Carrying Light Into 2026

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”

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”

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”

Sick Days, Snack Swaps, and Self-Care Wins: My October Roundup

Two days after coming back from a warm, sunny, and downright spectacular vacation in Greece at the end of September, Jessica and I found ourselves oddly toasty—even though Dutch weather was chilly. A quick test with the COVID kits we had lying around revealed we’d brought home an unexpected souvenir we hadn’t paid for: Corona!Continue reading “Sick Days, Snack Swaps, and Self-Care Wins: My October Roundup”

Destination Reached

When I boarded the care-train a little over three years ago, I had no idea what to expect. What would it be like to get help from fellow passengers? Would I learn to trust them and build a good bond with them? And most importantly: where was this train even going? Did I have aContinue reading “Destination Reached”

The Station Clock

There is a clock at every train station in the Netherlands. This lets you know what time it is, usually there is also an electronic sign where you can see when the next train will arrive and whether you have time to sneak away to Starbucks for a nice cup of coffee. Or in myContinue reading “The Station Clock”

Hello 2024

It’s so great to meet you! Your arrival has motivated me to do all the things and I can’t wait to share them with you and all of my friends. 😀 As you can see, I’ve revamped my website and this blog post will be the first of many this year. I’m going to needContinue reading “Hello 2024”