25 Things I LOVE...

Twenty-five things I love about Menchie:
I love that you are trying to get your Israeli drivers license
I love that you take care of your family in the Philippines
I love that you have such wonderful parents who are so active in the Faith
I love how you encourage Enna-Marie’s creative and artistic abilities
I love the way you dress
I love your new veggie dish and your cooking in general
I love that you’ve become such a competent driver
I love watching movies with you, even if I sometimes fall asleep
I love that you are happy to watch horror movies without me
I love that you don’t complain when I play my football games
I love that you occasionally throw in some Dutch words into your sentences
I love that you are patiently carrying Enna-Marie’s little brother around
I love that you enjoy motherhood so much
I love that you arrange for meals for new parents here at the World Centre
I love that you know where to go to buy cheap but good things, such as clothes for Enna-Marie
I love that you encourage my baking activities
I love that you love my favourite Dutch dishes
I love having lunch with you in the lunchroom every day
I love how you teach Enna-Marie songs and prayers
I love that you get along well with my family
I love that you have Baha’u’llah’s love in your heart
I love the way you dance and wish I could do the same
I love that you are an orderly person
I love it when you unexpectedly give me a hug and a kiss
I love that you decided seven years ago to spend the rest of your life with me!

Twenty-five things I love about Maarten:
I love that you are friendly…you say hello to most people you meet
I love that you are generous
I love that you are helpful…when I ask you to cook dinner, make breakfast or clean dishes
I love that you are hands on to Enna-Marie from age 0 up until now (evening routine: bathing, changing clothes, brushing, reading)
I love it when you give massages
I love when you play or dances with Enna-Marie, having a daddy-daughter play
I love when you play guitar and sings some songs
I love when you are actively involved in a committee or organizing a big event
I love when you make surprises either on my birthday or our anniversary
I love when you cook my favorite dish
I love when you make a new dish
I love when you talk Dutch to Enna-Marie, I love to hear it!
I love when I asked you to do something and you didn’t forget!
I love your simplicity, you have a simple taste in general
I love your sensitivity
I love your compassion
I love when you share something that you learned from a talk/gathering you just attended
I love and admire your driving skill
I love your hospitality that you show to our guests at home
I love when you fix something at home (broken chair, toy, light bulb, etc.)
I love that you love baking & gardening
I love that you care for your mom and brother
I love that you care for your family
I love that you love your work
I love your devotion of service.

7th Year Anniversary!

We recently celebrated our 7th year anniversary in one of our favorite restaurants in Haifa. For this special occasion, we decided to write 25 things that we love about each other. At the dinner, we brought our lists and read them to each other and to Enna-Marie. It was a very good exercise to look for the good things in the other person, and as such we can recommend it to everyone :-). We will post our lists in the next posting, in the meantime enjoy some of the photos...

fifth year wedding anniversary

Yesterday, we celebrated our fifth year wedding anniversary at Tatami restaurant with our dear daughter Enna-Marie. It still feels like we got married not too long ago, but five years indeed have passed. We hope the next five years will be as happy and joyful as the first :-)! We took couple of family pictures when we got home as a memento of this special day.

Special day...

Today is our Four-year Wedding Anniversary! We celebrated this special day by having a nice cozy dinner for three in "1872" restaurant located on Ben Gurion avenue with our dear Enna-Marie. This restaurant is in one of the renovated buildings that the German Templers used to occupy towards the end of the 19th century when they came to Haifa in anticipation of the return of Christ. It is surprising how time flies, I remember we just got married and now we are starting our 5th year! Yep I know it is still a loooong way to go, but I would say that I'm happy and contented having spent the last 4 years with my dear husband. Happy Anniversary Sweets!

Here are some photos...

Enna-Marie scared to walk on the glass floor

She brought one of her favorite books about grandma and grandpa cats

Eating and reading with papa

After dinner, Enna-Marie and papa played on the glass floor

Our yummy dessert, hot chocolate cake with ice cream, note the ice cream they gave for Enna-Marie

Mama and baby Enna enjoying the dessert