Tupperware

I'm pretty sure there's nobody out there who doesn't own at least one Tupperware item. Really, Tupperware is known all over the world and there's no need to chant the quality, since it's just a fact.
I have been collecting Tupperware for at least 15 years and I can say: I have plenty.. But nevertheless, I love Tupperware parties! There's always new stuff to discover and I love to hear the tricks and recipes and what other people use their favorite containers for.

Just a little while ago, a friend of mine started throwing Tupperware parties. He's a great guy and we get along well. I would really like to recommend him as your new Tupperware consultant. Although he's new in the field, his knowledge on Tupperware isn't that new. I can tell he's a die hard fan. It's great to find people who share the same passion.

This consultant - his name is Eric - is so fond of his Tupperware Smart Steamer, that I wanted to start cooking healthy right away. He showed us the product and by telling what you could prepare in it, I was all ears. I have had steamers before, but this one is different. So yes, it's on my wish list..

On Saturday June 25th at 6 PM, Eric is going to come over here, to host another Tupperware night. How about you all come over? I'm sure there's some empty space in your cupboards or fridge? Why not fill it up with this wonderful product, so you can enjoy fresh and tasty food? Or maybe you are looking for the perfect wedding or birthday gift? I know a Tupperware set would please me!!! Who wouldn't be happy to receive some Tupperware containers instead of the more common flowers? After all, there's still a lifetime warranty on Tupperware. Flowers may be as nice as a gift, you can't keep them much longer than a week...

Please join in and mail me your coordinates, so I can send you your invitation. Or contact Eric and make an appointment with him right away. It's up to you! I'm looking forward to having you people over here! And thank you Eric, for bringing this wonderful product into my house! Check out the catalogue and start making your wishlist.

I may need your assistance

I truly believe you deserve a medal. Honestly.. The way you befriend your diabetes patients, is remarkable. You're the most devoted nurse I have ever met. Wouldn't know what to do without you, because I do need your assistance every once in a while. You're not only my diabetes nurse. For quite a number of months now, we have become friends. I really like you, and not only because you're the best nurse ever, but for who you are as a person. Warm, friendly, loving, caring, concerned, motivating, did I mention caring? That's why I advise all of my diabetic friends to have you as their nurse. Diabetics who need help in their diabetes treatment and who are willing to put effort in it, can only benefit from having a nurse like you. Because you don't belittle them. You treat them with respect and you make them part of the treatment, meaning you don't alter things without discussing it with your patient. You don't scold us if our numbers weren't that great and you praise us for the tiniest improvement. You're a wonderful motivator!

Thank you, my friend. You haven't got a clue how important you have become.. You are on my list of most important people in the world..

I'm looking forward to June 4!! We'll have a great time at the Neil Diamond concert! Thank you for inviting me!

An artist

Photo by Lana Joos

It's what you like to do. Being creative and having some alone time goes well with who you present.

The walls in your house have been decorated with the numerous paintings your imagination allowed you to create. While working on a new project, you are having the time of your life. You prefer to copy other paintings or even just pictures out of a book.

It's a nice hobby and I'm glad it helps you relax. It's always good to have something to call your own. You don't harm anyone by enjoying your crafts and it gives you the opportunity to be productive in your leisure time. Because sitting in a chair is so not you.

Feel free to make some more paintings. It keeps you busy.
Happy 19th anniversary, gramps. Keep up the good work. We're proud of you.

A panic attack

In 2003 I had my hysterectomy and that operation went perfect. My body healed well and things went back to normal pretty soon.

I have a new gynecologist now. She asked me to come in for a yearly check-up. You know, the usual routine control. She suggested an internal ultrasound to take a look at my ovaries. They were pretty as always :-) There were no more signs of PCOS, what made me happy. Before she let me get dressed, she wanted to do a breast exam as well. It had been a while since my former gynecologist had performed a breast exam.

At first, she didn't speak. Then I heard her mumble.. I held my breath, prepared to hear the worst. She asked me if my breasts were always that hard to examine? eeuurrgghh.. I don't know?

She continued her exam and then she went to her desk, grabbed the phone and made an appointment with the radiologist. I overheard her conversation. She asked if I could come for an ultrasound right away. She had a bad feeling about the numerous mammary she felt. I took a deep breath, jumped off the examination table and buttoned up my shirt. I had a hard time swallowing my saliva and I felt numb. What did she mean? Was something wrong? She didn't have much time left, because they beeped her to go deliver a baby.

So off I went to Radiology. There was a crowd in the waiting room and I couldn't focus on the magazine I had in my lap. All kinds of nasty words crossed my mind. I tried to calm myself and picked another magazine. My fingers txt some lines to my husband and my friend and I wasn't sure whether I was going to send the texts or not. Maybe I should wait for the outcome of the ultrasound?

The radiologist asked me to undress and lay down on his examination table. It was freezing in his consultation room. I had goosebumps all over. The slippery gel was smeared over my chest and the doctor started his exam. He didn't speak. Not at all. I didn't look at the screen. Why should I? It's not like a layman can tell cancer from an innocent swollen gland?

He asked me to get up and get dressed. He was going to forward the result to my gynecologist. Hello??? Can you at least tell me what's going on?? He turned on his heels, looked at me and said: everything's fine ma'am. You have a good day now.

Dancing queen

Wow! What a great recital that was! So many students and 3 hours full of excitement and dance. Grandma, aunties, mom, dad and your sister where there to cheer for you. This year, you choose ragga as your dance style. Since classical ballet is no longer an option (bad knees - remember), you had to make different choices. We had no idea what to expect and we were very surprised by the excellent performance.
I was happy to see the smile on your face. Although you had 3 performances that day, you didn't complain and you looked happy and content. I could tell you had the time of your life and that's so important. You started dance lessons at the age of 2.5 years old. Still a toddler at the time, but you never lost your love for dance. Classical ballet has always been your favorite style and that shows. Your long muscular legs and the slender arms, the grace of the moves you make and the pointed toes say it all.
It's been a hectic day for you and you rehearsed so many times the last couple of weeks. Congratulations sweetie. We're proud of you! xx It's an art to be able to bring joy into people's life by dancing. And that's exactly what you did.

Et maintenant, que vais je faire?

Yesterday was the day where we had to say goodbye for the last time. You're the first member of our diabetesforum that has left us for the other world. It's kinda weird to know that. You joined us right at the beginning. I remember how we got acquainted. We started to type long conversations late at night. You told me that you were diagnosed with C and that the doctors had given you only 3 months. But you were courageous and prepared to fight this battle. That's what you did for the upcoming 3 years.

Not too long after that first conversation, you started to talk about your beautiful family. Your wife, who was always by your side. About the long hours you and your wife had worked, to make sure you would have a good future and a nice house to live in. About the son and daughter you had raised. The foster children from Ireland who were so precious to you, that you gave them the chance to spend their summer holidays at your place. All your life you were there for other people. You are the least selfish person I have ever met. Always there for others, caring over them while you stood at the sideline. That didn't go unnoticed.. you have left many good friends behind, who will miss you terribly. There are quite some people who never met you in person, but their world was turned upside down when they found out about your passing away..

Your grandchildren were lucky to have you as their grandpa. They loved you deeply, those 4 little ones. The pride in your voice when you told stories about the times you spent with them. You helped your wife in the care for those precious wonders. They will miss you.. It was heartwarming how the oldest boys, Devlin and Kyaro came to the coffin to hand their drawings to their "pappie".

