April, May 2018

Life started to get a bit exciting for us in April of 2018. 

A little background information.....

We were renting our wee apartment and in November 2016 the apartment (actually the house with 4 apartments in it) was sold to new owners.  At first they were fine and we thought nothing would change, however around February 2017 they started to talk about putting the house rent up, taking away our rights to use the garage as well as my wee art studio space.  They talked about making an apartment in that area so they could make more money. (We totally got that - they were business people but we were just wondering when they would do it and how much they would put our house rent up. However they didn´t seem in a rush so we decided to just wait and see what would happen) 

Well way back Easter 2017 Kristian and I were out on one of our roadtrips. We were driving around in one of our favourite areas and we saw this lovely country farmhouse for sale. We thought it looked absolutely lovely. As we passed the place we saw that there was an Open House arrangement and so we decided we would just go in and check out the house, just for a laugh. We would pretend we were interested. (We actually didn´t think we could afford this type of house. It was all just for fun) 

So we pulled into the driveway and went in to have a look.  The first 30 seconds in that house did something to Kristian and me - we fell in love!!!  It was rather funny, because after we had seen the whole place we both came out and just sat in the car. We looked a little dazed as we asked each other "what happened in there??"  We soooo wanted to buy that house and we didn´t even know if we could afford it, (we needed to talk to a bank!!!)

                        
                       Views from the back of the house

When the Easter holidays were over Kristian rang the Bank. Long story short - they told us we could afford the house but we needed 5% of the asking price in cash as a deposit. We could not borrow 95% from the bank but the last 5% we could not borrow. Well we didn´t have that amount of money saved so we made a decision. We decided to save for the deposit and if  the house was still for sale when we got near the amount needed, we would go and look into buying it more seriously. 

So we started to save for our deposit for the house. In November 2017 the house was still for sale and we were getting closer to our goal. In about 6 months we should have the deposit. We decided to get my brother-in-law out to look at it. He is a carpenter and builder so he knows about houses. He would check out the place and see if it was worth us buying it, then we would know if we should really go after this house.  So he came and checked it out and thought it was a good house.

Ok, so this is where my life started to get rather emotional!! Up until now it was just a dream but now that my brother in law had said it was a good house,  it actually might become a reality. I started to get scared. This could get serious and we could buy our first home!!! Were we doing the right thing? Could we really afford it ? Were we crazy taking on a mortgage at our age? I needed to see what God said about it all. I needed His guidance.

One morning before going to work I was praying about all this and then I thought "God are you really interested in us getting a house? It´s all a bit silly when there are bigger things in the world to worry about." I then opened my morning reading and it was from Psalm 37 v 23 in NLT "The Lord directs the steps of the godly, He delights in every detail of their lives."  It was like God had just answered my question. He delighted in these details of my life.

A few days later I was up at the beach. I sometimes go to the beach when I want to get alone with God. I had planned a whole day just me, God and my Bible. (Oh and a delicious sandwich!)

 I was praying about owning our own place. I was somehow feeling very selfish about wanting my own place. We had everything we needed, did God want us to own our own house and land??  

Well after I had been praying about that for a long while  I decided to read my Bible. I thought about the verse I had read from Psalm 37 a few days before, about God delighting in every detail of our life. I just thought that I would read the whole Psalm.

Well as I read through the Psalm so many things spoke to me. Like v7 Be still and wait patiently for the Lord to act. (mmhh I was worrying, wondering, trying to figure out everything. Reading this calmed me inside.) Then I read v.9 which really jumped out at me...." ...but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land." I had just been praying if we should own a piece of land. It was like God answered me. I felt a peace come over me.

If this was to be ours God would work it out. 

By April 2018 we had nearly saved all the money for the deposit. The house we had seen was still for sale but we decided that maybe it was wise for us to check out other houses just to see what was out there. That´s what we did.  But we didn´t find any that beat the one that we were in love with. 

In between checking out houses we had some friends come and visit from Ireland. We had a wonderful few days with them. 

Then in May I had a birthday. Kristian had arranged a night away. He had packed a picnic and took me on one of our beloved roadtrips

He had booked an overnight stay at a lovely wee hotel in the south of Denmark.

After some good food and a good nights sleep we were on the road again and out exploring Denmark.

