Dog and Cat

I'm babysitting for a friend today - and part of that job includes trying to broker peace between my dog and their cat!
Just about every time I go to their house, Riley comes along. And just about every time Riley comes along there is at least one all-out, full-scale dog/cat chase! But I think things are improving! I choose to remain optomistic! Today the two have actually had a few calm moments in each others' presence! They've sniffed each other - they've sized each other up - they've carefully watched each other (Edison usually staring down at Riley from the top of the kitchen table!). But of course, peace is short-lived when Riley decides to suddenly run after poor Edison (though I'm fairly convinced that Edison could totally take my dog if it came to that! lol!)!
It's pretty funny to watch - but don't worry, no animals have been hurt in the process! Riley just thinks that Edison is a pal and wants to play. Edison thinks that Riley is completely annoying! I think it's going to take a while for these two to become friends (if it ever truly happens at all)!
So for the moment I can sit in total quiet and peace! The cat is outside, the dog is chewing on a toy. We shall have to see how long this lasts! :)

Pro-Life

Just wanted to share this link! This is really good - definitely worth the watch!
http://www.180movie.com/

Hope you get a chance to take a look at it!

Yes, I am really still here!

Ok, so trying to ignore how inexcusably long it has been since I last blogged, I shall attempt to jump back into this!

I am enjoying having my sister here for a visit! It's been a bit wet and chilly for her time here thus far, but hey, this is Sweden after all! :)

I love fall in Sweden! Some days it's sunny, lots of days it's rainy - but I love the cool, crisp air and the blowing leaves!

Today Riley and I were playing in the puddles when we were out for a walk in the rain! I had forgotten how much fun it can be! It's amazing how more willing you are to play in the water when fully armed with rain coat and rain boots! :) Ahh, simple joys of life!

Things are going well here in Sweden! I'm plugging away with the studies and it seems to be going pretty well! The class I'm in now goes until the beginning of December and then I can start the next (and final) class in January. It will be so nice to be done with language school!

We started our ladies' Bible study several weeks back. We meet at my place every other Tuesday night. It's a great time of Bible study and fellowship! And it's been really good for me as I've done the lessons all in Swedish! That's a huge answer to prayer! I was so scared for that first Bible study - but God certainly helped me. And the ladies are a huge encouragement to me!
This past Tuesday was exciting as we had both English speaking/Swedish speaking folks - so one of the other girls translated for me! It's so exciting having visitors!

Riley continues to be a great pal! He is so good with the kids around here - and he just enjoys exploring the world around him! We love to go on long walks in the woods together!
I have to take him to the vet tomorrow, though. I think the poor little guy has an ear infection. Poor little guy! :(

Meet Riley!

I love the summers here in Sweden! Sunny days, rainy days it doesn't matter to me! We've had a few really warm days, but things seem to always cool off at night! And I love the daylight late into the night! I gotta enjoy it now, because come winter there really won't be any daylight! :) But it is nice taking my puppy outside at 11 or 11:30 at night with it not being really dark out!

O, yes - some big news! I have a new puppy! I got him about a month ago! (Yes, I know - should have updated this thing a long time ago! But if you're friends with me on Facebook, you probably already knew I got the puppy!)

His name is Riley and he just turned 4 months old! He's a Cocker Spaniel/Cavalier Spaniel mix - and super sweet! He has really helped me get to know neighbors around here - and their dogs! But he really is a wonderful little buddy! And always keeping me on my toes!

Things in Sweden kind of slow down in the summer - especially in July. So many people are away on their vacations! Church attendance has been lower because of that - but fellowship has still be sweet! God is really opening up doors for ministry here in Jönköping!

I'm also off of school for the month of July - but that doesn't mean the studying stops! I just finished reading my first John Grisham novel in Swedish - Det Målade Huset (The Painted House). It was a good challenge for me - over 400 pages of Swedish! But it really wasn't hard to read/understand -and I did pick up some new vocabulary from it!

I also get lots of Swedish practice when I'm out with Riley! I'm able to practice my Swedish quite a bit! And all the kids around here love Riley! So I get to spend time hanging out with them too! They help me when I'm stuck with a word! :)

I'm hoping to do some Bible story times out in the yard for the kids around here - maybe at the end of July! It would be kind of a mini-Bible club! Please pray for this possibility!

Some of us church ladies are also getting ready to start a Bible study together! Just waiting for vacations to end - so people are around! :)

I'm also working on a lot of music stuff this month! I have a lot to accomplish in the next month/a half! My sister is coming at the beginning of September, and I have to finish about 6 or 7 songs for her to sing when she gets here! We want to work on another recording while she's visiting!

Well, that's about it for now! Have a great day!

Stockholm!

I just realized it's been a month since I last posted! Crazy how time flies! My apologies! :)

I'm in Stockholm right now - been here for the last 10 days or so! It's been a great trip! I came to stay with the kids of friends who have been in the States for a wedding! I've been having fun with them, working on writing some music, studying a little bit of Swedish, seeing the city sites, etc!

The timing for this trip was good! Just before I left, I passed my last test with sfi (language school)! Lord willing, once I get back to Jönköping I will be starting the next school! So I was ready for a little bit of a break in between schools :)

I've been enjoying the big city, but I must admit that I miss my much smaller Jönköping! I was a little nervous about getting all around on my own here in Stockholm at first, but it really is pretty simple! I've had a transportation card, so I've able to take busses, trains, trolleys, ferries, and the subway! It's been really fun! And as long as I have my map with me, it's all good! :)

This coming weekend is church camp! I'm really excited about it - it's my first one with the church in Jönköping! Should be lots of fun! Please pray for a great time of fellowship and study in God's Word!

Spring in Sweden

Here are just a few pictures of spring in Sweden! I'll try to post some more later! :)

I also want to praise the Lord for a wonderful Resurrection Sunday service! I'm so thankful for my salvation!

And I'm so thankful that God has placed me here in Sweden! What a privilege to serve Him here!

Easter Sunday also held a couple of "firsts!" It was the first Sunday for our small "choir" to sing in church! We did "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" (in Swedish).

It was also my first Sunday for teaching Sunday School - in Swedish! I loved having the opportunity! I was a little nervous at first, but the kids were great! They listened well - and understood what I said! :) They also helped with the pictures on the flannel graph! (Another big thanks to my home church ladies missionary group who provided the flannel graph set! It's so wonderful to be able to put it to use!) We had a great time going through the resurrection story together! Also got to put to use some balloons - and a handmade spinner game (a wonderful gift from a church in WY)!

Well, I must go for now! I probably should get some sleep since I go back to school tomorrow! I hope you all had a blessed Easter! Have a great week!

The Shadow of the Cross

Song: "Shadow of the Cross" I wrote this just over a year or so ago and thought I would make a video with it since Easter is coming up! My sister is the one singing! Praise the Lord for the salvation He offers so full and free!