Cobra and Zora were your best mates. Long walks and a lot of playtime with the dogs was your favorite hobby. How sad you were, went Zora became sick and passed away. You were inconsolable.. The loss over Zora was too much. And then - out of the blue - you ended up with a wonderful pup: Joker. He looked a little like Zora and when Joker's people parent was struck by the C word as well, you and your wife adopted Joker. He couldn't replace Zora, but he brought you joy and laughter. Although Joker was full of mischief, he sure made you laugh and live again. Do you remember how he gobbled up your favorite straw hat? The grin on your face was golden.
Cobra was as sad over Zora's loss as you were. He felt miserable and was depressed for quite some time. It won't surprise anyone that only 3 days after your passing away, your wonderful dog decided to join you on your journey to the other world. It's a comfort to me you didn't have to undergo this journey all by yourself. You and Cobra will find your way to Zora. Cobra will lead you.

The service at the crematorium was very personal and serene. We were honored to be invited. It was nice that we were given the opportunity to come and say our goodbyes. As soon as they played Et maintenant by Gilbert Bécaud, the tears ran down my cheeks, because it reminded me of the numerous times we talked about your love for the French chansons. Ann Christy sang The Rose and the silence in the theater was too much..
Ave Maria was the moment where I realized it was time to let go of you..

No more pain, no more sorrow over the family you had to leave behind. Take care now, buddy, take care. Have a safe journey. I'd like to dedicate this song by Dalida to you.

For me, for me, formidable

Thank you for inviting us over. We hadn't seen each other in a while and it's not always easy to get everyone together, but somehow we manage to meet up several times a year.

Last night, we were invited into your parental home. Your mom was prepared to cook dinner for all of us and that was not necessary but highly appreciated. She's a great cook and we love to eat her food. Wasn't she pretty? Always dressed up to the nines and looking like a million dollar! Last night wasn't any different. Keep an eye on that leg for us, okay? It does worry me. Please take a rest every now and then, Mrs T. You don't need anyone's permission but your own..

My friend, thank you for all the work you have done for us so far. You are one of a kind and we could not have done what we did without you. I do believe we were able to surprise you? Have fun and let us enjoy the result huh?

Brothers, my record keeps playing the same song: I consider you my true brothers since you're always there for me and I can really rely on you all. Each one of you can read between the lines and the love you offer is true and sincere.. Thank you xxx

Cute as a cupcake!

Photo by Lana Joos

You must have picked up the cupcake hype by now. There are plenty of workshops if you want to get a guided start. Or you browse the Net to let the ideas sprout.

You will need a good cake recipe to start with. It is the base of your cupcake and it needs to be moist and full of flavor. There are tons of recipes out there, but to give you a little hand, I'll write down our favorite cupcake recipe. Visit the specialty shop to get fondant and some tools and you're ready to give it a try.

What do we need:

• 250 grams of flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 250 grams of butter, softened
• 200 grams of sugar
• 50 grams of runny honey
• a splash of vanilla extract
• 250 grams of eggs

What do we do:

• Preheat the oven on 180°C.
• Sift the flour with the baking powder over a bowl.
• Mix the butter with the sugar and the honey until all the sweetness has melted into the butter. Add the vanilla.
• Alternate adding eggs and flour and mix well in between. 
• Pour the dough into 20 muffin cups (paper or silicon, whatever you like the best). 
• Bake the cakes for 20 minutes and let them cool down.
• Use your imagination to decorate your cupcakes. Make a mixture of powdered sugar, egg white and a few drops of lemon juice to use as a glue. 
• Enjoy! And don't forget to mail me your pictures!

See this activity as a wonderful pastime. It's fun to involve your children. I haven't met any child who doesn't like to decorate cupcakes! Let your imagination go wild and admire the result before you indulge!

Photo by Eva Joos

Around the clock

What a great day we had! We monthly meet on any Thursday "to go to the market". That's how we call our day out, because Thursday is market day in the town we go to. That's where we meet to catch up and have a ladies day.

We sit down on the deck to enjoy a first glass of white wine. Most of the time we pick the same little restaurant. The menu is simple but good and the interior is crisp. That's when the chatting begins. We always have so many things to discuss and we laugh and we have a good time over lunch.

Lunch is most likely a salad, vegetarian or non-vegetarian, depending on our moods. Last week we had a great salad, packed with fresh greens and crunchy bits of fruit. How we enjoy those healthy dishes without having to get all of those ingredients from the store!

We're lucky most of the time, since the sun likes the market day too. So we stay outside on the deck to have our coffee(s). We discuss husbands, children, recipes, activities, shops we like to go to.. you know, the usual female talk. And we have more coffee.. up until we realize it's about dinner time. Without discussion we decide we're not done talking yet, so we order dinner. No salad this time, but a sandwich. I had tomato shrimp and that was a good choice. I hear shrimp poison your body with cholesterol, but every now and then I like to indulge my shrimp.

The owner of the restaurant joined us at a certain point. She couldn't believe we weren't done talking yet. For 11 hours we had been sitting there, babbling our way through the day, over wine, diet coke, coffee and something to munch on. Hahaha! It's great to have those days out. Too bad the parking lot closed for the night.. Thank goodness my friends car was parked down the street..

Eye for an eye until the whole world goes blind

She didn't want to marry him.. That's the only "crime" she pled guilty to, but it was enough for Majid Movahedi to loose his pedals and mutilate the woman who rejected him..

Iran, 2004. Majid Movahedi had set his eyes on the young Ameneh Bahramai. At the age of only 20, she had no intention to marry Mr Movahedi, so she waved him aside, on multiple occasions. He had a very hard time accepting that. To him, a woman cannot reject an islamic man. So he decided she had to suffer for hurting his ego.

Without any form of compassion, he mutilated Ms Bahramai by throwing a bucket full of sulfuric acid over her head, leaving her maimed for the rest of her life. She will never be able to see properly again and the pain - both physical and emotional - she has gone through is tremendous.. Spanish doctors tried to help Ms Bahramai to gain back her sight, but the operation didn't give the result they had hoped for. Ms Bahramai underwent 19 surgeries but none could give her back her face..

The Teheran court listened to Ms Bahrami's lifestory and they decided she had the right to disfigure Mr Movahedi the way he disgraced her. Mr Movahedi will be waiting his trial in a Teheran hospital. His victim will dribble 10 drops of sulfuric acid into both his eyes, robbing him of his sight. If she's too soft to do it or if she's opposed to doing it herself, a team of doctors will be beside her, to do the act for her. Mr Movahedi has shown no remorse whatsoever. He still claims he hasn't done anything wrong. He feels he was entitled to do what he did..

In honor of your memory

You were a wonderful person. So many people looked up to you and the courage that came with you. The C word did it again.. We know you were running out of time, but we had no idea it was going to be this soon. Last time we visited you, you were so enthusiastic about a scooter you had bought. It would take you everywhere! That was so exciting for you, because C had weakened your body and you were no longer able to walk by yourself.

I saw the weightloss, I saw how skinny your nose had become. You reminded me of a fragile, little bird. But even so I still saw the person you were: courageous, courteous, loving, caring, interested in the people around you. It was a comfort to me that your brain was not affected by this awful disease. You know what was so typical you? That you never complained... Pain was never out of your life since the diagnose, but you were very good at hiding it. It was of no use to you, to tell others how much pain you had. What a role model..

We'll miss you, buddy. Take care. Send us a signal from where you are. I hope your dog Zohra will have waited for you up there. You take long walks with him now, okay? We'll have a private talk every now and then. You were always interested in hearing the latest news on diabetes treatment. We'll keep you informed.. We'll give your lovely family a warm hug every now and then xx See you on Saturday..

Come and get fat party

Grab some cling film and cover the inside of a glass bowl with it.
Arrange 4 basil leaves on the bottom of the bowl and lay 4 sundried tomatoes in between the leaves.
Spread 1 container of cream cheese over the herbs and top that off with dried tomato spread. Pour some green pesto on top and finish off with another container of cream cheese.
Fold over the cling film and let it rest in the fridge for a couple of hours.
Remove the cling film, tip over the bowl on a plate and serve the cheesespread with crackers.

