Bye Bye 2011

This past year has flown by!
One of my favourite bloggers, Jenifer at Sweet Blessings, did a '11 recap kinda post and I loved it so much that I'm going to give you my very own '11 recap!

Januari:
Januari is one of the 2 most hated months in the life of a student in Belgium: We have exams for the whole month!
My sweet fiancé (he was still a fiancé back then hehe) bought me this big bouquet of flowers and had them delivered to my door! I still think of it sometimes!

 

Febuari:

I went to London for the first time! This trip was also my first trip with friends... Weird isn't it? I'm just not that much of a travel person and I guess they just talked me into it :) 

I loved it very much though!! 

March:

I feel like March was such a boring month... I didn't blog and my agenda tells me that I only had a take-home-exam, so maybe that's why I didn't do anything exciting??

April:

In April I went with one of my friends to a Thai Massage salon. Not to get a massage but to talk to the women that work there. A lot of them don't work there because they want to but because they think they don't have another choice! Ofcourse we didn't get to talk about that but still, very weird to have been inside a brothel!

More about that here

May:

I had my bachelorette party in May!

I had a blast with my sweet girlfriends and enjoyed every moment of it :)

They dressed me up as my very favourite princess and made me clean streets... Because I'm a princess and I love to clean ofcourse. They know me too well I'm afraid...

June:

June was the month that I got to take my wedding dress home!!!

I was so excited! The lady from the store didn't want me to walk around in it, so I felt a bit bummed, but still, it's such a precious memory :)

July:

This one needs no more explanation I guess

August:

I cut my hair! I didn't like it at all so I'm happy that it's growing pretty fast :)

September:

We stayed at Jeff's parents' for two weeks as a little holiday while they went to Gran Canaria! We had so much fun together, still learning to live together but not in our own apartment. We love the region where they live, it's very calm and quiet there.

October:

In October we started our very first Marriage Course!

It's the one from Sila and Lee if you know them. We had so much fun together :)
We learned to talk about things we didn't talk about before... And we learned also that our marriage was (and is!) still pretty good!! I guess that's because we had only been married for three months at that point hehe!

November:

We went to Paris in November! Read about it here

December:

To prepare for Christmas, I gave Jeff every day a gift for the 10 days before Christmas! 

On day one he got one present, day 2 he got 2 presents etc... (Don't worry they were pretty cheap!)

Yups very crazy but I had fun with it! 

Come back tomorrow to read about my New year's Resolutions for 2012 and how I did with the ones for 2011!!

What are some of your highlights of 2011? Any expectations for 2012?

Surprise Gifts!

I've been enjoying myself today with some Christmas gifts!

We usually never give gifts to my grandparents, but this year, I'll give them some pictures from our wedding and a nice picture frame! I know they've been waiting for pictures since the day after our wedding haha! So I hope they'll like it :)

And then I've started on something very special for my sweet husband! I'll explain it later because Jeff might read this post before he gets his first present hehe...
But here's a little sneak peek!!

This makes me happy just by looking at it!! I'll explain it all later, and I'll show all the details if possible ;)

In case you're wondering, yes, my love language is gift giving... Gifts and hugs are my two love languages, I'm bilangual haha! So this is just me loving all over my husband! Aaaah can't wait 'till tomorrow morning!!

5 months of marriage and PARIS recap!!

5 months ago (last friday) Jeff and I got married! It feels like it was just yesterday that I was lying in my bed with butterflies in my belly, dreaming of my beautiful princess dress and my handsome groom...

But when I look at my husband I also feel like I've known him all my life, that we've been together all my life, living together for ages! But it's just been 5 months :)

We celebrated our day by giving blood! We try to donate blood on a regular basis, but it has an advantage for Jeff: he gets a day off of work!! So we're both pretty happy now, and we feel like we're heroes too!! Saving people with our blood, hoorah!


So to make you guys happy too (especially Joke), here are some pictures of our trip to Paris!

 The view from our own private studio in Jeff's aunt's appartment in one of the better "quartiers" of Paris! It was so quiet and so beautiful there!

