Never a Dull Moment

I hope y'all had a very Merry Christmas!

We did, but now we are exhausted. Between shopping for Christmas presents, seeing to all the festivities surrounding the Holidays, taking care of our daughter, her husband and our little grandson, who all stayed with us for almost an entire week, helping our other daughter move back in with us, our energy is totally gone.

Yesterday was the first day in a while, we actually got to ourselves. Even though I had wanted to do some fun stuff, I just couldn't muster up the energy. Hubbie was in the same condition. We spent most of the day sleeping and recharging. Or at least trying to.

I still don't feel up to much, but I know from experience it will get better in a few days. And yeah, as soon as our energy level is back up, something else will come along, haha. I guess that's the spice of life. Never a dull moment. :-)

Research to the Rescue

This certainly is a step forward in the right direction!
Plus... now we know where some of our tax money ends up at, haha.

"Researchers funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Arthritis Foundation, the Cancer Research Institute and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, report that they have discovered the molecular roots of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. A "T helper" cell is the culprit for initiating chronic inflammation and autoimmunity in a variety of body tissues such as asthma, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis (MS). They say their findings may point to ways to effectively treat these diseases - if not stop them before they start."
Read more...

Even though it still may take years before a cure is found, it is good to know that at least the next generation may not have to suffer from these diseases anymore.

Pearly Whites

To give you an update on my last dentist visit, it is finally fixed! Yeahhhh!!!!!

It took quite a while and I had to wait for the longest period of time, before the crown was in it's place. Even though the dentist intended not to adjust the crown, since the two previous times it got too thin and had to be reordered, he did anyway. Just a little. Can you imagine how nervous I got, when he started on it? Visions of having to come back again, crossed my mind. I couldn't say anything though, my mouth was stuffed with cotton and what else have ya, to keep it all dry and disinfected. Oh sweet relief when all went well. Shew!

Now if only the sensitivity would wear off! Even though I am not afraid to go to the dentist, I sure hope not to see him for a while. A long while!!!

The Steel Horse

Practically everyone in the Netherlands owns a bike, young and old, rich and poor. It's often referred to as the "steel horse". The majority of the population uses it daily and the picture on the left is a moderate illustration of what you would see near railway-stations, schools and shopping malls.

With all these people using and needing a bike, the theft-rate is high (as our daughter found out recently) and many came to the conclusion that the older and more worn-out your bike looks, the less the likelihood it will get stolen. And if you insist on having a reasonable looking or new bike, then you need more then just the lock on the bike to chain it up, so you find it where you left it when you come back. Yeah, the cattle-thieves have their eye on these horses, haha.

I used to love riding a bike. Often it gets you quicker where you want to go then taking the car. Cheaper too, considering the gas-prices
My RA wouldn't always let me though and here it is far too dangerous.
I do miss it. It was good exercise when my RA would let me, to strengthen the muscles and because it's slower speed, there was more time to enjoy nature, one of God's beautiful creations, so much more. But God made up for the last. I enjoy the woods each time I look out the window:-)

It is said once you learn how to ride a bike, you will never forget it. The learning how to, is the hard part. Learning God's way is the same. At first you need training-wheels, support to get you going, and instructions. You will slam into walls and run into trees and learn when and how to brake. Then the training-wheels come off and you have to try on your own. Wobbly and insecure you follow the path. You will fall down several times but it makes you more determined to master the way. When you do, even then be prepared to take a fall every now and then. But once you learned it, you can never unlearn it. You can try to forget about the bike and take the car. You can pretend it is not there, but it will remind you, somehow. And yes, you have to watch out for thieves, for they try to steal it from you daily.

Merry Christmas!

Hey y'all!!! I have seen Santa Claus! Mom, Dad and I went to the mall and there he was. Such a friendly guy, although I didn't really know what to do with him. Mom was afraid I would pull his beard, but I behaved. There was so much to see and I got to sit on his knee. Nothing scary about it. I was like "That's cool....., whatever!"


I am doing well. We stayed at Opa's and Oma's almost all week since Mom wasn't feeling too well. Something about her ligaments hurting really bad. She could hardly get up or down. It was nice to stay with Opa and Oma. I got to try them out, grin. They didn't really go for it. Oh well, I had a no and could get a yes, huh? grin.

