Archive for April, 2007

This is the last day to turn in the taxes for year 2006 in Norway. Earlier it was a sweat to get finished in time and we had to send it in the mail to the right office, if we didn’t live close enough to just drop it into the door late at night… The last years I’ve used the internet version of delivering. But today I, for the first time, I opted for the SMS solution. And it was fast. Max one minute used in the actual process, a bit more beforehand making sure I didn’t had anything to edit….

Ah, now I can rest!
Have a good May 1st!!

We’ve had the most fantastic weather today. Sun from blue sky. I even managed to get slightly burned….

I started the day with a service, this time with MT at a friends. Confirmation Sunday is a busy one who needs my full attention at all times, it was good not to have MT tapping on my hand also. This year they where 5 confirmants, but the church was filled non the less.

As I told you last post I’ve struggled a bit with the sermon’s topic, but yesterday evening I finally found it; faith. Or TRU as we write it in Norwegian. And then I used those three letters to say what Christian faith is. I used Trust (tillit), Relationship (relasjon) and infinite (Uendeleg). I also made some big letters as a visual during the sermon. It worked. I even got a hug and a “good sermon today” that warmed my heart. Hopefully the youths also got something to think about, I mean after they are through with all the festivity and gifts-openings of the day. Confirmation is a big thing around here!

The rest of the day I’ve just been relaxing. Even used shorts for the first time this year!! A good day!

I’m sitting here, surfing the net and reading a few emails, while MT is having fun taking a loooong bath

Trying to figure out what’s the theme for my sermon shall be for tomorrow. So far I’m not sure and I’m a bit worried about that because I want this sermon to be up there among those that are a little better than okei I think I’m going to talk about how we have a living faith, because Christ is alive and not dead. But I also have to meet the confirmants where they are, thinking of the gifts the receive and the party that starts right after the service, the Confirmation is a big thing around here. That also means many people in church – and that’s a good thing! But again, I just want them to be reached with the sermon. Give them a little bit of Jesus while they are there…

And this is the sermon scripture:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
1.Pet 1:3-9

I’d love some input or ideas for the sermon! Thanks
And, by the way – the sun is shining; it’s a wonderful day!!!

When upgrading a blog, make sure to be awake. If not, go to bed and upgrade another day!!

I’m sorry for messing everything up yesterday! Hopefully it’s working all right again now

I’m trying to upgrade to 2.1, so it might be some hiccups
Commenting is off during this event, and so is my plugins….

Hopefully I see you later on, looking all normal

So I planned to write a post updating you on current events at our place, but sadly this night also passed without any long posts from my side! I’m sorry, but do make good plans for tomorrow to try it again

The mission of this babble: is just to make sure you know I’m alive and kicking Just out of time and, sometimes, out of words…

Love,
anneberit

MT turned 4 yr last Sunday; happy boy

On this very day, 1 year ago, MT got baptized in my hometown church. We celebrated after the service with family and friends at my parents farm. The meal was Ethiopian, the cakes where many It was a wonderful and important day, and so different to prepare it for him. He was no baby and we talked a lot about the how and where, the water and God since February to make sure he could enjoy it and remember it as a good and important event himself.

At breakfast that morning I thought all the work and preparing was for nothing. Without any cause he started to scream and cry out in frustration and anger. I didn’t have a clue to what had happened, so I took him into the living room trying to calm him down. I saw for me the same scream and crying in church. For a while he wasn’t able to talk because of the crying, but after some questions and active imagination I finally got it. I started smiling, this thing was solve-able He was angry because we didn’t wait for him before we said grace, he wasn’t ready and wanted to be…

For a long while after this MT had to ask everyone around the table, before any grace could be sung : “Are you ready?” And then off course we had to ask him

This year we invited the godparents (the ones that could manage) with families, Grandpa and Grandma were here already. Again I prepared some Ethiopian food, this time not so many dishes only one hot and one mild. I used a different reciept for the injera (sort of Ethiopian pancakes) and it all tasted soooo good!! The children had fun together and we all enjoyed the day and company.

MT got baptized on Easter Day since his Ethiopian name means resurrection, so we celebrated one year anniversary this Easter Day. But the date is today, so:

CONGRATULATION AND GOD’S BLESSINGS, my boy!
I love you and God does too!

