share of the Laffy Taffy there. So even though I have an ongoing love affair with coffee, I'm thankful that Starbucks was non-existent in our fine state back in the days of my bike-riding childhood. Funny to think that soon I'll be looking at the world from a bicycle seat once again as my primary mode of transport. Ah, the circle of life...in this case looking very much like the wheel of a bike!

PS This picture was taken on my 16th birthday in front of the house when it was still grey with blue trim.

Dutch Navigators Student Conference 2009

2010-02-11T14:56:00.000-06:00

2010-01-30T13:56:00.000-06:00

El Nino is doing a fine job this winter of providing memorable moments in the snow. Yesterday the world stopped in Northewest Arkansas as ice and snow blanketed the area. We took advantage of the quiet day by trekking through the snow to see the horses that live nearby our house. The horses didn't make an appearance...I don't blame them! But Bos and Sasha were in heaven as they blazed their way along the trail. Bos had white eyebrows and a marvelous white goatee by the time we made it home. The inclement weather also gave me a wonderful excuse to spend the majority of the day in my room sorting through all my worldly belongings. Now I have bins marked "garage sale", "Azle (parent's home!)", and "Holland". I'm very proud to say that the "Holland" pile is tiny compared to the other two :-) The snow continued to fall outside as I took another tangible step toward my move to Amsterdam.

Ah sabbatical!

2009-09-07T10:50:00.000-05:00

Oh my! Has it really been several months since my last post?! Incredible. I really must be on sabbatical. The last few months has been a flurry of activity for me as I've visited with friends, family all over the globe (kind of!). From the sunny coast of California (or smokey right now) to the never ending twilight of Norway, my summer has been a full one. The "rest" phase of my sabbatical is officially over now and I am now in the "reflection" phase. I am enjoying (sometimes) reading through my journals from the last nine years. God has worked in tremendous ways these past years and I look forward to the next chapter in this exciting and unpredictable adventure with Him. I am attaching several photos from the summer so you can glimpse a small part of what my time has been like (Amsterdam, Norway, LA!). Newsletter in the works!

the end is at hand!

2009-05-04T17:33:00.000-05:00

The end. Not of life, certainly not of my time with the Navigators, but the end of the chapter on my collegiate work is close at hand. It has been a long chapter, but one I have loved despite in the ups and downs. I look forward to the next chapter...one with international flavor and adventure. I'm thankful for the last nine years, and am so ready to have the time and energy to reflect well on upon what the Lord has done over those very formative years. I really wanted to post a video that we shot recently on campus, but that requires skill beyond my expertise because the video needs to be formatted. So someday, when I have time, I'll attempt what seems unattainable...I will attempt to understand my computer :-)

Zooextravaganza

2009-04-06T10:32:00.000-05:00

One of the reasons I love my job....I get to enjoy time with staff and students having fun! This is one of our ministries values...having FUN together bonds, unites, and deepens the friendships we have with each other and with the Lord. So going to the zoo fits in perfectly with that value. Jesus did this too (not going to the zoo!). He went on roadtrips with his disciples quite a bit. It seems that they were always walking somewhere or another, and sometimes to have a downright good time together (like the wedding in Cana). That together time bonded them, gave them shared memories, and lots of quality time with each other and the Master. How cool is that! This is one aspect of my job that I truly love.....creating shared memories of fun, laughter, and togetherness :-) Here are a few pics of us and the animals from this past weekend.

She's Beauty and She's Grace, She's Miss United....Navigator!

2009-04-01T14:43:00.001-05:00

The sashes swayed with the flowing dresses as Nav women walked down the pagent "catwalk" to represent their state, city, or favorite person. Each girl got to make her own sash while partaking in chocolate fondue and yummy queso dip. The walk off determined our top three finalists who went onto the interview round of the competition. Those three girls are pictured here along with a group shot of all the lovely ladies. There is just something about putting on a fancy dress and walking down a fake "catwalk" that bonds girls. Chocolate helps too! So watch out world, Miss Navigator is here to stay!

2009-03-29T10:54:00.000-05:00

My first attempt!

2009-03-29T10:50:00.001-05:00

A not-so-typical Sunday...I'm actually at home this weekend and enjoying the quiet of my living room! Last night it snowed in Arkansas and today it should be in the 50's outside. Perfect day for a walk with the dogs. Tonight I'll be leading our student leaders through a mini-workshop on how to hear the voice of God. We'll be looking at the life of Joshua, who I have to admit is probably my favorite guy in the Bible. This guy knew how valuable spending time in God's presence was...he also knew how important it was to seek the Lord and then to obey Him once He spoke. I'm also going to attempt to post my latest newletter to the next blog! Thanks for reading!