Double blessings....

.....yes, it was a double blessing of Ikea that I got today!!!

Even though I had arranged with my friend Audry to go to Ikea this evening, when I woke this morning I just couldnt wait. So off I went, by myself, to look for a new rug. The rug I wanted was sold out and they weren´t getting any more in stock....so I had to find something else that I liked. I finally did. I looked for curtains but didnt find any that I liked so I came home and washed the curtains I had.

The afternoon was spent cleaning the living room, putting down the rug and changing some of the lightshades. I had bought some new shades at Ikea and wanted to see what they looked like. I liked them but no-one else in the family did, so I took them back this evening when Audry and I went for our girls night out. We had a great evening in Ikea and ended the evening at Mcdonalds where we talked and talked. Finally got home at 11pm!!

So tomorrow the plan is to go and get a few new (cheap) lamps - get my desk buildt and then organise my books and DVD´s etc. I am having a blast!!! Photos will follow soon:-)

I did it....

...I decided to just go ahead and change the living room around. Kristian was in his cupboard racing and he didnt notice a thing until it was too late!!!

The funny thing was that when he came out and saw what I had done he got so confused. He saw that we had two cupboards with glass doors, he didnt realise that we had two of these and couldnt work out were we had the second cupboard. HONESTLY MEN!! I couldnt stop laughing, finally I had to tell him that I had taken the one out of the kitchen!!

So the sofa has been moved into the middle of the room and the book cases put behind the sofa.

I have moved my piano out into the kitchen, where the cupboard used to be. Then I will put a desk where my piano used to be. I´ve decided to buy a new mat at Ikea tomorrow and see what sort of cheap curtains they have. Then we just need to sort out the pictures on the wall. Then that should be the living room sorted, just the rest of the cupboards around the place to clear out!

A weekend of firsts....

...Friday evening we held the first night of our junior club. Fourteen kids turned up at our apartment for dinner and some fun. They were a noisy bunch!!! or maybe it only seemed that way, because our apartment was not made to take 14 noisy 11-13 year olds. (I now know how to annoy my husband!!! hahaha I thought he was going to have a nervous breakdown before the night was over!) Anyway we ate together and played some games and ended the evening with a film. I must say that I missed my friend Rhona, we always did kids clubs together so I felt like my other half was missing. Anyway the evening seemed to go well. We will now meet once a month down at the church.



...On Saturday we made our first visit to a new shopping centre opened in a town not too far away from us. Sara, Leah, Kristian and I headed out for a cosy day together. Andrew was not interested in shopping so he went over to his friends to play computer. We had a really great afternoon out. The girls had a blast, there were lots of opening bargins and Kristian and I just enjoyed wandering around watching them get excited about the bargins.



Leah got her first bra. She was totally over the moon!! As soon as she came home, on went the bra and she ran around the house most of the afternoon with hardly anything else on!!! haha



Saturday evening was the first time an X-factor Final was held in Parken (our big football grounds in Copenhagen). 40000 people bought tickets for the final. We however stayed at home and got cosy. It was nice to have everyone here together on a Saturday evening. It was a great show - however my favourite did not win:-(



Today is the first day off work for Easter!!! I am so enjoying just relaxing. Must say I have itchy fingers!! I want to re-arrange the living room!! I am just not sure how to do it. The way we have the furniture now is probably the best way to have it, makes the living room seem big and open. However I would really like a decent desk that I can sit at and study at.....so I have an idea, only one slight problem, I have to get Kristian hooked unto it....but I´ll keep you posted if any changes are made:-) Off to Ikea tomorrow evening!!! Yipieeeee!!!

Peace perfect peace....

.... thats what I actually feel right now. I never expected to feel this way! You see the estate agent rang this afternoon and said that another family had put a bid in for the house - OUR house:-( He was letting us know so that if we wanted, we could bid too. However that was impossible for us to do. Our bank could first meet with us next Tuesday for a meeting. If we were to bid we needed to have a bank guarantee, and the deadline for bidding was tomorrow afternoon.

