i'm taking a vacation...from my problems. (any bill murray lovers?) "work" is over, although i've been in office every day. i'm taking over a friend's apartment while she is in greece and i spend my days (when i'm not in the office) making good food, sitting at cafes, reading, and watching cable. i seriously do feel like i'm on vacation - a cold, wet vacation, but a vacation nonetheless.

i am leaving norway in september and am throwing the best going away party for myself... in LONDON!!! there are 4 of us signed up and there's still room for more! i'm accepting the idea of living in the states and am immersing myself into the culture by reading every old copy of "People" magazine i can find. hopefully there will be more to life than what i'm finding in those pages.

until that time, i'll be enjoying myself where i am.

(sidenote: i have officially crossed the threshold of adulthood. i attended a tupperware party, enjoyed myself, and even bought something! if that doesn't scream "modern, independant woman!" i don't know what does. my first tupperware party was at the age of 5 - i was visiting my older, fully reliable cousins and they gently - ie: threatened my life - pursuaded me to walk into the living room full of middle aged women who were chatting, ordering long lasting tupperware, and enjoying themselves and promptly moon them. i did it, my face beaming, knowing i had pleased my cousins. the joy lasted until my mom showed up.)

a small glimpse into the language of my life these past months...

the end of an era - ruthie is married!

the cutest little norwegian girl i know

life has thrown major curves these past weeks and i'm finding my way again. i was told i received a visa, but when i went to pick it up, immigration informed me that it was only an extra 6 weeks. i will leave norway in september. it's still shocking to write that and i feel i'm living in a dream. not a fun dream - mind you, but a dream where i can't wake up and rejoin reality. it's incredible the reserves God gives us though. He really has His hand on this and although i have no idea and no control over the next stage, i know i can trust.

dts is graduating tonight, i'm traveling to the west coast this weekend, and next week it's back to work with teaching and debriefing. only 2 more weeks until vacation! i am beyond ready!

we were young and innocent

travel in thailand

thailand. what a trip. i spent many days traveling, met interesting people, had new experiences, enjoyed the sun, dressed as a thai in a thai new year parade, spent time with the team, and simply enjoyed myself.

deportation

the crazy americans

it's a bird, it's a plane... no, it's bocci ball!

a good family friend, annette, and i in oslo

i've been deported.

no, i haven't! life has been crazy, busy these past weeks so writing has been pushed far down the list of "what's important." i'm to the point where the whole visa issue isn't a concern, so i can even joke about deportation! or not.

the students have all left for outreach (links to their blogs are on the right hand side) and i have been busy preparing to teach about outreach prep. more and more i'm loving to preach and teach - i get such a kick from it. a team from the states has also been here - helping renovate the third floor of the base. in three days they did what would have taken us weeks. my mom also joined them and it was so good to spend time with her. in the past, when family or friends have visited me, it's always been during a holiday, so they haven't really been able to get a full taste of my life. but this time my mom lived at the base, sat in on teaching, ate at the base, got to know some of the students and staff. it was such an encouragement for me.
erika, helina, and i spent easter together. in norway, easter is much more celebrated than what i remember in the states. the stores shut down thursday - monday during easter and most people have an entire week of holiday - skiing, eating oranges and kvikk lunsj (much better version of kitkat), and sitting around fires. since i can't ski and it snowed more than a foot, i celebrated by baking lots and watching movies.

and the newest news... i'm going to THAILAND in april. yay for outreach teams!