well i am officially sick... the congested, clogged-up, sore throat, red-nosed, aches and pains kind of sick. the kind of sick that i absolutely, positively do not need to be right now! of course, there's never really a good time to be sick now is there?
i tried my hardest, i did, to fight it, but the restless nights, and sleep deprived, working-too-much-over-time has finally caught up with me. and so after last night's battle with trying to keep quiet with my coughing and sniffling so i wouldn't wake up Jan -who has also been working too much lately- i finally gave up on trying to get at least a couple hours of good, restful sleep and woke up with Jan at 6 am, dragged myself in the shower and got ready for work. i knew today was absolutely not a day i could be sick, as i had way too much work to do. i work in child welfare, and can't elaborate too much on work, nor do i want to. but i can say this; i worked for 4 hours and then became dizzy from lack of sleep and completed the most important tasks and came home and have been laying in bed ever since.. catching up on some much needed sleep and rest.
i just really hope it's over soon, especially since we are leaving next week for a much needed vacation. i guess i shouldn't say much needed because i am certain there are other families and individuals out there who really could use a holiday or 'break' more than we could. 
but we are very much looking forward to almost a month's time away in Europe, visiting with family and friends, and just plain rest. It has been quite a year for Jan and I! April 25 will mark the one year date that we purchased our first home, a beautiful century home in the heart of downtown Kitchener. We got possession in September 08 and officially moved in October after several long weeks of labor intensive renovations (that's for another blog entry!!) anyone who owns a home, especially one that is 100 years old, knows there is always something to work on and it never ends! that's all part of the fun, right... right???
Jan and i will celebrate this special anniversary event in Europe. We depart on April 23, (yup, 9 more days now! yipee!!) to Amsterdam, where we will then catch our flight to Czech Republic and spend just about 3 weeks there. Our first stop in Czech is in the mountains to Klasterec, the home of Jan's grandma where she resides in his family's home. In Klasterec, we will spend a good week and a half there; breathing in the fresh spring mountain air, catching up with family and neighbours, eating some great food, and drinking some fresh pints of czech lager. Oh and also the best part, gardening and working in the forest with Jan's mom (did i mention she is coming with us here? it will be quite lovely to have a gardening partner, as i know Jan will be spending much of his free time down at the 'hospoda'--czech term for pub--with all the local town's men! and i know Iva is very much looking forward to my company as well)
After a week, we will be joined by our close friends Scott and Angelina for 4 more days where we will show them all the offerings and beauty in this part of Czech. After our adventures here, the 4 of us will travel back to Prague where we will stay for about a week in an apartment we rented. It will be their first time in Czech and we are really looking forward to showing them around and enjoying Prague and all of it's wonders with them. They have quickly become our very good friends over the past couple years and we couldn't ask for better friends!
Renting an apt. or house in Prague can save you lots of money and you can find some beautiful places to stay in, and it's so much better than a hotel or hostel. Most are equipped with a full kitchen, living/dining room, and plenty of sleeping accomodations. We are lucky and found a great apartment with a cute little roof top terrace where i'm sure we will enjoy endless amounts of Moravian vino...
and then it's back to Amsterdam May 14th, (there are no more direct flights to Czech anymore and they all stop over in Amsterdam, which is convenient for us!) where we will then catch a train to Eindhoven, where we will be greeted and picked up by my awesome family for a 5 day stay with them in their home town (also the birth place of my mother, and oma) of Asten (Noord-brabant of the Netherlands). They live in a stunningly gorgeous home built in the 1700s where my oma and mother were born in! It is such a beautiful home and my relatives did an amazing job in restoring it and keeping it to it's natural beauty. In Asten, we are most looking forward to catching up with all the family, visiting my great Aunt Mein in s'Hertogenbosch, going for long walks, and visiting some natural hot springs.
and then, sadly, we must face reality, and come back home to Canada...(Jan and i have one rule while we are on vacation, and it is that you don't talk about the end of the vacation, EVER!) but with our lovely home which we have settled nicely in, it will be a welcoming treat to come back to, where it will be nearly summer, and our first one in our new home!
I think i will end with a list, since i love lists! and a wish that you are well and can get some rest soon too :)
Top 5 things I am most looking forward to in our upcoming trip:
1) spending quality time with Jan
2) being with my bosom pal Ang
3) catching up with family
3) catching up with family
4) long walks on cobble stone streets
5) some R & R
5) some R & R
