Love and Loss

Niels and I are approaching our three month anniversary! We love being married and are so happy that God has brought us together, though it would have been nice if He would have done it about a decade earlier! We've become homebodies, with hardly any of the travel that defined our courtship days.

We view our first year of marriage as sacred as we are learning what it means to be one and develop our own family rituals and traditions. One of our favorite rituals happens at bedtime. Niels' dad gave Jen a Dutch children's Bible, mijn eerst bibel. Each night we've read a chapter in the Bible, allow Jen her daily Dutch lesson, as well as ending the day with God's word. Then Niels gives Jen a top 5 list of things he appreciates about her. (Jen's friends will recognize this exercise as she has often asked them to list a few things they appreciate about their spouses). And then we pray together and share our day. Last week, we finished the children's Bible and started the "real" Dutch Bible. With Niels' parents coming in December for their first American Christmas, I'm hoping to be able to carry on a more significant Dutch conversation than "hello" and "good night!"

This past week, we've also faced our most difficult challenge as a married couple. Before we had a chance to formally announce our pregnancy, Jen miscarried on Monday, the 15th. It's been a painful week, both physically and emotionally, with some additional complications that are still being addressed. We were looking forward to our June baby, but we trust that God is taking good care of baby DJ for us.

Goodbye Tabby

Yesterday we received the very sad news that Tabby, the much , four footed best friend of Jen's nephew, CJ, was put down. He was 13. My brother, Chris, had Tabby, a chocolate lab, when he met his wife, Kelly. Kelly had a chocolate Cocker Spaniel, Tyler. My first memories of Kelly revolve around the love she had for those dogs. She would make them little outfits for each holiday (and even some just for fun). She taught them the greatest tricks. Never mind the basic shake, roll over, and army crawl. They had a little treat apparatus that they could manipulate--on command--to get their own treats. They were so well behaved.

When Chris and Kelly's miracle son was born, Tabby and Tyler greeted this newcomer lovingly and graciously took a backseat in the family pecking order. Soon they because his best friends, patiently let him pull on their tails and cuddle with them for nap time.

Niels had a chance to meet both Tabby and Tyler this spring when we were in Minnesota for our wedding shower. As soon as we walked in the door, CJ pulled us by the hand to introduce us to his friend. "Ta da! This is Tabby and this is Tyler," he said proudly in his best cowpoke drawl. Niels knows he married into a family where pets are family, not just dogs or cats, and he has adjusted well, with his new second best friend, Bailey.

In honor of Tabby's passing, Bailey and I had a special day. I took her on a car ride to run my errands. She got extra treats and extra tummy rubs, and we took a nice long nap together. I know that if Bailey was in Minnesota, she would give Chris, Kelly and CJ a big kiss to try to cheer them up. Tabby will be missed.

Welcome Clog Files readers

Welcome Clog File readers to the Forever de Jong blog. Browse around and come back often. We'll try to update as often as possible... ;-)

Niels and Jen de Jong

official pix!

More wedding photos are now available. These are from our official photographer. There are several groupings. The first batch is our ceremony.

Official Ceremony Pictures

More wedding photos are now available. These are from our official photographer. There are several groupings. The first batch is our ceremony.

Are You Ready for Some Football???

Ahh...kickoff to the first (Thursday) game of the season is a mere twenty minutes away. I'm still recovering from the shock of living in Canton, OH--Home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame--and making it through the grocery store today without ONE sign promoting football party planning. I'm sure those reading this in Packerland think I must be lying, but it's TRUE!

Given the topic of this post, today's addition to Jen's "Why I Love MY husband list" must be the Sony 55" HIGH DEFINITION TV we have in our basement. It's so pretty...and big...and clear. We love it. Who wants to come watch football with us?

Reservations now available at the de Jong Resort & Spa
**includes optional day trip to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, hosted by Mr. & Mrs. de Jong

WEEK 1: Sunday, September 9
Pittsburgh at Cleveland
Philadelphia at Green Bay
Atlanta at Minnesota
Detroit at Oakland
Chicago at San Diego

Monday
Arizona at San Francisco

WEEK 2: Sunday, Sept. 16
Cincinnati at Cleveland, 1
Green Bay at N.Y. Giants, 1
Seattle at Arizona, 4:05
Minnesota at Detroit, 4:05
Kansas City at Chicago, 4:15

WEEK 3: Sunday, Sept. 23
San Diego at Green Bay, 1
Minnesota at Kansas City, 1
Detroit at Philadelphia, 1
Cleveland at Oakland, 4:05
Dallas at Chicago, 8:15

WEEK 4: Sunday, Sept. 30
Baltimore at Cleveland, 1
Chicago at Detroit, 1
Green Bay at Minnesota, 1
Pittsburgh at Arizona, 4:15

WEEK 5: Sunday, Oct. 7
Cleveland at New England, 1
Arizona at St. Louis, 1
Detroit at Washington, 1
Chicago at Green Bay, 8:15

WEEK 6: Sunday, Oct. 14
Minnesota at Chicago, 1
Miami at Cleveland, 1
Washington at Green Bay, 1
Carolina at Arizona, 4:05

WEEK 7: Sunday, Oct. 21
Minnesota at Dallas, 1
Tampa Bay at Detroit, 1
Arizona at Washington, 1
Chicago at Philadelphia, 4:15

WEEK 8: Sunday, Oct. 28
Detroit at Chicago, 1
Philadelphia at Minnesota, 1

Oct. 29
Green Bay at Denver, 8:30 p.m.

