Archive for August, 2009

This is just how I feel today!

The weekend was busy, nice, tiering, emotional, sad, good, memorable and giving. I spent most of it with 24 fantastic young people. They started the yearlong journey as a Confirmant in our church. It was so nice getting to know them a little, but also sad because this was the only thing I would do together with them. This week I only have two days left at work and then I’m finished with my work here as a youth pastor. In a month or so I start as pastor (of the regular kind) someplace else. It’s sad to be leaving the young people here behind, but I also have so much to look forward to in my new job (and I’m not going to stop working with and for the youths in church; thankfully!).

I took a few photos and as soon as I have them uploaded to flickr I’ll show you a few. Untill then some lunch and more coffee for me!! Have a wonderful Monday!

I’m looking through a few of my archive posts – and I found this posted on August 20. 2007 I just love being reminded not to weed my garden. Ha ha.

He’s working his way to be like Emil (from the great story by Astrid Lindgren) and make some out of the wood stick – only not being locked up in the shack He has a long way to go, though, but I like how passionate he is about it!

We’re starting to get into our morning routine on school days.

MT is up by 7 am and turn on the cartoons while he’s eating. I get up as soon as I can after that and makes him food (if he hasn’t done it himself already) and then packs his ruck sack with whatever he needs that day (today he got to bring his knife for wood work, he was super happy! I guess they are keeping the bandage handy ). Then I finished up in the bathroom and at 8 am MT rush in to get his clothes on and then run out to the car (I suspect he forgot to wash his face this morning – can’t understand why that has to be pointed out every time??!!? :p ).

Yesterday he did find it hard to start school again after only one day there and then a day off; but he managed to pull himself together when it started (I’m told) and that I’m happy about. On Monday I was with him in the class room for a few hours, yesterday I followed him inside, today I stayed with him in the school yard – but tomorrow I’m just making sure he gets into the school yard and then I’m going back to the car to stay there until the school bell is ringing to watch him going in.

I’m trying to ease him into independence the soft way (that usually works best for him!)

Later in September I plan to let him go the last part of his school way; the safest part. But I’m not letting him go alone the whole way to school this year; too much traffic around here! (And I don’t think it’s any better at the new place we’re moving to later this fall.)

Anyhow, my breakfast is ready (and so is my coffee ). I’m taking most of the day off and won’t go to the office today. Only have to prepare a few things for the mini-weekend with the new Confirmants and make sure I have control over the progress for my sermon on Sunday.

See you around!! I’m going blog hopping through my google reader (finally getting it loaded up with lots of blogging goodies!).

To avoid tiredness all day: Go to bed at a decent time!!!

*/when will I ever learn?!

8:15 am

I have an early morning tomorrow so will just leave you with the photos right now. I’m glad MT did find school fun and engaging, can’t wait to hear what  he have to tell when he’s back home from school tomorrow – his second day of school  (they have Tuesday off since they are at school full day even in 1. grade, since we live in rural area this is better than to organize buses to drive to and from school more than once a day….). Click the images for a little bit more about them.

8 am

10:18 am

10:19 am

2 pm

..and then we went to the store to buy him a knife that he’s alowed to bring on Thursdays when they have school outside in the woods. I love that he gets to learn such skills – and have band age ready…. I guess there will be more about this later. Night!

I’m not sure who was more excited, me or him, but right now he’s at school having his first day in 1. grade. I got to go after meal, he has an older pupil looking after him and do know the place well so he was ready to face it alone for a couple of hours. I’m so proud of him and so happy for all that he will learn and all the questions he will figure out. Right now I’m drinking my first coffee of the day (oh, yea, early morning start) and is browsing a few blogs and other favorite places online. I have photos to unload from my camera, but I’ll get to that later.

Have a beautiful Monday!

I was just stepping outside to get a little photo of the rain with my iPhone when I suddenly came aware of a sound near by. I lifted my head and looked over at the field right across our lawn only a few meters from me – and then I saw one of the little elg (elk) calf running around like crazy while shouting some kind of  iyah, iyah-sound – and right behind came the other calf also running and shouting. It all happened so fast, I barely got time to raise my camera and get a photo of them, before I know it they were running up towards the farm on the little hill above our house and away from me.

It’s not the first time we’ve met elg outside our door step, but it’s always amazing. And this time it was so fun, because these little elg calf are too cute!! <3 Late July I got a photo of the whole family together, a rare treat even though we live in the middle of wilderness….. (taken with my regular camera – can you blame me for dreaming about a 200 mm lens?! Imagen the close up I could have gotten here!!)

Signs like this are common around our neighborhood; be aware of elgs (elks).

