the petersen house

We went to the Petersen House Museum today. It is a house built by a Danish immigrant in 1892. Every year they do a Danish Christmas open house and decorate it with typical danish decorations. It was fun to see all the danish decorations and the Christmas table was even set up with the same Royal Copenhagen tableware my farmor had. We also met a danish couple visiting Arizona so we got to speak danish which was fun.

skyping with allison

Allison is back in NY from Uganda for Christmas so we got to skype yesterday with no delay or anything. It was so great catching up a little. Looking forward to seeing her in January:)

world aids day

Today, December 1, is World AIDS Day.

Please take a moment and check out what Food for the Hungry is doing around the world and see how you can get involved. Last year FH trained 265,273 people in HIV/AIDS care and prevention! They are doing amazing work! For more information check out http://www.fh.org/worldaidsday2011 

You can make a difference!

maya

Over Thanksgiving we had a breakthrough with Michael's niece. She has been "afraid" of us in the past ... but this time she finally started warming up to us. And we even got to snuggle a little! So fun! She is such a cutie:)

thanksgiving in stanwood

We had a great time with Michael's family in Stanwood during the Thanksgiving holiday. Lots of family time. Here are some pictures from our time there.

tree farm

 

When we were in Stanwood for Thanksgiving we went with Michael's sisters and their families to the tree farm to help them pick out their Christmas trees. It was fun to share in this tradition since we don't usually get to living so far away.

               

 

                

 

nick and chris

Right before Thanksgiving, Michael's good childhood friends, Nick and Chris, stopped by on their way to California. The three of them reminisced about the good old days ... introduced us to epic meal time ... and Michael showed off his brownie and pancake making skills.   It was great to see them again and to have them stay in our home.

learning to lean on others

I have always been very independent so the last two months have been really hard having to rely on others, especially my amazing husband, to do things for me. Not being able to walk well has kept me from doing simple things like house chores and grocery shopping. It has been so frustrating not to be able to really go anywhere and do anything on my own. And it has been hard giving up control and letting others do things for me .

This Thanksgiving we went to Stanwood, Washington to hang out with Michael's family. Since my legs/feet are still in pain and I can only walk very slowly - we had to get a wheelchair. It felt weird and awkward to be driven around like that. We got to pre-board on the airplane and I felt uncomfortable - like an impostor or something. Michael had to remind me several times on the trip that they have these things for people like me. It is still not easy to get used to.

skype

I just love Skype. I remember back in the day when it cost so much to call long distance ... let alone all the way to Denmark. We used to have to spend more than $1 per minute to call family and friends in Denmark and now it is less than 3 cents via Skype ... or of course completely free if calling Skype to Skype. Even though I love Phoenix, I really miss my family and wish we lived closer. I hate the thought of my new nephew not knowing his aunt Signe. BUT that is where Skype comes in ... it at least makes the distance a little better as I am able to see my family's faces while we talk. I love being able to sing Danish children's songs to Anders and see him smile at the screen above:) What a cutie. I look forward to seeing my family at Christmas, but till then Skype is my connection.

antony

Visiting Antony 2006

I have had the incredible privilege to travel to Kenya (Meru, Isiolo, Marere, Njuruta) three times (2005, 2006, 2007) working along side Food for the Hungry.  This is a brilliant ministry and I have gotten to know many wonderful people in the communities in which we have served. I miss it and really hope I will be able to return in the future.  An amazing part of visiting Kenya and working with the communities there has been the opportunity for me to meet and visit with one of my sponsored children (Antony) and his family. I first met them when Antony was 5 years old and in kindergarden.  Antony and his twin brother Lawrence were the most A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E children. I fell in love with them immediately. Meeting them provided such a connection and made the sponsored child concept so much more real - and necessary! It had a great impact on me to see the circumstances in which these children live (orphaned by parents to AIDS) - how they walked barefooted on very rugged terrain for many kilometers to get to and from school. What incredible children. I loved getting to see their living situation, meet their grandmother and caretaker and see how they keep all the letters and pictures we send. Sponsoring children makes such an impact on the child and community and I would highly encourage that you too sponsor a child if you aren't already. If you are interested please visit  http://www.fh.org/give/sponsor/whatitis .

