My Daily Mooosings in the Netherlands

Welcome (To Our) Home!

2013-05-04T17:54:00.000+02:00

“After all," Anne had said to Marilla once, "I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea

I chose the quote above because the essence of the words spurs the same emotions I felt upon seeing the girls from our living room window, as I took their picture below. The camera was in hand because I heard them coming before they even arrived, as I wanted to save a moment in this beautiful Spring day to savour for years to come.

A carefree Spring 2013 morning of the girls, taken Saturday, 4th of May/11:03 from our living room window. They were on their way towards the front door after walking around our neighbourhood

Four months passed since we had to evacuate our first home in Holland because of a sad incident. A traumatic end to the year 2012 and uncertain beginning to the year 2013.

A day after Valentine's day, we received the keys for a new house. A house, we dreamed of collectively as a family. A house to create for us to call our home. We have been hoping to have a house since we moved from Germany to the Netherlands but we were unable to acquire one because of different circumstances.

A day after Valentine's Day 2013, we received the keys to the new house.

Photo courtesy of R-TV Nord-Holland - the morning of the 31st December, 2012 - the firemen almost done putting out the fire. Our flat was directly below the home of the perpetrator, at the corner (right) of the apartment complex.

It was a tragic event - a disturbed man, who lost his mind, set his own home on fire, and in the process made our family homeless - that precipitated the fulfillment of our wish for a new house, a new home. It was love that held the family together through the challenging Winter towards the new beginnings in Spring.

my first half-marathon in The Hague (CPC Loop Den Haag), 10th of March, 2013 - the day we moved in to the new house.

A busy April with the motto: onward, forward!
Together as a family, we will remain strong.

We moved in to our new house, which still needed a lot of time to be completely renovated inside before one could comfortably live in it . Time we did not have.

28.02.13 - an image of the day our moving boxes, which has been in storage for 2 months arrived in the new house . This picture was first shared online in the album 365: TRIO for 2013.
Originally #TRIOof2013 was meant to be a documentation of a running year; it became in part a documentation of an unexpected transition in our family's life

03.03.13 an image from the master's bedroom in the new house after the walls were painted white and the floor was prepared for the laminat/ 365: TRIO for 2013

05.03.13 an image from the master's bedroom as we put in the laminat/ 365: TRIO for 2013

There were many things to be done to make it a home we dreamed of, and there were always many things to do to keep the daily life as normal as possible after a series of major changes.

27.04.13 - a much awaited day! The gardener finally arrived to put some order to our front garden. :)

Koningsspel/The King's Games 2013 26.04.13 - a special day at school.

playdate 23.04.13

playdate 25.04.14

It is in times of crisis that the words: home is where the heart is, rings a stronger sweeter sound in the heart and in the mind.

17.04.13 - girl's/family's to- do board

17.04.13 - it is always fun to make work a creative process :)

19.04.13 - the family loves birds!

27.04.13 - a family movie night on the couch!

The house might not be completely finished to be comfortably lived in but we are very much at home. :)

Until we "open" our doors to everyone again, we wish everyone a beautiful Spring!

Onward, Forward!

2013-01-02T23:59:00.000+01:00

"I think that the power is the principle. The principle of moving forward, as though you have the confidence to move forward, eventually gives you confidence when you look back and see what you've done." - Robert Downey, Jr

Mijn liefste P, in front of Gamma, right after we got what we needed to clear our flat

When people ask me why I ran not only one but two marathons in 2012, my usual answer is because I wanted to know if I can. For those who have more time to listen, I add, I needed a goal to focus on while I work on another.

While I trained for my marathons, I was constantly busy in my head working out how I can go back to work, and still be a supportive partner to P and a good mom to our girls. The positive rewards of training made it easier for me to handle the stress my mind was going through.

Beginning a new life, in yet another foreign land can be overwhelming. Beginning a new life and being responsible for the young lives of three young girls could be terrifying, if you focus too much on what could go wrong.

When you live one day at a time, and make the best of each day, you indeed have more deeper appreciation of how rich life is, and experience a deeper connection to your family, friends and people in your community.

Continuous, conscious living in the moment makes you stronger for crisis* that eventually comes your way.

*We were evacuated from our home the last day of 2012 because of a fire that broke out above our flat.

Today, two days later, we were allowed to go back, and check the damages to our properties.
A few hours later we found out that we can move into a new home, and do not have to go back to our apartment complex. This was made possible through the help of many generous people!

More about this in the next days.

Starting the New Year, Strong & Smiling

2013-01-01T23:59:00.000+01:00

The end of 2012 has been quiet eventful for our family.

I write this blog in the spirit of "life goes on". Trying to make sense of a tragic incident, and in the same breath focusing on the positive side of an otherwise sad experience.

In the wee hours of the morning of New Year's Eve, the neighbor living above our flat ran amok, fired three gunshots, before setting his own home on fire, and jumping from the balcony of our two story building.

Photo courtesy of R-TV Nord-Holland / edited in 16.01.13

The police was present, and was able to secure the perpetrator right away after he begun the crime.

We were told via megaphone to evacuate the building, which we did calmly.

With our youngest daughter (sleeping and unaware of what was happening) wrapped in blanket, P and I went outside and saw our neighbor lying face down in the middle of the streets.

The police guided us through the home of another neighbor together with the other residents of the apartment complex. We gathered there to make sure everyone in the building is accounted for. Later, after the protocol was done, we were offered shelter by another helpful neighbor, away from the gathering, lights and noise of fire trucks and police vehicles.

