The Significance of Tradition
Joyfully reflecting on our Saint Patrick’s Day meal.
“I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead, his eye to watch,
his might to stay, his ear to hearken to my need…”
From childhood, Saint Patrick’s Day has been a family celebration. Mom would cook corned beef, root vegetables, and cabbage to perfection. She would let me help assemble the sticky, buttermilk-infused Irish Soda Bread dough, and I would wait impatiently for the baking loaf to get a delicious golden-brown crust. The reward lay in slathering a layer of butter on an extra thick slice of this traditional bread that I looked forward to once a year. Salty and savory smells and flavors, Waterford crystal on the finely set table, Irish music gleefully filling the room, and green clover décor in abundance, brought magic to the often-bleak weathered 17th of March.
All the years we were married in Washington, we continued the celebration with my parents. When we moved, we brought the tradition to Montana and partook every year with dear friends. The event took on feast qualities as we would add even more fun Irish flavors.
However, an epiphany was had this year, as we considered our Saint Paddy’s Day observance: we live in a Nordic nation with zero connection to Irish traditions. This put a spotlight on the melting-pot status of the United States. I grew up acknowledging all sorts of interesting holidays or at least going to festivals or park concerts that paid homage to the many different folk expressions of our nation’s diverse populace. The U.S. is very unique, indeed.
I’ll take you on a small journey of what made March 17th extra memorable this year.
Corned Beef:
Did you know that brisket is the cut of meat from which corned beef is made? Brisket – this cut that is understood collectively in a nation of BBQ enthusiasts – is not readily available here. At least, not in our small community. I did some internet sleuthing and found a local meat processor an hour away in the mountains. Clayton had an email exchange to verify that they did, in fact, know what we were asking for and then off he went to pick up the slab of beef for our Saint Paddy needs. If you ever want to brine your own corned beef, we enjoy this recipe.
Irish Soda Bread:
This simple loaf of bread, baked in a Dutch oven, is delicious. Tradition demands that it should be made from four ingredients: flour, salt, baking soda, and buttermilk. If you add other things, some old Irish lady may accuse you of making a teacake. This summer I hiked with a group from church up above our home to a hillside farm. I kept brushing against some sort of dried plant that emitted a slight licorice scent. I asked one of the men and he explained that it was “karve”, which they use in baking or cheese. I took some and chewed on it… it was caraway! So I harvested a few stalks and removed the seeds in to a small jar. The last several years, Clayton and I have made one loaf of plain soda bread and one with raisins, caraway, and a touch of sugar. How perfect that I could get this flavorful seed from the land!
Mustard:
It is amazing how this little holiday made me recognize all I take for granted. Next time you go to shop for mustard, even at a small grocery, look at your options! It’s absolutely astonishing! We could not find whole-grain mustard to accompany the corned beef. Even the German man I work with who has lived here for decades (and should know his mustard) didn’t know where to find what I consider a common condiment. Since scarcity is indeed, the mother of invention, we opted to make our own, but needed to find mustard seeds. A colleague suggested we visit the Asiatisk Matbutikk in the town of Gol, a half-hour away. BINGO – found them. Also, you should be making your own mustard… it’s unbelievably easy and so delicious!
The Snake Bite:
To our surprise, Guinness is carried in the local grocery store. This dark and rich beer is a necessary ingredient for the Snake Bite; a yummy, fudgy cake, with cream cheese – ginger beer frosting. I did not grow up with this, but it’s become a favorite in our home. All enjoyed this tasty treat next to the warm fire and the candles burning in the windows.
Sharing Tradition:
The best part of this entire holiday was sharing our traditions with the couple who invited us here. We started the evening with a glass of Guinness as the kids shared the story of Saint Patrick: the escaped slave who returned to his Irish captors with the gospel of Christ’s forgiveness and love. They pointed out the green clovers they had made and hung throughout the hearth room, as representations of Saint Patrick’s parable of the Trinity. For the meal blessing, I read the Hymn of Saint Patrick.
Our friends had never partaken in anything like this gathering, nor tasted the flavors. They were amazed. I recognized in myself an overwhelming sense of satisfaction and joy in sharing this part of our hearts. A special dinner that always makes for a joyful and meaningful evening in our home, became some sort of supernatural transaction in light of us being so far away from our own culture. I felt overwhelmed with gratitude over every bite and with the smiles of our guests. The delighted squeals of our children, as dessert was sliced up felt like such a generous reward for all the effort. I remained in a state of elation, even after we did the dishes and turned the Irish folk music off the speaker.
Having every day become a little more ‘normal’, while all the old memories remind us of what ‘normal’ really is, is a strange reality. This dinner was more than the making of a new memory, the evening reinforced the acceptance of living in a state of constant uncertainty, even while our certainty of God’s goodness grows. Maybe this is what it is like to have the perspective of a child… everything becomes mystery and curiosity, so grand and sweet to taste and touch; this is the thrill of discovering the gift that hides within each moment.
Christ sits at the table and beckons us to dine and wonder at the clinking of glasses, chiming laughter and twinkling of eyes… can you hear his love song as you gather for a meal: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
“Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.”
- Hymn of Saint Patrick
One Year Ago…
Palm Sunday, one year ago, I shared this message.
Today is Palm Sunday. On this fine day I’m (Clayton) reflecting back to last year’s observation. One year ago I had the honor of sharing a message at our local church in Bozeman Montana. Yes, it was Palm Sunday. Yes, it was my first time “preaching” at a Sunday service. But that day carried even more significance in my heart as it came right in the midst of our family processing and preparing for our move to Norway. Looking back it is amazing to see how the Lord was equipping us to step into this incredible season of obedience, faith, training, apprenticeship, growth, maturing, service and more.
Below is the message I shared. May it provide some insight and context on where we were and where we are now. May it be an encouragement and a challenge to us all and we examine what Jesus did for all of us this Easter season.
Do you trust Him?
I’m originally from Western WA…Near Seattle. I’m the 3rd of 3 brothers with a younger sister 4 years younger than me. As a child, in kindergarten, I distinctly remember responding to a gospel message, presented on a flannel graph, YES…a flannel graph. Do you remember those? At a young age a was persuaded by Jesus’ message of salvation. I was too young to know all details. How could I, at the age of 5, know that I was also signing up to participate in the greatest story every written. A story, a grand adventure, that can only be experienced by allowing the king of kings to be the author of your steps. To have the greatest play write weave together the best, most exciting script one can imagine. So what does the bible have to say about all of this? Am I just making this up to feel good about my decision of faith. Or is there more to the story.
Palm Sunday
Today is Palm Sunday. If you go way back into your memory, you may have visions of flannel graphs filled with Jesus on a donkey, surrounded by palm fronds laying on the roadside. If you recall, Palm Sunday marks the day when Jesus Christ enters Jerusalem one week prior to his unjust trial, conviction, public humiliation, torture and eventually his crucifixion.
Did Jesus know what was about to come? Was he aware of his fate? If so, why would He willingly walk into a situation with such a horrible outcome? Spoiler alert…HE knew the outcome!!!
Jesus Anointed
Let’s jump back in the timeline just a bit… We read in John 12 vs 1…
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.”
What do we see?…We see Jesus aware of what was to come. He knew that he was going to die. We also see Jesus rebuking Judas for his misguided and selfish motive. Judas is corrected for the offense he has in his heart towards Mary’s act of pure service to her Messiah. Did Mary truly understand that her actions where prophetic? Perhaps not. Does it matter? Not really. What does matter is that she was moved, in the spirit of worship, to anoint Him with this priceless oil and in doing so played a significant role in the most dramatic story to ever unfold in history! Because of her willingness to participate, to say YES, to the move of the spirit of worship, Mary actions helped to prepare Jesus for His eventual death, burial, and subsequent resurrection.
