Villlhelllm: How do You even Spell It?
If the house could talk: Rome was not built in a day
If our house could talk, it would say our deck rehab project took longer than building the Great Wall of China, but we’re happy to report that our deck is finally complete. As the saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day” – and neither was our deck!
We had a few delays along the way, including the exciting news that Kat was pregnant. And let’s just say that dust and babies don’t mix! But we persevered and even learned some new carpentry skills along the way. As they say, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”
There were definitely times when we wanted to throw in the towel, but we knew that the reward would be worth it. As the great poet Maya Angelou once said, “We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.” And we certainly weren’t.
We’re looking forward to firing up the grill and celebrating the end of summer with good food and good company. Stay tuned for further details.
A Family portrait
Sundays are often reserved for lazy mornings and quality time with the dogs and loved ones. This particular Sunday, however, brought with it a series of unexpected and heartwarming events that left me feeling grateful.
As the sun filtered through the curtains, Damian and I sat down to enjoy a quiet breakfast. With the world moving at a dizzying pace, these unhurried moments were precious. Our Sunday routine took an intriguing turn when we logged into our pre-natal class online. The prospect of learning and preparing for the arrival of our little one was an exciting one, and the virtual class promised a wealth of knowledge.
Just as we were diving into the class materials, a text notification popped up on my phone. To my astonishment, it was from none other than Marine – fondly known as “mommy” among our friends. Her message was intriguing: “I think I just met your dad’s twin at the mall!” The message was accompanied by a chuckle-inducing emoji, leaving me both puzzled and amused.
Within moments, my phone began to ring incessantly. Hana, my dad, and Marine had all tried to reach me.
As our virtual class progressed, the screen lit up with a message from Hana. This time, it came with an attachment – family pictures from their chance encounter at the mall. There they were, my family, standing next to Marine, wearing smiles that spanned miles. Seeing those familiar faces and Charlie and Naoli – waving at the camera was a heartwarming sight. I couldn’t help but reminisce about the times when they were just infants, huddled in each other’s arms. How time flies!
And then, there was also Tete and Dune, the newest members of the Firla-Van Wets family. A rush of emotions enveloped me as I looked at the photo – a mixture of joy, nostalgia, and a hint of longing.
In that moment, as I sat next to Damian, I realized how remarkable life’s twists and turns can be. A seemingly ordinary Sunday morning had turned into a tapestry of connections, updates, and shared memories. Despite the physical distance, the bonds that hold us together remained as strong as ever. Thank you, Marine, for reminding me that no matter where we are, family is never too far away. I miss you, mommy!
Week of Adventures and Feedback
What a week it’s been! I’ve been all over the place, from Chicago to Guatemala, experiencing new cultures and learning from great speakers about the business challenges and risks of different markets. It was my first time visiting the Latin Markets and it was quite an experience.
But the real highlight of the trip was the feedback. As you know, feedback is a gift, and boy did I receive a lot of it! A few months ago, I was taken down a couple of pegs by one of our leaders, who knocked me for having too technical content and missed the mark of the problem we were trying to solve. But I took that feedback and honed my craft. This time around, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. During my conversation with the team, I focused on discussing outcomes and demonstrated the art of the possible – anticipating future developments instead of focusing solely on past experiences.
The future is bright, my friends, if we embrace all feedback not as a negative but as a vehicle to improve and get better. As the great Bill Gates once said, “We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve.” So let’s keep striving for greatness, Villlhellers!
On a personal note, traveling can be a lot of fun, but it’s tough being away from family. Kat was a trooper and took care of the dogs, but I know it’s another thing on her plate. I think we need a babymoon soon. And speaking of babies, while I didn’t get to see much of Guatemala on the trip, I did bring back some coffee and two cute little handmade dresses for the little one.
Until next time, keep pushing yourselves and embracing feedback!
Woof, Woof! 🐾
Salut, fellow dog lovers! It’s Boujee and Dapper, the dynamic duo of French bulldogs, here to give you a sneak peek into our eventful week. While our dad, Damian, was away, we had a blast with our trusty caretaker, the wonderful Kat. Let’s spill the kibble on what went down!
First things first, we missed our dad. It’s no secret that he’s our ultimate playmate. But guess what? Kat stepped up to the paw and gave us an amazing week filled with cuddles, belly rubs, and epic play sessions. We might’ve had a hint of the sads without dad, but Kat’s company kept our butts giggling.
Now, let’s talk about the great toy caper. Dapper here couldn’t believe his furry ears when Kat hid the toy basket. Every day, he’d sit by the door and let out his best puppy cries, clearly trying to communicate his message: “Where’s my toy treasure?” It’s like she wanted us to go on a toy treasure hunt! But hey, it’s all good, because in exchange, we got something even better.
Imagine our excitement when Kat introduced a “new big toy” into the house! She had worked some magic on Market Place and snagged a Snoo. What’s a Snoo, you ask? Well, it’s this fancy bassinet with baby-soothing powers. Apparently, it’s meant to keep human babies calm and cozy. But here’s the scoop – Boujee and I have got plans for that Snoo! Once the human baby is too big for it, you better believe we’re taking over. Dreamy doggy soothing nights, here we come!
Speaking of adventures, we didn’t miss out on our regular walks. Our tails practically turned into propellers as we explored the neighborhood, sniffed new scents, and made some new friends along the way. It’s the little things, you know?
Now, as much as we adored our time with Kat, we were absolutely thrilled when our dad, Damian, finally came back home! The excitement, the spins, and joyful smiles were in full swing. There’s nothing like the feeling of being reunited with our favorite human!
Woofs and wags,
Boujee and Dapper ❤️
Thank you to our dear Vilhelmians for following our adventures! Hit like and subscribe for more! Get ready for a wild ride! Hit that subscribe button to join our awesome Substack community! Vilheeeeeelm!