Since we had our “big” trip in late May early June, our summer vacation was to go to grandma and grandpa and hang out with family for a couple of weeks. Not bad

The summer was good - still is Could have been more sun, though!

Just wanted to pop in and tell that we’re having a wonderful time MT has even become friends with some of the kids here after playing outside the kindergarten this evening. Too bad my cousin is moving down south or this could be a good place to visit each summer. It’s not hot weather here at the moment, thouhg, so not so much summer. But that’s not our reason for being here either. On Firday we’re traveling farther north east to visit some friends there and be a part of their son’s confirmation. Looking forward to that!!

Will update on my vox, so jump over there

We’re on vacation. At the time being with my parents and back home where I grew up, but tomorrow we’re heading up north, far north!

We’re going to visit some friends of mine, I haven’t seen them for ages so I’m really looking forward to it.

The plane leave tomorrow mid-day and we’re not back here again for two weeks (then my work also is waiting for me to return, so I’ll better do).

Yippi; vacation is fun!!

Since I’m able to use my cell phone to update my vox blog of I’m going to try and update daily or at least every second day. So go there and see what I see on my trip to the northern part of Norway!

So; see you later!! (at least at vox )

We finally left home at around 1:30 pm and after 14 hours we arrived at my parents house tired, but happy. I was worried about the mountain pass, but it was no problem at all. And because of the winter holidays starting this weekend it was a lot of cars everywhere. I took a few (blurry) photos, but sadly all our driving time in the snow was after dark… So I just tell you: it was a winter wonderland

I took some photos, though:

Now we’re enjoying time with our family and MT is outside having fun in the snow with his cousins.

I guess this week will be less updates, sorry, but my parent do not have any broadband and the dial up is sooooo slow!!

Take care

We’re supposed to drive back home to my my parents today. But it’s snowy and windy outside AND, more importantly, up in the mountain. I’m sitting here looking at the weather forecast and road reports trying to figure out what to do(!!) We have about 8 or 9 hours of driving (within this short stops are included), but if the weather is bad we’re looking at at least 11 or 12 hours - and that is a long time to be driving all by my self and a long time for MT to sit in his seat….. But then we would be there in the morning tomorrow and not late afternoon.

Right now it seems like the best thing is to wait a bit more to see if it clears a bit and then dive right into it and use the time necessary to get there….. OR NOT

I need a cup of coffee, and after that I’ll pack the car and then we’ll see!

Update: It’s still a bit more snow and wind than I like and we might have to spend the night i Lærdal before we cross the mountain. But we’re off!!! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! 

MT’s happy bathing upstairs, I can hear him well all the way downstairs - he’s playing with his bath toys and with the bubbles in the water. So much has changed, I remember the first time I put him in a bath over a year ago - he did not like that at all!!

Soon we’re heading north. MT and a bunch of church workers, I guess my boss figured that allowing MT to join us was the best way to make sure I joined the team. And he’s right about that! Anyhow it’s going to be a job keeping MT busy, hopefully I’m able to hear and take part in some of the events…..

Thankfully we are going by boat, so it’s going to be a good start for MT; he loves boats and off course the one that goes fast… I’ve been told that the place is beautiful, so I’ll bring my camera. Hoping for a good shot, I’ve been a lacy photographer lately.

About time to get MT out of the bath; see you around!

Finally fall is over us, for a long time there I thought summer would go right over in winter, but now it’s here. The wonderful and colorful autumn, sometimes wet sometimes cloudy but mostly warm enough to enjoy the outdoors without a lot of clothes on!!

Today it’s been wet and windy with only a little bit sun, but the kids (MT and the next door’s boy at 5 yr) have enjoyed the weather to the fullest. Now they’re sitting in front of the TV enjoying some Pooh after a day outside running around MT’s on his second slice of bread. I’ve been outside to, but not as much as they; and I haven’t moved around like they did either…..
Now I’m going to plan a trip to the far north of our country coming May, we’re going to visit some friends there and even some family. Two or three weeks in May/June. It’s going to be great and will be our main vacation next summer (at least money vise….). I haven’t been in the north of Norway more than two times before in my life and this time I hope to finally see the midnight sun and Nordkapp (most norther part of Norway). We’re going to fly up there and then rent a car to move around; I don’t want all of our vacation to be about driving up there….