Jesus Predicts His Death
And…to thicken the plot a bit more, we see Jesus’s awareness of his fate well before Mary anoints Him. Jesus knew that death was imminent. He also knew that resurrection was the ultimate outcome!
Mark 8 - Jesus Predicts His Death
31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
Mark 9 - Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time
He said to them (His Disciples), “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
Mark 10 - Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time
33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he (Jesus) said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
Why?
Okay…so here we are. Jesus predicting his death. Jesus being anointed for his “burial” by Mary. And then he willingly enters Jerusalem knowing that the armies of all things evil are marching his direction. But why? What circumstances are in play to create this situation. What were these forces? How where they expressed in their culture? And by whom?
Well…at the risk of being extremely simplistic I’d say it all comes down to RELIGIOUS POWER. I know that there is a myriad of other factors at play here. But for the sake of time and my intellectual limitations, we can, I believe reduce this down to RELIGIOUS POWER. The need to have it. The need to keep it. The need to wield it. This desire was so great that it propelled the religious leaders to falsely accuse, torture, publicly shame and crucify and innocent man. Our Messiah.
These scriptures proved even more insight to the heart condition and motive of those religious leaders in power during this time.
Luke 12
17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
Matt. 21
14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
Luke 19
47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.
On and on we can go with verses describing the vile hatred the top religious leaders had toward Jesus. When doing a survey of these verses one can easily conclude that Religious Power, and their need for it, was a huge driving force behind their actions leading up to Christ’s crucifixion.
Back to Palm Sunday…
So, the king of kings, fulfilling many Old Testament prophesies, rides on a donkey. A DONKEY to enter Jerusalem. Not the majestic stallion one would expect for the king of kings.
Matthew 21
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5 “Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”[a]
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna[b] to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[c]
“Hosanna[d] in the highest heaven!”
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Jesus entered Jerusalem knowing that he was to be crucified a week later. Yet He willingly yields to the father’s plan. Trusting that trough unspeakable torture and injustice that His Kingdom would prevail. That the plans of the Father would triumph. That death would die. That his sacrifice would tear the veil in the temple, breaking the separation between the divine and humanity. Nothing else could have compelled him to pray “not my will, but yours be done.” Just hours before his arrest on the Mount of Olives.
So we now come this question. Do You Trust Him? Do you trust the Father? Do you trust his plan for your life? And…How do we practically live a life according to his plan?
Again, at the risk of over simplifying such important questions I think the answer is quite simple. If you say yes…I do trust Him then we must trust his plan. To live out that plan requires something from us. It’s required for us to open our hands and say “Yes”. Say yes, every day if necessary, to Jesus’ teachings. Say yes to His invitations. Say yes to walking through His open doors and grab hold of the gifts that are being presented to you.
Years of Saying Yes
I share this from a place of experience. At first it was a place of white knuckled control. In my confident arrogance I thought my yes was to Him…but in retrospect it was obviously a weak yes laced with fear. Not the type of abandoned surrendered we see in the example of Christ. Then, slowly but surely, the grip loosened and blood was beginning to flow into those knuckles. Then, with practice, I was willing, and able to say yes to some small invitations. But, really, my fear and control was still in place. To the point where I stupidly chased promises of promotions and bonuses only to, literally, get injured in pursuit of these earthly promises. However, over time I learned my lesson…The hard way…Right Jenny?!? I learned to trust. I learned to surrender and I learned that his plan truly is the best! If we had time to sit and talk, we could share for hours the stories of God’s faithfulness and extravagant love he has shown us. However, I’ll just share one recent story…
Norway
o Many of you know that we love hosting, sharing our hope with family, friends and friends of friends.
o Some of you know we deeply desire to own land for the purposes of using our gifts of hospitality to impact hearts and minds for Jesus.
o In October of 2023 we learned that we needed to move out of our place no later than the May 1, 2024.
o About a year ago we were looking to buy. And, as you know, the housing market in this area is challenging, to say the least. We found a house that we thought would be a work for us. But When seeking wise council literally all parties involved said “Don’t buy the house.”
o At that same time our friends “in Macedonia” connected us their missionary friends in “Kosovo” regarding a possible rental situation.
o During the initial contact the owners said that had long term renters who wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon.
o About 24hrs later, the owners, you know those missionaries in Kosovo, got a message from their renters that they want to move out early, by mid April of 2024!!!
o Long story short, we had an opportunity to move into this amazing place, knowing with would be for just over a year as the owners would be back for a sabbatical in late summer of 2025.
o Then owners of the house we were renting tell us that they plan to come back indefinitely. We have peace in our hearts. We know that the Lord had a plan for our next place to live.
o About a week or so later some friends from Norway contact us, out of the blue, to see if we would be open to live on their farm for the next 12 months…or longer.
o In many ways, a dream come true as this invitation opens the doors for us to learn, to volunteer, to minister and to grow and to gain the tools we will need to step into the desires that the Lord has planted deep in our hearts.
o We are now in the process of stepping into a season that will equip us for the next chapter. One step closer to dreams fulfilled.
None of this could have been orchestrated by Jenny or myself. Yet, we chose, early on in our lives, and in our marriage, to say yes to God’s grand adventure. We decided to TRUST Him. And we have learned that a life yielded to or Lord was never a promise of safety or comfort. It was never a promise of “knowing all of the details of the adventure ahead of time”. It was never a promise of life free from difficulty or uncertainty.
However. A life yielded to the Lord is a promise of a grand adventure. Grounded on faith. Fueled by His love. A life, though challenging at times, that is most satisfying. The most fulfilling. The most peaceful and victorious.
If you haven’t already, consider entering into God’s great adventure. Say yes to his plans and watch how it impacts you, your family, your friends and your community. By putting your faith into action in this way you will have a kingdom impact deeper and wider than you will ever know. Yield to Him. Say yes to the call for adventure. For we too know the outcome…HE WINS! Allow Him to win in and through you. Trust him to guide you into the plans he has for you.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
- Jeremiah 29:11
Time
“Time wont you move faster / Time wont you stand still”
“Time won’t you move faster
Time won’t you stand still
Time won’t you just slow down
Oh I’ve had my fill..”
The thought of time seems to oscillate in my heart.
TICK-
There are days where I feel I am bathing in the luxury of endless time. No agenda, no burdens. The sounds of a crackling fire, laughing children, or bird calls wrap me in a perfect blanket of stillness. I freeze moments as precious memories as I look through windows. I fill my lungs with the fresh smells of sun on pine and heather, blooming bulbs of narcissus, the ancient memories of dusty wood beams in old storehouses, or cinnamon and butter wafting from the kitchen. I give thanks for the beauty of the stones and birch trees, the bounty of good berries, the hills that invite play and adventure, the falls that freeze and thaw, roar and trickle.
-TOCK
Then there is a sudden gasp for breath, as though I’ve awoken from a nightmare. The flutter of panic ensues, as I recognize the fixed allotment of this season together. Another week has passed and I wonder at whether the time is being used wisely or if the hours have been squandered. Is it possible for all that is in my heart to be realized?
I know the wobbling uncertainty is a product of fear. Anxiety is always a tell for me; joy, peace and clarity all evaporate as I listen to myself run through the list of all that might be done and the speeding garble of my thoughts on how to make it happen. I watch the kids grow before my eyes, even as I watch the snow melt and I panic at the tempo of life.
“Feel the moments passing
Like shadows in the night
Precious days are gone now
Fading from the light…”
Time is defined by our finite humanity as a commodity to lose. Time is given or stolen; it slips away or is taken from us.
