It has been approved!

People have been asking over the last year where we plan on living. That's a question we have asked ourselves many times over. Both have been open to the possibility of Julianna coming to Norway and for me to go to Utah. We've gone through the emotions and the practicalities, making lists of pro's and con's. Some ask: "Why don't you just pick one place and go?" Well let me tell you, it's not that easy! Once you start digging into it, there are more factors to think about than first beholds the eye, and they all need to be considered. After having made a list and weighted it once again, and after much prayer and communication, we came to a decision on February 12th that it is I who will go to Utah. For how long? We don't know.

Next step then was to finalize my visa application. March 9th I had an interview scheduled at the embassy in Oslo. We had done a pretty thorough work in our preparations, so I wasn't really expecting any issues or challenges being approved, but when it was two hours after my appointed time, I have to admit that I was starting to get a bit nervous. Close to three hours after I got there it was finally my turn, and five minutes later it was over!

Somewhere between 3 or 4 am I called Julianna to tell her all about the interview and that everything had gone well. She had expected my call and although I felt bad for waking her up, we enjoyed sharing the moment together. One week later I could go and pick up my passport with my visa approved :-)

Winter Break in Norway...Was it all a dream?

I find myself back in the U.S. after an amazing week and a half in Norway, but now I'm left wondering if it was all a dream. Tarjei and I tried to make the most of every moment that we had together. We skied, went sledding, celebrated Christmas, spent time playing games with his family, danced into 2011, watched fireworks, attended a delightful Norwegian play, and even went to our first movie in the theater. It was wonderful to just be together. Now, I find myself wandering around my house, half expecting him to magically appear around the corner. I wish he could!

Here are a few highlights:

As part of the Christmas Eve festivities, Norwegians dance and sing around the Christmas tree. Here's a video of his family enjoying this fun tradition.



Apparently, Santa knows just when to ring the doorbell and interrupt the tree dancing. This Santa was quite the "surprise"


To survive the cold in Norway, mittens are an essential. Notice how there are three mittens for four hands....



Did you know that Christmas tinsel hangs vertically in Norway? Well it does, and here's the proof. I couldn't resist trying to capture this darling moment of Tarjei's niece hanging something on the tree. Be sure to notice the little cone baskets hanging on the tree as well. Those get filled with candy throughout the season.



No Christmas is ever complete without lots of delicious food. Tarjei's mom says that Norwegian tradition states that at least seven varieties of "cake" be made for the season. She begins making these weeks ahead of time, and then everyone gets to enjoy them for days on end. She's a fantastic cook!



After the Christmas festivities were finished, we all headed out doors for lots of fun in the snow....







Check out this amazing sunset at 3:30 in the afternoon. I must say that the short days took some adjusting for me. It was especially hard when 8:00 a.m. feels and looks like 5:00 in the morning.



Then there's the Christmas lights in the streets of Oslo. We enjoyed these on our way to see a Norwegian Christmas play, "Reisen til Julestjernen" ("Journey to the Christmas Star"). It was absolutely delightful! I love the Norwegian culture, and I love how they love to display it!


For the New Year, Tarjei treated us to a three course meal at a nice restaurant in Oslo called the Mona Lisa. We enjoyed lobster soup, and yes, a fillet of reindeer. I must admit that it was quite good. Dessert afterward was a bowl of warm blackberries covered in cream. Yum!!! Did you know that Norwegians have an extra dessert stomach? I'm hoping that by marrying Tarjei, I'll get one too :)


After dinner, we followed the masses down the streets to see the fireworks display over the fjord. They were going off everywhere, and were quite exciting. In case you didn't get to see any, here is a video for you...



What can I say? It was wonderful! Thanks to Tarjei and his family, I will never forget my first Christmas in Norway. This picture of us together says it all....

Snø!!!!

The snow is beautiful in Norway! It makes for a perfect Winter Wonderland. This morning, I woke up and big fluffy flakes were coming down everywhere. It's a good thing I brought some boots, though...where there is snow...there is cold as well!

Tarjei and I were able to get out and play in the snow yesterday with his sister and nieces. We had a great time! Thought I would post a video of our fun created by the new video camera that Tarjei received for Christmas. I will definitely have to post more Christmas pictures and videos soon! I'll say this for now, Christmas in Norway is an unforgettable and absolutely wonderful experience. Of course, the best part was being with my sweetheart.

Oh, and one more thing. In the video, you will see the Norwegian's favorite snow transportation. It's called a "spark." In decades and centuries past, the gentlemen would court their ladies on this snow gliding sleigh. Guess that's what he's doing now :)

1 year!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I love this holiday. It seriously is my favorite. There is something so unique about a day where we all stop and just reflect on the blessings that we have been given. One of my favorite quotes goes perfect on this day..."Gratitude is the memory of the heart."

