Hello all!

I know I haven’t been keeping up on my emails/blog and I am really sorry about that. I have just been busy with life.

Since Mark and I have been back from Florida (which was awesome in so many ways) I have been busy as a bee. Mostly I have been working on trying to find a job, which is a job in it’s self only you don’t get paid for it and it is a little boring. But I am still praying every night that some wonderful company will come along and sweep me off my feet. If this doesn’t happen I have decided that I might start my own business. I will be come a freelancer! This is scary in so many ways. I have too much to figure out before I start down this unfamiliar path.

Other then working to find work I have also been taking salsa lessons which is sooo much fun. Every Tuesday night I join a group of about 15 people who are mostly Dutch but there are two Chinese girls that I seem to becoming quick friends with. So from 7-11 we dance the night away. Unfortunately Mark is unable to dance with me, he has practice for soccer on Tuesday evenings, but I think it is better!

Recently the weather has been wonderful. The temp is around 55-60 and sunny! In fact I think it might be a record for the sunniest days in a row since September. A total of 3!!!! But don’t worry the Dutch just go crazy when that sun come’s out. They flock to every outside café and drink and smoke and laugh in the sun. You can’t find a place to sit anywhere. It’s as if the population had doubled over night and now everyone is forced to live in the park while baking in the sun. However, all things must come to an end and to day is back to the dreary old weather Holland loves to produce. So the other have of the population has retreated to the trees in hopes of more sunny days to come. And I am sitting writing you this lovely letter in my well heated room.

The other day I was in The Hauge (den Haag) and ran across an American book store. I quickly jumped on the chance to see what exactly I could find in this so called “American” store. While my eyes were filled with wonderful books and magazines I ran across a David Sedaris book, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. I know that one of my favourite short storys by Sedaris was located in this book and I also know that I promised Dhoya that I would buy for him. So I quickly snatched up the book and ran out into the street to join Mark. It was here that I wanted to quickly read him the story that I find absolutely hilarious. His response, “I’ll read it later…” I replied, “Fine…but you are missing out on how David would redecorate Anne Franks house to become his own!” so as we spent the rest of the day running around town with Marks friends I could seem to keep my mind off this story that was just sitting inside my bag. I thought to my self what is so important about this story and why does it have such a grab on me. Then it came to me…it wasn’t the story that I was dreaming about it was the first time I heard the story which made me love it so. I remember Danny-boy read it to me on a beautiful spring day in his house. The living room looked just like a typical college house. With posters on the wall’s and tables full of beer cans I listen to Danny recite the greatest short story I had ever heard, Possession. I giggled and dreamed of what it would be like to search for my own apartment some where in Paris or Amsterdam. I look at my self now and think how happy and innocent I was at that time. I was just a girl living life to the fullest with friend and family so near by. I was invincible. And just like Dan I miss home the most during the spring time. I dream about lying in the sun and talking with Jillian, Mag’s, and Amanda. I dream about taking long drives into the country with the sun roof open. I miss the sparkle in everyone’s eyes when it starts to get nice out. I miss the rolling hills out side of Dubuque. I just miss home in the spring time. So I mostly wanted to write this and let everyone know that I wish them the best this spring. I hope that we all reach our goals set forth for this year. I love you all! I cant wait to come home and see you!