Night of the Moon.

Gunnar has this wonderful gift of comforting. Not so much by words as by acts. Yesterday he was busy repairing the car, due for control. Nevertheless he found time to take me for a spin while testing the brakes. We drove to a top called Stone Mountain and had chocolate buns and coffee while watching the town west of us and the moon over the pine forest in the east.
I did feel a bit homesick. The thought of my mother is always there. Then I remembered this beautiful poem my dad used to quote in German. (I found this translation for you).

Mondnacht (Night Of The Moon)
by Joseph Freiherr Von Eichendorff

Es war, als hätt' der Himmel
Die Erde still geküsst
Dass sie im Blütenschimmer
Von ihm nun träumen müsst

Die Luft ging durch die Felder
Die Ähren wogten sacht
Es rauschten leis die Wälder
So sternklar war die Nacht

Und meine Seele spannte
Weit ihre Flügel aus
Flog durch die stillen Lande
Als flöge sie nach Haus



It was as though the sky
had silently kissed the earth,
so that it now had to dream of sky
in shimmers of flowers.

The air went through the fields,
the corn-ears leaned heavy down
the woods swished softly—
so clear with stars was the night

And my soul stretched
its wings out wide,
flew through the silent lands
as though it were flying home.

WHERE YOU DO NOT WANT TO GO

Christmas Dinner prepared by my mother all by herself. Now she's exhausted, but happy.

How often has she sung to all of us, mostly the songs of Zion.

We now see through a glass darkly.

John 21:18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
Love

We are mourning these days. My mother insisted on returning to Sauda, even though she knew it meant she had to spend some time at a home for elderly. She so badly wanted treatment for her feet, her left side broken hip,and her right side sprained ankle, and it must be trained by her special physiotherapist, Ton. That was her firm conviction.
My mother's favourite landscape, Jaeren.

Tonight she is where she always said she doesn't want to end, and she does not feel happy at all, her voice sounded tiny and scared.
We therefore are sad, the whole family.
"When one limb is aching, the whole body is hurting."
Sharing secrets.

I woke up six this morning. Listening for the bumping sound of the roller. It is not longer here, nor the sound of the early nurses, chatting friendly a with my Mom as they carefully wake her up.
I need not get up to make her special breakfast or light candles in the kitchen.
I cannot sleep any more, so I steal out of bed anyway.
My Mom's waffles still are the best.

I have been reading a lot about angels lately. Both in the old and new testament there are lots of stories about how the servants of God are sent out to protect and bless the children of the Almighty.

I can feel your hand in mine

Psalm 91:11" For He will give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."
Dear God, please send at least one to watch over my mother, night and day."

We've "seen to" many family graves throughout the years.
It has been a part of growing up.