“Time you are the thief
That’s never giving back
Slipping through my fingers
Sand I’ll never grasp..”
From the days of childhood, the clocks abound. We track the seconds on our wrists, on the walls, on our screens. We are submerged and consumed by the constant reminder of the passing day.
“Subtle as a whisper
Ruthless as a fire
You’re the silent reaper
You take what you desire…”
It’s possible that we all are witnesses to and willing participants in the foolish relationship between humanity and time.
“For God so loved…that He gave His only son. That whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16
I love Ann Vosskamp’s reflections on this verse in her book, One Thousand Gifts: “In Christ, don’t we have everlasting existence? Don’t Christians have all the time in eternity, life everlasting? If Christians run out of time, wouldn’t we lose our very existence? If anyone should have time, isn’t it the Christ-follower?”
TICK -
I’ve agreed to living within the Kingdom of God, that which Jesus came to establish. And yet, the constriction in my own mind bares down, attempting a coup upon the peace whose purpose it is to govern my understanding of all things -of eternity itself.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:6-7
TOCK -
It is only when I slow my mind and watch with the eyes of my heart, that I can truly see all that is happening around me. I swing a little longer in the hammock, I read another chapter out-loud, I schedule another family movie night: I pray, I ask, I listen.
The grandfather clock is poised silently in the corner of the hearth room; father time’s pendulum is standing still. His grip shatters when I receive the benediction: the everlasting nature of grace and joy abound in thanksgiving.
The quotations used throughout this blog are song lyrics written by my dear friend, Kathryn Isely. Her song, “Time” invites the listener to consider and acknowledge the ways we incorrectly view time, and in that acknowledgement, find freedom. Please give this beautiful and haunting song a listen HERE.
Unscripted
The most exciting stories come with some twists and turns.
Have ever been asked to step into the unknown? Have you ever felt like you’re holding a map with faded lines? Do you sometimes find yourself experiencing the emotions of fear and excitement; standing at the edge of a new and unscripted story-line. Then you are in good company!
Some friends of ours recently shared with us a message from Oswald Chambers. If you don’t know about Oswald, we highly recommend you to become acquainted with him. Mr. Chambers is a deep well of insight and wisdom and we have found his words to be especially helpful as of late.
Oswald has a book called My Utmost for His Highest. It is compilation of 365 nuggets of gold organized as a daily reader. This particular nugget was titled The Unplanned Journey.
He went out, not knowing where he was going. (Hebrews 11:8)
Have you ever “gone out” in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, “What do you expect to do?” You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to “go out” in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don’t know what God is going to do next…
- Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (January 2nd)
In the journey that Jenny and I currently find ourselves, there have been times where we have felt like Abraham. “Abraham, I have big plans for and your family. Leave everything you know to step into the unknown. Will you follow me?”
The scriptures are filled with countless examples of men and women, like Abraham, who are invited into the unknown and the impossible. Hebrews Chapter 11 provides a Cliffs Notes account of the giants of faith who said “yes”. Their stories are an inspiration to us because we see that their willingness to step into the ‘unscripted’ changes the course of history. I like the sound of that!
I think, this explains how we have felt during our first 6 months in Norway. Shortly after arriving I went through a needed and refreshing re-calibration. A time of clearing my head of what I think the plan ‘should be’ and pivoting towards what God is doing. The importance of this process was confirmed the other night during a time with some amazing new friends from Sussex. We shared stories and dove into topics like living the ‘unscripted’ life. We wrestled with the idea of letting go of our own agenda and aligning to the Almighty’s carefully crafted plans. Embracing the uncertainty of what lays ahead. Which, on its face, sounds super scary. However, God used this conversation to emphasize to me that uncertainty and peace can coexist. All I need to do is continually say “yes” to the One who knows me best. The timing of this conversation was perfect! It was a much needed reminder that He is in charge of writing the script for us. It felt like a beautiful stanza in our unfolding story-line was composed that evening.
As I reflect upon our move to Norway, it is very clear to us that the invitation was divinely unique in every way possible. We could see the rare opportunity to take a step towards the fulfillment of a dream that is deep in our hearts. A dream for land and animals. To have a place to advance God’s kingdom in the hearts and minds of our guests through hospitality. (learn more)
Now that we have spent significant time living in Ål, it is abundantly clear just how exceptional this move has been. What a privilege it is to share life with and learn from a couple that is actively doing what we dream of. They use their farm to host a variety of guests ranging from families, to individuals looking for a silent retreat, weekend gatherings for larger groups and more. It is a place of rest, relationship, contemplation and ‘home’. The farm is a haven for the weary and tired looking to reorient towards what is right and true. Every day we see how our friends have created a place where guests can ask hard questions, seek council and find healing through long dinners, warm smiles (and hugs), the much needed nap and more.
On all fronts, moving to this mountain farm has been an intensive training center. ‘Growth opportunities’ have abounded from navigating the practicals of packing up our home, understanding various levels of government bureaucracies, to daily life in a foreign land. Additionally, our family has frequented the inevitable waves of new and difficult feelings/emotions stirred up by this new normal. Not to mention the challenges of desiring new friendships while investing in relationships back home. All of which appear to be converging into a river of experiences that are equipping us for His future plans.
Along with the challenges, our time in Norway has also been filled with many unexpected gifts, highlights, people, experiences, connections and more. Each day feels like the author of Life is writing another line, paragraph, or chapter in our story. Every morning is an opportunity for us to wake up with anticipation for what is to come. Every evening we can look back in wonder to everything that took place; the new friends made, experiences lived, new skills acquired, wisdom gained and more. It’s the stuff that makes us move forward with hope; looking ‘around the corner’ for the next scene to unfold before us. We are grateful for this training ground and the crucible of refinement we find ourselves in. The unscripted life composes the adventure of faith.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.
-Hebrews 11:1-3
Just. Too. Cute!
So much cuteness!
Happiness is a barn filled with 250 baby goats!
"There is a time for everything, and a season
for every activity under the heavens."
- Ecclesiastes 3:1
Kafe TID
My time volunteering at Kafe TID. Just Wow!
I (Jenny) have been volunteering at a cafe since September, right in the heart of Ål. It’s a special place, with special people. It’s a place to belong.
I work with kids who don’t get on well with others at school, are bored, are from other parts of the world and feel out of place: they get to come on Wednesday mornings to make lunches and chat about life. On Thursdays and Fridays, I work with refugees from Syria and Ukraine who come to practice language while cleaning, making coffees, preparing foods or helping in the small food store at the cafe.
When it comes to those who have escaped the horror of war, I get to learn the work and Norwegian language along with them as most do not know much English. We do our best to understand one another - we often laugh through the mispronounced words. I try to do my best to understand their stories of life, pain, escape and sorrow over what they have left behind - sometimes google translate is necessary to really understand. The hugs we all give one another feel so precious. The effort we all put into making the cafe work, while dealing with our own discomforts and desires to be known creates a special bond. I’m grateful for the space and time that the cafe affords to care for these people.
With the kids…
I also get to learn along side these dear middle-schoolers. They are, as you might expect: funny, stubborn, and stuck somewhere between children and adults. Most of them just need a hug and to be made to feel like they matter. They also need the opportunity to laugh at my terrible Norwegian accent, even if many of them don’t have much better. One young man in particular has spoken to me at length about truly traumatic events in his life and his uncertainty of how to deal with who he is as someone who has endured so much. Chopping vegetables, packing boxes and straightening shelves affords us the time to talk about both brokenness and hope. The whole family has had a chance to hang out with him on occasion. We all care for him greatly.
