Talk about avoidance!

More than three months and I haven't blogged once! Kept myself pretty busy with church, home, and general keeping up...got a little painting done around the house, tried to do as much as possible in my RS calling...and on the 10th of March, I returned to the US for a visit! Flat Stanley arrived in an envelope to Sweden from my grandson Brandon and returned with me...more on that later. When I arrived to SEATAC Nathan picked me up and we had a great couple of days (including some fun times with the girls...watching swimming lessons, going out to lunch, just fun time together) before I left to drive up to Bellingham to spend that Friday, Sat., and part of Sunday with Bryan and family. How great to see everyone and see the beautiful house that he has build...watching them enjoy the space and comfort of it showed how very much they deserved it after all these years of sacrificing for it! It was a wonderful birthday dinner with them when I arrived...BBQing steak on their covered porch, with all of the trimmings for the celebration! What a great visit with all when I was there! Sunday I returned to Nate and Ashleys for a birthday dinner there and a great celebration that next day with Hayle on her 6th birthday! We were able to go shopping together for her gift and then go to lunch...she chose pizza and I've never seen her eat so much! What a great young lady!
Happy Birthday Hayle!

That Tuesday I drove to Utah...lots of snow in the Cascades, but nowhere else on the roads thank goodness! It is wonderful to be here with Scott, Elizabeth and family and get lots of grandma hugs! The most awesome thing about being a grandma! I have been enjoying my time here and trying to recoup from the flying, driving and jet lag! What a busy couple of weeks!

Bolliaden

At 10:30 pm Sunday before New Years in Kristianstad, I met the chartered bus with the youth in Malmö stake with some other leaders. What an experience!!! I was to supervise all the girls from the stake...there were only 7 from the ages of 14 through 18, two from Kristianstad Branch...many more boys....
After a cheerful send off.... we were on our way...picking up others on the 14.5 hour trip to Gävle...north of Stockholm.

What a thrilling experience it was to spend the week with the fine youth from all over Sweden...I was especially proud of our youth from Kristianstad for their appropriateness and leadership! Activities included classes, meals, dances, sports and wonderful socializing! Their were 16 girls and one other leader in our room and it was wild...sleeping on the floor (thank goodness for air mattresses!) in a school...girls getting ready for dances, etc...it's been a while for me! We had a wonderful mix of backgrounds and had prayer each night in a different language...awesome!After a fun filled four days we headed for home to catch up on some much needed sleep! An activity well worth the trip...beautiful country, awesome youth and a great time!

Jul and update on family....

Christmas in Sweden...great!!!! But as always I miss the family...Eimi, Thomas and Zoe are gone- Thailand and Indonesia. Scott, Liz and kids traveled to Spokane to be with the Stevensens- through quite a snowstorm! Bryan and Mandy went to Mandy's dad's house- at least not to far considering the amount of snow there. Exciting- they will be having a baby Girl! They moved into their new house just before Thanksgiving and are loving their warm floor heating! They are nearly finished...waiting for countertops being made, etc. How wonderful for them...it's been a long wait! Nate, Ashley and family traveled to Durango to be with Ashley's folks...quite a story of a struggle with a blizzard! WOW! Aaron spent the time at home fighting a cold...bummer!!!

In Sweden the day of the biggest celebration is Christmas Eve day...I was invited to enjoy the time with the the Sandelin family and Nancy's two sisters and their families plus 4 missionaries. It was a great time...such great people, food and fun! You guys are awesome!!!












We had Chile, Sweden, US, Germany and Finland all represented and enjoyed songs in each language! There was also a great Christmas program by the children! It was wonderful to be a part of the wonderful day!



On Christmas day I went to my friend Annita's home for a meal with her family from Malmö. I felt right at home...finding that their family was a crazy as mine!!! It was also wonderful to have her granddaughter Angelica drop by with her new baby daughter. Angelica and her husband are close friends of Eimi and Thomas...such a small world!!!
The day after Christmas I had a wonderful dinner with my friend Yolanka and her family in Kristianstad...What a great visit and meal...mmmm...mmmm...mmmm!!!!
A wonderful Jul season spent with awesome friends...who could ask for more????