Kristian rang to tell me this and I just felt a peace, I didnt even feel disappointed. Kristian actually felt the same. So we are happy and at peace. Now its time to find a new dream. I think a trip to Ikea is on the cards along with a bit of clearing out and re-arranging around the place and then we can live here for another few years!

Miracles do happen....

...tonight I was doing a bit of reading about healing. Not an easy subject and I dont even pretend to understand it...but I am being challenged in my way of thinking. Anyway the reason I am posting this here is not to offend or start a big theological discussion on healing!! :-)

Its just because I have been so blessed through this testimony. I watched this healing testimony this evening and even though I have seen this before, it touched my heart all over again. I just wanted to share it. So for those of you who are interested and have the time, take a look. I hope it blesses you too, and if it does lead into a big theological discussion - so be it!!! hahaha I have got my headache tablets ready!!! hahaha

(Sorry about the quality - had to shrink it so it could be uploaded)

Update....

....Our brother-in-law went with Kristian to see the house. He is a builder/carpenter and his advice was to go for it. He thought it was a good solid house for the price. Only question now is - can we afford it?

The way they do the loans over here is so complicated - I just dont get it!!!! I have been in on our banks website to see what we can afford. Sometimes when I work the loans out, it looks like we can afford it, other times it doesnt - so basically I havent got a clue about what I am doing!!! haha

Kristian has contacted the bank and we are waiting to hear when we can go in for a meeting, probably at the end of next week or start of the next. I dont dare think about it. I really can see us living there, but past experience says that the bank will turn us down - they have so many standards that have to be met, like how much a family of 5 should have to live on after everything is paid, and we have never fitted those standards......Ah well - lets enjoy the dream while its lasts...if it doesnt work out a trip to Paris or Rome will be the next dream that we work on!

Its that time again....

....time to dream!!

Yes I admit it, I am a dreamer - I will always be a dreamer and since the skies have turned blue and the sun is out, I have started to dream again about a wee house with a garden.

So I found one! - not a house that would make you say "WOW - thats gorgeous!", but there is something about it that I like, and maybe its something we can afford. (although I always think that until we get to the bank and they tell us about the rules they have for borrowing money - e.g. you should have, AFTER all the bills are paid, £150 a month for each child and about £800 as a couple, just to live on!) But I havent been to the bank yet so I am just going to dream!

The amazing thing is that Kristian jumped unto the "dream wagon" with me!!! I showed him the house on the net and he liked the look of it too....so he made an appointment to go and see it. We are just back!!

The house itself is the same size as our apartment 100 sq.metres...but it has a cellar and garage underneath that is also 100 sq.metres, so we would have double the space. (but the nice thing is that its not a huge house, so when the kids leave home its still a nice size for me and Kristian.)

The living room is about the size of the one we have now. There are 3 bedrooms but in the cellar there is a room that could be made into a bedroom, there is a laundry room, there is another small room that could be Kristians racing room and an another small room that could be a guest room (Jeffrey and Ivan your names are already on the door of that room!! haha) There is also room for an office as you go down into the cellar. There is a bit of work to be done down there, like a wooden floor needs put down, wall paper and paint, but for the most it is cosmetic things that need done.
There is a garage and a workplace, perfect for Kristian and Sara and their go-kart. There is a small garden, just perfect for the rest of us!! Can you tell that I have already moved in!!! hahaha

At the back there is a lovely wee area for BBQ ing and an area were you can light a campfire, and sit around on small benches and roast marshmallows!!! (told you I am sold!)

In the last 4 years there has been new windows put in over the whole house, with the exception of two in the living room. A new kitchen, and a new roof and bathroom have also been put in. The only thing needed doing now is some finishing off. Anyway its in Kristians hands now, he is going to get our brother-in-law, who is in the building trade, to go with him and have a look at it. If they decide its a good buy we will go and talk to the bank.... so we will keep you posted!!!!

