Happy Thanksgiving, Columbus Day, Anniversary

Today is a holiday in Canada and the US and is also a special day for our niece Mareena and Gavin Conrad who are celebrating their 13th wedding anniversary today. It's a lot warmer today than it was in 1997 as I remember a skiff of snow on the streets in Shaunavon. The above picture was taken of them on the 17th of May, 2005 on the streets of Kristiansund, Norway.

Here they are again in the land of the midnight sun.

I need to scan and add a lot of pictures to my computer. I wanted to put a wedding picture of Mareena and Gavin on today's blog but didn't have a picture handy so will have to work on that. I'll add one from their Facebook pictures, a recent fall picture of their family - Megan, Rylan and Nola. It was great to visit them this spring and see their lovely new home for the first time. They live right across the street from her sister Mandy, Rick, Drew and Ty so the families share many good times together, including Thanksgiving dinner yesterday. It's great that Gavin could be home for the weekend as he works in the Fox Creek area.

We shared our first trip to Norway with Mareena and Gavin. We met up with them in Bergen after they had visited with Todd and Kristy and had done some sightseeing together. We all travelled by speed boat to visit mom's cousins at Bomlo, an island south of Bergen. We so enjoyed visiting Mom's cousin, Elise, in her cosy home that had been built by her father, Grandma's brother. It was such a special time seeing where Grandma Haaland grew up and visiting the church where she was baptized and confirmed. Mareena took a special picture of this church and I have it hanging in our Norwegian room. The setting was perfect with the church reflected in the lake waters. Grandma used to go to church by rowboat across this little lake.

Well, I better end my blog for today. Hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving Day. Be sure to take some time to "Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done." I will have quite a list and you will be on it as I am so thankful for the blessings of a loving family and friends. This blog helps me keep in touch with you so I am thankful for it too!