It was such a wonderful birthday and break away from everything.

January, February, March 2018......

January 2018 started much the same as every other year - me in my training clothes with a plan to get fit and healthy! haha

We started our Ladies Bible Study group up again and served healthy treats instead of the cake and sweets that we usually have. 

Needless to say, the healthy eating phase did not last long into 2018. 

In January we also spent a weekend clearing out our storage space. Our garage and hallway was just filled with a load of stuff, you couldn´t actually walk through it. We forgot to take a before picture, but believe me, it was just awful. So we started a big clearout. We felt so proud of ourselves for getting it all cleared up. 

I had a few nights out with girlfriends. 

 One of my friends and I went to the cinema and found that we were literally the only two there to see the film. That was fun! (I can´t actually remember what the film was but I remember us thinking it was good. )

In Feburary  I had a weeks holiday from work and Kristian had a few days off too. We relaxed a bit,  went on a few dates and also checked out some areas of Denmark that we had never been to before. The weather had turned cold, but with the right clothes on we were still able to enjoy the nature around us. 

In March I spent some time in my wee studio doing some painting. I tried painting angels instead of nature. I am not sure if I actually like them, but it was fun to try. 

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year to you all. I can´t believe 2017 is already finished - it just flew by! We had a great 2017 filled with many wonderful memories. I think the highlight was our trip to Ireland, it was one of the best holidays ever and Kristian and I talk about doing it all again.  (Next time Leah wants to join us, she so regrets not coming along with us last summer.)

 The last few months in 2017 have been really busy but really good.

OCTOBER:
In October I had a week of work and had a wonderful time just being here at home. Some days I spent reading, other days watching films and other days I went out window shopping. One afternoon I had a trip to Ikea with my friend Audry and another day I spent with my friend Leila being creative. 

I work with Leila - she is one of the Art teachers at school, so we had a fun day creating different things that we could sell at our Christmas Bazaar. We made signs, pebble art, and even tried our hands at the pottery wheel. It was sooo hard but great fun.

 I even tried my hand at burning wood signs. Again it was hard but great fun. 

Throughout October and November, Leila and I continued to meet every Monday after work for a few hours to make more items for our Christmas Bazaar. In the end, we had a lot of stuff to sell.

Hubby and I had a few date days in Copenhagen and out by the Coast.

NOVEMBER:
In November we had a double date night with Kristian´s sister Hanne and husband Flemming. We went out to dinner and then unto a Tribute concert for Whitney Houston. The girl singing did such a great job - she did look and sound like Whitney - well almost!

At the end of November we had our Christmas Bazaar at school. Leila and I had our stand with all our homemade signs and artwork. We were a bit worried that wouldn´t sell anything. Well, we shouldn´t have worried. We were almost sold out of everything by the end of the day. We raised 500 pounds for the school that day. We were all chuffed!

Our stand at the Christmas Bazaar....

We also held Thanksgiving with our American neighbour. We had a lovely evening with them. Good food and good company always makes for a successful evening! 

I had a few days off work in the middle of November. It was so great to have time to do whatever I wanted. I had a day at home, reading and relaxing and I had a day out with myself. I went on a picnic and had some long walks along the beach. It was a beautiful day and I was out from early morning until the sun went down late afternoon. It was such a great day, just me, my thoughts, prayers and God (Only 20 years till I go on the pension and I can do this every day if I want! haha) 

 I again had one of my delicious sandwiches with me to enjoy. 

In between all of this I had Bible study with my girlfriends, we held an early Christmas with some friends, I was out biking with my old man and I also had a few cafe visits with friends -  to catch up with each other's lives! :-) Sara was also home for a few days for a visit. 

DECEMBER:
I LOVE December!!! 

We started December with a girls night out. My mother-in-law, and two of my sister-in-laws and myself went out to dinner and then unto the cinema to see a LIVE broadcast of the Nutcracker sent from London. It was amazing. A great evening out. 

I stopped work for Christmas already on 15th December. I was not complaining!! It was wonderful to have sooo much time to get ready for Christmas. 

On the 16th Leah, Kristian and I had a plan. We would get up early, clean the house, then get the tree, make Christmas cookies, decorate the tree  and watch our traditional Christmas film - A Christmas Vacation. 