I cannot at this point write more than the information, that has already been published in different news sources here in the Netherlands, of what has happened because I am not familiar with the legal boundaries of this situation.

We are experiencing a delayed shock to what has happened. Like any victim of violence we are going through different stages of post-traumatic stress.

I am trying to cope the only way I know how; deal with difficult situations offensively. Something I taught myself to learn through the years: writing, sharing my feelings and thoughts & impressions of what what was experienced. In this way, I am regaining control and strength, which I need in order to be there for my family.

Below is a message I wrote for family and friends. This is how I would like to remember the 1st of January, 2013. We begin the new day of the new year, with gratefulness in our hearts, and smile on our faces, even though there are many reasons not to do so.

Happy New Year, dear family & friends.

Thank you very much for all the warm words of concern and support.

You all have carried us upright in the past couple of days. We appreciate it very much, more than words can express.

Life goes on. We have to go on with life - deal with all the essentials and practicalities. Even though there is a strong wish for a pause button to stop the world from turning.

Rest well, and work out in peace what has happened to us without attending and worrying about life's necessities would be ideal.

The reality does not work that way, though. Life goes on.

Luckily, we are not alone. We do not feel alone. For that we thank you.

Smile though your heart is aching, as the song goes. Thank you for giving us the strength to do so.

How I would like to remember 1st of January: side by side with my beloved P. Safe, and sheltered at Oma B's (P's mom)

Our first Poinsettia in December

2012-12-04T23:50:00.000+01:00

Countdown: 20 days until Christmas.

Surprise 2!

2012-12-03T23:50:00.000+01:00

Countdown: 21 days until Christmas.

This is the second part of the blog from yesterday: Surprise!

Here it is, what came out of the joint effort of the family to assist K with her "surprise"!

P helped paste an old wine box yesterday, as well as assist middle daughter with the pasting of the coloured paper for the walls of the horse stall. Today after school, K worked on further with details. Littlest kept her company while she cut the trimmings. I suggested that she add a cut out horse on top of the stall and Littlest, who got a booklet full of horses pattern, generously gave the book to K, that she could choose what she could cut out, colour and place on the roof of the horse stall. J, oldest daughter wrote the poem that K composed on a pink paper, and gave a pink ribbon from her own collection.

I'll be delivering it to school in the afternoon half an hour before I pick the girls up tomorrow.

The family, that does arts and crafts together, have awesome time together!

What do you as a family do together while counting down the days until Christmas?

Surprise!

2012-12-02T23:45:00.000+01:00

Advent Calendar 2008/ I created this for the older girls in 2002, and it remained in Hamburg

Countdown: 22 days until Christmas.

Tonight, mijn liefste P helped the older girls prepare their a 'suprise' ; creating a "surprise"(pronounced soup-ree-se), is a Dutch tradition, that the girls were introduced to in the year they transferred from the introductory school (where they learned a year of Dutch) to their regular Catholic school.

creating the *surprises* for 2012

The first *surprise*, I created for middle daughter K, when she was in Groep 4/2010 (for a long time she taught it came from Sinterklaas until her older sister revealed the secret!)

It was a lovely way to end the relaxing and rejuvenating Sunday. After dinner, and before the girls and P started on the "surprises", we had tea, and cookies, from Germany, which Oma H, the girls German grandmother sent.

Did you get motivated to try out this Dutch tradition? What would you create to hide your "surprise"?

Hello, December!

2012-12-01T23:59:00.000+01:00

A collage of images from our Advent 2008

Countdown: 23 days until Christmas.

I love counting down special celebrations with my family; I love December - the cold outside, the cozy inside and the smell of magic in the air; I love traditions with it's beautiful, nurturing predictability!

Combined together makes the best way to end the year in a special way.

Welcome to our family's virtual Advent Calendar 2012! I used images from our Advent 2008, the last advent we observed in our home in Hamburg, Germany before moving here in the Netherlands. The theme I chose for this year is: nostalgic & celebratory; I felt it fitting because this is the mood we are all in, in this Advent season. This is the first time I am consciously setting a theme, which I hope will be a part of our tradition.

In the next 24 days, I'll be sharing images and anecdotes from Advent's past, and present and plans of Advent future.

Hope you will enjoy counting down the days towards Christmas together.

Do you count down the days to Christmas in special way? Care to share? :)

Tot ziens, November!

2012-11-30T23:45:00.000+01:00

November was a busy, eventful month for our family. Although I originally planned to blog daily in November (to usher in my new attempt at a year long blogging), I had to postpone, reconsider and simplify.

Our youngest turned 5, mijn liefste P turned 55 and I finally ran the 15K race, which I have been intimidated of (more than running the two full marathons I did this year!) ever since I come across it last year, when I started planning to run a race in the Netherlands every month.

Littlest, 5 y.o. and still crazy over McQueen

It took me 5 and a half years, but I finally fulfilled my promise of baking mijn liefste P his favourite Black Forest Cake

Me before the 10K mark @ Zevenheuvelenloop

This month went by so fast like all the previous months of this year, and I have to simply record in this blog how very proud P and I of the girls, how well they are doing well not only at school but at home.

Eldest is now in her first year of what is equivalent of high school here in the Netherlands. I still am getting myself acquainted with the school's system here, and will dedicate a blog about how I understand the system here in comparison to what I grew up with in the Philippines, and what I got to know in Germany.

P and I have always admired J's self-reliance, independance, and her generosity towards her younger sisters. We know that a lot was asked of her when we moved here; she had to take responsibilities to help out, and it was a much different life than in Germany at the beginning.

