Late April & Early May: Kiddos

Kudos to Colin, Max, and Aidan on winning 1st place in the Robotics Finals at SHAPE this past May!!

Colin & Aidan are now "Skater-dudes!"   The boys had been wanting a skateboard for years, and we had been waiting and waiting.  Finally, I felt like they were the right age.  They were happy!  (An early end of the school year present, so they could use them before they were packed up for the move)

Women's Retreat in Leuven, BE

Our women's bible group at Mary Queen of Peace in Belgium went to a retreat in the university city of Leuven in April.    It was hosted by a Franciscan nun from the U.S. who was studying for her doctrine at the College of Leuven.   The day was spent having Mass in St. Damien of Molokai's chapel, walking around Leuven, enjoying a quiet, meditative lunch in the park, & hearing Sister talk & then enjoying dinner at a local pub.  

We met in the center of town at the Leuven library.

Mary & Jesus at the library

stained glass at the Church of St. Damien of Molokai

St. Damien of Molokai was a Belgian priest who devoted his life to caring for people suffering from leprosy.   Hawaaiian people who contracted the disease were exiled to this island, Molokai.  Father Damien volunteered to live there among the sick and care for them.  He served these people for 16 years until he also died from it.   In 2009, he became a saint.

St. Damien's tomb

Prior to going on the retreat, our women's group watch the 1999 film Molokai: The Story of Father Damien.  Wow, what a humble, selfless, & faithfilled servant.  

quiet lunch in the park

Walking around Leuven

It was a lovely & educational day spent with my lady friends of MQofP

April: Spanish Football & Spring in BE

Over the Easter break, we were invited to our Spanish friends' home along with some other friends to watch a big football match.  Real Madrid played Barcelona.  All the invited boys shown below were rooting for Barcelona & of course, wearing their jerseys.  Tito & his wife, Toti, the hosts of the party, and their 9 daughters were rooting for their home team of Real Madrid.  In the end, Real Madrid won!  As always, Toti made a spread of delicious Spanish food.  What a treat!

Over the Easter break, I developed shingles on my abdomen.   So instead of doing intense workouts, I did a lot of walking.  Here is the Belgian countryside around our home in the springtime:  

across from our house

my boys!

a cow pasture on the "dirt road"

"the dirt road"

horse pasture

mix of stone and brick....typical of BE

walking with Mike to work

blue bells in the background

the enchanted forest

flowers at work

pretty trees