For 21 years, I have prayed for a baby of my own. This morning, I will need to accept His answer.
The finality of this moment stings with an intensity that I cannot seem to find the right words for. My brain races endlessly as my head argues with my heart. I think that somewhere in the back of my mind, I have always believed that if I was supposed to have a baby, it would happen. My God is certainly able to heal a broken uterus and my heart found rest in that truth…but here I am 21 years later…staring in disbelief at an empty hourglass and an IV needle. Today, every fiber of my being screams towards heaven and sobs with an ache that words cannot adequately describe.
I am not very open about my infertility. If it does come up, people react in weird, unpredictable ways. Everyone has a solution. Through the years, I have had to politely listen to countless stories about women who have had a difficult time conceiving, been emailed bizarre home remedies, told to change my diet, told to pray harder (maybe fast for a week). If I had a dollar for every time someone told me that I just needed to “relax and it will happen when you least expect it”, I could have funded a round of IVF treatments. It seems that people are ready to offer up anything and everything but the acknowledgement that this could actually be a medical condition. At this point, if I do talk about it, I minimize the issue or resort to humor so that other people don’t feel uncomfortable and we can just move forward to a new topic.
I have felt many different ways about my “situation”. Over the past two decades, I have been consumed in rage, then choked out by sadness. At times, I was so bitter that I refused to go to baby showers and resisted the urge to pelt pregnant women with hard candy. I have blamed myself. I have blamed God. I have tried to end my life. I have retreated within myself and refused to speak about it and I have also had periods of time where I spoke about it too much. At one point, I even enjoyed a brief era of indifference. I’ve had so much time to deal with this reality but somehow I am still not ready.
It doesn’t go away with time.
It doesn’t go away because you have had the privilege of raising someone else’s child.
It doesn’t go away because you love your husband, or your life, or your career.
It’s not fair and it has never made sense
I will not “get over this”. This is quite simply the greatest loss I have ever known.
I’ve thought a lot about whether or not I wanted to share this publicly. At this point, I have spent more years NOT talking about my infertility as I have acknowledging it. It’s not like I have any answers to offer. I just feel like our lives are not supposed to be about us. We aren’t supposed to just run off to a corner and lick our wounds silently. What comes into your life, what crosses your path, what you are chosen and trusted to deal with – THAT is your story. And your story is not your own. The lessons that you learn along the way are gifts – and they are not yours to hoard. Maybe there is somebody out there today that is just like me – totally overwhelmed by the why’s in their life and they need to read this. Maybe not. Maybe I just need to read it to myself 100 more times so that I can stay centered on what is true. I guess time will tell.
I am not here to pretend that I am ok. Nothing about this ok. Today, I am mad – but that’s alright. God is big enough to handle my mad. Sometimes life just sucks. You don’t receive a “get out of pain” card just because you are a Christian. He did not promise me that He would save me from the flames but HE HAS promised to be with me as I walk through the fire. He’s not going to leave me here to get through this alone. I am not ready for how this feels. Right now, the only thing that I am certain about is that every moment of this pain serves an ultimate purpose or it would not be happening. Inherent in our faith is the absolute truth that God IS in control – this includes the circumstances that He allows into our lives. EVERY experience that comes into our lives has to pass through His hands as well as His heart – and no one loves us more. Everything that happens to you is FOR you. He will give me exactly what I need to get through today and then He will give me exactly what I need to get through tomorrow – because He is good. I am still in His hands, right where I am supposed to be and although I may not be able to understand the “why”, I DO NOT HAVE TO. I just have to trust myself to the God who created me – because He will never fail me.
In 2014, we went to Jinotepe, Nicaragua with our church to build a small home for a local family. These are not the best images that I have ever taken but they certainly represent one of the moments from this trip that impacted me the most.
The area that we were working in did not have trash pick-up so we had to drive outside of the city to the local garbage dump,La Chureca, to dispose of the trash. Our host briefed us prior to the trip about the homeless population that lived within the area but his warning fell on deaf ears. As a social worker, we see the worst that humanity has to offer. I felt no hesitation or fear about what I might see and yet…nothing I have ever experienced was adequate preparation for what I was about to witness.
This was a type of hopelessness that I have never encountered before.
I had limited time to document what I was seeing but as I looked around, all I could see was an endless wasteland of garbage and burning excrement. The air was thick with a black smoke that choked out all sense of light. My mind could barely process what was around me. Even now, years later, I struggle to find the right words to describe it. The loss of human dignity was overwhelming to me.
