Six Months to the Beginning of a Dream

My husband keeps reminding me that it is only six months......!!!!

For those of you who know me really well you know that we have had a dream for some time to do something totally out of our comfort zone and totally bigger than us.  We believe that God has guided and asked us for our total devotion and trust to pursue this dream.

We have been dreaming and waiting until we knew it was time to begin...well here it is, and I am T.E.R.R.I.F.I.E.D.  Yes, you read that right.  What if we fail?  What if we haven't listened correctly?  What if...what if...what if....?

Because the honest truth is we cannot do this on our own.  We cannot take on this huge project in the security and privacy of our own home.  We cannot keep ourselves safe from ridicule or the looks of YOU ARE CRAZY!

We need to remember who we are doing this for.  God does not always work within our common sense of what we perceive to be rational.  God definitely asks us to move our of our comfort.  So here is one big leap.....

Laurie

New Country, New School, New Language

Samuel's first day of school was Monday and we are incredibly proud of our brave boy.  He met his teacher early and then we went to the front to stand in with all the other students.  There are between 4 and 500 students.  We went to his classroom and Sam was introduced to his deskmate.  She is a Ch*nese girl who will keep him in line! She seems incredibly smart and focused (today she let Sam have it for coloring the wrong space), but he seems to like her anyway.

Sam and his teacher Ingel Anna

Then it was time for David and I to leave and Daddy stayed (Sam chose Andreas because he could understand the language the best).  Andreas kept me up to date with sms on how Sam was doing.  He was just Sam and we are so thankful that this has been an easier transition than we thought it would be.  So far he has been incredibly upbeat about his school (even though it is in a different language, it is grade 3 instead of two..which he would have been in in Sweden..and all new people and school).  He says he understands most everything, but when he doesn't he just tries to do what everyone else is doing.  Sam even chased the girls on his first day there...that's my boy.  

We understand that there still might be some hard transitional days but Samuel is passing with flying colors.  He is truly amazing!  This child has had tons of transitions in his life and he seems to take them better than anyone I know.

Praise Jesus for my Sam... he continues to amaze us and show his precious heart and quality.

Blessings,
Laurie
(please forgive the blurry pics...the lens is broken and we need a new one)

# 97,503

Well, adventure number 97,503 was today.  Andreas preached his first sermon in the Mysen Methodist Church.

Of course everyone was smiles, so I hope they all felt good about their new pastor (but for some reason no one speaks about him around me...funny).  However, I think it went well and we are excited to be here and in this church.  

In a way it seems very surreal... did I ever in my life expect to be a pastor's wife, serving in NORWAY?  I think the answer to this is a big fat NO... but that doesn't mean it's bad, just that God has different plans for my life than I did.  So here we are on this adventure, waiting to see what God has in plan for us and all the others here.  I am so glad I can trust Him to do what is best and not follow my own leadings.  Two adoptions, and a life full of the ups and downs (like everyone) has taught me that.  Unfortunately, sometimes I forget and start to fret and worry... that is when my wonderful husband reminds me just how faithful Jesus has been simply because He loved us.  I need to keep that in mind as culture shock and being away from all that we know sets in.  

Now on to adventure 97,504...tomorrow Sam's begins school!  Pray for him as he adjust.  He makes friends easily, but there is a slight language barrier and it is always hard to be the new kids, when others know each other.  

Blessings,

Laurie

Hangin in Norge

Well there are no pics today, but we are officially in Norway!  I know that I have been a bit quiet, but I have been enjoying summer with family and friends.  The good-byes are hard, but we are so thankful not to be that far from everyone.

We are really excited to be here also and start ministry...we feel like there is a great adventure in front of us and we don' t want to miss it. Right now we need to find everything among the chaos, including undergarments that seem to be eluding us! (life is full of fun surprises right now).

I will resume regular posts when chaos doesn't reign... Hopefully soon, I don't think I would understand the doctors in the Norwegian psych ward (kidding....really I am).

Blessings to all,
Laurie