Volunteering here wasn’t easy to begin with: What am I doing here?? And what am I supposed to be doing here?? I thank God I was using DuoLingo for some time before I started at the cafe, so at least I had some basic knowledge of the language. I felt as though I was in the way, because I hardly understood what was going on, even if it was explained to me in English. But just like these people going through hard times, who need a place to land, I found some footing and then found that maybe I could walk or maybe even run with what I was good at.
These revelations often take time; I know without doubt they take immense amounts of grace. But most importantly, in order to be realized, they take a willingness to be uncomfortable. I have found that discomfort transforms and molds us into much more humble, wise and loving human beings. So I will continue to trust the Lord, as I show up with a ‘yes’ in my heart, believing this is enough for today and for all He wants to do to shape me for the future.
“I pray that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened in order that I may know the hope to which He has called me, the riches of his glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.”
- Ephesians 1:18-19
Fear or Faith
Fear or faith…what do you choose?
“Perfect love casts out fear.” Have you heard this phrase before? Is it true? If it is true, how can this be? Last year challenged us in so many ways. It was the perfect year to put this idea to the test. Or perhaps, God allowed for us to be faced with it.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear,
because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
- 1 John 4:18
2025 marked a year for our family where we were faced with many cross roads where we had a decision to make. On one hand we could align our hearts and minds with fear. Where will we live? What about work? Friends? Family? Health insurance? Christmas?!? and more! Or, we could align with perfect love and see how the adventure would unfold.
…for God is love.
- 1 John 4:8
It all started at the very beginning of 2025 when we had an opportunity to spend an evening with the owners of the house we were renting. This amazing couple has spent the better part of the past 2 decades as missionaries overseas. When we moved into their home in the middle of 2024 we knew of their plans to come back later in 2025 for a sabbatical. So we expected a “disruption” for a period of time, with hopes of moving back into their amazing home, with an amazing yard, in an amazing neighborhood after they moved back to the mission field. After a delightful time together they shared with us that they intend to move back, indefinitely! Wait. What? Okay, that changes the plan. However, oddly enough, in that moment we had a sense of peace and expectation in our minds and spirits.
Okay, now what? Of course, the conversation between us shifted to the Lord. A prayer of sorts. “Lord, we trust you. The plans you have for us may be plans we don’t understand or see right now. But we trust you. Please show us the next step for our family”.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance
about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.
- Hebrews 11: 1-2
Then, what happened next was truly unexpected. Something miraculous. Something that we would have never consider, create or dream up in our own minds. Some 10 days after learning that our housing situation was dramatically changing, Jenny gets a call from some dear friends in Norway. “Jenny, can you talk. Right now?” “Yes, I can call in 10 minutes. Is that okay?” Jenny replies. “Yes, talk to you then”.
Jenny makes the call, a call that, could and would, shape our lives depending on what we choose to align with. Fear, or faith. “Jenny, would you and Clayton consider moving to Norway, for a year or longer? We want you to live on our farm with us!”.
What is crazy, is that before making the call Jenny and I talked and we both knew this was going to be the invitation to “a once in a lifetime opportunity” before it happened. Some call it intuition. We call it discernment from the Holy Spirit. In us there was a knowing that this wasn’t a call to “say hi” or talk about the “weather”. We knew that the Lord was going to offer us an opportunity. Now it was up to us. Will we choose fear or faith?
After some additional calls with our friends in Norway, and conversations with trusted friends and family, it was clear that we could decline the invitation. We could choose the familiar. We could choose what was comfortable and “known”. We could find a different place to live in our hometown and continue on with the rhythm of our daily lives. We could choose the predictable.
However, as we wrestled with the fear of stepping into the unknown, we had a nagging thought that just would not go away. What if, at the age of 75, during morning coffee, the question: “I wonder how our lives would be different if we decided to NOT go to Norway?”. That thought frightened us, in a good way. This was a thought laced with regret. A thought that both of us refused to accept as a part of our story.
So, if you are reading this blog, you likely already know that we choose to step into the unknown. We chose faith over fear. Why? Because, we have grown to understand that our faith in Jesus sometimes comes with invitations from Him that requires us to step into the unknown; to step out in faith.
We have learned that in over 20 years of marriage that the outcome in saying “yes” to God’s invitations ALWAYS direct us to a good and fruitful end. We are not guaranteed that the journey will be easy, nor comfortable. We have learned that the journey is always an adventure, and, like all great adventures, we must face the twists, turns, victories, defeats to ultimately lead us to a very satisfying conclusion.
Of course, we are far from understanding the conclusion of this story. Or even the conclusion to the chapter that we are currently in. We face many ongoing uncertainties: Can we buy a car? How will the long term visas pan out for us? Will we make friends? How do we prioritize our time? How will the kiddo’s adjust to being foreigners living in a foreign land? Will we enjoy life on the farm? Will we learn all that is for us while in Norway? How will the finances work out for such a long stay? Will this decision change us so much that we don’t seem recognizable when we return? How does this impact friendship on the other side? And and on and on the questions go…
We make the choice in these uncertainties to wake up every day grateful for the journey we are on for we know that the plans he has for us are good!
Is there an invitation that you know you should to say “yes” to? Is fear holding you back? Will you regret aligning with the familiar?
May 2026 be a year in which we allow Christ’s perfect love to “cast out fear”. And, may this year be a year that we all choose faith and walk with the Almighty as He writes our stories of wonder and adventure.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then,
and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
- Galatians 5:1
Santa…Already?
Christmas in early November…could it be?
Thanksgiving is an all American holiday…
Therefore we have already started celebrating Christmas
in early November Norwegian Style!
It does feel a bit odd to be seeing Christmas markets and community gatherings popping up in early November. However, with the winter barrelling in as quickly as it does here, it sure is nice to enjoy the festive lights, the sounds,
and the tastes that Christmas has to offer.
We hope you enjoy some of these early, Christmas season photos from Oslo, Gol and Jevnaker!
Thanksgiving
We have thousands of reasons, everyday, to be thankful…
We’ve been here for about 4 months and we still are weighing whether some aspects of our experience is cultural, personality or what we call: ‘getting lost in translation’. This, is indeed, a cold-weather culture. Gathering around a cozy fire or going for a hike together is common, but you have to ‘get-in’, in a way. Norwegians are very loyal people and committed to their friendships. There is plenty of time; people share about different activities going on in the community, no one seems to be in a rush to stop conversations. People are quite open and curious when you get them talking. I wouldn’t say that they are exclusive or uninviting people. But as far as really building friendship, I believe our family presents a tad more as a novelty in our small village.
We are American’s living on a farm with a family that many people love. Undoubtedly, this is very curious. People inquire and love to hear the story of our arrival, or may be fascinated by our homeschooling. We enjoy exchanging pleasantries of where their family is from and what they do, beautiful locations we “must visit” but it typically stops there. It can be easy to start wondering if people actually like you if I’m going to be honest. Everyone we have met is polite, kind and engaged, but not all give you the added encouragement of building relationship. Am I making sense…?
I think novelties are enjoyed when they are around, but in this culture, certainly not permitted for every day. Candy and alcohol are traditionally only weekend pleasures. Maybe the novelty of an American family moving to a small village in Norway is simply a sweet story or the stuff of Instagram fame. Who knows… we are still figuring this out.
All of these observations remind us that when invited by the Lord to anywhere, He will make clear where and with whom you are to engage. Not everyone is designed to be a forever friend. So we don’t necessarily feel sorrow or loneliness, just missing familiarity or maybe just the security of knowing, generally, what to expect.
