Just realized.....

......something through my friend Amy . Funny how hard it can be sometimes to connect the dots! Here goes:
On Sunday, we had baptism in our Church. We are involved in a Church-body which seems to be the only or one of few growing churches in this VERY secular part of Sweden, so a Baptism is really huge!

He had no family present to join him in this happy occasion, which reminded me of the time we presented Albin for Dedication in our Church in Geneva, Il. It was just us. No family. No one to celebrate with afterwards.  I felt very sad that time.  SO, in case he would do the same, (and because he happens to be really great guy) we had him over for lunch on Sunday, together with three other families, one had planned to come, and the two others came along, just because. Wonderful. So a celebrational, spontaneus lunch together at our house today. Love it.

In Geneva Switzerland we lived like this most of the time. Specially for Sunday lunches. A bunch of us would go out to lunch or go to someones house and cook together. But not once did it happen in the US, not on a Sunday.

I made a comment on Facebook about Sunday's events, and my friend Amy (who is indeed American) replied to my comment that if it never happened like this in the US that  wasn't very unexpected, because Americans are not very spontaneus often times as it doesn't fit into their busy schedule. The more I think about that statement, the more it makes sense! So very true! I know few people who are so busy as Americans!

Funny because Sundays sermon was on time-management. And the challenge was to liberate time to be able to act when God prompts us to be there for others, or whatever it might be.  A very valuable lesson, to liberate time, to not keep a so busy schedule that there is no time to listen, to be there, to act.

Again, I am not complaining, just reflecting. Please, if you do take offense, I appologize. Deeply.

Transitions.

Hi.... long time no....see? read? hear?

Hubby gone again. The transitions are the worst. The actual time he is gone, is ok. When he has just left, sucks. And then after him being gone two weeks, one finds routines and ways to do everything by oneself and then it is time to re-introduce the helping hands again. Transition again. Not just easy, that transition either. One would think I would be happy to have him back, and I will definetly be happy to have him back, it is just not always easy. I am bracing myself for it though. Being pro-active is one of best new found talents! How else would I survive life with three? Life abroad? Life back home? and ALL of the transitions included in all of life's changes.

Life goes on. I like my new workplace, and I enjoy working. A lot of challenges included in my new job, and life would be pretty boring without challenges. Still not 100% sure of what I will be doing this fall. I have a million ideas! Turns out living in Sweden opened a lot of doors and possibilities that I didn't even know I was missing living elsewhere. Which also means I was content. And am still content. But playing with the idea of doing other things also.

Kids are doing well, Emma started school SCHOOL in January and she loves it! Boys are getting more and more acclimated too. I am playing with the idea of maybe joining the kids in their horseback riding lessons when they resume again in March.... or maybe we should make Andreas join in too? The riding family. Hum...

Andreas has promised the kids to build a chicken-coop this spring. So I guess we'll be having fresh eggs here soon! That will be an interesting transition.... for Ginger! She howls at everything and everyone she wants to play with! Yes, she is a beagle. A true beagle. She will chase the chickens.

Say en extra prayer for me these two coming weeks, please. I admire single-moms!