Witch Way?

Every day there are ample opportunities to choose. Which way to go when walking the dog? What to wear? Should I. . . ? Could I. . . ? What if. . . ?

To be able to choose for ourselves is a gift. A gift from a loving Heavenly Father. It is freedom in being allowed to choose and to make decisions.

Often we feel that we don't have a choice, that our path is set by others. There may be things that happen in our family, within our circle of friends, and we feel we simply have to, should, ought to. . . Something that puts us in a situation we did not want or choose.

Nevertheless, we choose how to deal with it, how to get through the day, how to favor the best part, and see the good in a situation and in others. We choose to have a positive attitude, we select to become a better person, we opt for progress and happiness.

And that happiness is often found in ways we cannot see at first. Happiness may be helping someone when we are tired, instead of relaxing in front of the TV. Progress may be seeing fruits from our labor, and the good feeling that comes with having been a friend to someone.

So, which way? What will be best in the end? The road can be a bit of work, stones to skip, wet ground underneath, but it can also be fun and fulfilling.

Photo: Wind Witch on top of our garage by the Duck and Cherry and a water color depicting a path through the woods. It splits into two directions. Which is the best one to choose?

Matriarchs and Choices

An Irish proverb for the 17th of March - St. Patrick's Day:

You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was. -Irish Proverb

In other words, we have to do our own thing in this life, make our own path, choose our battles wisely, give of our time, and love those around us.

Most things that will make us grow--be it in personality or stature--cannot be delegated, nor handed over to someone else. We need to take responsibility for our choices, our actions, our paths.

There are days when I wish I was a child again. A young girl with little responsibility, few worries, and innocent dreams and fears. Safely under my mother's wing and my father's all-seeing eye, I grew up feeling safe and loved.

Now I am the matriarch of our family. 

Responsibility, worries, dreams, and fears are still there, only deeper and there are more of them. But I can also choose to use the backpack my mother and father gave me. A backpack full of cherished moments spent with wise and loving parents. 

Just like a piece of beautiful material can be transformed into a lovely dress, a blank sheet of paper can receive the words to a magical fairy tale, and a white canvas can turn into a wondrous painting admired by all who see it, so can this day with its clean slate be a good day - no matter what happens - it can have good in it.

Today's water color is aclled "On y va!"

Let's go!

Why I Love Investments

It's Valentine's Day.

Last evening, after the love of my life had jumped under the covers, I tiptoed downstairs and hung up a long string with hearts and hung it across the bathroom from the shower to the sink. Another large heart was hung on the doorway pull up bar that he stops by every morning. Hearts were strewn on his nightstand, in his work back pack. Well, you get the picture. I love distributing hearts.
I love it even more when they fall out as he gets his wallet out on the train, at work, or anywhere actually. Fun.

I am a true believer in investments. Not the materialistic kind, nor changing sums of money from place to place and following their every move. The investments I find interesting are the ones that build relationships and eternal companionship.

Arnfinn is a great caretaker. Things last a long time around the Duck and Cherry because he is good at maintenance and upkeep. So I have told him, "If you take as good care of me as you do your things, I will last for all eternity."

This is an investment worth while our time and effort. Taking care of each other, making sure we are both well and happy, doing little things to brighten the everyday household chores and work, are investments that double back in value time and again. There are no limits. If we treat each other with respect, love, understanding, and a large pinch of humor, it will have a positive snowball effect for days to come.

It's worth the extra time, patience, and effort. It will pay back a hundredfold.

Today's photo taken in Stockholm.

Pay Attention to Trains

We have had some fun family trips. Venturing on a 3 1/2 week car trip through Europe with seven children in the car is no joke. Or maybe it is?
One summer we packed five children into a rental car and drove around England. We had a great vacation with some frustrating moments, but mostly amazing experiences.

On the scheduled day of our departure to fly back to the old country, we got all seven of us to Liverpool Street Station, a little scattered here and there, but mostly gathered . . .

The train heading for Stansted was in place and Arnfinn pushed me and the three youngest ones gently down the platform and told us to jump on the train and wait. The rest of the family would follow shortly.

I turned around and saw Linnea and Kajsa struggling to get their suitcases through the gate to the platform area, but obedient as I am, I got on the train with three youngest.

It did not take long before the doors closed and the train we were on left the station--not for Stansted--I still don't know where it was headed, leaving a surprised Arnfinn and two girls still at the Liverpool Street Station platform. I looked around in the carriage. No one had suitcases or baggage. They were just Londoners going home from work.