Hundreds of families live in La Chureca. Some work in the dump sorting trash from recycling; others live there, but work elsewhere in Managua. Some decades ago, city officials negotiated an agreement with the owner of the dump’s property as well as several hundred people that were squatting there: the families could continue to live in La Chureca and work sorting out recyclable materials, for which they could sell and earn income from. In return, the city would rent the land from the owner, sanction the squatter communities on private property, providing potable water to the residents.
Community just outside of the gates of La Chureca
Homes built from the trash found within La Chureca.
As we entered the gate, our van was greeted by those that live within. They helped us empty the van with smiles on their faces and then immediately proceeded to search through the bags. Bags that were filled with food scraps, empty cans and used tissues that had been saturated in human waste.
They live off of the leftovers of those that barely have anything themselves.
A family that lives within La Chureca watches us from above the heap.
There are countless things to do and see during the Las Fallas festival but “La Ofrenda” was the most immersive cultural experience we’ve ever been part of.
La Ofrenda takes place each year on the 17th of March. For two days, from 4 pm- 1 am, the entire city is an endless parade of color, music and intense emotion as the people of Valencia and surrounding regions bring offerings of flowers to the center of Old Town Valencia to pay homage to their patron saint.
During the week leading up to the Offering, a huge wooden monument is built in the center of the Placa de la Virgen, representing the Virgen de los Desamparados (Our Lady of the Forsaken) .
Placa de la Virgen before La Ofrenda begins | March 16, 2023 | @thedhoogeden.com
The parade begins on the 17th of March and runs along La Paz and San Vicente Streets. One by one, each representative, accompanied by marching bands and dressed in traditional costumes, parade through the city towards the plaza, to offer a gift to the Lady on behalf of their community.
The flowers are gathered up and placed into the framework “cloak” by teams of volunteers who arrange the flowers into a design (that is kept secret every year).
The processions last for two days and are incredibly emotional. We saw many of the falleras moved to tears as they finally approached the square to pay their homage.
We returned to the plaza several times each day and every time we entered the square, I would have an involuntary emotional response. All at once, you are baptized by the color and fragrance of thousands and thousands of flowers, coupled by the intensity of brass bands, random explosions, and raw emotion. It’s an overwhelming feeling and one that I will be forever grateful to have had the chance to experience.
For my fellow history dorks, check out part 1 for more detail about the Las Fallas festival.
We had a few hours between flights so we raced to the Eiffel tower for an obligatory selfie. I am fairly certain that they fine you if you try to leave Paris without one.
Spain was never a “must” for me until I stumbled upon a random article in 2019 about the Las Fallas Festival. Within moments, the country became an obsession. The “burning man of Spain”, Las Fallas is one of the most popular festivals in Europe. A five-day continuous street party with spectacular fireworks, traditional costumes, live music, parades and street art that culminates with everything being ceremoniously burned to the ground on the last day of the festival.
Sounds like a Dhooge Den Adventure to me! And this time, we brought our son and daughter-in-love along with us!
Want to learn more about the festival? This post is going to focus on the 2023 Fallas but here are two great blogs to check out that will give you all of the details about the festival itself. Click HERE and HERE
For my fellow history dorks, here are the cliff notes about the festival:
There is some healthy debate about the true origin of the festival; however, no one seems to dispute the fact that the festival is hundreds of years old. The most common explanation that I have come across is that some time in the early 1700’s, the Carpenters of Valencia began burning the unusable scraps of wood lying around in their workshops, to celebrate the feast of their patron saint, Saint Joseph. It wasn’t long before the “event” became a friendly competition for the biggest bonfire. To engage the crowds, Carpenters began crafting shapes and characters out of wood and papier-mâche. The creations became larger and larger and were referred to as “fallas”.
According to Valencian historians, the first recorded documentation of this tradition is a municipal decree that dates back to March 1740 and clearly prohibits the burning of these monuments in the narrow streets of the city. The very fact that the city needed to address this formally tells us that at this point in history (1740), a tradition had already been established. This means that the people of Valencia have been celebrating Las Fallas for over 283 years! To put that in perspective…36 years after the City of Valencia put a safety plan in place, the United States of America declared our independence as a nation.
Photo Credit: unknown (but too stunning not to post)
Why did they call them “fallas”? Great Question! The word falla in medieval Valencian, literally means ‘fire torch’; however, over the centuries, the meaning of the word evolved. In the 16th century, falla was a reference to a bonfire that was lit to burn old discarded objects. In the 18th century, a falla was a fire lit to burn ninots (puppets) used in satire. Eventually, the puppets themselves came to be known as fallas.