Have a great Sunday!!

Speaking of Sunday…
In our churches the team from the scripture reading is Faith, faith like the faith Noah had when he build the ark even though people around him made fun of him. Before the raining started. Noah got a second chance, and so did we - since we all are related to him. Today the church is our ark/boat with Jesus as the captain. Thankfully we don’t need a flooding to start over any more. Now we can turn to Jesus and ask for forgiveness when we need it. How great isn’t that!!?!
We haven’t been to church today since there isn’t any service today (it’s not service more than every third Sunday ). Still I have read and do leave you with a few words from the bible:

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

Gen 9

As MT usually puts it when he wants other to know he’s there….

After the last post we went on a short fall vacation. First we spent a weekend with fellow adoptive mothers and children. It was MT’s first time there, and my third. It is great to know that I’m not alone doing this (adopting as a single), and we learn from each other. MT got to spend time with his friend from this summer too she was there with her mother. He even got to take a swim in the hotel’s swimming pool

After a great weekend we took the bus to Kongsberg where my father met us with his car and drove us back home to the farm. We spent a week with family and it was so good to see them again!!! My brother and family even spent a few nights in their caravan (placed at the farm for the week), and we had a short day in the forest with them too. The children saw dead/shot elk or moose hanged up to become meet; and I think they all will remember that….

We also celebrated my fathers birthday and off course MT’s one years anniversary for coming to Norway, on October 13th. My father got celebrated with cake, for MT’s day the children and I made pizza for everyone. It tasted wonderful!!

On Sunday we took the train (and the car a bit) back home to the fjord. We left at 12 am and walked in our door (or I did…) at 10 pm, a bit tired and fed up with traveling - even though train is a great way to travel! Since then time has flied with work and kindergarten….and with the SIMs - stupid me started to play a bit during our vacation; can’t stop - must hide dvd

Anyhow Friday is here and I just thought it was nice to tell everyone that I’m still here….photos are coming!
See you around!!!

HUGS

A photo from our vacation and a ferry…. not a perfect circle though.

So I did make you a promise to return, some nights ago, it never happened - sorry!! I kept trying to log on, but the signal from the wireless connection at the camping place was just too weak. Sadly

I so could use some hours online at that time, but after 30 minutes trying I shot the computer off and went to bed!

Now we have spent a couple of days with my brother and family, living in tents and in the water….. MT love to “float” and keep telling us “see, I’m swimming!!” He isn’t, but it’s still cute. Even I got to swim a lot. Haven’t done it for so long, so I’m a bit rusty. But I do love it!!!

Soon we’re back home with my parents, that will be nice after 10 days on the road… Ah, I love this looooong summer vacation!!!

I’m on vacation. Spending most of my days without broadband or Internet connection (almost, have a real slow line from time to time….like now).

We’re having a wonderful time and have meet and visited a lot of friends and family. This is our last months before I’m back at work and MT starts kindergarten, and I’ve decided to make the most of it. I’ve written before about our long trip to my parents farm. With stops and visits along the way, and even two days spent with my brother and family. I’m so glad we were able to make that trip, and also happy that MT got to meet and see some of my past and then spend some days away from home with his favorite cousins too.

The last two weeks or so has been spend here at my parents farm. MT has had fun helping Grandpa and following him around. He’s found his very special place in the sand box and even attempted some bathing in his new pool. It’s good to be here with family and to relax a bit.

