Wayne's coffee...

This is my view today from the window seat at Wayne's coffee at Tjuvholmen, Akerbrygge in Oslo.  I love watching the boats (ships) go by.  I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that I've lived in Oklahoma for the last 16 years with no water around other than the pool in the back yard. Even with the wind blowing and the rain falling there is something really peaceful and beautiful about looking at the water.  Fall is well underway here and the trees with leaves left are a vibrant color of yellows and reds.  So beautiful!  I really expected it to be colder than it is outside and underestimated the warmth inside everywhere you go.  They sure know how to crank the heat way up in the fall/winter...  I"m learning to layer again. :)

Fake identity

Halloween is coming up and its the perfect opportunity to be someone different. At least for one night... I'm going to dress up as an over accessorized gypsy. Should go better than last year when I dressed up as a vampire and one of my fangs kept falling out... hah! It sounds funny now, but that night it was nothing but a pain in the arse.

Speaking of being someone else... I sometimes wish I was different.... funnier, smarter, prettier, skinnier... not a foreigner... But I keep coming back to the fact that God created me the way I am for a reason and all I have to do is figure out what that reason is and then "run my race". I'm 33 and I still haven't figured it out. How long will it take? I hope not too long cause I'm not getting any younger and I want to have a family one day. Husband, kids, dog. The whole nine yards.

Happy Halloween!

Joshua 1:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Today I just want to loose myself in a good story...to escape reality for just a few minutes... wishing I was on a sea shore somewhere listening to the waves crash against the rocks. There is no greater sound... nothing as relaxing as dipping your toes in the crisp ocean, looking for crabs underneath the stones... those were the days of my childhood... I wish I could go back there sometimes. Everything seemed so simple back then. Running around barefoot all summer long. No worries at all. If only I could be a kid again...

My mind has been scattered all over the place all day long. Sometimes its a bit difficult to capture the thoughts and make them into something that makes sense outside my brain. Truth is they don't always make sense inside the brain either... figure it out if you can. Maybe it has something to do with being a Gemini... I have a "split personality"... the calm and collected me and the wild and crazy me (lol). No wonder some people tell me I'm hard to figure out... well, take on the challenge or leave me the heck alone. At least I'm not boring...

well kids, have a great Memorial Day weekend and be safe out there.

Ciao!

The way of Love....

I just started reading this book I found in my parents attic called "Secrets of an irresistible woman, smart rules for capturing his heart" by Michelle McKinney Hammond. In this book she talks about "the rules" which I'm sure some of you have read. I started reading it while I was in college, but put it down because I thought it promoted manipulation and lying. But, regardless of that there were some good advice that I'm sure we could all benefit from following. This book though, promotes God's view of how love should be which is stated in 1 cor. 13. The love chapter. It was a good reminder for me to read that again and I wanted to share it with you from the Message Bible. I think we can all benefit from a reminder of "The way of Love..."

1 Cor. 13 - Message
If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "jump," and it jumps, but don't have love, I'm nothing.

If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares for more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.
We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

God is good!

Wow! I was just tremendously blessed by reading about what God just did for a friend of mine. I feel like jumping up and down in my office for him. It's exciting to see God in action. If you let Him into your life there's no limit to what He can do for you if you just let Him. It's really all about Matthew 6:25-33... ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.


Happy New Year to all!

Love thunderstorms...

there's a thunderstorm passing through town right now, the thunder is pretty powerful and I'm just enjoying my new apartment... burning some candles, listening to Gavin and all of a sudden got the urge to write some. I guess this weather is perfect for this sort of thing...

I just had an amazing weekend. Got to catch up with a friend who I haven't seen since last October, celebrated another friends birthday at Oscar's and had a great day with mom on Sunday for Mother's day. Tonight I had dinner with my roommate and my best friend at Elote, this awesome Mexican restaurant downtown. They serve all fresh, locally owned foods and I was soooo happy with the salsa :D I can't wait to go again... Tomorrow, May fest begins and I should probably walk over and check that out. Always fun to see what goes on there...

Be safe!

Ciao!

Gavin DeGraw!

It's been a while since I've been on here and for that I apologize. I've been busy getting used to being back in T-town. New job, new apartment and practically a whole new life. I'll be posting pics of the apartment soon.

Last night I, finally, got to see Gavin DeGraw in concert and it was the most amazing show ever. He is just an amazing artist. So into his music, it's just fascinating to watch him perform. If you haven't heard his new record (Free) yet, I highly recommend you get it.

