has been's, since's, and if only's...

...humor has been a saving grace lately, since long work days always have room for laughs. if only i was as funny as devin pretends i am.

...healthier hair has been my fortune recently, since i blew fuses and retired my blow dryer till we return. if only i didn't look like a "lion" -to quote devin's endearing description of my mane.

...devin has been joining me in running the past month, since i'm too scared to go alone. if only we could run as long as we did today everyday.

...sunshine has been making me happy this week, since clear skies are a rarity. if only i could store it up in a little monsters-inc bottle for when skies are grey.

...the dog around the corner has not been receiving kind thoughts from me, since he howls/moans/barks all night long. if only he'd stop barking.

...learning has been on my mind now, since i wont be going back to school with everyone else. if only i could've forseen the future need for french.

...my mother has been my main heart throb today, since i haven't gotten my daily talk time in. if only she could sing me my favorite lullaby i'd fall asleep better:

you are my sunshine, my only sunshine.

you make me happy when skies are grey.

you'll never know dear how much i love you.

please don't take my sunshine away.

the first glimpse from hitting the beach last week. soaking up the sun:)

Bruges

while headed back from the beach, we spent the evening in one of belgium's most lauded cities. bruges. one of devin's co-workers titled it the venice of belgium. it was everything we were hoping for in a weekend outing. couldn't beat the canals, but highlights included: a huge central square dating back to the 14 century, crowds, fountains with funny statues, cobblestone streets, the tallest steeple in europe, and surplus of shopping (3 h+m's, 2 zara's, a zara kids, and a zara home in half a mile on the same street.)

celebrating...

...one month in our new home today. it's amazing how home can be wherever you make it. the past four weeks have not seemed like just four weeks. oh no, but boy our we grateful to be growing. here are some snippets of the weekend.

the coast of belgium is just an hour and half away. we can't resist being that close to a beach. after a hard week of work this felt like heaven, but i do picture heaven being warmer than 60 degrees. we walked a few miles along the shore, soaked up the scenery, gawked at the high rises crammed next to old houses, held hands, took our hats off to anyone who got in the freeeezing water, got free sprite, spied on millions of darling families, admired the bike riders galore, and enjoyed observing a nice sand tennis tournament to techno music.

i know now how glorious and needed weekends are. maybe you, like me, are already planning this upcoming one:)

sorry the pictures look grainy. silly blogger.

three parts

this post has two parts:

part i. a realization:

i have a uniform at work. the last time i had a uniform was ballet class in 11th grade. therefore, whenever we go out and i get to choose what to wear, i always pick a skirt or dress. realizing that i've only worn skirts and dresses since we've been here led me to think about how great it is that the distinguishment between men and women on public bathroom doors-which carries across all languages and is understood in all countries-is, essentially, a skirt. a little triangle thing for a dainty distinguishment. thank my lucky stars for them.

part ii. the difference between a belgian ladies' room and an american ladies' room:

i think i make my point clear without much explanation...

...except look at the skirt! it's plaid.

...oh and since when are bathroom lady's in color, have hairdos, and wear heels??

...my favorite thing about her may be her full figure.

...one last thing. make any difference that this sign is from the ladies' room at our church? does for me:)

part iii. a story:

it was in this bathroom that i had my first french experience alone. this is how it went down.

.me washing my hands after using the restroom.

.woman comes out of the next stall to wash her hands.

.she says something to me in french.

.i smile and walk out.

you guys i'm awful!

family night first

before i recap on the weekend i have to mention FHE tonight:

a generous and capable family in the ward invited us to their house in waterloo. they have two daughters one of which is my age. they speak superb english. their house is utterly perfect. they served us our first belgian french fries-yum. we were so grateful for the invitation, grateful mainly for what people are doing for us here because it is instilling in me a deep aim to be generous and capable and invite as many people in my home that may be in need.

for the lesson we talked about faithful friends. while living overseas my gratitude for the church has reached a whole new level. i've more fully appreciated that, as a whole in this church, we have opportunity to be a friend for Him. it seems like devin and i are witnessing people being His friend for us more than ever, and our hearts are full. essentially, i will let Elder Eyring say what i've been trying to:

"We become His friends as we serve others for Him. He is the perfect example of the kind of friend we are to become. He wants only what is best for His Heavenly Father’s children. Their happiness is His happiness. He feels their sorrow as His own because He has paid the price of all their sins, taken upon Himself all their infirmities, borne all their troubles, and felt all their longings. His motives are pure. He seeks no recognition for Himself but to give all glory to His Heavenly Father. The perfect friend, Jesus Christ, is completely selfless in offering happiness to others.

In the next few days you will have many opportunities to be a friend for Him. It may be as you walk on a dusty road. It may be as you sit down in a railroad car. It may be as you look for a place to sit in a Church congregation. If you are watching, you will see someone carrying a heavy burden. It may be a burden of sorrow or loneliness or resentment. It may be visible to you only if you have prayed for the Spirit to give you eyes to see into hearts and have promised to lift up the hands that hang down.