This recipe sounds delicious, but it's not something we will prepare today. My sister-in-law and a friend are coming over today. We're going to cook Vietnamese, Chinese and Korean food. As we all know, the Asian cuisine is known to be healthy and low fat and that's what I would like to teach these two ladies. I'm not a fan of Asian drinks, so a bottle of South African Chardonnay is keeping its cool in the fridge for the girls to arrive.
I need to run some errands first and do some more tidying up before they get here. Most ingredients I keep in my pantry at all times, but I do need some crab and meat.

The first dish will be the Vietnamese springrolls, packed with veggies, crayfish and crabmeat. Those wraps are so delicious I could have them every day. So simple, healthy, colorful and easy to make!
The Chinese kitchen is rather new to me. I'm still learning a lot, but I know how to make dim sum. I must have made around 250 pieces by now and I'm still not bored. We'll have those in a chicken broth.
My Korean cookbook is a favorite of mine. Korean flavors are so different from what we are used to. I like their combinations and I love to stir fry. We'll have a cashew noodle stir fry with tons of vegetables.

I'm sure we'll have a great day! I'm glad the girls will help me chop the veggies. Let's keep our fingers crossed they will be as enthusiastic about Asian cooking as I am!

You've got a friend

From the early days in kindergarten until today, you have always had many friends. You are like a magnet, that draws people's attention. People want to be your friend and they like you a lot.

Since you left our town to frequent a school in a bigger city than ours, you got new friends - but you didn't forget about your old friends either. Some girls you get along better with than others, but that's okay. After all, you can't be friendly to the whole world, huh. 

These two girls may be called your best friends. The amount of time you spend together and the laughter I can hear coming out of your room when your friends stay over, says it all. I don't know if you noticed, but sometimes I feel like the three of you could be sisters. Over time, you started to look like one another! How scary is that? Your hairdo is practically the same, the features in your faces resemble and you even use the same lines when you talk.

I'm so happy for you. You don't only have girl friends but there's also a group of boy friends you like to hang out with. Times have changed. In our days, it wasn't appropriate for us - girls - to have boys as friends. Boys didn't frequent the same schools and we were not able to meet up like the youngsters do nowadays. There were no cell phones and Internet - well.. you know.. and I know you can't believe we had a life without the Net. It's great that you can hang out with girl friends as well as their male opponents. It makes life a whole lot easier..

You and your friends

A sweet tooth

I don't have much of a sweet tooth. Although I like to prepare desserts, I'm not a huge dessert lover. I guess I'm a lucky diabetic! Can't imagine how hard it must be for a diabetic who craves sugar!

I have not lived the days when sugar was forbidden for diabetics. I do have deep respect for people with D who had to live up to a very strict diet. They must have been deprived of so many good things. How about children? They come across so many events where products are loaded with sugar: birthday parties, trips to the amusement park, fun fairs, treats at the grandparents,.. Nowadays, treatment for diabetics has changed. It all comes down to counting carbs. Okay, rapid sugars are not the best choice, but they can be eaten within moderation. As long as you count your carbs and make sure you inject the insulin needed. That's exactly what I do when I enjoy my favorite sabayon!

I have tried to make desserts or bake goodies without sugar. There are numerous kinds of sweeteners one can use, but no thanks, I'm not a fan. Cakes and cookies really need sugar to get their crunchiness and nice tan. I do use less sugar in my desserts as what the recipe calls for and I haven't had any complaints so far. It's my way of cutting down on carbs without losing flavor. Wouldn't you rather eat a dessert full of flavor than some tasteless piece of crap? Exactly..

A beautiful flower

I really love artichokes. This delicate flower shaped vegetable is a joy to eat. A very basic recipe is probably the best: stock poached artichoke with a simple mustard vinaigrette. I'm not talking about just the artichoke hearts! Don't forget to munch on the leaves. It's a pleasure to tear off the leaves from the flower, dip them in the vinaigrette and suck the lovely "meat" out.

I sometimes eat artichokes for lunch. It doesn't require anything else and I find it very fulfilling. You may serve artichoke hearts as an appetizer if you prefer. But if you do want your artichokes to be a whole meal, you could try this recipe. It doesn't ask for fresh artichokes, so you can make it any time you want.

what do we need:

• 1 can of artichoke hearts, drained and chopped (try to find marinated artichokes, it will add to the taste)
• 60 grams of Parmesan cheese, grated
• 90 ml of good mayonnaise
• 90 ml of sour cream
• a pinch of salt and pepper
• a clove of garlic, minced
• 4 chicken breast halves

what do we do:

• Preheat the oven to 190°C.
• Mix the artichokes with the cheese, mayo, sour cream, pepper and salt and garlic.
• Place the chicken in a greased baking dish and cover evenly with the artichoke mixture.
• Bake the dish for 30 min or until the chicken is done.
• Serve with slices of fresh baguette and a green salad.

A new me

You have no idea how good it feels to finally have a size 38! I have put so much work, energy and effort into losing weight and it's finally paying off. I'm having mixed feelings over it though. One day I'm so happy I got rid of that overweight and the next day I feel miserable because people keep saying how good I look, what makes me think of the past and how bad I must have looked then.. Do you know what I mean? Of course I know that's not what people mean, but it's the simple truth: I was overweight. And that weight needed to come off..

My clothing size has dropped 5 sizes and that is amazing. Last week I emptied my walk in closet for the third time and there's practically nothing left now. I'm still getting used to this new body and the scale is still not my best friend. Because some days, I fear it's all been a dream and the weight will come back. 

I'm a big fan of healthy food and small portions. Always have been, at least since I became a diabetic. Being diagnosed with D gives me mixed feelings too. I'm not too upset about being given the disease. It made me realize how precious life is and I got to meet so many wonderful people. But the constant fight with insulin resistance and slow digestion, wasn't very motivating to keep my BG in control. I wasn't happy in that body that I despised but it's all I had. I tried so hard to keep the weight off, but D decided otherwise. 

Things are getting better now. No more slow digestion and the insulin resistance? Well, what can I say? My total dose of insulin has dropped from a daily 135 units to around 35 units a day. That is so rewarding! It still startles me at times. Sometimes I need to pinch my cheeks to let myself know it is true!
Having lost weight has altered my view towards clothes as well. I spend more time in dressing rooms and I like to sort out my clothes in my closet. Before the weight loss, I couldn't care less.. I just picked out whatever was comfortable or available in my size. Now I pay more attention and I'm getting pickier over my choices. I can shop in different boutiques now and there's so much more available! I love to wear dresses and skirts and cleavage tops. I finally have a shape! I no longer look boxy!

It's hard work. I spend quite some time on making menus and finding low carb & healthy recipes. I love to experiment with different cuisines and try out new produce. As long as it's fat free, low carb and healthy: beam me up! I gave up on several types of food, but that's okay. It doesn't bother me anymore, since I know it keeps my weight of. 

Every now and then, I have nightmares about growing bigger again. I don't want to go back there. I've been there, I know what it feels like and I don't want to relive it. So I'll keep on track and I'll keep eating healthy food. Because I like that number 38. I like those fitted blouses and skinny jeans. My legs do well in knee high pencil skirts with matching high heels. I like me a whole lot better now.. And that shows..

Material girl

I know we have many things and you could call it materialism. Although that's not how it feels, because by far: I'm not a material girl. I prefer giving over receiving. But some things are precious to me: especially pictures we've taken and presents I have been given are taken good care off.

