:: gezellig ::

Almost 8 years ago I left New Zealand with one 20kg backpack on an adventure that has never really ended. I remember sitting on the aeroplane during one of those long flights towards Europe wondering what on earth I was doing! I knew no-one in the destination I was headed for, but I knew it was right and I suspected that my world was about to become much larger and richer. It has, and I love that. The next six months spent in Holland, Argentina and Brazil are some that I treasure the most among all the experiences I've had.

I fell in love with the Dutch culture, which is not surprising considering I had 28 fellow students on my Discipleship Training School (DTS) and lived in a lovely little village in the beautiful eastern part of Holland. There I gradually picked up some of the Dutch language until I could string together some phrases and have (very) basic conversations with friends. 
One word I heard from time to time which has stayed with me ever since is gezellig. It's not necessarily a pretty-sounding word, having the throaty 'g' at either end (I finally achieved the sound after gargling toothpaste at the suggestion of my roommates!). But it's one that is rich and beautiful in meaning. My friends tried without success to translate it into English for me. It's one of those words that, as much as we'd like it to be, can't be translated...the meaning is so multi-faceted!

Here's how it has been described to give you more of an idea:

:: Gezellig ::  depending on context, gezellig can be translated as convivial, cosy, fun, quaint or nice atmosphere, but can also connote belonging, time spent with loved ones, the fact of seeing a friend after a long absence, or general togetherness. The word is considered to be an example of untranslatability, and is one of the hardest words to translate to English. Some consider the word to encompass the heart of Dutch culture.

The word has always stuck with me. Maybe for two reasons - to me it really does encompass the heart of the Dutch culture that I experienced and enjoyed so much during those few months of living there. My friends were wonderful at creating a creative, bright, cosy, heart-warming atmosphere anywhere. Their homes seemed so gezellig with bright colours, creativity and moreso because of the general use of lamps in place of overhead lighting, which is one of my favourite features of a home...so cosy! 

Wherever I live, I have realised, I like to create an atmosphere that is gezellig and I find, since having the girls, that I do even more so. Anything that catches the essence of cosy, fun, bright, lamp-lit (if possible with a cosy fireplace too!), playful, creative, imaginative inspiration and time with loved ones. 

Like fun activities, huts, canopies, fresh baking and hot chocolates. Sometimes the ideas don't make it to reality, but they inspire me nonetheless! 

I think it's something subconscious in many ways, in that I'm often not aware that much of what I love to do (creating an atmosphere that is fun, creative, cosy to spend time in and inclusive of people and creates a sense of belonging) links back to the particular value that is represented by this word. Hence my enjoyment of changing the furniture around from time to time and making trips to IKEA (!), and being inspired creatively through a number of websites and blogs. If I can pass on this sense of creating environments that are "gezellig" in the full sense of the word to our girls I will feel like I've succeeded in at least one of my parenting goals!

I hope I've given this word some justice in my interpretation of its meaning. My Dutch friends can feel free to correct me!

I wish you all a week that is full of gezellig moments :o)

:: ...if it dies, it produces many seeds...a week of heartbreak and beauty ::

 

This week started off with some heart-breaking news. A friend of ours, a father of five, lost his beautiful 21 year-old daughter in a car accident. The outpouring of grief throughout the week has been like a torrent. I didn't know Michelle personally apart to recognise her beautiful face, but after reading tribute after tribute of the life she lived that was full of love for others, full of life, dance, colour, grace and passion...I wish I had. We have, however, the gift of knowing her dad...one of the most compassionate, lovely men we know. Michelle was known by many of my friends...some of whom grew up with her and counted her as one of their closest. Their grief is raw as they are now contemplating the reality that they will not see her bright self again during this life on earth, but knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is now in the presence of her beloved Lord Jesus, free, dancing and knowing a reality far more beautiful, pure and love-filled than we will ever know, until we're there too. So this week has been somber as I think of our friends and this dear family who are struggling to come to grips with their huge loss. Separated by a country and a channel of water, but close in thoughts and prayers.