The end of a chapter....

This is my last week in Fredrikstad and at my job in Oslo. I'll miss my coworkers, they are some of the greatest people ever. I have had more fun with them this year than I ever expected to have. (Stina, you better keep your promise and come visit this summer.) At the same time, I'm so thrilled to be moving back "home" to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Most people don't even know where that is. 15 years ago I didn't either, but I've come to love this place more than I ever thought possible. And now, after one year in Norway, and 4 months of waiting for a work visa, I'm coming home!! Yay!!!

Words have creative power....

I have been thinking a lot about words I speak and how powerful they are. Words create. Either something good or something bad. Words spoken can change the atmosphere in a room in an instant. It affects you and those around you. The words you speak today, determine where you are tomorrow.

I have not been sick one day this past year. In fact, I can't even remember the last time I was sick. I thank God for divine health every day. When other people around me (mostly people at work cause that's where I am most of the time) talk about the cold coming on or "it's winter now, so I'll probably get sick soon." All I say is, I never get sick! they do and I don't :D Praise God!! I am confident in the Lord and His principles. We believe and therefor speak. You have what you (constantly) say. You end up believing what you say if you keep saying it. Faith comes by hearing. So, what you end up believing depends on what you are listening to on a daily basis.

So, think about what you say.

God is my healer! my provider! my constant help!

what is the deal?

I don't break down, I don't really cry much. I cried today... I think, after 4 months of waiting for my visa, I had had enough and the dam broke. I have tried to keep it in, smile and say everything will be just fine. And it will. No matter the outcome, I will be OK. But it just doesn't feel like it right now.

I miss my family more than you can imagine. I miss my dog. My car. My trips to get coffee. The sun... I'm not one to feel sorry for myself and I hate it when I do. I can't stay sad very long, it just isn't who I am. And thank God for that! I do catch myself thinking sometimes though, what if...I don't get the visa? What then? What am I supposed to do? but I can't really allow myself to go there. If I do, I'm in a real emotional mess.

I don't even know how to write about this in a way that makes sense. I just need to get it out. I feel a bit better when I do and I don't think a whole lot of people read this anyway, so it's probably not that big of a deal...

What is the deal?

I'm frustrated. I want to make something happen and I can't. My hands are tied, so to speak, and I don't like it. I like to be able to do something practical, to see some progress. I don't like the not knowing part. It's very uncomfortable. I just need some feedback! Dear Lord!

Running out of patience...

I'm bored out of my mind, it's dark outside, and I'm soooooo close to loosing my patience with the US Embassy and the stupid visa application. WHAT IS TAKING SO FREAKING LONG???? I want to scream it from the top of my lungs, if it would only make a difference. My friends birthday is coming up and Ionly hope I'll make it back in town for it. James says that the working of your faith produces patience. Well, I'm just about to run out. The word also says when you have done all to stand, then keep standing. Well, I'm definitely trying. James also said count it all joy when you fall into various trials... I'm counting... 1 joy, 2 joy, 3 joy...... 10 joy. LOL!!! Encouraging myself in the Lord for He is on my side.

I'm excited about the thought of being back in the states soon. I'm planning on doing the Tulsa run in the fall and will start training for that as soon as I'm back in town. I think having a goal like that will help me stay focused on getting healthier. I'm determined to make this my best year yet. And my 30's to be the best time of my life.

Ciao!

I'm having a moment...

I'm ready to freak out any minute now, well... almost... LOL! It's Saturday evening and I have been stuck inside all... day... long... I feel so stuck in this apartment sometimes it's not even funny. I'm so used to being able to get in my car and go anywhere I want whenever I want to.... I don't do well with small spaces. I thought I was doing well before Christmas, but I guess being home over the holidays I got used to the way things were.... and loved it! I miss it.... and I miss all my friends... I stay up late just so that I can chat with some of them... those that are online anyhow.... I'm struggling, just a little, with being back here this time so I'm taking a deep breath... I calm myself down and try to focus on taking one day at a time. And then, before I know it, it will be time to buy a plane ticket and go home!! For good! until then... have a lovely weekend... and no worries... tomorrow I'll be just fine :D

A new years resolution...?

I don't usually make new years resolutions. Why? Because I never end up doing them... maybe because I'm a big procrastinator, or maybe it's because no one else seems to follow up on their new year resolutions either... so why bother...?

