Week 13

What a busy time. We are leaving a few days for a visit to America, and work is a bit overwhelming. Trying to get everything done is tiring me out! I am getting excited about the trip, and ready to have a break.
Thank you for the many e-mails. Many of you asked how I was feeling, if I was sick or not. Actually the first months have been very smooth. I had a few weeks of feeling nauseous, but never sick. Usually a piece of toast or cracker in the morning, and the rest of the day is fine. The only thing that really has changed is that I am SO TIRED. I can sleep and sleep and sleep.
It has been very fun lately, because I can see that I am getting my 'bump' as the British call it. I am no longer thin in the waist!
Well if you don't hear from me for a bit, it is because I can't find a computer that works...but I do intend to write more now that we have interesting things happening!
Bless you and Luv to you all!

Some BIG news!!!

What else can I say? a picture is worth a thousand words, right... Many of you already know, but for those who don't, Peter and I have a major announcement. At least it is major for us! I am pregnant!!!! Yipee!!!! We are so excited, and can't believe how amazing the last 6 weeks has been. It has been very hard to keep it a secret, and I don't think my family has done very well since half my home town already know! But, Peter and I have decided enough is enough. So we want to share with you our news. YEAH!!!!
I am 13 weeks on Sunday the 25th of June, and in Scotland, they do a scan at 12 weeks, and another one at 20 weeks. So here are the first pictures of Baby Brokaar. The scan (that's what they call it here...ultrasound) was amazing and I could not believe how clear the picture was. From the first moment the instrument touched my belly (which is already bigger!) you could see this tiny figure moving around. Baby was quite active, and the tech said he/she had the hiccups...I have to say, tears just poured down my face. It was the most amazing thing.
After a few minutes, the baby was 'resting' so the tech said 'Let's see if we can get it to move.' Dangerous, as my bladder was about ready to pop, but nevertheless, the tech pushed down quite forcefully, and Baby turned to look straight into the 'camera.' You could see its little fingers, heartbeat, the legs kicking...I can't even tell you how it felt to see my baby.
Up to the point, everything has been a bit unreal...I knew that being a mum is different than being an aunt, but....
This is the pic of Baby looking right at me!!! love at first sight!!!

some guests...

I am writing to tell you that Blairmore is full again! We have had about 3 weeks with no guests, due to some courses being canceled, and it is no fun! This place was meant to be full, running retreats. Plus, with only 23 on staff, things can get a bit dull! :} I do enjoy working here, but we are all happy to get to do what this place is made for, and that is to serve the people who come.

On the flip side, Peter and I are getting excited about coming to America for a visit. We will be 'home' for over 2 weeks in late June, early July. I am excited!

There is not much more to say now...but my guess would be that I will write again with more fun news and stories! :}

Crazy Days

Well, it really has been crazy days here in Scotland. About a week after I got back from USA, Peter and myself & Lindsey and Johann went on a 2 day trip to the south of England for some training days. Ellel put on some training for a certain programme they run, and we got to go. It was very encouraging all the way around, but for Peter and I , it was very challenging personally. Outside of the details we learned, we felt God was really bringing up some things for us to think and pray about.
So we are back now; in 5 days, we traveled for 3 days, and were they for just under 2 days. We are tired and just a bit cranky!
These pictures were taken thy day we picked up our 'new' car. This is Fyvie Castle, which is about a half an hour from us. It was a magnificent day, and as you can see below, the trees were blooming and full of bees!
Hope you are all well...Luv and Hugs, Liz

Hard Times

As some of you know, my Grandma Bossert passed away recently, and I flew home for 4 days for the funeral and wake. She was 90, and in the end, was in pain. It went very quickly, right around a month from the real decline to her death on April 15th. I am finding it very difficult as we spent quite a bit of time as children with this side of the family. I am so glad I was able to talk with her on the phone before she went into the hospital.
So, I am very tired. 4 day trips to America are never easy, adding to that the funeral and interesting family dynamics...I feel I could sleep for a week. I know my mum feels that way too.
If you could pray for my mom and her family, they now have to go through Grandma's things, and that can/will be difficult.
On the very bright side, I got to see my nieces and nephew...they are so cute, and getting cuter! I got to meet Molly and Anna...and they both like me alot!!! It was great to get to play, and I am looking forward to out trip in June/July. Thank you for your thoughts and e-mails. I have been a bit slow in responding....Have a great day!

Our roommates!

Oh Happy Day! We have 4 new roommates to introduce to you...For Christmas, Peter received a fish tank, and a while later we purchased 3 goldfish and 1 bottom feeder. It has been a very exciting time...As most of you know, my side of the family has been producing alot of grandkids for my parents, and naturally there is a bit of pressure. So, we took the matter in our own hands and got the fish!!! no more pressure!!! hee hee I am really just kidding, my parents and family are easy on us!
The three goldfish are Sophie (she is mine), Erwin, and Huck; and the bottom feeder is Duke. I am not a big fan of Duke as he is a bit of a wierdo...
Anyway, I just wanted to show you our new 'kids.' Have a wonderful Easter!

Our big snow....

I wanted to put these on because they are so pretty. We had the biggest snowstorm in February...this place was covered in white, beautiful snow. We had a lot of fun sledding and throwing snowballs! We had an international course here at the time, and one lady from South Africa was a bit overwhelmed by the cold! We definitely enjoyed it...the Young People made an eight foot tall igloo...too bad it melted! Unfortunately, I did not get pics of that...
I hope you are all okay...love you all!

the last of the....