If you want to see more pictures you can check it out on: http://www.danbolig.dk/privat/sog-bolig/resultat/vis-bolig.htm?propertyid=368702&brokerid=160&zipcode=3200&searchtype=1

Go in to Billeder (that means pictures) It is in a town about 20km from where we live now.

Where did it go?

- last week just flew in....I really dont know where it went!!!

Tuesday I was out eating again!! This time with my friend Genny who I have not seen in about 2 years because she and her family moved to Dubai. She just recently returned to Denmark again. Genny and I had always gone out to eat, 4 times a year, usually with the changing of the seasons. We would always go to the Mexican Restaurant and use the night to catch up with each others lives. Tuesday was just like old times again. We were back at our Mexican Restaurant catching up again. It was so good to see her again and we chatted like we had never been apart. The next time we get together is just before summer holidays! (Scary thing is, before we know it, it will be summer!!)


On Wednesday Sara went to Belgium again!! She was missing Alessio so a quick trip was fitted into her schedule. She was going off to surprise him. She had arranged with his mum and cousin that they would pick her up at airport. Unfortunately the surprise didnt work out, he found out and ended up going to the airport with them! Even though the surprise was spoilt, he was happy to see her again!


Thursday evening saw me in Copenhagen. There was a meeting for childrens workers in one of the big churches in there. They had invited a childrens pastor from the USA to come along. He and his wife held an inspiration night with lots of ideas to use with kids. Since I was the only one going from our church I was in two minds about going - I decided to go anyway. I took the train in and found my way to the church. Once I got in there I met soooo many people that I knew, some I hadnt seen in years. It was a good evening and I was glad I went!


This weekend has been quiet. A bit of cleaning and clearing up got done by me, and Kristian spent today fixing computers for the kids. (Always some problem with them!! glad he can work it out.) Leah was at a birthday party all day and Andrew was going out to eat chinese with his friends, (Sara is in Belgium) so suddenly Kristian and I found ourselves alone for dinner!!! It was weird but it was also nice causes we had dinner in a clean house with no kids to mess it up!!! haha Long may the clean house last - although I doubt it will last longer than tomorrow evening!! Thats when Sara comes home again and she is definately the one who makes the most mess in this house!!

Gospel music.....

.....always makes me feel good. Saturday night was no exception.

If you remember on Saturday evening I was off to hear Leah sing and Kristian play his sax. It was a great evening. The atmosphere in the church was fantastic.

The place was packed so when I arrived ½ hour before the concert started there was literally no seats. I ended up sitting up with Kristian in the band, until I realised that once Kristian stood up and the guitarist stood up I would see nothing....so I crawled across to the very first seat on the opposite side. It was not the best place to sit (the seat was reserved for the mics and music!) I was right up next to the choir and the sound wasnt the best, but I enjoyed it soooo much....the atmosphere in the place just did it for me.

Leah goes to a Kids Gospel choir every Wednesday. There is also an adult gospel choir and for that Saturday the two choirs had come together for the day. They had held a workshop. Saturday evening was a presentation of the songs they had practised. I think they did really well. It was really special seeing young and old singing gospel together.

P.S. and I came home to a clean house - it was wonderful and I rewarded us all with a big bowl of ice cream, with whipped cream on top and a curly whirly:-) Nice end to the day!

Procrastinating.....

....thats exactly what I am doing now!!! I should be cleaning but I keep putting it off for another ½ hour!!! At this rate the day will be through and I will have got nothing cleaned!!! and believe me my house REALLY needs cleaning at the minute:-)

On Thursday I was out with the girls from work. We were 5 girls out to have some fun. Two of the girls, Dorthe and Inge, I work with now. The other two, Lena and Anne (yes its crazy Anne!!! ), I used to work with, so it was sort of a re-union too.

We headed out to a chinese restaurant and had sooo much fun. We ate far too much - a six course menu, and probably talked far too much too. There was also lots of laughter especially on the way home!!! Anne just brings out the worse in me and I become 10 times crazier when I am with her.