WEEK 9, Sunday, Nov. 4
Denver at Detroit, 1
Green Bay at Kansas City, 1
San Diego at Minnesota, 1
Arizona at Tampa Bay, 1
Seattle at Cleveland, 4:05

WEEK 10: Sunday, Nov. 11
Minnesota at Green Bay, 1
Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 1
Detroit at Arizona, 4:15
Dallas at N.Y. Giants, 4:15
Chicago at Oakland, 4:15

WEEK 11: Sunday, Nov. 18
Cleveland at Baltimore, 1
Arizona at Cincinnati, 1
Carolina at Green Bay, 1
Oakland at Minnesota, 1
N.Y. Giants at Detroit, 4:15
Chicago at Seattle, 8:15

WEEK 12 --De Jong Resort and Spa closed for the holidays.
Turkey Day, Nov. 22
Green Bay at Detroit, 12:30

Sunday, Nov. 25
Denver at Chicago, 1
Houston at Cleveland, 1
Minnesota at N.Y. Giants, 1
San Francisco at Arizona, 4:05

WEEK 13
Sunday, Nov. 29
Green Bay at Dallas, 8:15 p.m.

Dec. 2
Detroit at Minnesota, 1
Cleveland at Arizona, 4:05
N.Y. Giants at Chicago, 4:15

WEEK 14:
Dec. 6
Chicago at Washington, 8:15 p.m.

Dec. 9
Dallas at Detroit, 1
Oakland at Green Bay, 1
Minnesota at San Francisco, 4:05
Arizona at Seattle, 4:05
Cleveland at N.Y. Jets, 4:15

WEEK 15: Sunday Dec. 16
Buffalo at Cleveland, 1
Arizona at New Orleans, 1
Green Bay at St. Louis, 1
Detroit at San Diego, 4:15

Dec. 17
Chicago at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m.

WEEK 16: Sunday, Dec. 23
***RESERVED FOR AMERICAN FOOTBALL 101: DUTCH EDITION***
Green Bay at Chicago, 1
Cleveland at Cincinnati, 1
Kansas City at Detroit, 1
Washington at Minnesota, 1
Atlanta at Arizona, 4:05

WEEK 17: Sunday, Dec. 30
***RESERVED FOR AMERICAN FOOTBALL 102: DUTCH EDITION***
New Orleans at Chicago, 1
San Francisco at Cleveland, 1
Detroit at Green Bay, 1
St. Louis at Arizona, 4:15
Minnesota at Denver, 4:15

SUPER BOWL XLII
Sunday, Feb. 3

***actual games showed to be determined by the powers that be at CBS, FOX, NBC and ESPN/ABC, though the owners of said HD TV are willing to making harassing phone calls and obnoxious emails to persuade said powers to show desired games. The below list is only a sampling of our potential guests known preferences. Availability to the de jong Resort & Spa is subject to change without notice. Limited time offer. Maximum capacity: 60 people. Hurry! Supplies are limited. Expires February 3, 2008. ***

Following Felix

Not too long ago, my mom made a comment in an email to friends and family regarding a recent disaster. The bridge collapse in Minnesota hit close to home. I grew up just outside The Cities. Someone made the innocent and common response of, "I'm so glad your family was okay." Mom was reflecting on the idea that if we truly are global in our thinking, that the unfortunate subtext of that comment is a lack of compassion for the families that are affected.

In recent years, no part of the world has been untouched by trauma--wars, genocide, tsunamis, terrorist attacks, collapses...the list goes on.

I was reminded of Mom's comment today as I read about Hurricane Felix. As of 11pm on Saturday, September 1, Felix is expected to hit "near or to the north of the islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao Saturday night or early Sunday morning."

As I type this, Niels and I are in Vermont, where we just returned from the wedding of our friends, Sean and Jessica. Thirty four days ago, we celebrated our own wedding and left the next morning on our honeymoon to the Dutch Antillian island of Curacao. One of the reasons we chose this island (and there were many!) is that it is situated South of the Hurricane Belt. Sadly, the belt seems to be unbuckled this weekend.

Curacao is a stunning island, filled with history of world importance, with wonderful friendly people and a unique landscape that is both typically tropical as well as coral beach desert complete with cacti. We weren't long into our honeymoon when Niels and I started dreaming about a retirement home there.

Our prayers with our new friends in Curacao tonight.