Saying goodbye and going out on our own

The kids only were an afternoon in Bergen, they were up early to catch their plane home the next morning. Not even enough time to get any pictures together. Rick and I had three full days in Bergen, and we saw a lot. I'm amazed at the castle and Rosencrantz tower.

Were these guys really throwing boiling oil!

We went to church at the Cathedral, and had the wonderful opportunity to witness a baptism.

Look at where the pulpit is!

And this one just because it's so cool.

And then, on to London. After getting to the airport in a downpour (we were soaked), the airport was packed, and we were glad we were there early. That soon passed, as our plane was four hours late, which means we got into London at 1am, which means we had to take a taxi to the hotel, and so on and so on. We did surprisingly well, going on exhaustion and dampness and hunger (although we did get fed on the plane.) We have no control over these things, so the best we can do is respond with patience, and grace. We are learning!

So, our first day in London we took the tube to Wimbledon and watched the commotion and the people. 

... and some other things.

Off to St. Paul's Cathedral tomorrow.

I miss the kids, that was so much fun. And, I'm finding that the closed spaces are making me a bit claustrophobic. Who knew I would long for the plains of South Dakota! 

Flam and fjords

Rick and I are in the hotel in Bergen, we just said goodbye to Tom and Amanda and Willie. It felt a little like sending the kids off to summer camp. They are on their way home, Tom and Amanda to begin their married life together, Willie to discover what is next for him. I'm already missing them. 

Willie sitting outside our little retreat in Flam. It was really a wonderful place.

Tom had a lot of fun rowing the boat in the fjord, and watching the tide come in and go out.

Amanda enjoying the sunshine while reading her book. Willie is there in the background stretched out on that couch.

We saw churches....

Cruise ships...

...and waterfalls!

Myrdal train station,

....whew... what a climb! (In the train that is!)

Whirlwind!

After a whirlwind in Oslo, family in Fla, we are now sitting in our little cabin retreat in Flam. We have had adventures and challenges. Learning to work together as five adults is new for us, but there is hope! 

In Oslo we stayed at the Grand Hotel, very old and very awesome.

Willie took this picture.

We were there for the Munch Exhibition in honor of Edvard Munch's 150th birthday. We saw Munch's paintings and woodcuts at the National Gallery and at the Munch Museum. Did you know he painted four versions of The Scream?

From Oslo we drove to Fla.

This is us driving.

An we are all still alive. It is absolutely true what they say about narrow Norwegian roads. Oh my gosh!

In Fla, we met relatives who are on the maternal branch of my paternal side. We hiked to the family farm, and heard about the subsistence farming that forced so many Norwegians to America. Norwegian families had many many children, and so many of them came to America. I have many new stories to tell!

Hiking to the farm.

Here I am listening to my relative, Jan, tell me about the family farm.

This is another relative, Kjell, up on the mountain. We were looking at cloudberry bushes.

These are cloudberries. And cloudberries on waffles, lots of waffles!

It was just so wonderful to connect with the people of this land, maybe they'll come visit us!

Then we drove to Flam, to the west of Fla, ( now don't go getting those two places mixed up!) We are staying in a beautiful mountain cabin, and discovering the countryside, and one another as well.

On our way!

On our way!

Life events

    The wedding, more to come...

Willie's graduation

Wedding eve

Tomorrow is the wedding of our older son. Tonight we were at the church making the parish hall pretty and rehearsing the wedding service with some wonderful friends of the almost married couple. I feel so very blessed by the amazing young woman our son is marrying. She is kind hearted and generous. She has a sense of humor and doesn't take herself too seriously. She has a way of making everyone who is around her comfortable and included. She is a gift to our son as well as to us. I am truly thankful. Pictures soon. 

Forgiveness 2

So if forgiveness is giving up all hope of a better past, 

then hope is writing a new story with God as author and creator.

Today is the day of the younger son's graduation. He is a wonderful young man and we are deeply proud of him. 

And yet, much forgiveness is necessary, all around.