I’m trying out this video sharing thing so I uploaded one I shot of MT last winter. He hadn’t learned the language (Norwegian) so well at that time and for some reason he used the English “another” when he meant – just that (in Norwegian we’re saying “ein gong til” or something like that…). I tried to upload this to YouTube, but they cut of the very last seconds of the video – the cutest part – so this one I uploaded to my Virb Lime. He’s saying: “Gøye fort!” Translated into something like: Fun and fast! Oh, boy, do he love winter and snow!!

Grr! When I put in the embed-code everything goes crazy! I’m not sure how to fix it… So sadly I give you the YouTube-version

Please go to Virb to get the full version!

I dumped into this today, and I had to laugh!!
There is hope for all off us

For some reasons I can’t put the video here so please follow this link.

My parents left for Telemark and back home this morning. So now I’ve been sitting here in my living room all alone all evening. Me and the net, that is I’ve discovered a few news online and one of them have taken up my time. You find it here, a new Lime home at Virb.com. Or, it’s more like a cottage or a summer home compared to this Lime blog!!

I’ve also discovered a few really good pop/rock Christian artists at this place, that I’d never heard about before. Chris Tomlin, Sara Groves, Sonic Flood and Darlene Zschech and even a few more I can’t find right now. So it’s been an evening with music as well as words and photos….

I have also befriended Jesus at virb, so why don’t you come on over and join us?! We can go away for the weekend… And spend a short time a far way from home. Sharing coffee and some chocolates (it’s the weekend after all!) I’ll bring Limes, can you bring water?!?

Hugs from me.

For over a week my parents have been visiting. It’s been great both for MT and me. MT has had someone who’s been there for him and I have had some good babysitters whenever needed This is from the night they arrived, MT had already gone to bed and was so tired. But after a few words and a Easter gift he was wide awake

The last three years one of our churches have invited to a Easter meal like the ones Messianic Jews use to share instead of an ordinary service. A group from the congregation prepares the table and the dishes and make a wonderful and tasty Easter soup for us all to share. During the meal we remembers both the exodus from Egypt and Christ’s suffering. We read from the scripture and sings together. It’s nice, warm and good for the fellowship of our church. Each year I go home with a warm feeling inside. This I want us to do next year as well

Just a few glimpses from my Easter.
Now I have to go to sleep, I have work to do tomorrow
Have a wonderful night and day!!!
See you around…

Sorry for no updates, but my free time is used with family and MT, the rest of the time I prepare and hold services. The days are just rolling along, can’t believe it’s almost Easter Day!!!

My parents are visiting us. It’s great to have them to help babysit MT when I’m out and about, and to keep him busy when I need a few minutes off. Today we have celebrated his 1 year baptism day and invited friends for injera and wot (Ethiopian food) after the Easter service. It was tasty!! And so great to spend the day with some of the people we care the most for (missed S & I and uncle & aunt, though!!).

I hope to write a bit more about the days later, but now I have to go to bed and sleep some hours. One more service to go!!

Just have to tell that the last days the snow has been pouring down on us like it’s Christmas time. Today I think it came about 10 centimeters. Go figure, I thought we had entered the spring season!!

(the photo is from last year; now it’s even more snow on MT’s poor daffodil!)
Hugs and blessing!!

After a week with wonderful sunny days the rain has once more taken over. Now the fog lays thick over the fjord and the weather is moist. Not much rain coming down, though, so far… Since we allready have had so much nice and wonderful weather it’s quite all right.

I don’t have to water MT’s daffodil and tulip today

My parents are on their way over the mountain. Hopefully the wind will settle down and the rain won’t became snow. My mum are not found of driving over the mountain as it is – with snow and wind making it harder I’m afraid they’ll turn and head back home to the sunny farm….. (maybe not, but she will be no happy camper). Anyhow they have about 500 kilometers to drive and a lot of hills, potholes and turns to cross (most of the road has better standard, though). I guess they’ll be here around nine or ten tonight. So that will get me some much needed time to:

Get my house into a cozy and easterly place!
I’d better get started now when MT is safely tucked in kindergarten

I wish you all a happy Monday – and I’ll be back later for some coffee and more good reads!