Family

A good dad

By Jen | September 22, 2011 |

I was looking through some pictures I just took in the last couple weeks and saw these from one of Justin’s futbol games and it just brought the biggest smile to my face! I am probably living vicariously through my kids’ life, but I think Justin is the coolest dad ever! He represents what my dreamy idea of a good father is and I am glad that I get to see it played out with my own children. Even better than having it myself.

Bugs

By Jen | August 3, 2011 |

If you know me at all, you know that I hate (with a passion) bugs. But, for some reason, this little green guy didn’t bother me at all. He came in on Justin’s neck and must have gotten there by falling off a tree. I didn’t touch him, but I did find myself thinking of how cute he was. Maisie adored him and he became her little play buddy for a couple hours until she freed him on a weed growing in the cracks of the mostly pavement city we live in. Is he cute or what? I think I could handle this bug because he didn’t have long antennas or long legs and he wasn’t trying to turn into a disgusting moth that would get into my food or clothes. If there are any tricks to getting over antennas and long legs, please help. I am in desperate need…

Enjoying Life, Being Grateful

By Jen | August 2, 2011 |

I’m really trying my hardest to stop my ridiculous complaining. I’ve been trying to sit back and enjoy life… and it’s working! Since quitting facebook, I feel more alive. I am not comparing my life or family or whatever else to other people because I no longer am stalking those people. haha Here is a little video that I took the other day. Feels so typical European, doesn’t it? Justin and I slept through church this last Sunday. It would only have been our second week in a row to go to Saint George’s, so I guess we aren’t off to a good start! It ended up being such a pleasant day though. We went for a walk around the neighborhood and then later met up with our good friends who are leaving town for a month! A lot of Europeans take the whole month of August off. Lucky!!! Justin…

Goodbye and Far Away

By Jen | November 9, 2010 |

Today I watched two grown men sob together on a bench in a square. One man had his head in the other’s lap crying so hard he was shaking. There was a third man standing giving his support with the touch of his hand. Justin and I were sitting in a cafe watching the three men through the big wall sized window. We were talking about what could be wrong. It seemed obvious to me that someone had died. Maybe their mother? Maybe a sister or brother or father? Just when I had it all figured out, two of the men left with their suitcases. They were saying goodbye. I love that we are capable of having such deep friendships/relationships, but it sure makes life difficult when we have to live so far away from the ones we love. Today while walking home from the cafe I was holding Maisie…

Long Time No Write

By Jen | October 16, 2010 |

Congratulations to me. I’ve made it! It has now been a bit over one year since we moved to Barcelona. Hardest year in my life by far. Thank God it is done with! When I think of the first year in Barcelona, these are the first things that come to mind. 1. Crying baby who had a horrible oozing rash. 2. Cold, dark, empty apartment. 3. Fights with Justin. 4. Maisie trying to find her way and her place. 5. Loneliness We went back to the states for a month to BREATHE. Although it was extremely busy with one of my best friend’s wedding, we did have a few moments to just be and relax. Not much, but it did happen. We also were able to figure out what was wrong with my poor little Cutler’s skin. I know in my previous post I had said his rash was gone,…

Hole in My Heart

By Jen | April 27, 2010 |

There is something missing in my life and there is absolutely NOTHING I can do about it. I am not used to being so helpless. But here I am, more helpless than I’d care to ever be. Stuck. Can’t get out. I’m a fixer and I can’t fix this. I have a hole in my heart and the shape of that hole looks something like this picture: I miss my sister. I want her here or I want to be there. Can’t go there and can’t bring her here. I feel this loss every day and feel like it needs to change. Like it HAS to change. But it can’t and I see no hope. And for me, that just feels terrible. Probably one of the worst feelings I’ve ever experienced. I want this hole in my heart to be filled.

I Don’t Like You, But I Love You

By Jen | March 18, 2010 |

VERY recently, Justin and I went through an extremely difficult time in our marriage. Pretty much November, December, and January were hideous months for us. There were a lot of stresses going on. We had just moved over to Spain and the reality of that was beginning to sink in. No more wonderful honeymoon stage. Our residency was having all sorts of ridiculous unforeseen issues. I was expecting our second child and was scared that he wouldn’t come in time and that a home birth wouldn’t be an option if that were the case. Maisie was accepted into her school, but we didn’t have the finances to make it happen. Our apartment was empty with no money to furnish it. We had biting ants from the furniture we did find on the streets! My grandfather passed away and we were unable to be a part of the whole (or any…