The last couple weekends, we have been staying put. It's nice to do day trips and travel around, but it's also very nice to just have a slow weekend at home. The house is coming along. Our new tv is no longer on the floor since we found a piece of furniture to put it on at a TROC. In Belgium, and throughout Europe, they have these stores called TROCs. They are filled with little treasures!!... and lots of antiques and some new furniture too. There is a grandfather clock I have my eye on. Maybe soon it will join the household.
A couple weeks ago, Mike traveled to Germany for work. He was gone for 4 days, and boy did I miss him and his helping hands, but no complaints here. There are plenty of families whose spouse not only travels, but deploys for months to a year at time. The spouse left back here with the kids are left to take care of everything else in a foreign country. All I can say is that they are AMAZINGLY STRONG!
It's been getting chillier here....mid 60s for the high. Some days are sunny, some are overcast, and sometimes it rains, but usually the sun pops back out throughout the day. Overall, Belgium weather has been good to us so far. The house is getting chillier, but we are not turning the heat on yet. We have radiator steam heat, so I will be interested to see how that feels. It'll be nice to be able to control the temperature in each room.
I have had several of you ask how I like not working, and what I have been up to. I certainly miss my friends at work, but I am adjusting well to our new life here. As you all know, I'm not one to just sit around. I like to do things. Just about everyday, I have something going on. I have learned that it can be very easy to overfill your time with all the clubs and activities going on here, so I have started with a few. Through our church on base, Mary Queen of Peace, I have joined a group of ladies called MCCW (Military Council of Catholic Women). It's also open to Civilians. They meet once a week for bible study. We are currently reading the Gospel of John. I have never been in a bible study as an adult, so it's definitely new for me. But, I want to try new things, and it's been a great way to meet some wonderful moms. They also do social activities a couple times a month. Two other mornings per week, I am in a beginner French class. So far I've learned to say things like, "My name is Jessica." and " I live in Belgium." We are learning how to ask questions like "How are you? Are you married? What is your nationality?" etc. There are some sounds in French that we don't have in English, so that has been challenging. And since I took 4 years of Spanish in high school and 1 in college, I am finding myself wanting to say certain words the way you would in Spanish. However, in French, there are many words with letters that are silent, so that is very tricky. I try to study on days I am not in class, and that has helped. I am going to keep chugging along. Finally, I have been volunteering in the morning one day a week for the boys' 2nd grade teachers. They have me decorating classroom doors, bulletin boards, and making copies. The boys seem to get a kick out of seeing me at their school. I'm sure one day that will change, but for now, I'm cherishing that they like seeing their mom at school! :) The school encourages parents to come eat with their kids at lunch if they can, so Mike has been walking over to their school one day a week and eating lunch with the boys. The look on the boys faces when they tell me about their lunch with their dad is priceless!
Along with all that, I've been running and trying to get us settled in our home. Pics of house interior to come soon!
Au revoir!
No comments:
Post a Comment