Spring

 We got back from our trip back to the US last Sunday, and we have been just getting back into the swing of things here in Holland.  The seven hour time difference when I am traveling back to the US isn't as hard going there as it is coming back.  But, we all managed to get adjusted.:)  At least we didn't have to spring forward quite yet like my friends and family back in the US.  We spring forward here in Holland on March 25.:)

We had such a wonderful time meeting our new nephew/cousin, Austin, at our stop in Chicago.  He was my brother and sister-in-law's early Christmas gift as he was born on December 24, 2016.:)

We then drove over to Michigan to visit my Aunt and Uncle.  My Aunt has been battling kidney cancer since this last summer, and she is doing amazing!:)

We passed through Holland, Michigan and went on to visit my grandfather in Grand Rapids, MI.:)

 He has been battling cancer in the bile duct of his liver.  He has been such a fighter and we were so happy to be able to spend some time with him.:)

We got to stay along Lake Michigan at my parents' new house while we were visiting family.  I don't think I had ever been there during the winter time.  The beach was completely covered with snow and ice coming off of the Lake.  We were actually walking ON Lake Michigan at one point! 

Guy and the kids standing ON Lake Michigan.:)

Got to visit with my aunt, uncle and cousins.:)

Then we were on a road trip down to Saint Louis to visit my parents.:)

My little brother and his fiance, Hima, were also there.:)

 The kids and I were able to visit for a week with my mom and dad and go with my mom for her second chemo appointment.

 And wouldn't you know it, her chemo appointment fell on Mardi Gras!

Taken during her chemo.

A few more fun pictures of my parents with their grandchildren.:)

 And, my dad took the kids to the Saint Louis Museum..

Look closely, that is Elizabeth crawling through that mesh tunnel high in the sky!

Leaving my family is always so hard for me.  i have a pit in my stomach for a few days afterwards.  But, when we came back to Holland, things had changed a bit.  All of the sudden, the sun was coming up earlier in the morning, and the flowers have started to bloom...

Crocuses are popping up everywhere here!:)

 And the tulips in the garden boxes outside of jeremy's room have started to pop up out of the soil.:)

Beautiful flowers Guy brought home for me last week.:)

And just like in Texas, when the bluebonnets start to bloom....it is a sign that Elizabeth's birthday is approaching...

E brought treats to her ballet class on Friday to have an early birthday celebration.:)

J had a soccer game on Saturday:)

 Someone was busy with me in the kitchen getting ready for her birthday on Monday.:)

Treats to take to school.:)

She wanted to make her own birthday cake.:)

 And just like that, when I woke up yesterday morning, I had a nine year old!!!

After Elizabeth's birthday, it can only mean that Spring is soon on its way!

It has been a very busy last few weeks, and I am so blessed and happy that I have my wonderful husband, children, family and friends to share the laughs and smiles with along the way.:) Every day is a gift, and that is why it is called the present.:)
Until next time, doei!:)

Time

It's been a few weeks since I have been here.  A lot has happened and I just haven't felt like writing about our life here.  I do love our life here in The Netherlands.  But, my mind and my heart have been an ocean away back in the U.S. with my mom.  The day we returned from our holiday in Prague, I spoke with my parents and they were at the hospital.  My mom had a very swollen leg and upon doing a scan, found that she had two blood clots in her right leg.  The scan also revealed that she had nodules on her stomach, liver and pelvic areas.  The next few weeks were spent waiting on tests and doctor appointments until on Tuesday, January 24, it was officially determined that my mom has stage four uterine cancer.  It is a recurrence of endometrial cancer which was removed in 2012.  1 in 1000 women can have a recurrence of this type of cancer, and my mom is one of them.  Since it is stage 4, she will undergo chemotherapy, and continue that.  The cancer will not go into remission.  

This is not the first time cancer has struck our family.  My grandmother died in 2010 from ovarian cancer.  It was so painful to see all she went through to fight her cancer.  She fought until the very end, and Elizabeth is named after her.  My grandfather was diagnosed last year with cancer in the bile duct of his liver, and is no longer able to receive chemotherapy.  It has gotten to the point that the chemo would do more harm than good. Finding out they had cancer hurt.  But, somehow, finding out my mom has cancer has changed something in me that is hard to explain.  From now on, I will always look back at our life as before I found out my mom had cancer and after.  I have spent many moments wondering how this could have happened.  I have spent days being angry that doctors missed this.  I have wondered how my mom will respond to the chemo.  I have felt sad because at the time my dad is about to retire and they can really enjoy their lives, that this has happened.  I have cried because I just don't know how much time we have left.  But, I think the one thing I come back to is that I cannot imagine my life without her in it...

When those thoughts have become too overwhelming for me, I remember that there is still time, and there are still more memories to be made.  If anything, my mom has taught me to just keep going. She is not one to sit around and feel sorry for herself and I know she doesn't want me doing that either.  

We will be traveling back next week to see her and spend some time with our family in the US.  I am so looking forward to that...

I thought I would fill you in on some of the happenings here the last few weeks...

It snowed...

Mini snowball fight:)

It's been cold...

 And I have gotten over my fear of driving...it is too freakin' cold here in the mornings to ride bikes.  The kids and I agreed that when  it is 4 degrees celsius again in the mornings we will start riding our bikes again!:)

Elizabeth was the VIP in her room a few weeks ago!:)

 She is also getting ready to "Swim like a Dutchman" for her A diploma.:)

 Jeremy had his acting debut in the play "Olivia" performed by year 6!:)  He was George Bernard Shaw and memorized 48 lines!!!:)  He did a great job!!:)

 He also got to celebrate Canada day with his Canadian teacher.  They made lots and lots of pancakes!:)

 And Elizabeth got to celebrate Australia day with her Australian teacher.  Although she said that Vegemite wasn't all that great!:)

 Jeremy got to play his first indoor soccer game this past weekend and he is doing a great job as a defender!:)

 And of course, I had to add a few pictures from Valentine's Day yesterday.:)

I know, Elizabeth got the poop emoji for Valentine's...don't judge!  She really wanted it!:)

J made us a Valentine Card!:)

 And of course, Valentine's wouldn't be complete without Dutch tulips.:)

And I got tulips from Guy.:)

I realize that from now on life for me will feel different because it IS different.  It is so true what they say about cancer not only affecting the person who has it but the entire family.   I know that time is never certain, and we have to embrace the moments we have with the ones we love because we don't know when those last moments may be.  My heart has been broken these last few weeks, but I know it is not beyond repair.  As my mom says, "It is what it is."  Cancer is cancer and life is life, and life does not stop for cancer.  She has taught me that you have to keep going.  There is still a lot of living to do.:)