Another Birthday

January 23 was the day that Ragnar was to arrive in England from the Philippines.  With our sudden change of plans to go to the Faroes, we both ended up arriving in Great Britain at midnight on the 22nd.

So I spent the day taking our Christmas decorations down (I had been in bed with the flu from the time Ragnar left, until I went to the Faroes), trying to relocate the dust that had accumulated during our absence, unpacking our suitcases and begin getting caught up on some piled up work before we needed to begin packing again.  We would start on our trip for Canada on the 27th.

Lots of people asked me if I had a good birthday - yes thanks, I did.

-it was good to be home and sleep in my own bed that night

-it was good to get a start in making some order out of chaos in our home

-it was good to have both of our sons call me and our grandkids sing to me

-it was good to have several friends drop by with gifts and flowers

-it was good to have frozen left overs in the freezer so we didn't have to go shopping

-it was good to have the Volunteers surprise me with a visit that night

I am also very thankful to be healthy, have a wonderful husband, (who for some reason still thinks the world of me) and that my future is secure - in God's wonderful hands. What more could I possibly ask for? 

Lonely Tea Cups

Or - One Way of Getting Invited to a Party

One of last year's German students was back for a visit last week. It was good to see her again, but since the students coffee breaks are generally quite loud and a bit difficult to enjoy a good conversation, we set a date for her to come to our home for a 'cuppa' and a catch up chat.

I rushed home from the office at the time I thought we had set, made the coffee, lit the candles, turned on the music, put out some snacks and waited and waited and waited. As I was getting lots of reading done, I gradually realized she wasn't coming.

When lunch time came and we joined the students in the dining room (weekly routine) she came up to me to talk about our date. When her friend who was with her realized that somehow our wires had gotten crossed, suggested that I come to a get-together they were having for her that night.

A fairy tale ending - my lonely teacups turned out to be an invitation to an enjoyable evening with lots of friends.

Ed Hinds

Ed and Di Hinds were our heroes while we were dating back in 1976 - they were friendly, thoughtful, hospital, kind, generous - and were always there when we needed a listening ear.

They were the first ones to know that I would be changing my last name. The night that we got engaged we spent a candle light evening with them in their 'Jungle Camp' house in the woods behind our 'Boot Camp'.

We have kept in touch over the years when they moved to the States to teach in NTM Bible School, and then back to England with their 3 little kids the year that we moved to the Philippines. We enjoyed each visit we had with them over the last 36 years.

It was discovered that dear Di had MS many years ago. She was the perfect example of continuing to let her light shine for others, during her difficult, ongoing illness, until the Lord took her home nearly 3 years ago.

We are thankful that we were able to pop in for a brief visit with Ed on a recent trip to Birmingham. He is still our hero - a great man of God, who has lead a life walking closely with Him. A couple of hours with this godly man, lifted our spirits. We were hoping to be an encouragement to him, but as is often the case, we are the ones who came away encouraged. What a blessing to see a man who has endured many hardships and trials in his life, still walking humbly with His God. As I mentioned we came away blessed and encouraged and with a box of chocolates!!

36 years

I know it is my birthday today, not our anniversary!  

However since the day is not still young and I haven't downloaded the pictures yet, I thought I would share some from our anniversary - one of those ones I had planned to do when I was having trouble adding to the blog.

A 12 course meal at the Priory Inn sounded fascinating!

- friends had highly recommended it -

- advertisements made it sound appealing -

-we were celebrating 36 years together -

Invitations like that don't come every day - let's go for it!!

Raspberry/Strawberry Ice

Roasted Duck Salad with Honey

Elderberry cordial

Meatloaf with pureed Cauliflower

Pear Sorbet

Pheasant with Sweet Potatoes

Mango/Apricot Ice

Curried Partridge

Chocolate Mouse

Chai Late Pastry

Pecan Cheesecake

Cherry Chocolate

 

Each 'course' was served about 20 minutes apart over a 3 hour time period. Sure was a nice relaxing evening - lots of time to reminisce the past 36 years!!

Christmas in North Cotes

How wonderful to have Craig, Claire, Ellie, Bekah and Lydia join us for a week at Christmas!

  Ragnar helping to paint our Christmas cookies.

 Ellie decorating our tree. 

 Enjoying our traditional Christmas breakfast - Maple Coffee Twist. 

 Watching the girls open their gifts is always so much fun.

 Were those gifts really meant for the girls?

  Abbi with his new sweater.

 Everyone knows that Omma loves candles!

  We had lots of plans and ideas of things to do, but Christmas Season seems to go hand in hand with the flu, so most of our ideas had to be put on the shelf.  Poor Claire spent most of the week in bed and the girls took turns feeling poorly - so lots of extra naps.  The other 3 of us waited until the next week to get it. 

Lydia showing us the cookies she had just decorated.

  

Ragnar cooked us a yummy Duck Meal on Christmas Eve, and a mouth watering Roast Lamb on Boxing Day, while Craig made us a delicious Turkey Dinner on Christmas Day.  Yeah for good cooks, so Omma has time for more hugs!!   

 One of Claire's friends sent along a traditional Christmas pudding.

And one of my friends made a special gluten free one for me.

The day before Craig, Claire and family left to go back to Birmingham, Ragnar left for a 3 week trip to the Philippines.

The house sure was quiet those first few days!!  But Ellie's note to me in our Guest Book kept my spirits up - she left me a kiss that would last for many, many days!!  Aren't grandkids the best?!?!

Marzipan Trial

Claire loves marzipan desserts.  Marzipan cookies are quite common in the Faroes, so each time we are there, I try and get some and hopefully surprise her with them before they dry out.

Just before Christmas I was surprised myself when I saw the pans on sale for baking the cake.  I knew I should get them and try making her a cake as her Christmas gift.  (It is known as a Norwegian wedding cake.  I have been told the newlyweds lift the top layer together - the number of layers that come off with the top layer is the number of children they will have.)

 I waited to make it until the day before she came so it would still be fresh.  

When I checked the recipe to see if I had the ingredients on hand (which turned out to be only 3) I didn't bother to read the instructions, where I would have noticed the dough needed to be refrigerated overnight. 

Oh well, Ellie and I came up with a plan to keep her mom out of the kitchen while we experimented with the cake.  I'm sure Ellie's tale of us making a cabbage pie helped keep her in other rooms too. 

 - Ellie helping to form the top layers

- putting the layers together

- Ellie helping with the final decorations

 - Surprise!!

Church Program

We usually think of them as our Daughter in law, our Bundle of Joy, our Living Doll and our Little Sunshine, but this week-end our 4 Birmingham girls were a Shepherd with his sheep, an angel and Mary, the mother of Jesus.  

How great to be in the audience and see them take part in this great story.  Of course we thought they were the best!

Claire's parents and brother were also there and we were all able to have a few hours together at the Botanical Gardens before heading back up north. 

Guess it isn't only the little kids that have fun.