Today I took my bike out for a bike ride, together with my hubby. The sun was shining, and I was inspired! It amazes me what a little bit of sunshine does for good spirits. The gloomy weather has kept me in a funk for sure.
This area is filled with so called Rustpunten, or Restingplaces, where you can park your bike, have a cup of coffee or tea and admire someones garden. We stopped at Theetuin "ons joppe". This particular Rustpunt also had a tiny little store, not much more than a shed actually, which sold all kinds of odds and ends. And the garden was simply gorgeous. My pictures of it have disappeared, much to my dismay. But we did take home some plants.
After wandering around the garden we biked on to a new project that a friend of ours is working on. A vineyard, no less!! Landgoed Morren (Took a picture of that little castle as well, and it too disappeared)
Ended up our trip with a cup of coffee accompanied by the men at the next table loudly gossiping about everyone that they knew in the neighborhood. Oh, the village life......
32 kilometers later, we came home. It was a good day!
maandag 22 augustus 2011
zondag 21 augustus 2011
What I'm reading
So I'm reading a ton of books right now, and most of them are somewhat intelligent.
Bedoeld Leven, otherwise known as Living a purposeful life: Written especially for women. Hoping to gain some insight out of this. As a life-long struggle seems to be a lack of purpose.
Disappointment with God: Because I am and maybe this will help me deal with it. My dad is a huge Philip Yancey fan. He bought this one when in India on one of his trips to give as gifts here in Holland. I claimed this one for myself.
De Bevrijder, otherwise known as The Bondage Breaker: Herman and I will be doing some counseling type things in the coming weeks, based on this book. Good look into the spiritual world and how I, as a Christian, can deal with it.
The Brain that Changes Itself: Another one of my Dad's. Fascinating look into the plasticity of the human brain through readable case studies.
Walking from East to West: A biography about someone I should know but don't. Glimpse into life in India and his conversion to christianity.
The Mind's Eye: Love me some Oliver Sacks! He always manages to make medical issues come to life. Another one of my Dads favorite authors.
Made to Crave: This one is getting a lot of my attention. The subtitle is satisfying your deepest desire with God, not food. I've read the book, am reading the guidebook, and am watching the video. Here's a one liner from her "If I feel lonely, unhappy and sad in my bigger pair of jeans, I can still feel lonely, unhappy and sad in my smaller pair of jeans".
Today I figured out one of my triggers, why I give in to my food cravings. It's the damaging thought "het maakt toch niets uit" or "it won't make a difference anyway". Which bring me back to the whole disappointed in God thing.
What are you reading, and why?
Bedoeld Leven, otherwise known as Living a purposeful life: Written especially for women. Hoping to gain some insight out of this. As a life-long struggle seems to be a lack of purpose.
Disappointment with God: Because I am and maybe this will help me deal with it. My dad is a huge Philip Yancey fan. He bought this one when in India on one of his trips to give as gifts here in Holland. I claimed this one for myself.
De Bevrijder, otherwise known as The Bondage Breaker: Herman and I will be doing some counseling type things in the coming weeks, based on this book. Good look into the spiritual world and how I, as a Christian, can deal with it.
The Brain that Changes Itself: Another one of my Dad's. Fascinating look into the plasticity of the human brain through readable case studies.
Walking from East to West: A biography about someone I should know but don't. Glimpse into life in India and his conversion to christianity.
The Mind's Eye: Love me some Oliver Sacks! He always manages to make medical issues come to life. Another one of my Dads favorite authors.
Made to Crave: This one is getting a lot of my attention. The subtitle is satisfying your deepest desire with God, not food. I've read the book, am reading the guidebook, and am watching the video. Here's a one liner from her "If I feel lonely, unhappy and sad in my bigger pair of jeans, I can still feel lonely, unhappy and sad in my smaller pair of jeans".
Today I figured out one of my triggers, why I give in to my food cravings. It's the damaging thought "het maakt toch niets uit" or "it won't make a difference anyway". Which bring me back to the whole disappointed in God thing.
What are you reading, and why?
zaterdag 6 augustus 2011
Birthday
I turned forty this week, and these bicycle bags were my absolute favorite present. This picture was taken with my other present, my little red olympus, with which I hope to record more pretty pictures to post on this blog. These bicycle bags are actually picnic bags. They have four wine glasses, plates and cutlery on one side and a freezer bag on the other side. Wonderful for taking spontaneous bike rides with a drink and a bite or two! My sister bought them for me in the hopes that they would help motivate me to do fun things. I hope to do so....
maandag 11 april 2011
Living a purposeful life
While at a friends house, getting ready to fix sandwiches for the hardworking men who were cleaning out another friends garden, I found this book.
It grabbed my attention. It should because this is a recurring theme. What's my purpose in life? And more than that, what is Gods purpose for my life?
I have a bad habit of going in to hiding, or fleeing into doing things instead of facing that question. Part of me fears that I will learn that my purpose in life is to do boring mundane things without acclamation. So I have been very busy finding things to do that give me a fleeting sense of purpose and temporary acclamation. And it's become very tiring. Very very tiring.
Somewhere along the way I have lost touch with God, and lost touch with things that give enduring purpose, real meaning.