I learned some new words. I said Oma real clear, but can't get Opa out yet. I say Aba instead. Coming pretty close though. I do say bye, hehe. I was sitting in the office on the floor. Mom tried to get me to come out and said she was gonna close the door on me if I didn't. She kept urging me out. Then she said bye-bye and closed the door. Okay Mom. "Bye". That surprised her so much, she opened the door right back up and told everyone I said bye, hehe.

Here is a close-up from me and Santa. It was over before I knew it and I didn't get to tell him what I would like for Christmas, but he knows, right?! :-D
That is so cool!

I wanted to wish y'all a very Merry Christmas on behalf of all the family and all the best wishes for the New Year. May God bless y'all abundantly!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Time Out, Time Off

Some off the wall thought that ran through my mind. Yes, I have those many times, too many times in my opinion, haha.

I was thinking about another hobby. I used to read, make cards, sew every one's clothes and tried to be creative with clay, yarn and anything else usable to be creative with.

Well, the reading has gone out of the window for I can not concentrate on it for long anymore. I got bored with making greeting-cards and I do some sewing, but not nearly as much as I used to. I still am creative every now and then with the other stuff, but ran out of inspiration. What I do for a hobby right now is drawing and I love it, but it's is not something I would like to do all day, every day. Soooo.... I am open for suggestions:-)

What are your hobbies? And if you like, maybe share a pic or two of the creations on your or my blog? I may get some inspiration for a new hobby. Thanks, I would appreciate it. And my husband as well, haha!

Dental woes

I have to go back to the dentist again today. It's the 4Th time, I think. I sort of lost count, sigh.

I had to have two teeth capped. The first one went well, but the second one turned out to be a problem. The first time I got back to get my permanent crown on it, it had to be adjusted. So the dentist shaped and grinded off the excess. All of a sudden he tells me he is not going to put on the crown, it got to thin. It had to be re-ordered and I had to come back. Those things can happen.

I got back the second time to get my permanent crown and yeah, the same thing occurred! Geezzz, can't we just get it over with? Nope, it had to be re-ordered again.

Well, three is a charm, as they say. Maybe I will finally be done after today.

Critter Care

It's not easy having a 10 month old baby-boy and being 7 months pregnant. Our daughter is having a very difficult time right now. Her tummy-muscles ache so bad, she can hardly get up or down, let alone lift the little one.
So we jump in and help out as much as we can.

That means they have been over here since early this morning. Opa is there for the moral support and Oma for the physical. Okay, okay, we alternate a little too, haha.

I sure can feel my age though, taking care of our little critter all day long. I am tired already and it's only early afternoon. But he is such a joy and blessing to be and have around. Hopefully his mommy will feel better soon. That is the most important thing right now!

"Z"

Catching some Zzzzzz's!

Yeah, that's what I ought to be doing right now. It's only 3.38 AM but I am awake. We are awake. Husband is already working and I am sipping my first cup of coffee and bugging y'all, hehe.

Can't help it, but we sure rise early these days. I guess the older you get, the less sleep you need. I am not sure whether that is entirely true. I need an afternoon nap most of the time and we crash pretty early at night. So we do get some sleep in, it's just not continuous. Oh well, the early bird catches the worm! grin.

Christmas Gifts

We headed out early this morning to buy some more Christmas presents. After ample consideration, we decided our best bet to get it all would probably be at Wally-World. Armed with the list, full of hope and anticipation, we enter and start with the first thing on the list. They haven't got it. Okay, can happen, that has been calculated in as a risk-factor. No biggy.

On to the second thing on the list. We need two new Christmas stockings. Yeah right, so did probably the rest of the city, all we find is an empty rack! Bummer, that was totally unexpected.

The third thing on the list then. You guessed it... they haven't got it. Aaargghhh!! It's not looking good for the home-team!

At that point frustration, aggravation and disillusion set in and pressure over the short period of time left, starts weighing down on me. I get totally overwhelmed and mentally shut down. I need some time to re-group and see what it is we can do, instead of getting stuck on what we can't. In other words: think positive!

