Amsterdam and Brugge

We have heard about the tulips in Holland and made it a goal to see them while we are in Europe.  Four couples went.....the Bausmans and Caracenas in one car and Gordon and Carlene Walker drove us.  It was a 5 1/2 hour drive.  We stayed at the Shanghai Hotel in Delph.  We ate at the hotel restaurant that night......none of us ordered fish lips soup or large intestine stir fry, but what we did order was very good.  I stuck with corn soup and fried rice.

Yvonne and Mitch Bausman, me, Carlene and Gordon Walker, Marilyn and Bernie Caracenas

Good Friday.....March 25

First stop....Keukenhof Gardens.       This is located in the "bulb district " of Holland.  On our way we saw fields of hyacinths and daffodils, but we were too early to see the fields of tulips.

We found thousands of tulips, and every other spring flower in the huge greenhouses.

You can tell we had a lot of fun in spite of the showers.  

Then it was off to Kinderdijk and lots of windmills.....and rain and cold wind.

We never did find the little boy with his finger in the dam.  Maybe that's a myth.

Friday evening was spent in Zoetemeer in The Hague Temple.  It is a beautiful place to see (and be in) and makes our second temple visited in Europe.

If it's Saturday, it must be Amsterdam!  What a city!!  Museums, canals, architecture......it was wonderful!  Rode the street car to the museum area and spent several hours in the Rljks Museum.

Saw the Night Watch by Rembrandt .....among other treasures.

Right after Keith took the picture, the man on the right reminded us to turn off our flash....oops!

Every person in Holland wanted their picture taken on front of the "IAMSTERDAM" sign, so we settled for just the "S".

The Canal Cruise was great.....that is something you have to do when you are here.  The old buildings are amazing!  

It was Easter weekend and the city was crowded.  We tried a month ago to get tickets to Anne Frank's  house and Cori Tenboom's but they were sold out.   Had a nice dinner and back to the hotel.

We went to Sacrament Meeting on Easter morning in Dordrecht, a small ward with a great spirit.

The young missionaries there were so enthusiastic and helpful.  They know Elder Steenblik from our home ward.....we told them to tell him "Hi!"  I loved hearing the Dutch language, but I sang my favorite Easter hymn, He is Risen, in English.

Then it was off to Brugge, Belgium.  The bombings last Tuesday caused some concern, but we stayed away from Brussels and felt safe the entire time.  

More cobblestones, quaint canals, and Belgium lace......and rain!  Even ate a Belgium waffle!

Went to Museum Brugge,and then  Bloedbasiliek where we saw an ornate tube containing the of Christ .......donations welcomed.

We stayed at the Ibis Hotel.  It used to be an Abbey.  The rooms are the original size as when the nuns lived there.......

Yep.........tiny !

We came "home" on Monday by way of Gent.  Then another  5 1/2 hours.....this time in heavy rain for much of the way.  

It was an lovely and memorable Easter weekend.  Next year it's back to Easter egg hunts in our backyard!     

Today we at 50 days......but who's counting!!!

March 22, 2016.....2 months minus 1 day....

Frohe Ostern!   

Easter is coming early this year.  It is still cloudy and cold most days, but when the sun does shine, we have hope that spring is just around the corner!

My work at the office has slowed down quite a bit lately so I have been going into Family  Search to give me something to do.  Keith keeps busy with corresponding with the 29 Assistant Area Auditors and making plans for a trip to Madrid for some training.  Our replacements will be here to go with us, too.  They will arrive on May 3rd and we will go to Madrid the 5th, back on the 8th.  The next weekend we will  host the new AAAs here in Friedrichsdorf ...and fly home on the next weekend!  We have started a bucket list and will try  to see some sights before we go home.

We went to an Easter Market in Wiesbaden two Saturday's ago.

We thought we could find a place to have lunch, but our GPS didn't cooperate, so we ended up in Bad Homberg and enjoyed good old American food......

Last weekend we went Johannasberg to the wood carver's shop and I picked up an elephant boy to go with the elephant I got to go with one of my Nativities.  We also went to Aschaffenburg and went through a museum in a palace.  Fortunately I took my camera....unfortunately, I forgot to put the sd card in it!  Dang!  We went with E/S Mills.  

One of our favorite co workers became a grandpa last month.  I had Kaycee send me a cute receiving blanket and burp cloth, and I crocheted around them.  Now little Ariel has a nice little American blanket to keep her warm.  Michelle moved into a new house and became a grandpa at the same time, and he brought a feast to the office to celebrate.

I must admit we are getting pretty excited to see our family and friends again.  No babies waiting for us, but grandkids from almost 19 to almost 3 will fill our arms again!

Our big news is......our first grandson, Spencer Cahoon, has been called to the Australian Brisbane Mission!!!  Yes they are calling babies on missions now!  It just doesn't seem possible he and Emilee will graduate in June!  She will be going to the Y in the fall.

We are planning a trip to Amsterdam this weekend with 3 other couples.  Really looking forward to a great trip.  Hoping to spend a night in Brugge, Belgium.  There was a bombing in Brussels this morning, but we are hoping everything being on high alert will work to our advantage.  I hope I remember my camera and the card!

So I'll say it again.....Frohe Ostern and hope you enjoy this weekend thinking about the reason for this season.  He lives......this we know.

Love to all..........