Eldest at Keukenhof, 2010

Seeing how she blossomed in her old school, and how well she has adjusted to her new school makes us feel very confident, that she would overcome challenges in the future with strength of character.

Eldest by her first horse-riding holiday - August, 2011

Middle daughter K on a special day, which I blogged last year in April: Kermis, Kerk and Kindness

K posing with her communion dress: First Holy Communion blogged, May, 2011

K and J - sisters having fun while I did a training run for the first time in Kinderdijk, blogged June,2012

Middle daughter K has in a way taken the role of bigger sister to Littlest, now that J is in another school. Like J, K is very dependable. We can count on her to help out at home and watch out after her little sister. School for her, just like with both her sisters is a fun place to be - they truly enjoy being there and being a part of their school, which is like a second home for them.

With such an eventful month (heck, year!), almost sprinting towards the end of 2012, I had to eventually slow down my pace.. Specifically in the last week of November to have enough reserve energy for the month of December.

I thought I could completely do without the internet for an entire week, but it's hard when you still check your electronic mails for messages from family and friends - you do end up peeking here and there!

But nonetheless, I've reduced my time considerably online for at least a week.

image first published at The Lightness of Being on the Bike: Where I Cyled To, blogged June, 2012

It was a rejuvenating week, and I am now ready to say, "Hello, December!"

Seeing Life From Different Perspectives

2012-10-30T08:21:00.002+01:00

A blog a day, has always keep me focused when I am working on a personal project. It keeps my spirit warm in the "cold' season - Winter blues does not stand a chance! This is the reason, I am back to daily blogging. :)

Photo: 9th of February 2011 7:45 am from the blog

Wednesday's Weee: ♡ Dutch Morning Sky

Woke up early today because mijn liefste P had to be at work before the sun was up!

New lay-out of Happy Feet in the Netherlands: 28th of October,2012,
featuring the new blog series "Friday Inspire"

Went to bed rather late though (working slowly, dilligently on back log of blogs for Happy Feet in the Netherlands - 14 months worth of running stories!), that I only offered "moral support" to the start of his day, and remained in bed before my own alarm went off at 6 am signalling the begin of my own day - first on the agenda: prepare the girls for school.

Photo : afternoon of the 25th of January 2011 from the blog
Knotwilg - Getting to Know Something Familiar

My bike key remains in the Land of Lost Things! :( The key the insurance sent us did not fit and we did not receive a return call from the bike shop upon request of a follow up on that matter. Long story short: Omi B came to our rescue, once again! She drove the girls to school, and will pick them up again, with her car. Over 80 y.o and she remains the core strength of the family.

Photo: 10th of January, 2011 8:45 am
from the blog Biking Along An Ever-Changing Landscape

I've mentioned before how it has always been hard for me to ask for help. My independent nature forces me to try as much as possible to do a lot of things on my own before I would even think of entertaining a thought of asking someone for help A lot of life experiences later...and I have finally learned that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but an opportunity to widen your perspective in life. P's family has helped me a lot in seeing a different perspective regarding this matter.

Photo: 22nd of January, 2009
posted in the blog Double Chin ~ A Valentine's Poem (14. February,2011)

P like me has a stubborn streak of independence; we help each other with constant reminder that we not only enrich our lives with the people we ask for help but we teach our children that "no man is an island" and being a part of a "community" , wherever it is life may take you, is not only beneficial for an individual but for each member of the society.

Self-portrai: 30th of October 2012 8:11 am
- ushering a new photo-project

Back to daily blogging, and back to giving even more focus to the simple pleasures of life. Affirming daily: simple is good.

As October Ends...NO(W)vember Positively Approaches

2012-10-29T12:35:00.002+01:00

A Simple Life is a Beautiful Life ~ @PaperInEurope

Today, I edited my profile to simplify my "bio" for myself, and for those who would like to connect, at Twitter, one of the largest social network online.

Bio :
ℒive ℒife ℘assionately! ♋| ☮ | ☯ Blogs @ http://bit.ly/happyfeetintheNL 2012: finisher @berlinmarathon & @marathonadam 2013 Marathons: Hamburg|Bavaria|Berlin
Europe · http://on.fb.me/PaperInEurope

This is just one of the many seemingly "banal" things I would like to do this week. Behind the banality though is my way of tricking my easily distracted mind! I need to focus and discipline myself in the only way I know how. My brain has a constant need for entertaining ways to be motivated to accomplish a lot of daily routine tasks. Giving it something to look forward to - a goal to be achieved, a dream to be realised; planning and working on them is what keeps it going.

Tell me to run a marathon, and I'll do it without blinking an eye.

Doing daily house-work, well, I've closed my eyes often to them, and it has now gotten to a point that opening my eyes to them has become terrifying. Nope, not exaggerating because it's Halloween this week! Sadly, I am sharing the truth!

As the end of October approaches, I am taking on a personal challenge of being less online but maximizing the quality time, I do spend online. Yes! This is possible...you only have to have a plan and the will to stick to the plan.

The spirit of this coming November will BE NO(W)VEMBER. "No" does not always have to be negative - it can be positive to your well being. As you say, "No" you win more time for the "NOW".

Now is beautiful, and in November, I plan to be more in the now with my family(in preparation for the Advent Season - the fifth season I love!).

To win more "now moments" I have to say more "nos" and do a lot of what I have been procrastinating on (tick-tock-tick!!!)...well "NOW!" :)

As I have successfully done in the past, I am using blogging to win this personal challenge.

Who is joining me in the ship that sails under the banner, "SIMPLIFY"!?!