This year I do have one, if you want to call it that.... It's not so much a new years resolution, more of a determination to make some changes and maybe that way I'll actually make it happen... (lol). Anyhow, I was having a conversation with a friend over Christmas about friendships and what my friends all have in common... other than me ;) They are all creative in some form. Actors, musicians, writers, photographers, graphic designers, and then there's me... Why do I surround myself with so many creative people, and I didn't choose them based on their creativity... rather I feel in a way they chose me ... I do not see myself as very creative, but I'm drawn to those who are... I would like to be and I have made a decision recently to develop whatever creativity I have inside. I love music, I love literature, I love photography, and I love art, and I wish I could write. But I'm not good at either of it. But maybe I can get better if I just applied myself...and wasn't so scared of trying...

Jet lagged!

I'm back in the old country again after an awesome trip to visit friends and family for Christmas. I was not ready to leave them all this time. I'm not sure why, but this trip was different than the last one. In October I came just to visit for two weeks and then go back to Norway and work and to wait for my visa application results. This time my visit seemed more final. Like I was really home and should have stayed. The day before I was scheduled to leave I walked around with a knot in my stomach all day and I was wondering what the deal was. Later I found out that my mom and dad had that same knot. During the day dad had checked the weather report and found out that there was an ice storm headed for Philadelphia the day I was supposed to fly through there. So, with that information we decided to change my flight until the following day. I felt soooo much better after that. The knot was gone and I felt complete peace about leaving. Not that I wanted to leave still, but I definitely had peace about it now. And I got to hang out with a friend who I wouldn't have been able to see this time if I hadn't changed my ticket... I still don't really know why I didn't have peace about going on my original date, as far as I know the planes were coming and going as scheduled. But I guess it really doesn't matter. I choose to believe that I was led by the Holy Spirit not to leave and to stay one more day... :)

It's amazing what journeys life can take you on. I have been on a crazy one this year. I have experienced so much, learned a bunch about myself in the process and I'm ready for this crazyness to be over. I came here last spring to be here for my cousin as she was going through some things. I got a job, met some great people, saved some money and now I'm ready to come back home. It's weird to think about Oklahoma as "home", and my home country as not being home. I feel like an outsider here. I mean, I speak the same language, I was born here, but it's no longer my home. I miss my family and friends most of all. More than I thought possible. I have grown closer to some of my friends while being gone and made some new ones both here and there :) I have rebuilt one friendship, something that I thought would never happen. Now, I'm wating on news about my visa and that has been one crazy, emotional ride. I'm normally not a very emotional person, but this has just got me on edge. I don't think the people at work notice because I try not to let it affect my mood or how I act around them. But, when I'm at home in the apartment all by myself, I strugle with the emoitions of loneliness and frustration. I know all will be well. That God perfects that which concerns me. That no weapons formed against me shall prosper. That the testing of my faith produces patience. That if God is for me, who can be against me? I am more than a conqueror. This is just a portion of what I'm feeling right now, the other part I'm not sure I can even put words to right now. It might take me a while to process everything that has happened this year. Ciao!

I haven't blogged in a while, but here is a little update on my life.... I was hoping to be flying out tomorrow morning with my new work visa safely inside my passport, but no such luck. I'm still waiting to hear from the Embassy. Yesterday I tried to get my flight changed, but I guess it was a restricted ticket so no changes allowed... Today I bought another ticket for next Sunday and hopefully my visa will come soon. I really want to be in Tulsa with my family for Christmas. I can't wait to have some girl time with Meghan, Tina, Jolie and Abby again... and to see everyone else of my friends too... According to my attorney I should be getting my visa, he says there's no reason for them not to give it to me. So why are they taking so long...? I have no idea, but I'm doing my best to keep my spirits up and keep being patient. James 1:2-3 says: "My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials. Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." This has for sure been a testing of my faith, it still is... Hope to see y'all very soon ;)

26 out of 99....

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain (hiking)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

I am the disciple whom Jesus loves.....

I've also been thinking of God's love for me lately. Faith and love go hand in hand. One can't happen without the other. God loves me so much, he wants only the best for me. I was thinking about this all day at work and I had such a great day. God's love is amazing. When God is for you who can be against you?

I came across this in Faith - catch it! by Scott Webb....

"You also know that anyone or anything that crosses you is crossing God! Those who oppose God usually end up at the bottom of the Red Sea or under the walls of Jericho. And those who love God and know His love for them will live out their lives in His protection. Obviously, it is a good thing to know God's love! There is nothing like it."