A very happy new year for my few blogreaders!!
Let`s get it out:
I am THE, worst, Christmascards writer, EVER. Period.
I feel guilty every year for, not writing something nice to all these special people who mean so much for me, I feel guilty for not taking the time to Answer all of these sweet people, that have sent me cards and letters...
The end of each new year is indeed a year of pondering the year that is left behind.. Although it might sound cheesy, for me the new year is always a time to very seriously study, adjust old goals, and make new ones.
Take a magnifying glass and study where I am right now, and if I am where I want to be. It is a new but awesome thing for me, to do this together with Lukas. The love of my life.
He makes me laugh, brings somuch joy and happiness into my life every day.
What would I do without him...?
I would like to try and shortly review the past year.
A year goes by so quickly, and before I know it, you forget almost everything that happened and what you (could have) learned from it..
January, was a happy month. Although I was having some immune sysem troubles and having a long lasting cold/bronchitus. It was a very happy month for me.
I had the feeling I could dance and sing and was walking on clouds all the time.
Everything, outside and inside seemed a little.. pinkish:-) I felt good at work, wonderfully rested after the Christmas-break and ready to rock.
A new beginning, a new year, and ohw could this year start more beautiful, could it be any better?
Februar. Although at work and in Luzern itself, the biggest party in the year was taking place, `Fassnacht` or Carnaval, which is HUGE in the Catholic Luzern, I could not enjoy or start to feel like partying.. This was due to an emergency operation I had, the 4th of februar. The day before, they had told me that the reason that I was so happy, was no reason anymore. Our world fell apart a little, and a sad period began.
The docter also found some more endometriosis, and her `sister` adenomyosis, a reason of much aweful and mean pain. I was told that needed to be operated. Another operation wasn`t what I was waiting for, but seemed inevitable..
The 12th of Februar, I planned a trip to Holland for the special reason that Michiel and Melina got married. Lukas came a little later. They got married on the wedding date of my parents! It was a happy day and they looked beautiful. I was indeed really happy for them. Inside there was some sadness still.
March, where I celebrated my very first birthday as a married woman:-) (The 4ht of march). Lukas spoiled me to death. He could love me:-) Having him around and close, talking to him helped me to be less sad. Also, returning back to work gave me the distraction that I needed.
As april came close, the adenomyosis operation date was planned. I was scared at times, wanted to cancel it at times, but knew something had to be done. I promised myself, this would be the last operation in a LONG time! Mama came and supported me. She stayed with us for a week. It was a great help, having her around. We had a fun time together and lukas did also, home alone with his mother-in-law:-)
One memorable night they hunted Ants untill 3 am. They found them EveryWhere! Thank goodness when I was in the hospital. There source came from a nest in the bathroom.. Who`d think they would make it up 5 floors high?? It appeared to be the tall tree, next to the bathroom window!
Being home from the operation 1,5 weeks, with a totally normal movement, my meniscus `locked into` my knee wo crooked and badly, that I couldn`t get it out anymore. Was the cause laying down for 2 weeks? I don`t know...But this I do know:
Give me anything, everything, 10 more endo-operations, more horribly painful periods, the flue for 25 weeks, broken ankles and if I could say giving birth to 20 children, I would. (but I guess I don`t really know how that feels yet;-), ANYthing. BUT - a locked into your knee joint- meniscus..
I seriously, don`t know anything, that hurts THIS Bad. I literally fainted from pain. The ambulance came. Had to help me down 8 stairs into our appartment.
I remember that once in the hospital, they told the nurse she wasn`t allowed to give me anymore drugs for a coulpe of hours. They drugged me as, the same way they would drugg an elefant. And still, in sleep, unconsious, I was screaming like a pig when my knee was moved. Made Lukas have some pretty bad nightmares for a while.
Another operation.
The same ripped and fixed and ripped meniscus, fixed for the 3rd time.
2 months of crutches! Physiotherapy.
Followed by 2,5 - 3 months of handicapped wrists ! Because of the crutches!
Torture. BUT. Everything is good for everything.
I couldn`t work, because at work, I was lifting physical disabled young adults. (not a meniscus job) Working would have been distracting and nice.
But this period of time, forced me to rest. To take a break and think. To give my body and my endometriosis a break from stress (although I sometimes felt, that not being able to do what I wanted and when I wanted it, caused more irritation and stress than EVER! Everything goes sooo slowly if you`re on crutches!
During these months of crutches I had LOTS of time, too much time? to feel sorry for myself, to think about myself, reviewing my life, goals and strategies.. think about what I wanted to chance.
(So I don`t just do that at the beginning of a new year;-)
April/May
Was also the time to decide, where in the big province (kanton) of Bern Lukas and I were going to live and spend, at least the next to years of our life together.
Lukas aimed on `aarberg`. The first time we drove through the town I was not so happy. But that was only a short adjusting thing.. Having to say goodbye to everything we left behind in Luzern already hurted by just thinking about it..
But, that`s life! :-)
We felt very guided by finding a new appartment. It was quite a search, but already the 3rd app. we looked at, Bingo! This was IT for us. We were so blessed by being chosen to become the new owners..