Friday's Inspire @ Happy Feet in the Netherlands

2012-10-26T23:30:00.000+02:00

Yesss! Finally broke through the blog silence and posted a new blog @Happy Feet in the Netherlands, at the same time paving the path to realise a plan of sharing inspiring stories of fellow runners.

Thanks to Darren aka @RunnersKnees a runner who authors the blogs at The Runners Knees, I was able to bring to life Friday's Inspire tonight! I used Inspire instead of Inspiration because Inspire is a verb and I felt very apt for "running" which is what Happy Feet in the Netherlands is mainly about - for now (more additions next year!).

Without much further ado, here is the first in the series of Friday's Inspire : @RunnersKnees's 10 featuring, the one who sparked the idea to begin with it!

#RunnersKnees10 is about exchanging 10 running related questions, and publishing the answers at each other's blog pages. You could find my answers @ The Runners Knees blog ~ RunnersKnees10: PaperInEurope

Hope you have an inspiring and relaxing weekend!

YOGAness!

2012-09-04T23:50:00.000+02:00

Doing my first "Tree" yoga pose with Lilian Fit For Free instructor, at the end of my first yoga lesson at the gym in Hilversum

26 Days to Berlin: Short and sweet tonight because I am feeling the lids of my eyes are ready to shut down after the activities of the day!

29.68 kms distance covered with the bike at the end of a very warm late Summer day, which started beautifully after an excellent, rejuvenating and calming yoga session in the morning @ Fit For Free in Hilversum . #icangetaddictedtobeingtwisted :D

This is a simple sneak blog-series preview post of my adventures in the gym!

More stories about my training and Berlin Marathon countdown @ Happy Feet in the Netherlands.

First Day of School!

2012-09-03T23:30:00.000+02:00

The image above shared today as my #FMSPhotoADay was one of many images I took to capture the essence of the first day of school for our family. I love the spontaneity of it, and the story it tells.

Eldest on the bike with her friend, far away from the family all sitting in the car on the way home. This picture was taken after eldest first long day at her new school (equivalent of high school in the Netherlands).

The entire family went to the school (for a gathering of all the parents - brothers and sisters were present as well - of 250 kids!) to show support in this new stage in her life. We are all SO proud of J!

I've learned through the years that in letting go, you gain so much more. I have to admit it's hard, specially when it's about the girls. The girls have shown us through the years, that the rewards are great. :)

I love seeing J happy harvesting the fruits of her labor - 3 years in Holland, and she has come along away...

She was 10 y.o. as old, as middle daughter is now, as we moved here, so very far from the northern city in Germany, her birth country.

In a short period, she's mastered the Dutch language, gained good friends and has managed to mature quiet excellently but at the same time make the best of her childhood in her new home, a beautiful idyllic corner in the North of Holland

Simplifying & Superfying September

2012-09-02T23:00:00.000+02:00

While preparing for my long run today, my personal NaBloPoMo theme occured to me: Simplifying & Superfying September.

What still keeps me from blogging regulary is needing things to be "perfect".

Now, I would like to use once again this month long blogging to reinforce spontaneity in my postings.

Tonight, I share once again my #FMSPhotoADay: Father: the little girl on the picture is me, sitting on the lap of my dad, while we all posed for a family picture on my first birthday. The girl beside my mom is my cousin.

I think this is the only birthday I had as a toddler with a complete set of images.

Today was a long day. But no time to go into details. What I would like to share though, is that I covered a distance of 18 kms. Details of this will be shared eventually @ Happy Feet in the Netherlands.

Well, that's it! Mission accomplished: simplified & superfied (highligh of the day, shared in short version) post. :)

What do you do to simplify and superfy your blogging?

Super Saturday in September!

2012-09-01T23:00:00.000+02:00

Day 1|#FMSPhotoADay| You: in the car with the family (I ♡ photo op in our car) this afternoon: the begin to what was a beautiful Saturday!

Hello! It's moi again, and this time with a latest pic and not from the archives. :) Aaaand I have @FatMuMSlim with her September's Edition of #FMSPhotoADay challenge to thank for the motivation to finally share a new image of myself.

It was pretty handy with the last posts I shared here to simply use archive pics. But I have to admit I am one of those bloggers,who would love to use the latest photos when sharing a new blog, as much as possible.

Well, the next 30 days, I'll TRY to do just that with the #FMSPhotoADay challenge. Wish me luck that this is the month I finally ace it (I've tried more than a couple of times since I discovered this challenge last February!).

While I am at it, I thought why not do the September edition of NaBloPoMo.

The theme for September is EYE. I'll let myself be inspired by Blogher's NaBloPoMo wring prompts for September but will also do freestyle writing when the mood, day's events calls for it. :)

I have been counting down the days to my first Berlin Marathon,. My initial attempt at daily blogging about it, which begun months before was not quiet as consistent as I had hope it would be. Thus the project: 42 FOR 42 was born: 42 days countdown to my first 42 kms run in photos.

Tonight it's 29 Days to Berlin: The family is together again in the Netherlands, after the girl's spent 4 weeks of their 6 week's holidays with their Oma H in Germany.

We went shoe shopping amongst other things for the new school year! Everyone got a pair (even P, except moi, whose been planning to get a new pair since beginning of August! :D But I got other goodies...more about them tomorrow...). It was like Christmas in September.
The highlight of the day was eating at our favourite Greek restaurant: Grieks Restaurant Niki in Weesp.

The day was a belated birthday celebration of middle daughter K, a celebration of eldest beginning in a new school, and a "thanks-giving-for-a-beautiful-Summer-School-Break"!

