It's all His fault!

Well, I can hardly believe it is true! I have actually lived twice as long as I thought I would! I never expected to live to see 20, let alone 30! Now here it is, the day I celebrate God's grace on my 40th birthday! There have been so very many chances for me to lose my life, yet, here I am, still pulling pranks and telling horrible jokes! (Even if they are not shark jokes!) You see, as a high school graduate I moved to Kansas for a while. I needed to know what would happen to me if I did not have God in my life. I quickly reverted into the wild life I knew before moving in with my God given family. I started drinking, smoking and doing drugs, even more than before. Wild orgies and partying were a part of normal life. One night we had to buy our coke (cocaine) from a new source- our normal guy was caught and in prison. It costed a bit more, but we had no one else to buy from. So, we partied into the night. as the evening wore on and the pot wore off, we took out the coke and started to sniff lines.We took the normal 2 lines each till it was all gone. Then it started to hit us.What we didn't know was that the coke we bought was not cut near as much as the stuff we were use to. It was really pure. We all took more than twice the normal amount of coke! We all got hit at the same time. We were laying on the floor, all were wide eyed with terror. Not a one of us could move! I remember the feeling of my heart beating slower and slower, and how my lungs were protesting every breath. I felt no pain, I felt nothing at all! As I felt myself drifting off to sleep, I remember praying, "Dear Jesus! Please let me survive this night and I will give you back my life. I will NEVER touch drugs again. I will share my story and give you the glory for saving me." Then everything went black.

I woke up the next morning, fairly surprised to be alive at all. I called home to Mom and asked to be able to return home. I knew I would need the support of the church to get and stay clean. I threw all my stuff into my car, and left right away. I do not know if anyone else died or survived. I just knew I needed to get away from there.

I have no idea exactly where I spent the next week, detoxing. Maybe that is a good thing. I do remember meeting up with some friends that went to college in Kansas and driving back to PA with them. I do remember that the first bit of time back home was filled with nightmares, and strong cravings for drugs. But I was determined to keep my promise to the Lord. I spent a lot of time praying, reading the Bible and excersizing to burn the extra energy from the shakes!

God was good! He saved my life, and I did indeed live to see 20! The past 20 years have been filled with all the bonuses I never expected to have. God has been so good to me. Every one of my dreams has become a reality. Every desire of my heart He has seen fit to allow to become real. And more!! My life is so blessed, I hardly know what to say. Every valley that I have gone through I have felt the hand of God leading me on. When I was too weak to go, I felt the presence of friends and family supporting me and carrying me. Through thick and thin (both situations and my body shape) I have been truely blessed to feel and know God's leading.

So, now I am blessed with a beautiful family, daughter and son, and such a wonderful husband! We have been through so much, and he still says "I love you". He still comes home at night, and gives me a hug and kiss. (and sometimes more!;P) All that we have ever dreamed of has come true, we are truely blessed and we know it!

On this, the 40th anniversary of my birth, I want to say, " Thanks, Lord Jesus! You are the most blessed thing that has happened to me, for me and in me. I give You the glory for allowing me to live this long. I give you the glory for the joy in my life, and I thank You for all the blessings you have given me. It's all your fault! Thanks!"

Gum in my hair!

Today I was at the gym again. I am getting the weight rutine down pat, and it goes a bit quicker. I am actually enjoying the 20 minute bike ride at the end of the session.I ususally read the paper and solve the sudoko while passing the time. Tomorrow I will go swimming and do my inder water pilates and jogging. I still run till I get out of breath and then kick it into overdrive fo a couple minutes more. Then I take a steam bath for 5-15 minutes before hitting the showers.

Today I got my hair cut. I have noticed that it takes about 15 minutes of blowdrying to get my hair dry, and that was too long. So, I am short haired once more. I had to go get a new supply of hair moose, spray and hair gum. That's right, hair gum! Now it is the thing to do - put gum in your hair!! Use to be that gum in the hair was a major problem, envoking a panic attack. Now they have specially canned goo (it's light blue) to put into your hair. It performs a lot like hair wax, but holds the forms a bit better. Wax in the hair also use to be a bit of a problem!

I had fore warned my family that we would take the family picture tonight. But some people will do just about anything to get out of taking a picture! Both Kris and Katrina were home today. Kris still has a fever, off and on. Katrina threw up this morning and has a high feaver too. I think I will stay away tomorrow too, so I don't get what they have!

We have decided to stay home on Christmas eve and go to Luleå Christmas day. We have friends there that have invited us to come. So, we will. I found a dog sitter for Jackie, and have only to pack for a couple days. It will be nice to meet up with the Öbergs again.

The job as a youth leader has been presented to the elders in the church. They want to meet with me on Monday night to talk about a few things. The offer on the table is a trial until the summer. Then if all goes well, it can be extended. So, I will be looking into what paperwork I need to do to put my buisness in a rest mode. I will still have to wait till January 7th for the OK from the congregation.

Well, I need to go do some wash. There are at least 6 loads downstairs. If I want to get caught up by christmas I need to get busy. Working out almost every day creates a bit of wash too! So, here we go! Have a good on yall!

