Where Am I Now?

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Sharing views from this week's work: on Norway (present and past) and in Minnesota with my guys Along Life's Road.

Where's Wendy?

Two weeks ago, I left on a 12-day tour leading five ladies across Scandinavia. Before leaving, I emailed my family members and our hosts a three-page itinerary entitled "Where's Wendy?" so that they could uphold us during our rigorous journey and contact us in the event of emergency.

Their prayers paid off many fold. Today I am privileged to share a photo sampling of the awesome adventure:


On the 360º balcony

of The Pearl Restaurant

which rests atop

of the city's six

geothermal hot water

reservoirs

in Reykjavik, Iceland...




Overlooking
the wharf
after buying
a wool
sweater and
"norsk" flag


at The Fish Market in Bergen, Norway...



Wincing in
the wind
while whale
watching on
the
Hurtigruten
ship


that carried us along the western coastline to Trondheim...

Stopping in
the Geiranger
Fjord to view
Norway's most
dramatic
meeting of
steep
mountains
and deep green waters while listening to waterfalls and tales of folklore...

Climbing to the summit at Stiklestad where a statue of the Christian-
crusader Viking King Olav stands to remind visitors that because of his death in a battle at this place on July 29, 1030 (and because of the resulting miracles due to his bloodshed),a new Norwegian nation was formed,and eventually named Olav as its patron saint...



Venturing down

the ski jump

at the 1994

Olympic site

in Lillehammer,

Norway...




Traveling the
winding
Smugglers'
Road along the
Swedish border
to visit a
chapel with
its foundation
in Sweden and its bell tower in Norway...

Sitting on the steps –

deep in the wilds

of Eidskog –

that once led to

the childhood home of

Norwegian timberman

and poet

Hans Børli...


Standing in front
of the brand new
Oslo Opera House
on the last
evening of
our tour...




Finding lovely surprises
upon my hotel bed
from a gal I met
25 years ago
as an exchange student
and who eventually
became my best friend
and later
my maid of honor
in my wedding to Dan
nearly 16 years ago...



Because of our marriage, this whole trip began at Dan's suggestion: sending his wife back to her adopted home and taking with her his father's cousins to see the homeland of their Grandma Lena!

Where's Wendy now?

At home, pondering how to properly update her blog – Norway Bound.

Tusen hjertelig takk for turen!
(A thousand hearty thanks for this trip!)

25-Year Jubilee

Twenty-five years ago today (August 6th), I arrived in Norway for the first time.

I was an American Rotary Exchange student who knew basic facts about the country but understood little of the people's culture. At the start, I relied on my interpretor to translate words of greeting from the Rotary Club's president. But step by step, that all changed as I was immersed into the Norwegian lifestyle.


In the autumn,

I learned

how to pack

open-faced

sandwiches

in wax paper for picnicking in the woods by an open fire.


At Christmas,

I helped select,

cut and decorate

a local forest tree

with vertical garlands

of tinsel and flags,

homemade ornaments

and candlelights.

And by winter's height, I strapped on skis, fish-boned up mountains and wondered – in great awe – at how minuscule we are as human beings. In short, I was awakened.

Many years have since passed. I've returned to Norway: once to live as a college student and twice on vacation.

In those early days of 1983, I dreamed (along with other "exchangees") of returning for a 25-year celebration. I'd forgotten that until...

I began the final countdown to this upcoming trip and counted back 2008-1983=25. To my great surprise, I will return for my 25-Year Jubilee!

Here's to STRONG coffee in tiny cups!

Birthday Guy

gets

his

pie!




Happy 14th

to the son

who refuses cake.





Ha,ha.

Stewie wins!

Minnesota

Land

of

Sky

Blue

Water!


Enjoying the local beach!