June, Summer
A move was coming up. I was still handicaped. Couldn`t lift things, or I was punished and the inflammation and pain in my wrists became worse. This totally stressed me, but Lukas helped me through it by simply being my hands:-) `Tell me where to put what in which box, and I will do it. NO don`t touch anything, Sit down and let me do it. This was right in between lots of exam- and finishing stress for him.. He is the best. But it didn`t suffice, there was still lots to do and prepare.
As a total surprise, a very dear friend came, helped out. She was like an angel for me. My mom took her, and my best brother Jan-Peter over to help us move.
All 3 of them were angels.
July
I was blessed to behold my newborn nephew, Sven Pieter. I was also blessed with a ride home, to Holland. With my mom, Jan-peter and this dear friend who did all of the driving. :-)
That was a VERY nice break from what was waiting in Switserland..
Returning in our new home there was a LOT to do.. But I had the time!
The days were long, we enjoyed walks in the evenings, enjoyed having eachother.
August
The visitors-month
my friend Sibylla and her husband over here and our tour through the gorgious parlement building in Bern.. (Bern Bundeshaus)
It is open for viewers once a year because of independence day ( 1st of August), which happend to be EXACTLY the time we were there.. So we were very lucky.
We had a great time together.. They were amazed of all the people swimming in the, fast streaming `Aare` river. Which is pretty dangerous, they wouldn`t be the first to die, getting into a whirl or small waterfall, not able to get up to get air anymore.
So we stood and watched them for a while in Bern.. We also had dinner together in our new hometown. The owner happened to be Dutch! And his Swiss wife happened to understand every single thing we were talking about.. She made us laugh... After 3 days our friends traveled to Lucerne to spend some more days and enjoy the vieuw there.
The end of August my sister Krista and her husband Patrick came and stayed with us a while. We had so much fun, and I loved showing them around in this beautiful country. We went back for a boat tour on the Lucerne Lake, and I was homesick for Lucerne again.. We also visited a chocolate factory in Geneve, where you could eat and taste all sortes of chocolate afterwards.. It was so worth it!
Also this month, lukas had to `swear` and afterwards, became an official police officer. It was a pretty day and he had to stand into the burning sun for about 1,5 hours! Afterwards we had a boat ride and had dinner at the same time.
The summer here was beautiful. But fall came quickly.
September, we bought our FIRST car. Our red Dacia:-) We LoVe every detail about it. But most of all, the non-electric windows:D
My wrists finally started to feel like the `old maaike-wrists` again.
Lukas slowly adjusted to his new job.
He felt/ and still feels more and more independent and happy. He knows he was guided to pick the right profession.
October, a friend that introduced lukas an me to eachother the very first time, got married herself. Trip to Holland in our new car. It was great seeing our family and especially our younges nephew again. He is sooo cute!
November flew by. The first cold and snowflakes.
We enjoyed our callings in church in the Young Woman`s and Young Man`s. We have weekly activities on tuesday and are able to drive over there together. In our red Dacia:-) Very practical.
December.
`Sinterklaas` was celebrated with the entire family around in Belgium. It was great meeting up. Soon enough, there were the Christmas preperations. Baking lots of cookies. Which cannot be eaten because of my endometriosis-diet, that I am now following strictly. Lukas decided to help me by not eating any suger himself!! What a great man:-)
With our 3 young woman, we organized the Christmas meeting in Church. It was wonderful. Lots of more snow. End of the year. I am jealous to find out, that it is ice-skating wheather in Holland. Some of the Best childhood memories, on the dutch frozen water, standing on my skates.
Also, a very special little niece was born to Lukas`s oldest sister. Her first child after 12 years of marriage. Little Meryem is so sweet, we got to see her the day she was born!
For this coming, already started new year. I have `some` goals I `d like to share with you. Maybe I have too much goals, like every year:-)
But since I`m job-less anyways, I have something worthwile to do with my time:)
Goals..
To make my endometriosis dissapear to at least a mimimum untill- dissolved all the way. :-D
To be ON TIME.
To become a better student.
To be a better friend.
To become a better blogger.
To become a better sewer.
To become a better housekeeper.
A better cook. A better cleaner. A better christmas-card writer.
A better listener, planer, guitar player, pianist, painter.
To become A gardener.
To spend less time facebooking and studying pictures from friends!
But most important, to become a better person, a better wife and daughter (in law), to become (much) more spirtual, this new year ahead.
Wauw - aren`t my goals sooo SMART? :-)
There are certain steps, existing on how te achieve these goals.. really.
On paper I have a list of goals that.. goes on..
You might think, I`d better hold back some goals for next year and the next, and the next. But somehow, I can`t do it any other way than this. Or maybe I don`t want to?
Too much goals is ME:-)
And too much is still better than none at all...
I wish you a VERY inspiring, adventurous, healthy, awesome and crazy 2011.
I can hardly wait for all the surprises awaiting us..
I hope you feel the same.
See you at the next blog!
Maaike
One of my favorite`s : The Amaryllis...
The brand new niece..
My first Nursing Cover! 100% made by me...
A bright and sunny WHITE Christmas!
