Its been a wild couple weeks since our return from Norway. The cook at Danny's workplace was on vacation, so the Marines (and me and the boys) took over the kitchen and provided lunch during those 2 weeks. ~D~ had the time of his life.... He set up his snow cone machine and sold snow cones for 10 crowns each. I think he earned nearly $50! ~N~ was involved with the rest of us in the kitchen, helping to prepare the food, serve customers, and clean up afterwards. It was a great experience for all of us!
In the past week we've invited 2 families to our home for a meal. Both are new to Sweden. One family has been here for a month, the other is here on a 2 week house hunting expedition and will return when the husband's work permit is ready. Fabulous people though. One family has 3 children, the other has 4. And next week another family arrives, which we will "sponsor." We are preparing their home for them, will pick them up from the airport, and will do our best to show them around and help them during their first weeks in Sweden. We were sponsored when we arrived here, and what a great thing it was! I'm thrilled to be able to do the same for someone else.
Our boys have enjoyed attending Wacky Wonderful Wednesday at our church this summer. Its basically a Vacation Bible School, spread out over the summer in 5 Wednesday's, rather than crammed into one week. It works great that way here, because so many people leave for weeks at a time during the summer. It also gives the kids something fun to look forward to throughout the summer, not to mention giving the volunteers a nice break between intensive crafting sessions. I know, because I ran the crafts this year. Three rotations, one right after the other, trying to teach 15 - 20 kids how to make a craft in 20 minutes! It was fun and rewarding though. Last week, I met an American woman, married to a Swedish man, who doesn't like the Swedish school system. She came up to me later asking questions about homeschooling and telling of her interest in it. She wanted to know what I thought were the pros and cons, and other typical questions of those who are interested in pulling their kids out of the school system. We swapped email addresses and I passed on some helpful internet links. I haven't even started homeschooling yet, but already have had very interesting discussions about it with other people!
This week will be a quiet week at home for us. I know the boys are beginning to feel a little summer boredom and will be ready to begin putting their little brains to work soon, pursuing knowledge and wisdom. I wanted to give them a summer to unwind from "school", to enjoy our last summer in Sweden in a relaxing way, and to begin to prepare them for the change of learning at home.
Next weekend they are looking forward to a Father-Son Camping Trip. They will be going down south with another father-son pair to enjoy some boating, fishing, camping and playing together for 2 days and 1 night. I'm excited for them and I know they'll have some great bonding time! I'm still wondering what I'll do with all that time to myself. Any ideas???
This week my mother will celebrate her 54th birthday. Happy Birthday, Mother!! She is still on chemo (for breast cancer), but from what I hear she is doing very well. There is no word when she'll be taken off chemo, and after nearly 2 years of it, it seems about time to be done with it! When she went to the doctor and was diagnosed as having cancer, she was in Stage 4. The cancer had spread to her bones, liver and lungs, besides the huge tumor taking up residence in her breast. It was a scary time for all of us. We worried that there was no treatment that would be successful in her case, because it seemed the cancer had already overtaken so much of her. But the Lord has been good to her, healing her day by day, minute by minute. She has learned to rely on Him, her source of strength and peace and comfort. Her eyes reflect an inner strength and purpose, never fear. From Day 1, she has been victorious in spirit, conquering the cancer with her mind-over-body mentality, and more importantly with the power of prayer. Its an amazing thing to watch. She's an amazing woman and I hope to be just like her.
Rejoice, Rejoice,
Again I say
REJOICE!
Marla
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