But then, there is the warm-weather culture crowd and immigrants in general… These people are overwhelmingly grateful to have someone come right up to them and start a conversation. They express their enjoyment and gratitude openly. It’s not such a mystery to know what they are thinking.
Astonishingly, several people from Congo are attending the church we go to here. We had introduced ourselves to two different individuals and had a very pleasant chat with them. Our kids were enjoying a few of the Congolese children during Sunday School and expressed how much they would like to spend more time with them. All of these people spoke good English, which is an added bonus. We told our friends on the farm about all these people and, of course they know them; they suggested we have a big Africa party. So, instead of trick-or-treating, which is not quite the thing it is in America, we decided to invite the Congolese we had met to join us for a party. We also invited a Norwegian family we recently met, who just moved back from Kenya (they approached us at a café!). Our friends on the farm arranged all the invites, helped prepare food and we set up the house, games and atmosphere.
What a time we had! All we did was open our home and do our best to be ourselves in what felt like a radically different context. But people are just people, no matter where they are from, where they have moved to, what language they speak. We invited these near strangers to join us at our table of thanksgiving and the most amazing things happened. We heard stories of arrival, miracles, overcoming intense fear, Swahili greetings and prayers between two people groups. While listening, the sound of our hearts implored us to see the world differently and to be grateful for all the many gifts we’ve been given.
One of these men, when asked if he had a job in Congo, said that he had never had a job, because he was so young when he moved to the Ugandan, 15 million person, refugee camp, that he couldn’t develop a job skill. He carried his bed with him in that camp, because there was no designated place to sleep. When he arrived in Norway, nothing looked familiar and he was scared. A stranger picked his family up and as they drove through long tunnels from Oslo, he thought maybe all of them would be killed; he hardly could sleep, as he kept watch over his family for the first days. To have an indoor toilet and a washing machine, to enjoy running water, was extraordinary to these refugees. The miracle stories of how they got here, how they praised the God who protected and gave to them was beautiful and heart-wrenching. Whether in a refugee encampment or the four walls of a house in Norway, they testify to God’s always-enough provision.
In the midst of sharing, we encouraged them to convey to Norway their stories and the joy that they have, despite the hardships they have faced. We said, “Norway, needs your infusion of joy, like defibrillators, awakening the heart.” One man responded, “Yes. Norwegians have a 1,000 reasons to praise God, and they forget.”
“You must remind them, our friends”, we said. “Remind them with your smiles and with your gratitude, your song and dance. When we live with so much provision and fail to give thanks, our reality becomes skewed towards perceived suffering, grumbling and misery.”
We enter the gates of the Lord with thanksgiving and we get into his courts with praise. If you want to feel near the Lord, you do not need to beg him for more of anything, you can simply express your gratitude that He is near.
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is He who made us, and we are His;
We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise;
Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.”
- Psalm 100
Fall in Ål (and other places)
Oh…what a glorious season, autumn in Norway!
“I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as
autumnal sunshine by staying in the house."
― Nathaniel Hawthorne
Fall is undoubtedly the best season of the year. The stunning changes we see all around points us towards the beauty of our Creator and the delights of the autumn harvest. Thankfully, we have had the opportunity to get out and take in Norway’s short fall season as we prepare for a time of shorter days, cozy fires and snow just around the corner. And, as we expected, we are beginning to spend even more time indoors with new friends here in Norway.
Here are some photos from the past month or so.
“No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace
as I have seen in one autumnal face."
- John Donne
"There is a time for everything, and a season
for every activity under the heavens."
- Ecclesiastes 3:1
Via Ferrata
Wow…Just wow. What a exhilarating, challenging and confidence building experience!
“Always do what you are afraid to do.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
In early August, we visited our friend Isak, in Andalsnes, which (news to us) is a very popular tourist destination in Norway. It also happens to be a popular destination for those who love extreme sports of varying kinds.
There is some very good climbing in this small town, including what is known as The Via Ferrata or “the iron road” in Italian. This is a specially designed climbing route of steel cables and anchors providing the opportunity to take in incredible views and manage your adrenaline.
We had spoken to the kids about this climbing prospect and they were all in. We told them that it would take courage and that once they had started they could not turn back… This was not a clever parenting technique, it was actually true.
After we arrived, met Isak’s wonderful parents, checked on the weather, and took a drive in a Porsche up the Trollstigen (wow!), it was decided we would ascend the Via Ferrata the following morning.
We woke to sunshine and mild temps. Isak had secured harnesses and helmets for all of us. With just a short walk from their front porch, we were at the base of the mountain and ready to make some memories that will not soon be forgotten.
Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain.
- Mark Twain
Alister:
How did I feel when I was putting on my harness? I felt excited, adrenaline flowing in my body. I was so excited for the adventure.
As I was walking to the base of the climb I was thinking “I’m so excited and, don’t freak out”. I’m not super fond of heights.
Then, when we started the climb I was thinking, “This is easier and funner than expected”. Then when we got to the middle of the climb I thought “wow, this is way steeper than I thought!” I even had some moments where I almost froze and needed some help to get through some really tough parts of the climb.
Sure, at some points I may have been shaking like a leaf, but overall the via ferrata was probably one of the funnest things I’ve ever done. And, I have conquered my fear of heights!
Karalee:
The experience was amazing. With the town of Andalsness spread out beneath you and the blue expanse of the sky above you, you feel so small in the presence of the majesty all around. And when you get to the end of your goal, there is this feeling of satisfaction, but also of disappointment that the adventure is over. I loved the via ferrata and wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to do it again.
Jenny:
The Via Ferrata was a turning point for me; for our time in Norway. Having arrived only a month before, I was both delighted and uncertain about all the newness of this life we were living abroad. I think its strange that a steep pitch up a rock face brought me into the peace I had been looking for. I needed to feel assured in some way, that we were in the right place at the right time. Sitting on a wood bench, attached only by carabiners and overlooking the valley far below, was exactly what I needed to feel at ease. I reflected on a summer in college when I worked at a summer camp in California. During that time, I had to overcome a fear of heights and learn many new and foreign things as a challenge course instructor. The joy of that summer returned to me in the hours we spent climbing and clipping in. Watching our kids focus and overcome fear on such an obstacle was one of the best sights I’ve ever taken in. The climb was a metaphor: we are in Norway to adventure boldly and bravely, with joy and resilience - “Further Up and Further In!” Fear is not a worthy tradein for faith. Ever. I’d rather scale the mountain, together with my family, facing danger and the unknown, than to sit and envy the people who have guts enough to do the extraordinary. I was and am filled with gratitude for this experience produced by our friend, Isak. One of the best days of my whole life; Via Ferrata was just what I needed to experience our time in Norway with the confidence of belonging.
Clayton:
From a father’s perspective I couldn’t have been more proud of my kiddos. Back in 2001, while attending bible school in Schladming Austria, I climbed the Austrian version of a via ferrata high in the alps . So, I had a good idea of what we would be experiencing. I knew that it would require focus, courage, strength, endurance and some good old fashioned adrenaline for them to complete the climb. Although the route that we climbed was the “intro” route, just one look at the mountain side told me that there would be plenty of exposure and challenging sections along the way.
At the beginning of the climb our trusty guide and friend, Isak, was kind and clear in his instructions. “You will always have at least one carabiner attached to the cable at all times. If you fail to do this I will be angry. And you may die.” The message was loud and clear and the kiddos shifted their mindset to adventure/mission mode. And, wow, they were on a mission. To watch both of them navigated the challenges of the course with such attention to safety was impressive. To see how they examined the route and problem solved was remarkable. And, to witness how they overcame fear and asked for help at all the right times made me feel so proud of them! Mission accomplished!