Can you imagine my despair when I found out I lost my beautiful bracelet? I felt like crying, because it was so special to me.. My friends chose this delicate gem for my birthday a number of years ago and I have worn it ever since. I never took it off, not even to shower or work around the house. Last summer, I had to put it aside as a preparation for both my surgeries. It felt so uncomfortable not to wear it. As soon as I returned to my room, I opened my locker to retrieve the bracelet.

And now it's gone.. the lock must have gone bad I assume. It did come off at times. And yes, I should have brought it to the jeweler to fix it. It's too late now. My wrist feels weird without this special gift.. But the bond I feel with my friends, will never be lost. I'll keep the bracelet in mind. It will keep us together..

It must be love

Thank you, for loving our daughter. Thank you, for bringing joy into her life. Thank you, for being who you are and making life a feast.

You are a very warm young man and we were happy to welcome you into our home. I can tell by the look in my daughter's eyes how happy she is. She loves you a lot and your eyes tell us you love her back. Do you think you could let your parents know they may be proud of their son? They raised you well.

Last week, you stayed over for dinner. I had no idea you were going to be here, but it was a pleasant surprise. I served you Thai chicken with rice and your appetite was a delight. You were excited about the international cuisine in our household. I hope you enjoyed last night's Moroccan tajine as well?
We were happy with your presence at the kitchen table. Do feel free to come over and spend time with us.

Slow living

Do you recognize the lifestyle of wanting to do as much as possible? The feeling you don't want to miss out? But then again, having the feeling that life is flying by and you're missing out on so much?

I think it's time to step back and cut down on the hectic lifestyle. There are just too many activities going on at the same time. Last week, I was in a conversation with a lady from the union. We were discussing different jobs and careers and the lady of the union asked me if I ever took the time to take care of me. Not someone else, just me. She was not the only person to ask me that question lately. I always thought I had so much me time, but I have come to realize that is not true.. I do spend a lot of time helping others and being of meaning to friends and family. Because that's who I am and that's what I like to do. It fulfills me to be there for other people and motivate them in their life. I always thought that was what gave me energy to go on.

Limits. That's what it's all about. I need to set boundaries. Thank you, my friend, for making me aware, because I keep forgetting about boundaries. I don't know what makes it so hard for me to set them. It's not that I'm afraid to speak up for myself, not by far. It's more of an addiction, I guess. An addiction to help others and be there at all times.

I'm trying to cut back and I have caught up on some sleep already. I'm still very tired and it feels like I could sleep all day and night. Maybe this time I need to give in and catch up with myself. No pressure, no rushing, no nothing.. Just a little bit more slow living..

Motherless

Today is Mother's Day. Today, yesterday, tomorrow, bad day, good day,... No matter what day it is: once a mom, always a mom. At least, that's the ideal situation. Once you gave birth to a child, you will remain its mom forever. Unconditional love, they say. A blood bond that can never be broken.

I love being a mom. It fulfills me and having children is the greatest gift in life. Waking up in the middle of the night, to make sure you thought of lunch for your child to take to school ; picking out little bras in a boutique, to surprise your daughter on her first night out ; baking their favorite banana bread by the time school's out ; rubbing her back with anti-zit cream while she's in the shower..
It's all about the little things. That's what makes moms.. moms.

Moms are special. They are unique and they cannot be replaced. Even if children have a wonderful father, there's always the need for their mom.

I think the picture in this blog is right.. or at least it is to some moms. I can agree to the quote up to a certain point. That is if it's meant to be sarcastic. Because, you know, moms too can be wrong at times. Good moms can admit their faults and flaws. It makes them better moms..

I'm looking forward to this beautiful, sunny day, together with my family. We're going to pay my mother-in-law a visit this afternoon. Because that's what makes her happy: her family. I'm sure we'll have a great time together. Happy Mother's Day to all mothers out there. xx

Goodbye is the saddest word

It's the C-word again. I hate the word, I hate the disease. How many more victims will C make? You were too young, just 60. On the day you and your wife had been married for 25 years, you sighed for the last time. You had gone into a coma the previous night and we all knew you weren't going to get any better. But still, we were not prepared to let go. How could one be?

You and your wife made a very good couple. Joy and laughter was your way of life. Having a glass of good wine with your spouse over a nice conversation, made you happy. She will miss you so much..

You have two beautiful, young independent daughters. You loved them so deeply and you raised them well. Even though you were not the biological father of your oldest daughter, you never treated her any different from the youngest one. Because that's the person you were: reliable, joyful, pleasant to be with, responsible and best of all: loving.. And that's how we will remember you.

You go to sleep now, forever. This morning, all your friends and family will be there with you, in church. Till we meet again, because goodbye is the saddest word.

Different choices, different destination

This is it. It's been decision time. It took you some time to make up your mind about the upcoming school year. Your heart goes out to your favorite school in Bruges, where you have all of your friends and where the teachers still know all of their students. You wear your school uniform with pride and you are happy with the way things go around in school.

It is a shame though, that there aren't many options for the students once they turn 14. Either you choose Economics or Science. Or you frequent some other school that has other options as well. Humanities is what you would like to do, and with pain in your heart, you will have to say your goodbyes.. I'm so sorry for you, sweetie. I know how much you liked to be in boarding school and a student of this wonderful city, Bruges. But you'll do just fine in your new school. It isn't that new to you, since your sister has been in this school for 4 years now. And it's a good school too, you know? It's a whole lot bigger, that's true. You can't compare 3.000 students to a handful of 350, can you? And no, there won't be any friends at night to spend time with and to help out with homework. It'll be a big change for you and for us as well. But we'll manage, we will. You made the right choice to go to Bruges two years ago and you made the right choice again this time, to go to Eeklo. I'm sure you will love this school as well and Humanities will be interesting. After all, at the age of 14, you're still eager to learn.

Two more months and your time in Bruges will be over. We'll miss your school and the surroundings. We'll go back to shop every now and then, to relive the joy we once had. It's time to move on. It's life.

Life's been good

May 5 1995. The day we got married. I had given birth to our first daughter just a couple of weeks earlier. We wanted to get married, to give our daughter a good future. Things had gone real fast for us as a couple, but we were confident about our future as a family.

Our firstborn turned 16 in March. Today we have been married for 16 years.. It doesn't seem that long, but the date proves the contrary. For 16 years we have lived our lives as husband and wife, father and mother. We have been through some turbulent moments together, but we hung on and relied on our love to make things work.

Life is an adventure. Marriage is an adventure. An adventure worth living.

Happy Anniversary!

Bienvenue à Paris

You have always been an early bird, and this morning wasn't any different. Your teachers were expecting you kids around 6 AM at the sports facility near school. It's finally going to happen, sweetheart!!! You have been looking forward to this trip all year!! I am almost as excited as you are. It's always an adventure to go on a school trip and if that trip leads you to Paris, well, what can I say? It's such a romantic, bubbly town and it's full of excitement and joy. You'll love it!

There was some discussion on whether you should take your new Canon to Paris or not. I know you're a responsible girl and you'll take very good care of it. So go ahead sweetie and make your best pictures ever! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. That's the best you can do. I hope your stomach won't be too much of an issue. Take care and text us every now and then, okay? Bisous xx

Photo by Lana Joos

Just one letter...

Osama and Obama. Two names that were very hot yesterday. Only one letter is different, but their worlds are so far apart.

I heard the news at 07:00 AM while I was in the bathroom getting ready to drive our youngest daughter to school. It gave me goosebumps, to hear that the Americans had killed Osama Bin Laden. For 10 years they had tried to track him down. For 10 years, Osama succeeded in hiding from the world. What will happen to this very same world, now the leader of Al-Qaeda is murdered? You honestly don't think Al-Qaeda will say: okay, you won, we will surrender???

