HOME FROM NORWAY!!

I confess I planned to write at least one entry on the UFFDA blog site during our time in Norway, but after Marc ruined it for me with his amazingly funny and cleverly written entry, I told myself..."LET IT GO, LET IT GO!!"  There is no way I can compete with that, BUT...

I am thankful for the gift my parents gave to me to see where I come from.  Thankful to my parents for the time with my siblings.  Thankful to my parents for time with them...and thankful to John, Barry, Debbie, Mark and Wanda for embracing this crazy idea and "letting us go"!

My favorite things...

• Spending time with Christian, the son of my brother Jon's college friend who was so educated on the history and stories of Norway.  He was smart, cute, funny, mature and I realized that I need to learn more about where I live just in case someone asks me a question about the Black Hills!!
• Walking into the house where my great grandfather Markus grew up, so far away from Rapid City, South Dakota and yet I felt like I belonged there!
• The sheer beauty in the landscape of Norway.  It really was something to feast your eyes on!
• The food...I thought I would come home a few pounds lighter, but then I discovered the waffles, the cheese, the salmon, the potatoes, the crackers, the lefse, the bread...

• The lunch with just the 5 of us kids in Flam.  Eating king crab, salmon, scallops, shrimp and sipping a little wine...ok, maybe a lot of wine!!!

• The quiet moments with siblings,  sharing our struggles and joys in life!

• The final toast of the trip, made by my dad in Bergen with a shot of Aquavit which was actually made in Bergen.  At that moment, love surrounded us and my dad reminded us that as the evening gently closes in on their lives, love lives on forever!!!    Skol     

Sonia