Kinderdijk

A few days we .took a break from packing and went to visit Kinderdijk. Kinderdijk is a village in the Netherlands that is located on a polder. To drain the polder, a system of 19 windmills was built in 1740.

The name Kinderdijk means, "Children's dike" in Dutch. This is a story about the name :

In 1421 during the Saint Elizabeth flood of 1421, the Grote Hollandse Waardflooded, but the Alblasserwaard polder stayed unflooded. It is said that when the terrible storm had subsided, someone went on to the dike between these two areas, to see what could be saved. He saw in the distance a wooden cradle floating. There was no hope that anything would be living in it, but when it approached, movement was seen. When the cradle came nearer, someone saw that a cat was in the cradle trying to keep it in balance by jumping back and forth so that no water could come into it. When the cradle eventually came near the dike, someone fished the cradle out and saw that in it a baby slept quiet and dry. In some of the stories the cat kept it balanced and afloat. This folktale and legend has been published as "The Cat and the Cradle" in English.

No wonder the windmills of Kinderdijk are one of the most popular Dutch tourist sites!

Little Helper

Kees helped clean up the backyard and wash the windows yesterday. We move on Thursday!
The weather was nice out so we put Kees' little table outside.
Boxes, boxes and more boxes

Washing Machine

The washing machine story continues... We were in need of a washer and dryer for our new house so we ended up buying some from some of our missionary friends here who are moving back to the states. They used to live in Greece so I have a washer from Greece and a dryer from Holland. Here they are loaded up in the car.
Which button is whites and which is colors...I think I'm just going to have to guess. :)

Done!

Today was the last day of my Dutch exams! As I walked out of the dark, cold, gray exam building I felt like I wanted to climb up a mountain spread my arms out wide and sing at the top of my lungs, "The hills are alive..." Lets just say it was a wonderful freeing feeling to be done! The last two mornings I drove to Rotterdam and took exams for writing, speaking, reading and listening. These tests were important to me. I didn't want it to be just about passing the exams but I wanted to be proud of myself for having the confidence it took just to do it! I'm so thankful for my amazing husband who watched Kees for me the past few days...all day long! He even had ordered a pizza for dinner so I didn't have to cook when I got home! What a guy! I'm also thankful for a God who helps us to do more than we ever thought we could do!

Cars

Kees loves cars! We made a track on paper at a restaurant...it helped keep him busy until the food came!

Pesto!

Ingredients

• 1 cup packed fresh basil
• 1 clove garlic
• Pinch of coarse salt
• 2 tablespoons pine nuts
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

1. Place basil, garlic, salt, and pine nuts in the bowl of a food processor. With the machine running, gradually add oil; process until smooth.

Tent

We have had to play inside because of the wind and rain so we got out Kees' castle tent and set it up in the living room.
Kees playing in the castle kitchen...

Lekker!

I'd Rather Have Jesus

Kees and I were listening to some Bluegrass this afternoon and heard this old hymn. What a beautiful hymn...

I'd Rather Have Jesus I’d Rather Have Jesus – The Lyrics I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I’d rather be His than have riches untold; I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands, I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand. Than to be a king of a vast domain Or be held in sin’s dread sway, I’d rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today. I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause; I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause; I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame, I’d rather be true to His holy name. He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom; He’s sweeter than honey from out of the comb; He’s all that my hungering spirit needs, I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

I’d Rather Have Jesus – The History
I’d Rather Have Jesus is a song written by Rhea F. Miller with the tune written by George Beverly Shea. This poem, written in 1922, was left on a piano in the Shea home by Bev Shea who wanted her son to find it and change the course of his life.

The words, I’d rather have Jesus, moved George so much and spoke to him about his own aims and ambitions in life. He sat down at the piano and began singing them with a tune that seemed to fit the words. Shea’s mom heard him singing it and asked him to sing it at church the next day.

George’s life direction did change. He was offered a popular music career with NBC, but a few years later chose to become associated with evangelist Billy Graham and sang this hymn around the world.

Making Cookies!

The weather hasn't allowed us to go outside this week so we have had to find things to do inside...
Kees and I had a fun time baking cookies together. He did a great job rolling the dough into small balls.
Toddler cookies!
Making the best of a rainy day! There actually has been thunder and lightning during the day here. After hearing the thunder Kees said, "I not like that!" It has been some of the loudest thunder I have ever heard!

My Sweet Kees

Park!

The sun was shinning in Delft today so we headed to the park!
Kees loves the slide!

"I'm a big boy no help Mama" -Kees