Standing and watching the last-ever street fireworks on New Year’s Eve—before the ban is implemented—made me reflect on all the changes 2025 brought with it. Lower blood sugar. A little more mobility. A hearing aid in my right ear to join the left one I was already wearing. I found new online friends. I dealtContinue reading “Carrying Light Into 2026”
Category Archives: Blogs by CJ
A Little Light for Christmas
This is a story about light — the kind that shows up softly, even when you’re not sure it will. When I was sixteen, I moved away from home for the first time. I lived in college dorms, which—contrary to every brochure ever printed—felt less like a cozy place to live and learn and moreContinue reading “A Little Light for Christmas”
From Bird Drama to Banana Trauma
It’s been a while since I wrote an actual blog.Sure, I’ve been gracing you with the delightful chaos my brain dreams up, but now… brace yourselves… I have actual news. It began with a hard decision. I’d been dealing with sneezing fits and mild breathing issues while caring for our budgies, Yin and Yang. Yang,Continue reading “From Bird Drama to Banana Trauma”
Deafinitely Not What I Expected: The Blog My Brain Wrote While I Slept
Dear Readers, After a late night and little sleep, I became painfully aware that I had just two hours left to catch more z’s when the light started seeping through my curtains. That’s when it happened again. Instead of falling into deep sleep, my brain dragged me into another dream where it mixed a tinyContinue reading “Deafinitely Not What I Expected: The Blog My Brain Wrote While I Slept”
When Blogging Fails, Dreams Deliver
Dear Readers, I wasn’t planning on writing a blog this month. Nothing big happened that I haven’t already shared, I had no thoughts worth typing out, and I was dangerously close to just uploading a picture of my breakfast and calling it content. But last night I had a dream. One of those super vividContinue reading “When Blogging Fails, Dreams Deliver”
DI-RECT at De Kuip: A Night to Remember
It all started with a road trip. Destination: Dordrecht. Transportation: Mom’s car (thanks, Mom!). Jessy and I hit the road, fueled by excitement and a playlist full of bangers to power us through the two-hour journey—which felt more like three thanks to traffic jams that apparently wanted to join the party too. We arrived atContinue reading “DI-RECT at De Kuip: A Night to Remember “
My Ear-y Tale: Staycations, Second Chances, and Screaming at Microsoft
May: a magical month full of plot twists, personal growth, and one long-standing feud with the wind. This was the month I hit pause on life with a staycation and pressed rewind on a decision I made months ago — to stop wearing my hearing aid. Turns out, sometimes life gives you lemons and audiologyContinue reading “My Ear-y Tale: Staycations, Second Chances, and Screaming at Microsoft”
Cane, Cushions, and Chaos: A 60-Day Saga
Dear loyal readers, There seems to be an inexplicable force in the universe—possibly the same one responsible for tangled headphones and disappearing socks—that prevents me from writing monthly blogs as intended. But fear not! The last 60 days have been packed with excitement, progress, and a few laugh-worthy moments that I just know you’re dyingContinue reading “Cane, Cushions, and Chaos: A 60-Day Saga”
Flu, Freezing Temps, and Forgotten Skills – A Wild Start to the Year!
While January moseyed along at a leisurely pace, February took off like it had somewhere better to be. I barely blinked before realizing it was time to write a new blog. So, do I tackle two months in one go? Kill two birds with one stone? Not that I’d ever throw stones at birds—let’s justContinue reading “Flu, Freezing Temps, and Forgotten Skills – A Wild Start to the Year!”
December: A Month of Mischief, Magic, and Memories
December is hands down my favorite month. It’s like a marathon of festive preparation that starts as soon as the calendar flips. In the Netherlands, tradition dictates waiting until December 6th—after Sinterklaas (who, I should clarify, has nothing to do with Christmas here) hops on his steam boat back to Spain—before putting up the ChristmasContinue reading “December: A Month of Mischief, Magic, and Memories”
CRS Life 