JEG TAKKER GUD FOR ALT

Heather and Luke cooking up something good in our place in Farsund, Norway. Another spectacular setting in a country too beautiful for words. The kitchen was stunning, too.

Photo below:

Four generations of women from the line of Amelia Lund (great, great grandmother), Bertilda Lund Johannessen,(great grandmother) and Elvine, my grandmother, Ella Johannessen Tweten. I wish I had photos of Amelia, Bertilda and Ella to share. But the photo below from 2000 is of my mother, Margaret Tweten Jensen, Jan Jensen Carlberg, Heather Carlberg Willis, and first grandchild, Lily Carlberg Willis. Talk about strength in numbers!

Above photo of a real swinger. Luke's pushing me as I swing towards the Hjorundfjord in Saebo, Norway.

Photo of the the man on the mountain is. Luke Carlberg Willis in Andalsnes. Yes, that's snow.

Next photo is of the Carlberg-Willis family outside the Norwegian Mountaineering Centre in Andalsnes, Norway. Left to right: Kristina, Maggie, Heather, Poco, Lily, Chad, Basil, Bestemor( Norwegian for grandmother), Matt and Luke.

Well, I'm home now. Just in time for fireworks and 4th of July celebrations. I miss Norway, and especially all that comes with being surrounded by three generations of family. But it's good to be home. When we landed in Boston, a few people clapped. One man, dressed in colorful African clothes, shouted as we bounced to a stop, "Thank you God! Thank you pilot!"

And, when I consider our family history, I am left saying, "Thank you God! Thank you Pilot." Then, through memory, I hear Mama singing, while playing the piano, "Jesus, Savior, pilot me over life's tempestuous sea: Unknown waves before me roll, hiding rocks and treach'rous shoal. Chart and compass come from Thee: Jesus, Savior, pilot me."

And, the lyrics remind us that troubles are not something new. And we need to remember that Jesus has been our Pilot, our Savior, whether we always knew it or not. Throughout generations of faithful, sometimes faithless or faith faltering twigs and branches on our family tree, Jesus remained and remains our faithful pilot "over life's tempestuous seas."

So, on this 4th of July, I am grateful that the history of our country included welcoming people from all over the world. Some of our nation's leaders resist that spirit of welcoming differences today. We are in danger, as a nation, if we persist in tilting towards welcoming, defending, valuing and benefiting primarily the rich and powerful.

But part of the beauty and strength of this country is the mix of races and cultures. And as Philip Yancey reminded me this morning in Grace Notes, "A person's worth is determined not by appearance or income, or ethnic background, or even citizenship status, but rather is bestowed as a sacred, inviolable gift of God."

And while I hope to share more stories and photos(Chad and grandgirls can help me) over the coming weeks, it's time to say, "Tusen takk, to my daughter, Heather, and Matt for all your planning. Tusen takk to my son, Chad, Kristina, Lily and all the family for things done and left undone to make this trip happen. Jeg elsker deg.(I love you.) And without Basil, there would be no photos posted in this blog. Thanks, Bazy!! Like I love to sing to you and the Grands, "I get enough of a lot of things, but I never get enough of you!"

And above all, I thank God for everything.( Jeg takker Gud for alt.)

So, my dear family and friends, "Ha en fantastisk dag."