P.S. - Jenny nailed it. I loved seeing the expression of accomplishment and pure delight on her face for days afterward! Well done!!!
P.P.S. - We are so grateful for Isak and his wonderful parents for hosting us. Their kindness and generosity was a huge blessing to our family. Not to mention the wonderful conversations, memorable car rides, and time around delicious meals. Thank you!
“He who overcomes his fears will truly be free.”
- Aristotle
Gladness on Two Wheels
Bicycles! Freedom on two wheels. A child’s delight.
Our kids have never been the bored type, as we have often quoted my mother to them: “only boring people are bored.” Now whether that is absolutely true or not, the word hasn’t been allowed in our home. However, as we’ve started more of a normal ‘home’ routine here in Ål and September proved quite gray and drizzly, the poor children, far away from all their books and games, had that look on their little faces. I went ahead and said it for them: “You’re bored aren’t you?” We tried many different occupations, but they all were short-lived.
Then Voila - a casual look around one of the barns reminded me…
On the way home from the Oslo Airport, when we first arrived, Børge picked up a couple of free bicycles from some kind people*. We thought, based on the size, these bikes would be for Clayton and I and perhaps we’d find some bikes for the kids later so we could cycle along the river.
After just three months in Norway, both bikes fit the kids just fine! Our friends found some helmets, the skies turned to blue, and the kids found their liberation. There is a paved country road down the hill and the kids have free rein to ride as much as they like.
They come home rosy-cheeked and so very happy. Gladness on two wheels.
*Norway has a Craiglist equivalent called finn.no and it’s a great place to pick up good deals.
Harvesting is Berry Good, Part 3
Part 3 - The abundance of wild berries was not expected. It’s been quite an education for us; learning how to harvest and process these wonderful gifts for God.
To wrap up this discussion on harvesting the abundant wild berries in Norway, we will talk about some berries that were pretty exotic (to us). It has been such an education and delight to learn from our local friends which of these berries is best, the traditions around them and how to prepare them so that we may enjoy them in the coming winter.
Red Currant: (norsk: rips [r ih p s])
Small, red, opaque, tart and tangy.
This berry seems to be in everyone’s garden. In fact, my mother had a red currant bush in her garden. Unfortunately, I despised picking from this bush in my youth. After enjoying the ease of foraging for these red jewels with my family and friends in Norway and seeing how simple it is to make something delicious out of their juices, I owe my mother an apology.
We picked about 15 kilos of rips… which is insane. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Remember, what you harvest, you process. BUT, I juiced it all (thank goodness you don’t have to de-stem these berries), added sugar and cooked it all down in to jelly. The first batch was pretty straight forward, but with 8L of liquid on the second batch, this process took forever, especially since I reduced the sugar. However, the juice cooked down in to a rich and tart jelly that we all quite enjoy! Its darker than normal and tastes great on baked goods and with meat. Yum!
I also learned from a new friend that eating fresh rips with vanilla cream is quite popular. I asked if vanilla cream was the same as custard, but she had never heard of custard and typically buys the cream. My English roots were shaken… I didn’t know it was possible to not know what custard is! With that being said, I made some custard and served it with the rips and it was truly wonderful. I found out that this a traditional German dish. Now my English and German sides can be content.
Red Currants with Vanilla Custard
Red Currant Jelly
Gooseberry: (norsk: stikklesbær [stih-kuhl-lehz-bair])
Green or red, small stripes (like a watermelon), tart and sweet (like rhubarb)
The neighbor who allowed us to harvest from their rips orchard, also had several stikklesbær bushes. Gooseberry, is not very commonly cultivated in the U.S., at least according to my experience. I’ve picked them off bushes while hiking in Montana, and had a worm-infested plant in my mother’s garden (yuck). I have a friend in Montana that had a bush or two come with their house, but other than that, its not a common berry found on restaurant menus.
When I tasted the stikklesbær, it was so sweet, a bit like a green grape: the outside is tart, but not so crisp as a grape on the inside. We just had to take some home! So, Karalee and I picked two small buckets as fast as we could (since we needed to go), and had enough to snack on and make a truly delicious crisp! We served it along with the rips and vanilla sauce (custard). Wow. The stikklesbær turned out to be a surprising culinary highlight!
Why do you think they call this berry the stikklesbær? Well, I received a few scratches on my hands to prove it is a worthy name; I was ‘stikkled’ a few times while picking.
Here are some other berries we’ve come across, and snacked on, but not harvested:
Crowberry (norsk: krekling [krehk-ling]), which I think tastes quite medicinal and needs, in my opinion, too much sugar to make it worth harvesting.
Cloudberry (norsk: multer [muhl-tur]), which melts in your mouth (a strange sensation), but the flavor just wasn’t a favorite of most of us, Clayton excluded. It’s different, but not amazing. The berry grows in mossy, marshy areas, low to the ground on a single stem. This beautiful mountain berry is a Norwegian favorite during the Christmas season. Maybe I’ll change my mind (and appreciation) soon enough!
I am also looking forward to harvesting lingonberries (norsk: tyttebær [tih-teh-behr]), as we love lingonberry jam with meatballs and waffles, so much so that I’ve typically ordered this specialty online. Now I’m excited to make it myself!
There you have it! Hopefully you learned something new or interesting. Maybe this will inspire you to go out and find what you can harvest too. A fun little side note for any Montana readers. We saw a chokecherry tree, and our friends warned us not to eat it, because it was “poisonous”. Of course, the seed is poisonous (cyanide) if you have too many, but I thought it was very interesting that the Norwegians could have such wide knowledge on so many berries, but the chokecherry was left out. I wonder why?
To learn more:
Read a Harris Family favorite: Christopher’s Garden by Elsa Beskow
Another favorite: Hind’s Feet on High Places by Hanna Hurnard
Norwegian Berry Harvesting
Harvesting is Berry Good, Part 2
Part 2 - The abundance of wild berries was not expected. It’s been quite an education for us; learning how to harvest and process these wonderful gifts for God.
Huckleberry/Bogberry: (norsk: blåbær, [blo-bair])
Deep blue/purple, tart and sweet
In part 2 we will focus on the berry that is most collected by the locals in our mountainous region. This little berry resembles what we call in Montana, the huckleberry.
Early August was a blåbær extravaganza and still is if you head higher into the mountains.
We ventured out as a family to a recommended location and ended up gathering 4.7 kilos of blåbær in 1.5 hours! We were off a dirt road and up a steep hill surrounded by bushes of berries dripping in fresh mountain rain.
At the time, and especially now that we’ve been gathering in other areas as well, I was so struck by how untouched these little bushes were. Had anyone stood and gathered where I was stranding? Did the deer or moose even make it up on these high places to appreciate the sweetness of this patch of creation?
The kids and I have been reading the book “Hinds’ Feet on High Places” by Hannah Hurnard per a friend’s recommendation. There was a section of the book in which Much-Afraid is starting her journey for the high places with the Shepherd and she begins to observe a great carpet of flowers spread across the valley.
Once the Shepherd stooped and touched the flowers gently with his fingers, then said to Much-Afraid with a smile, “Humble yourself, and you will find that Love is spreading a carpet of flowers beneath your feet.”
Much-Afraid looked at him earnestly. “I have often wondered about the wild flowers,” she said. “It does seem strange that such unnumbered multitudes should bloom in the wild places of the earth where perhaps nobody every sees them and the goats and the cattle can walk over them and crush them to death. They have so much beauty and sweetness to give and no one on whom to lavish it, nor who will even appreciate it.”