Last night, I watched the news and the excitement at Ground Zero gave me more goosebumps.. It chills me, to see how people cheer over his death. It's scary to see the joy but at the same time hatred in the eyes of the American people.. Because the death of Bin Laden is definitely not the end. What will happen now? Does Obama have the answer to that question? They have just opened a can of worms they won't be able to close..

A little uptight

I'm sure you'll be a bit nervous this morning. Your stomach is still upset and medication doesn't do anything for you. Last week, you started to throw up and your appetite vanished instantly. That is so not you! You love to eat and you love desserts. Now even hearing about food, makes your stomach twirl. The doctor asked you to rest and stay home from school for a couple of days, so you can catch up some sleep.

Today, a doctor will perform a gastroscopy to find out what's bothering your stomach. You're a bit apprehensive about that and that's absolutely normal. I asked the doctor for a light anesthesia, to help you relax and to prevent you from gagging. I remember the last time I had that same exam and I can (but I won't) tell you it was no fun at all, especially without any form of anesthesia...

Let's keep our fingers crossed that the doctors will come up with a correct diagnosis. After all, you're leaving for Paris in two days and you wouldn't want to miss that event!

Inexcusable

Dear vandals,

last Friday night, you (and probably some friends of yours) were wandering around town, looking for things to destroy or steal. I'm sure you had a great time. It's not the first time you guys chose this small town as a target for your stupid mischief. Last month, you broke the windshield of my car and you ruined several other cars.

I'm sure you didn't enjoy the police on your doorstep, because they did track you down. You being minors, there's not much the police can do, unfortunately. I feel for you, that you haven't had the best youth possible and it's no fun for you either, that you don't have other pastimes to keep busy. But have you ever thought about the consequences of ruining other people's belongings? Did you know that my daughter had saved up to buy this beautiful bicycle? How will she go to school now? Why did you steal her bike? I'm pretty sure you won't ride it.. It's not even of any use for you. You probably had a good laugh over it with your friends. Maybe you'll try to sell it for money to get another game for your playstation. Maybe you just ditched it somewhere, after you were done laughing over your useless theft. I really feel for you.. it's sad,  you know. Let me tell you this: you ain't cool.

Just as a reminder: this is the bike you stole from our daughter. And guess what? We drove around town and checked every street and corner possible. And we were delighted to find the bike hidden in the shrubs. Maybe you intended to come pick it up some other day. Bummer! It's ours! Have a fruitful weekend..

Pass the tissues please

Photo by Lana Joos

You have been playing the flute for 6 years now and you're still enjoying it. There's even a small chance you will get an upgrade and join the adult music group in town.

There was a concert in Assenede in April and there will be another one in our town in May. We're so looking forward to coming to see and hear you play! I'm sure grandma and grandpa will be there too.

On the concert in April, you were asked to take pictures and you did real well. I'm so proud of you for being such a good photographer. Look at how you portrayed the singer present at the concert. You did a very good job at catching her emotions. Never doubt your talent, girl. You're getting better after every photoshoot you make.

I'm sure grandma and I will need some tissues during the performance. To be honest, I find it very emotional to see your child play an instrument and see her enjoy the play. And it's a boost to her, to see that we support her in what she does, by coming to her concerts and cheering for her. You go, girl!

ボナペティ

What a blast we had, at this sushi workshop in Aalst!

Shopping around in Aalst, I had found a small Asian shop. Since I'm so in to Asian food, it was a true joy to look around and pick up all those tasty Asian ingredients. At the desk, some fancy business card got my attention. It said:

Charlotte Van Schuylenbergh

Duivekeetstraat 54

B 9300 Aalst

+32 486 42 86 12

charlotte@sumosushi.be

www.sumosushi.be

Sushi Workshops

I had made sushi before, but I had never seen anyone make it professionally. I did watch some YouTube clips, but it's not the same. There are some specific techniques to make the perfect sushi and getting some extra information on the ingredients is very interesting to say the very least.

So I asked around to see who was interested in taking a sushi workshop with me. I didn't have to ask twice: right away, two sisters-in-law pointed their index in the air and yelled: we want to join you! And off we went..

Charlotte appeared to be a very energetic, attractive and fascinating personality. She was absolutely extroverted and eager to teach us all about the art of making sushi. Because it definitely is an art!

Six studious ladies were ready to roll up their sleeves and get going. Charlotte had 4 different types of sushi in mind for us. The first sushi roll we made, was a Maki roll, meaning it had nori (Japanese dried seaweed) on the outside and rice, crab sticks, strips of cucumber and yellow daikon (pickled horseradish) on the inside. That is the sushi roll most of us know and it's probably one of the most favorite ones as well. I must say: our rolls came out real well!

The next roll, I had never seen before: a Temaki roll or a cone shaped sushi roll, filled with rice, lettuce, raw salmon, avocado and black sesame seeds. A Temaki roll is packed in nori. Did you know that nori has more vitamin C than oranges? Don't be surprised to get a parcel of nori on Japanese airplanes instead of the more boring and fattening salted peanuts.. After all, the Japanese tend to be more healthy than us.. There's less heart disease and cancer in Japan than over here. So maybe it's time to get a grip and eat more Japanese food?

My favorite sushi was definitely the Uramaki roll: an inside-out sushi roll. It takes some skill to make an Uramaki roll, but we did it and it came out perfect! We sprinkled some panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) and black sesame seeds on top of the rice, before we flipped it over to spread a spicy tuna salad on the other side. We rolled it up "inside-out" before we sliced it into 8 equal pieces. The crunchiness of the slightly toasted panko gave it just that something extra that I really enjoyed.

Our last sushi roll was a Nigiri roll. Those were real easy to make: a small egg shaped ball of rice, topped with a thin slice of raw salmon or tuna or even a square piece of Japanese omelette (baked in sesame oil and seasoned with soy sauce, salt and sugar - love it!!). A small ribbon of nori held it all in place.

All sushi rolls were to be eaten with chop sticks and were accompanied by soy sauce, fresh wasabi (I'll never have the tubed wasabi again) and pickled ginger. I'm a big fan of ginger, especially the pickled version. I did skip on the sake, because we had a one hour drive ahead of us, but I'm sure I'll have some next time. Maybe we'll have a workshop at my place then!

If you feel the urge to learn how to make your own sushi, feel free to contact Charlotte and tell her I said hi!

Drama queen

We know you're not fond of other dogs. Neither one of you. Whippets are known to be true racists, meaning they bond well with their own breed, but they are not very keen on meeting other dogs.. They are something else, that's for sure!

Last week, when I came home from a visit to Grandma's, I let the dogs out of the trunk. And bam! I didn't see her come, but there she was: elegance to the top! Farida is a gorgeous Afghan hound who lives in the neighborhood. I knew where she lived, but I had never seen her before. It was about time our girls got to meet her. But that was a bummer. Rebba and Inthe had no intention to meet Farida.. They barked at her, despite Farida's attempts to be gentle and humble. Farida even kneeled down to come to their level, but I had to put them inside until they stopped making a fuss. It gave me some time to talk to Farida's owner and his daughter. What a lovely family and what a beautiful, well maintained dog. I fell in love with her right away!

After a while, I called Rebba and Inthe to introduce them to their new friend. They were still very hesitant to come outside, but I could tell Inthe was curious. Rebba was not that willing and didn't trust the situation at all. I comforted her and told her it was okay. She seemed more relaxed after some time and finally they met. They sniffed each other and touched noses. I was so happy to see that! It would be great if they could meet up every now and then to race around the socker field!! If only Rebba wouldn't be such a drama queen. For the rest of the night, she ignored me. Did she really think I was going to trade them for the Afghan? Absolutely not!!! They are my babies and I would never give them away. So relax Rebba. You and Inthe are still my number one!