Had we chosen the wrong platform? Had the train for the airport already left? This was before I had a cell phone to rescue me out of any thinkable situation. I sat there with three children watching the city gradually turn into rural landscape and beautiful English countryside.

It took quite a while before the train stopped at a station. We got off, ran across to the opposite platform and waited for a train to take us back to Liverpool Street Station.

Miraculously, we made it back. We found the rest of the family, got on the very next train for the airport, and we made the last call for our flight back to Norway.

It turned out that a local train sat in front of the Stansted Express, ready to leave a few minutes before the longer airport carriage.

It's important to pay attention to which way we are heading in life.
Know the trains. Know where they are going and when.
We thought we chose the right way, but obviously we were not attentive enough.
With a little work and a lot of prayer, it turned out well, but we have often wondered what would have happened if I had not been there with the three children right as the train left the station.

Today it makes a funny story to tell. Hopefully, we learned something, too.

Today's water colors are of roads leading somewhere.

Obedience

A great prophet said, "Obedience is essential to our salvation."

The great test of this life is obedience. Does the word give you thoughts of progress and success or does it make you feel tied down?

Personally, I believe obedience is a virtue worth striving for and worth cherishing. I have seen people achieve wonderful things in life because of obedience. I have seen them be happier because they made good choices and listened to wise advice.

I practice obedience with Hector, the Wheaten terrier, every day. He is clever and enjoys the exercises, especially when he is rewarded with little dry dog biscuits. But that's alright, isn't it? Rewards are a good thing. A pat on the back, a nice, uplifting word, a note, a smile, a hug--in my book they are welcoming gestures.

Being obedient can feel safe, it can shelter
you from problems, protect you. The fourth commandment, which admonishes us to honor our father and mother promises good things to those who adhere to the solemn words presented by a God who cares for his people. Wisdom comes with age and experience. Parents have lived longer, understand consequences better, love us to pieces.




I have cheered when my children have made good choices, been happy when they were obedient, loved them when they understood important matters, rejoiced when they progressed in wisdom and knowledge.
Life is long day in school. Sunshine and rain walk hand in hand.

I am basically obedient. Basically. There are probably days when I want to stick my tongue out and turn to run the other way. But I know that being obedient has protected me many times in my life.

Today's water colors are three lighthouses--also a protection;
1) fantasy 2) Landegode, Norway 3) Split Rock, Minnesota, USA.

Despotism, Anarchy, or Free Will

I don't like to be forced.
I don't like to be pushed into something.
I don't like being pressured into an involuntary situation.

Many places in this world are ruled by tyrants and despots. The inhabitants of these areas don't only have rules and regulations which are necessary to keep order; they are not influenced and guided; they are forced and manipulated.

I don't like anarchy either. Laws of the country are necessary for order and balance. Guidelines and instructions in a work place, an organization, and even in a home are there for our safety. Religious commandments work the same way, they keep us dedicated and safe.

So what do I like?

I am all for free agency.
I like the words freedom, choice, and free will.

Our 4 yo munchkin, Emma, weighs only a few pounds but has the will of ten strong bulls. You don't pick her on the nose. When she says, "I will what I will" - we listen. We may smile a little, but we hear what she is saying.

Being able to choose is a gift. Learning about consequences is important. There are obvious oppositions in all things in this world. Without that, how could we learn to choose right from wrong? How could we know when we have made a wrong choice?

Little Red Ridinghood's scary experience with wondering why her grandmother had such large ears, eyes, and mouth seem ridiculous and obvious as we read the fairy tale. She must have seen that it was a wolf and not the grandmother, but think about it; making choices in real life is not always that easy, is it?

One thing I do though, I force myself outside my comfort zone. It is so uncomfortable, so difficult, but sometimes necessary for growth and learning. Besides, it's me forcing . . . well, myself, and I know I may change my mind if I want to.

Today's water color is a peaceful nature picture.

Could I be Amish?

I have thought about it? Could I be part of a special society, a certain religion, a secret undercover group, a following fighting for distinctive rights, a anthropological gathering in a remote mountain area. Yes, certainly. I could be many things. But what I have chosen so far in my life is what I am now.

When I was a young teenager I wondered what it would be like to be a nun. I was a thinker. I read Scriptures and good books. My teacher at school probably wondered what I was reading. She let me know I needed to lighten up the way I wrote my essays. It was probably affected by heavy reading and became old fashioned and did not sound like a young girl's writing.

