Let it snow.. Let it snow..

SNOW and more SNOW... I am loving it! I just love the cold and especially when it is so cold that it is super sunny. I love bundling up and walking around town with Mika, everyone is in a good mood and it just brings a special atmosphere that I really like.  I don't like driving in it, but I do love the beauty of it all. It makes me think of when  we were in Alaska or Greenland, or up in Northern Canada and those are very fond memories.  Right now it is snowing like crazy and it has been all day. I think I will start taking the bus, I really do not enjoy driving in this stuff.  I just hope that it doesn't snow so much that my family can't come up here, so we will pray that the roads will clear up soon.  Magnus is still deep in the exams and has two more to do yet. He will be done December 23rd, which right now seems a long time away. Exam time is hard on both of us, but we only have one more set of exams left.. yeah!  I was talking to Magnus yesterday and he said that he can't wait for the day when he can watch a hockey game on the weekend, or relax and hang out with us in the evening, because that never happens. If he does he feels guilty for it because he should be studying.  So my gift to him is lots of hockey on his christmas break.. I feel for him, but we have an end in sight and although it seems a million miles away - it is there sweetie it is there... 

A Charlie Brown Christmas...

Well I don't have too much to say.. We went on a tree hunt the other day and we were all decked out in gear thinking that we would have to really trek into the forest and it would take all day, etc.. but in about 10 min. we were like WOW we found the perfect tree (or what seemed like a perfect tree) It looked great in the forest but when we got it home it looked pretty scrawny and Charlie Brownish - but I guess that it always how it is.  It was fun though and even though we don't have snow yet, there is snow in the mountains and I am just praying for snow for Christmas. My family is coming up here for a couple days over the Holidays and so I really want it to be a good Canadian Christmas.  

Mika had a little Christmas party with all his friends today and although he was a bit grumpy from not having his nap - it was fun and I am looking forward to putting on another one next year already. It is fun to have kids because now you can have an excuse to have all these parties, or go to kids movies, and kids events, which are probably more fun for the parent then the kid anyways.  I really enjoy meeting new moms and connecting with others outside of church things. It fuels me and I feel that this is something I can really get into and reach others with.  

Thankfulness .....

Getting into the trend of the pants falling 

down showing the underwear        helping Pappa with the leaves 

 Enjoying our daily walks      

Things are going good.. Mika is such a joy and we just love him so much. This stage is so fun and I am loving every minute of it. He is trying to say words all the time and attempting to walk here and there. I love his hugs and kisses and especially his "I love yous". He puts his head on his shoulder and makes a little awwwhh sound and that means I love you. It is just too cute. I want this stage to last forever..... He is fascinated with trucks, backhoes and big machinery. I never knew that a little boy of 14 months could even know what these things are, but he gets so excited when he sees a backhoe or a truck. I wish my dad was around because he would be so proud of him. My dad was a heavy equipment mechanic, so this would be very special for him. 

Besides Mika, which is our world, things are going good. Magnus only has another week of school before exams and then he is finished for this semester on the 22nd of December. He has had very long days for the past few weeks and weekends so I know he can't wait to be done.  I keep my self busy with play groups and spending time with friends, plus work, so I feel good. I am now getting use to going to bed by myself almost every night and spending long days by myself, so for me it is all a matter of getting use to it and I expect it, so therefore it is ok. It isn't always fun, but I feel ok with our situation and I know that it will not last forever.  I feel so blessed really and I know that I have so much to be thankful for, and I am so thankful.. God has blessed us so much and we always are taken care of. Speaking of which, I was so shocked and amazed last week when one of our long time YWAM friends handed us a card with $700 in it. It just blew me away, because here they are struggling and living in a basement suite with two kids and they felt from God that they were to give us this money. I was overwhelmed because I haven't spent a lot of time with them, and they aren't in our church or anything, but they know our situation and wanted to bless us.  It is just one of those things that humble you and make you realize that God is looking out for you.  I tend to stress about things, but why, God always comes through and we are so Thankful.  

first words.... what fun...

Well Mika has been saying a couple words lately, besides his usual "woof woof" and "ooh ahh", and momma, he starting saying "no" and "cookie". He has been saying banana (nana) for a while, but his newest one is cookie. We didn't know what he was saying at first because it came out something like goodie, but then a couple days ago I noticed he only said it when he got a cookie, and then it came out very clear and although it was more like cookiea, it was definitely cookie. I should have guessed that our little one would be saying his first words almost all having to do with food. When we go to playgroups all he ever cares about is the snack and eating everyone else's snack. He is also taking a couple first steps and it is so cute. He isn't very sturdy yet, but he did take  a couple, so it won't be long now that is for sure. He is so much fun and we are just loving every moment of it.  I can't believe how fast time goes and how things change. Last year at this time he wasn't doing much, but eating and sleeping, and now he is one big boy. He brings us such joy and we love it.  

