It was the kind of day that had something perfect in it for all of us. We got to spend the entire day visiting with Kory’s cousin Morgan and his wife Ruth. We hadn’t gotten to know them before because Morgan moved away from Aalesund when he got married 34 years ago. He is a brother to Axel and is much like him, as we found out today. There’s nothing I like more than chatting the day away, so it was good for me to hang out with someone who hasn’t heard any of my stories. Kory was pleased to have time with his cousin and to not be rushing here and there. Morgan and Ruth took us around their town and showed us all the beautiful places and then we spent the entire HOT afternoon down at the beach, which couldn’t have been better for Kaleb. We didn’t have a plan, or a schedule and both Morgan and Ruth had the day free from work to spend it with us so it was wonderful– which was just what we all needed.
When we were walking around downtown Arendal, there was a group of six young people singing in a square, asking for money. They were part of a youth group from a local church trying to raise money to go on a mission trip to Africa to help install a well in some remote village. They group split into two and each half was working a different side of town, competing to see who could raise the most money in a short period of time. Ruth gave them all she had, and Kory, ever longing for a good prank, told them if they ran to the top of some high steps nearby, raised their hands toward heaven and shouted HALLELUJAH as loud as they could – he would give them money. The whole bunch of them raced off to the top of the stairs, raised their arms and shouted loud enough I’m sure the whole town heard. And then when they returned to Kory, he asked them to do it again. And they did. It did Kory’s heart good as he hasn’t heard many other people in this country shouting Hallelujah and as Kaleb says, “He’s just crazy about those Hallelujahs.” So the youth group got 200 kroner from Kory (about $35). Some guy was filming the whole thing so I’m sure that little stunt will be long talked about. Kory was so proud. Morgan thought he was crazy.
After we left downtown we headed off to one of their favorite beaches that surround this coastal area, but the sand was missing. Apparently the sand comes and goes, and today it went. The rocks were not too inviting so we stood around a while and let Kaleb explore. I laid back on a larger rock and soaked up some rays with my eyes closed, as Kory was busy talking to Ruth. All of a sudden I heard Morgan yell something and go running off past me so I sat up to see what was going on. Kaleb was inching himself along a crack in a very large rock (see photo), walking further and further out over the water. One slip and he would be in for it – and surely we’d be heading to the hospital. Morgan saved the day by talking him off the ledge and pulling him up to the top of the rock where it was much safer. Kaleb thought it was exciting but from where I was sitting, it was anything but that. Why he insists on these daredevil stunts, I have no idea. I’m sure if he didn’t get a reaction out of me it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun for him but it was all my heart could take for one day.
We ate lunch outdoors at another beach that was much safer, but Kaleb decided not to swim in the water since the stinging jelly fish were a bit too abundant for his liking. He skipped stones and found beach treasures and thankfully entertained himself in a less daring way while we all visited. On the last beach we walked to, there were so many cool shaped rocks that Kory got the idea to start stacking them. He didn’t stack them in a logical way with the flattest and biggest parts on the bottom – no – he had to be artistic and balance them on their narrowest point and then stack addition rocks on top. How he did it, I don’t know, but it got Kaleb motivated to do the same so we were there much longer than expected as the two of them made rock tower creations. They were quite artsy and impressive.
Morgan and Ruth grilled us a yummy dinner tonight about 10pm – as we celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary. Kaleb picked a wild daisy for the occasion and gave it to me. He also found several heart shaped rocks on the beach he insisted I keep as tokens of his love for me. Sweet boy, but at times a challenge. I had to sing him “his” song a few times today (it it sung to the tune of “You are my sunshine.”) It goes like this – “You are my son, my only son, you make me happy, when you obey. You’ll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take that good boy away.” Ruth said she’s never heard that version before. That’s because this was our first visit. Hopefully I won’t have to sing it so much tomorrow.
When we were walking around downtown Arendal, there was a group of six young people singing in a square, asking for money. They were part of a youth group from a local church trying to raise money to go on a mission trip to Africa to help install a well in some remote village. They group split into two and each half was working a different side of town, competing to see who could raise the most money in a short period of time. Ruth gave them all she had, and Kory, ever longing for a good prank, told them if they ran to the top of some high steps nearby, raised their hands toward heaven and shouted HALLELUJAH as loud as they could – he would give them money. The whole bunch of them raced off to the top of the stairs, raised their arms and shouted loud enough I’m sure the whole town heard. And then when they returned to Kory, he asked them to do it again. And they did. It did Kory’s heart good as he hasn’t heard many other people in this country shouting Hallelujah and as Kaleb says, “He’s just crazy about those Hallelujahs.” So the youth group got 200 kroner from Kory (about $35). Some guy was filming the whole thing so I’m sure that little stunt will be long talked about. Kory was so proud. Morgan thought he was crazy.
After we left downtown we headed off to one of their favorite beaches that surround this coastal area, but the sand was missing. Apparently the sand comes and goes, and today it went. The rocks were not too inviting so we stood around a while and let Kaleb explore. I laid back on a larger rock and soaked up some rays with my eyes closed, as Kory was busy talking to Ruth. All of a sudden I heard Morgan yell something and go running off past me so I sat up to see what was going on. Kaleb was inching himself along a crack in a very large rock (see photo), walking further and further out over the water. One slip and he would be in for it – and surely we’d be heading to the hospital. Morgan saved the day by talking him off the ledge and pulling him up to the top of the rock where it was much safer. Kaleb thought it was exciting but from where I was sitting, it was anything but that. Why he insists on these daredevil stunts, I have no idea. I’m sure if he didn’t get a reaction out of me it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun for him but it was all my heart could take for one day.
We ate lunch outdoors at another beach that was much safer, but Kaleb decided not to swim in the water since the stinging jelly fish were a bit too abundant for his liking. He skipped stones and found beach treasures and thankfully entertained himself in a less daring way while we all visited. On the last beach we walked to, there were so many cool shaped rocks that Kory got the idea to start stacking them. He didn’t stack them in a logical way with the flattest and biggest parts on the bottom – no – he had to be artistic and balance them on their narrowest point and then stack addition rocks on top. How he did it, I don’t know, but it got Kaleb motivated to do the same so we were there much longer than expected as the two of them made rock tower creations. They were quite artsy and impressive.
Morgan and Ruth grilled us a yummy dinner tonight about 10pm – as we celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary. Kaleb picked a wild daisy for the occasion and gave it to me. He also found several heart shaped rocks on the beach he insisted I keep as tokens of his love for me. Sweet boy, but at times a challenge. I had to sing him “his” song a few times today (it it sung to the tune of “You are my sunshine.”) It goes like this – “You are my son, my only son, you make me happy, when you obey. You’ll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take that good boy away.” Ruth said she’s never heard that version before. That’s because this was our first visit. Hopefully I won’t have to sing it so much tomorrow.
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