Good thing my husband knows how to get through to me and we did get some things. We will try somewhere else later today. It will get done. :-)

Change

"It is strange that while praying, we seldom ask for a change of character, but always a change of circumstances."
~Anonymous.

You know I am always looking for brain-strainers. This is one of them.

Pondering on this, I have to say it's true. We always look at the situation we are in and want it to change, without looking at how we got ourselves in it and see how we can get ourselves out. It is up to us to do so and not someone else. Somewhere along the line we acted, that led to the situation.

It's so much easier to blame someone else. To look at ourselves is not only hard work, but also something we really don't like to do. We would have to set aside our pride, selfesteem and a lot of times, our selfishness as well. We have to admit and accept we are not perfect. It may hurt at first, but it's all for learning purposes and we come out so much better in the end.

A change of character often leads to a more beautiful person. :-)

Critter Update

So far, so good! Little critter seemed to be doing well yesterday and put away lots of PediaLite. He had very little appetite, which is extremely unusual for our little one. Normally, he can eat all day long! However, they were told he may not want to eat for a while after the IV, so nothing to worry about.

Turned out he had a stomach virus. And all of a sudden, we hear from almost all we tell this to, that they had it as well. It sounds like an epidemic! Even our daughter overseas, who is a day care worker, told us all the kids, workers and parents have had it.

Oh my, I hope we will escape it. Way too much to do for Christmas! I guess that's one of those things we have no choice in.

No Critter's Cooings

Our little grandson is sick. He had diarrhea for a couple of days now and although Mom tried to keep him hydrated, she didn't really trust it.

She called the doctor yesterday morning and he suspected little critter might be lactose intolerant and told her to switch over to another brand of milk, that would have decreased lactose in it. He seemed to be doing a bit better at first. Not really though and they took him to the hospital.

Good thing they did. He was getting a bit dehydrated and they put him on an IV. Just the thought of that makes me shudder. Our 10 month old grandson being poked with needles! I can so imagine how his Mommy must have felt. But it's all for the best and hopefully it hasn't been too traumatic for him.

Maybe now his little tummy will clear up and he will recover quickly. I am so grateful his Mom took action as soon as she suspected something was amiss. Moms seem to instinctively know when something is wrong with their babies. Those feelings shouldn't be underestimated or neglected, they are usually right!

Get well soon, my little buddy!

"Y"

Youth!

There is a Dutch saying: The youth has the future.

But what if that same youth is seriously physically ill? I look at our girls and grandbaby and can only be so grateful they all are healthy. Yeah, they all do have their small ailments every now and then, but nothing major. Unlike some other children, who go through huge trials, like Kaeli for instance and little Rebekah, who has suffered such a great deal in her young life. God bless their little hearts!

I suspect you may know someone in your own neighborhood or community as well. If you can, try to be supportive and encouraging. It's so needed for everyone involved!

"X"

I know I am weird, because it makes me think of this:

Signature:

_____X_____

A good thing we have good schooling and available to everyone, so this is not any longer the order of the day.

It also reminds me of this:
Pedestrians xing.

When I read that the first time, I wondered where those pedestrians would be exing, more so, where they would be entering, haha.

Another thing that is "xing" my mind is a xylophone. Macabre, I know. I like the regular instruments to make music with a lot better! :-)

"W"

Wind.

I love wind. From a gentle breeze to a storm. Although I have to confess I am not crazy at all about hurricanes. We stayed here during Katrina. It was supposed to be a tropical storm in our area, but turned out to be a class 1 hurricane! I know we won't stay around for another class 1 hurricane. But I also know we were blessed. Many others got the brunt of it, being a class 4.

The tropical storm I could have abide. Seeing how those mighty trees bend their tops in the wind, hear the wind howling around the house. Yeah, that would have been fine.
The hurricane was too much. It was outright scary! Thundering wind gusts, the trees bending dangerously and even falling over. Nah, it kind of cured me for a while.

Just a little while. :-)

Going Dutch

Maybe you know I am from the Netherlands. If you didn't know... you do now, haha. Several people have asked me if and what the differences are between the States and the Netherlands and I thought I might share some with you.

