A poem about belonging
One sister here wrote to the other a rondeau/ rondel A Rondel/rondeau is an eight-line song that was widely used and sung in the Middle Ages. Another example of a rondeau is In Flanders Fields I’m sharing this poem here with permission, but I am not allowed to mention who of the sisters wrote it.…
The Story of Torrie
Laurens wrote and illustrated this story in his notebook around the days of our move from Osijek to the Netherlands. My first book was published in the autumn of 2020. Jelle and I published it ourselves and I could not decide if I should add this story. Does it fit? does it not fit? Finally,…
6 suggestions for contemplative writing
Come now, insignificant man, fly for a moment from your affairs, escape for a little while from the tumult of your thoughts. Put aside now your weighty cares and leave your wearisome toils. Abandon yourself for a little to God and rest for a little in him…. My friend Anneke, who joined me on all kinds…
This is what we celebrate: +/- 45…. (therefore: 5 books for free)
This is what we were celebrating on 22-2-2021: Jelle: 45 years, plus 1 year plus 1 week and 1 day. Janneke: 45 years old, minus 1 year minus 1 week and 1 day. “What unwritten law governs the emergence of love at first sight? I was 22 when I met the man who was to…
High water in the Low lands and a Winterwonderland
Our second lock-down here in the Netherlands was disrupted by a wonderful surprise. First of all, due to the melting snow upriver in Germany and Switzerland, the rivers rose 14 meters above sea level. Normally, most of the Netherlands/Lowlands are below sea level—hence our country’s name. Every year, I feel the adrenaline rush through…
A trip to the world of Corrie Ten Boom
Since we are not able to travel these weeks, I’ll take you along a trip to the world of Corrie ten Boom. In 1844 the grandfather of Corrie started a prayer group in the Barteljorisstraat. He had it in his heart to pray for the Jews. In 1944 the Gestapo came to the House…
How was the on-line bookpresentation?
We have met so many lovely people over the years, and last Friday, twenty of them were visible on one single screen! We were honestly overwhelmed to see such clear evidence of how God has blessed our relationships. Thank you all for making time and joining us at this online table. It was precious to…
Dutch art (photoblog)
It is an art in itself to let beauty speak in as few words as possible. Here is an impression of a mother and daughter’s day. It was about time: Femke (15) paid a visit to Amsterdam for the first time of her life and it was years ago for Judith(16) and Marijke. (18) Not…
C.S. Lewis’s Ideal Day and (y)ours?
These unusual weeks of working from home make you think: How did other people—before us—do it? I was thinking about C.S.Lewis as his book Surprised by Joy was laying around in our living room, and someone mentioned his description of his Ideal Day during a conversation at the table. In Surprised by Joy, C.S. Lewis…