This week has been so long. I am missing my mom and family so much. I’m never going to like living away from them. I’ve even been cranky since Mom left. Imagine that. The days have dragged by and I feel very unsociable. Is this normal?

My garden is absolutely killing it. Everything is growing really well except the cucumbers. I went and bought another one in case the original 3 didn’t work and its growing really well but the first three are very dinky. I’m considering pulling them out and planting new ones.

Monday we dropped mom off at the Sacramento airport at 4 am or so. Then we slept a bit and eventually drove to San Francisco to spend the day there. We got breakfast on the Embarcadero and looked through some really hip little shops. After that we drove across to Sausalito and found a four mile coastal hike so we did that and it was so so fun. Green hills and flowers and mucky paths from the rain and a little beach with amazing waves and low tide so we could run between waves into the next little inlet. We had lunch in Sausalito at Napa Valley Burger Co. and it is MUST! Go there! Anyways we kept busy and I was glad so I couldn’t think about my mom being gone from me.

Last night we stopped at our neighbors. What a story. Morgan and Ja went on a code blue call the other night 1/2 a mile from our place. The 25 year old son of these people had overdosed on heroin and after the medics brought him back he was taken to a hospital obviously. The guys found out he’d only been home 2 days from prison for doing heroin before. So needless to say his mother was distraught and we have really been thinking about them so we went there last night. I brought pumpkin muffins (page 236 in the Blosser cookbook. So good.) They immediately invited us in, they were both teary eyed, and they remembered Morgan from him being there for their son. Introductions were made and they are a couple in their late 50s with a beautiful married daughter who’s a probation officer in Yuba City. They talked to their son right before we arrived and he is now in a rehab place down by LA. Such a nice couple and she has had her share of health troubles. They gave us two bottles of red wine when we left since he works at a wine company here in the Valley. Its easy to forget there are searching people out there when we get so caught up in our social Mennonite lives!

Another crazy piece of news is that I get to teach Grade 5 here at Grace Mennonite School next year! Its Ballico and Winton combined and I am super excited to be back in the classroom! I will be teaching with experienced and sparky co teachers so that’s a bonus❤

A happy week to each. And thanks for the whatsapps and comments with advice and insight! Xo

I’m pleased. My mom has been visiting Morgan&I since last Sunday. She is the strongest, most creative, and most beautiful woman I know. She has a warrior heart, full of lost love and scars but full of pride too of her children and her life she’s made. She is my best friend and I miss her so much when she’s gone.

We had a fun week. We got lots of rain so my potatoes are up and my cucumbers are still hanging in there. No onions showing yet either. I guess I should google how long it usually takes them to sprout. I got some weeding done but not a lot else outside since mom and I were out running around.

On Wednesday Morgan had off so the three of us drove to Sequoia National Park which is a couple hours from here. The hills were green and full of purple lupines and yellow fiddlenecks. The dogwoods were in full bloom scattered throughout the pines and along the river. Between the hills snow covered mountains peaked through. We grabbed deli sandwiches and sat on a stone wall overlooking all these things. I would have been jealous if I had driven by and saw us sitting there barefoot with a darling view. We hiked a little ways down to “General Sherman” which happens to be the worlds largest tree. It was absolutely astounding. People standing next to it are so small. Its hard to get the right perspective on something that huge. Read interesting things about it here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Sherman_(tree) So it was super interesting and a beautiful outing with a quick fabric stop in Fresno on the way home.

Another night we made our famous Rockin K ribs, which of course brought back those sad but good memories of my dad babying those ribs on the grill when we lived at copeland. We’d have a houseful of dear friends over and what good memories we made and still think of. So we made them for new friends here and it was good to eat those baby back ribs again.

We also got out teacher preparatory class books figured out and ready. If youre a new teacher and heading to teachers prep, come see us in Pennsylvania the end of July🙌

My thoughts have been with the families of the Humboldt Broncos boys killed in Saskatchewan. Its something we all forget..but we have no promise of tomorrow. And may we each be thankful for our families and friends safe around us. Loving you all from cali❤

I’m hoping to start writing every other day or every couple days at least. I like the input and messages you’ve sent in reply to my questions and thoughts. We’ve had some more beauty days here in California. Our grass was so long since it rained while we were in Europe that we had Jon&Alicia come over and we had a yard day. Also no yard day is complete without pizza so we finished with that.

Nothing in my garden is new. I think something is slowly eating one of the cucumber plants but I cant find anything. What should I look for?? I expect instant results so I’ve spent a lot of time looking out my kitchen window and wandering the rows looking for any signs of green. Its really quite frustrating. I dug up an onion at the end of the row just to see if being underground for a week had done anything and it hadn’t.

I repotted my succulents and shenda gave me some cuttings off of her plants so I planted those today too. Its been 80* and sunny the last couple days so I’m hoping things start sprouting soon. Our orange trees are finishing up which is sad because I adore fresh orange juice for breakfast. Some good news is that working outside is starting to tan Birkenstock lines on my feet which is nice to see.

As its Easter season the Crucifixion story had been on my mind. Last night’s Good Friday service was incredible and has given me a lot of thoughts for the next weeks.