Last Friday we celebrated my 35th birthday with barbecue and cakes under our big pear tree. It was so great to be together with family and friends on my day once again (last time was my 30th birthday). I’m going to upload photos from that day to flickr soon, so keep an eye on that one. Sadly I’m, at the time being, only able to upload the photos without any descriptions or such. Hope to be able to do some of it before our vacation ends in early August, but can’t make any promise…. It’s a mess I’ll be busy tidying up there undtil next year, I’m afraid…
Today MT’s aunt Helen visited us with her children. And they and we had such a great time together. I’m so glad I got to spend it like that instead of cleaning my house, like I planned, lol.

But one surprising thing happened today, if I should have guessed I never would have guessed this: one really old and dear friend of mine stopped by to say a short hello! (And to bring me a gift I should have given to my brother and SIL for their wedding years and years ago. I should have visited her a long time ago, but have never gotten around to it…) I’m still not quite over it and won’t be for a while. She and her family are staying at a camping place some kilometers from here, but I just can’t run from a sleeping MT to be with them; and also I don’t know her family and can’t just crash their “party”. Even though I really want to!

It’s about 8 years since we had any contact outside our yearly letter for Christmas. I’ve been planning to go see them this summer, so to see her here was just amazing. Off course the trip to see them is cancelled for now, since they are on vacation for the next 3 week or so, but I hope to see more of them some time later this year. Why we lost contact for so long, I’m not sure. But I guess most of it was because we were in different places; she living lots of kilometers away, me starting working as a pastor and her starting family life - and working too. Hopefully this is a new start, and since she has a girl at 7 yr and a boy at 4 yr we have more than past memories to talk about.

It’s time for bed. Hope you all have a wonderful summer. I promise to read up on blogs in August and to leave more comments then, now it takes forever to do that - so mostly I read, sometimes….

Gods blessings and warm hugs to all from me!

Monday

This morning we had to get out of bed earlier because the breakfast was available only until 9 am. So that helped get us out of bed The breakfast at the hostel was delicious, even though it was a simple thing; or maybe just because it was simple…..

The plan was to ride the city train, a train set up for tourists sightseeing most of the town. It even took us up to a hill overlooking the city and surroundings. It was spectacular. The photos just can’t compete with the real thing, anyhow I took a few….

Sadly the first train got full before we even got down town. There was a cruise boat in town and lots of people wanted to have a look around. The boat I’ve seen before, but not so close, it was the really big Queen Elisabeth 2.

MT got so sad when we had to see the train leave without us. But we eventually used the time to go shopping and look around a bit. I’ve been in the city before and shopping with MT is fun only a short while. So when the train got back we stood there waiting for it, eager to go onboard. Thankfully this time there where room for us!

The tour was very “touristy”, I think we were the only one onboard speaking Norwegian - but MT had fun and the view from top of the hill right above the city was so worth it!!

After we ate a bit and then we headed for the car; after MT had his own ride in Pelle Police car. We had quite a bit to drive, so after buying ice cream and coffee we headed out of town and north east.

MT fell quickly asleep, and slept for over an hour. I reckoned it would be late until he could go and sleep tonight so I let him sleep as long as he wanted. Then we stopped for a while to go to the restroom and just be outside for a while. That place also had a play area for kids so MT had lots of fun.

MT fell quickly asleep, and slept for over an hour. I reckoned it would be late until he could go and sleep tonight so I let him sleep as long as he wanted. Then we stopped for a while to go to the restroom and just be outside for a while. That place also had a play area for kids so MT had lots of fun.

Then we got on with our driving. We passed Åndalsnes at around 6:30 pm and then turned for the eastern part of Norway. A few years ago I was pastor in Lesja, and now I wanted to visit some friends there again. We arrived at 7:30 pm at my friend Jorunn’s house and got a nice meal there.

Now MT is put to bed and I think he’s found his sleep while I’ve typed this. So now I’m heading back down to chat a bit with Jorunn before I’m going to bed my self.

The weather hasn’t been to blue; but there is always tomorrow…..

And, sorry, this won’t be posted until I can find an Internet access. Here is no wireless connection, like I found in Ålesund. But then Lesjaverk is a smaller place, to put it mildly….

