Last night we had a cherished evening together as a darling little family. This Christmas I have the opportunity to establish my families own traditions, as years of past we have travelled to be with extended family. Of course we love being at the homes of our parents wrapped in the memories and traditions we share with them. But as all young families (and young mommies who love to bring a touch of joy and fun into her own home) must do, is bring traditions that touch their family with festive.
Last night was purely that…making memories and festive. With Christmas music playing, we ate our tasty treats and decorated the house in charm. After all the set up was done, the sun had set so we lit the candles and plugged in the lights of the tree. Everything looked so nice and the girls pranced around with glee.
One thing that Roger and I wanted to celebrate this year was the lighting of the advent candles. We are a bit behind in weeks so last night we started and we will light another tonight and then be on schedule for Sunday. After all was done we gathered the girls around the candles that have been set up on our dinning table, we read to them from the scriptures, Marion lit the candle and we prayed as a family. It was a beautiful moment. I loved the looks in the girls candle lit eyes, sparkling with interest and meaning. I believe that the lighting of the advent candles will teach and bless my little girls as it did me while I was growing up.
I look forward to the coming weeks and all the fun and meaningful things that this holiday will bring for my family and myself.











Prettig Kerstfeest (Merry Christmas in Dutch)

I am home and feeling much more like myself...except heavily drugged. Life can be rather snazzy when you feel a wee bit high! This morning Marion found a recipe on a kids website she likes to go on, she printed the recipe all on her own. She felt so proud of her self. I was simply amazed she knows how to work a darn contraption like a printer! We had so much fun baking and decorating the cup cakes together, we also made candy-cane rocky road brownies. Tonight we are setting up our (very fake) Christmas tree as a family and the girls are eagerly waiting to eat the treats. Should be a lovely evening. I look forward to showing you our festive home tomorrow.

Have a joyful Friday my friends!

As my time in Holland is coming to an end, and sadness is filling me with feeling, I thought I should write before I leave; as an end but also to know this time will never leave if it is stored tight in my memories.

This trip has been good for me in so many ways. I really have had a hard go these last few months of my pregnancy, It was mentally even harder being so alone in Nigeria. I felt sick, isolated and lonely. To get out of the country and feel better (thank goodness for those drugs!) and then also to be in the ‘outside world’. This combination of drugs and civilisation has made a significant difference in my energy and health but has also lifted my rather lagging spirits.
This trip was organised last minute and so we experienced Holland differently then any of our other travels. It was a low key, meandering, see where this road leads, trip. It was glorious to have no agenda to overwhelm my week body, but equally as enjoyable as we experienced things that we would not have planned.

Being able to visit Holland was a trip into my past…so to say. All the foods, sights, the sound of the language, the rustic, cosy way of the streets, homes and shops were so familiar and very comforting. I love this country because of the fondness it makes me feel towards the way I was raised and the heritage I have been given. If you were able to see this country you would know how my mind thinks and feels!

I have had the chance to enjoy some delights this week that have been desires of mine for as long as I can remember. On my very anticipated, well-celebrated twenty-six birthday, I was able to hear a pipe organ concert. I have let my self indulge in the idea that the magnificent two-hundred year old pipes, that were able to produce pure beauty was planned just for me. It was a moment of perfection in my life, I sat in the loveliest of churches, sun streaming through the stained glass, all was still and then there was the music, familiar songs from my childhood afternoons at my grandparents. For that half hour I was in a moment of perfection, all was right and I was perfectly happy. It will always be a cherished birthday gift.

Another grand enjoyment that filled my heart was the opportunity to visit some relatives. Being a completely last minute trip I did not think any of my family would have time for a visit, but…NA…(Dutch word for no) not only did I get a visit we were treated royally…the way only Dutch can show hospitality! I spent the morning visiting with my grandmother’s youngest sister and her husband. When I met my Great Aunt I was taken back by the feelings of familiarity. It was as if I had known my Aunt my whole life. With tears we hugged. She looked and moved just like my Grandma, I wanted to hug her more because of how homesick I felt. We also talked as if we had known each other for more then just a few moments. From their house we visited my mom’s cousin and her children who are the same age as my girls. These girls once again are so similar in looks as my cousins in Canada. Oh, it was such a delightful day. I wish I was going for another visit tomorrow and then the next day. I feel blessed to have had this trip, it rejuvenated me and has left me with so many more riches, riches of the heart.













Ohhhh....The flowers!


Girls getting goodies from Saint Nicholas and...
Do you see this crib? I saw it and my heart stoped, not for a second but for such a long moment I felt faint...with pure love. My future flashed before my eyes. Delightful pictures of my babies and my grandbabies to come, angelically sleeping in this most perfect little crib. I could hear the crib calling my name! Unfortunately Roger could not hear the call and thought of all the impracticalities, I think; the idea of buying this crib and sending it to Canada was one of the worst! I fear he is wrong as my future will never be as perfect as it could be with a place like this to lay my darlings! I hope you can hear my heart breaking! I surely can feel it!



Our park fix. Does Davina look as big to you as she does to me? When did she turn into a little girl?


Cousins

The first of December seemed like the perfect day to break away from my reclusive state. Roger took us to London last week so I could see a mid-wife and get my pre-natal check ups all done. I was also on a desperado mission to get some anti-nausea drugs into my system! A month of vomiting and eating little more then toast and water were starting to wreak havoc on my health and strength! We landed in London and went straight to the clinic where we were greeted by a lovely mid-wife who took great care of me, in three hours I had my visit, blood work done, drugs in hand and the very best ultrasound we have every had. We have one beautiful baby who put quite the show on. The baby turned right towards us,waved,jumped sucked it's thumb. Healthy and perfect! I am fourteen weeks along which makes my due date June 2, my Dad and nephews birthday! A spring baby...

Luckily I went to my appointments on the day I arrived because the following day I came down with a violent virus that literally took what little strength I had left in my system! I spent the whole time we were in London passed out in bed...I must say I am feeling pathetically sorry for myself! I think I might be on the ups, we are now in the city of my dreams...Amsterdam Holland. Though I have only had the strength to peek at the city through the window. I pray tomorrow my energy and health will have returned after months of absence. So there you have it...I have been sick...I am in Europe and now I must go to bed.

Happy December my friends!

Our June baby.



The girls finding #1 on their advent calender's, snuggled in the bed of our very lovely hotel room.