So, I left...

.....Norway last Wednesday

... and travelled all the way to America. in three days (October 9) I'll be getting married

to that handsome guy running up the hill towards me,

in the very spot I'm standing

(if the weather is nice that is)

*

Right now we (which is me, my wonderful Pigletish sister, ***** and *****)

are sewing the wedding dress,

Ben (and ***** and ******)

are working on our perfect, cozy little *secret* (to me), now I know it's a house.

*

Thank you all for praying me through this,

it's been the hardest year in my (very short) life.

I'm still getting over it,

but I'm getting better every day.

Thanks again.

*

åslaug abigail

I did it =)

I packed three suitcases

full of all my stuff

(well, a tenth or so of my original pile of stuff,

but my Piglet&I managed to shrink it!)

For the first time in 10 months "packing my suitcases" is not

on my to-do-list.

*

*

And now I'm all done.

Leaving my parents' home Sunday night,

staying with friends 8 hours away the last few days

before leaving,

STILL WAITING for a call, for the visa to get ready

*

In less than two weeks (God willing) I'll say yes again, to my Ben,

368 days after my first yes.

I can't wait to walk every step of the way with him,

share all joy, share all sorrow.

*

The Lord is so *so* good.

I love Him so.

*

*

åslaug abigail

Of Cake and Lovebirds...

Just a teeny weeny update here to tell you all that:

* big fat letter arrived

* all required documents are obtained

* and sent.

*we're now waiting for an interview date,

and I'm leaving by train on Monday to go to the capital.

When I come home, I'll be waving that visa in my hand

for real.

(though, I have no idea WHEN I'll be back..)

*

"My heart rejoices in the LORD;

in the LORD my horn[strength] is lifted high.

My mouth boasts over my enemies[not the Embassy],

for I delight in your deliverance."

1. Sam 2:1

* Cutting the cake at our engagement party...

I love this picture =)The on-lookers...

don't you just LOVE on-lookers??Smiling at the camera
We sure CUT that cake, didn't we??

*

åslaug abigail

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PIGLIT!!

Happy Birthday to you,
you live in a zoo,
you look like a monkey,
and you smell like one too!
*
(sung with nothing but feelings of love and adoration
on the occasion of my most beloved Piggy-Piggy-Piglit's nineteenth birthday!!)
* She is THE SWEETEST,
MOST WONDERFUL,
FANTASTIC
sister you could EVER dream of. *
I always said I wouldn't marry until I found the male version of her.
She's THAT wonderful =)
(and I did find a man that matched her wonderfulness and only-oneliness)
* She's always been my bestest friend, my favourite play mate,
she acts the big sister when I don't,
she's the baby sister I get to comfort.
*I've been IN LOVE with her since the first time I saw her,
square-faced, pink n' pretty,
laying in that tiny hospital bed, with her little pink teddy bear beside her
(rightfully named "Rosa", meaning PINK),
I was two years old and touched her very carefully, just as instructed.
*
She was the CUTEST.
She IS the cutest.
*
I was a little mad, I'll admit, when I showed her my beautiful ballerina paper dolls I had cut out myself, and she grabbed them (like three year olds can) and banged them on the table, attempting to make them dance like I could.
But, hey, that's a long time ago now...
*
She tells me my house will be filled up with paper when I have little children,
because I can't bring myself to throw away the tiniest piece of paper that SHE has written on,
HER sweet little drawings of princesses or beagels with hats.
HER little yellow chickens.
*

She is so precious to me. So beautiful when she's asleep.
And she's growing into a hardworking,
diligent,
accomplished little homemaker,
and I can't wait to see who that lucky guy will be!!!
*
*
Happy birthday, Ingvild! I'm so glad God made you.

Aller Käraste Syster!!
*

*

åslaug abigail

Ramblings of a Rainy Day

my most beloved sister and I

I DID go off on an unexpected,

short notice,
special,

wonderful,

much needed-holiday.

*

So I'm in the south of Norway,
visiting my sister at the boarding school I graduated from two years ago

(she's graduating this summer).

I left home two weeks ago, I'll be staying for one more.

*

We're having lots of fun.

I get plenty of rest.

We've had so much sunny weather,

today it's raining, but it is still beyond wonderful here.

*

No news of the visa, other than that we'll more than likely hear *something*

(not a final decision, but some kind of progress) from the Visa-office in 60 days.

*

Thank you everybody for your prayers.