This Thanksgiving I am especially grateful for the past year of my life. It was today a year ago that Tarjei and I first skyped each other. Somehow he got up the courage to ask if we could reconnect over skype, and that one bold move changed both of our lives forever.

We had a simple conversation just catching up on what we were doing with our lives, but we were both amazed at how easily we could share our stories. We instantly felt connected in friendship, and both left the conversation absolutely exhilarated! I was so excited to get to know him more. That one skype call led to a myriad of others which have never stopped. Now, there's rarely a day that goes by that we don't find at least a few minutes to catch up with each other on skype. It allows us to feel like we're in each others presence even when we're so far apart.

So, yes, I am grateful for the last year - the friendship, the love, the new perspectives, the faithful decisions, the memories, and the joys that Tarjei has brought to my life. We have changed each others lives for the better. I have a lot to be grateful for!

Some awesome memories from the past year:

A trip to Bryce Canyon...



A quiet, yet eventful, winter campfire by an ice covered lake in April...



Visiting with family, here we're with Tarjei's 90 year old grandma...



Eating our favorite Middle Eastern treat that can only be found in Europe, doner kebab...



Exploring Denver, Colorado. And, yes, there are things taller than my viking man...



Shadowplay...



Temple trips...



He sent me flowers the other day with a card that said it all, it read..."1 year". It has been a wonderful year!

New York, New York!

When we first talked about meeting up with each other many months ago, we thought about doing so in New York. At the time we decided it would be better for us to experience more of a "normal" day, so I visited with Julianna in her hometown in Spanish Fork. Who could have guessed, but here we are a few months later - in New York!

Let me tell you if you haven't been there: New York is a BIG city! And there are people EVERYWHERE, no matter what time a day. No wonder they call it the city that never sleeps. A late night dinner? No problem! Just don't get stuck on the subway afterwords....

The Statue of Liberty is a sight to see, and it's pretty cool at Ellis Island where you can learn about the history of immigration to the U.S. However, if you want a day full of adventure and random experiences, take a walk in Central Park by day or Times Square at night. Our favorite was Central Park, offering everything from sports, chess, and merry-go-rounds to quiet places where you can sit and talk or listen to a concert. We even met up with a good old Scandinavian friend, Hans Christian Anderson. Truly a wonderful day!

Visiting Julianna's cousin or meeting up with Tarjei's friend, Tone, was also fun, but when all is said and done, the best part of this whole experience was the time we could spend together just the two of us.

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How do we make it work?

A couple of days ago Julianna and I shared with each other some thoughts about why we feel we are ‘the right one’ for each other. Without going into details, as they would not mean as much to the world as they do to us personally, I would like to take the opportunity to share some of the things that have helped us make this relationship blossom.

If you have read any other part of our blog, or you already know Julianna, you should be able to tell what a wonderful and special woman she is. She has always put me before herself and constantly expressed how much she cares for me, believes in me and loves me. Realizing that although our backgrounds are more similar than we could have thought, there still is a difference in our approach to life, and so she has always made an effort to understand my opinions. Never has she sought to put me down or ridicule the way I think.

Gentle communication, expressed belief and trust, daring to share concerns and daring to listen to concerns and accepting advice are key ingredients that practiced on a daily basis have made us grow closer together. Julianna is a true friend to whom I can trust my heart. In fact, I think my heart is taken better care of in her hands than in my own.

And then there are the funny little quirks that add spice to life. They are such great opportunities for us to grow, but also to feel that the other one is a real person with real challenges. Sometimes in moments like these we feel closer to each other than ever before. It brings me comfort to know that Julianna understands that I am not perfect, and that she still loves me!

For love's sake only...

Okay, so I know we're completely in that stage in a relationship where everything is a happy shade of rose, but I like to think I have earned the right to enjoy every minute of being "in love" since I've waited so long for it! All I can say is that I'm constantly amazed with how thoughtful Tarjei is, and how devoted he is to 'us!'

A poem that Tarjei shared a couple of months ago has been on my mind a lot lately. It has become a poem that means a lot to both of us. I think it really depicts what love can become over time, when we love for love's sake only! Here's a little something to "chew" on....

If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say
'I love her for her smile--her look--her way
Of speaking gently,--for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day'--
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee,--and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry,

--A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity.

.....If Thou Must Love Me, Let it Be for Nought by Elizabeth Barrett Browning