One of the major difference I am still quite amazed about are the vast wooded areas that just don't seem to end. The seize of the "woods" I was used to would prolly make you laugh. They are designated areas and often protected by the Department of Agriculture, Nature and Foodquality. And there are not many. Not surprisingly when you consider there are 16.292.000 people living in a total area of 25.790 square miles of which 21.005 is land and 4.785 is water. Land below sea level is 26 % and National parks are 2.8 % of the total area

Here, each time we drive, I expect to see cities, towns or at least several houses or industrial areas lurking behind the next curve. But no... more woods, miles and miles and miles of woods! To me, born and raised in a crowded cramped little country, that is incredible. I still haven't got used to it. I hope I never will, for I enjoy it immensely:-)

Maybe you would enjoy the vast fields of flowers that are grown in the Netherlands for national and international export. Something I haven't seen much around here. The prices of flowers in the states are outrageous to me. I was used to buying a big bunch of tulips or narcissus for $2 and for around $10 you could buy a beautiful bouquet. I suppose importing them makes them so pricy.

This is just one of the differences and I may bore you with more in some future posts, hehe. But for now, let me treat you to a view from what used to be "my neck of the woods".

Our Daily Bread

Even a broken tree has it's function.

I guess we can all relate to this, because we all experience it at one time or another. You have a splitting headache, upset stomach, the flu or diarrhea ( a race-case as I call it, haha). I don't think there has ever been one person on this earth who escaped either one of them. When that occurs, I love to be cared for and comforted, get some sympathy and I don't mind if someone takes over my responsibilities for the time being. As a matter of fact, I am so grateful when they do. But... and here is the big question: Why does it make me angry when it concerns my RA? My attitude is totally contrary to what is mentioned above.

Anger is actually hurt. I get hurt when I am being told to sit down and let someone else do it, because I have RA and it wouldn't benefit me doing it. I like to scream out: I CAN DO IT! Ok, I have to take my time and go slow and not overdo, but I CAN do it. I know it is meant well and born out of love and care, but why does it hurt? I do however appreciate the warning "not to overdo". What/where is the difference?

Pondering on it, I came to this conclusion:
The first one is negative: I am acknowledged as a disfunctional person who can't do anything. The second one is positive: I am acknowledge as a functional person who just has to be careful.

Those ailments like headache etc, are short-lived. They pass in a day (or so) and you resume your daily life. The imposing on others is temporary. RA is a permanent condition. To impose on others constantly is to me like "crying wolf " and using them. Not that I am, it just feels that way.

I have what I need to be able to do the things I have to and need to. I am a person just like you. So please, don't be offended when someone declines your help saying they can do it themselves. Be encouraged and grateful. I am. God gives all of us our daily bread:-) That knowledge in itself is encouraging!

"V"

Values.

Nowadays appearances seem so important, especially when it comes down to social and financial status.

Lots of people pretend to be someone else in order to be accepted. A consequence could be lonelyness. Feeling lonely because no one accepts you for who you really are. They can't, they don't know you, your flaws, mistakes, true thoughts and feelings. Wouldn't it be better to have one good friend who cares for you and about you and is always there for you, instead of being accepted by a crowd, turning away as soon as things get even a little rough?

How about material things? Yeah, we all like to have nice stuff, but should that equate in debt, just so someone can keep up with their friends or neighbors for instance?

It's all where we put our value. It won't hurt to re-evaluate them from time to time. Actually, it may even take away hurt!

Care...Less

I got this in the mail from the Arthritis Foundation and found it quite disturbing:

http://www.arthritis.org/resources/news/news_careyouneed.asp?CampaignId=E05J1N1MYYY020465285

How would you like to be told:" Sorry, we can't help you. There is no specialist available." Or how would you like to have to move to an area where there is a rheumatologist, or travel for hundreds of miles to get to one and prolly be on a waiting list ten times longer than your travel??

I already know some friends who have trouble finding a good specialist in their area because the ones that were there are leaving.

Not funny, huh? Let's pray it won't come that far:-)

The Price is Right

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With this ecommerce software you can handle all aspects of your store with a one web based admin panel. Whether it is stock, shipping, payments, or any of your other website information. The store front layout makes it simple for your customers to find what they are looking for. The quicker they find it, the more sales!

