a weekend in brugge.

As we were booking our trip to the Congo, a friend recommended we stop on the way home for a long layover in order to give us time to take a deep breath and reflect on all that happened during our stay. {And, to rest before stepping back into the busyness of life}.

This was the absolute best advice. Originally, we were really worried about extending our trip…it meant more time away from the boys and more money spent on a hotel room somewhere else. In the end, the flight cost was the same and we found a great deal on a hotel from Priceline and we were so thankful we decided to stop. It was completely worth the extra few days away.

Our layover was in Brussels but we decided to take the train and spend the weekend in nearby Brugge. We chose Brugge because it is smaller, quieter and more quaint than Brussels {& ridiculously charming, in our opinion).

When we booked this trip, we knew that the last thing we would want to do is sightsee or spend time in a crowded city.

Brugge was perfect.

After a long morning getting really sick in the Brussels airport and passing out on the train to Brugge {it was as lovely as it sounds, trust me}, we made it to our hotel and I mercifully took my first hot shower in a week. I then proceeded to soak in a hot bath. I have never felt more pampered in my life.

Let me just stop now and give you a full recap of our weekend …

See? Perfection.

Photo proof of the perfection …

Coffee? One of my favorite things. And, who knew that, in Brugge, serving coffee is an art form…and,  it is always served with chocolate. Amen and amen.

Italian Food? Another one of my favorite things. I really, really wanted this layover to be in Rome {my favorite city on earth} but, alas, Brugge brought a little Roma to me. Grazie, Brugge! 

Evidenced by the above, Dave enjoyed his Belgian beer while I cried tears of joy into my pasta…

Chocolate? Do I even need to elaborate, here? We were in BELGIUM. Belgium = Chocolate. I felt like I was in a living, breathing version of Willy Wonka’s factory. I kept glancing over my shoulder looking for little orange guys singing creepy songs.

Waffles? I had the misconception that “Belgium Waffles” were sort of like “French Fries.” I honestly have no idea if french fries have anything to do with France. {I could google it but I’m just too lazy to go through the effort}. So, I was beside myself to find waffle stands everywhere in this city. And, not just any plain jane Waffle House waffle. These waffles were light and airy and sweet… it felt like I was eating a cloud topped with sugar and chocolate.

Waffles in Brugge were the equivalent to Gelato in Italy or Crepes with Nutella & Banana in Paris for me. As in, I ate them all day, every day. I would argue that I ate my weight in waffles {but only took photos of Dave eating them, so there really isn’t evidence. Bahahaha}.

Laundry? Never in my life would I think that I would cry at the sight of a washer machine. Or, that I would put my head in the dryer to soak in the smell of freshly laundered clothes. I just never saw that one coming. But, I had never smelt clothes like ours after leaving the Congo before. I will not elaborate on the smell but I will tell you that this laundromat was a happy place for me.

Incredible scenery? Beautiful old buildings? Gorgeous cathedrals? Church services that brought tears to my eyes even when I couldn’t understand a word? Check and check. Brugge delivered. 

Spiritual moments? Love letters from my Savior when my heart was suffering? Absolutely.

Sitting at dinner on our first night in Brugge, I couldn’t hold back the tears as we dreamed about what S was doing thousands of miles away as we sat there at a little table in a little cafe in a little town in Belgium. I felt the urge to look up through my tears, and I saw this rainbow. A sweet reminder that God will bring beauty out of this pain.

Sweet note in Dave’s Bible {The Message translation} …

All in all, it was a perfect weekend for our aching hearts. We were able to breathe deeply and grieve together before heading back to life at home without our daughter.

And, another surprise was in store for us on our way back to the US. Remember Joyce? Somehow, she found a way to get us upgraded on our flight to Chicago! It was INCREDIBLE. We felt like royalty and laughed the entire time at how obvious it was that we didn’t really belong up there. We thanked God for loving on us… in the form of lay-flat seats and gourmet meals with wine pairings and a little toiletry kit and comfy socks and a quilt {that I really wanted to stuff into my backpack but didn’t – Dave said it would be embarrassing}. Truly, I almost forgot about my fear of flying. You may think I’m crazy to think that God arranged this upgrade but I know He did. He loves us that much. These details…they are reminders of how lavishly we are loved by the King of Kings.

 What a trip! {And, I kicked myself the entire time because I didn’t bring my “good” camera…note to self: just bring it next time} :).