Besides enjoying our time with Mika, things are going good. So far the whole suit is getting taken care of by our lawyer and we have only had to be a little bit involved with that.  Of course we still have a long haul in front of us, so I should be to quick to assume things are all OK. Another highlight is that Magnus won a accounting competition that was Canada wide, and he is going to the finals in January to Ontario! The whole school (OUC) is very excited for him and his professors are over the top proud and happy for him. Of course, I am super proud and am just happy that all his hard work and time is put into something that shows his achievement. 

Magnus is busier then ever with school, and we are just hanging on until Christmas break when we can actually see each other again, but I shouldn't complain it could be a lot worse, and I am just happy to have such a wonderful husband. I have to admit though it isn't easy, and I hope that next semester is better. 

"....... Sue me!"

That is Magnus's favorite saying these days, which I hate to say it but it is true. We have been officially sued! I guess everyone has to be sued at least once in life, so why not now and get it over with. We were served papers on Thursday of last week and we have a week, which is on Friday, to appear in court to defend ourselves. It is due to a car accident a couple years ago, in which we were totally not at fault for. There were three cars involved and we happen to be one of those that were hit. We are hoping that our Car insurance will take care of it, but there are some issues with us being in Canada etc..  But God seems to be looking after us and so far things are looking good for us. 

Other then that we are doing well and keeping up with our busy lives. We are still unsure about our future, but we have kinda put that on hold until the Spring since we can't seem to make up our minds, and we do not have a concrete job offer in the States, so we are waiting for that. Mika is doing very well and blabbing and as active as always. He isn't walking yet, but definitely getting there. 

Elections are sure funny in the States

 

  

                             I am sitting here watching the elections on CNN and I have to say I am impressed with how determined people are down south. I have to say Canadians just aren't there when it comes to voting. I am wishing I was in the States right now because it is always exciting when election comes around  - not to mention all the freebies on election day. Free Starbucks for voting, free crispy creams, free plungers, and much more... 

Of course I am Republican, so I am voting for McCain, although I have to say I would be pretty impressed with the States if Obama gets in. I think it would say a lot about where we have come due to racism. I have to say I love Palin ( who wouldn't, she wore a Big Carhart jacket to the polls to vote today). 

Anyways enough about that. We are doing well, although Magnus is so busy in school and never home anymore, so that is hard on me. I just keep thinking.... " this is the last year, we can do it", but then I remind myself that the next three years Magnus will be working and studying with his internship. So yeah, we have a few long years a head of us.  Will it ever end? We are still not sure where we will end up because we can't get a guarantee from the firm in the States and with the economy the way it is, we do not want to take that risk. So, we said "yes" to the firm here and with the idea that we can always say no later if we feel we need to go to Oregon. So basically we just postponed our problem until the Spring. So that is our update, and as the year goes on hopefully we will feel more confident where God wants us. 

decisions are not one of our forte's

So, I thought I would update people with our plans while I am sitting  here waiting for my pumpkin cookies to bake. I sure hope they turn out because I am tired of everything I bake not turning out. Plus they are for the Alpha group at church, so they better... 

Anyways, we are really bad at making life decisions - which is no news to anyone I am sure. 

We really were debating on staying here, because even though it would be hard financially, this is where we feel at home. We love the seasons, we love the people, we love the area. We know how to make things work on a tight budget because that is the way we have been living for 7 years, so nothing would change and we would go on. Were happy now, so why not? 

Magnus got offered the job in Kelowna, but to our surprise they gave him the accepting package and the wage was a lot lower then what we had thought. We had thought that they would over us at least $35000. a year, but we were thinking it would be more like $38000. But to our surprise they offered him $33000. a year. I was furious and said some choice words to them in my head and told Magnus no way!  I will not go to work full time and put Mika in day care just so we could live here. I always said that I would never put finances before happiness, but sometimes you have to make a decision that is best for family, and so right now it seems like Oregon is our best bet. Of course this could change in the next day or hour, but I feel a peace about this and so we shall see.  Magnus will go and talk to them, but I really doubt they will budge.  So that is my notes for today, but we will keep you posted as progress continues. 

