"Mama, Can We Stay Here Forever?"

„Mama, can we stay here forever?“

This is the question posed by Lukas on our last visit to Germany.

Now, there's little doubt in my mind that we're making the right decision. Obviously, he feels at home there. And I have no doubt that Alex will feel the same. Already, he gets so excited when he sees Oma, Opa, Uncle Steffen, and Aunt Melanie.

But moves with young children always involve a multitude of emotions. Will they miss their friends? When we leave, will they understand that contact with those children, who they've spent years getting to know, will change drastically? It weighs on your conscience, and you end up feeling your emotions, plus the emotions that your children might have, if they were old enough to fully comprehend.

Do they know that the next time we're here we'll be visiting, and we'll likely only see this wonderful old farm house from the outside? And the big question is, will I be able to hold it together, and avoid breaking down like some emotional basket case?

This week we went for our last bicycle ride here in Zeeland. Our bikes will be transported down to Germany on Monday. It was a beautiful ride, with the sun casting long shadows of baren trees onto the fields and meadows. The kids enjoyed it. And we stopped for a visit with our friends Peter and Julia along the way. The dog was there, and – this time – didn't need much persuasion to return home with us.

Are there other moments worthy of mention? Well, Alexander said his first German word today (in addition to the slang “Hoopla“ – which he began saying last week). It was „pferd“... which is so fitting, given his obsession with horses.

Alex also got on ice skates for the first time, which he seemed to enjoy. Lukas, on the other hand, (pictured below without skates) was more skeptical.

Lukas is the thinker of two, and he's getting closer and closer to being able to read. He's begun sounding things out, and is showing a real interest in words and sentences. He also adores the new Leap Frog „Sing Along, Read Along“ that Santa brought him for Christmas, which is great. He continues to compensate for Alexander's recklessness through his über-cautiousness. Today he refused to go down a slide at an indoor play area, but when I took Alex down it, he giggled and smiled from ear to ear. I'm amazed that they're so different at this young age! Alex is a real risk taker, and Lukas will only take the most calculated risks. (Sounds like someone else I know... and I'm not referring to myself!)

In less than two weeks Lukas will turn four; his last birthday here on the „boerderij“. We'll take lots of pictures, don't worry. But no amount of photos will capture what I feel for this place, much less what it has meant to my family and I to be able to live here for these incredible two and a half years. And words? Unfortunately, they're no better. It's beyond that.