I am fascinated by people who dare to live a life they choose. I admire them even though I may not always agree. I have a daughter who fights for people's right to have food and housing. She fights for freedom and for the right to choose. I admire her for her bravery and stamina. For a long time she spent a day each week cooking for the homeless and the poor. Fruits and vegetables and other food items were collected the day before from various friendly grocery stores and she spent all day cooking a vegan buffet - all you can eat for almost no money. Arnfinn and I visited her at the localities she cooked at; a large kitchen and eating room lent to her and her friends by the local police. I helped her collect boxes of food from the stores and we ate her delicious food.

I admire those who dedicate their lives to their neighbors; those who give freely of themselves, those who spend hours and days taking care of the less fortunate, the downtrodden. I look up to people who spend their lives making this world a better place for those around them. These are God's children who understand what charity is all about.

I have made choices in my life. I am part of something big, a faith, a way of living that makes me happy, and a trust in God that makes me feel loved and safe. I can understand the Amish. I can relate to monks and nuns. I get it that a person would go outside their comfort zone to help someone in need. A profession like Médicins Sans Frontières or Doctors Without Borders could be something I would go for had I not had an enormous family at home to take care of. That or maybe another humanitarian aid organization.

And I am grateful for the many great examples out there. I am uplifted to know there is still much goodness in the world.

Arnfinn and I just visited Jamesport, Missouri - a quaint little Amish town. At a flower auction held by the local Amish community I spoke with an elderly man who asked if I was Heidi from the book (by Johanna Spyri). I told him I was. He then proceeded to speak in the language of the Amish to see if I could understand. I think he was really surprised when I could understand what he was saying.

Photos from our visit and one of my water colors of an Amish place.

To choose the good part in December

Another crazy week is over for the inhabitants of the Duck and Cherry. Let me see. What was crazy about last week? Maybe when I drove Arnfinn to an early train and got a flat tire.
I carefully drove to the nearest car repair shop up the street only to find that they didn't open for another hour. Problem was - it was freezing cold and I was in my pyjamas!
The pyjamas were pretty and decent - but let's face it, they were after all pyjamas - not appropriate for shopping our visiting car repair shops and not very warm either.

I finally gave in after standing in the cold for the longest time and asked a friend to come and get me, then called the repair shop when they opened to tell them why my car was outside their shop and where I had hidden the key.

It took hours getting it fixed as I had to call around to find someone who had Goodyear tires in stock, so that I did not have to wait 5-6 days to get it replaced.

How is this a happy story after all? Playing the pyjama game was pretty funny, but what I kept thinking was how grateful I was that this did not happen on the freeway - at night - all alone - etc. etc.
Even half wasted days when you don't get through your to-do list can be blessings in disguise.

Christmas stress creates traffic chaos, accidents, people getting frustrated in lines at the store, tension builds up because of all we should do - having to bake seven kinds of cookies (Norwegian tradition), clean the whole house (also tradition), Christmas cards, gifts and so on.

I would like to have Christmas joy instead of stress.
Think I'll do some planning today and see what is really important and what is not.

How can I choose the good part? What is most valuable and precious within the short time frame I have been allotted? What makes sense to spend time on this Christmas month?
My thoughts go to a scriptural passage in the New Testament about two women.

 38 ¶Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named ^aMartha received him into her house.

 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art ^acareful and troubled about many things:

 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath ^achosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Today's water color is a detail from a picture of pointsettas.

This is not what I signed up for

Do you sometimes experience trials and difficulties in your life? Do you feel it's unfair? Do you catch yourself saying: Why me?
I read a wonderful little book by Dieter F. Uchtdorf talking about life and how we all have to go through rough times. He compares me and you to the princesses of the fairy tales. Here are some of their problems: ate a poisened apple and dropped dead (at least for a while), was poked by a spinning needle and made to sleep 100 years, had to choose between a grandmother and a wolf and made the wrong choice (amazing as that sounds), was ridiculed by step-mother and step-sisters, and the list goes on.
There is a "happily ever after" for each one of us if we make good choices in life. Our once upon a time can end up with exactly that, if we do our best. If we do our best, we have not failed.

And maybe, before coming to this earth, this is exactly what we signed up for. We know we learn from trials, we know we grow from difficulties. Choosing to be better, is a good thing after all.

Today's water color is a happy fairy called "Blomster-Line". Enjoy!