Wednesday, 14. May 2008, 11:54:56
Since I last wrote, we have been quite busy. We spent most of Sunday at home, celebrating Mothers' Day, but made a brief trip out to Tungynnes Fyr (a lighthouse). At the lighthouse, we prevailed upon most of our visiting relations to touch the North Sea. Home for games and a delicious Mothers' Day dinner.
Monday was a combination of a cruise down Lysefjord and a drive in the country. Those in the driving party saw plenty of snow, lakes, green hills, and water falls (not to mention grandmothers throwing snowballs). Those in the boat enjoyed a nice view of much water, much rock, and many scruffy bushes. A good time was had by all, judging by their statements.
Yesterday we stayed home and did yard work, accomplishing an amazing amount thanks to Grandmother's dandelion-pulling prowess. We de-dandelioned our entire yard, mowed, raked, weeded, planted geraniums, tied up loose tree branches, weed-whacked, and clipped the hedge. Incredible what eight people can do in a yard when they really get going.
Today, after a breakfast of lapper (Norwegian pancakes of a sort), Timothy, Joshua, and I began a Lord of the Rings movie-watching marathon. Only it isn't quite a marathon, as we're taking a 3 hour break for Timothy's and my internet classes. A trip to the archaeological museum is also in the offing.
As for general sanity and health, all is well. Rachel has a bit of a cold, and I found her asleep on the floor Monday night (she doesn't remember it, though), but overall she is doing well. She's been reading avidly, and I have been forced to lend her some spare books so she can save her own for the trip home. But how can I argue with a girl reading "Inkheart" and "The Princess Academy"? Joshua is in perfect health (judging by his appetite and sense of humor). He sometimes seems a little aimless, but overall he occupies himself well. The grandparents are simply devouring their time here with reading, talking, and seeing the sights.
The only other thing I have to say is a big, huge thanks to the family back home suffering without two of its children so that we can have fun for a couple of weeks!
Saturday, 10. May 2008, 17:57:51
This week's defining event was the arrival our grandparents and some of our cousins. They are now thoroughly ensconced in our home and almost recovered from their jetlag (I think). We've been showing them around the area and pushing them to hard to keep them awake. I hope to keep steady tabs on their movements for the sake of lonely family members back in the States. Who knows, I may even drag a cousin or two on as guest blogger once they feel more alert. I also hope to regularly update a photo album ("Cousins' Visit") with some of each day's shots. For those of you readers who don't know my family, this blog series will probably be extremely dull, as I'm trying to make it nitty-gritty for my aunt.
They came in late at night, just in time to get home and crash. Our movements the next day were limited by holiday weekend traffic, but Mother got them out in the morning to show them the neighborhood. The weather has been glorious, so we grilled steak and ate dinner on the deck before washing up and hurrying off to Sola beach. A spectacular fog was just coming in as we got there, but we got some pictures and stretched our legs. Rachel and I ended the day watching "Amazing Grace" in my room before I let Rachel go to bed around 10:30.
Today we headed out reasonably early for Dalsnuten, an easy local hike with a broad view of the area. We all made it up and down safely, even if Timothy almost died of the heat. The day was almost clear, and our visitors were suitably impressed (especially Grandma). Dad took some people on an excursion downtown Stavanger in the afternoon, showing them the Domkirke among other things. Mother and I made pizza for dinner (any idea how many pizzas it takes to feed 9 people, two teenage boys among them? Thank the Lord for frozen pizza.), and we ate while watching "The Emperor's New Groove." Actually, the others are still watching the movie, but I slipped away for some relaxing time.
More news to come as we make it.
Saturday, 3. May 2008, 20:15:29
'Twas a foggy night before the morrow and all through the house many creatures were stirring, but nary a mouse. Actually, it's pretty quiet here. Dad's out at the moment, and our dinner guest has gone, so we are left quietly to ourselves. Not that that's such a bad thing.