It seems that whenever we are in Weesp, it has become an unspoken ritual to eat ice-cream at Nelis Ijssalon. I'm addicted to their warm apple cake with cream and a chosen scoop of ice-cream. Tonight was not different, after our Greek dinner, the family had the dessert there (it's only around the corner!). Pity, I did not get to finish everything even if I drank peppermint tea because I was still too full from the dinner. P and the girls were no longer up to a long walk after our dinner and simply wanted to dive into eating dessert. :D

How was your first day of September? Was it sweet, savoury, or went super fast?!

My Little Corner of Creativity

2012-08-01T10:00:00.000+02:00

My Daily Mooosings in the Netherlands is more than a year and a half, and I can't count how often I've begun a post here, with these words: it seems it is always a challenge to begin blogging and keep at it regularly, when "you've been away" for so long!

The first day of a new month mostly gives me that extra strong push to try once more, and give every little blogging project, I've committed to before, or have been itching to start & complete, another go.

Last year was a more productive year for me with completing blogging & blog related projects:

A-Z Blogging Challenge 2011
WordCount Blogathon 2011

from 2nd of May, 2011: Marathon Writing in May...

Project 365 (Photo-A-Day) - July 2010 - July 2011

Just to name the blogging highlights of 2011.

2012 - 7 months in, has not been quiet successful yet in terms of completing blogging projects. The reason for this, I can say is that I am still adjusting to the recent addition to my passion: running. Even my blogging about this passion is not as consistent as I would like to be @ Happy Feet in the Netherlands.

Plus the fact that a part of me still rebels at the thought that I might be sliding into the old pattern of doing things because I am expected to rather than for creating & sharing for the sheer joy of those acts.

Well, doing what you are expected to do won't be such a bad thing if this blogging corner is a professional job, but it's my personal corner of creativity!

from 21st of June, 2011: Sleeping Blogger

This brings me to the second extra strong push that spurred me to blog and share my thoughts for the first day of the month of August: I am the only one, who can liberate myself from the slumber spell, I time and time again, unwittingly put on my own spirit of creativity.

from 14th of March, 2011: Empowered

from 12th of April, 2011: Just Me

I came to this conclusion during random exchanges of PMs with FB friends, who belongs to my running group.

This blog is my little corner of creativity, my haven to simply be me, and work on simplifying life. In this way enjoy more of what life has to offer.

With each blog I create, and share, I affirm a rich life.

What makes life rich? For me it is about having a loving & nurturing family, true & loyal friends, and having a small creative corner, where I could express who I am, share what I am passionate about and perhaps in a small way advocate for good causes I believe in.

Even if it's this creative corner is virtual, it's fulfilling having this medium to live embody my favourite quote:

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Life's High & Lows

2012-06-26T22:33:00.001+02:00

When I can't settle down for the evening, I blog and release my thoughts to help me fall asleep...

After a series of highs, one (could) expect a low; it's how life simply balances itself, it seems.

Hilversum City Run 2012 22nd of April

Hamburg Marathon Relay 2012 29th of April

Marikenloop 2012 20th of May

Ladiesrun Rotterdam 2012 10th of June

Vechtloop 2012 24th of June

It's hard to remain neutral about certain situations. Even if you've been there before, and you know in the end, all will be alright.

You simply have to wait it out. There is - really! - no joy in being right for it's own sake, and be able to say it at the moment you want to state you are, and add stubbornly, "Just you wait and see!". *with shaking fists to prove your point*

It's never cool. It will not hasten the process of everything feeling all right. It will always, in the end, look awfully and painfully lame. Trust me on this.

There is much bliss though, in quietly acknowledging it to yourself, when the time has come. Not loudly to the person you wanted to prove yourself to (even if there is a huge temptation to say, "Nananananana!" and blow a raspberry!) . . .

Truly, situation where you find yourself frustrated to let yourself be heard but circumstances forces you to be quiet, can only make you a stronger person.

It's hard not to over-react, be overly emotional about certain situations. Specially, when it's something you are quiet sensitive about because you have to work extra hard on it.

You simply have to stay with your convictions because experience have shown how it's served you well.

Littlest while waiting for me to pass during the Ladiesrun Rotterdam 2012 5K

The pain I feel now, I have felt before. It makes being joyous, when the moments come, all the more sweet.

Ladiesrun Rotterdam 2012 5K, mijn liefste P happy with how the day went, as I!

Postscript after writing this blog:

I feel better now. :)

Consoling the Mind & Heart at Kinderdijk

2012-06-03T13:41:00.001+02:00

*Eldest capturing one of the many different perspectives of some of the 19 windmills that could be found @ Kinderdijk

We were suppose to spend a long weekend in Germany but due to a very sad breakdown on communication with the person we were suppose to visit, the family and I decided to stay home and spend the weekend, in Holland instead.

The hotel reservation we made, not even an hour before the late Friday afternoon of our departure, was cancelled shortly after the last attempt to save the unfortunate situation (special mention & thanks to the personnel of Hotel Ibis Cologne Leverkusen for being very accomodating, courteous, and understanding with our plight) .

We were very grateful for their assistance and friendliness, which helped alleviate the shock we felt on what we thought would be a start of a special weekend, with someone we have not seen for three years.

I also missed running a 10K, which would have been early this morning, but I decided in the end not to run it because it hast lost it's meaning; I chose it with the purpose of dedicating it to the person we were visiting.

