Looking forward

Looks like Hunter and I will be going to Norway next Spring! That is....if she and I can raise the money by January!! Hunter's Chamber choir is going to perform and unveil pieces of music about an immigrant who left the island of Finnoy in one of Norway's largest fjords, to make a better life in America. This music is being specifically written for Staley High School and symbolizes the new life that has begun in the new high school.

I guess Norway is anxious for us to come and has already booked the choir to sing at several 1,000 year old cathedrals.

We will spend a day skiing at Lillehammer (home of the 1994 Winter Olympics) as well!

We will stop in several major cities and tiny villages along our 9 day tour and finish in Copenhagen. It's a bit surreal for me and I'm more excited then I can possibly tell. Hunter's Great-Grandfather, Henry Hagen is Norwegian and his Father and Mother immigrated from Norway in the early 1900's. I know this will be an awesome experience for her and I, the travel freak that I am, will love it too. I spent some time this morning going through geneology looking at names of ancestors as well as the cities they came from to see if we will be traveling through any of those locations.

I can't wait to learn more about the "Land of the Midnight Sun". I know I will be packing winter clothes, that's for sure! I know my dollar won't go far with the krone (NOK), especially since their ecomony is fairing much better than ours, but I'm excited for the scenery and history! We will actually visit the tiny island of Finnoy, where it is thought that the last of the Vikings lived.

I offered for Boyd to go with Hunter, since he is part Norwegian, I thought he would like to go and visit...but he declined and so that leaves me to chaperone! Yeah for me!! Now, if I can just stay focused until next March!! I'm soooo looking foward!!!

For Boyd

I pulled this photo off of farmgirls blog today. I hope she doesn't mind. Boyd needed me to say this to him today.

For My Youth

This message is so pertinent to my family at this time. Since I am living in the throes of youth.
It's a good reminder for me not to despise thy youth. :)
In a time where I am struggling for advice and suggestions for my own children, what better advice could I have for Chloe, Hunter and Bridger then this...

I treasure and value any great wisdom that can benefit my children, especially when they will listen. And often they will listen to someone else.

This Week

As I sit in the airport, waiting to return to reality, I am thinking back to all the big and little events of the week.
I chewed off all my fingernails.
I slept on the floor of my daughter's first apartment.
I ate Brick Oven pizza, which is divine.
I watched breathtaking sunsets...and sunrises.
I lived without my own car and even let others drive me around.:)
I hung out with some of my favorite people.
I cried a little, and sometimes a lot.

And, right now I'm feeling blessed and I know it'll all be okay.
It was a good week.

I needed that

Thank you to Lisa...who awarded me this:

And right about now...I'm not feeling too cool but I am warm and fuzzy.

The assignment is:
a)Write a few lines on how happy you are.
b) Pass it on to as many bloggers you can think of.

a)In spite of being alone, right now, in my daughter's apartment and waiting to say good-bye to her, I am happy. I am happy that I know the Plan. Because if I didn't, I might not be so happy right now.

I am happy and in awe of my Savior. I am happy to have 3 beautiful children and a super great husband.

This little corner of a room makes me happy...visualizing where my girl will lay her head each night.

b)I want you all to tag this blinkie and put it on your blog. You're all "Cool" too me!

Go ahead, make someone Happy.

Warning

It was brought to my attention that a psycho porn freak was following my blog. They have been blocked from viewing any longer.

Please be aware of those that are your followers. I thought I had checked and I thought wrong. Be sure to block anyone you don't want following your blog!!

Thank you Kristi, for bringing it to my attention!!

Stretch Marks

I'm sitting at the desk in my daughter's tiny apartment bedroom, watching the sun rise over the "Y" mountain, with much on my mind.

She's lightly snoring in her zebra print and purple bed. There are piles of things all over. The to-do list next to the computer is growing as she dreams away.

I spent the first night with my adult daughter in HER apartment last night. I ended up on a spare mattress on the floor of her room, wrapped in her Oak Park Northmen blanket we brought from home. Probably the worst night's sleep ever. I still can't believe I've come to this point in my life. I've been thinking about stretch marks. I know, not the most pleasant subject, really.

18 years ago, I was mortified to discover that the pregnancy or housing in my body of my new baby left me with unsightly stretches and battle scars on my abdomen. There really was no room in my belly or my skin for a human being and so the stretching made room. Having a baby, really left it's mark. And over the years I've thought about the worth of those marks.
Over the last 18 years I've stretched and grown in many other ways. I've seen many first days of school. I've seen broken bones, tears of pain and joy, heartache, loves, the principles of agency and obedience, and each time I've been left with a "mark". Sometimes it takes time to be able to look back and realize that each "stretch" and "mark" was for my good and worth it.

Thursday morning I will fly home, alone. That'll leave a mark for sure.

But I know, in time I will appreciate the stretching and the mark that was left behind.

