Before we moved to Diosd we spent nine of the best and hardest years of our lives living in a cozy (and by cozy, I mean small) apartment in Bucharest, Romania. I bought plants there like some people buy cut flowers - sparingly, and with the knowledge that their days were numbered. Our local playground, surrounded by concrete apartment buildings, was our backyard.
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We love having a green space to enjoy time together as a family. We spend time almost everyday playing with our dog and having adventures with our toddler. We also love stepping out on our balcony and feeling like we have a place of solace. Living in the midst of another culture has unique challenges that are often taxing mentally, physically, and spiritually. We are thankful that we have a place of retreat just one step out the door.
Read MoreMarried or single, it’s likely you have struggled at some point with finding joy and purpose in the tasks expected of you in your life abroad. In Tawnie’s experience of becoming a “trailing spouse”-the spouse who isn’t working full-time- those expectations can be challenging and isolating. In this episode, she shares vulnerably about leaving her career in the states behind, and her journey to find her own passion and purpose while living overseas. Tawnie reminds us that finding outlets outside of ministry and work that align with our talents and passions can help prevent burnout and lead to a more fulfilling life.
Read MoreMy cabinets are full of very random dishes, like mismatched coffee cups — including three Starbucks mugs. We have limited ourselves to places we've lived so the collection doesn't get too out of control. We have plates that don't match, my husband's beloved Auburn University Tervis tumblers, gazillions of plastic plates and cups for when lots of expat guests come over, etc. While I long for dishes that match and are pretty, it's hard to commit to the investment in nice dishes because, well, we still have little kids. In the last six months, I think we've (and by we've, I mean they've) broken a tea cup, two bowls, and two small plates. It's easier to not be frustrated when it's a hodge-podge anyway.
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I can find anything I need for a kitchen here in Spain, as we have Ikea, department stores and even Costco (which sells stuff that’s too big for our place). However, it’s all much more expensive than in the States, so we shipped a lot when we moved, and most of it was kitchen items. I brought my knives, stainless steel cookware, cast iron, and my Kitchen-aid mixer. I still haven’t purchased a converter though, so the mixer has yet to run.
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