A great week!

Yes, I've had a great week. As I mentioned in the last post, my relationship with Gabriel is really great. And I do enjoy it :) He's one-of-a-kind boy, he has his temper, but in the end of the day he's this little sweetheart with a big heart :) SO that has made my week!
But it's not all! I have finally started thinking more about my thesis paper that I have to get done in the next half year and although it's kinda scary, I also feel that it's the right thing to do. I still don't have the topic, but I do have some good ideas and I'm doing my research in this field at the moment. It's not going very fast, as I'm pretty tired in the evenings normally, but I'm trying. I still have 11 days :)
Monday's Norwegian class was great. I baked S'mores cookies with me and everyone loved them. Ole and Ingvild loved them too. Ingvild said that they were maybe a little too good (meaning she wanted to eat them too much :D). What a compliment! Anyway, back to the language class. We had a nice class, got tons of homework. I have actually done some of it already. I normally do it at the last moment or write the things during the lesson (I know, aiaiai :D). Although the level we are studying at is kinda low at the moment, I still enjoy meeting people and just getting out of the house. And it definitely helps me to revise the grammar and get stronger in it. I actually haven't studied that much of grammar the last two years, so it's good to look it over and think why do we say things one or the other way in Norwegian.
Tuesday we had the Julemessa möte - Christmas fair meeting. Me and some of my friends from church got together to finish some of the things we had started previous times. We finished our hearts and pigs and angels. We also wrapped candies they had made on last Saturday when I was working :) They looked so delicious! :) Anyway, it was a nice evening. I do love such evening with some work and mutual goal and having it cozy and chatting :)
Today (well, officially yesterday, but my rule is that it's the same day until I go to sleep :D). Anyway, today was the big JULEMESSE! Or for those, who don't understand Norwegian - Christmas fair. The Arendal methodist church has been organizing benefit Christmas fairs for several years now. They normally donate all the money they get for one or another cause or project. This year was a little special, as the church is getting a new roof. So half of the money will go to the church and the other half to some project. We went with the whole family and I was helping. I was supposed to be Selma's assistant, but I ended up running after Gabriel in the end. He ate basically just chocolate cake today, so you can imagine how energetic he was. Our little boy who doesn't really eat that much sugar normally :D Anyway, we had it cozy. There was tons of people, tons of different lottery and nice things to buy :) The thing is that most of the things are made by the people in the church :) I think it's just amazing how they work for this mutual cause :) So now we're waiting for the numbers to be announced - how much did they earn this year! :) It's always exciting! :)
Oh, and Alexander (from my previous family) performed. It came to me as a shock! I found out that he has been going to this Christian children's choir. And I was so proud to see him performing. He has really grown up! :)
Well, tomorrow I and Maria will be babysitting Gabriel and Selma overnight, as parents will have a night off. They definitely deserve it! :)
How has your week been?
Grete

My sweet Gabriel!

So yesterday turned Gabriel THREE! Can you believe it? Every time a child has a birthday, feels it just unbelievable that they will turn a WHOLE year older :) We had a great birthday. We actually celebrated it on Sunday. Ole, Ingvild, Selma and David woke Gabriel with a song and he got hot cocoa in bed. How special! And he got presents - REAL tools. They were mini-size, but real. He was soooo excited! AND he got these real workman's trousers with 100 pockets. He went around with them for two days! :) In the afternoon came Ole's parents, grandma, his brother's family and also sister's family. We had a great time with food and just enjoying Gabriel's excitement over the presents. And later had we cake (chocolate one of course ;), chocolate pudding, vanilla buns etc etc. I think it was kinda too much. The sad part was that there was soooo much good, but I didn't have enough room for it in my stomach. One of the ironies of this world. BUT I have decided that Ingvild has to teach me to bake those vanilla buns - oh it will be heaven! :)
We have had really nice days after the Bday. I don't know what has happened, but me and Gabriel have this really great relationship suddenly. He asks me to play with him like ALL the day. And like at the moment, he's here in my room doing all kind of things. First he was looking for chewing gum from my drawers, then he thought that playing in my wardrobe is cool, then he slept in my bed like for two seconds, then he found my tweezers and wanted to attach them on my PC and now he's sitting in my wardrobe discovering the feminine world (I mean make-up, of course:) Anyway, he's having fun, if you ask me :) And when he's happy, I'm happy :)
SO this entry is to say that I am so proud of Gabriel, the sweet little thing :) He's such an intelligent and kind-hearted boy :) And he's deep in my heart :)

Three months!