This morning started with a SMS that told me a 17 year old had died. It is so sad. And the youths, the close friends and the not so close friends, have been gathered trying to face this by being together. I’ve joined them, as well, for a few hours, and we are meeting up again tomorrow.

It’s not easy grasping death when you are 17 and full of future and possibilities. It’s not easy grasping when you are 38 either, but by then you know a bit more about life and have a few more life lessons learned.

I’m so glad lots of helping hands are involved, though, and for not standing in this alone (and neither are the family or the youths) – I guess I’ll be talking with the family as well tomorrow, starting to prepare for the funeral next week.

If you pray, please pray for us all. This is going to be a hard week for many in our neighborhood and especially hard for the close family and friends.

I had some fun yesterday evening, working some more on my advent/christmas album. I’m inspired by Ali Edwards and (more recently) by this image:

- and this post by Janet Phillips of the Daily Digi to take a change on getting this busy season documented in real time (more or less). I can’t wait to start adding photos – to the pages.

Yesterday I proceeded to work some more on the front page. I found some photos from last December and made a collage of a few of my favorites, as the thunderstorm approached I sat down and tried my best to make a front page with real glue, scissors and papers (I’m used to go all digital) – and found that I wasn’t happy with the result at all (bummer!) – but I love the collage!

This morning I’ve figured out a different approach – I think I’m starting to get it together (so far only in my imagination). The original collage for the front will now end up making the back side beautiful. And then I will use only one photo at the front, layered with different papers and whatever I can find. I have good hopes for this image, it makes me smile just looking at it:

I guess there will be more changes when December rolls around (or rather late November when Advent season is starting). This is going to be both fun and challenging, hopefully I can pull it off even thought it’s a really busy time and I’m at a new place. Make it simple is what I’m trying to live after. I wonder if I can do that

Happy Monday, people!

Today there were two weddings on my work schedule, in two different churches. It’s always something happening at weddings, when I’ve gotten some sleep I’ll tell you

I’m so tired that I’m going to bed earlier than I’ve done since May (or something). This week have really been a full week – with  a lot of emotion; good stuff and bad stuff all mixed together.

I’m leaving you with a few of the photos I took after the last wedding while the wedding photographer took pictures of the bride and groom and there finally was some quiet time for a tired pastor. Taking photos always makes me feel better. These are all SOOC.

I wish I got to ride in one of these…

Today have been a mix max of feelings and time spent with family and friends. We’ve both laughed and cried while we celebrated a woman that was very dear to us and that we got to spend so much quality time with.

It was the day of our Grandma’s funeral and we all had planned and gotten different things to do, say or sing. Even a couple of her great grand children placed roses on her coffin to say their thanks.

It’s been a good day, and I’m glad to know that my mummy feels that way to. It was of course sad as well and we all wanted her to be there with us like she’s been for so many years. It felt so good to be together with so many that had loved her and to know that she knew how many of us felt – we are a family of talkers (more or less) and my Grandma was good with reading people.

I’m just leaving you with a few photos from the day. I took a lot of people photos, not many of them any great since I didn’t use flash and people moved around…. Anyhow above and below are a few of those I took today, ending with a beautiful full moon taken outside our house when we got back home.

I’m going to go to sleep now; this day have been far to long already. I didn’t sleep much last night (4-5 hours) worrying about the speech I was going to hold about my Grandma at the funeral (it went well, thankfully) – so I’m really tired to put it mildly.

Below is my favorite, recent, photo of Grandma (or Mormor as I call her in Norwegian = mothers mother). There will be more later in the week about her and about this day. But for now: Good Night!

hehe, I’m trying to make my self feel better. That’s the only reason for the heading!!

So my car stopped on me yesterday. I was in a hurry, on my way to the farm to practice with my brother (we are going to sing for Grandma – as we promised her so many years ago.) Then the pastor should come by and we should prepare the funeral with him. I’m so glad I can concentrate on the words about Grandma and then the other pastor takes care of the rest. I think my kiddo need me by his side to – and I need some room for crying a little as well.

But I digress (happens a lot lately).

I was driving. And then suddenly the car engine just shut down, I heard a scratching noise of metal against metal and that was that. Luckily I found a place park the car and I got it out of the way completely. I was so angry with it and to be honest a bit freaked out! I had no time for that kind of thing on a busy day.

But I had to wait. A neighbor stopped and kept me company (thank you!) and my dad and brother come by as well. In the end the rescue truck also came and brought my car to the garage. And there it is. I should call them and ask, but I don’t want to hear how much it’s going to cost me.

Oh, well, the good thing is that now I’m driving my old car again. (I gave it to my daddy and he repaired it – smart thing). And that is kind of nice. MT loves it too.

Have a great day everybody – and please (MT is telling me to say it): talk nice about and to your car; it deserves it for driving all those miles in all kinds of condition! lol.