An upgrade

Photo by Lana Joos

For a few years, Hubby has been on the look out for a new housing area for our three turtles. They keep growing bigger and the sandbox they usually sit in during summertime, has become too small. They truly needed an upgrade! After having surfed some time on the Net, Hubby came up with some good ideas.. so he went shopping..

To our pleasure, all three creatures are very happy with their new habitat. They have a nice pond now, where they can actually swim and enjoy themselves. They are having the time of their life! Especially in these warm days, they like to crawl out of the water and get a tan. Quite often, they sit on top of each other, making a pyramid of turtles. They stretch out their limbs and close their eyes while the sun dries their shield. Lana likes to observe them and take their picture. She's not a fan of picking them up, but that's okay. After all, turtles are not the kind of pet we tend to cuddle..

A picture perfect family

Last night, we took the girls out to dinner. Since Easter break has come to an end, we wanted to treat them to a nice supper. It took us some time to find a nice place to go to, since many restaurants are closed on Mondays in this area, but we finally came up with a restaurant that was even pretty nearby our house.

The weather was still good enough to sit outside on the deck. Our shoulders showed a bit of a sunburn, but that's part of the time of the year. We decided we were going to have asparagus and smoked salmon as an appetizer and chateaubriand as the main course. Dessert was lovely as well: mango and raspberry ice cream packed in a basket of dark chocolate. It was getting a little chilly by the time we got our desserts, but we were prepared and put on our jackets and little vests.

It was fun to go out together. It had been a while and all four enjoyed dinner and a pleasant evening. We do believe our kids deserved a nice ending of their vacation, since they did well in school and they helped out at home. Thanks hubby, for treating us!

Here comes the sun

Don't you just love those sunny days? They sure cheer me up! People tend to be more pleasant if the sun's out and I don't blame them. I love to wake up with sunbeams peeking through the blinds. The game of light playing on the bedding is a game I like to watch. I enjoy the early twitter of the birds outside our window (I don't consider jackdaws birds - I hate jackdaws for they poo on my car). It makes me think of Portland, Oregon, where Blue Jays would sing their song to me early in the morning.

This summer, we'll have a whole lot of sunshine when we will go to Florida as a family. We are really looking forward to that vacation. This time, nobody will be home to take care of the pets, so they'll go to their respective dog and cat moms. Our neighbors would be happy to look after them, but we don't want to bother them. We know how big the responsibility is, to look after someone else's pets. They'll do just fine in pet daycare.

I already got myself a new swimsuit. The girls might need new bikinis too I guess. After all, we won't need much more than swimwear, shorts, shirts and sandals in Florida. Four more months to go.. we're getting there..

All is well

Those are the words I would like to hear from you. You had surgery this Tuesday and I haven't been able to come see you yet. Are you okay? I hope it wasn't too painful. Did you get sufficient pain relief?

Take your time to heal. You will be home from work for a little while. Time to catch up?

Let's call it a night

I'm exhausted. My left ear hurts and I have put some cologne on a cotton swab before I stuffed it in my ear. Most of the time, that helps to make an early infection go away.
There's not much going on on TV. I think I'll take a bath. Sounds tempting. A hot bubble bath to soak my tired body until wrinkles on my fingers tell me it's time to get up and dry myself with a fluffy warm towel. I might read some or listen to Michael Bublé. Would I finish that bottle of Chardonnay that is sitting in the fridge? Maybe I'll have a good night's rest then? We'll see..

Quality time

I decided it was time to spend some more private time with the family. So we planned a day out in Aalst.  I had been in Aalst quite a few times in the last couple of months, but I had never taken my family there. The girls heard about the numerous shops and Hubby liked the idea of sitting outside on the market square, a cup of coffee in front of him, watching the crowd go by.

The sun warmed our faces and it was a joy to walk around town and in to so many shops. Our hands full of bags, we sat down for lunch and took some time to stretch our legs. Shopping is exhausting, isn't it?
The girls needed new summer shoes, Hubby was happy to find new tennis trainers and I treated myself too! A girl can never have too many shoes, can she?

We got some new outfits as well. We're ready for summer!! I enjoyed this family day and the satisfying faces of the other three told me the same thing. It's a great feeling to be able to treat your family on an outing. Spending time together with my family, was as satisfying, I must say.

Loyal as a dog

As soon as you put on your clothes, little Inthe stands right beside you. She just knows - she's trained well - you are going to take both of them for a long walk. She doesn't loose track of you for one second. Rebba is more relaxed. She's more patient and she won't come out of bed until she hears the clinging sound of her ID dog label against the leash. And then they go wild! They jump up and down on the couch, race around the house and wag their tails like crazy!! That is - if the sun is out.. You won't see Rebba jump up and down out of joy on a rainy day. She will hide her head behind the pillows, pretending not to be there. Inthe doesn't mind bad weather, if only she can go out and have fun. But don't you try taking only one dog for a walk! They go mad if you leave one behind!!! They are like BFF, always wanting the other one around.

I love to watch them walk on the leash. One right beside the other, like Siamese twins without actually being attached to each other. They're doing better than a couple of months ago. Inthe used to bark at any dog, cat or person coming by. The dog whisperer was very helpful in that manner. We now tell them in advance we have seen that dog in the distance and they comprehend they no longer have to warn us for upcoming danger. That's a good thing, because I hate it when they bark and jump up when people approach us. We're getting there!

Mystery solved?

Most of you readers are familiar with Facebook, aren't you? It's a good way to find old friends and to keep up with friends and family that don't live that nearby. Every now and then though, strangers try to contact you. You have never heard of them but still they want to be your friend? I find that very weird and it rarely happens that I let them in. I mean, after all, I do know my friends and if you're not one of them or if I'm not ready to get to know you, why would I add you to my list of friends? I don't get that.. I see people who have 400 Facebook friends, but how many of those do they actually know? 10? 25?

There was this person who tried to contact me. Her profile showed a little white dog. I had no idea who she was (maybe it wasn't even a she but a he??), but she (let's assume it was a she) claimed she knew me. How she knew me, was not something she wanted to share. Hello? Does my forehead read STUPID? So I declined her friendship request. I don't like it when people play games with me.

To my surprise, she contacted my diabetic friends and many of them added her to their friendship list. For the simply reason she told them she knew me? How sick is that? I asked around and nobody who added her actually knew who she was. No more information than that she knew me (which she doesn't). Internet is a terrific way to go around, but it also attracts weird people, that enjoy intruding the life of others...

What's love got to do with it?

Everything! Nothing matters more to children, than being loved. Not the most expensive game neither the newest toy is that important, that kids would trade if for the love they crave...

We have been thinking about what to get you for your 69th birthday, grandma. Eva came up with the idea of giving you some framed pictures of all of your 9 grandchildren. Because that's what's most important to you, grandma: family.. You love all 5 of your children and their partners and you would do anything to please your grandchildren. You're awesome! Our girls love to come over and spend time with you. You are a very loving person and all 9 of your grandchildren are treated equally. Although you're the godmother of our youngest, you love our oldest daughter as much. Thank you for doing so!
Our girls like to go through your drawers and wardrobe, and you even let them try on your wedding dress and pearls. Whenever Lana has a dance or music performance, you're the first one in line to get tickets to come see her. You always stand up to clap your hands and cheer. That means so much to a child and they are so lucky to have you.

Have a very happy birthday, grandma! We hope you enjoyed your present and Eva's famous chocolate moelleux!

Looking hot

Photo by Lana Joos

Look at you, Eva. You have changed so much since you turned 14. Being a teenager was something you looked forward to. Being 14 is so different from being 13. Being in second grade is a whole lot more interesting than the previous class. By now, you know your way around in school. We were pretty proud of you, for being the second best of your class, when you handed over your last report card. You and your sister are good students and you do your best. That's exactly what your teacher told us!