Today it's exactly three months when I got here. It feels weird. Sometimes I've felt like the time is not passing at all, and the next moment I feel it just flies by. Very weird. So when I start thinking back to these past three months, a LOT has actually happened. I mean it!
Well, of course - first and foremost - baby David was born in Sept 15th. This cute and precious little boy, who just melts all the hearts. I can't believe it - he'll be 2 months on Nov 15th and he has grown so big. He's not that 'bitteliten' anymore :) But still 'bitteliten' compared to the rest ;) Anyway, he has gained like over 2 kg and grown ca 6cm. He makes some more noise, but I think it's because his tummy is bothering him from time to time. He still loves to fall asleep on my chest - and I love it too ;)
Secondly, I've basically seen the whole Ingvild's family. I only haven't seen her dad and the youngest brother yet. Her mom visited us for two weeks when David was born and her sister with the kids spent almost a week with us during the school holiday. Her brother's family visited us during that time too (but just for two nights). So I'm guessing the record of people staying over in this house belongs to that time - we had 13 people sleeping here for one night - I know, crazy! But again, me like crazy :D
Thirdly - I actually took two official Norwegian tests in the end of October. One for level A2 and the other one for B1. I don't know the results yet, but it's just crazy. Why? Because it takes normally at least two years to reach the B1 level...and I've studied Norwegian for a year (had a two-year cap) and studied another month and a half before taking the test. No, I'm not bragging. I'm just amazed myself. It shouldn't be possible. I am so grateful that somehow I've managed to pick this amazing language up and it really inspired me to learn more, develop etc. Maybe one day I will be able to interpret from Norwegian to Estonian. Now THAT would be cool! :) AND, I read a little about polyglots the other day and that's my dream - to become a polyglot. So I just have to pick up another couple of languages and become like fluent in then. No problem, right? :D
Another one - I celebrated my 25th birthday in Norway with a bunch of great people. I totally loved it. It was kinda hectic and I didn't really have too much time to communicate with everyone, but I just enjoyed the buzz around me and people having a nice time together. Most of them were all from the Arendal Methodist church, so they all knew each other and so there was no problem with finding topics to talk about etc. But anyway - I'm TWENTY FIVE now. I am kind of finally starting to realize that I'm a grown-up and am responsible what I do, how I live etc. Well, don't get me wrong. I've always been a very responsible person, but I feel how I'm big now, I should start living my grown-up life (financially and otherwise) and I feel that I'm not this baby girl anymore that everyone looks down to. It's kinda hard to explain...I'm sorry. I am really lacking words today :D
Well, there have been another thousand little things during these past three months. Several visits to Daniela, Kay, Alex and Julia (my previous family, who lives 20 minutes from me), Norwegian courses every Monday, amazing Sundays in the church etc, etc.
I am really happy here! I am. Satisfied and thankful for this experience! I was thinking just today what would I had been doing in Estonia if I wasn't here? And to be honest - I am not sure. Yes, I could have done a little this and little that, but I don't think I would have found something that would have given me the feeling I have now. That I am needed here. That I can help this family. And this feeling is overwhelming! :)

Bye for now. I'll try to be better in blogging. Btw, this blog entry was inspired by Katrina Kalda. Thank you, sweety!
Love you all!
Grete

