Weekly Wrap-up: Best Wednesday Ever

Not much can top the Wednesday that Madi had (hence the blog post title). I'm pretty sure it was her favorite day ever so far and for good reasons - animals, jumping, ice cream, and she saw her favorite band in concert! Sounds like a pretty good day, huh?!

I figured I would let her tell you all about it this week... :-)


My day started out like any other day - drop off at barnehage by Daddy, pick up that afternoon by Mommy. But when we got home, Mommy and Daddy were racing around packing up the diaper bag and all I wanted to do was be held after a long day without them. Is that so much to ask?! A pacifier got stuck in my mouth as they hurried about and next thing I know I am being strapped into that awful torture device [carseat] for who knows how long.

Then things started to go my way... they took me out of the torture device and I was free to run around. I heard them say something about Baker Hughes Family Day, but I was distracted by the pigs and goats and bunnies (which I got to feed!!).

Next they took me to the most wonderful place ever - a jumpy thing and a trampoline! I ran around with the big kids and held my own very well, if I do say so.

I was having loads of fun when I was dragged off and given the most delicious dinner ever - my first hot dog. It was amazing.

Afterwards I got to pet the sheep and goats. One almost tried to head butt me, but Daddy intervened. He should have known he was just playing around - come on Daddy. Oh well.

Then I was given my very own ice cream! And I insisted on holding it myself. So. good. But Daddy started asking for bites (even though he had already eaten his own). But I'm super nice so I let him have a couple (huge) bites of mine.

I started getting really tired so I didn't fight the torture device this time around. I drifted off to sleep and instead of being gently woken and laid down in my bed, Mommy took me out and laid me in my stroller. She thought I might go back to sleep - ha! I needed to see where I was and what was going on. Next thing I knew, I couldn't hear anymore. These pink things were put on my ears and I got the idea (after Mommy and Daddy kept swiping my hand away when I tried to take them off), that perhaps I needed to keep them on. I obliged.

Loud music started playing and lights were shining everywhere. I watched for a long time in Daddy's arms, then Mommy's arms, then Daddy's again and finally I decided I was done being passed around and only let Mommy hold me. I started to drift to sleep a couple times, but knew these crazy people had to have kept me out for a reason. Then. Out of no where. The most amazing song ever.

My favorite song in the world started playing!!!!!

Mommy and I sang and danced and I smiled through my sleepiness and then watched the loud and colorful fireworks in the harbor.

I fell asleep in the torture device immediately and this time when Mommy took me out she laid me down in my warm comfy bed and I fell back asleep right away, dreaming of the best Wednesday ever.

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The Art of Marriage - Coming to Stavanger!!

The past few weeks Jason and I have been staying busy in the evenings. We are now ready to reveal what God has put on our hearts to coordinate here in Norway... and we hope you'll keep it in your prayers!

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A few years ago, Jason and I were struggling in our marriage. It was a rough patch and fortunately due to some fantastic people that God placed in our lives at the right time, He was able to save our marriage. We recently celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary and are still in awe and amazement at what God can do for marriages.

One of the main turning points for us was attending the Weekend to Remember by FamilyLife. Bret and Elizabeth Hern (who we visited in Budapest last October) were some of those key people that helped us get our marriage back on track. They have been working hard to promote The Art of Marriage, which is sort of a spinoff of the Weekend to Remember that was made to be more easily shared. Instead of an overnight conference with a speaker, it's a video series that can be done as a small group study, a Sunday school class, or even a 1.5 day conference.

We obviously have a soft spot for marriage conferences as a result of our own experience and journey. The idea was planted in our heads last year that it would be great to try and have The Art of Marriage here in Stavanger! However, with a new baby and returning to work, it didn't seem like we had time for anything else. But we felt the Lord urging us to re-consider. That we should reach out of our comfort zone. And frankly, we just couldn't stop ignoring the idea after praying about it off-and-on over the past few months so now...(drum roll please)... It's happening!

The Art of Marriage is coming to Stavanger!

Please visit The Art of Marriage - Stavanger website for more information about the event as well as a link to get registered to attend (And feel free to come visit Norway to see us and attend - we will even let you stay with us! ;-) )

We are excited, nervous, a bit anxious, and curious to see how The Art of Marriage will be received here in Norway. Please keep the event and us in your prayers as we work to coordinate everything and try to publicize as much as possible to reach people!

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Weekly Wrap-up: Bittersweet Endings and Beginnings

This was a tough week! Sally, our amazing nanny for the past eight months, finished her job with us and moved back to Australia. She was absolutely amazing and we feel so blessed to have found her and had her watching Madi. She was one of the most kind, generous, loving, and honest people. And she loved on Madi so much!! We're sad to see her go and sad that it's going to be awhile until we get to see her and meet her future little one, but a great excuse to visit Australia, right?!

We surprised Sally with a few baby / goodbye gifts, including the same kitty that Madi loves and cherishes (and that we have spares of in case anything were to happen to kitty). We hope Ms Sally's future little girl loves her kitty as much as Madi!

And then Sally surprised us with a beautiful flower arrangement and a Willow Tree to add to our collection.

It was tough saying goodbye and we are going to miss her dearly. She is going to be an amazing mom and I hope we get to meet her little one someday!!

The second tough thing was this Friday - it was my last Friday off with Madi before returning to work full-time. I feel blessed to have had a job and boss who allowed me to work part-time since January. But now that Madi is starting barnehage (daycare), there's not a reason for me to continue part-time.

Madi and I made the most of our day together! We gambled on the light rain and headed to Stokka to feed the ducks. She did a great job walking and the sun came out giving us a win on our bet!

Afterwards we walked up to the mall for a cup of coffee and a snack. We enjoyed walking around the mall together and relaxing before heading home to naptime. We spent the afternoon playing indoors before going and picking up Daddy from the office to grab pizza for dinner.

It was a wonderful day, but definitely went by too quickly!

And tomorrow - eek, tomorrow! - Madi starts her first day of barnehage! They have a transition time so we will only go for a couple hours tomorrow, then half day Tuesday, and depending on how she's doing with the transition, a full day Wednesday.

Please keep all of us in your prayers as we transition to this new routine (and battle four canine teeth all poking through Miss Madi's sore gums today...)

Have a great week!

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