We are having a little Christmas get together tomorrow evening with some friends who have been asking questions about God and Christianity. Two of which never grown up in homes that Christ was taught. L and I need lots of prayer about what to say if the subject comes up, which I think it will. Its not easy to explain our infinite Creator in finite words. Please be praying for this couple and guy, that the Holy Spirit will move in their hearts, and that our words will make sense to them. 
Its a very different Christmas for me because aside from not spending it they way I grew up, this will be the first Christmas without my Gammy. I had never realized how many traditions and memories of Christmas had to do with her. I'm having to create our own traditions. This year its been a little unorganized just because of planning around other's schedules and our trip home on Wednesday. But next year I want to establish our Christmas traditions so we will have a foundation for when we start having kids. I want them to have memories they can cherish as I have. 


Thank you to everyone who prays for us! We definitely feel them. 
"Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God's Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears."
Phil 1:3-6 [The Message]


Merry Christmas!!!!!!!

New day, new insights. Being in a place completely opposite to home, snowed in most days off, no cable and a sinfully over-watched movie collection gives plenty of time for reflection. I can't speak for L, but for me, I'm ready for a change. I'm itchin for something I haven't been able to put my finger on for awhile. However, yesterday and today I think I've got it. Not only is being in ND isolating physically from what I know, but mentally too. To make it more clear, I used to know what was going on in the world and was passionate about it. Through Dingo ( Sarah Dingus ) I was kept up on what's going on in Africa. Kelly and I were hardcore about human justice and we kept up with ministries who fought for it. Just those two things among many others was my passion. I knew I was created for something far greater than myself. I've wanted to use nursing to bring healthcare to people in third world countries. I wanted to join forces with and work for a non-profit.....

But for some reason, God brought my husband and I out here. I let that cloud my vision and passion. I let it harden my heart because there's a huge difference between hard-headed Norwiegans, Swedes, and precious grateful African children. I admit, i have a very hard time caring for the people who call this part of the country home, because to me, they are not exactly easy to love. I know thats wrong of me, and God's working on my heart. 

I pretty much knew this would happen. I'd start a blog, do well with keeping it up with it for, eh, a couple months, then I'd have to do a huge update to catch up. Not really sure where to start. I'll begin with what's been the biggest thing in our lives lately : marriage.

Confession #1: Marriage is the hardest thing I've ever experienced. Constantly learning new things about L and myself everyday. It sucks that we didn't get to have our "honeymoon year" like most couples. We jumped right into hard reality where we are exhausted every night and hardly see each other. Its not all negative though, the danger in L's job keeps things in perspective and we appreciate the time we do have even more. The things marriage has taught me so far about myself aren't exactly favorable. I'm extremely type A (yes, Kelly, I know you knew that) that I didn't know how to just relax if there were dishes in the sink or laundry to be done. I'm so grateful for L being laid back when it comes to that stuff and helps me to chill and laugh. And he makes me laugh all the time, I love that goofy man :D. 


Confession #2 : I hate, yes hate, everything about this place. The tiny God-forsaken town, my job (except the fact I get paid a decent amount for it), the weather, how expensive everything is here and how the locals take advantage of us and all others brought here by the oil. When I said God-forsaken, I mean this place does a good job of repelling God. Not saying there aren't believers here, but not many. Some examples : the town-owned visitor's center has a liquor store with a drive-thru in it (the only drive-thru in the town), the only thing to do on a, well every night, is go to one of the many bars and get drunk; and the Catholic church's priest is gay and lives with his partner. This is only just a little bit I've chosen to list, but theres a reason we "affectionately" call this place the Devil's Playground. Lots of prayer is needed!!!!


All in all, its not easy living here as a young, newly married Christian couple. Everything is against us and we need spiritual encouragement desperately. None of our friends are Christians so they don't get it. Its only been a few months in to our 36 month stay and I'm very very unhappy and ready to give up on being in Sodom....