 The first day we discovered that Christmas had taken over Paris already...

 Ofcourse we loved that :) 

What's better than Christmas except for Christmas in Paris?? (Or London!!)

On our first night we got tickets from Jeff's aunt to go see a show that's typical of Paris in the Lido. Don't know what that means? Think Moulin Rouge... Maybe slightly more decent... It's kind of a very fancy (and VERY expensive!!) circus in a night club.

If the tickets hadn't been so expensive and if Jeff's aunt hadn't said that we had to go because "This is the real Paris!!", we might not have gone there... 

We did got a nice dinner with champagne though ;)

And there were some great circus acts! One of the best clowns I'd ever seen for example! No pictures aloud there though...

 The next morning we went to go see the Eiffel Tower!

Jeff's aunt had made some reservations for this too, which was awesome because we didn't have to wait in line ;)

 The obligatory Eiffel Tower Kiss Picture :)

 My man standing on the Eiffel Tower, looking a tad bit scared!

It was very high...

I was glad we could come back down haha!

 On our last day we went to the Notre Dame. We even went in and there was a service for the first Advent Sunday. 

We sat on a little bench outside and made little films of ourselves (and the pigeons!). 

We both filmed a 'resolution' that we'll try to achieve in 5 years time :) I won't tell Jeff's resolution, but I promised myself I'd learn to play the piano!

Near the Notre Dame there's a gate with love locks on it... We didn't bring one, we totally stole one!

(I'm sorry if it's your lock!!)

We went to the Louvre again before we left... And yes, that's a Sephora bag in my hand :)

We don't have a Sephora in Belgium so my sweet husband let me choose something!!

I picked the Naked Palette from Urban Decay! Love it :)

And a little something for the way home...

Macarons, mmmm!! We both loved them :)

I hope you enjoyed the little recap!

We're already planning a trip back in februari with some friends. We're going to visit a guy that lived in Ghent but he's moved back to Paris! And Jeff's aunt wanted us to come back soon to go to the theatre or the opera with her! 

Aaaah, life is good :)

Secrets in the night...

Yesterday evening I had an evening on my own. Jeff had a course to go to about refugees&church.
I asked him to set a video ready for me to see when he was gone (it was The Help, great and funny movie! Loved it so much!!) but secretely.... Secretely I had planned something else to do!!

Christmas decorations!!! I love Christmas so much! I like the cold (as long as I'm wearing enough clothing and as long as it's not raining!!)

When I heard Jeff coming in and getting up the stairs, I got "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas" on and started dancing. He liked it very much I think hahaha!

Oh and by the way, I got finished in about an hour, which gave me plenty of time to watch my movie :)

Jeeej, it's the best time of the year again! :)

Comin' up tomorrow: pictures of PARIS!! (sorry Joke you'll have to wait a day longer, this was more important to post because I was so excited hahaha!)

Christmas War?

This week it's CHRISTMAS!! Jeeej :)
According to Courteney it means war... Satan wanting to keep us away from the real meaning of Christmas, not wanting us to read our Bible...

Here's this week's challenge: Christmas is just 5 days away and so much of our time is often spent helping the children to remember the "Reason for the Season". Now it's our turn. Once the kids are in bed get yourself a HOT drink (again we are warming the body as we warm the soul.) Get ALONE and turn out the lights by your Christmas tree, a lit fire, or a candle and just be alone with God. Pray, talk to him, I encourage you to sing Christmas carols or songs praising him, and just rest with Jesus.

I don't have any children so that's not the problem :) I DO have got me some pretty nasty exams, EVERY..DAY..OF..THE..WEEK!
It's killing me... Especially since I shouldn't be having any exams! Our exam period is in januari, after the hollidays!

Anyway, I'll find an evening where I can just sit, be still and just be alone with God. Maybe I'll do that tonight so I can calm down!

Love,
Evelien

Going to bed early

It's the third week of becoming quiet before Christmas.