Brokaar pictures!!! I am so slow...things here have been a little busy, but really, after a full day on the computer, I struggle to spend time after work e-mailing or blogging. So I am trying to do it a bit by bit...These are the last of my bragging pictures...Nathan and Rebecca are so cute!
Edwin and Flora with Nathan and Rebecca


Oma Serry and Rebecca!!

Our room

I am showing this picture to show you our new quilt! I am slow in getting this on, but Alice Allers, from my home church in Kankakee sent Peter and I this beautiful quilt and I wanted to show it to you guys! Over this winter, it has come in handy as it has been cold lately...Thank you so much Alice!

Beautiful Holland

Just a few pictures from our bike ride to Hoek van Holland...what a beautiful day.

Swimming is fun....

When we were visiting Peter's family in the Netherlands, we went swimming with Nathan and Rebecca (and Edwin and Flora-but they were not as much fun to play with!). We had a really great time. The kids were so funny in the water! Rebecca stayed in her little chair floating around and really like the jet stream part of the pool! Nathan was fun to watch, both when he came down the slide, and when he was playing by himself in the kiddie pool. Such happy kids!

Anna Rebekah Huizenga

Introducing little Anna, who was born on January 30th to my Brother and his wife, Aaron and Alysa. Everything went really well, and she already takes after her mum a bit...she was a short 19 inches!!! I guess Evan really likes her, for about 3 seconds and then is off to play! Alysa said she was feeling pretty well, which is great! Aaron got to take two weeks off to help and be around. So little Molly and little Anna have very close birthdays..only 3 1/2 week apart!
Isn't Evan sweet? what a smile....I love hearing stories about him!!!

Nathan and Rebecc!!!

During our trip recently to the Netherlands, we were able to spend the entire week with Peter's brother and sister-in-law and thier two kids, Nathan and Rebecca. Nathan is just a few monthes shy of 3 and Rebecca is 9 monthes. We had so much fun playing with them. Both of them laugh all the time, and are great to be with.
While we were there, Rebecca was baptized. She looked so sweet in her dress, and she managed to spend the entire day smiling. Oddly enough, my niece Molly was baptized on the same day. Below you can see that these kids love to just play...and laugh. Peter obviously got on so well, and it was great to see him playing with these kids. We had so much fun, and were able to spend some quality time in the evening with Edwin and Flora, hearing about things in the Ukraine. It was a great trip...more pics to come!

Molly and her cousin Hannah

Well, Molly sure has changed in the last few week! She also has a new cousin, but more on that later....
She looks like such a cutie, and my mom tells me that she loves to sleep when you put her on your stomach and lay down...what a sweetie! I think it has been a bit of a transition with three little ones, but Joel and Carmen are getting into the swing of things.
I think Lydia and Allie really love thier little sister, and I hear they kiss her all the time...

I included this picture of Hannah below becuase it is so sweet. Look how straight her hair is on the top and how curly it is on the back...she is so cute! I lover her little outfit!!!

Hope you guys don't mind the pictures of my neices and nephews!!! they are so sweet!

Biking in the Netherlands

Peter and I went for a bike ride when we were there visiting his parents in the Netherlands. It was great to bike again, especially on flat, paved bike paths. We went from Maassluis, where his parents live now, to Hoek van Holland. It was so beautiful, until the storm clouds came and we had to race how to avoid getting drenched! The bike path ran along side the Waterweg, where the Rotterdam port runs. It was fun to see the big ships coming into port. I realized that I really miss the way we traveled when we lived in the Netherlands...by bike!

Molly Kay Huizenga!!!

It is very possible that I have the cutest nieces and nephews! I am not biased at all either...As many of you know and some of you don't, I have a brand new neice, Molly Kay Huizenga, born on January 4, 2007 to my bother Joel and his wife Carmen. She is so cute, and I wish I could see her...Scotland is great, but there is no comparison. You can see that Lydia and Allison are getting bigger and bigger, and now they look huge compared with the new little one...
I have more pictures to share, but will do so a bit at a time as I have been not so good at updating this blog...it has been busy... Peter and I just got back from the Netherlands to see his parents and brother's family. We had a great time and will share more in future blogs.

God is doing big stuff right now. We just had a course called "Getting to the Root of the Problem." We prayed with people on the Saturday night, and it was great to see people make choices to forgive other, and to see how much pain they were then able to let go of...I am learning more and more that when we follow God's word and commands, such as to forgive, we are more and more free. Peter and I feel so blessed that we get to be here to be apart of this, and are trying to be open as God prepares us for what is next...who know what that will be, but oh well....
I hope you are all doing well...luv, peter and liz

Huizenga Grandchildren!!!

The four little munchkins!!!
Notice the fun dutch shoes for the wee ones!!! Unfortunately Hannah's did not fit so well, but Evan's fit and he walked around in them!
We got Lydia laughing and she could not stop! It was so funny....

This is Evan, the son of Aaron and Alysa....He is so much fun...he just putz around and plays all day without fail. I wish I would have had more time to spend with him, but as A and A stayed at Joel's we did not get to see him too much...I tried to make him sit on my lap, but he was not always willing.
My brother Joel's two girls, Lydia in pink and Allison in blue. Well, my brother Joel is a VB coach and I am trying to get his girls to do XC instead of VB....so I am staring early with the brainwashing...

This is Hannah, my sister's Sarah littel girl...the last night we were in Kankakee, Leah, Sarah, my parents, and a few others where just crowded around this bed and she just entertained us all! It was great...She is sometimes quite serious when she is not familar, but this night she was all smiles...what a cutie! Below, Allie is so sweet...she can be a bit challenging, but when she is sweet, especially after nap time, she is the cutest!!!