Yesterday, I ran almost an hour along the Molenkade @ Kinderdijk to replace the 10K, I was suppose to run this Sunday morning; mijn liefste P captured this momentn - the last meters of a fulfilling run:)

In the end, thanks to my wonderful family we did end up with a very special weekend:

Self-portrait of sisters enjoying the athmosphere @Kinderdijk, captured by eldest. It's alway nice to know through pictures, what they do while I am out for a run. This time they were out along with me @ the Molenkade - well we were separated by a couple of kilometers, as they took this picture.

Eldest and youngest together. :) Both loving the outdoors.

For today's blog, I fervently wanted to share the picture* (see the first image above of the row of windmills), which eldest daughter took from our yesterday's spontaneous outing to Kinderdijk. And some other images capturing the essence of the day.

I love how the family came together, and turn around a terrible episode into a warm bonding experience.

Eldest took this picture; she is very thoughtful, and "directs" us a bit because she wants us to "look good". :)

In the process, the first weekend of June will always be remembered as the weekend we all finally get to visit Kinderdijk!

And oh! Remember, our blue tit fledglings? Saturday morning we were able to watch each of them as they flew out of the nest one by one! If I am not mistaken (since I have not had the chance to look through all our pictures and videos from the last couple of days) we were able to record at least one if not two of them flying out of the bird house.

Below is the clip of the second to the last of the three fledglings, who all flew out one after another from the nest yesterday. Mijn liefste P was referring by the way to the other fledgling perched already on the tree in front of our balcony, when he excitedly shouted, "There he is, there he is!"

One (we think!) still remains in the nest, it's the smallest, and we think the one who got the least feeding through the past weeks.

As you can hear from the clip, we were all very excited to witness the fledgelings flight, which we would have missed had we gone away for the weekend. We were aware of this, as we decided last minute to go all together to Germany - originally, the family would have stayed home but since I needed a bit of moral support, they were coming along.

Most of the time, we try to console ourselves (or be consoled by others) that things happen for a reason, specially when it's a painful experience. It's not always very clear right away what the reason is nor do you get the chance to go, "A-ha! That's why!" until much later, when you have almost forgotten about it. Some are luckier than others, and do get to say, "We were lucky it happened the way it did..."

Ladybug, eldest discovered on P's Summer pants, while walking along the Kinderdijk

I guess this is the reason I am sharing some of the details of what started as an upsetting weekend, but ended up being very soulful one.

Although, I want to forget as fast as I can the ugly incident of Friday by no longer dwelling on it, I strongly felt the need to preserve the sweet cherished moments shared with the family, which slowly unfolded right after that tearful hour.

I might not be able to make rhyme and reason why things turned out the way they did, with everyone having good intentions, but at least I am lucky to have my family to help me through, and help me out of the pain of such an experience.

My old behaviour pattern would be to metaphorically "flee", "run away", as far as I could, when faced with deep-seated fear, of being misunderstood, rejected, abandoned.

Since I discovered blogging, I knew I don't have to "run away" because beside many people, who cares deeply for me, I have blogging, the therapeutic writing as my "refuge".

Littlest loves feathered friends...

This blog will serve as something to come back to when that, "A-ha! That's why!" moment, comes.

Most importantly it's a clear reminder that if you put just a little more extra effort (and let the love in from people, who counts most fills you, than be engulfed by harsh, thoughtless, and perhaps simply reckless words spoken out of turn because of this person's own hurt and confusion), something wonderful can come out from something bad, painful and ugly.

It's all about changing one's focus and perspective.

As Spring Slowly Bids Farewell

2012-05-27T16:26:00.001+02:00

a fledgling on our balcony chirps, "Hello! I'm hungry!" :) taken early this morning

It's not yet officially Summer but the last weeks of Spring makes you think that it is!

Since my last blog, posted more than a month ago, a lot has happened, and as usual it's a challenge "to come back", and squeeze all those stories of the past weeks in one blog. Actually, it's a challenge to decide what to blog first!

The photo I took spontaneously this morning, of the fledgling in the bird house hanging against the wall of our balcony, thankfully made it easy for me today. :)

What an inspiration!

It's gentle eyes, and wide expectant beak was such an innocent yet powerful image - it seem to me as if it's greeting:

"Goodbye, dear Spring! Hello, Summer - watch out, we will be spreading our wings, soon!

Last year in January, I blogged about liefste P and the girls purchasing a bird house, and our attempt to :

prepare our little balcony to be a corner oasis for us , and hopefully a refuge for nature's creatures in Winter, Spring, Summer & Fall - Family Spring project 2011

Well, this year, around mid-March we joyously discovered that a pair of blue tits actually took residence in our bird house, and were already very busy, and in the middle of creating a nest.

one of the parent blue tit as we discovered it taking interest in the bird house, a bit later after taking this photo we learned that they were already busy building their nest - 23rd of March, 2012

close up of the blue tit - 23.03.12

close up of the blue tit- - 01.04.12

For everyone in the family, this is a first ever experience: providing a place for birds to create their home, where they could nurture their young family.

a collage created 11th of April, was shared and blogged here

view from our kitchen window, the blue tit sitting on the fence, seen upper right of the picture - 11.04.12

P quiet happy to replenish the bird food :)

the birdhouse with the new bird food, shaped like a house- 11.04.12

blue tit on the tree right in front of our balcony, waiting if it's safe to go in the birdhouse - 11.04.12


blue tit about to take flight, and go in the birdhouse - 11.04.12

blue tit parent feeding fledgling, it's head barely sticking out of the hole - 27.05.12

fledgling cozy in the birdhouse, waiting for mom & dad to come back - 27.05.12

fledgling with beak wide open, one of it's tiny feet protuding- 27.05.12

We have been in the Netherlands, since the Spring of 2009, and I made a silent promise to myself, as we begun with establishing our residence here - or as one could say, in the spirit of our hard-working blue tit family, as we created our own "nest" in Holland - to make more effort to record the beauty of our surroundings, and the wonderful creatures we discover around us.