Courteney writes: 

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

This week's challenge: Pull out your calendar and SCHEDULE a night where you will go to bed very very early. Take your Bible with you to bed and read in bed for at least 5 minutes. Read in Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, Jeremiah 23:5, and Isaiah 53. These are prophecies that were fulfilled by the birth and life of Jesus. Get extra blankets for a warm nights rest, pray God gives you deep rest and that no one wakes you. Then turn out the lights and sleep. I pray that when you wake, you face the new day of Christmas stress with extra strength and vigor.

I'm going to have my "early to bed-day" today. I don't have any classes today so I'm really enjoying my time! Just resting and preparing for the messy week that's starting as of tomorrow... I have a big take-home exam which will take 1 week! In that week I also have 2 other exams... It stresses me out completely!!

But today I'm going to bed around 7 or 8 pm! So I can start the week with a fresh mind...

Favorite part of the Holidays

This week, enjoy your favorite part of the holiday season!  Plan for your family to join you in celebrating this wonderful part of the season.

I'm not sure what my favourite part of the holiday season is... We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here, but I love to see all these Thanksgiving posts!! It looks so cozy and nice :)

Christmas is of course celebrated here (du-uh) and I love it!
When I was younger, I remember unwrapping presents from my grandparents. They celebrated Christmas at our house every year, but sadly my grandfather died a couple of years ago...

This is what my Christmas tree looks like at my dorm! 

It's a picture from two years ago but the tree doesn't change as long as I'm a student :)

This year might be a special Christmas because we're having my parents' best friend over! It's a couple that I've known for all of my life and I'm giving Petra a very special gift: I'm going to ask for her to witness at y wedding! Very exciting because she will not see this coming hah! She's so humble... I love her!

So that's my favourite thing about the holidays: Christmas evening (we don't wait untill the morning to unwrap presents in Belgium, so the evening is where all of the celebrating happens!).
But to enjoy that, I'll have to wait a couple more days! 

Love,
Evelien

A Bubble Bath/Shower

It's the second week of Courteney's "Peace on Earth" challenge and it will require some thinking for me!

Here's this week's challenge: Take out your calendar and SCHEDULE a night where you will take a warm refreshing bubble bath. Bring your Bible. Read the story of the birth of Jesus in Matthew 1, 2 and Luke 1,2.

I can take out a calender and I can also take my bible and read it... But I don't have a bath! Aaaagh... The life of a student! Haha :) 

I'm not sure how to fix it, maybe I can take a bath when I'm at my fiancé's parents', but I'm not sure if I'll have the time and occasion there... And there's little children running around, along with too many people that could interrupt my peace...

So maybe I'll just take a hot shower! I know, it's not the same, but it's all I have...

 Here's some more tips from Courteney
An awesome bubble bath takes planning so here's what you need:
1. Privacy - all children asleep and the husband aware that you don't want to be interrupted

2. Hot water and loads of Bubbles - preferably ones that smell yummy!
--> I could buy a nice shower gel for this one!

3. Some soft classical music
--> I'll put that on when I'm back in my room and preparing to go to bed

4. A hand towel rolled up as a pillow

5. A cold drink to set beside the tub
--> Change that to a hot cup of tea before bed, mmmm!

6. Your Bible and if you are afraid you'll get it wet - exchange it for a good Christian book or simply quietness - reflecting on your day and talking with God in prayer.

Optional: a lit candle

The reading (and candle) will be done when I'm in bed after my hot shower!

I'm happy to be participating in this challenge, even though I have to be creative about it, hah!

Peace on Earth

When browsing through blogger-land, you can find some very interesting challenges!
One of them is Courtney's new challenge (I love Courtney, she's SO inspiring!!) for December:

 

For today she asks this:

Today: Write at the top of your December calendar page - I Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." This will be a reminder every time you look at your calendar and feel anxious about all you have to get done - to pray. God cares for you. Release your worries to him and rest in him.

I took it 1 step further and also included the verse in my daily agenda. I picked the week that's most stressful and inserted a sticky note! (3 exams in 1 week, while still attending classes, not very good...)

 Every week there's a new 'task' (such as: go to bed early, take a bubble bath, ... ) and you have to read a part in the Bible to make sure you're ready for the real meaning of Christmas!