And Just Like That...

Here we are with less than a week until we embark on our third adventure abroad. In full transparency, this time around has been far more stressful than our initial move five years ago. Maybe it's because we've gone down this path before (with one kid) and that's all I can compare it to, or maybe it's because as we get older change gets harder. Who knows,  but as we navigate the trials and tribulations of this upcoming move, I am TRYING to keep in mind all of the reasons we decided to uproot our lives once again. I’ve decided to use this blog is to share as well as remember all the things (good and bad) that come with these newfound life chapters. Hopefully you find it entertaining, useful, or some combination thereof.

TIME: Maybe it's because I hit the big 4-0 this year or that Sex and the City celebrated its 25th anniversary that time just seems a bit more precious. Or maybe it's because our seven year old has started resembling a 17 year old. We know we're inching closer to the time in life when family excursions are filled with eye-rolls, shoulder shrugs, and selfies. With that in mind, I’m eager to take advantage of the precious time we have. Living abroad is a reset. A few years where your family is, by necessity, your best friend sharing in the trials and tribulations of starting life anew. 

EXPOSURE: This was our primary motive when deciding to move abroad once again. Exposure to a new way of life (for the girls, anyway), a different language, culture, and community. While it may be cliché, change is good. Although it will be difficult at times, we know how much good will come from getting out of our comfort zones, experiencing new things, and more importantly seeing that we live in a BIG, BEAUTIFUL world full of interesting people, places, and cultures.  

BALANCE:  As working parents, our daily lives can be a grind. With work, kids, school, social activities, we get caught in a hamster-wheel of demands. This time away serves as an opportunity for us to reset. Dutch culture is a bit more balanced, with a stronger separation between work and home-life. Sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery to appreciate the simple niceties in life – a glass of wine, a Saturday morning bike ride to the market, or a loaf of freshly baked bread.

And finally, life is short, and we mustn’t forget that we have only so much time to tackle those bucket list items. As we pack our belongings, reminisce over old photos, question a few past purchases (5 inch heels, I am looking at you), we know that time will fly by and before you know it, our time abroad will have come and gone just like that...