For nearly two years now, you have been in boarding school, the school of your choice. It's time to make a choice for the upcoming year. Will you make a choice that will allow you to stay in this school, or will you choose something else and leave your school? We don't know yet and neither do you. One day you say you want to stay, the next day it's the other way around. It's difficult to make choices in life, isn't it? Especially if you have no idea what to expect. How are you supposed to know whether you will like Economics or not? I totally understand your hesitation sweetie.. It's not easy at all. But I'm sure we'll work things out and you'll make the best choice for you.

You drive a fast car

Today is your day. Your godfather has invited you to go karting. You're turning 11 in June and you're totally fascinated by cars. That may sound typically boyish, but it flatters you. I'm sure you're pretty excited about this event, as is your godfather. A professional will tell you all you need to know about the car you're going to drive. I assume your hands will be quite sweaty, but you won't admit that. You're a proud young man and there's some macho behavior bubbling to the surface. That's okay, don't worry about it. It's probably something hormonal.

Have a blast kiddo! You'll have the time of your life! We'll be there to cheer on you!

Talk to me

Photo by Lana Joos

If only you could speak.. what would you say? I often wonder what you're thinking. Is it so, that animals don't have a mind of their own? Or are they brighter than we could possibly imagine? I honestly believe that you understand a lot of what we say. There's definitely a sixth sense present in you, dogs. Sometimes, you give me that sad puppy look that we just can't resist. You know when your bowl will be filled with food or when it's time to get your leash to go for a walk. When the clock ticks away and the leash is still dangling on the hook, that's when you give me that sad puppy look. You stare at me and if you could sob, you would.. 

You have a body language of your own. Your ears are pointed and your posture still like a statue, when you hear a noise you don't like. When you are all excited, your ears are all over your face and the tail that is mainly hidden between your hind legs, finds its way out to wag and whip my legs. Sometimes, you post your front legs on my shoulders to give me a hug or maybe you just ask to be cuddled?

Sometimes, it's good to be silent like a dog. To think, without speaking. To listen, without judging. To be quiet when others are talking. Sometimes, I wish I could be a little more like you. Just every now and then..

A safe harbor

Photo taken by Lana Joos

Every body needs a safe harbor to call its own. That harbor may be different for every one of us. It can be a place or a person or a state of mind you like to make your own.

A safe harbor is something special. A place you want to keep sacred and private. It's a place you can turn to, when things are getting hectic or scary or uncomfortable. It's also a place without fears, without borders. It's a place where you can be whoever you are, without the fear of being laughed at. It's like coming home, but more intense.

We should all have a safe harbor. It must be a comforting thought to know that you have a place or a person you feel completely safe with. Someone you can trust your deepest secrets to. Someone who will not judge you or ridicule you for your innermost thoughts. Doesn't matter if it's a place or a person: your safe harbor is whatever you feel comfortable with..

Handicapable

I'm a big fan of positive thinking and ditto reinforcement. Some words have a negative sound to them, so I try not to use those. Just to give you an idea: how does the word "handicapped" make you feel? Is it a positive feeling or rather a negative experience? Exactly.. So when I first heard the word handicapable (did you know Sue Sylvester - the awful coach in Glee - used the word??), I immediately knew I was never going to use the word handicapped again. Because even disabled (we need to come up with a more positive word for disabled too) people have their qualities. So why not call them handicapable?

Do you use more positive sounding words to replace the negative ones? Let me know! I'm always in to learning new words!

No-one to turn to

What must it be like, if you have absolutely no-one to turn to? Nobody to talk to or share your life with? To be honest, I have no idea, but it intrigues me. Is the human kind made to live by themselves or were we designed to have partners in life?

Life isn't always easy. Some days are less fun than others. It is good to come home and have someone to talk to. It's good to have a partner who's interested in what you do. Someone who's excited about your coming home. Someone to come home to.

Imagine not having anybody at all, like Remi, All alone in the World. How would you cope? Would the solitude drive you nuts or would you welcome the silence with open arms? What about meals? Would you enjoy having dinner all by yourself or do you always look forward to having dinner with your beloved ones? But what if you really don't have anyone? Is that something that you could have prevented or something you should've worked on more? Are we - people - becoming too picky when it comes to finding a partner for life? Or is that lifetime partnership nothing but a utopia?

I know it would ruin me. To live all by myself, I mean, without anyone to talk to. I need my social life. I really do. It fulfills me and it makes me happy and life worthwhile. Because after all: we are so tiny on this planet. We are nothing but dust. We are so fragile and meaningless at the same time. So if you can make your life worth living, why wouldn't you do it? It's so wonderful to live and be. It's a joy to help others and support them. To matter to someone else. That's what makes life good. It is what makes the world go around..

A second opinion that changed your life

It was 2008, when the doctors told you your life was going to end soon. Cancer had intruded your body and was eating its way through. You were not ready to give up yet, because that's just who you are. So you decided to get a second opinion in a different clinic. Your new oncology team was more hopeful. They didn't tell you you were going to die somewhere soon. They didn't tell you you would beat the cancer either. They just told you, they were not going to give you up. They talked to you and your family and tried to find a method that would help you feel better. They couldn't take away the C word, but three years later, you're still here..

I finally managed to pick up that phone to call you. But not until I read your message on the Internet.. meaning you were still alive. Not well, but alive. That's when I decided to call you... Your lovely wife picked up the phone and by the tone of her voice, I could hear you were having a very, very hard time. I could hear the tears crack in her voice, but at the same time, she was happy I called.. We talked a little and she informed me about your condition. Your sight is leaving you.. your legs are giving up too. Most of the time, you lay down to nap. But the one thing you won't give up, is to have visitors. So yes, you said I could come over and visit. I wanted to make sure the visit wouldn't be too hard for you. That's when you told me you would really look forward to my visit. Yes, it would tire you out, but you didn't care. You want people over to come see you and talk to you. Although you can't say much yourself - you're really short of breath - you love to have people over and listen to their stories. It helps you forget the C-word for some time...

I know it will be my last visit. I heard your voice.. You're no longer a strong bear, but a tiny, little, fragile bird... Deep down, I could hear your humor and that warmed my heart. Despite the pain -  morphine doesn't take away all of the pain - you can still make jokes. I love you buddy... See you on Thursday x

It takes two

Photo taken by Lana Joos

Need I say more?

The children are home for Easter break. I'm glad to have them around and do fun stuff together. They are loving and caring and I feel blessed for being their mom. The calendar is overloaded, since the girls want to meet up with friends as well as hang out with us and their family. Grandma can't wait to welcome them for sleepovers and they are looking forward to spending some time with their grandparents, nieces and nephews.

The older the girls get, the better they get along. It's heart warming to hear them laugh their hearts out and enjoy a good time. I like the time they spend in the bathroom together, exchanging tips about beauty and hygiene. How they compliment each other with their new outfits and their hair styles. It's great to have two daughters. They bring us so much joy!

A lost cause

I ran in to this picture, of a milkman and his cart, delivering his products in the streets.. I found it a very moving picture and although I'm not old enough to have lived those days, it does give me a warm feeling..

Every Wednesday, a milkman has his round in our town. He delivers dairy products like milk, buttermilk, yogurt, fresh cheese, butter, eggs,.. My neighbor is a regular customer. The milkman drives a truck nowadays, but he still wears his typical uniform and hat.