Want to sell down loadable goods? The shopping cart has a feature that enables you to sell a product key or password to your potential customers.
Starting your store is a matter of minutes. Sign up and you receive all information immediately in your inbox. The setup of your store is so simple, within less then an hour, you can launch your e-store! You can customize your storefront and design at any time you like and knowledge of HTML is not required!

Of course you like to sell your products and you need to be found easily on search engines. A high ranking would be essential. Web promotion plans are available!

If you still have doubts whether this shopping cart software is the route to go, you may want to check out what you would pay for this ALL in one. The price is definitely right!

"U"

Unconditional!!!

I think we all know the meaning: without conditions. I can't help but tie conditions and expectations together though. We may not always set conditions, but don't we have any expectations either? Seriously, look deep down inside yourself and think about this for a minute.

If you do something nice for someone, don't you expect them to return the favor at one point? Maybe not right that minute, or the same day, but somewhere along the road?
"If I do something nice for you, I expect you to do it for me." That is setting the expectation as a condition.

Unconditional means without conditions and expectations. It's done out of love, hope and faith! :-)

"T"

Yep, Tea! haha.

I used to drink a lot of tea at one point. I did drink coffee in moderation. When I got diagnosed with RA and learned what it could mean for me in the future, I resorted to a Homeopathic Doctor. He gave me pills and advised me to quit drinking coffee and caffeinated sodas. So I did and switched over to tea.

Constantly drinking regular tea got so boring at one point. I discovered fruit flavored teas and had a large choice to which one I wanted to brew. After so many, many years and a miracle medication, I am back on coffee again.

I know tea is probably much better for me, anyone for that matter, than coffee. I sure miss the peach flavored, or the black current flavored tea at times, but I compensate now by adding hazelnut flavored creamer to my coffee, hehe.

Smiley Face

What a beautiful picture!
As if the photo without the birds already wasn't gorgeous, the birds in it make it so unique. Totally unaware of what their actions are creating, they fly to their destination.

The person who captured this had a chance of one in a life-time. Being there at the right time and the right place, pressing the button on this exact moment.

I can't get over it! All things work together for a purpose, huh?! I hope this day will bring as pretty a smile to your face as in this picture. :-)

"S"

...stands for Seafood!!!!

Shrimp, crab-claws, fried oysters, almost any type of fish and shell-fish. It doesn't matter how it is prepared. I even eat it raw. It really must taste awful for me not to like it.

In the Netherlands "Maatjes-haring" is a delicatessen and part of the folklore. It is raw pickled Herring and it's preferably eaten with chopped raw onions. Yummy!!!
It is a reoccurring yearly tradition to present the Queen with the first Maatjes-haring of the new season.
Another favorite in the Netherlands is smoked Eal. Unfortunately that has become pretty expensive over the years.

Yeah, I could probably eat seafood every day. Although I won't forgo a juicy steak either, hehe.

Love it, Hate it!

Sometimes I hate phones!
Take today for example. I am baby-sitting our grandson. He had been sick last night and didn't get to sleep much. His mom was taking her grandma-in-law to the doctor and to run some errands. Would I mind watching him? Of course not! I am more then happy to. The little critter is such a joy and blessing to have around!

But he was such a tired little boy and when everyone had left and he and I were by ourselves, he lay down in his playpen, sipping on his bottle and.... fell asleep. I watched him for a little while. It's odd to see, but he doesn't always close his eyes entirely. They reduce to little slits and it's almost like he is still awake. He isn't though. I hoped he would be able to catch up on his so needed rest and for a while it seemed like that was the case. Yeah right, you guessed it, the phone rang and scared the caboodle out of him. He woke up crying and it took a bit before he calmed down. That was the end of nap-time. Stupid phone!

Sometimes I love phones!
They are such a great means to get and stay in touch quickly and as often as you can and like. Each time I get of the phone with one of our daughters in the Netherlands, I am so grateful. Imagine we could only communicate by snail mail. It would take forever to hear from them and know if they were alright. Wonderful phone!