Oh where, Oh where should our little home be?

well, so far we are still undecided, but we are leaning toward Oregon.  It is so hard for us because I feel like we are Canadians. That is weird to say, but it is true. We met here, we live here, we have a Canadian baby.  I honestly do not feel American anymore and I do not feel Norwegian, so I feel like I have identified myself as Canadian.  The thought of leaving here scares me. I love the snow, I love the lake, I love the people. But I love family more and when it comes down to it that is what matters. Our little family and my family in Oregon. I think for us as a family Oregon would give us better family time. Although there is nothing to do in my small coastal town, except go and watch the traffic light change ( a joke in our town ), there is the Ocean and it is beautiful. I do feel like it is a stepping stone going to Oregon and I know that it will not be our permeant place - I really think God has something else for us in the future. Being close to my family is very important right now since my dad is no longer around I feel like we should support my mom and be there for her. 

The only thing I do worry about is that the firm ( in North Bend ) can not guarantee Magnus a job, so it will be by faith that we go down there.  

So for now I am going to take every day as a blessing and enjoy our house on the lake ( which we will probably never get a chance like this again ) and soak in God's amazing blessings. 

A New house, but same scenery

So we moved into our other lake house, which is the same one that we 

have been staying in the past few years. It is so nice and I feel like I am in  a super nice house, when really it is still an older house with wall paper you want to tare off or do something with..... anything. Not to speak of the beautiful wooden bars that are decor from the 70's yuk.. and light fixtures you think of bowling every time you look at them. Compared to the house we were in it is stunning. One thing that has changed is that there are very nice beds in the bedrooms now, which is so nice for when we have guest and they don't have to sleep on the floor. I am still in awe of this place and the beautiful view of the lake. Every morning I wake up and look out and my emotions rise, because we are so blessed to be here and the beauty is stunning - absolutely stunning.  

I am tired of moving though and as much as we like adventure and change, it is starting to get annoying and I do look forward to a time when we can actually put things away and buy a filing cabinet (something I have been wanting for a long time). I went to the new Walmart yesterday, and I was really wanting to buy things, simple things like towels and table cloths, but I can't because we move too much and so therefore we never buy anything that is not really needed.  I really do want to be able to buy decor or comfort things and call a place a home for us. Mika's dresser is a suit case, our dressers are duffel bags. I think after seven years of marriage I am ready to have a home, which might be sooner then I think. Magnus has had three interviews this week and one has called him back for a second interview, and I am sure the others will too. He is in one right now as I write this and he will probably have to make a decision in 48 hours if he wants the job.  So what I am saying is that we will probably know what our future will look like in the next week. So much to pray about and think about. Oregon? Kelowna? or elsewhere?  We the situation in the States (economically) I am scared about moving there, but what happens in the States does affect Canada too. 

I am more and more inclined to move to Oregon simply because there is family and I will have more freedom with somethings with my mom able to watch Mika. I can work, I can have a gym membership etc.. simple things that I can not do now when Magnus is at school from 7:30am until 9:30pm and then stays up until 12:00am to study.  My freedom is very limited and I don't really like that. I want to be able to go out to things in the evenings or even work a bit more. I also think that in Oregon we will have more family time (the three of us) then we would here. It is a lot more slack in Oregon and when it comes down to it I don't care about money I care about family. Our time on this earth is way too short to worry about finances. I know magnus can make more money here down the road, but I would rather have him in the evenings and weekends then make a couple more bucks. 

So we will see what the outcome is, and we will keep you posted.....

First I want to say CONGRATULATIONS to my cousin Niki and her little boy Caleb, who after a stressful pregnancy with lots of complications had a C-section delivery at 36 weeks. So far so good even though little Caleb is in ICU it is looking good. I feel so blessed to have Mika when I think of my cousin and others who have had stressful pregnancy's and births. I was talking to a friend of mine from church who had a baby at only 30weeks and he didn't make it. I had no idea about this and when she told me her story I started to cry because I couldn't imagine that. I am really blessed to be able to have kids and so far healthy ones. I will never complain about pregnancy again I decided.  Anyways ......  things are going pretty good. Magnus is so busy with school these days and I so feel for him. He is stressed and worn out - this is his hardest semester so far and it is hard for him. He really misses Mika and I, and that is hard on him. The last couple weeks I haven't seen much of him. He leaves in the morning and doesn't get home until 9:00pm almost every night during the week and then on Friday and Saturday  I work, so are time together is minimal. I am getting use to it and feel like a single mom most of the time, but it is ok. I try to just support him and not say anything because it is harder on  him then it is for me. I do get lonely in the evenings, but so far it hasn't been too bad. I am glad this is his last year at school, but I know that realistically the next few years are going to be just as bad since he will be working and doing schooling... I just try and keep my head up and not to think about it too much. I am so in love with Mika and he keeps me going. He is at such a cute stage right now and I am loving every moment of it. He is blabbling all the time and so cute. I just love all of his sounds and actions. We are still unsure about the future and that is not a surprise knowing us and how we make decisions. Magnus has two interviews this week with firms here, so we will see how that goes. Keep us in your prayers if you think of it, we have such a big decision to make and it isn't easy. 