One of the many reasons I love 365 projects is, it gives you the extra push and motivation to capture images, you would normally not pay attention to because it's always there, it always reoccur - like how the season slowly changes, and the small miracles within each season, like how birds lay eggs, how they hatch and the busy activity of feeding fledglings until they live their nest.

If you have been a long time reader/blog follower, it would be obvious by now, how I love the changing seasons; the magic nature (re)creates, each and every year.

Two years ago, I was finally able to complete a collage of the changing seasons, witnessed from the view in front of our living room window:

collage, blogged and shared here - clockwise:
upper left corner ~ Summer, 24th of July, 2010 - 17:21
upper right corner ~ Autumn, 30th of October, 2009
lower right corner ~ Spring, 19th of May, 2010 - 08:18
lower left corner ~ Winter, 17th of December, 2009

Several times, in different media platform, I've shared this collage,and written what it means to me. I am sure I would be doing so again in the future, and I am quiet sure, that I will never tire of sharing it again and again because it represents (at least for me!) a positive essence of how exciting, fascinating and magical change & renewal can be.

Showcased in this collage are the three trees just across our home. I no longer take pictures of them as religiously, as I used to but I continue to take pictures of trees in our area, as often as I can, hoping to have a complete set again to share another collage of trees through the changing seasons.

What I have not been able to do as much as I would like to, is take pictures of the different birds we see almost daily on our way to school or while biking around our area.

Sometimes, I am in too much of a hurry to stop, and can only admire the birds fleetingly. Or it's the other way around - I have time but the birds don't. :P

Often, the images I take are not good enough to share (read: the beauty, and the emotion I feel when I capture an image is not translated by the camera).

a sparrow, that caught Littlest eye while she sat behind me on the bike, image was first shared and blogged here

This is why I am over-joyed when the blue tit family built their nest in the birdhouse we hang on the wall on our modest balcony.

It might seem silly to others but this experience brings so much joy to me and my family.

Yesterday, eldest daughter witnessed how one parent blue tit was feeding the hungry fledgling, and she remarked,"Awww, they are very caring creatures!"

As we always do, we shared our mommy & daughter "awww moment" with our"awww faces" to each other, shared a big silly wide smile, quick happy peck & hugs.

The blue tit family, afforded me and my own family the chance to pause, and witness a simple beauty of what life & nature is truly about. A strong, vibrant reminder, yet again, of what is most important.

I wish the quality of the images would be better, but somehow the images we did take and shared here, translate "enough" how we feel about the privilege of being a part of something that is older than all of us, what should actually be "private, but oh so beautiful to witness:

Life, how it is created and nurtured. Life could be - if we allow it - so basic, so simple and oh, so wonderful.

We love, we nurture, and we repeat the process, every year, throughout the seasons. - lesson learned this Spring, from our blue tits fledgling & their parents.

As Summer approaches, I aim to focus even more on the beauty of what is just right in front of me, and nurture my connections deeper, with those I hold most dear: my family, my friends, & those who share the dream of being a positive change in the world.

What have you learned this Spring? And what do you look forward this Summer?

Nena

2012-04-16T22:24:00.000+02:00

As my Berlin marathon training gets underway, my thoughts are going more and more towards Germany, my memories of life there and the many German influences, that will forever have it's mark on the person that I am.

Nena is one of them.

Gabriele Susanne Kerner (born 24 March 1960), better known by her stage name Nena, is a German singer and actress. She rose to international fame in 1983 with the New German Wave song "99 Luftballons". - Wiki

I was 11 y.o. when I watched "99 Luftballons" on Philippine television. 3 years prior my godmother married my German uncle and I was one of their flower girls in their wedding.

This afternoon I played the clips to two of the our older girls, one born 1999, and the other 2002; Nena's charm and the song's universal appeal still claims the generation of today.

Middle daughter, 9 y.o. sang to the lyrics and liked it, and unlike me, who did not understand German when I first heard it, she understood (a bit) that the message of the song is about a plea for peace.

M - Music, Before I Go To Sleep

2012-04-14T22:57:00.000+02:00

As part of my training for my first Berlin Marathon, I am making an effort to slowly change my sleeping pattern.

Starting tomorrow night, I'll be listening to classical music at least an hour before I sleep.

Four Seasons from Antonio Vivaldi has always been my favourite; it seems apt to begin with this piece because the first movement is Spring, a season of new beginnings.

It's always been a challenge for me to go to bed in a reasonable hour and have a reasonable hours of sleep. Somehow, I should begin somewhere. This post marks this intention.

What can be more motivating in changing one-self, than the thought of performing miserably for thousands of spectators to see.

Well, I certainly won't let that happen! If the visualisation of a smiling and still running me to the finish line of the capital city of Germany, will help me fall asleep, after listening to classical music, so be it.

It would be a challenging habit to ge used to - going to bed early - but invariably a pleasant sleeping ritual!

What sleeping ritual do you have? Does it involved listening to music?

L - Life in the Netherlands

2012-04-13T08:00:00.000+02:00

a four Seasons collage of the image in front of our window done from 2009-2010; it is a collage that never fails to soothe me, whenever I feel rushed by life...

