Special encounter

Like last year, I have made the girls an advent calendar but we have also put up our kindness calendar again. On it we can make a little note of what 'acts of kindness' we performed that day. We do not have the calendar with the purpose of patting ourselves on the back for good deeds done but more to not let us forget to be kind to others.

This morning Famke and I put together two bags with some items to give to homeless people. It contained a fleece blanket, some toiletries, a few treats and a christmas card.

We put the two bags in the car as we headed to Houston with Poezeoma to go the Houston Ballet performance of the Nutcracker.

After the beautiful show we decided to have some dinner nearby. As I stepped out of the car a man passed us and greeted me. I greeted him back and the conversation that followed left a big impression on me. I will try to reconstruct below although it is probably not literal.

Man: M'am, you just spoke to me like I am a person

Me: But you are!

Man: Yes, I know, I am a person but not everyone talks to me like that

The conversation went back and forward for a while

Me: Can I give you something

Man (sounding scared): Did I say something wrong?

Me: No! I just have something I would like to give you.

I took one of the bags from the car and gave it to him. His face lit up and he made a little dance.

Man: I can't believe it, thank you! I could have turned right but I walked straight and I ran into you! God is great!

Not sure God was involved in this encounter but it was special and humbling. Looking back I think about what more I should have added to the bag but above all it was just nice to see him so happy. The other bag is still in the car. We'll make sure that we find someone else to give it to soon.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a huge holiday here in the US but as we did not grow up with it the meaning for us is a bit different than for the average American. So for the last few years we have celebrated thanksgiving with two other Dutch/Scottish families. This year we decided to make the most of the extended weekend and rented a house in the hill country for a few days.

We had incredible weather and really enjoyed ourselves relaxing, being outside, playing thether ball, geocaching, biking, walking, reading, roasting marshmallows. Of course some eating and drinking was involved too :)

Thankful for good friends!

 

Famke's first Texans game

On November 2nd, the Texans had a home game against the Phildelphia Eagles. Thijs had tickets and Famke was going with him! Famke is a huge Texans fan so she was over the moon. JJ Watt is her favorite player and seeing him live in action made her day. Unfortunately the Texans were not able to win but a great afternoon anyway!

 

 

Hot air balloon

While biking home from school one morning this hot air balloon just glided over me. Very pretty and peaceful.

 

 

Daily drive (3)

As the number in the title indicates, I have written about my daily drive before. I really thought I'd seen it all in Texas now, with regards to 'vehicles' on the road, but a few weeks ago we came across this trailing along behind a pickup truck!

 

Nocturnal Run

A few months ago Jeanine came up with the brilliant plan to enter ourselves for a electric dance 5k run at night! Lights, music and exercise!

Brilliant plan as I said, were it not for the fact that the arctic blast had just come through and the temperatures were somewhat below average for the time of year. Combine this with some wind and rain and you could say that the circumstances were not ideal.... But as good dutchies, the weather was not going to spoil our fun and about 15 of us ran the race. Donned in several layers of clothes, combined with glow in the dark necklaces and bracelets we partied along with several thousand people. Been there, done that!

 

 

Cold weather

Unseasonally cold weather has taken the US in its grip. An artic blast is causing temperatures to be far below normal.

As you can see Texas is not being spared and T's might go down to -1 degC for a few hours tonight! Oh my :) Even though we have lived in warmer climates for the last 9 year now and we are not so keen on the cold weather anymore, these temperatures are no immediate reason for concern.

The school district, however, does not share this opinion and thought it necessary to give us some (well meant) advice of the approaching weather....