Yeah, we’ve gotten a lot of snow. A LOT OF SNOW.Like, seriously. Stop already.
Nordic Life: Langrenn
This past weekend we experienced something that is very common and popular in Norway this time of year: cross-country skiing (langrenn).Our friends invited us to a cabin for the weekend. It was a good time of getting to know each other better, relaxing, eating lots of good food, and skiing.
Okay, more falling than skiing. But either way, it’s quite a workout!
We had fun, and I think the bug has bitten. We are working to get all four of us outfitted with skis so we can begin doing this on a regular basis.
And I have to say that if we are all still friends after the weekend, that’s saying a lot about their patience! They were great teachers, and we are very appreciative of their hospitality and support. And when I say support, I mean that in multiple ways: from encouraging words and pointers, to getting us up and down hills – literally!
9 years old?!?!
Happy birthday to our spunky, energetic, and joyful Daniel, who turns 9 years old today! We are so thankful for him and the way he approaches everything with enthusiasm and excitement.
What’s it Like: Shoes at the Door
This part of the European culture is one that wasn’t totally normal for us, but one that we have happily embraced. It was something we did from time to time in the US. Particularly if we had walked in from the rain, or if we visited someone with light colored carpets. But it didn’t always happen.When you enter a home here (and in all parts of Europe we’ve visited so far), take your shoes off! Typically, there is a spot in the entry for shoes. It might be a shoe rack, a closet, rug, cabinet, or maybe just an area of the floor. But be sure to kick off your skoene (yep, that’s your shoes!) before you proceed into someone’s home.
We really do like this practice. It helps tremendously in keeping the floors clean. I guess it has become pretty normal for us, because we were watching an American TV show the other day and I missed out on what was going on because I was shocked at the lady walking around the living room in her shoes!
Adoption Connection
It seems that no matter where we go, we find adoption connections! And Norway is no exception.A few months ago, Zack met one of our neighbors for the first time. Not sure how it happened, but somehow he got into a conversation and learned that the man was adopted internationally, as an infant. Pretty cool!
And we had another encounter this week. Daniel has been going through some educational testing (the education system here is INCREDIBLE by the way!!). At the end of the testing, as we were meeting with the doctor who facilitated the majority of it, we were sharing more about our two adoptions. He seemed very interested and asked really good – and appropriate – questions.
(Even better – he waited until Daniel was not with us to ask things. We appreciate this so much, because we never want things said in front of him that make him uncomfortable, questions that maybe he isn’t ready for, or comments that cause him any undue sadness, insecurity or anxiety.)
After we finished sharing, the doctor smiled and then shared that he and his wife have also adopted two children internationally. They were adopted as infant so they’ve been raised here in Norway and are now grown and doing well.
We appreciate the chance to connect with other adoptive families. It brings encouragement and a chance for a special level of understanding and empathy. And we appreciate how this kind man was willing to share part of his family’s story.
What’s it like? – new blog series
Monday is the day you typically try to get back into routine. That made me think of something else that people ask a lot. We often get questions regarding what our routine is like, and what is different about life here.Change is a constant, and the seasons bring about big shifts in how we do things. But I thought it might be fun to talk a bit about some of what is normal for us.
So be sure to check back on Mondays for a new series…
What’s It Like?
What’s it Like – our winter morning routine
We’ll start with the Dove family winter morning routine…
I (Jenn) get up around 6:30. I get heaters turned on in the kitchen and living room, and pack the boys’ lunches. Everyone else gets up around 7:00 and gets dressed for the day. This time of year, a base layer under your clothes is important! While they get ready, I make coffee and breakfast.
Everyone sits down to breakfast around 7:20. Our normal breakfast includes fresh bread and rolls with cheese and jam, along with either musli, oatmeal or grits (thanks to friends and family for keeping us supplied with this taste of the South!). Zack reads a devotion and we finish with prayers. The boys then clean up the table (one of their chores).
Then it’s time for the boys to get geared up for their walk to the bus. This time of year, they take the bus, as it is much easier than getting the car (and driveway) ready early in the morning. Daniel wears a snowsuit, and William gets into his snow pants and coat. They must also remember hats, gloves, and scarves… and reflectors since it’s dark out!
They leave around 8:00. It takes about 10 minutes to get to the bus station, and they are typically on the bus around 8:10-8:15. Their school day begins at 8:45 and we pick them up at 3:05.
What do you miss most?
It is a question we are asked often. We get it via emails, Skype or FaceTime from friends and family in the states. And we get it from friends here as well.
What do you miss most from America?
Other than family and friends, there is not much that we can think of. We will occasionally have a moment where we miss a food item or a favorite store, or maybe some familiar convenience. But most of these moments are temporary or seasonal.
And such is the case with our latest item that we miss…
We miss having a garage!
Want to know why? Not because we don’t like walking outside to reach the car, or that we miss having climate control. No, it is more about the 30-45 minutes we currently must spend each time we need to leave. Shoveling the driveway and around the car. Brushing the car off. Shoveling under the car. De-icing windows. Thawing the wipers.
Today the snow around the car was knee-deep on me (Jenn). It is quite an adjustment for a couple who’ve spent most of their lives in Georgia!
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| Here is a picture of our car, taken a couple of days ago |
30 Day Shred
We have been focusing a lot on eating better, and being more active. I now bake most of our bread, and we are eating a lot more fresh vegetables and fruits. We have cut out a lot of sugar and don’t eat as much meat. While the first few days were difficult, everyone seems to be liking it now.But getting active in the wintertime is tough here. So Zack and I decided to start a DVD program last week: The 30 Day Shred. While it’s primarily designed for women, I read about a lot of couples going through it together. My husband is a good sport and agreed to give it a try.
So here’s how it works: a 20 minute workout, once a day, for 30 days. It’s split into three levels, so you do each level for 10 days.
And I think it just might be working. When we started Level 1 I couldn’t make it through without pausing. By Day 10, it was really no problem. Then Level 2 began yesterday, and I thought I was going to die! But I am happy to report that we have yet to skip a day, and after 12 days we are feeling better already.
I’ll report back later, and let you all know how it turns out!
Vinteren er endelig her! (Winter is finally here!)
Over the past couple of weeks, as we sat and watched news reports of record lows in the US, we wondered what exactly was going on around us in what so many call the Cold North.
We wonder no more. After a wet Christmas with temps never getting even close to freezing, winter has arrived in our little corner of Norway.
The snow began early Sunday morning. It was a nice light ground cover that brightened things up considerably. And then the snow returned Monday afternoon. It hasn’t been incredibly heavy overall, but it hasn’t let up a lot either.
As I type, the boys are out in the driveway, working on a (hopeless) attempt at a snowman, trying out their snow scooter, and developing some very rosy cheeks!
