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