Good Night friends!

added photos and finally got this uploaded in early July; about time!!!

Since MT’s sleeping in his bed and I have nothing else important to do I want to tell you about the first four days of our summer vacation 2006. Really, I can’t believe it’s been four days already, but anyhow. Ehem, it’s still a bit long….. It all started out on

Thursday

The plan was to leave our house around 2 pm. But as 2 pm drew closer I had to face the fact that no way was it possible to leave so early, sadly enough. I had a lot of things to do in the house, still, and I also had to pack the car. Thankfully MT had a good time playing with E all day! When we finally were ready to move it was almost 7 pm (!). That was the time we planned to arrive in Volda. It was bound to be later….

MT fell asleep right after his first bit of the hot dog we bought at the gas station right by our house. The first hour of the drive were familiar enouhg, so he didn’t miss a thing. When we stopped at a store in Førde for something to eat and such, I woke him up since I didn’t want him to wake up in the car all alone (he would have freaked out, his biggest fear is to be left alone!). So needless to say; he was awake most of the journey from there….

We drove through lots of beautiful sceneries. I didn’t stop to take photo all over (wouldn’t have moved very fast then), but took a few in the Gloppen area, as you can see here:

We had to take two ferries, since I didn’t know their schedule we drove in our own tempo. But when we arrived to the first ferry, only to see it glide out and away from us, I was so frustrated and a little bit angry with my self for not checking the schedule (could have found it on their web site)! We had to wait for one hour - 1 hour - just because we were a few minutes late. Grrrr… But MT had fun though. He was so happy to get out of the car and run around and jump for a while. He had to sing a bit of pure joy as well. Children.

I’ve uploaded quite a few photos from that hour to flickr. That gave us (or rather me) something to do As you can see the sun has set, but only a little bit ago, the nights are light in Norway at this time of the year. We waited from 10:25 pm to 11:20 pm! Walking around we found a monument raised a few years ago as a memory (and a reminder) of those that got burned because they were though of as witches. I don’t know any more about this, though. But it stands right by the ferry on Anda, Norway…

Finally the ferry came, and we could wave Anda goodbye and look for Lote. I love all this funny names

We had about 45 minutes drive to the next ferry and just about enough gas. So I drove right past the gas station with a little bit of worry in my stomach. MT fall asleep again and I had the road to my self. Now it was getting late and I were keen on getting there. Thankfully we reached the ferry and the car didn’t stop. Phu! When I drove of the ferry my phone rang and I was directed to the house where I could find my cousin B (whom we were planning on visiting a few days). Some hours (!!) later I was in bed totally exhausted, MT had thankfully slept for a while by then, so he was not a total mess the next day.

Friday

We got up a bit later than when we planned. But come on, a little bit of sleep is required when you run after a 3 yr old!!

My cousin B wanted to see her horse (it was placed in summer vacation too), so we headed for Sæbø and another ferry, together with her and her brother/my cousin E, to Leknes. The weather wasn’t all that nice, but the day was still a nice one.

After being with B for a while, watching here fetch her horse (not an easy job when the horse rather would be with is friends out in the big green field!) - me and cousin E decided to take the car for a run around the area. I discovered that right behind the farm, at Øye, where the horse was placed, Norway’s narrowest valley, Norangsdalen had it’s place - off course we had to see this for our selves. MT wasn’t all that happy, but he had no choice - poor kid!

It was amazing driving in this valley. The mountain were so close and so steep. We could see several landslides and stones that had fallen down from the hillsides, new and old, and the houses on the summer farm (seter) were build into the terrain so it wouldn’t be badly harmed in case of a landslide. At first they were hard to spot too.

“The wildest alpine valley I ever saw was not in the Alps, it was the valley Norangsdalen at Sunnmøre, Norway.”
- English climber William C. Slingsby

We ended up driving down to the next fjord arm and the little town of Hellesylt. From this area you can go with ferry to the more known Geiranger on the Geiranger fjord.