Today, the word fallas has many different meanings: it may be used to refer to the festival itself, the bonfires at the end of the festival, the monuments that are built and later set on fire, or the communities of neighbors who manage and carry out the construction of the monuments.
Now, back to the festival: over time, entire neighborhoods (barrios) began contributing to the creation of these monuments that would represent their community in the annual competition. By the late 18th century, the fallas monuments began to depict satirical scenes, parodies of political or contemporary personalities, and current events that were relevant to each community.
Fast forward a couple of centuries and Las Fallas has transitioned into a massive celebration and tourist attraction that brings at least one million visitors to Valencia each year.
Waiting for the daily “mascleta” with 999,998 other tourists and his beloved ham bocadillo.
A sculpture from the canceled 2020 Las Fallas festival in Valencia, Spain, wearing an improvised mask. Photo: John McKenna / Alamy.
Las Fallas was declared an “intangible heritage of humanity” by UNESCO in 2016.
RANDOM FACT: the festival has only been cancelled seven (7) times throughout history and was most recently cancelled in 2020 because of the global pandemic. After two years, the festival resumed again in March 2022.
Alright. Enough detail…let’s get to the fun stuff: the Fallas of 2023
Every year, on March 15, the “La Plantà” begins. More than 400 enormous ninots (puppets or dolls) are set up around the city. All fallas must be completed by dawn on the 16th. Most roads are cut off to traffic, making way for all the people and activities that will fill the streets during the days and nights the fiesta.
This display was just down the street from our apartment. March 2023. Photo credit: @thedhoogeden.com
The Fallas monuments are incredibly lifelike. Many are several stories tall, and cranes are needed to move them into their final locations in Valencia’s parks, plazas, and intersections. Over the course of the festival, people walk around the city, admiring the artistry and multi-faceted detail of each masterpiece until the evening of March 19th, when all of the fallas are set ablaze during the “La Cremà (the burning)”.
Important note: While every falla will burn on the final night of Las Fallas, one smaller falla, called a ninot, will be spared from destruction and placed in the Fallas Museum along with the other favorites from years past.
Want to see some of the ninots that were saved from the flames in years past?
If you ever visit Valencia, block off an afternoon so that you can visit the Fallas Museum.
I mentioned earlier that some time during the late 18th century, the fallas monuments began to depict satirical scenes and parodies of political or contemporary personalities. The festival became a safe space to freely express frustration about current events that were relevant to each community….and freely express they do. Some, a little more blatantly than others.
How the people of Valencia feel about Putin.
Statement about the prison of social media
Statement about the United States and our obsession with fast food.
I have no idea who this politician is but I am fairly certain he was displeased with this depiction.
The Special Section
Fifteen of Valencia’s 400 Fallas are in a category of their own: the “Special Section” (ie: Fallas Especiales) and are far more impressive than the rest. Representatives from each barrio spend months meticulously planning the monument. They cost thousands, are created by the best artists and compete annually for the first prize.
As we walked around the city, the details of each display were breathtaking. It was heartbreaking to know that these magical works of artistry were just moments from being burned to the ground. Here were a few of our favorites from 2023:
Falla L’Antiga de Campanar | “Som de Colors” | Artist: Carlos Carsí
“The world is colour, we are all colours…long live the tonality of our diversity.“
Las Fallas 2023 | Falla L’Antiga de Campanar | “Som de Colors” | Artist: Carlos Carsí
“Here are these goddesses of universal color, who, tempting us, make promises in a heavenly way. Some carry our glory, others carry illusion, some are mortal error and others are perdition. And one color will remain… ‘the one with the fire in the cremá!”
Want to see more details about this falla? Click HERE.
Falla Convento Jerusalén | “a fist full of euros” | Artist: Pere Baenas
The Convento’s Fallas 2023 monument is inspired by the old west , and aims to remind us that, on the 75th anniversary of Human Rights, they remain unfulfilled. The most sustainable and expensive monument in the Special Section According to Valencia Extra
photo credit: @thedhoogeden.com
Want to see more details about this falla? Click HEREand HERE.
Falla Ribera i Convent de Santa Clara | “Mother” | Artist: Miguel Santaeulalia
This falla wasn’t even considered part of the “special section” but still landed a special mention from the Dhooge Den. “Mother” represents the passage of time through three generations.