So I'm reading this book, trying to take another step on the road to becoming more of a human being, instead of a human doing.
It grabbed my attention. It should because this is a recurring theme. What's my purpose in life? And more than that, what is Gods purpose for my life?
I have a bad habit of going in to hiding, or fleeing into doing things instead of facing that question. Part of me fears that I will learn that my purpose in life is to do boring mundane things without acclamation. So I have been very busy finding things to do that give me a fleeting sense of purpose and temporary acclamation. And it's become very tiring. Very very tiring.
Somewhere along the way I have lost touch with God, and lost touch with things that give enduring purpose, real meaning.
So I'm reading this book, trying to take another step on the road to becoming more of a human being, instead of a human doing.
donderdag 31 maart 2011
Thoughts at 5:45 a.m.
Sleep (or lack thereof)
It's 5.45 a.m. I've been up since 4.30 because my boy hadn't slept yet, had growing pains and needed some TLC. He fell asleep with me rubbing his legs. His huge big boy soccer legs. Such a difference from the small chubby boy legs that I used to rub almost every night.
His not sleeping worries me. He's at home a lot, not going to school, due to the ensuing tiredness. And the school has not bothered to call once. I'm thinking this is a ball that I will pick up once we get back from Berlin.
Berlin
Because YEAH, it's Berlin weekend! Anniversary weekend for hubby and I. We're going with newish friends, so it will be fun to see how our travel plans mesh (or not). They're driving, we're hitching a ride. Really looking forward to it!
Rudeness
Yesterday I was treated quite rudely during a work meeting. Left the meeting feeling really upset and then, on the advice of my husband, decided to write them an e-mail to give them some feedback. Just now I read the reply. Turns out Mr. Rude had mistaken me for someone else. Someone else that he'd e-mailed with but never met, and someone who had pushed his buttons all the wrong way. So all his frustration with this other person was poured out on me. I just have to laugh. So I accepted the apology and wrote back that we would shake hands and recognize each other the next time we met. Glad it wasn't about me, a bit sad that he felt it necessary to be so abrupt with someone he'd never met.
I'll go back and lie down now. For the 40 minutes that's left before the alarm goes off.
It's 5.45 a.m. I've been up since 4.30 because my boy hadn't slept yet, had growing pains and needed some TLC. He fell asleep with me rubbing his legs. His huge big boy soccer legs. Such a difference from the small chubby boy legs that I used to rub almost every night.
His not sleeping worries me. He's at home a lot, not going to school, due to the ensuing tiredness. And the school has not bothered to call once. I'm thinking this is a ball that I will pick up once we get back from Berlin.
Berlin
Because YEAH, it's Berlin weekend! Anniversary weekend for hubby and I. We're going with newish friends, so it will be fun to see how our travel plans mesh (or not). They're driving, we're hitching a ride. Really looking forward to it!
Rudeness
Yesterday I was treated quite rudely during a work meeting. Left the meeting feeling really upset and then, on the advice of my husband, decided to write them an e-mail to give them some feedback. Just now I read the reply. Turns out Mr. Rude had mistaken me for someone else. Someone else that he'd e-mailed with but never met, and someone who had pushed his buttons all the wrong way. So all his frustration with this other person was poured out on me. I just have to laugh. So I accepted the apology and wrote back that we would shake hands and recognize each other the next time we met. Glad it wasn't about me, a bit sad that he felt it necessary to be so abrupt with someone he'd never met.
I'll go back and lie down now. For the 40 minutes that's left before the alarm goes off.
woensdag 30 maart 2011
Hopeful
3 days ago I went for a long walk and talk with my husband. 2 days ago I spent 15 minutes on the stepper. Yesterday I visited my sister. Today I spent another 15 minutes on the stepper. I'm almost detecting a pattern. At least there's a pattern in my thoughts, which are turning more towards exercise and some form of bodily motion beyond getting on my bicycle for my little bike trip to work.
Since november I've been pretty consistent in getting up every morning to exercise. After India I lost my flow. I'm hoping to regain it, one small step at a time. Because exercise does help, makes me feel better about myself, makes me feel like I've accomplished something after a long day of office work.
Since november I've been pretty consistent in getting up every morning to exercise. After India I lost my flow. I'm hoping to regain it, one small step at a time. Because exercise does help, makes me feel better about myself, makes me feel like I've accomplished something after a long day of office work.
dinsdag 29 maart 2011
Music
My brother in law presents a radio program at our local radio station. Our very local, very small radio station. I never stay up late enough to listen to it, but he sends us the link every two weeks or so. I get a real kick out of listening. It's called gospels from back in the day (or something like that). He puts together an eclectic mix of music which makes me cheerful every time I listen to it. I don't recognize any of the music and yet it sounds familiar in some odd way.
I'm listening right now. The kitchen door is open to let in the spring air. My new purple bike is standing outside waiting to be admired. My hubby has cooked a meal and the sun is shining.
It's a happy time!
I'm listening right now. The kitchen door is open to let in the spring air. My new purple bike is standing outside waiting to be admired. My hubby has cooked a meal and the sun is shining.
It's a happy time!
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