Memory Lane

 John Foster and Lillemor at Frogner Park in Oslo, following his LDS missionary service in Germany.  John and his mother found the LDS church and joined when John was in high school.  I remember the surprise of seeing him at the old Phoenix 5th ward chapel one Sunday.  "I know you!" I said.  We had gone to the same grade school. 

LDS people often say, "I don't know where I'd be if it weren't for the Gospel."  John would always chuckle and comment, "I know where I'd be.  Central Methodist!"

Methodists evidently make great Mormons.

Sister Foster, John and Lillemor

These pictures have to be from the early 70s.  John got to tour Europe with his mother following his mission and went north to visit my aunt in Norway.

Sister Foster was a wonderful woman, and one of the pillars of the old Phoenix 5th ward.  I remember her fondly.  She had a brilliant mind, read voraciously, and was always interested in everything. 

Upon his return to the USA, John married, had a gazillion kids, and became a high school counsellor and Scout leader in Utah.

I found these pictures when going through some old stuff, and thought people might get a kick out of them.

Terror in Oslo

It sounds so much like one of my mother's stories of living through World War II in German-occupied Oslo, that it's hard to wrap my mind around it - a bomb going off in a government building downtown Oslo, windows blown out across a wide area - many confirmed dead and countless injured.  At the same time, a lone gunman mows down people at a Labor Party-run children's summer camp on a little island not far away.  The whole town in chaos.

I have so many friends and relatives in Norway.  My heart goes out to them at this difficult time.  I haven't been able to think of anything else all morning.

All Landed Safely

The big news of the morning is that the space shuttle Atlantis arrived back on earth, landing safely in Florida.

The little news of the morning (but big to me), is that my little grand-niece and grand-nephew and their mom landed safely in China and are home.

I had been so worried about them traveling so far by themselves.  We're talking more than 24 hours of travel, two plane changes, and one young mother with a rambunctious 23-month old and a 4-month old baby.  I had prayed especially that Holly would have kind, helpful people around to help her throughout the journey.

Livia and a helpful Fredrik

My prayers were certainly answered!  We received this post from Daniel yesterday:

".. Holly arrived just fine at 11:30 last night. Somebody from the airplane helped her carry the kids down to the baggage check. We all arrived at the apartment a little after midnight, after which Fredrik played with his toys until early this morning. It was a pretty long night for Holly, and I really don't know when they are going to sleep.


"Holly told me that everybody was really nice to her once she arrived in Shanghai. Having a diplomatic passport made a big difference, plus everybody wanted to look at the kids. She told me that a big crowd gathered around her after a little kid saw them and shouted that they were Asian-Caucasian mixed babies (Chinese people think that mixed babies are cuter, for some reason). We'll have to get used to big crowds of people poking at our kids."

I really got a kick out of that, so I had to share.

I mean, I think our babies are cuter - but that's because they're OURS, you know?  I think this little family is going to have a very interesting sojourn in China.

My brother writes: "It's kind of strange to think that I have such ties to China now. I mean, it's only been 40 years since Nixon made his famous visit over there. It was always this exotic and kind of forbidding place. Now I have a son who speaks the language and lives there, and I have two grandkids who are half-Chinese. Go figure."

Indeed.

A Leaf on Greenleaf

AN ART!

I nearly had an accident this morning as I was driving down the main street in Uptown where I live.  There was AN ART just springing up right in front of the public parking garage boldly standing where no art has stood before.

Since I've recently been down this street and don't remember seeing this, I can only assume it's fairly new.  It's tall!  And it's really beautifully detailed. 

 
By the way, my friends coined the term "An ART" long ago as a catch phrase for all public art - most of which is abstract and often seems oddly out of place.  I must admit, though, this "An Art" fits in well.  I got a kick out of it. 

The idea of a giant green leaf on Greenleaf Avenue is appropriate - and more than a little humorous.

Jack's Brothers

Jack O'Neill

My Jack comes from a good sized family.  There are three brothers and an adorable sister named Lucky.  They are all very nice kitties and don't get into too much trouble.  Jack is the smallest of the boys.  His brothers live in Torrance, so I get to see them every now and then.

Here is Jack's brother Leo.  Except for the white spot on his muzzle, he looks just like Jack!  He was happy to pose for this picture:

Leo

Then there's Piper.  Piper is the largest of all the boys.  (Although I've been told that Leo is actually heavier.) He is black and white, so he takes after his father.  He also has a white spot on his muzzle - just like Leo.

He was hard to photograph.  He is usually very friendly to the weird lady with the camera.  But he doesn't like his picture taken.  First he hid up in the cat tree:

Piper

Then he scampered into the kitchen for a snack.



I thought I heard him exclaim, "No comment!  Talk to my publicist!" as he stalked off into the laundry room for some privacy.

It's hard being a blogger sometimes.

God Bless Your Comings and Goings



Norwegian folk dancers in traditional bunad garb performing at the Folk Musem at Bygdøy

There is a wonderful Folk Museum outside of Oslo, Norway which has a collection of ancient dwellings gathered from all over Norway.  You can wander through this outdoor collection at leisure, getting a glimpse of how my ancestors lived from a couple hundred years ago clear back to Viking times a thousand years ago.  There are many living displays that make it fun, such as ladies baking lefse, or folk dancers such as those shown above, There's also an indoor museum with all kinds of displays about everyday life in ancient Norway.  It's a remarkable place, and one I never grow tired of visiting on my infrequent trips overseas.

One of these homes is completely decorated on the inside with what can only be described as a painted wallpaper of sorts..  It's as if a very creative person got snowed in one winter with nothing to amuse him or herself with but a variety of paints and some brushes.  I can't imagine how much time it must have taken!

You can see a delightful 360-degree image of the main room of this home by using this link:

Living Room from Akkerhaugen in Sauherad, Norway

In another home, someone has neatly painted the following words across the door lintel:

Gud bevar dine ingang og utgang nu og i evig tid.

Translated: God bless your comings and goings now and forever.

The first time I saw this, I remember standing there for a long while looking at it, and wondering about the person of faith that painted it so many years ago.  It really moved me.  I can't think of a nicer sentiment to have across your doorway for those living and visiting there.

Bon Voyage, kiddos!

 This is little Livia.  She is going on a long trip on Tuesday...

 ...with her brother Fredrik (shown here playing on Livia's crib)..

...and her mommy (shown here with Fred).

We're going to miss you guys!  But I think Daddy has been pretty lonesome in China and will be very very happy to see you.

The family will be in China for 2 years on assignment with the State Department.

I think Grandpa and Grandma are going to miss them alot.