Lord of the Rings rerun

Hasse and I have recently begun watching Lord of the Ring (extended version, mind you) - again. I don't think we will ever tire of these movies. We have our favorite scenes, aswell as our favorite characters. It is impossible not to love Aragorn and Arwen, Frodo and Sam, and in the second movie - The Two Towers - even Smeagol calls on our pity at the least!

In The Two Towers, we come across one of my absolutely favorite characters - Éowyn. Niece to King Théoden of Rohan, she stays loyal to her country and king despite the treachory of Grima Wormtongue, who, by the way, has the hots for the fair maiden!
Fair she is - but don't be decieved - she knows how to swing a sword and defend herself! And I get  goosebumps  everytime I hear her answer to Aragorns question of what she fears... she fears wasting her time, never rising to the occasion and making a difference! She fears being locked behind bars until age makes her useless.

What an attitude!

If you know the rest of the story, you also know that she does rise to the occasion, and that she plays a vital part in the ending of the story. If you don't know the story, then please... read the books or see the movies!

Garden gnomes in housekeeping?

Days like today leave me wishing that there was a garden gnome center, where you could order a nice little garden and/or housekeeping gnome to come live with you. Wouldn't that be neat?

I'm beat - it's been a long day, so I am leaving the dishes in the sink, the laundry unfolded, my teeth unflossed and my lunchpack unpacked. It's time to unthink the day, unwind the stress and unwake my body.

Sleep tight. Don't let the bedbugs bite!

Time changes things.

It's been snowing. Finally. I woke up sunday morning to the most beautiful, fat tufts of snow quietly falling from the sky. Sigh. Why wasn't december like this? And why don't we have more peaceful mornings like this?

As parents, our mornings have for so long been scheduled. Everyone with small kids knows that saturday and sunday mornings are the best for waking up early and watching cartoons. It was great when the girls learned how to turn on the tv themselves. That would keep them occupied for a while. But then always came the one request (more like a mix between a direct command and a cat whining) for breakfast. "I'm huuuungry" just cannot be ignored!

Now the the two oldest sleep in every chance they get. We get up before they do on saturdays and sundays. And I always enjoy it slightly when they, somehow disgruntled, complain that we don't eat breakfast together anymore! Because now I'm the whining cat demanding breakfast while they are still cuddled up under the blankets.

Funny how time changes things.

It's been too long

Hi there again...

It has simply been too long since I've been here... shame on me. And I am not going to whine about why. You all know why. Time. Work. Family.

Christmas was wonderful - we set the table for 21 people, and every seat was taken! And on the 27th, we flew out to Hurghada, Egypt, to relax and celebrate Hasse's 40th birthday! While we were there, Teresa turned 12 (being born New Years Eve), and for her birthday we sailed on the Red Sea, she snorkeled with her fther and older sister, and we were so lucky to see dolphins! They really put on a wonderful show for us and jumped out of the water, and swam bellyside up.

Now the somewhat mundane life has us back in the treadmill, but we're treadmillin' away! Hasse and I have decided to try for a marathon in May... I know he will finish it, as he already has 5 marathons in the sack, but this will be my first - and probably my last! Currently, my training is good, my time is fine, and I'm still not injured. But slightly worried...

Please come back for updates everynow and then, I will try to spend more time putting thoughts on string!

Thanksgiving

 The Americans are celebrating thanksgiving today. Canadians celebrated Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October, and although I am neither Canadian nor American, I am going out to eat a thanksgiving dinner with good friends tonight.

I know that my beautiful, American friend, Lauren, will ask us all what we are thankful for.

Here's my list:

I am thankful first of all for my Lord and Saviour. The fact that He died for me will never cease to amaze me. His grace has been sufficient for me in the past, and it will continue to be so in the future.

I am thankful for my wonderful family - my husband whom I love more than I can express. He takes care of me in every way possible.
I love our 3 daughters, all beautiful and sweet and giving us less to worry about than could have been expected.
I love our extended family - every niece and nephew, every aunt and uncle.

I am thankful for good friends - both close and far away, friends who have supported me, encouraged me and sometimes even lifted me up in prayer when I really needed it - often before I even knew to ask!

I am thankful for having a job - although I moan and whine about it. Considering the number of unemployed teachers, I am thankful that I still have my job.
And least, but not last, I am thankful for my church family. They challenge me, support me and continually love me. I am a blessed woman.








Check out Lauren's blog (if you dare) on: www.ladaisi.blogspot.com

It's tough being a woman

... that's the subtitle to a Bible study on Esther, by Beth Moore. I would love to do a real study on it sometime, but right now, I am just breezing through it, sniffing up whatever stands out and seems to call to me.

And yes it IS tough being a woman, but I really don't like whining. Whining will get you no where in my book. I tend to be the "suck it up" type of woman, but time and time again, I fall into the whining pit myself.

I honestly think that being alive is tough. Being a human is tough. Whatever path you are on, life will be tough on you every now and then. And tha't why a study on Esther could come in handy. It could be enlightening to hear from some else how they got through tough times. And believe me, Esther knew tough times.

So far, the study has talked to me about standing in the shadow of other women - how hard that can be, trying to live up to someone elses standards and merits. And it dawned on me slowly that often, I stand in the fictive shadow of others. I never ask about their expectations, I just assume that I know what they expect of me. I assume that others expect me to be like so-and-so, but I never ask if that is true.

What a sorry burden I put on myself, and I have a feeling I am not the only one to do this. Take a minute or two to reflect on this... whose shadow are you in? Is it real or just based on your own assumptions?

Dejlige efterårsting - Things I love about autumn!

Regn på min rude
Rain on the window

Græskar og de flotte, orange farver
Pumpkins and their beautiful colour

Paraplyer - især de med farver!
Umbrellas - especially the colourful ones.

Varm kakao - hot chocolate

Kastanjer - chestnuts

Stearinlys - candles

Bagte æbler med marcipan - baked apples with marcipan

Æbletærte - applepie!

Dampende varm kaffe - steaming coffee. 

God ild i brændeovnen - a good fire.