When something so devastating happens in life, many things become trivial and I found myself tentatively mentioning moments from our day-to-day life that brought smiles and laughter to us. I know, even in the midst of tragedy, beauty is still present. Life is fragile and something like this reminds us of that fact. At the same time, true life - that which is offered to us freely by the grace of Jesus - is eternal, and that reality instantly compels us to focus on and value our priorities, like those we love and seeking what is to be celebrated, to be thankful for and that which holds beauty and truth. Michelle loved and shared her love for Jesus and that has become a common thread in many notes that her friends and family have written about her. Well, her life has already had an impact on mine, a stranger, by asking myself how well I love and to cling tighter to Jesus, the One who loves beyond comprehension. And how to live more gracefully and lovingly instead of being quick to judge. Living more and more to serve others. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been inspired. Even now, as I write, a friend is sending me photos and tributes written on her facebook page and, wow...what a legacy she is leaving! It brings a new understanding to this verse:

"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." John 12 :24

Wow.

During this week, in and around these moments of deep sadness for this precious family, we have had moments of laughter and wanting-to-pull-hair-out-in-exasperation with our girls here. Sally is with us until Sunday and we've all loved having her stay. I love some of the girls' expressions as they look at her in the following photos. We're thankful she won't be too far away so we can see her, at least for the next months until we move.

Here are some of our memorable moments from this week...

Bubbles, I'm sure, will be an eternal source of joy for the young and young at heart :o)

We have two mini-mummies who love to dress, undress, feed and change their babies. This scene made me smile the other morning as Amélie laid out her babies with nappies (each time with her characteristic "Voila!")

 

We've had frequent visits from our young neighbour who, being on summer holidays from school, loves to come and play with the girls...

Playdough Princess crowns :o)

 

This moment made me smile...it reflects their different personalities so well :o)

Popcorn was discovered. And enjoyed! And shared...

 

Cows have been a hot topic of conversation in our household after visiting a local farm three weeks ago. We finally went back last night and, while Amélie was slightly traumatised to walk around the dry poo that lined the path, they did enjoy seeing the cows, pigs, dogs and then going into a field and seeing them up close!

 

I will miss the beautiful sound of cowbells. They sing of summer-time in the mountain meadows!

This morning there was a little secret picture-drawing for Sally's (early) birthday party tomorrow. As always it started off very studiously and then crayons strayed to hands and table :o)

 Some sweet hairstyles on very sweet girls!

And, earlier in the week we excitedly bought some Easyjet tickets for a trip to one of my favourite places in the world - The Oval - because of some very special and much-loved people who live there. And we're going to see them in a few weeks! 

 We can't wait :o)

Have a great weekend

:: the rega ::

Last Saturday we drove down to Lausanne to go to the open day for the Rega, Switzerland's rescue helicopter/air ambulance company. Not just because helicopters are a personal favourite for Eti, but also because we have a personal link to them as a family. Early in the morning on the day the girls were born I travelled a whole 8 minutes in one of these Rega helicopters from Nyon to Lausanne. I could have enjoyed a much longer trip because, at the time, they had no idea which of the Neonatal-specialist hospitals around Switzerland had any space for twins. Thankfully it was a very short flight because it meant that Eti only had to drive for 45 minutes and not 4 hours to find me! During our five months' stay in Lausanne the Neonatal unit overlooked the hospital's helicopter landing pad, so we saw many flights come in and out transporting people in emergency situations. Needless to say, anytime we spot the distinctive red helicopter fly overhead we remember with gratefulness this truly wonderful non-profit company and pray for those who are needing help in that moment.

Eti was particularly drawn to this remote-controlled Rega model (above) which took 900 hours to build! He was just disappointed he didn't see it fly. But, my helicopter-loving man did get to sit in the real thing and have a feel of what is to come. One of the main reasons for moving to New Zealand at the end of this year is to fulfill Eti's dream of becoming a helicopter pilot. Who knows...maybe one day he might find himself flying one of these, wearing the red overalls with 'PILOT' stitched in bold white lettering on the back :o)