Our plan went like clockwork. We achieved everything we set out to do - now that was a Christmas miracle. 

We got a lovely tree this year.

Then I had a whole week to get ready for Christmas. I went shopping one day from 10am to 6pm and got all the presents. 

I had a day where I went through every cupboard and drawer in the house and sorted it out - it sure felt good. Everything was getting ready for Christmas.

One afternoon I had a visit from my friend Jette with her two kids. We had such a cosy afternoon and evening playing Ludo, opening pressies and eating food. 

One afternoon I invited Kristian´s mum and sister to Christmas lunch. Leah was off work too so we made a cosy afternoon for them. 

I got kidnapped by a snowman....

Less said about that the better!

I had one day were I stayed in my PJs all day long. Kristian and Leah were at work. The house was clean, the Christmas shopping done, the Christmas tree up and so I relaxed. I watched Scrooge and Miracle on 34th Street (the old black and white version) it was wonderful!

On the Thursday before Christmas my friend Anne came for lunch. Leah had to work, (she works in a Supermarket) so I thought I would drive her to work and do a little shopping while I was there. 

Well, when I left the supermarket I could not find my car key! I checked at the lost and found place, I contacted Leah, I retraced all my steps but I couldn´t find it. 

My friend Anne would be at my house in an hour and I was stuck at the supermarket!! haha Just as I was about to give up hope a lady came by the lost and found area and handed in my key. She had found it in the fridge amoung the Curry Herrings!! I had bought Herrings in curry for lunch and must have put my key down in the fridge!!! Honestly, I am getting old!! 

Even with an awful start to the day, Anne and I had a lovely day together with loads of laughter! 

Friday 22nd December Sara arrived home again. It was good to have her home. 

On the 23rd Andrew, Camilla, and Lasse arrived and joined Leah, Sara, Kristian and I for a little bit of Christmas "hygge" cosiness. 

 We spent the afternoon making Danish treats from marzipan and nougat. Tastes soooo good.

We ate dinner together and then gave each other our Christmas gifts. It was a really cosy evening.

Andrew drove Camilla home to her mums and then came back to stay the rest of the Christmas holidays with us. 

The 24th is the big celebration over here. Normally we go to Kristian´s family but this year we decided we would just stay at home. It is not often that it is just us 5 together and we were looking forward to just hanging out together.

 We went to church together.

Then it was home to play a few games together.  

 We prepared dinner together...

 The food was sooo good. We had duck and pork with caramelized potatoes and red cabbage. 

Since we first exchange gifts on the 25th we just sang some carols after dinner and then saw a Christmas movie. 

Christmas day we had the traditional English Christmas with gifts in the morning and far too much food in the afternoon.

It was a wonderful Christmas. 

The 26th Sara and Andrew went home. Leah and I  held our traditional Christmas with our neighbours Laura and Mia. We went over to their place to exchange gifts and then they came over here for Brunch. The whole day was spent in our PJs. The afternoon was spent watching a film together. Sooo cosy. Kristian enjoyed having peace to just be on his computer. 

On 28th Sara´s Christian came to visit. He and Sara have sort of broken up - or are on a pause.  Sara is a little confused about life and wants time to think about what she wants out of life. 

We have such a good relationship with Christian and are sad about this but understand Sara too. 

 Christian decided to come and visit us and we had such a lovely day with him. We drove out to the Coast, had some lunch and a good long talk. We went a walk around the local harbour and then headed home for coffee and cake. We watched a film and then after some sandwiches he started the 3½ hour journey home again. 

The 29th was Kristian´s mums birthday so we went and picked up Andrew and us four - Kristian, Leah, Andrew and me headed down to say Happy Birthday to his mum. She hadn´t arranged anything but lots of the family just kept popping by so we got to see some of Kristian´s brothers and sisters. That was lovely.

That evening Kristian was heading out to the forest for his annual boys night out around the campfire. 

New Year was spent here at home - just the two of us, nice and quiet, just the way we like it.

 We reminisced about the year that had passed and dreamed about the things we want to achieve in 2018. We ate far too much food. We saw a few chat shows and a few concerts too. All in all, a lovely evening to end the old year and start the new.