The answer to your prayer may be the face of an old friend, one you have not seen in years but whose needs suddenly come into your mind and heart and feel as if they are your own. I’ve had that happen to me. Old friends have reached out to me across the miles and the years to offer encouragement when only God could have told them of my burden."

awful picture i know. i was too scared to snap a pic of their dream house, so this is the neighbors:)

intro to our town/village/home:

-we live in a 'city' combined of five different villages

-there is a population of less than 9000 people, over an area of 26 square miles.

-86% of the land is farm land

-there are three post offices

-one mickey dee's, a pizza hut, and the 'walmart' of europe.

-our neighbors(obviously speak english or i would not be writing about them. praises.) own a merry-go-round because they can be home more often and, "it is good to have happy kids". hows that for living the dream?

-i saw their two year old chasing their little dog around and heard the mom yell bella. i assumed that was the girl. it's not. i cannot pronounce or spell the girls name.

-they let us borrow their battery to charge the car, and told us they are home all the time and not to hesitate if we need anything.

it is nice to be home away from home.

shots from within five miles of our place:

a favorite

we turned the corner from the post office and found this baby. it was a real home. unbelieveable.

vendrediiiiiii.

frrrrriday.

good news of the week: Elder Ballard is coming to speak to the brussels stake on september 8th. there is a buzz about the ward and members. this is a bigger-than-huge deal and the excitement has inevitably rubbed off on us. it's contradictory because i'm from utah and have seen the prophets on many occasions, but for now i live in belgium and i feel like a belgian who probably hasn't seen too many prophets, apostles, seers, or revelators in their lifetime and who consequently treats this occasion like christmas. they are humble and ready. they are thirsty. they have respect and i'm certain great things will happen that day. i will be honored to be among them.

waterloo

we live right next to waterloo.

as in the waterloo.

as in our ward boundaries include waterloo.

as in napolean and the battle of waterloo.

as in the waterloo that is talked about in blindside. let me quote it for you, because i have forgotten and it makes me smile:

-Name the combatants in the battle of Waterloo.

-I know that one. Umm the little guy, Napoleon...

-He was on one side and...

-...and Duku's on the other.

-Duke of Wellington.

-Yeah the Duke of Wellington. and Russia or something.

-Prussia.

well we were driving to the city and saw a hill, very atypical here, so we pulled over and found waterloo. easy as that. we walked around the battle grounds, too many euros to go up the hill, made friends with this dog, and loved that we just bumped into this place.

trivia:next time you watch that great flick look closely and you'll see a mess up. in the quiz michael takes he answers Germany as the location. now we all know more than a moviestar. you're welcome.

yesterday... today...

pic: view from the corner of the belgian palace

Today, this quote ran through my mind like wildfire:

"We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming."

Joseph B. Wirthlin

yesterday:

-tried my first belgian chocolate: dark chocolate

today:

-finished that chocolate bar.

forever:

-keep savoring food yet feeling fully in love with my body.

yesterday:

-flung(grateful they actually swing open) all 6 of our windows open inspired by nie.

today:

-watched the rain through the windows, matched it with my own drip drops while reading this.

forever:

-keep nature closely intermingled with the course of my every day.

yesterday:

-relished in good news about a friend.

today:

-wanted to write a letter or two to some long lost friends, but didn't.

forever:

-listen to the spirit to better help God's children.

yesterday:

worked a little too little.

today:

worked a little to much.

forever:

be involved with things that are meaningful,

yesterday:

-made swedish meatballs and potatoes, and cleaned the house, all for my man.

today:

-leftovers, and a reclean to fix my spilled and broken mac makeup. sniff.

forever:

-make home so right. if all is right at home, then everything goes better for devin and my family.

it's hard when yesterday or today isn't exactly what i plan or want, but, thankfully thinking of Heavenly Father not settling for less on me, kindles the heck out of my flame to progress.

sleep tight from 'cross the sea

what you learn when you go to a ward party in belgium:

-you learn how to sing happy birthday in french.

-you learn that mormon standard time still applies in a foreign land. we got to the party fourty minutes late, (it is hard to get anywhere on time with no gps, only printed off google maps, and foreign language street signs. we're always getting lost, and our car is gonna be full of pages and pages of google maps) and we didn't even eat for another hour after we arrived.

-you learn that everyone comes to activities, the ward family is that important. a good goal for me when i get back to utah.

-you learn the better name for a stake dance is a ball, but of course. you learn increased love for families, because everyone is invited to these balls: tykes, teens, and old-timers. not sure when i was a teenager if i would have liked that. hopefully we'll get to attend one.

-you learn, or are reaffirmed, that europe is way more healthy than america. they ate salad, salad, and more salad for dinner, plus quiche and quinoa to add variety. while the health was appreciated, they did barbeque some strange meats, and i'm not a big fan of the european meat industry. they said there wasn't dessert. i couldn't have called it a ward party without dessert. i realized i was gullable when they brought out an assortment of faintly sugared things:)

-i learned, yet again, that it's ever so right to always let your conscience be your guide. we almost didn't go, because of our lack of french skills, but thankfully it doesn't take french to circle around a stick 10 times. who else would've run the winning leg of the relay race if devin wasn't there?

look at that smile-nothing better than perfectly capturing a great moment:)