“Mother” was the 50th anniversary submission for the Ribera Convento de Santa Clara and represents the passage of time through three generations.
Want to see more details about this falla? Click HERE. Want to watch the ceremonial burning of this falla? Here you go:
Falla Exposición-Micer MascóRibera | “Kromatica” | Artist: David Sanchez Llongo
“…the land of the origin of colors”
Our son saw the sketch of this falla on the map and immediately announced that this was his favorite one. This falla is located quite a bit further from the others and we were not exactly thrilled about the idea of walking any further that night. We exhausted all of our powers trying to persuade him to wait another evening but he insisted that he had to see it. During our visit to the falla, the club heard that Kromatica won first prize in the Special Section and we were able to watch the celebration! This was the first time in history that Falla Exposición has won first prize in the Special Section.
Want to see more details from Kromatica? Click HERE. Want to watch Kromatica burn during the Crema? Click HERE.
Another honorable mention from the Dhooge Den, “Temptacions” was not part of the special section. This falla made a statement about the gluttonies of modern day life:
Photo Credit: cendradigital.com
Want to see more details from Temptaciones? Click HERE
“El ciclo de la Life presentamos con todos sus detalles. El poder de una madre frente a todas las adversidades.”
Translation: Here, we present the cycle of life in all of its detail. The power of a mother in the face of all adversities…
photo credit: @thedhoogeden.com
Two words about this falla: HYPNOTICALLY. BREATHTAKING. Photos do not do it justice. We returned to “Life” four times during the festival and just stood in front of it with our mouths gaping open. The falla represents “the evolution that each person experiences throughout their lifetime: childhood, adolescence, maturity…until we reach the end of existence.”
photo credit: @lasprovincias.es
Want to see more details from “LIFE”? Click HERE and HERE
Falla Sueca-Azorín | “Asia, where are we going” | Artist: Santaeulalia Tematización
“Did you know that the word ‘crisis’ in the Chinese language is the same word used to communicate the word, ‘opportunity’? So it is that a crisis always brings with it an opportunity to change and improve.”
photo credit: @thedhoogeden.com
Want to see more details from this falla? Click HERE.
Falla San Vicente | “The Great Battle” | Artist: Pau Soler Marchante
“Another favorite from the Dhooge Den that was not included in the special section: “the great battle”
photo credit: @thedhoogeden.com
The elephant, a symbol of strength for all fauna, makes its way through nature together with Mother Nature and the four elements (air, earth, water and fire) represented by the girls, who sit beside her, as they attempt to repair the damage caused by humans.
Want to see “the great battle” burn during the Crema? Click HERE.
I did my best but this post doesn’t even scratch the surface of what we experienced during the festival. It was like drinking from a fire hose. We plan to return to Las Fallas as often as we are able to. We are HOOKED and are already making plans to attend next year’s festival! JOIN US!!! You can click HERE to start planning the details of your trip…
@thedhoogeden.com
For more on our adventure at the Las Fallas Festival, click HERE for part 2: La Ofrenda
I would say that the number one question we are asked after an adventure is “do you have a packing list?” to which I openly laugh out loud about because asking me if I have a list is like asking a Kardashian if they have a cell phone with them. I have lists ABOUT my lists.
So…the answer is YES. I have a list.
Composition with tablet computer and travel accessories on wooden background
Clothing lists vary contingent upon the adventure we are on; however through the years, we have developed an “essential items” packing list that, regardless of where we are going, makes life just a little more comfortable and ends up saving us a ton of time not having to frantically forage through local stores in search of random items that are easily available in the States.
Before I share the list, please keep in mind that I do NOT travel light, nor do I aspire to. I’m not a “travel the world with a carry-on bag and a backpack” type of girl. Spontaneity gives me hives. My brain is the mecca of hypothetical situations and likes to feel planned up and prepared. This list is ever-evolving and largely based upon many, many, mannnnnnny uncomfortable situations that I do not care to ever find myself in again while travelling.
YES, we need both. First of all, don’t carry a purse with you. You might as well paint a target on your t-shirt. Invest in a thin money belt or fanny pack and wear it under your clothing at all times.
The backpack comes in handy when Mr. Dhooge “wants to go out for a walk” and my spidey senses tell me that we won’t be back for 9 hours. In goes [insert several items from the list below] and ALWAYS a snack… because he doesn’t stop to eat. Ever.
NEXT UP: the First Aid Kit.