Job oppertunity

Today we are going to finish Christmas decorating, then I hope to go to town to the gym. I didn't work out at all yesterday, so I want to squeeze one in today. Then I can take a day off tomorrow.
Yesterday I bought new decorations and a new tree (artificial). I was looking all over for a nativity scene, but couldn't find one. So I prayed and all of a sudden the people that work there came out of th stock room with a bunch of boxes. I asked if they have any nativity scenes, and she said,"Right here, mam". Talk about ask and it will be given unto you...
Kris is still in New Your, comes home on Monday. I am thinking I will treat him to a day at the spa. Then he can relax a bit and drink some glogg (wassle) at home.
A job oppertunity has come up, but I can't write too much about it yet. Just that it is a position as a youth leader in at a church I could see myself working at. So, prayers are welcome. I can write more details later about the job, after I have had some feedback from the church.
Have a good day yall

Double workout

Yesterday was a workout day. I took Katrina to school and went to the gym for a swim.Ihave been doing a combination of swimming and under water pilates. Then I "run" in the water for 10-15 minutes. I love running and have missed it a lot. Even though it is not the same as running outside, I love the feeling of running under water. Maybe some day I can start jogging again?!
At 10:30 we met to plan next semester of the younge believers class. It will be full of fun, I am sure. I really enjoy the group that teaches together, and how everyone helps out. We work well together, we are all just a little on the crazy side.There are some changes but I will have to wait a little til I can say what they are. The planning went well. Just as we finished, I got a call from a friend who wondered if I was going to come to the gym with her to work out. So, back to the gym I went. We did a weight workout together, and had a good chat and lots of laughs. (Try doing crunches while you are laughing!!) I think I will take this morning off. I might fo swimming this afternoon. Katrina needs to be picked up in town at 4, so I might take a quick dip in the pool.
Kris called from NYC. He had off yesterday and took the oppertunity to go shopping. He got some Christmas presents and a few things for himself. Now I know where Katrina gets her love of shopping from!
I remember when I still lived at home how we would take a family picture every year. Sometimes it was hard to get all the schedules to mesh to have everyone there, primed and ready and in a good mood. Then we smiled goofed around and were blinded for the evening by the barrage of flashes. Good laughs then and when we looked at the pictures. Now I am finding it hard to get my hubby home and still long enough to snap our picture. We had set a date to do it, then Bjorn went missing! (He was at a friends house playing on the computer) NExt time Katrina was sick in her stomache. Then I fell asleep and no one woke me up! And now Kris is in New York City. He will come home on Monday, so our next date is Monday night. With a little luck, everyone will be there, well, and awake!! We have all used up our allotted one excuse, so now it's time to grin and ... snap! (hee hee- cute pun, huh?)
Well, time's a waistin, and I have a messy house to clean and a floating couch to weigh down.Have a good one y all.

specs and sore ligaments

Yesterday I had my first workout with weights. I am not feeling near as much pain as I thought I would. I do have some aches, but compared to the stretched ligaments I already have, it's nothing! I will go in today to swim. I usually do a little pilates under water while in the bubble pool.

Katrina needs to get a present for her friend, so we will go to town after that. I have already been in town today.
Björn had an eye exam at school because he couldn't read the blackboard from his seat. We were advised to take him for a proper eye exam, which we did today. Yep, the kid needs specs! He picked out a pair HE liked (I would have never picked them, but I don't have to wear them either!), we paid and decided to look for a present for Kris. We will pick up the glasses next week.
Now, i love my husband dearly. He is so kind and hard working (maybe too good at working?), loving and respectful. But the poor man has so few hobbies! He plays piano, but we have a lot of music books, sheet music and a tuner. He reads a lot, but has already read all the latest (swedish) releases. He is a computer geek, but I am somewhat technologiclly impared. So, we (Björn and I ) went toTechnique Magazine and found a little gag gift.
Then we had lunch. (I had a chicken sandwich and a bean sallad, diet coke. Keeping up the diet!)
On the way home Björn said that he had a stomache ache since breakfast. He drank some milk that was a little sour and has not felt so good since then. So I let him stay home this afternoon.
Now I am on my way to the gym. Have a good one y all

wet and weighted

Well, today was my second day at the gym. Yesterday I was there to meet with a trainer and set up a program. Jonas (my trainer) and I talked a while to decide what kind of program to have. We decided that I really don't need any more muscle mass or strength. Both were enough for two women! (And even some men!) Bone structure is strong and stable, as are muscle tissues. My weak link is what holds it all together- senew(muscle to bone), ligaments(bone to bone) and cartilage(those semi hard pliable areas like the nose and between the joints). So, I have 5 excersizes to strengthen my senews in my hips, elbow, knees and shoulders. I have unlimited access to a warmed up pool, a steam room, a bastu, sauna, relaxsation rooms and weight rooms. There are classes I can take with water gymnastics, pilates and streatch a little later. I am also to take a 15 minute walk once a day, 5 days a week.
Yesterday we went through all 5 excersizes and which position I need to have, which muscles to activate or inactivate. The whole rutine starts with a 20 minute bike ride. Then I work the knee/hips, then the shoulders (two seperate excersizes) then the hips again (different excersize with a giant ball), followed by hamstrings. Then it's back to the bike for a final 20 minutes.
After that I can go home or swim or sit in the bastu ...
I have already noticed a big improvement in my energy level. My afternoon naps have decreased or are absent and I am able to be up and alert later in the evenings. The kids have been a big help too. They are great about walking with me in the evenings- we take Jackie for a walk and play hide and seek with her. (The kids hide, Jackie finds them) It will be interesting to weigh in on Monday to see if anything has changed. I am so tempted to check now, but I know I may only weigh myself once a week.
Last night we were at Kris' sisters place. It was her birthday. She had cake, and I was proud to have only taken one SMALL piece! I even drank only water with it.
Well, it is time for lunch, so I will have chicken and veggies . Björn is home today, so we can eat together. Have a good one y all.