 Finding the right birthday gift is not always easy and especially when someone already has everything he needs or wants... and then for a 40th birthday? Well, that's a pretty special number! A shirt or pair of socks just won't do. My husband David recently turned forty and I really wanted to make his birthday gift special. I thought about a practical gift, like something for work, such as a briefcase. And then, I thought about replacing his almost worn out wallet. But then I thought about how that will also eventually wear out. Somehow, those things just didn't seem appropriate for his 40th birthday. I wanted to give him something he would never forget and that wouldn't wear out. So I decided, he needed a MEMORY! AND HERE'S HOW IT WAS DONE... I gathered the family together to plan the surprise birthday party (that party he didn't want). We surprised him and honored him by crowning him King of the Day!  But he wasn't the only royalty at the event of season!  We continued with our birthday tradition of the youngest presenting the first birthday gift. Isabella handmade a special drawing of her and her Opa (Grandpa in English).   As we ascended with age, Caleb was next to present his father with a special gift. C'mon, you know every dad needs the movie The Black Panther in his DVD collection!  Next came Simona with memorabilia of the year he was born. Proof that 1978 was a GREAT year! And yes, he did receive that wallet to replace his worn out one!  Ashley was up next with a well thought-out scrap book full of photos starting at David's birth and continued through the present, with the best moments highlighted. This is guaranteed to get the recipient all teary-eyed, with tears of joy of course!  
We saved the best for last. A great big box full of SURPRISES!  Layered from bottom to top was gifts wrapped individually, each correlating with what the last and final gift awaiting him was. Notice my sinister smile???  He got a shirt! And yet another shirt and another.... Notice the perplexed look on David's face???  The temptation to get to the bottom was almost too much to resist...  And then he discovered a hat and sunglasses...  Another perplexed look as he reached for a card that was taped in the bottom of the box.  This was the icing on the cake! (By the way, {Dein Glucks Ticket} in German translates to {Your Lottery Ticket} in English). And it was a rub-to-win!   He won an 3 day ALL expenses paid trip to Ibiza complements of me, his wifey!  This gift took some thought and planning. But the reaction from David was priceless. And what better gift to give than memories that will never fade, wear out or get thrown away?!!
   Here's to my king of 40 years!  The day and gifts proved to be a success. We had an amazing time in Ibiza. It was definitely a special birthday trip that was unforgettable. Be on the lookout for my next blog to see more about Ibiza and what this small "party" island in the Mediterranean has to offer. Where to shop: Gift box- TJ Maxx or TK Maxx UK Glucks Ticket- Nanu Nana (Germany) Scrapbook- TJ Maxx or TK Maxx UK Shirt- Zara Shirt- Pull and Bear Shirt- TJ Maxx or TK Maxx UK The Black Panther DVD- Amazon Sunglasses- Amazon Hat- Amazon Wallet- Amazon Airline tickets- Air Europa Hotel- Hotels.com If you're not already following us, CLICK HERE And join in on our wild adventures of culture, personality and fervor! 
Living abroad to most probably seems glamorous. Many people view it as they would a fairy tale. Everything appears romantic, better, cooler happier. And while that is true part of the time, living abroad can also be difficult in the sense that it's not home or even in the vicinity of home. And so of course we expats (and I think I can speak for the majority of us) love to return home for visits. However, this can be dangerous.
After living abroad for 15 years, going home is something I always look forward to. In fact, for me it's necessary in order to keep my frame of mind healthy and my sanity intact. But as I just recently told David, as much as I love going home, sometimes I don't think it's always good. I know that seems like an oxymoron but it's a real battle that I deal with and my husband as well, when we return to his home country of Malaysia.
As you fly in, over the desert, you cross over the Interstate 10 and the memories of drives along the freeway begin. It's a feeling of exhilaration, old familiarities, home. And once you start your drive to your hometown across that desert, despite the changes and growth of the city you see places that you spent time at, riding dirt bikes with your cousins and the mountains where you hiked with your dad searching for special stones. The mall is still standing (even though ran down) that you spent countless hours with your mom shopping for the perfect dress for Easter Sunday. And not too far away is the roller-skating rink that you frequented practically every weekend when you were a young teen.
Tony's Cafe in Avondale is our family restaurant that I have been going to since I was a toddler.
The memories flood your mind and the visuals, tastes and smells play havoc with you mind and your emotions. This is home! And although you've been away for many years, there's still an appeal that is captivating and alluring, pulling you back to the place of familiarity that you know so well.
For me, the desire of remaining in my home during our visits was due to the fact that I spent many years in a country that I was not happy in. A place that was completely different in every aspect than everything I ever knew. Therefore, I was in a constant escape mode allowing the comforts of home to tear at my soul.
Just last year, I put my foot down. I demanded a change that would place our family back at my roots. It was a difficult decision for my husband, the main provider of the family being that his job is in Europe with no ability to transfer to the states. However, happy wife means happy life, right?!
However, things took an unexpected turn. Within a few months of the decision another option was set before us. An option that would take us to a place that we both love and that possessed many attributes of my home and David's home . This alternative was so perfect that it still allows David to continue working for the same company and keeps us close to our daughter and granddaughter in Germany.
I'm not saying that Mallorca, Spain will be our forever home but it is a great alternative to the original plan that was set to take place. And it has surprisingly made going home this time a little less painful... a little!
Visiting with my birth-father, brother and my step-mother is always a joy!