Anne had to end the evening with an irish coffee - YUK! At the end of the meal they came with the traditional hot towels. Anne was ready to take a bath!!! hahaha

And even with all the money that she was flashing around, we all eneded up paying our own bill.

I think a fun night was had by all - I certainly enjoyed myself.

Today has been busy. The early part of the morning was spent playing taxi for Leah and her friend. They were going out for a few hours of shopping before heading off to their choir practise. Tonight they are giving a concert. Kristian is also playing at the concert so he was away from early this morning to practise with the band.

Then I was off to church to a "Exchange clothes day" We had this week to leave our "old, tired of wearing you," clothes off at the church. Then today we could go and buy other peoples "old, tired of wearing you" clothes and they would feel like "new, love wearing you" clothes to us. You could give between 10p - £1 for the clothes. The money raised was going to an organisations that helps prevent Trafficking of Women.

I got myself two "new" skirts, a new black denim jacket. I also saw a few nice tops but couldnt fit them - (less said about that the better!!!) There was muffins, cakes, coffee and tea, so when you needed a break from the "shopping" there was time to sit and enjoy a cuppa and a chat. It was a really fun morning and before I knew it 2½ hours had gone by and I needed to go get Leah and her friend from town and get them to choir.

Now I need to stop procrastinating and just get this house cleaned!!!! Then I can go off to the concert this evening, enjoy listening to my daughter sing and my hubby play his sax and come home to a clean and organised house. - OH THAT SOUNDS SOOOO GOOD - I AM GOING TO CLEAN THIS HOUSE!!!!!

Anyone get tired and weary??

...cause I know I do from time to time! I get tired and weary of snow, of cleaning, of driving kids here and there, of living in Denmark, of hearing about motorsport, of trying to make one pay check last till the next one comes along, and I can even get tired and weary of the same old familiar routine, day in and day out.

There are so many things that can make us tired, weary, fed up, and restless. But we dont need to stay in that state of mind. There is a way out. The answer is found in Isaiah 40, 28-31 "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength"

All week at work, I have been listening to a song about this and it just spoke to me so much. I thought I would share it, just in case one of you out there in cyber world is feeling tired and weary....you dont have to, you can do something about how you feel. You too can rise on wings like eagles....and thats the name of the song "LIKE EAGLES." Have a listen to it......

Spring, spring, spring.....

It felt like spring time when I woke Sunday morning. I looked out the kitchen window and for the first time in 2 months, I saw grass!!! It was a wonderful sight!! Going to church the sky was blue and it wasnt as cold as ít had been on Saturday!



We had a lovely Sunday! Church was wonderful and then after church I had a special event planned for my Sunday School class. We ate lunch in church, played a few games and then went a walk through the park out to the bowling ally. We ended the afternoon there playing bowling. They are a great bunch of kids. There were 11 kids and two teenagers who came along to help. We had such a fun afternoon together.

Then today I woke and it was snowing again!!! WHAT IS HAPPENING - its spring!!!


Food wise I was bad - all weekend! But today has been different! I have really done well today and actually havent craved chocolate, crisps or coke!! But my greatest victory was this evening.......

I was at a meeting in church and when it was finished I thought I would surprise Kristian and the kids with an ice cream from McDonalds on the way home. I drove into the drive in and ordered 2 sundaes with chocolate, 1 with strawberry and a McFlurry with m&m´s. The whole time I was ordering I was thinking to myself that I should get a sundae with caramel.....I was sooooo tempted! but when the girl asked if that was all I said yes!!!and didnt order one more ice cream!! I DID IT!!!!!! home with only 4 ice-creams to a family of 5!!

Breakfast - 2 Weetabix
Break - Slice of wheaten bread and jam
Lunch - 3 flat bread, with ham and cottage cheese, 1 Avacado
Break - ½ slice of wheaten bread/ 1 chocolate chip cookie
Dinner - 200g potatoes, chicken and carrots/onion gravy