In my Easter Greeting post, I announced that I will be back after the long Easter weekend, on Tuesday with the blogs for F-H. This decision was a part of my baby step with unplugging.

Well, it's a big surprise to me, that we now have Friday because of how busy the week has been!

I'm late. Very late. But not gone and definitely not giving up on the #atozchallenge.

You might wonder what kept me busy besides our three daughters, and the daily life of a stay at home mom!

After the long family weekend, Tuesday thru Friday simply whooshed by.

If you are also following my running blog, Happy Feet in the Netherlands, you will know that I am preparing for the 38th Berlin Marathon.

You might have also read there, that as part of my preparations, and as a long time dream, I've been meaning to fulfill for my 40th year here on earth: I will be running a marathon in our old home town Hamburg.

Not a full one but as part of a relay team, which I put together with the help of the Amsterdam Running Junkies.

In it's 27th year, Hamburg Marathon will have a marathon relay team participation for the first time in it's history.


Summer, 2011 in front of the Hamburg Rathaus (city hall)

Last night, I ran together with my team-mates around the Vondelpark twice, and after our shared fun run, we discussed how we will spend the marathon weekend, together in Hamburg.

More about it - detailed accounts with pictures! - at Happy Feet in the Netherlands.

What kept me also pre-occupied is the Filipino Bloggers Worldwide, a group who has generously supported my bid to be Flying Blue Running's new community blogger.

More about the group here, at My Daily Mooosings in the Netherlands, in the coming weeks.

My bike at the Smidsbrug, 's Graveland, January 2011

And on top of all the responsibilities at home, organizing of my first marathon relay team, and networking, I had to park the bike away for days (my daily destressing activity!), while the Littlest was home to recuperate from her stubborn chest cold.

She is better now but still has to stay home today, and rest the whole weekend.

The day before yesterday, I was talking to mijn liefste P, and I told him that I miss the simple joy bird-watching with him, which we did that day.

Wednesday, 11th of April, a day of bird-watching with mijn liefste P

The quote below did not come to me then, but it does in a way summarize what I felt.

Be careful what you set your heart upon - for it will surely be yours.
James A. Baldwin

I guess, this is why I am willing myself not to feel guilty for pausing with the #atozchallenge. I simply want to have time to let the flurry of all wishes coming true settle down, that I might have a chance to savour them longer than it seems to possible with all of them rushing towards me.

The preparations for the Hamburg marathon, the Berlin marathon, working together with creative, supportive people, and my beautiful & loving family, are all wishes I treasured in my heart.

Now, they are there: the family I long for and am thankful for everyday, and the other dreams I enjoy, and some just within hand-reach.

Taking a day to look out of our front window to watch the changing of the season, and at the back window, to see how our resident blue tits prepare their nest in the bird house we provided, is a way for me to pause, and be receptive to what is being realised in our lives.

Wonderful Spring; new beginnings. They are wonderful cycles of life.

E- Easter Greetings

2012-04-05T23:30:00.000+02:00

Littlest, 4 y.o. has been writing her name multiple times, since liefste P taught her how to; I had to preserve at least one of her efforts for posterity. The drawing on the other hand, is one of my many art-present-after-school from Middle daughter. Together, I thought they would be a nice "Easter Greeting card" for this year.

For this year's long Easter weekend, I've decided to share the letters F-H of my #atozchallenge blogs, next week Tuesday.

Blogging from A to Z Challenge April 2012

It's a baby step to my "Unplugging Project", a part of simplifying our lives here in the Netherlands.

Do come back to find out more about this project, and check out all bundle of posts from F-H on Tuesdsay! :)

Happy Easter, everyone!

D - Dreams Coming True @ My Daily Mooosings...

2012-04-04T23:14:00.000+02:00

January, 2012 passed and I never got the chance to celebrate the first year anniversary of My Daily Mooosings in the Netherlands!

When I started this blog, on the first of January, 2011, almost 2 years (March,2009) after we moved in the Netherlands, my purpose was simply to have a place to record impressions of our lives here, and make an effort to fulfill a goal of a year long of blogging/journaling. Something, I wished I did in Germany.

a collage celebrating my first birthday in the Netherlands & first images of my blogging about life in Holland

Today, I created a collage of races I will be running from the 9th of April to June, in the Netherlands, and the highlight to my running adventure for this year: the Berlin Marathon in September.

Happy Feet in the Netherlands

I can't believe, that I have not only created a collage full of races, I am excited (no longer terrified!) to run, but have also created a blog at the beginning of this year, where I could share all running adventures, impressions, stories and experiences! Hoping in this way I can inspire others, like I was inspired!

Today's post: Destination Berlin

Today's post @ Happy Feet in the Netherlands is about liefste P & I beginning our search for a hotel where we can stay with the family for the Berlin marathon weekend.

I am in the middle of all of the preparations & excitement of a very busy & memorable year. With this post, I wanted to pause and acknowledge that without this blog (AND the all out support of liefste P & my girls, my family & friends!) I would not have been courageous enough to jump in all the wonderful experience, I have been sharing with all of you out there!

Inspire and be inspired!

C- Children in Front of the Camera

2012-04-03T23:34:00.000+02:00

Previous post in this year's A to Z Challenge, made me nostalgic for all the pictures I have already shared here, @ My Daily Mooosings in the Netherlands.

Boom(en) told a silent story through the pictures of us with the beloved trees I admire in the background, of how our lives changed, improved and how we slowly adapted to life here in Holland.

2011

Tonight, I am digging in the belly of my this blog page's archive and sharing once again the images I have
posted from our children in the past year. Enjoy! :)