Feeling Blessed

It’s a good thing the plan was for Paula to stay home today while I went to school because she got three phone calls in the middle of the night and didn’t sleep too well as a result. I was up and out the door as normal, Kaleb went to school, and Kory was at home to make her a cup of coffee when she woke up at ten. Poor thing. At least she didn’t have the rush to get out the door. Kory took her to the Sunnmøre Museum in town and I met them there after school. It’s a great museum as they have all the cool old buildings from this area (see photo) and it was yet another beautiful day here in Sunnmøre (the area around Aalesund). Everyone that meets Paula is sure to tell her that she’s been very lucky to be here when we’ve had such good weather, and she agrees, especially since her town in Colorado has been getting snow everyday this week. But truly, this week has been incredible here. It was so warm and sunny today I took a nap on a bench while Kory and Paula walked around the museum grounds. I think my face might even be slightly darker now as it got its first good dose of Vitamin D (a big concern in these parts).

When we got back home, Kaleb and Tobias had all the shades drawn and a blanket over the interior door windows and they were up to something. We had to wait in the hallway for the “all clear” sign, and then we were ushered into the living room, once again, all decked out for an afternoon tea party. Kaleb is desperately trying to wipe out his electronics restriction so he’s been on his best behavior lately, but I keep telling him there is no negotiating on that one. It was nice to be spoiled a little, just the same. He melted some of his chocolate candies so I’d have it to spread on garlic/rosemary crackers (the only thing he could find in the cupboard). He’d even done his Algebra homework BEFORE school today, and got all but one right. He’d come home from school and completed all his other homework without either Kory or I saying a word. The self-determination and motivation he displays at such a time as this, makes me want to cry because then I truly know what he’s capable of, and when I don’t see it too often any other time, it hurts. What’s a mother to do? I told my teacher at school today Kaleb has been so devastated that he can’t play with electronics that he doesn’t even want a playdate with other boys at their house because then there would be nothing to do with them. My teacher Inga said when she was a child, and misbehaved, her restriction was to NOT go outside. She said she’d stand in the window and watch all the other kids outside playing, and she was so sad she couldn’t join them. Kaleb laughed when I told him that, as he can’t imagine what kids would be doing outside when all the fun is found behind a computer screen.

We must have spent two hours today talking about what we should be doing tomorrow and Saturday, since Paula’s time is coming to an end so quickly. We ran every scenario, but for the most part, she’s here about two weeks too early as most of the real touristy things aren’t open yet. And we’ve been seeking out the best way for her return to Oslo to fly out on Sunday at noon, and we’ve come to realize just how small this town is. There are no flights Sunday morning, the train gets in after her flight takes off, and the night bus from Aalesund to Oslo gets in six hours before her flight, so none of the options are ideal. We offered to drive her to the airport, but she saw how long of a drive it was to get here and wouldn’t even consider that as an option, so now it seems she’ll be taking the night bus Saturday and killing six hours in a small airport before she flies home at noon. Not ideal, but she swears she won’t let the return trip home diminish all the fun she’s had while she’s been here. So we need to kick it up a notch and make the next two days really count.

Kaleb had a birthday party to attend this afternoon so while he was off having more fun than he’s had in a while, we went to greet all the aunts and to show Paula our condo. We brought them all belated Easter greetings, but mostly we wanted to see how Tante Kari is doing with her broken hip. She wasn’t feeling too well tonight and when Kory asked if there was anything he could help her with, she said, “Take away my pain,” so we prayed for her. I’m glad we got to visit, and Paula got to meet the “Tantes.” While Kory was visiting with Tante Ruth, Paula was helping me with future decorating plans, should the day ever come that we actually get to live in our condo. Tante Ruth wasn’t feeling too well either so we understand full well that old age isn’t for sissies. We’re all glad we aren’t that old yet.

We had our home fellowship group meeting tonight but instead of going to someone’s home, like we usually do, some of us met up at a restaurant for “kvelds mat” (night food). Paula came along and met some of the gang. Not all the conversation was in English but she was a gracious guest anyway. Typical Paula – easy to have around, no matter what.