One that has stuck with me is the thought that each of us is Barabas. I am the guilty, the condemned, the sinner who deserves to die. And then in an unexpected turn of events, Jesus, beaten, mocked, and tormented, the Saviour of the world, has taken my place to die and I go free. I with my fears and trials and sins of earth go free while Jesus is left alone to the angry crowd to take my place. I am in awe as I am led to freedom, and as I turn back to see the Man hung upon the Cross meant to be mine. I go to the Hill where Jesus hangs on the Cross. I see Him take his last earthly breaths and darkness falls over the earth. Earthquakes send people fleeing, while some stand and marvel at the scene before them. I fall on my knees and weep. How can I not repent and accept the blood Jesus spilled just for me? I am Barabas. A sinner condemned, but a sinner freed by the blood of Jesus.

And then I picture the angels in Heaven. They know what is happening. With arms open and ready some of the angels hover near Jesus as He struggles to carry his Cross up the road. Their wings droop as they listen to the crowds screaming to crucify Him. The atmosphere is hushed with despair and sadness and the angels crowd neared the throne of God. And then as Jesus is crucified there are wails throughout Heaven. It cannot be! God’s only Son crucified for the sins of mankind!

I can only picture what my human mind allows but I guess this is where my thoughts have been. And it is impossible to fathom that I was pardoned by Jesus’ blood. Wishing you each a wonderful Easter.

Well we’re settled back into our house and its lovely. I’ve been doing laundry and then I got inspired to spring clean so now I’ve started the job of going through our 2 closets we have. I know you may think this odd after only 6 months of marriage but we have accumulated actually. Also I have tons of sweaters etc that I’m done with so away they go.

So I have started making lists again which is one of my favorite things to do. Its very rewarding to cross little things off and deceive myself that I am almost done with all my work.

Yesterday M couldn’t work cuz it was off and on rain so at one of the off times we planted our garden. Which was so fun and I have no idea what I’m doing. I feel like California growing is much different than Michigan. I planted potatoes, green&red peppers, jalapenos, onion, cucumbers, zucchini, and tomatoes. We didn’t do a big garden really, just a good first year starter patch. We got our plants at Lowes because they had good options.

Then we worked on the chicken coop. Our little shed has a fenced area off the side already so we are going to put chickens there. The shed has 2 doors and one goes into this fenced area so I’m hoping to let the chickens into the shed overnight. We will put nesting boxes inside and put chicken wire up to fence off a little section in the shed so it should work pretty well. Mom in law is going to raise chickens as well so she is starting our chicks for us since they have a heater and all that already. I also know nothing about chickens. I remember fighting to gather eggs and getting pecked by Mark&Rhodas chickens when we kids were young so not good memories. I think we’ll get 5 or 6 and Morgan’s family usually get the Rhode Island Red and Barred Rock chickens so does anyone have ideas and advice on the whole raising chickens thing?

Today is another rain day so I’m going to get stuff done inside. We are having company tonight…I’m making this yum soup I like to call Hauder Chowder but that’s as far as I’ve got. Have a wonderful day❤☔

I guess some people can’t comment on here..not sure why. So message me with your ideas regarding my posts or for recipes!

This morning at the hotel we had breakfast sandwiches, turkey and salami, gouda cheese, and warm milk with cereal. We left our packs there for the day. So Brussels has a really different feel than Amsterdam. Its more of an older crowd amd there is a lot of Islam influence so they are everywhere. Its much quieter and more spread out than Amsterdam and there’s zero bikes and just cars.

We first walked out to the Metro which is the underground subway here. We bought an all day pass so we used it lots. Our first trip on the M and three police? national security? guys got on. Three 6’5 big guys dressed in greenish camo, green berets on their heads, carrying guns at ready and they ran on each to a car. I peed alittle. Also the three of us sat there and tried not to look American or any other threatening nationality. Next stop they were off with guns at ready again obviously looking for someone.

It started raining and luckily we’d brought the umbrella along but left raincoats at the hotel. Our first stop was the St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral. It was majestic with high vaulted ceilings and lots of carved marble and wooden statues portraying Jesus, Mary, and different saints. The enormous stained glass windows had hundreds of little colored panes each helping form a picture of the life of Jesus or different scenes depicting the Pope. We walked around the outer edge of the sanctuary because in the middle was where people sat for services. Around the outside edge were the wooden and marble statues where you could light a candle in front of them or little spots to kneel and pray. See more about it here. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_St._Michael_and_St._Gudula

Anyways went back out into the rain and walked to the Palace of Brussels. We walked around there for abit outside as the inside is mostly shops and then we got coffee and dried our wet feet briefly. Took the M over to this place called the Atonium. Its an iron crystal atom magnified 165 billion times so essentially its giant silver balls connected in the air. You can take an elevator to the top ball and it has great views of Brussels. The guys went up but I voted no and stayed at the bottom.

After some wandering around on the Metro being lost we had late lunch and went back to the hostel to get our packs. Caught the train and took the 1 hour ride to Bruges, Belgium. The countryside of Belgium or outside the train at least is medium flat and green with lots of trees. All the little towns we went through had churches with tall spires and old houses.

We took the bus in Bruges and it looks like a medieval amd old sort of town. I cant wait to start exploring. We found our hostel which is St. Christopher’s Inn and unpacked and started laundry finally🎉Its a massive place and really nice. Shared dorms again but not all are full and its pretty quiet. These old buildings have no air and are apparently well insulated because it is so freaking hot in them. The bathroom is 80 degrees and its ridiculous.

We got supper at a Lebanese place down the street and hung out at the hostel before bed. Another amazing day done☔