Here is Mika in his dresser... (we do not have a dresser so we use a suitcase, which is probably a good picture of his life right now and might be for a while) He loves to take all his clothes out a few times a day and then puts them back in. 

We had amazing weather last week. We had temperatures in the high 20's and we actually went swimming the 1st of October - crazy but it is true! Where we live ( housesit) is right in the back ground in the middle of all those houses on the peninsula.

Mika and I spent a lot of time outside and just enjoying the nice weather knowing that soon the snow will come.  yuk....

Mika just LOVES his cars and trucks. I was amazed and so where a lot of other people that I talked to. At 12 months he is in love with cars and he plays with them and makes the sounds and everything. I have no idea how he knows, because we never taught him. I guess it is just built into boys. He is just like his dad was, who knew the name and model of every car at age 3, he probably knew more then a car sells man, that is how much he knew his stuff.  I am pretty sure Mika will be following his foot steps in that department. 

Well it has been a few weeks and we are settled in. I am back to work a few days a week, and it is actually going well surprisingly... I thought it would be a hard transition etc... but I went right back to wrk like I had never left and the atmosphere at the bank where I work is a lot better then when I left. So that is good.  Magnus is really hard at work with school and I never see him anymore. He is at school until 9:00pm everyday this week and so far it is Thursday night. I work Saturdays, so I get to see him Sunday's between church activities, so on that note it is a little hard. I get pretty lonely in the evenings, but we have had some company the past couple weeks visiting us, so that helps. This just makes me realize that next year when Magnus has a job and doing his schooling for his CPA or CA that I might have a lot of lonely nights and weekends. When I think about this I get a bit depressed and then I start thinking that maybe living in Oregon close to family is a better situation. 

On that note, let me explain..... Magnus and I have some big decisions that we need to make in the next couple of months and if anyone knows us they know that we are the worst at making decisions - especially when it involves the rest of our lives. Magnus is done with his schooling this year and after that we need to figure out where we want to live: here in Canada, or at home in Oregon. Magnus did get a job offer in Oregon, my home town actually, and it is a pretty good offer. He will probably get a job offer here pretty easily and he has put out his resume'. We really love it here and we have friends and a good church. The biggest problem is the housing market here is way over priced and the starting wage for an accountant is $35,000 a year for a few years, and that is pretty non-negotiable. It isn't bad and it actually seems like a million dollars compared to what we are making now, but it is nothing when you live in a very expensive place. In Oregon the starting wage is a little better, although not much, but the housing prices our a lot cheaper, and the cost of living a lot cheaper. My biggest thing right now is the economy in the States - I am really concerned about how that will affect us and our kids. I will admit I do like Canada better in many areas and the economy is booming right now. But then I think.... God is in control and we are not! When things happen like the economy crises in the States it proves just that. When we think we are in control of our lives and feel safe and secure - -God shakes us up or a nation up so that they realize that we are to lean on Him, not on our stocks, the housing market, financial security. We put way too much into this and we need to come back to a life of dependancy on HIM. We put so much into comfort and security, what about putting everything on trust and dependency on the one who gave us life. So then I think about this and think I don't care! Eventually we want to serve God in a missions organization somewhere as soon as Magnus gets his CPA and a little experience. I could careless about comfort and finances (although there are times I think money would be nice). I just want to do something that is on God's heart. (Isaiah 1:17) Seek Justice, protect the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. 

These are my 101 emotions that I go through every day and I am sure next week I will be think something different and maybe we should move to Norway or Hawaii. 

We are enjoying our time in Oregon. Mika is growing so much these days and very talkative .....  He is saying words, but we are not too sure if he knows what he is saying yet. His favorite thing to say is " woof woof" and "ooh aah" ( monkey incase you didn't get that).  He has a book of animal sounds and every time we say Baby monkey is says "oh oh ah ah" . It is pretty cute. 

We are busy with house maintenance and repairs. When my dad past away a few years ago, there was a lot to be done then, and now since nothing has been done since we are trying to keep up with what we can. It is a lot of work, but we feel that is what we felt we were to do this summer, and I know it is the right thing. Although we are not making any money this summer like we had hope - we are trusting that God will provide for us like He always does.  

So that is our time here in a short little blog..