Being thankful

I got to thinking about being thankful today. Or maybe that's not exactly the right thing. Well, I'll try to explain what I mean.
When I got to Norway in August, the first month everything was just superb. I mean it - like 100% perfect. I would even say 1000%, but that's not scientifically possible, says Bones (yes, I've been watching too much Bones lately:D). Anyway, when someone asked how are you doing and I answered that everything is great, I felt a bit weird. Because a lot of my friends were having kind of hard times - a new job in an unknown town, not knowing if they are going to like the job or the new place, uncertainties in their lives etc etc. I felt like I was boasting about how good life I have, although at the same time it was just the truth.
Now I've had also a bit more difficult times. I have worked long hours couple of times for different reasons, being kinda homesick (I know, I'm shocked too :D) and have been fighting with some things in my life. So when someone asks me now, I'm kind of happy to say that it goes ok, not GREAT :) Isn't that weird? I feel like I have to be having difficulties to be a normal person, not to feel myself guilty. Why do I feel myself guilty when my life is great? Why do I think it's not right?
I don't think God has meant that we have to go through difficulties ALL the time. I am sure that He wants us to have an amazing life. He is our Daddy, and that's what Daddies wish for their kids. And our Heavenly Daddy wants that more than anyone else. And now I'm saying it to totally myself! Grete, stop worrying that your life isn't hard enough, but enjoy it! Because if your life is great, that's a gift from above! So just be thankful and smile and spread the joy! :)

Another great Sunday

Yes, another great Sunday. Different than others, but amazing in it's own way. Let me explain.
Arendal Methodist church had their congregation's weekend the last days at Vegarshei. About 50 people travelled there to spend time together, worship, hear teaching etc. As you notice, I'm writing like I wasn't part of it. Which is true. I didn't have the opportunity to go, although I was considering it. In the end, the reason was that Ole (the father in the family) was asked to play the drums there, which meant that I stayed home to help with the kids in the evenings. And I don't regret. I am really happy he was able to do sth he really loves and serve the church. And I do believe that me staying home and helping with the kids was my way to serve the church this time. Feels weird, because I've never had to do it before. But I'm guessing I have to get used to it :D
BUT we did go up there with the whole family today morning for the Sunday service. Yes, we packed in David, Gabriel and Selma and got on our way - a half an hour later than planned, but we were on our way! And I liked it there. When I walked in, bishop Christian Alsted had just started his sermon. And it was good. It was a bit hard for me to follow, as he was talking in Danish. Well, I understood most, but I just had to concentrate much more than with Norwegian and sometimes some things just slipped by me. But he talked about the story where the disciples had been fishing all day and when Jesus told them to cast the nets back in, they did and got tons of fish. The key thing was that normally when people fish, the cast the nets on the left side, but Jesus told them to throw them on the right side. So the point is that sometimes God tells us to do things differently. And I think we shouldn't be afraid to do it. Because when God says it, there will be blessings! :)
OOOHHH, and the bishop talked about Artur Põld from Estonia! So cool! My friends all asked me if I heard it and said that they all thought of me the moment he mentioned Estonia :) They are so cute! And of course we had Stein, Eva, Kathrine and Elin singing all amazing. We sang the song for Norway again. Just so powerful! And the most important part - God touched me today during the service. He is just amazing! And I just cried....I know, so me :D But I know He loves me, although I haven't heard it so much lately. So in that way I'm starting to understand why do we need Christians beside us - to show God's love to us! :) There's like all complicated thinking behind there last two sentences, but I just don't know how to explain it very well. Skype me to ask more :D
I have had it good in the meanwhile. I have really been enjoying my job and life here. The weather was amazing last week, so we had a barbeque last weekend, but now the autumn is really getting here. It's raining today. And I actually love rain. I just have to get the right clothes on! :)
Well, hoping to hear how your week has been! :)
Love you!
Grete

Update

So no posts for a while. I'm trying to pick it up again.
I went to Vienna last weekend. We had the EMYC (European Methodist Youth and Children's) Council meeting there. I know! I feel just so blessed to be able to travel because of 'business'. That's the way we do it! :) It was my 7th meeting and I was among the three people who have been there the longest. It felt just so wrong. The other two were from Ireland and they have been at the meetings 10 and 11 times. But yes, I really enjoyed the meeting. We did some good work, but we also had fun. I learnt this SPOON game and I'll definitely start teaching it, when I get back. It just seems kinda pointless, but it's sooo much fun. We enjoyed it, anyway. What else do I love about the meetings? I love the personal relationships, the talks, sharing of stories. It is very special. As I said, we work there hard, but the evenings are time for socialising. So we have night cafés every night. And as I heard, this year some sat up until like 3am. Very cool!
I got back to Norway on Monday and have been busy with work. But I've had great time here. I just can't describe how special it is to have little David here. Yesterday evening David started crying while Ingvild was feeding Selma. So I picked him up, sat in an armchair, took a book about the Tigger in the Winnie the Pooh and started reading. And although he was hungry, he actually calmed down and was asleep for like 15 minutes. It felt so special! :) There has been several cosy moments like this, but this one is somehow especially vivid.
Yesterday evening I went to visit Daniela and Kay. They had Krasi and Karitha over and we had a nice evening just chatting, kinda watching TV and eating some chicken. I liked it! And Daniela was so cute in the end, when I was leaving. She was like 'well, call me more often and come to visit'. And I've actually been visiting them every week so far. Well, the last weekend was an exception, as I was in Vienna. But you know what I mean. So it was very special and I just love her for that! :)
OK, off I go now. I have to study some Norwegian, as my tests are soon!
Love you all,
Grete