We setteled for an ice cream and headed back to meet cousin B since we had a ferry to catch back there.
When we rode back to the ferry I took some photos of the area. At the pier I even got to take a photo of the St.Hans fire in making.

Since MT had to sleep some more we didn’t plan to do some celebrating of the day, though. But my cosins headed out later on (or, I drove them in fact, so I could get me some coffee…. MT fall asleep in the car, so I had big trouble getting him to sleep at all later on; so there went mummy’s time to her self!!! Again….)

Oh, man, I almost forgot: When cousin E (poor guy) made dinner, he set of the fire alarm; a few minutes later there were fire trucks and police cars outside. MT had fun. Cousin E was a bit emeressed and cousin B (who rents the place) didn’t care much; we were both a bit angry with her for that, to be honest. She had gone to take a shower and let us handle everything on our own even though we asked her to jump in an do it herself. Even though, it’s just not everyday the house is surrounded with fire trucks and police cars (maybe not surrounded, but bear with me…), so we’ll carish this memory together….
Saturday

This morning we had no rush. It was nice. After some breakfast we headed down town for a bit of an event (dei nynorske festspel). This day they served breakfast for everybody, free of charge. So there I got my coffee, since cousin B doesn’t have it at home. The weather was chill so we only stayed a short while. MT and I had a nice and healty walk up to the house, this western side of the country are all hills….

After stuffing some of cosin B’s stuff into our car (she’s moving Monday and asked for a little bit of help), and eating some ice cream, we headed out of there with Ålesund as our target.

MT fall asleep after a short drive, he kept on sleeping until we got here. After some searching (the hotels were booked full everywhere) we ended up on a good-enough-looking hostel. Much cheeper, and the funny thing is they got the one thing I really wanted: wireless connection to www. Yay!

After booking the room we went out to get something to eat. We ended up at Egon and it was so nice there, MT got his own ballon and food that came on a special kind of plate, with lots of fun drawings on it. He felt so good, and so did I. Since he already had slept a while he got to be up quite late too, but when I finally put him to bed with a strong request for the rest of the night alone…. He refused to sleep. Off course, he did the same the night before, going on vacation with lot’s of new things does that to a kid; I know. But it still got me so frustrated and angry. When he finally caved in and fell asleep I was exchousted and went to sleep my self not long after.

Sunday

We started the day with a real breakfast, even though it was delicious late… Then we went to church and a service held by a studie friend of mine (she didn’t know we were in town, since I don’t know her that good anymore), the service was nice enough, but strange to see that me and the boy where the two youngest one there(!!) After the service I had a good and nice chat with my (former, kind of) friend and MT was busy helping a man blow out the candles and such (he was so happy - and even got payed enough to buy himself and ice cream!)

After church we headed out west of town to the Atlanterhavsparken; one of Europe’s largest aquarium centres. And spent the rest of the day among the fish. I think MT had most fun climbing the rocks inside the center, but he also enjoyed the fish and had great fun fishing crabs and got to both touch sea animals and feed some too. It was a great place to be and some activities to attend, but it seems to me that the tanks and it all was a bit too worn out. Hopefully they also can put in some new stuff and clean it a bit up. And they need some more food, at 4 pm they didn’t even have hot dogs left…. We did buy some great stuffed animals, though!

On the way home we looked at some big boats; Hurtigruten and others. MT find that so funny, I do too Then we headed to our room and MT got to watch Pooh’s Heffalump Movie before he was put to bed. This night he thankfully agreed to behave and get some sleep. So this night is mine - and now I’ve spent it with you

That’s all for now; I’ll be back later to tell you more about our Summer Vacation 2006!!

We’re on vacation. Right now I’m blogging to you from Ålesund . As soon as I have uploaded some photos to Flickr, I’m going to tell you about our first days doing something different….

Hope you all have a great Sunday!!!

Hugs and blessings

Photo taken at the view-point near Entoto (mountain) above Addis Abeba. Ethiopia, is one of the countries with the most poverty in the world…..