Keukenhof and Haarlem

I am dying to show you all pictures of my new kitchen! It is gorgeous! However, I want it to be 100% complete and we still have one small section of backsplash that we need to hang since we had to order 1 more box!! It took 3 days to do, but this company was so meticulous. I purchased an antique chandelier when we first moved to Germany and I never hung it--until now! It is perfect. We went to France yesterday and bought lampshades that match perfectly! I promise, pictures to come shortly!

So my parents are arriving on Tuesday. They have been in Europe for 1 week already doing their own traveling and then they will drive up to our house. We then leave on Friday for the Netherlands. This will be our 3rd trip to Keukenhof and every time my breath is taken away by God's glory displayed throughout the fields. It is a 5 hour trip to Leiden, where we will stay at the Holiday Inn-it is quite beautiful for a chain hotel. The breakfast buffet is totally worth the trip.

Keukenhof is in the village of Lisse. Check out

http://www.keukenhof.com/

Either before of after the gardens we are going to pop in to see the life size replica of Noah's Ark that Dutch Creationist Johan Huibers built as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of the Bible.

Check out http://www.arkvannoach.com/

for information on where the ark is being docked as they move it from place to place since it was built on a barge.

We are then going to spend some time in Haarlem, home to Corrie Ten Boom- "The Hiding Place"

http://www.corrietenboom.com/

During the Second World War, the Ten Boom home became a refuge, a hiding place, for fugitives and those hunted by the Nazis. By protecting these people, Casper and his daughters, Corrie and Betsie, risked their lives. This non-violent resistance against the Nazi-oppressors was the Ten Booms' way of living out their Christian faith. This faith led them to hide Jews, students who refused to cooperate with the Nazis, and members of the Dutch underground resistance movement.

Finally we will be stopping in the Clara Maria Cheese Factory and shoe makers.

They not only make their own cheese and wooden shoes, they have a wonderful farm with friendly animals for the kids to play with. They also have a large restaurant.

Check out http://www.claramaria.nl/

for more information.