It's very overwhelming that so many are praying =)

*

I'll post an update as soon as I've got one =)
*

(I'm off to making banana bread and eat it warm from the oven, while I snuggle up in warm blankets on my sister's bed, WITH my sister, to watch a movie. Perfect rainy day =)

*
åslaug abigail

Five Reasons to ***LOVE*** spring..

You wake up, and feel well.
The sun is shining, and you do your best (not very hard today) to shine too...
*
And then you go about your day,
writing letters that are so long
(and because of it, so heavy)that they cost twice as much to send out,
and you eat your mama's homemade yellow pea soup,
and you realise that even if you don't love peas,
you LOVE this soup (licking the bowl just to make a point)
and you certainly love your mama.
*
And then you play the piano and sing.
And you sing more, just because the echo in the tiled bathroom is so pretty to listen to,
*
and you come up with five reasons to love spring,
and you love spring just because it's spring,
but especially because of:

Short sleeves

Bare feet

Wild flowers

And the fact that THIS is the garden, and it's GREEN!

And your friend came over yesterday, and you made cards and sent letters and had fun =)
*
*
*

åSlAuG aBiGaIl

Good Morning =)

.

Hello there everyone,

.

I'm just popping in here to prove that I am still alive and kicking =)

I will be posting in not too long, sharing with you GOOD news,

in the meantime this is the update:

.

I've been blessed with tendonitis lately,
which (though not allowing me to type much/write letters/do housework/go to work etc.)

.

gives me the opportunity to:
.
*stay home (and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!)

.
*read the mountain high stacks of books I've longed to be able to read for so long,

but not have had/felt free to take the time to read

(I'm an extremely slow reader)

.

*learn to trust the LORD

.

Last night I read about an inspiring text about

being joyful/

have a merry heart/

smiling/

being cheerful.

And I made up my mind to find three habits to work towards

(three being such a nice number and all)

I found these:

.

*Smiling BEFORE I open my eyes in the morning,

this way, whatever might meet me when I open them, I'll already be smiling, and I'll just have to maintain my expression instead of creating it =)

if you smile first, your emotions tend to follow

and a smile is just as contagious as a grumpy expression

(not to mention, a way more pleasant way to start the day).

.

*Smiling to my family when I see them,

a very dear friend of mine recently brought to my attention the brilliant smile on my face when I talked to a sales clerk, asking for directions to another store.

I have realised lately that this smile seems to be reserved only for sales clerks, colleagues and strangers. When I say hi to one of my family members entering the room I'm in, my face has the gravest expression and I mutter a short hi,

erm, not a greeting fit for my nearest-and-dearest...

.

*Singing a joyful-thankful-praise-song while doing the tasks I don't like,

Being joyful is a matter of choice,

I am sure I will not feel very joyful when at my next unpleasant task,

I am forced (by my own resolve) to sing a song of praise

instead of wearing a comfy sour expression.

The other thing I'm sure of is that I will cheer up from singing that song,

and that I will feel

more thankful

and joyful

when I start on the third verse... =)

.

.

.

If you happen to be one of those who plan to comment,

may I ask if you will share any joyful-habits you might have??

.

(if you don't have any you could make one today, couldn't you?)

.

To the rest of you,

thanks for reading =)

.

Love,

.

åslaug abigail

Today it's Saturday all over the world...

In the middle of a hug




(except that I wasn't able to post it until now, which is Sunday afternoon)
My sister, Ingvild, and I was standing in the kitchen today, a batch of cookies baking in the oven, sunshine outside the window, when she suddenly says:
.

Have you ever thought about... right now it's Saturday all over the world?

.

I had not. Imagine what a huge thought, an amazing reality:

other girls and sisters cooking Saturday's batch of cookies,

people writing Saturday's entry in their journals,

some going to bed a late Saturday evening,

others just greeting the early Saturday morning.

Some've got a rainy Saturday,

others have got a sunny one, like ours.

Some have got a carefree one like we have,

other's Saturday will be cloudy in despair and mourning.

.

