“Not all those who wander are lost.”

Merry Christmas from the Rietkerks

Posted on December 25, 2020 by Kristen

This past week, I saw an ad for a local church that asked people to consider 2020 as “the best year of our lives!” It seems a little too soon to make that declaration but I will admit that the … Continue reading →

A So Cal Christmas

Posted on December 19, 2020 by Kristen

Earlier this year, we pulled out the gumdrop bushes that dotted our front yard. The only thing they were good for was net lighting at Christmastime. So, what to do with 20 sets of net lights? Time to light up … Continue reading →

Written on the walls

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Kristen

As a student at Mattie Lou Maxwell Elementary, I didn’t know anyone who had a chalkboard at home but if you had asked who wanted one, my hand would immediately have shot up. I loved the chalkboard in our classroom. … Continue reading →

This Covid Life

Posted on June 3, 2020 by Kristen

The last real day I remember was March 10. It was a Tuesday. I drove the 90 miles from Escondido to La Mirada to meet up with school friends. We had planned to get a coffee at a local Starbucks…which … Continue reading →

Happy New Year from the Rietkerks

Posted on January 2, 2020 by Kristen

Merry “Tilma”Christmas

Posted on January 2, 2020 by Kristen

We had a wonderful time together at Bill and Eva’s house over the holidays. The kids are no longer kids anymore but we still find a visit from Santa Claus brings out the kid in all of us. Each year … Continue reading →

happy and sad

Posted on September 5, 2019 by Kristen

a summer reading binge that was quite satisfying Continue reading →

And forever in peace may you wave

Posted on August 12, 2019 by Kristen

What better way to celebrate a victory than raising the flag and having a parade. These three images were a feast for the eyes this summer: The Rue Saint-Denis, Celebration of June 30, 1878, Claude Monet, Musee Des Beaux-Arts Allies … Continue reading →

Finding community on campus

Posted on June 4, 2019 by Kristen

This awesome couple has opened their home every week to 15+ students where they make a meal together, break bread and have good conversation. And occasionally, students get to take leftovers home. Continue reading →

(another) 72 hours in Washington DC

Posted on May 15, 2019 by Kristen

we looked out over the rolling green hills with just a little mist and mystery rolled in to the picture to make the evening most memorable. Continue reading →

location-map-greece

Greece Trip Itinerary

Tim’s completion of a year-long chaplaincy residency is the perfect time to celebrate. While Ireland still makes the top of our “Must Visit List”, the draw of sunshine, water and an oracle or two made Greece our destination for 2018. After a visit to the library to check out every Greece and Turkey travel book in San Diego County, we settled on this 2 week itinerary:

Depart LAX for Mykonos (via Athens) ………stay Mykonos for 2 days with an excursion to the island of Delos….
Next stop is Santorini, the island famous for it’s blue-domed houses and deep blue waters. We’ll stay here for 3 days
Then, on to Rhodes, which once boasted the historical Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World. The monument may no longer be standing but the island is chock full cobblestone streets and fortified old towns.
From Rhodes, we’ll head over to Marmaris, Turkey. The primary draw for visiting Turkey is to get up to Ephesus but we found that taking a ferry to the southern end of the country offers a great deal on seaside resorts with rock bottom prices–so we’ll indulge in the island life for a bit. We plan to hire a private guide to tour Ephesus on one of our days in Turkey.
Finally, we’ll fly north to Athens and spend 3 days touring the crumbling landmarks of that ancient city. The Acropolis, Agora and lots of temple ruins should satisfy the inner goddess in me.

Our big fat Greek vacation