FLIGHTS!

All dressed up for Remembrance Day program at school

I didn't get the above picture in my last post so will add it today. Dawson is wearing one of Grandpa Johnson's shirts.  Eric likes to dress up with a tie.  They both wore ties for their annual school pictures!

I'm starting on my Sunday post this afternoon.  I enjoyed the visit over coffee and chocolate cake (Thanks, Linda!) after morning service but didn't go to the cafe for lunch.  I was anxious to get home and track the last of the 9 hours, 46 minutes flight of AC#845 with its precious cargo that included Nora, Todd and Kristy.  Their plane landed at 12:41 Calgary time. I'm wondering how this long flight went for baby Nora.  They were able to get bulkhead seats so could put Nora in a little bassinet that fastens to the wall in the middle of the plane.

I am thankful for the snow we had last weekend as it has helped to put me in a "Christmas is coming" mood!  I baked four batches of flatbread this week so have a good start on orders.  I also sent some with Clare for the silent auction at Zion this evening, along with a couple gift boxes of ginger cookies. Yesterday I made a batch of "Julebrod", or Christmas bread for you non Norsk people.  It's one of my favourite holiday items so I made sure I got that done.

I am still working on my new address book, am at the O's now so the end is in sight.  Next project will be addressing envelopes for the annual Christmas letter, which is currently under construction.

I went to Ambrose on Friday and picked up Kirk's box of photo Christmas cards from Shutterfly.  He always gets his orders in early and it pays!  I think he got 40% off his order plus free shipping.  I haven't been to Lampman for ages so plan to go out this week while roads and weather are good.  Carter has a hockey game in town on Tuesday so I'll go out for that and stay overnight.

Tomorrow our Faith Circle meets at Trinity.  It's always good to get together over a bible study.  We also enjoy the fellowship with a cup coffee and a sweet to go along with it.

Last Thursday morning I got a text from my niece Mareena telling me that West Jet had a two day sale on, and it ended that day.  I spent most of the day in Estevan so it was eight o'clock by the time I got home, made supper and put the groceries and other purchases away.  Then it was time to check out this sale.  I had mentioned to Sandra that I would like to visit Myrna and Ernie in Yuma sometime this winter, hence the text from Mareena.  I checked out some dates and found that I could get a direct flight from Regina to Phoenix on Tuesday,January 22 with a direct return flight two weeks later on February 5.  ( The specials end on Feb. 7)  But first I had to check to see if those dates worked for Myrna and Ernie so I placed a call to them.  No answer, so I left a message and also sent a text.  Myrna called back about 10:30 saying those dates are fine.  That was good news so I went ahead and booked the flights.  They will meet me in Phoenix or there's also a transit bus that's a possibility.  We'll work out those details later.  It's exciting to look forward to spending a couple weeks in the sunny south this winter.  Myrna said it had been cloudy all that day in Yuma.  A weather report said it had been 471 days since Yuma had had a day with no sunshine at all!

Speaking of Mareena, here's a picture of her younger daughter Nola.  She is wearing a Norsk dress that Sandra bought when we were in Kristiansund.  She also has a bonnet/hat from a bunad that was our great aunt Inga's.  It's great that there's someone to wear it again as Sandra has outgrown it!  It was given to her when she was a young girl.  She has our grandma's second name, Helene, so I think that encouraged the passing on of these special items!  Grandma's grandma was also Berta Helene so these Norsks really keep names in the family.  It's often confusing when doing family history!

Nola Mandy Conrad in her Norsk outfit
(minus the bonnet)

Todd just called from Calgary.  Nora was a very good traveller!  She slept for six of the hours and didn't fuss much when she was awake either.  Dan, Helga and Rusty (their dog) were there to meet them so now they are on the way to Brooks.  It's plus six in Calgary so roads will be good.  Lots to be thankful for!

On Wednesday the Ledene family, Dan and Helga, their four daughters and spouses and only grandchild Nora, are flying to Mexico for a family holiday.  Nora will have done a lot of flying by the time she's four months old and back in Norway!  She won't lack for attention in Mexico with parents, grandparents, three aunties and three uncles to dote on her for two weeks.  When they get back, it will be the Johnson family's turn to lavish attention on this precious little one.  Can't wait to meet you, Nora Josephine Johnson!

I'm going to publish this now and will add pictures later as I'm sure Todd and Kristy took a few of this first flight to Canada with Nora!  Have a good week.