Trip number seven is about to happen!

Such great news are worth a blogupdate! 
So grateful I will be able to do this! Thank You Lord! 
Since I got back from my last trip to the states, I've been hoping and praying I would be able to come back for Christmas! 
Why so soon? 
I love it there, had such a great time staying with my sister, meeting new people, seeing old friends, why stay away? ;) 
PLUS: My dear niece Ellinor had her baby in October, it bugged me so much that I had to leave before Espen Blake was born, soon he won't be a baby anymore, so greatauntie wants to get over there asap to snuggle with him <3
Since I'm a teacher, Christmasbreak and summerbreak are the two options for vacationing. Well, I couldn't wait till summer, could I??? ;)
So, go ahead and think I'm crazy, going back so soon! I can take it! :)
This will be my second time spending Christmas across the pond. 
Some people may wonder how on earth you want to celebrate the Holidays in a forreign country, away from family?!?
Well, first of all, the Christmas I spent in Washington 3 yrs ago, was a fantastic experience! 
I learned lots! It was fascinating!
Different traditions and customs. Different food. Less stress. 
More about the Birth of The Baby in the manger, Jesus, our Saviour! 
Less about christmasshopping. Less about cleaning (!) and preparing. 
Even if we tend to think that Christmas is a lot about family and traditions, we know that Christmas is all about knowing and believing that God sent His only begotten Son, to save you and me! If you own this faith in your heart, it doesn't matter where or with who you celebrate this season :) 
And, after all, I had my parents with me on that trip 3 yrs ago! Add an amazing host family, that after 7 weeks felt like part of my own family, to that. Plus dear brothers and sisters in Christ. 
It was a blessed Christmas indeed!

This Christmas, I will be together with part of my family too!
My sister + hubby lives there and so do my niece and her family. My parents will be coming along on this trip too, plus my brother, his wife and 2 kids. Add friends, brothers and sisters in Christ to that.
Yes, I do believe this Christmas will be a blessed one too!

We are all flying out December 19th, me and 3 friends fly back  January 19th, my bro and his family leave earlier and my parents plan to stay till the end of February.
I'm hoping to travel around some while out there. But nothing's for sure yet.

Wow! This post is getting lenghty. Don't mind my ramblings. I'm excited, okay? :)
I'll be back to write about other stuff some other day!

Grey saturday

Been waiting for another sunny saturday. But so far there is no sun in sight. Oh well, I might just make this a cleaning day. I do have more pics to post, just being lazy here, sorry! Enjoy your weekend ppl!

"He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defense; I shall not be moved."

Psalm 62:6

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Midwinter memories

Some pictures from Christmas and New year...

These are mainly from the wedding and from visiting with the Olsons.

I will post more later of Christmas with family and stuff.

Emily and Nate visiting at the Vasara's

Ivanna posing nicely for me :)

And so did adorable little Charlonne!

Hasse, Staffan, Neil and Jed

Laura with her girls helping out the night before wedding.

Emily and Nilene busy cooking broccoli-cheddar soup.

Lorraine

Ella's last night out!

All of us... We were all excited for her to get married... Not so much for her moving away from us!!

Last minute preparations

Not good quality at all... It was freezing!!

But they look great don't they?

The beautiful couple and the adorable flowergirls and ringbearers :)

Johanna, Matilda, Emily, Jed, Josiah, Ben

We went to Abc to warm up and eat. The kids did a really good job! So patient!

...for better for worse...

Mr and Mrs Neil Olson

May God bless your marriage!

Larsmo state church

My dear niece and friend, she is gorgeous inside and out!

Shane-boy, I miss him!

Neil's brother Matt and family + my sister attended thru skype

Sisters by heart, even if we'll be oceans apart!

My new friend! You are missed!!

Michelle and Stella

Happy and blessed new year!!!

Cute! <3

A match made in Heaven!

New year's day, Shane

It was so much getting to know all these kiddos!

Too bad they had to leave by the time I finally learned all their names :(

All fun comes to an end... Saying goodbye is one thing I do not like!

God be with you till we meet again, Ivanna!

This is from our family dinner for my dad's 70th birthday

Happy birthday dad!

Life without facebook

Yup I got rid of my facebook account a few days ago, and with that I got too much time on my hand ;) so I decided to start blogging again. Facebook was an easy way to stay in touch with all my american friends, but I honestly spent too much time on there, that's why I deleted my profile and decided to try this instead. I probably won't update this blog more than once a week or so. And I'm not a very good writer, but I'll post pics.