Our bitteliten

I've been thinking about writing and now I'm finally getting to it. I have been trying to figure out the feelings I've been having the last days. It just seems that so much has been going on.
Like Sunday. We had the project weekend in the church. So kids helped with the service and they had had a family choir practice the day before. The family choir sang just amazingly. I mean....I shouldn't be surprised at all by this point anymore, but I do enjoy all kind of singing. I do. And the kids did all kinds of things. Like helped to take up the offering. And Jonathan was so funny. He's this 7-year-old in our church and his dad is this amazing pianist that I've talked about before. He was helping to take up the offering. OK, bear with me, I'm trying to explain this situation. The offering basket was on one side and it was sent to the other side, so he RAN to the other side to collect it. I mean it, he literally RAN. I just loved the picture. Yes, it was funny, but had a very strong message for me. Jonathan was just so EAGER to do what he was asked to. Sometimes we, grown-ups, have done things for a long time and we have grown tired of them. So we do things because we have to, because we are used to doing them. I challenge you to look over the things you've been 'always' doing. Where is your heart while doing these things? Are you doing them with joy? Are you doing them to the Lord? I just think it is sooo important to enjoy what you are doing. Yes, I know, there are things that just have to be done. But I also believe that God can give joy in these things too. Because He is just so rocking awesome!
I have to say over and over again that children just amaze me. Like Gabriel. He is turning three in the beginning of November and he is just the cutest. He is just so funny sometimes. On Monday evening he was trying to chase one of the cats we have and followed the cat everywhere. So the cat hid under the small table we have in the kitchen and Gabriel tried to follow. He got stuck between the kitchen bench and the table leg. It took a minute and we got him out again. So he came to me and dad and mormor (Ingvild's mom, who's here to help us at the moment) and told us with all his sincerity that he went under the table and SUDDENLY there wasn't enough room for his head. We just couldn't stop laughing. And today. Gabriel came from the kindergarten and had to check on the baby, of course. So he came back to us and told that he took the baby with his beautiful sharp claws (at the same time holding his hands like claws:D) and he DIDN'T break or start crying :D What do you say to the kid? We were all laughing like crazy again. I LOVELOVE the sincerity.
And our bitteliten (in translation: tiny one). Yes, that's how I call David. Because he just feels sooo tiny at the moment. He weighs like 3,5 kg and is 48cm. That's like nothing. When I'm holding him, I feel like there's nothing in my arms. But at the same time, there's soooo much in my arms. This tiny little person, who will grow and develop and learn. This tiny boy full of potential. AMAZING. And do you know what's the best part of it? He's here like ALL the time. I have never had that. I've always wished for a younger brother or sister, but as you know, I had the honor of being the youngest one in my family. So I've never had this little baby around me all the time before. So no wonder he's lying in this crib in the living room and I just go and peek at him....again and again and again. And I'm amazed every time! And I so wish that I could hold him like all the time....(reminds me of Rachel from Friends :D) He's this precious one there lying and sleeping most of the time. And he's so calm. He was very active in the stomach the last month, so Ingvild had to sit up sometimes in the night. But now he's this calm baby that wakes up like every three hours, eats, we change the diaper and he sleeps again. We are really blessed. I am just amazed at life! Because this really is the miracle of life! And do you know what? I want one! I do. And I do pray that one day (soon, I hope) I can have a baby of my own. Because they are so dear and I'm sure that I can't even imagine what it will feel like when I'm going to have my own baby lying in the crib. My feelings are kid of overflowing already now...but it will be like 1000 times better then.
Love you all,
Grete