JULY 16, 2011

this trip to norway was about family and the chance to see a glimpse of what “everyday life” in norway would look like.

we hiked up a trail filled with blueberry bushes not quite ripe, spiky pinecones and to my delight goats greeted us at the end

i was spoiled rotten with an nespresso machine that could prdouce lattes in two minutes – delish

i knitted. and knitted some more. the only item in purchased in norway: wool

we met our godchild for the first time

andreas spent countless hours bouncing away on the trampoline with nathaniel

a day was spent by the shore, the water was a tidbit too cold for my liking but the tide pools were captivating

the final harry potter movie came out. a little disappointing

andreas spent some precious time with rannveig

our time in the south can be described in one word koselig

and finally it was time to come home. home to a kitty i missed sharing my pillow with. home to a garden brimming with promise before we left. home to an ivf schedule in my mailbox. and finally just home.

JULY 9, 2011

zermatt, switzerland. perhaps one of my favorite places on earth.

there is something about it that makes you really believe in true beauty. unblemished. perfect.

as we hiked through the mountains, i felt invigorated. my soul felt relieved to be surrounding by such beauty. and i was happy. i wanted nothing more and nothing less than to be in that moment. a moment that i cherished because that has not been my heart this past year.

that evening, my body was tired. a good tired. like i had accomplishment something great. we ate a very savory fondue and toasted the day accomplishments. afterwards walked the streets as it barely sprinkled. no umbrella needed. just my A and i.

i want to go back. always. forever.

JULY 1, 2011

andreas and i have this place. during the year we talk about our trips there with fondness. and always, there is an achy desire to go back someday.

actually, andreas and i first met at lavey-les-bains. we had met only once before. i remember him reading tin-tin comics in the train. we both remember our lively discussion about ebay ( i just wanted to talk to him, and he is always up for a good debate). afterwards, we went into town for dinner, he ate lasagna. it’s funny, the little insignificant things we remember? for me, it’s those little bits that make the memories seem not so far away. after that day in lavey-les-bain, my heart started beating a little faster every time i heard his name. i guess, you could say, the rest is history.

later that fall, andreas and i went back to lavey a few times. it was so exciting to go as a new couple, freshly in love, relishing in every moment.

five years later, we are still that couple. i held andreas hand as we walked through town to lavey. relishing in every moment, knowing how special this place is to us. it is hard to know when we will be back, so until then we will look at pictures, re-tell our memories of when we first met, and wait until we are back there again.