Earlier this month, my friend Kelly who I have gone to Kenya with returned to Kenya. She was able to connect with Antony and his family. These boys have grown. I guess that is what happens over five years:) I am so thankful that Kelly was able to see them and bring my love to them. I have included some pictures to show how much they have grown.

Antony and Lawrence 2006

Lawrence and Antony 2011 (from Kelly's visit)

happy birthday mor and far

My parents were born only ten hours apart - so yesterday was my mother's birthday and today is my father's. 

I really wish we lived closer so I could help celebrate them. 

Love and miss you far and mor. 

Happy Birthday!

less than 1%

There are many times in life that it is outstanding to be in the less than 1% group ... like if you get a score on a test in school and are among the top 1%.  People often strive to be different, to set themselves apart from the average person. In these cases managing to be unlike 99% plus of the population is a feat and makes people feel special.

Over the last couple of months I have learned that being in this group is not always outstanding and doesn't make me feel special.  You know when you are sick and you get drugs to get better and you read the side effect warnings? They usually list the most common side effects and then they list the "call your doctor right away" side effects and then sometimes they include what they call the black box side effects. Well, to show how special I am ... I have managed to get into the "less than 1% chance" side effects of several antibiotics. YES - SEVERAL! Really? Over the last two months I have managed to be on 5 different antibiotics ... and have had allergic reactions (in the less than 1% category) to 3 of them. Really? When this all started, I remember going back to the pharmacist to ask about a certain symptom regarding whether I should be worried about it. She was like ... no, that shouldn't be a reaction, no one gets that symptom ... I mean unless you are in the less than 1% group or something, but who is really like that? Uhm... ME!

Anyways ... I am thoroughly tired of being sick, especially when most of the sickness is caused by the drugs that are trying to get me well! Just wanted to share with everyone how special I am in case you didn't know;) Actually, there is one area where I feel very special -  I have an amazing husband who has been helping me lots while I have not been able to do much.

Disclaimer... While I usually appreciate advice and natural remedies ... that is not what I am looking for in this post. Michael and I eat well for the most part and try to eat organic etc. Sometimes in the end no matter how well you eat and live ... you still get sick and need drugs. Typically drugs help many people ... unless you are special like me;)

michael is COMPLETELY done with his m.div.

Michael finally finished his last paper on Friday ... and now he is D.O.N.E.  - done! He has completed his Master of Divinity degree. I am so proud of him. It will be nice to have my husband back ... but then again I have never known him outside of seminary. All I know is that I am excited about it. We still have no idea what the future holds. I am trusting we will know soon...

Yesterday we celebrated Michael being done with some yummy dessert and friends.

happy birthday to my husband

It is my wonderful, kind, amazing.... husband's birthday today. Unfortunately, we will not be able to celebrate very much today since he is in his last week of his masters degree! Too many papers to write in very little time (you will notice the books that are pushed aside as we eat breakfast in the pictures). We will celebrate his birthday and graduation in the weeks to come.

Happy Birthday Michael. I love you very much.

meeting jonathan

After the wedding in Seattle we were able to spend some time with Michael's family in Stanwood. One of the highlights was meeting little baby Johnathan for the first time. What a cutie!

We also had the chance to see Grandma Lund's new apartment. It looks great!

And of course, a trip to Stanwood wouldn't be complete without going to Scandia to enjoy a great cup of coffee with good friends.

scott and amy's wedding

Last weekend Michael and I went to Seattle for Scott and Amy's Wedding. The wedding was outside, but luckily the Seattle weather was beautiful. Michael was the best man, so I spent most of the weekend with Sharon (whose husband was also in the wedding). We all had a great time at the wedding. Congratulations Scott and Amy - we are so excited for you guys! Thank you for letting us be part of your big day.

 Here are a few instagram iPhone pictures from the wedding.

somehow didn't get a picture of michael and scott at the wedding...

sharon and i

anders

This past weekend I had a great time in Texas visiting my brother and sister-in-law ... and of course my adorable nephew. Even though this is only the second time I have met Anders, I just love him so much. And I miss him! I can't get enough of his cuteness:) I wish we lived closer so I could see him more often. I was also able to help celebrate my brother's birthday since I was actually there on his birthday - for the first time in many many years. I am so happy I was able to be there to help celebrate.

Here are some pictures from this wonderful visit (as you will notice, mostly of Anders:)).

the happy family:)