Life is as busy as ever, if not busier, and now I've got distracting story ideas buzzing round my head to boot. (In evidence of this I submit my lapse of memory regarding my monthly book review that I should have written a couple of days ago. I'll see about getting one up here in the near future. Not tonight.) With Cousins coming in less than a week, and exams treading none too lightly on the heels of our dear guests, I am beginning to feel worn. No doubt rejuvination will come with my dear relatives, but for the time being I would like little better than to arrange a tragic accident for my chemistry book.
That said for my humdrum life, I will conclude my work here. As Wordsworth (I think it was Wordsworth) wrote, "tonight I long for rest."
Thursday, 24. April 2008, 20:19:12
So, originally I wrote a blog about the poetry analysis I'm doing for school, about the business of my life, and about our Youth retreat. And about how weary I feel at the end of the day, when all I can do is sit back and watch something mindless. Like tonight. But all of that can either be read elsewhere (Timothy's blog, for instance) or isn't interesting to begin with. My daily frustrations belong in a journal somewhere to be burned in ten years, not on the internet to bore my friends and relations. I think my new blog topic may be a slight improvement.
I stumbled across this verse this evening: "And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God." (1 Samuel 23:16) My NKJV Bible says Jonathan "strengthened [David's] hand in God." We've been studying David in Youth Group (we're not as far as chapter 23 yet, though) and looking at what made him a man after God's heart. And this verse, I believe, is central to the topic. I have been incredibly blessed in my friends over the years. As a bit of an introvert, my friendships are few and far between, but each friendship is a lifeline. My friendships play a crucial role in keeping my focus on God, in keeping my passion for Him burning. Psalm 55:13-14 describes what I consider an ideal friendship: "But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in the throng." Christian friends and fellowship are vital in helping me find strength in God. This applies not only to choosing friends, but to being a friend. Are my friends truly supportive Christians who build me up in my walk? And what can I do to strengthen my friends in God? I believe encouragement, joyfulness, and a clear passion for God, a craving for Him, are some of the most important things my friends give me that "strengthen my hand in God." And some of the most important things we can give our friends in return. Thoughts? Input? Snores?
Monday, 14. April 2008, 20:45:21
So I guess all I have to say about life right now is in the title. Which means you can stop reading now. "Check your brains at the entrance" and all that, you know. I know I certainly did.
Anyway, I've gone through a run of fevery aches, sore throat, all the head-congestion symptoms on the books, as well as a fairly nasty cough over the last few days. (As well as a startling number of bruises, but I must attribute them to my inborn clumsiness rather than my cold.) Had to back out of AWANA, skip Youth Group, and cancel piano lesson because of it. Not pleasant. But, unfortunately, I'm far better off than many people I know at the moment. Two people I know (a man from our home church in KS and a lady here) had serious heart trouble in the last week. Please keep them in prayer.
On a more cheerful note, school's rolling again--slowly. I find I quite missed comp class over our break. Last week's assignment was a narrative (which I confess I wrote in a bit of a rush), and I had a blast over that. One of these days I'll put it up here for public consumption. This week we do some sketches, and I have the perfect subject for one of them, as I had a new story idea last night, and it's been buzzing around in my brain and hammering on the walls to get out. Otherwise, geometry and worldviews remain their intractible selves. Spanish is enjoyable, if easy and neglected. Don't ask me about chemistry. Only six weeks of school left. I think I can make it.
I'm reading Robert Jordan's "The Eye of the World" with great eagerness, enjoyment, and whatnot. I would probably have finished the book by now, if it were not for school and the raging sinus headaches accompanying head congestion. Are any of my distinguished readers familiar with this book?
As for the family, well . . . Dad's sick too, though I don't think he got it from me. Samuel watches Timothy play computer games and reads in between times, Timothy plays the computer games which Samuel watches and does school the rest of the time. Oh, and the guys (namely Dad et Timothy) are enjoying the mocha chocolate cheesecake with which I bribed them to move my furniture. Mother is busy doing worldviews, bible study work, spring cleaning, and Sunday school-related business.
And now I am weary and must sleep.
Wednesday, 9. April 2008, 19:51:39
. . . And I'm back. Incessant beeping, long bridges, souvenirs and aloe vera, strange skin diseases, striped rocks, stone birds, fat poets, dandelions, pink upholstry, European pepperoni, Svalbardbrod and all, we reached home safely last night.
