Kit Kat

I don't like the new chunky Kit Kats. The chocolate to wafer ratio is all wrong, and it's painful to bite into them.

Queen's Day was an overall success. Went into Rotterdam with good friends and was in the crushing crowd just long enough to get my fill and not long enough to get tired of it. God save the queen!

Just got to spend four days in Ireland with my sister, and it was WONDERFUL. We spent the majority of the time in an absolutely beautiful coastal village called Wicklow, which had the ruins of a 14th century castle five minutes from our hostel. Needless to say we spent quite a bit of time up there enjoying the atmosphere. The best part about the trip was being with my sister. We were very self-involved and probably not as social as we could have been, but it was so, so good to talk with someone who can finish my sentences. It made me miss home more than I have yet, but I'll survive that!

Monday is Queen's Day here in the Netherlands. Apparently it is a very big deal, and I am very excited to experience it! I will be spending the day with one of my new Dutch friends in Rotterdam. Should be fun!

Van Harte Gefeliciteerd

Birthdays seem to be a big deal here. The girls sang no less than three different birthday songs to me this morning, followed by a rousing three cheers. A friend took me to lunch, and told everyone she talked to that it was my birthday. It made me feel very special! If I have to celebrate my birthday away from my family, this is the way to do it. :-)

Of Castles and Such

It's nice to be living in a country that celebrates Easter. The girls didn't have school on Friday or Monday, so we had a nice long weekend. On Monday we visited a castle (!) call Slot Loevestein. It started out as the residence of a minor noble in the mid 14th century, changed hands between Dutch rebels and the Spanish, and then was used as a prison for political prisoners during the 17th century.



The castle (or slot) is situated on the River Maas, and had no less than two moats. They can do that in Holland, you know. I also learned that the Dutch like building dykes and dams. A lot. Makes sense when your entire country is below sea level.

Now You Get a Little Taste of Where I Live...

It's good to have friends. Friends keep us sane. Fortunately, God has given me good friends, both in the States and now here. For having known these people only a few weeks, if that, I feel strangely comfortable with them. You know how Anne Shirley bonds with "kindred spirits?" I feel that my new friends are kindred spirits. They have been very kind in welcoming a perfect stranger into their lives. And God is so good to put people in my life who are serious about their relationship with Him. I need that.

That being said, Holland is such a beautiful place! The sun has been out nearly every day for the past week and there are baby animals all over the place. I keep expecting everything to burst into bloom the way it does in north Florida, but I think it's going to be a little more subtle here.

And I normally wouldn't do this, but it's so beautiful I must share: Currently listening to The Civil Wars "Barton Hollow."

"Breaking Up is Hard to Do"

Actually, it's learning Dutch that's hard to do, but I'm doing quite well after one day of study. It helps that I've been hearing Dutch almost non-stop for a month.

Sometimes I wish I were three again so that languages would be easier to learn.