Even though I only get to see my second oldest daughter Bridget once a year, we share LOTS of love and kisses!
Laughter....
And then there's MORE kisses!
Spending time with our Idaho family is a MUST!
"For this world is not our permanent home;
we are looking forward to a home yet to come."~Romans 13:14
With Love and Blessings, Robin and David If you're not already following us, CLICK HERE And join in on our wild adventures of culture, personality and fervor! 
Moving to a foreign country might sound like a fairy tale story. But the reality of it could be quite the opposite. It was 14 years ago this year when we spent our first Christmas together away from home, in a foreign land, Germany. We moved to Germany as newlyweds of 7 months, with a newborn of 3 weeks, brought 2 of my 3 kids from my previous marriage, just buried my mother the year before, the only thing I could say in German was “I love you” and my new in-laws were opposed to their son's new life choices. We had nothing in the bank and several months of intense flight training still ahead for David. And with the weather being about 75F degrees colder than what we were used to from our homelands and no sunlight in sight we only had each other to stay warm, happy and content.
You might be asking, “How did we do it?” We've decided to give you 12 Christmas days of what helped and encouraged us in a place that seemed impossible and hopeless. We went through tough times that unfortunately didn't only last for 12 days but rather years. However, we want to share with you as living testimonies that with love EVERYTHING is possible! So, if you're an expat, a divorcee, a blended family, a step-parent, lost a parent, have an unaccepting family, been broke, depressed, hopeless or alone, then keep reading! There IS hope and there IS light at the end of the tunnel! We made it and so can you! 
1st Day of Christmas- The first Christmas spent in Germany was the hardest because we spent it alone. However we were so blessed to have had my Bridget daughter come over from the states to be with us. And when there's beautiful Christmas decorations throughout the city, it can definitely help bring cheer to an aching heart!
2nd Day of Christmas- Exploring your new environment is so important when you move to a new place or country. Everything about Germany was so new to us. So walking as we explored the main city was something we frequently did as a family.
3rd Day of Christmas- We both came from big concrete cities where we never seen snow. Driving along the countryside was important family time for us. Especially seeing the white powdery snow covering the landscape, it was so magnificent!
4th Day of Christmas-There were no trains to ride in my hometown of Phoenix. Venturing out into the main train station was something so new. We even made sure every-so-often to hop on a train to travel, even if it was just a short ride!
5th Day of Christmas- You won't find windmills in Phoenix or Malaysia! And just next to the main shopping area in the center of Bremen sits this beautiful windmill! It's also a restaurant with great food! Eating together as a family is something that we treasure!
6th Day of Christmas- Growing up in a new country, I somehow never felt an excitement for history. But while living in an old country like Germany, history became a passion not only for me but also for the entire family. There's so much to see and learn just in Bremen alone. We make it a point to learn as a family!
7th Day of Christmas- Spending time together as a couple does wonders for your marriage! Especially when you really only have each other! I remember well, the first time we walked down the Weser river in Bremen, (it wasn't warm like in this photo), and I said to David, “As beautiful as it is here, I'm not too sure that I can handle the cold!” Fourteen years later, I still can't handle the cold. But if you're with the love of your life, you can endure anything!
8th Day of Christmas- There is nothing more lovely in Northern Germany than the Weihnachtsmarkt or Christmas Market in Bremen. Here you can see, experience and taste traditional German crafts and food. Getting to know and experience the traditions of your new home makes life much happier.
9th Day of Christmas- If you need some joy in your heart, eat chocolate! It works every time for every person in our family! And lucky us, we are blessed enough to have the actual Hachez chocolate factory and shop in Bremen! So, if you haven't had a piece of Hachez chocolate, I recommend to do so now! Joy overload guaranteed!
10th Day of Christmas- There's just something about Christmas lights! As kids, my parents would pack us in the car and drive us through neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights! The brighter, the better! Well, Germans don't really follow the same tradition of decorating their homes the way Americans do, BUT if you go into the main cities or malls, you are bound to find elaborate and colorful lights that are sure to light up your soul!
11th Day of Christmas- Being away from family during Christmas time is hard. Especially if you come from big families and big celebrations that took place every year. And being alone in a land far away, it was important to us that we found a way to celebrate Christmas in a special way. In a way that we could create our own family tradition that we could pass down to our kids. So, each year, each of us receives a special ornament with our name and year inscribed.
12 Day of Christmas- We found that the most important and special way to celebrate Christmas so far away from home is to stick together and to never forget why we celebrate. And even though the lights, the city, the snow, the history, and the food helps to ease the discomfort, no one and nothing will ever come close to the comfort that our Savior Jesus can give to us. Jesus is the reason for the season! Celebrate him!
I pray that if you are feeling lonely or you are going through something difficult in your life, you will find happiness and peace this Christmas season! If you need help or encouragement, please don't hesitate to reach out! Just send me a short note and let me know what I can do or if you need prayer. Everything told to me is confidential. With Love and Blessings, Robin and David If you're not already following us, CLICK HERE And join in on our wild adventures of culture, personality and fervor! |
HOWDY!
We're Robin & David, husband & wife, entrepreneurs, explorers & adventurers. We each sprung out of separate parts of the world (Malaysia & Arizona), disembarked together & formed an unbreakable marriage & family out of what once was a complex blend of jumble, whilst living as foreigners in Europe. CURRENT LOCATION
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