In the mean time, we can cross off something from our to-do list: Chloe's blog. What else does a college co-ed do in her spare time? This will be an opportunity for her to chronicle her own stretching and the marks they leave behind.

I Plead

That's how I plead.

It Won't Happen To Me

Tom and Lori Kissinger started a local chapter of an organization called "It Won't Happen To Me", in memory of their daughter Megan who died in an automobile accident last December. This non-profit group/program was organized to help bring about awareness of how Car Crashes are the #1 cause of teen deaths in America.

Crazy.

We lose more teens to these accidents than any other way.

And more often then not these accidents were avoidable. It's a tragedy with eternal consequences.

I have read through the program and viewed the information from the website: http://www.itwonthappentome.org/ as well as read their book and I know the more teens that get involved, the better.

ITHTM had a booth at last weekend's Smithville Hot Summer Nights to drum up interest in their 1st Annual..."In Memory of...." Walk-A-Thon.

Many people have worked very hard to bring about this chapter with it's program to our area. Both Tom and Lori feel very strong about helping to prevent others from suffering the loss of a loved one as they lost their daughter.

The purpose of the ITHTM walk is not only to honor the memory of teens who have died from car crashes but also to raise funds to educate kids and parents about safe driving decisions. I am going to participate with my girls and if anyone else is interested in joining in, let me know.

Saturday, September 19th 2009

Macken Park, North Kansas City

Registration 8:30 am

Walk 10:00 am

3 miles

Registration participation fees; $20-includes a t-shirt

for further info contact Lori: lori@itwonthappentome.org

They are accepting donations and pledges even if you can't participate in the walk and still want to show your support.

See you on the walk!

Why Men are Never Depressed

WHY MEN ARE NEVER DEPRESSED: Men Are Just Happier People--
Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.

Chocolate is just another snack.
You can never be pregnant.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another petrol station restroom because this one is just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood all the time.

Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks and engines.

A ten-day holiday requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
Your underwear is £8.95 for a three-pack.

Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.

You never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original colour.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You only have to shave your face and neck.

You can play with toys all your life.
One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one colour for all seasons.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a moustache.

You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier.

I had to laugh at this because it's probably true...and obviously British...and surprisingly not potty humor. Thanks for sharing Alanna...

It's not just for dessert

It's whats for breakfast...

The Source

Thank you Sue, for giving me words today...

The Source
©1999 by Susan Noyes Anderson
If I had words to wrap around
those mommy days and mother years,
I’d hold them in my hands and say
that nothing ever disappears.
But I can’t seem to feel the page,
and all this stuff just moves so fast––
in bits and pictures, fading memories
of an ever-fading past.
My life is turning over now;
it’s tumbling down a hill of time
and every stone unearthed rolls on…
No looking back, no saving climb
can make tomorrow yesterday,
can soften chin and jaw and cheek;
my smile is no more universe;
my eyes, though warm, they do not seek.
A river runs and so it should;
I would not have it change its course,
but as it rushes to the sea,
it also leaves behind the Source.


These pictures were taken by Kristin on graduation day. Even then, I saw it coming. I couldn't even bring myself to put on make-up that day until it was time to go.

Yes, I know I still have my daughter and will forever. But this week our relationship will change and will forever. I'm just trying to wrap my brain around this. And she's sitting there, on the couch, watching Wizards of Waverly as though nothing is going on. This is the last week we will ever have, in this way, ever again. My river is going out to sea...

Oregon Sightings

One thing Oregon has going for it, well one of the many things Oregon has going for it, is the uniqueness of the people there. I can't say I would love the income tax there but the no-sales tax and variety of people and the climates and scenery can't be beat. This proud Oregonian sails the USS Bunny.

I've never driven through any state that leaves a larger deposit of bugs on my windshield than Oregon. Don't believe me? Take a drive along Klamath Lake and get back to me.

For the love of.....check out the size of that bug!

I don't know of many other states where you can be at 7,000 feet in elevation in a high desert with temperatures of 95 degrees one hour and two hours later be at sea level in 50 degree weather surrounded by ferns and draping moss. Oregon is really a beautiful place to visit. The trees are huge, the air is clean and smells sweet and the outdoor adventures are limitless. I look forward to more Oregon Sightings soon.

End of an Era

Just before we left on our trip, the girls attended their end of the swim season awards banquet. For Chloe, this ended 9 years of swimming with summer teams. I don't know whether to be happy about it or not! We have spent the last 9 summers watching our girls grow, make new friends, reacquaint with old friends, and learn new skills. They've left behind a few team records and improved times along the way. I knew those swim lessons at 3 years old in Malin would some day be useful! I don't know if Hunter and Bridger will continue with this family legacy or not. It could be ole Mom is just plum tuckered out.Either way, it is a bittersweet day...to see your child go through the end of an era.