A Norwegian View

I love moving.

This was a concept Einar's Norwegian family did not understand. They don't move. They settle and stay.

Granted, many of his family are settled on their homestead. Or their mother's homestead. Or their husband's homestead.

And the views... The views from many of the homes were nothing short of spectacular.

Would I want to move from a view like this?

Would I be more settled at the old homestead?

They tried to understand why we move so much. Liv has moved more than we have, and so many of the questions were directed at her. But we really didn't know how to answer.

Why do I like moving? I don't like surface cleaning. When I clean (the way I enjoy cleaning), I clean a small area but clean it thoroughly. Moving gives me a chance to do that to my whole house. It lets me sort and organize.

How much of it has to do with 'unsettledness' - the feeling that I belong elsewhere? I'm not sure. Einar doesn't like moving, and he'd have a greater reason to be unsettled. After all, his first home was not only a different house, but a different country.

My first move was when I was 15. (I still dream about someday purchasing that house.) After that, I have moved frequently. I think our longest stay in one place is our current house which we have had just over 7 years now. I like the house. But not the yard. And certainly not the view!

I think I'll have to settle for less of a view than we saw there... but maybe when we move to our next place, we'll pay a bit more for the view...

Koop Family Gathering 2008

Pinawa, Manitoba was the location of our family gathering for the third time. We have found Wilderness Edge to be accomodating, not overly expensive, with good food and good activities.

There were over 50 of us this year - less than last time, but still more than half of the family. Ages ranged from newborn Keanna to Dad who is 92.

In spite of the fact that I fail miserably when it comes to contacting and keeping in touch with my family much of the time, family is terribly important to me, and so I love this time of reconnecting and getting to know one another again. It is impossible to have meaningful conversations with everyone, but each time there are new surprises when I chat with my nephews and nieces, brothers and sisters.

Of course, it is also a time to spend with my own kids who live far away. We were sorry Paul couldn't make it this time, but hopefully those who couldn't get there this time will be able to make it to the next one in two years.

So - to my family - see you in July 2010 in Pinawa!

MCC Relief Sale

I remember thinking once that when our children were gone, life would slow down. Maybe it has. Maybe we have a few more free evenings together. But we both have jobs that we love (most of the time, at least) and it seems that has kept us very busy this year. Maybe we're just busy with our own things for a change - instead of just running to all our kids events.


One of the biggest fundraisers we have in MCC is our annual Relief Sale. In Alberta it moves around and last year it was in the south in Coaldale, and this year it was in Sherwood Park near Edmonton. Next year it will be in the Calgary/Didsbury area.


I was able to spend almost 3 days up there helping with set-up, taking pictures, etc. I find the quilt auction mesmerizing. Not only quilts are sold, but also other handwork including furniture. I want it all (okay, most of it) but bids often go way off the scale. The people know that if it becomes a 'donation' (meaning if they bid way more than it's worth), they will get a receipt for the access, so they are willing to spend.

Maybe next year I'll get my quilt...

Washington DC

Einar's company's convention was in Washington DC this year, so that is where we were from June 11-17.

As usual, we were in a wonderful Marriott Hotel, and had great meals and were able to connect with people Einar knew and people we'd both met previously.

Mostly, though, it was a good time for Einar & I to reconnect and have time together after my Ukraine Trip.

While he was in sessions the first day, I drove up to the Material Resource warehouse in Ephrata, Pennsylvania for 2 reasons. I needed to get my pic's from the Ukraine trip (I didn't have nearly all of them since my disks were blank when I got home) and I really wanted to take the opportunity to reconnect with Rudi and Mary, who were both in Ukraine as well. I also managed to see Lucinda - who I'd met in Mississippi on our MDS trip earlier. So it was a very worthwhile trip.

The rest of the weekend, whenever Einar was in sessions, I was able to work on my pictures and get them sorted.

We had 2 meals supplied each day, but there were wonderful restaurants nearby and we had great Mediteranean food, Thai food, and on Father's Day, we went out for Afghan food. That was a new experience for us, and well worth it.

Vienna

On our way home, we spent an evening and night in Vienna. Wilf's friends Jean & Gunther were perfect guides to the city, and we saw a few highlights as well as having dinner in a delightful setting.

There were a lot of buskers in the city center and one of them played glasses in a way I've never seen or heard before. I tried to post the video, but it was too large a file - maybe one of my techie friends can tell me how to post it elsewhere and add a link.

More Ukraine

Our trip has a very distinct dividing line - Before Sunday afternoon, and After Sunday Afternoon. We had such a good Sunday morning - sharing in the morning service at the Baptist Church in Yalta; singing "How Great Thou Art" for them with everyone joining in the chorus; taking communion with the rest of the congregation; and being greeted very warmly.

The rest of Sunday is a bit of a blur...or perhaps just something I don't even want to think about. Harry's death, and the subsequent shock and blur of details that needed looking after... times of prayer, crying, and sharing... Not knowing what to think or do... And eventually realizing we had to go on; we had to finish, despite the huge hole in our team.

I can't say that things ever went back to 'normal' but we did attempt to finish our trip following the schedule set out for us. There continued to be moments of tears, shock, sharing, and a lot of praying together - right to the end. But we found reasons for fun and laughter in the midst of it all.


The church in Yalta and the bishop Benjamin were an incredible source of strength for us at this time.

Hard times

In my last blog I mentioned I had expected more hardships on this trip. I was talking about food, lodging, etc. The hardships that have come our way are NOT in that category.

We were enjoying our Sunday afternoon at the beach. Harry was especially eager to swim in the Black Sea, and didn't even test the water before he ran in for his swim. We all were enjoying his eagerness and have a number of pictures of him enjoying the water.

Suddenly our trip was changed permanently. Harry appeared to have a heart attack in the water, and despite efforts by our own team, the medics, etc, he was gone.

I will add more at another time, but for now I'll just ask for you to pray for us, and for Harry's family in Manitoba.

Thanks.