Homecoming

August 1, 2012 Kimberly Keith

We are home! It's a strange, wonderful feeling. I'm digging myself out from under heaps of laundry, our pantry has been restocked, Koda is home and cuddly as ever, and I'm wildly optimistic about the future.

God is good! Prior to our departure, Chad got word that his position as a system engineer with PCMHC will be full-time beginning mid-August; the same time my new teaching job (officially) begins at CSD. This opportunity is an answer to prayer and we are humbled by God's faithful blessing. Thank you for those who prayed alongside us.

The last few days of our adventure took us to Rome, Venice, and Milan by way of train. We were able to enjoy the Italian countryside as well as some strikingly beautiful cities. With Chad returning to work today-and all the photos on his laptop-that post will come a little later. Meanwhile, I am excited to get cozy again with Charlotte, catch up with friends, get my house in order, and meet my father for dinner tomorrow night. :)

Much love...

K

I love Paris in the Summer

July 29, 2012 Kimberly Keith

So much has happened since I last blogged! Let me play catch up; first, with Paris.

Our week away from the Netherlands began with Paris. Everywhere I turned my jaw dropped. I thought I'd make a quick list of things I saw and learned while roaming the streets of Paris.

1. Paris is home to some of the most (quite literally) awesome sights in the world. Here are a few that took my breath away . . .

The Eiffel Tower:

We went to the tippy top - scary, but beautiful!

Back on solid ground.

Chad and the tower at night.

The Louvre-the building itself is stunning, even without art it is a sight to see:

Miss Mona herself

Venus

It seemed like the thing to do.

Notre Dame:

The Last Five Kilometers of the Tour de France:

Palace of Luxembourg gardens:

Look at the sailboats in the pond behind me. The children laughed so sweetly as they played with their "ships".

Isn't this grand?

Yes, we ate macaroons in the park. :)

2. I do not like French food, except for: coffee (cafe au lait), croissants, beignets, crepes, fries (Belgium actually owns the rights to those yummies), baguettes, macaroons and... I think that's it. Breakfast and lunch is great. Dinners, on the other hand, not so great. Following a series of dry, poor tasting evening meals, we caved and ate Italian; something I vowed to wait to do until in Italy, but desperate times call for desperate measures. :)

3. The cigarette industry will never die as long as the French still live.

4. French women are beautiful. On the same street in the same moment you will see a woman who looks as if she's just stepped off a runway; tall, slender, sleek hair, elegant heels, long legs, and a great dress, and also one who looks as though she just rolled out of bed, threw on a dress, tied her hair up, and splattered some lipstick on. They are both gorgeous.

5. I would not survive in Paris on my current salary. Everything is just too tempting to buy, and, for the most part, comparatively too expensive.

6. Paris has a way of romancing her visitors. I want to come back and fall in love with Paris again.

The Old Country

July 20, 2012 Kimberly Keith

Before Chad and I left Charlotte, my father, amongst many well wishes, jokingly remarked, "Say hello to the old country for me." So, to the old country we went. My father and his two sisters grew up in the small mussel fishing village of Bruinisse on the southern island of Zeeland. I've been here several times as a child and teenager, but on this visit I think I was better able to understand a bit of what my father's life might have been like.

The mussel harbor which coincidentally hosted a mussel fest that same afternoon.

Zeeuwse Mussel pride

A bakery owned by my the father and brother of my father's childhood best friend.

This is baker Daan (who gave us free treats!)

Sprucing up my grandmother's grave

That's a bit better. On her headstone reads (in Dutch) "My grace is sufficient for you". The same phrase-in English of course-is transcribed in my brother's headstone as well.

(foreground) my great-grandfather (back) my grandfather

The home on the right was my father's

Zierikzee, another town on Zeeland where my father went to secondary school.

Tante Tineke resting while we enjoy a cup of coffee at (formerly) Koss and Toss; a common hangout spot of my aunt and father.

Chadwick :)

Belgian Frites-which are always served with mayonnaise. Now, I am not a mayonnaise fan, but this mayonnaise tastes completely different-and better-than ours. Where can I get some?!