We left home two months ago today on July 19th.  Although we are currently in the Netherlands and there are several places we’ve visited that I have not blogged about yet, I’m going to stop and review how things are going.  

Overall, I’d say things are going well.  I would still rather be doing this than anything else and am grateful for the time and resources to do it.  Over time, we’ve developed some patterns and rhythms that have become our backbone:

• We go to mass every weekend, no matter what,
• Periodically we take a day and do no sightseeing,
• When we arrive at a place where we’re going to be for several days or more, we take day to move in (including organize the kitchen), get some healthy groceries and get to know our surroundings,
• When we get to a new place, we also talk about what there is to see and do there and make sure everyone gets a say in what we put on the schedule, and
• When we choose a place to stay for more than two or three nights, we make sure we have at least 3 bedrooms and there’s a table big enough for us all to eat around.  

What’s going well:

• Taking periodic rest days,
• Honoring the kids’ interests and limitations – we’re doing and not doing some things differently than we would if it were just Scott and I, but we’ve enjoyed things they’ve wanted to do – like going to EVERY lego store, and
• We’re being pretty flexible with bedtimes and mealtimes, etc.

What’s not going well:

• Being pretty flexible with bedtimes and mealtimes – this is a pro and con at the same time,
• School with Abe – he’s having a hard time with our plan to flex what days we do school based on where we are and the best time to see and do something,
• Arlie is still homesick
• There has been a lot of sibling conflict so . . .
• Scott and I have not been able to go on dates or outings by ourselves

A general point:

• What’s challenging at home is what is challenging on the trip – we are the same people after all.  

My sister, Linda, is a professional coach and has taught me several tools for evaluating Life – Stop, Start, Change, Continue is one of them. 

We want to Start: 

Looking a few weeks ahead for attractions, museums and high speed train trips because many things now require a reservation and they sometimes sell out (ie. didn’t get to go to Anne Frank house)

We want to Stop:

Having flex school days; besides Abe having a hard time adjusting to that, it’s also hard for us to manage.

Things we want to Change:

Scott and I find a way to have some outings and conversations by ourselves

What we want to Continue:

1. Periodic rest and down days
2. Everything on our Rhythm list
3. Exploring Grocery stores in each country, we love it.

If you’re reading this and have time to say a prayer for us, these are all things we would appreciate you praying about for us. If there’s something we can pray for you about, please let me know.