So many Saturdays all in one, so many people,

such a great God watching over,

caring for,

loving,

providing for: all of them.
.
Oh, I'm glad I'm not the one in charge, and while we left that part to our King and Creator, we
shopped,
made and ate cookies
finished a scutch (meaning the-first-copy-(in-cheap-fabric-)of-a-dress-I'm-going-to-sew)
cooked chicken for tomorrow's Tithing Chicken Salad
made daddy's home made pizza (we have two kinds in our family, mum's and dad's)
watched "Becoming Jane Austen" (which I don't recommend)
listened to country music
read and reread articles from Young Ladies Christian Fellowship
laughed
hugged
had fun
had more fun
had a jolly good time =) =)

I hope your Saturday was as sweet, beautiful and happy as ours

(I could wish you nothing better)'

åslaug

A Walk in the Forest....

... with a very good friend.

Why I kissed my telly today...

I was sitting on the couch earlier today. Taking a break after finishing a major-cleaning-and-decluttering of the bedroom I share with my sister.

While thankfully chewing away at banana, peanut butter and chocolate chips, I watched my telly. No, I didn't watch a program. We don't even get signals, we don't have television. I was simply watching the blue screen.

In the upper left corner of the screen there was a delightful image. A distant blue hill with light clouds, sprinkled with sunshine, and above it, clear blue sky. When I then turned my head to look out the real sitting room window I only saw the grey, cloudy sky, which explained the dripdrops coming down every now and then. Where did the image in my telly's screen come from? It was certainly not on my telly. Rather, it had to be in front of it.

I crossed the sitting room and sat down beside my telly. I wanted to see what my telly saw. Beside my telly I could clearly see the image on it's screen, but this time I saw it firsthand. Imagine what it must be like to be there, like, on that hill, underneath those clouds and blue sky, in that sunlight.

It dawned on me what a beautiful parable this was to the Christian life. If my telly was the Christian, it would be fixing it's eyes on Heaven.
If I then was the non-Christian, I would not be watching Heaven at all, but simply, watching my Christian telly.
Then, seeing the reflection of Heaven on my telly's face, I would want to see it firsthand, and I start walking (or rather sitting) in the same direction as my Christian telly. I would become a Christian. With the same longing as my Christian telly friend; to be in Heaven, and experience what I could now only watch from afar.

Of course, the Christian life is way to complex (in it's simplicity) to cover in the mere parable of my imagination and my telly. But I think it has got some good points.

So, well.... this is why my telly got a kiss today
(on the cheek, mind you!)


åslaug

It's Six O' Clock in the Morning...

And it's so far been a beautiful day!

.

For all of you that's been waiting for a new post since April 24:

I have not ONE good exuse to my defence. I hope you still check on this blog from time to time.

.

For all of you that's been waiting for a new Norwegian post:

Unnskyld, beklager, sorry, eg skal gjer mitt beste, veldig snart!

.

What is exciting right now:

-God has got a plan for exactly THIS day.

-It's OKAY to be EXCITED!!

-My brother is visiting.

-This is my tenth day of making the Amish Friendship Bread (which means that today, it's gonna be put in the oven. How exciting! )

-I'm wearing my favourite hoodie.

-I have recently got 400 bags of Lyon's Irish Tea in a parcel from Nadia =) =) =)

-I'm having tea today!!

-22 days left of working, then I'll be going to A-M-E-R-I-C-A.

-I'm A LITTLE BIT excited!!!!!

Thanks for your attention, ladies and gentlemen,

I will be back, in not too long.

åslaug

In Honor of ******, ******* and *******

-Because I love those girls so much =)

I didn't have a diaper pin (since none in my household wears diapers), but we do wear clothes, so I used a clothes pin instead.... =)

This morning the landscape was still covered in snow (this is the view from the kitchen window).

Flowers on the table. When you have no flowers in the backyard, you'll simply have to do with potted ones... They're still beautiful, though (even if they in real life are purple, not blue)






A clean kitchen =) such a pretty sight, isn't it?

.

And after cleaning the kitchen, it's time to be ambitious about everything that should be done today (should probably have been done yesterday as well, but was never completed).
.

It's time to be brave and jump right into sewing a blouse from a pattern (when you've hardly used a pattern before, and never by yourself). And after falling asleep on the couch (accidentially), ending up sewing both sleeve pieces together to one big sleeve (in stead of two normal sized ones) and having a good laugh (and lots of stiches to take out in the evening), it's time to make dinner (guess who...).
.
.
.
Well, you take a leek...

And start sharing the recipe for

.

.

OVEN BAKED TOMATO FISH

.

