God leads through opening and closing doors, and today he closed a big one. At this point, unless something huge changes, we are NOT buying The Sinking Houses. I’m so relieved. Even Kory admits it would have been a headache, but it does have the potential to be a huge money maker. My feeling is we don’t need any more money since we already have enough to get by and there’s no reason at this stage of our lives to be in pursuit of the almighty buck. We will just sit back and see what happens now. Whoever buys them will certainly want renters so even if we have to start paying rent, it’s no problem. The fact we’ve lived this long for free is still a miracle in my book. I was worried if Ålesund Kommune buys them for low income housing they would kick us out, but the cousins assure us that they have an obligation to let us continue to live here until the school year is out because we have a child going to school. So, that worry is over. Hallelujah.
I realized part of my depression yesterday is that I don’t have enough to do. I like to be busy and there really isn’t much going on right now that takes up my time. We are invited out for so many meals this week for all the different days of Christmas, I don’t even have to meal plan or make a grocery list. The house takes one hour to clean from top to bottom as it’s so small, and all my Christmas cards went out electronically this year so I don’t even have a stamp to lick. I’m so used to running myself ragged that I can’t even enjoy a little peace and quiet. But now I am. Kory is over visiting Aunt Ruth, Kaleb is over playing with Tobias and I’m at home with the dog.
I realized part of my depression yesterday is that I don’t have enough to do. I like to be busy and there really isn’t much going on right now that takes up my time. We are invited out for so many meals this week for all the different days of Christmas, I don’t even have to meal plan or make a grocery list. The house takes one hour to clean from top to bottom as it’s so small, and all my Christmas cards went out electronically this year so I don’t even have a stamp to lick. I’m so used to running myself ragged that I can’t even enjoy a little peace and quiet. But now I am. Kory is over visiting Aunt Ruth, Kaleb is over playing with Tobias and I’m at home with the dog.
Earlier today Kory and Kaleb took George (the dog) for a two hour walk and I made banana bread and did laundry. (I really needed to do laundry yesterday but I couldn’t because it’s against the law to do it on a Sunday - how funny is that?) George is a sweet pup with a strong desire to be a lap dog (see photo). I am such a “dog” person I forgot how much I love to nuzzle up to that soft spot behind every dog’s ear and whisper sweet nothings to them. But I think Kaleb sealed his fate today in never getting a dog when he wouldn’t scoop the poop while they were out for a walk. Kory ended up picking it up with a plastic bag and then Kaleb wouldn’t even carry the bag to the nearest garbage can! Kory wasn’t too happy with him since Kaleb is the one making money on this dog sitting deal, but we’ve already warned him it’s all going into savings and he won’t touch a single kroner. Then he argued and said he should get at least one kroner because of the one time he did walk him (but he got loose). That kid can negotiate me into a frazzle.
Kaleb was disappointed in me today that I didn’t mention in my blog yesterday something he thought was very funny. I was wearing headphones at Philadelphia Church so I could hear the sermon translated to English. I do OK without them but it always seems I miss some key point, so it’s better safe than sorry for me. Anyway, the translator wasn’t one of the better ones I’ve heard and when she said, “They took the baby Jesus and laid him in a crab,” I thought Kaleb was going to bust a gut. He thought that was the funniest thing because she obviously was supposed to say “laid him in a crib.” Ha ha. He must have laughed for 30 minutes when I told him about it. It is funny sometimes though to listen to people translate. Probably not as funny as listening to me talk Norwegian, however, and who knows how many laughs have been at my expense behind my back. (Kory just says the way I talk is “cute” but that’s because he’s being polite and he wants to stay married to me.)
Our friends the Merediths “Skyped” us today and we must have talked an hour via the computer. It was just like they stopped in for a visit since their faces were in our living room and we chatted on about all kinds of things. (It’s good to have friends to grow old with so we have SOMEONE to talk to about our medical history.) If I could have reached into my computer screen and pulled them through it like some sci-fi movie, I would have. It kills me to not be sharing this beautiful place with people I love!
Tomorrow the dog leaves and the tree goes up! Hallelujah!