Me and the phone, it's a love-hate relationship. Honestly, I wouldn't know what to do without it! :-)

"R"

Rest and Relaxation.

After running the roads of life, dealing with and facing problems, trying to come up with solutions, it's good to be able to relax. The rest is needed to recharge mentally, emotionally and physically. All to be able to walk the road of life again. Seems like cycle, huh!

I don't think we can rest if we are unable to relax. We each have our own way of relaxing. Some like to read, watch TV, or divert the mind with a hobby. Personally I like to draw or craft. Others like to work out, which can be a hobby as well of course. Either way, we work to have life, not live to work!

Have a peaceful, relaxing and restful day! :-)

Near and Dear

Two of our daughters live in the Netherlands. We haven't seen them for over three years now. Noor 21 yrs old, we regularly talk to by phone, exchange mails and pics. Maaike 18 yrs old, communicates by email, when she has time, which is not as much as we would like, haha.

Sometimes the missing gets too much. The longing to hold them, hug them and see and talk to them face to face, is huge. The want to have them close, physically, is overwhelming at times. But what is the want compared to the need? Is the want more important then the need? I don't think so.

The need is:
-To know they are alright, doing fine, are safe, happy, healthy and have all they need and
-Do anything to fill their need where and when we can.

When that need is filled, the want is no longer prevalent. My heart is at peace and grateful to the Lord for watching over them.

Sure, we still would love to see the girls. And we will. When God decides it's time:-)

Critter's Cooings IV

It's been a while since my last ramblings to y'all and oh boy, I don't know where to start! Oma says: "At the start", well I would if I knew where that was. So much has and is happening. I guess I start with the end, haha. I am going to have a little brother!!! Mom says he will be called Leo. Doesn't that mean lion?? So if he is going to be the lion, then maybe I can be the lamb and we can (p)lay together! Sounds good to me. :-D

Speaking of laying, that's something I don't do much anymore, unless I go to sleep. I crawl on all fours now and get where I want to. Yeah, I get myself into mischief, sigh. I have complete control of my hands as well, so I grab things I am not supposed to. Well hey!!! I plead total ignorance! hehe. Come on you guys.... baby-proof the place!


Oh, I broke a tooth! Noooo, I couldn't actually break one, cause I didn't have one yet, but I do now! Glad too, cause it sure has been hurting for a while. It's one of my upper-teeth coming out. Hmmm, maybe that will help eating one of those Oreos. I wonder why they call it Oreo. Area would have been a better name. I can't eat one without showing I did.


What I like most is standing up. Whenever I can, I pull myself up and I am getting quite good at it too. As long as I got something to hold on to, like Opa's goatee or Oma's hair, haha. Oma said I could as long as I only pull out her gray ones. Duh, I told her not to be picky.


I like making people laugh. I was laying in my play-pen and Oma covered me up with a blanket cause my feet were getting cold. So I lay perfectly still, till she had me tucked in all snug and warm and then.... I trampled the blankie off with my chunkies and gave her a big smile. She didn't get it at first and told me not to do that cause I was gonna get cold. Ok, Oma, let's try this again. I layed perfectly still again, she covered me up again and ..... trample, trample, big grin. She looked at my big grin and suddenly bursts out laughing. To confirm her suspicion, we went through the same routine. It made Oma laugh so hard, which in return was so funny to me, that I grinned so big, I thought my face was about to split open!
She turned to Opa and said:" Did you see that?! The little stinker. He does it on purpose!"
Of course I do, silly! I like having some fun, hehe.

You know what is fascinating? Hearing Opa sing! Oh, I love it and stare at him just to find out how he does it. My noises are still very uncoordinated and incoherent. They don't make sense yet. Make sense? grin.


The other day, Opa was playing some music on the computer and Oma and I were sitting with him and listening and there was this song they both liked and they started to sway and rock back and forth and tried to show me how to do it as well. It was catchy, so I start hopping up and down. See, I can dance!!! I just got my own style. I am hip and I hop! grin.

Okay y'all, I gotta run (crawl). I will be back though! And that is no threat, hehe. I don't know yet how to give hugs, but whatever passes for one, you just got it! :-D