300-400 g fish filet (cod, coalfish etc.)
1/4 teaspoon (american teaspoon) salt


1/4 teaspoon (still american) pepper


2 tomatoes (I didn't know this, I always use 3-5), sliced anyway


1/2 leek (it's sort of obvious that you'll have to cut this one, isn't it?)


1/2 teaspoon basil


some grated cheese


15 ml whipping cream (I use milk)
.


.

Well, you actually start with the fish (not the leek). Cut it in pieces the size you'd like to get on your plate, put in greased pan and sprinkle salt and pepper over it (I never ever measure salt or pepper or basil, just so you know...). It should now look about like this:

Slice tomatoes, as many as you want...Put on top of the fish and sprinkle with basil

Cut leek and make a second layer of vegetables upon that poor fish (it doesn't mind, it's dead). See how small my family is? I can hardly fill half the pan (and that's a small pan). Little pretend to be-housewife-and-homemaker-and-other-things-she's-not putting this lovely fish-dish in the oven, and realising that the family is perfect in size (she truly couldn't manage another one!) But she does love her family, not despite, but even because of the small size and quiet ways. God has blessed her with something He knew would be perfect for her, only for her. Who is she to complain?

.
.

Fish dish (not family) is baked in a 200 celcius and 392 fahrenheit oven, for about 35 minutes



Meanwhile, use that beautiful, super-convenient apron sewn you by beautiful, super-convenient, dearly beloved and so missed friends far far away to carry some potatoes out to in the kitchen. Cut them, put them in a frying pan on the oven, put a lump of butter in the pan, sprinkle onion powder, salt and pepper over them, stir once, cover and leave (now, do remember to turn the heat on).
Get back in a few minutes later and stir again. Repeat this till potatoes are cooked (soft in the middle).
.
.
Set the table and give thanks to a lovingkind God who provide you with food, love, family, snow, laughter, friends (though far away) joy, peace and happiness, every single day =)
.

.

He is the Saviour.


The Messiah, the Lord.


Praise Him!
.


.

åslaug

Sweet February Morning

I woke up this morning from my alarm clock,
after turning it off about six times, in between dreaming of being around beloved people in far-away-places, I opened my eyes.

Six o'clock.

The view outside was simply beautiful. Snow fell yesterday, and in the dark of morning and glimps of lights from the shopping centre the hills were shining. Such a pretty gift to receive when you just woke up =)

What you see if you look out the sitting room window

I put on my apron (yes, of course I got dressed first)
sneaked upstairs and made a batch of muffins. I cut oranges, pears and apples, I made coffee, my father made bread (in the bread-baker, so it was just to pop it out). In other words, I made breakfast. I lit the candle and listened to "Fairest Lord Jesus" while working away by myself.

I did the dishes. By hand.

Tasting the first muffin, yes, it was quite nice, never mind my expression =)

Breakfast....

The kitchen this morning, my mother is hiding (or reading)

After walking my mother to work, I stood for what felt like an eternity in the snow enjoying the sight of beautiful snow covered hills, drizzeled with morning rays giving them a slightly blushing pink color.

I thanked God, for the beauty, for all my beloved ones, praying for them and for me, singing to Him, smiling, silently conversing with Him. Knowing that I don't have the answers, thanking Him that He has.

I walked home, trying to be frugal by not buying colored paper for a birthday card-to-be, and again when the yarn store (I was planning to knit a few dish cloths) was closed till ten o'clock.

Now, I've been alone in my house a few hours.

I am the only person here, the only living thing (except for plants, which there are plenty of).

I might be the most noisy person of my house

(which says more of the rest of the household than of me),

but in myself, I've discovered I make very little noise at all. So it's quiet.

Me and my father's Yucca palm

Who's doing the dishes?? Mmm, excactly...

But she's doing a good job =)

Dishes go quickly. But I do them alone.

Talking is non-excistent. Who should I talk to?

I read aloud, I pray out loud, I play music. I sing.

Loneliness is lonely. I miss beloved noisy people, in beautiful noisy far-away places.

But I would rather miss them for the rest of my life, than never meeting them... And I will see them again.... soon.

God is so good, so loving, such an expert at removing the all-consuming feeling of loneliness. Such a perfect friend. So good at removing worries, anxiousness, troubles and hurt from my heart and instead fill it up (to overflowing) with peace. Perfect peace.

He is so precious. I love Him so much.

.

He is where you are, as you read this,

watching over you,

kissing the top of your head.

Whispering I love you,

and I thank Him for that.

.

lovingly,

åslaug