There's something nostalgic about that picture. The pride in the eyes of the milkman, the way he presents his merchandise. It was the love for his profession - and probably the 10 hungry mouths that needed to be fed at home - that kept him going. People didn't have cars in those days, nor supermarkets to get their groceries. That's a hard to imagine thought in this century. We are so used to going to the store whenever we need something, that we forget about our ancestors, who kept pigs and hens in their backyard. They grew their own vegetables and fruit, baked apple pies and had a delicious beef stew on the stove, waiting to be gobbled up by the hungry mouths. Porridge made of buttermilk and apples, sprinkled with spoonfuls of packed brown sugar. Home made chicken stock when you needed extra strength in winter time. Women with cracked, rough and red hands, scrubbing floors and cooking their laundry in big, black pots.

Our house is over 120 years old. We bought it from 2 single sisters, who had lived here for ages. They grew their own vegetables. They didn't have running water nor decent electrical facilities. They were in their nineties when one of them died and they other was brought to a nearby nursing home by her family.  I like the fact that our house has a history. It keeps the house alive and I'm sure plenty of stories can be told about its previous residents. I wonder what profession the people in our house had in 1900..

Making the most of it

For over more than a week, I have been dialing your number. But not once have I got the guts to actually wait for someone to pick up the phone.. I'm scared. I'm afraid to hear you're not okay. We all know you are sick, very sick and that your body is ready to give up. But I'm not ready to hear that. I want to remember you as the bright motivator you always were.

You told us you need oxygen to help you breathe. That's not a reassuring thought... it means things have become worse for you and you need more help. I believe you are trying to find peace and rest. You no longer answer private messages nor text messages. That's what keeps me from calling you. What if your wife answers your phone, saying you didn't make it? I know that's about to come and there's nothing left we can do to stop it from happening.

I have to get over my fear. I plan on calling you this morning. A bunch of your friends are gathering in Leuven today and we're very sorry you won't be there with us. But we'll keep you in mind and we will send you our love. Just watch the sunbeams and you will know we're there, to hold you and love you and wish you all the best..

The perfect skin

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions.. Going back in time and reliving memories..
I always thought of Lloyd Cole as a very attractive man. His square jaw, the hair, the look in his eyes, his attitude.. He was a hottie!
I met him once, while attending a TV show where he would sing Rattlesnake and The perfect skin. He looked even better in real life than on television. I actually even got to this dressroom before the show, where he gave me his signature. He asked if he needed a shave or not.. I didn't know what to say, I was too impressed. I was only 14 I guess..

Every now and then, not that often though, I hear him on the radio. And his songs make me smile. He's still a hottie. And he no longer shaves. His beautiful black hair turned grey over the years, but he's still as attractive. Maybe I should buy his music again. Just for old times sake..

Please don't turn your back on me

Photo taken by Lana Joos

On TV, there are loads of series on teen moms.
I watch every one of them, since we have two teen girls in our household.
If you have daughters, you know there's always a risk they might get pregnant way too soon. You can educate them and make them aware of the consequences of what they do, but you will never know for sure it will never happen to them.

No, our girls are not pregnant. Please. Really. I would be heartbroken if they were to get pregnant at such a young age. But nevertheless, if it would ever be the case, I would never ever turn my back on them. They would still be my little girls and I will always back them up. Because that's what loving parents do. They love their children.. unconditionally.

Fear

Every time we meet up, we have discussions about fear. I don't know what caused this emotion in your life, but you have so many fears, it keeps you from living. Different stories, different situations, but it all comes down to this one emotion: fear..

You must feel captured by this intense sensation. It's bothering both you and your beloved ones. Now you have your precious little baby, your fear has only expanded. You are so scared something would happen to him, that you dare not leave him unsupervised for 5 minutes. It must be so nerve wrecking and tiresome to be available 24/7 and not find peace nor relaxation. Fear keeps you from enjoying the good things in life. It prohibits you from living your life to the fullest. The only real prison in life, is fear. And the only real freedom in life, is freedom from fear. I wish you would be able to go back in time to find out what caused this immense fear. Sometimes the two of us make it a game. We try to find out whether the fear is realistic or fiction. And most of the times, you will agree that the fear is not relevant at all and not necessary. But we still haven't found a way to make you let go of the anxiety. It makes you nervous to let go and no longer be in control. But at the same time, it narrows your world..

Ugly Betty

That's what you told me when you looked in the mirror at the orthodontist's office yesterday. She gave you your braces and you had a hard time to open and close your mouth. Nevertheless you found it very amusing.. I know that amusement won't last.. The blisters in your mouth you will definitely have by the end of the week, will make you wonder why you wanted those braces so badly!

I guess it's part of growing up. Lately, you have paid so much attention to appearance. You take a shower twice a day, wash and condition your golden locks and you even made an appointment at the hairdresser for a totally new look. I'm impressed. Do I smell hormones? Are you in love, kiddo?

You couldn't wait to go to school to show off the new hairdo and the braces. In our days, nobody even WANTED braces, now it's hot to have them. I hope you will brush your teeth well and maintain that iron device with respect, because you do not want to know the cost..

You don't look like Ugly Betty at all, sweetie, trust me. You're pretty!

A house is not a home

A house is not a home
sung by Chris Colfer (Kurt Hummel in Glee)

A chair is still a chair

Even when there's no one sitting there

But a chair is not a house

And a house is not a home

When there's no one there to hold you tight

And no one there you can kiss goodnight

A room is still a room

Even when there's nothing there but gloom

But a room is not a house

And a house is not a home

When the two of us are far apart

And one of us has a broken heart

Now and then I call your name

And suddenly your face appears

But it's just a crazy game

When it ends, it ends in tears

So darling, have a heart

Don't let one mistake keep us apart

Well I'm not meant to live alone

Turn this house into a home

When I climb the stair and turn the key

Oh, please be there

Still in love with me

Separate beds

We love to sleep together and as often as we can, we lay on top of one another. Snuggling in, smelling each other and enjoying the warmth of each others body, is comforting.

Waking up in the middle of the night, with the head of your partner in your neck, can be reassuring but at the same time, that head can become very heavy, making it hard for you to breathe. So we decided it was time to get separate beds.. We're not sure yet what to think of it, because we're not used to sleeping apart.

The beds were here pretty fast. It didn't take us too long to put them together and the pillows that came with the beds are warm and cosy. We took our time to observe the beds and see them from all sides.
We decided which side of the bed we were going to take and as soon as we had figured that out, it was time to test out the cosiness of single beds.

The bedding was nice and soft (we don't like satin bedding, thank you) and there was plenty of room to stretch out. We climbed into the bed and kissed each other good night. What a difference... nobody was poking the other and there was no heavy breathing in neither one's neck. We might get used to this concept. It's time for a nap! Talk to you later!

Yours truly,

Rebba and Inthe

Inthe and Rebba

A picket fence love

As a teen, did you ever dream of a picket fence love? You know, the person you were going to share your life with? In a big house, with a front porch, the garden surrounded by white picket fences? Two children - a boy and a girl - and a golden retriever to make long walks with?

Most people must have had some kind of dream about their future, I guess. After all, whatever we do in life, determines our future in one way or another. Making choices in life is not easy. As a child, you are guided by your parents to make the right decisions. Then there comes a time in life when it's all up to you. You have to make up your mind on the profession you would like to make your own. You have to decide where you would like to live. Will you be able to live by yourself or do you prefer to stay at home until you find the right partner to share a household with? All choices have consequences. It's all about growing up and taking responsabilities, isn't it?

Our girls are getting older. They are making choices in life. We like to give them some freedom in the choices they make. We feel they are up to do that. Will we ever know whether they made the right choices or not? I don't think so, because there's no way to go back and do things a different way. What is the best choice? According to me, the best choice is that choice you can focus on 100%. A choice where you are no longer in doubt. A choice you have thought about at night, every night. Maybe you have made a list with pros and cons?

J'ai le cafard

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