“Nothing my Father and I have made is ever wasted,” he said quietly, “and the little wild flowers have a wonderful lesson to teach. They offer themselves so sweetly and confidently and willingly, even if it seems that there is no one to appreciate them. Just as though they sang a joyous little song to themselves, that is so happy to love, even though one is not loved in return.”
“I must tell you a great truth, Much-Afraid, which only the few understand…Many a quiet, ordinary, and hidden life, unknown to the world, is a veritable garden in which Love’s flowers and fruits have come to such perfection that it is a place of delight where the King of Love himself walks and rejoices with his friends.”
I thought of this passage as I swept over the blåbær bushes with my picker, giving thanks that I get to take-in this beauty and sweetness as a gift. I loved the possibility that this little patch of creation might be grateful to see me too. Perhaps these little blåbær also find delight in revealing themselves to me; one who appreciates their hidden allure and their joyous song of fruitfulness….Maybe they’ve been waiting for our family, all along.
“For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”
– Romans 8:19-21
With this heavenly harvest, we painstakingly sorted and de-stemmed these small berries and froze several bags to use later, sans a liter for which Karalee made Hare’s Haversack Crumble (a Redwall Cookbook Recipe), for dessert.
In part 3 we will wrap up this topic on berries talking about our experiences with some less known berries (to us), like gooseberry, cloudberry, crowberry and more.
Harvesting is Berry Good, Part 1
Part 1 - The abundance of wild berries was not expected. It’s been quite an education for us; learning how to harvest and process these wonderful gifts for God.
One of my (Jenny) dreams in moving to Norway, was to taste and make delicious things out of whatever delights I could forage locally. The availability of fresh fruits growing in the surrounding mountains and forests has been abundant! So I will take this time, for those who want to participate in my gratitude, to share with you what I have discovered, learned and cooked!
First, our berry picking tools. It’s not complicated. We strap on some sturdy shoes and layers appropriate for the ever-changing weather. Many berries can be gathered by hand, but for several types of berries, we can arm ourselves with this handy berry picking tool and some trusty buckets. Maybe you’ve seen this before, but I had never and find it very helpful! Just slide the metal teeth under the berries on the bush and the fruit falls into the tool’s handle box. Fill the box, empty into the bucket and the picking becomes quite efficient. The Norwegians are so innovative!
After we pick the berries, we use a simple screen to separate the berries from the twigs and leaves that our harvesting tools sometimes collect along with the berries.
Now, onto the berries!
Strawberries: (norsk: jordbær, [yor-bair])
Bright red, small and very sweet
We noticed early on in July that the strawberries in the groceries were beautiful; the kind I remember from growing up in Washington State. When I was a kid, strawberry season came with anticipation of strawberry shortcakes and freezer jams. When you bite into a fresh Washington strawberry, there is no white in the middle – just juicy red all the way through, picked in prime ripeness and demanded to be enjoyed quickly, lest they spoil – it’s the taste of summer.
This childhood memory came flooding back, when we picked up a small container at the local Kiwi (grocery store). It was so much the same: perfectly sweet and delicious with no water taste. Pure, unadulterated strawberry goodness. It was after first seeing the jordbær in the grocery that we found many people grow them in their gardens, which is always the best! A man brought them out for a snack when we were working his field, and another couple brought them to a church gathering.
It is also very common to find wild jordbær along paths and streams, just like hiking in Montana. A welcome treat!
Raspberry: (norsk: bringebær, [bring-eh-bair])
Red and pink, sweet and seedy
It was a tad dry this early summer in Hallingdal Valley, so according to the locals, the bringebær were puny. Tiny or not, we were still able to collect enough of these familiar berries around our new home to make something appetizing. We mixed them with the blåbær for a very tasty jam of which we have been enjoying on pancakes, toast and even in our yogurt!
Bog Bilberry: (norsk: blokkebær, [blok-keh-bair])
Pale blue, mild and sweet
Come late July, while hunting for local blueberries we discovered the Bog Bilberry. My trusty plant app and my taste buds helped me identify this berry as edible and I wanted to try to do something with it! So we brought home a couple small buckets and I turned it into a yummy jam thanks to this recipe: Bilberry Jam Recipe
From the information I’ve gathered, not many people bother with this berry, as they prefer the blueberry (blåbær), but we all thought it just find for our liking!
Read part 2 of this blog series to learn all about blåbær.
Family Ties
A dream come true! We finally visited the old family farm that belongs to my distant Norwegian relatives. And the stories…Oh the stories.
It was late January in 1998. I (Clayton) was flying back to Pacific Lutheran University after studying abroad in London and Paris for a month. This trip was my first adventure in Europe and my head swirled with all that I had experienced. The museums, masterpieces, cathedrals, symphonies, castles, displays of royal fortunes, the underground and more. However, something even more grand shifted my attention as I looked out the plane’s window. Now my gazed shifted down to Norway’s famous fjords. In that moment my heart swelled with a deep desire to “come to Norway”. Almost as if the land was calling to me. So, in that moment I prayed a simple but sincere prayer that I one day would be able to visit such a beautiful place. Only God knew that as a sophomore in college, this prayer would lead me to not just visit, but to live in Norway with my family!
One reason, I believe, that I had such a yearning to visit Norway is that I’m about 1/4 Norwegian. I knew that my grandmother, Serene, on my father’s side, had Norwegian roots. Her father came to America in the early 1900’s. But other than the little lefse rolls that my grandmother served during Harris family Christmas gatherings, I have known very little about that side of the family. As a result, so many questions have surfaced as a descendant of the Jangaard/Harris side of the family tree. Questions such as , why so much secrecy? Why so much emotional and spiritual immaturity? What about family legacy or inheritance?
Fast forward to August, 2025. We find ourselves living in Norway with an invitation to visit a friend and his family in Åndalsnes. When looking at the map, we realized that we would not be far from the area that my distant relatives had a family farm on the island of Valderøya, just offshore of the beautiful city of Ålesund. So, Jenny kicked into action and sent a message on a Jangaard family Facebook page in hopes that someone would be able to share with us how we may be able to meet some distant family members or even visit the old farm site. Well…with what felt like minutes…we had a response for a woman named Caroline. She shares with us that she is living on the farm and that she would love to host us. Once we shared with her that I am a descendant of Arne Jangaard, her enthusiasm jumped drastically as we would be the first from this branch of the family tree to visit from the United States. Plans were made and questions danced in my head as we made the 5.5hr drive to the west coast.
As we arrived to the house at the southern point of Valderøya island, Jenny and I joked that I better not screw this up as the entire reputation of this side of the family rested on me. Thankfully, my heart and mind calmed when we were greeted by Caroline with the warmth that a loving family member would give and we entered into her house to a flurry of “hallo, hei, hyggelig å møte deg (nice to meet you)” and handshakes. She had arranged quite the gathering of uncles, aunts and cousins from around the island and neighboring fjord. Oh how I wished to have had enough time to sit down and hear their stories, one-by-one.
However, this evening was about learning from the past and Caroline and her brother were well equipped with plenty of stories and family photos. After looking at a faded picture of the old farm, Caroline holds up a photo and says, “This is Arne, your great-grandfather. This is his wife Laura (we think that is her name). Did you know that he was married before going to America?”
My jaw dropped. “No! I had no idea that he was married twice. Tell me more.”
Caroline then proceeds to tell us the tragic story of how Arne’s wife, who struggled with mental heath issues and depression, committed suicide. Only three years into their marriage, pregnant with their first child, she walked into the ocean where the farm meets the water, never to be seen again. This crushed Arne. So, he moved to America, leaving all behind: His life and inheritance in Norway.