While I have little to say for life on a boat, northern Norway testifies incredibly to God's creative power. The entire coastline (and the Lofoten islands in particular) is stunningly, austerely beautiful, yet for centuries few people ever saw it. I can only marvel and point to Job 26:14: "Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, and how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand?"
Mother and I flew up to Tromso first, above the Arctic Circle. We spent a rather long afternoon and evening there, ate at the world's northernmost Burger King (I'm not sure whether to call that pathetic or cool), and no doubt provided the receptionists in the hotel lobby where we hung out with not a little entertainment. I think both Mother and I prayed for a glimpse of the northern lights, but the hours dragged, and we saw none. When at last our boat came, we grew bored and left the hotel earlier than we had planned, hoping the Hurtigruten opened early for incoming passengers. Lo and behold, we stepped outside, and there were the northern lights, dancing across the sky. Like green and purple and white flame, they flowed across the night sky for several minutes, only disappearing as we reached the Hurtigruten. An answered prayer.
Our days on board passed uneventfully with reading, picture taking, and endless games of Set. We saw the northern lights again the next night--a much larger, but paler and more inactive display. Dad apparently spent most of the time in our absence watching our progress online and text messaging Mother. Stops in various fishing villages broke up the monotony of the voyage and gave us a chance to stretch our legs. But by Monday morning I had almost had my fill of snowy mountains and readily welcomed the advent of the Male Folk in Trondheim. They came up by train and met us there, instigating somewhat of a cabin rearrangement on the ship. I betook myself down three floors to share a room with the boys for our final night on board.
Tuesday afternoon we disembarked at Bergen, looking more than its usual lovely self under some glorious sunshine. A ferry took us from Bergen to Stavanger in a truly amazing ride, more like an amusement park ride than anything else. The wind was up, and the ship hit practically every wave head on. Or so it seemed. We had fun, though, and even got a tour of the ferry's cockpit at the end of the day. Samuel sat in one of the drivers' seats and has now decided that, if a chap must have a job involving the sea, said chap could do worse than get a job with such a comfy chair.
Anyway, we reached home safely, glad that our sojourn was and glad our sojourn was at an end. We saw the northern lights, left the boat with all our faculties present and accounted for, retained the use of both limbs and mind, and saw a little more of God's most glorious world.
Thursday, 3. April 2008, 20:51:29
Well, as is fairly obvious, Timothy wrote that post on April Fool's Day. If you care to see, hop on over to his blog for the post I wrote there. Nonetheless, I maintain that I intend to avoid Carla Montgomery's book on geology for the rest of my life.
As you can see, my idea of doing a book review on the first of every month went by the roadside in favor of an April Fool's joke. Instead, I will post my book review today (or tonight, rather).
The Indian in the Cupboard Series
Lynn Reid Banks' series of Indian in the Cupboard books was a family favorite when I was younger. We must have read them through at least twice, and I remember them much more distinctly than many others. While not my first recommendation to a teenager, these books are great read-alouds for families with young(er/ish) children.
Omri does not much like his birthday gift: a medicine cupboard picked up somewhere and refurbished. Nonetheless, he accepts it and puts it in his room. Days later, when he buys a plastic figure of an american indian, he unthinkingly puts it in the cupboard. The next time Omri opens the cupboard he finds a tiny, proud, and terrified indian brave staring up at him.
The boy and his indian go through all of the predictable difficulties (and some unpredictable ones) as Omri labors to provide his indian guest with food, a plot of ground, a horse, and materials to build his own longhouse (which Omri keeps under his bed). Keeping his new friend hidden from both the cat and his older brother, Omri finds his brave a fascinating, rude, demanding houseguest.
Banks' other books build on this idea of the cupboard bringing things to life--and turning them back to plastic--as Omri explores its abilities, bringing to life both a wife for his brave and a loveable cowboy. In later books Omri finds a way to go into the worlds of his plastic people. Overall, I loved this series for its humor and suspense. Perhaps not the most original of ideas, Banks does a good job with her characters and takes her plots in interesting directions.
