Mother’s Day 2014 #thankfulthree

Happy [American] Mother’s Day from Norway!
  1. I am thankful I have two lovable, rambunctious boys who call me mommy.
  2. I’m so glad they have a dad who doesn’t just tell them that a man should love, honor and respect his wife, but demonstrates it for them every single day.
  3. I’m grateful for sweet gifts (including coffee, of course), a nice morning walk (we didn’t let the drizzle stop us!), and lunch in the city.
I love these boys!
During our walk this morning

 

 

Gifts from my boys

 

Honor a mom, help those who don’t have one #NoMom4MothersDay

Today is Mother’s Day in America. In a couple of hours, moms all over the country will start waking up to hugs, coffee, breakfast and gifts from children who love them and want to celebrate them.At the same time, there are children all over the world who have no one in their life that holds the role of mother. The Agapao Movement is addressing this issue for a group of children in India. They are currently working with these children, and raising funds to build a home for them: a safe place where they can grow and learn.

As many of you celebrate your moms or grandmothers, honor your wives, remember moms who are no longer with you… think also of these children in India. Today, you can do something to honor these ladies in your life AND help these children at the same time.

From now until midnight on Mother’s Day 2014, Agapao is asking for your support with a $10.00 donation to help complete the home they are building in India.

The process is simple and tax-deductible, and 100% of your donation goes to the construction project.

To make a $10.00 donation in honor of or in memory of a mom in your life, visit THIS SITE.

Zack and I have made donations in honor of both of our moms. We love you both, and are so thankful for the way you raised each of us to love others and to share what we believe through both words and actions. Thank you each for making sacrifices so that we always had a mom to come home to every day.

Zack having dinner with his parents,
and my mom & step-dad earlier this year

 

Mom and me, during her visit to Norway last year

 

Mother’s Day: not always a joyous occasion

Several years ago, I was a writer for Examiner. I wrote as the Atlanta Adoptive Families Examiner. I shared stories of Atlanta families who had adopted, local and national adoption news, and tips and recommendations for adoptive families or those who know an adoptive family.One article I shared in 2010 expressed my thoughts on Mother’s Day. At the time I was mom to one little cutie (hard to believe he’ll be 12 in two weeks!).

With American Mother’s Day coming up this Sunday, I thought I would share the text of the article here.You can read the original post HERE.

For a number of years, I avoided Mother’s Day like a plague. I was perfectly content to remain holed up in my house, blinds closed, eating chocolate and waiting for the day to be over.

I found myself skipping church almost every Mother’s Day. I couldn’t bear another year where I remained in my seat while the pastor asked all of the mothers in the congregation to stand and be recognized.

I so wanted to be a mother. But for me, Mother’s Day served as a harsh reality check.

You see, my dream wasn’t to be pregnant. My vision had nothing to do with maternity clothes. I battle my weight enough as it is, thank you very much.

I wasn’t one to “ooh” and “aah” over newborn clothes. I never longed to go through the birth process.

No, my dream was to wear the hat of cheerleader, chef, housekeeper, chauffer, referee, nurse, and general multi-tasker. I longed to put our child to bed, read him a story, sing him a song, say prayers together, and tuck him in.

I looked forward to nights of being frazzled and exhausted, realizing that I didn’t get half the things done that I intended to… but happy knowing that I spent time with him instead.
I dreamt of teaching him new things, watching him learn, and taking him new places. I longed to fix his boo-boos, calm his fears, and wipe away tears. I couldn’t wait to tickle him and hug him, and remind him over and over that I love him.
Our firsts weren’t about teeth or steps. Instead, we beamed the first time he called us Mommy & Daddy, the first time he saw the ocean, the first time he told us what he learned in Sunday School, the first time he sincerely said ‘I love you’.
My dream wasn’t tied around the idea of a baby. My dream was to be a mom. And in late 2007, that dream came true. Mother’s Day 2010 will be the third I celebrate as my son’s mother.
I look back to just a few years ago, and remember how hard Mother’s Day was. I look at it now with delight and excitement. God allowed me to become a mother in HIS timing. We arrived in our son’s birth country at the exact time we needed to in order to add him to our family.
As we approach Mother’s Day, consider those ladies close to you that might be struggling. Perhaps infertility haunts her. Maybe she is stuck in the seemingly endless paperwork of adoption. Whatever their struggle, it’s likely not an easy day for her.
On a day like this, extra attention in the form of hugs or conversation might be the opposite of what she desires. But you could take the time to buy a card, write a thoughtful note, send some flowers, or give her a give certificate for a spa service. Find a way to let her know you care!

 

9.mai #thankfulthree

Three things about today…
    1. I enjoyed going for a long walk this morning with Zack.
    2. I liked seeing the sun after so many days of rain.
This photo was taken while we were out walking today
  1. I am thankful that it is Friday and that we have some exciting things coming up over the next few days.

What are your three positive things about today?

Little pink hearts – what is this?

I’m quite ignorant when it comes to plants and flowers – so I need your help.Zack and I went for a walk this morning. While we were out, we saw this particular flower in several places around the city. It was really pretty. It almost looks like tiny pink hearts hanging from each limb.

Any idea what it’s called, in Norwegian or English?

 

7.mai #thankfulthree

Three things about today…
  1. I enjoyed spending the day off from language class with Zack.
  2. I was proud as we watched William score a goal in his football (soccer) game tonight.
  3. I am thankful for rain that is washing away some of the pollen.

What are your three positive things about today?

Exploring a new part of Norway

Two weekends ago we attended a conference in Hovet, a village in central Norway. It is always fun to get to check out new areas of the country, and this is the farthest we’ve traveled (in Norway) as a family so far.The area is home to some ski resorts, but the snow is melting so most everything was closed for the season.  But it was still a beautiful setting and we enjoyed getting to explore it in the afternoon between meetings.

This was our home for a weekend –
a really cool two bedroom cabin.

 

The view from our back porch

 

We took this one somewhere along the drive.

 

Out for an afternoon walk

 

A ski jump built in between two cabins!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.mai #thankfulthree

Three things about today…
  1. I enjoyed helping a friend unpack after moving last week.
  2. I liked creating something new for dinner.
  3. I am thankful for boys who are learning how to worship God.

What are your three positive things about today?

NWotD: Today, it’s all about LOVE!

Kjærlighet
(noun) love.å elske
(verb) to love.


Used in a sentence
Kjærligheten bli tålmodig og vennlig.
(From 1 Corinthians 13: Love is patient and kind.)
Elsk din neste like høyt som du elsker deg selv.
(From Matthew 22: Love your neighbor as yourself.)

Thoughts on the word(s)
I think it is fantastic that there are two different words for love: a noun and a verb. I have often reminded our boys – or myself – that love is not just a noun, but also a verb. That they can say they love each other, but their actions show how they feel. In Norwegian, it is quite a bit easier!

What are your thoughts on this? Have you ever learned another language? When speaking of love, does it use the same word for both the noun and the verb?

5.mai #thankfulthree

Three things about today…
    1. I enjoyed having coffee with an American lady we recently met at language school.
    2. I liked going in to pick up Daniel at school and being greeted by him with enthusiasm, a hug and a kiss.
Daniel enjoying some outdoor play
time during William’s
football practice last week
  1. I am thankful for a good day in language class. I really felt like I learned some useful things today.

What are your three positive things about today?