As I listened to this tragedy, I had so many thoughts and emotions circling in my mind. Then suddenly, like jumbled pieces of a puzzle, it all snapped together. It all made sense. Everything from my family history. All of the unanswered questions came into focus and into the light. Out of one man’s trauma a new branch was formed in the generational tree. A new legacy. A new inheritance. But not the kind that brings blessing, abundance and life. But one of secrecy, confusion, seclusion and instability. I could see that Arne didn’t have the tools to cope with his heartbreak. So he ran from it. But in doing so, he also sacrificed the inheritance that was his to steward and to pass onto the next in line.
Before meeting my relatives I’ve been really wrestling with the idea of inheritance/blessing and how it impacts the generations that follow. For most of us the idea of an inheritance or family blessing comes in the form of land, money, a business and more. It can also be spiritual, relational or come in the form of position, name, reputation or experiences. I’m learning that generational inheritance/blessing can take on so many different forms. With that in mind I’ve been asking God to bring clarity on the topic and to give me eyes to see how inheritance works according to His design and His kingdom’s principles. And, in a very unexpected way, He used this time with my distant relatives to bring so much into focus. He blew away the fog and I can now see what my spirit was wrestling with. That inheritance is real. It is a God ordained principle of life that is deep in in the fabric of the human experience. As a result, it is up to us, the current generation, to steward it well. it is up to us to nurture the spiritual and physical parts of life so that the blessing, not the curse, is passed through the next branches of the family tree. An inheritance of abundance, peace, clarity, wisdom and victory that can only come from our Creator and His Kingdom.
Just a few bible verses about inheritance & generational blessing:
Genesis 49: 26 & 28
The blessings of your father have surpassed the blessings of my ancestors up to the furthest boundary of the everlasting hills;
may they be on the head of Joseph, and on the top of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers…All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them. He blessed them, every one with the blessing appropriate to him.
Proverbs 13:22
A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.”
Leviticus 20:24
But I said to you, “You will possess their land; I will give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the Lord your God, who has set you apart from the nations.
Deuteronomy 11:26-28
See, I am placing before you today a blessing and a curse: blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.
1 Peter 1: 3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.
Colossians 1:12
…And giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”
On the Goat Farm
Wow…what an amazing way to start our time in Norway!
We spent 2.5 weeks milking goats twice a day in the beauty of the Norwegian mountains. To begin our Norwegian adventure in this way, was both odd and rewarding:
Odd, because one is feeling all the jet-lag, emotions, joy and pain that comes with landing in a new country that is to be home for the coming year. These feelings come to you, while learning a completely new and foreign job (and trying to pick up the language). The animals are uncertain about you, you’re a bit uncertain about yourself, and the people who hired you find you interesting and perplexing. No matter what kindness is afforded to you or even lavished upon you, you’re still at the end of a gravel road, with the wild nature looming behind you, among strangers; excited for all that is possible in the coming weeks, and yet missing being known and cared for by friends and family.
Rewarding, because we learned to milk goats!! We woke up at 5:30am every morning (except two that we had off) and 5pm every evening. First thing we would do is head to the barn to prepare the machines and get the herd in order. All 147 lady goats and 25 kids had to be moved around to different parts of the barn so the milking could go smoothly. We had to learn cleaning, testing, putting on what can only be described as utter pumps (ha!), observing when utters were empty, when a sunburn needed to be cared for, and how to hand milk if necessary (it was necessary for a couple of the girls). We also became acquainted with the quirks of the machines and a few of the individual goats. We had Scarlet, who loved scratches and affection, and one we called Twinkle-Toes, who by her reaction to the milking process, probably wished she wasn’t born a goat, but certainly liked the treats that came with the gig. We had to carry ornery kids, who refused to go to their pen, encourage the old ladies to get up from their naps, and also observed some very disgusting behaviors common to livestock.
We also gained some Norge-cred by doing some Hallingdal haying over a couple days. I don’t even know how to describe this, other than it is some of THE hardest work any of us has ever done. Basically, we spent hours raking hay on very steep slopes. By participating in this farming tradition, we felt much closer with the farming family. This is the true brutal work of farming in Norway. Milking goats is useful and, over time, it becomes a task of doing the same thing over and over, excellently. But the haying connected us to the land and the people who have worked the valley for centuries. They use a tractor now instead of a sickle for cutting,, but the people still rake the grass down the slopes. It’s no wonder so many Norwegians moved to the Dakotas. I can only imagine how excited they were to work flat land, after the grueling task of haying the mountains.
In the end, we had milked 7,155 litres from the lady goats, created silly handshakes, earned the respect of our ‘boss’ who said we worked like “land-people” (and is considering hiring Americans in the future!), had a great tan from all the hiking, swimming and outside time, had mad respect for farmers all over the world and enjoyed the satisfaction of knowing we had done it! In that awe-inspiring landscape, in the loneliness, we had worked together to do something none of us had ever imagined doing…we felt strong, amazed and relieved that it was finally time to go home to Al.
On Our Way to Norway
We have arrived! Read more about our travles to Norge.
We did it! We have arrived in Norway and have jumped right into the rural Norwegian life. But the the miracles, albeit small, started at the SeaTac airport. When we arrived to check-in, they didn’t charge us for the overweight luggage that we were prepared to pay for: about a $450 savings! Then, thankfully all of our bags arrived and 2 of our 3 boxes (filled with books and home school supplies) were at the local post office. The 3rd box, after a hold up in customs, is on it’s way. Then, our friends Peter and Hege, who are now moving to Tacoma, WA after 8+ years of living in southern Norway, sold their car to us at a VERY affordable price. Thank you friends!!!
After a couple of days of overcoming jet-lag and setting up our house in Ål, we ventured up to the mountains to serve a wonderful family that runs a goat farm. This experience has been one-of-a-kind to say the least! More details to come soon.
As expected, Karalee and Alister have done an amazing job of adjusting to a new country with a strange language. The incredible beauty and friendly people make it all worth it.
Final Days in the States
We entered the hallway to Norway, as we departed from Bozeman. Joyous ‘see-you-laters’ are definitely harder than relief-filled departures. We are so blessed to have so many people and places to be grateful for…
We left Bozeman on June 14th and made our way to the playground of joy at Silverwood Theme Park in Northern Idaho. This is our second year going to the park as a family and truly, everyone should go there; its a delight! Roller coasters, water roller coasters, wave pools, caramel apples, steam train, plenty of shade small crowds on Sundays. Our day in the park landed on Father’s Day and the day before Clayton’s Birthday, so we made it into a fun celebration. We have stayed in Sandpoint, Idaho the last two years, about a half-hour away from the park, and love the atmosphere of this small town. Evans Brothers Coffee is a particularly nice find and highly recommended. After a day in the park, we hit the road for the PNW.
What a joy it was to hand deliver hugs and ‘see-ya-laters to many friends and family in Washington State. We also, enjoyed some treasured memory-making. Watching my brother get married and also going to the Point Defiance Zoo with his family. Swimming in the Puget Sound, long talks around lunch tables and on the beach at Cattle Point. Catching newts, walking to Hicks Lake, tide pool exploring, and eating lots of seafood and Trader Joe’s treats. Meeting Mac (finally!), watching our nephew play baseball, gazing at massive trees and admiring the mild-weather gardens and abundance of produce that Washington affords. Deep heart stories and new “Baralee and Malister” chapters, Stacking wood and picking raspberries with grandparents. Flying with Uncle Tom and meeting a new kitten. All of it was special.
It seems strange to be leaving the States for this wild adventure, but it also feels right. We know Norway is where God has lead us and the encouragement of all of you has kept us bold and resilient, when we feel crazy or tired. So see-ya later Montana, Idaho and Washington. We look forward reuniting again soon. xx