Truth be told, this is less of a first aid kit and more of a mobile drugstore. I am ruthlessly mocked about it; but, I remain steadfast in my convictions. Nobody’s laughing when they need Imodium in the middle of the night and all of the stores are closed. Just sayin.
I HATE wasting time and there is nothing worse than running from corner store to corner store in search of a basic product that you can find in every Walgreens back home.
Here is a list of what I typically include in our travelling drug store:
Blister pads: I should own stock in this product. We walk ALOT.
Bandaids/Neosporin
Allergy meds: I’m allergic to all things that grow outside of Florida so I pack Claritin D and Benadryl, as well as a cortisone topical, because ALL OF THE THINGS have happened to me at some point in our travels.
Ibuprofen/Tylenol
Imodium/Tums/Pepcid
Zicam: This is preventative care. I don’t have any scientific evidence that this actually works but in the Dhooge Den, it’s absolute truth. Swab yourself consistently while travelling.
Wrappable brace – not everyone in the Dhooge Den is a natural athlete.
Tweezers
Supplements – Mr. Dhooge and his obsession with vitamins. This one should probably be a separate post. For the purposes of this article, I am a huge advocate of Juice Plus. It has strengthened my immune system in measurable ways and I never leave home without it.
Carry Toilet Paper at all times.
In the United States, you can find a McDonalds or a grocery store on every corner and feel confident that there is a public bathroom. NOT SO in other places. Finding a public toilet is an adventure in itself and then often, when you do find one, there is no toilet paper. Carry it with you. It’s not sexy but it’s a necessity.
PHONE STUFF: obviously, you should pack your phone charger but here are a few “smart device” accessories that also make the trip with us.
Thisbattery packallows us to charge all of our devices, holds a charge for the large majority of the day and easily fits inside a fanny pack.
This phone case allows us to carry a license as well as two additional credit cards.
Ever climb some random rock and have a phone fall out of your pocket into the great unknown? Ever leave your phone on the counter and walk down the street without it? Nope, me either….but hypothetically, if these things WERE to happen to someone less self-aware, I highly recommend thesephone lanyards. We are never without these on a trip. The bungee cord clips to our belt loop and we never have to worry about these unrealistic hypothetical situations happening again…I mean, happening ever.
EUROS/CURRENCY: Don’t assume that a credit card is enough. What if you miss your connection? What if the credit card machine isn’t working in the taxi? What if you just want a bottle of water and the street vendor only takes cash? Don’t leave the country without currency. Our bank allows us to order online….#easybutton
RANDOM ITEMS:
Hefty garbage bag for dirty laundry
Tide pods – many of our airbnb’s have washer machines and/or laundromats nearby.
Masks/Sanitizer
Heavy Moisturizing Cream: not sure if it’s dehydration or the fact that we are used to high humidity but I’ve been caught too many times with painful, dry, cracking skin with no options available at the local store. Thismoisturizerhas become a staple in our suitcase.
Packable shopping bag. Shopping bags are not always available at local stores. This one folds up into itself, is waterproof, durable and ginormous.
Travel Converter: there are a thousand to choose from. It doesn’t matter where we go, we are covered with this one product.
Selfie Stick: [Disclaimer] – this does not fold into a tiny space; you definitely need a backpack to carry it in. However, after exhausting countless selfie sticks, our priorities shifted from “packability” to durability. We need one that can fold out into a heavy duty tripod that doesn’t blow over when a lizard breathes in our general direction. This is our absolute favorite!
Ear Plugs: For Las Fallas, we brought an entire container because the festival is notorious for loud, sudden noises. For a typical trip, we bring a few pairs for nighttime, just in case the walls are made of toilet paper and the noise interferes with our sleep.
Just because I’m obsessed with these. I bring them everywhere. You’re welcome.
DHOOGE DEN ESSENTIAL PACKING LIST:
Euros/Currency: don’t leave the country without it.
Hard copies of health insurance information, embassy information, travel insurance 24/7 contact information
My grandma was never without her Vivitar. She was forever chasing after people at church, shrieking like Edith Bunker, “waaaaaaaait, let me get your picture!!!”
On Day 3 of our adventure in Havasupai, we took on Mooney Falls! (You can read about the first part of our adventure here)
Although there is actually a waterfall named, “Havasu Falls”, it is not the only waterfall on the reservation. The “Havasu Falls” are made up of five different waterfalls that are located within Havasupai. Mooney Falls was our third stop along the way.