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And that's all for tonight. I must be off to bed. Tomorrow I leave for the North (actually above the Arctic Circle! Yay!) with Mother.
Tuesday, 1. April 2008, 18:58:32
Today is the first of April, and that means fun for all concerned. Apart from a monstrous reading load today, I didn't do much. I don't really get involved in practical jokes, since I don't find them enjoyable, but several other TPSers have done things today. On the forum I visit, all the Star Trek fans took over the management. It is funny, especially since they're throwing people into the brig. Timothy is naturally having a ball.
The weather's been very wet and cold today, though for the past few days it's been positively bright and sunny. It's not what I signed up for, but I suppose a little sun never hurt anyone in Norway.
Soon Mother and I will start packing for our trip (we leave Friday) up north. I don't really relish the idea of being away so long, but I will have lots of time to study and read on the boat. Hopefully the weather will be tolerable, so we can see more than fog and rain and waves.
I have also decided to reject all Montgomery books.
Sunday, 23. March 2008, 16:16:16
As I write, snow falls in heavy, white swirls outside my window. We were taking a walk on the beach with the dog when it began, and I don't think it has let up since. But we are safe and dry indoors; a roast is in the crockpot, dough is rising in the cupboard, Samuel has had his egg hunt (indoors), and Timothy and Mom are enjoying some relaxing time watching Stargate. As for me, I am forcing myself to leave my schoolwork alone for a day, and (momentarily) I have my computer to myself. I'm reading Lawhead's Pendragon at present, enjoying the Lord of the Rings musical soundtrack, and making great plans for the future.
I find a certain irony in the fact that our snow waits until Easter to show itself in force. Such weather has studiously avoided our area throughout much of the winter, only to show itself today. Today, when everyone knows one ought to be able to wear light, bright clothes and open shoes. Well, I still wore light, bright clothes (I balked at the open shoes, though) and am doing my best to deny the presence of this unseasonal snow. If it would only stick, perhaps I would be willing to acknowledge it. Thus far, however, it has swirled to no great purpose.
We went on a brief jaunt yesterday out to Kongeveien, a trail along part of the coast. It was muddier than we expected after a few days of dry weather, and we only went a small piece of the way. Yet we all survived and were wiser, colder, and muddier for the experience.
Finally, I have fixed on a name for my laptop. Though I appreciate my family's input, I fear I could not separate the name they suggested from the personality behind it, even for such an unusual name as Squeers. Instead, I'll be using the name that came to me first--and stubbornly refused to leave: Merlin.
And thus ends my documentation of yet another day in the life of the Norway Edgrens.
Saturday, 15. March 2008, 08:04:53
Well, now that Timothy has Hex fully installed in his room, my brother's old laptop has passed downstream to me. I find it takes up a disturbing amount of desk space with its chords, etc., but this I will put up with to stop doing schoolwork in Samuel's room. Hardly the ambiance one would wish in there. Besides, Samuel has been chafing under my persistent presence for some time.
I have mostly transferred my files to the new computer now, but I'm still getting used to it a bit. Using Opera as a browser is a bit of a change, but Timothy has been most, erm, insistent [i/]. It only remains to get a suitable desktop background before I can sit back and enjoy Timothy's comprehensive store of music (and audio books) which he left on the computer for me.
And, in keeping with the latest family tradition, I shall name this computer. Timothy claims he has already named it ("Rodney," after his favorite TV character), but I am inclined to disbelieve him. Feel free to give suggestions for the name, but a name has already come to me, and it is proving persistent.
Dad came home yesterday, with many tales of Panera Bread and Florida sunshine, but we've had some sunshine of our own lately. He managed to stay awake until about 8 p.m., so we hope he should be over his jetlag shortly.
In response to an earlier request of Hannah's, I took some pictures of spring flowers around the neighborhood last week, and I'll create a photo album of them as soon as I finish here. Sadly, the pictures are not incredible, as the day was somewhat less than stunning, but they must suffice for now.
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