We went to a wedding today.
It was beautiful, as all weddings are.
The bride and groom desperately in love. Families gathered from around the country. Friends congregating, sharing and serving.
Dresses, hairdos, suits, flowers, food, music, dancing, singing, loving, laughter
A sister of our pastor, whom we see mostly at weddings and at some holidays was there with her husband and two beautiful girls.
And my heart was moved.
Of course she knew about the helicopter crash six years ago but her first question was.....how is Elizabeth? How are you? I heard Rob had surgery on his shoulder. How is he doing? We really enjoyed having Jon and Jill for dinner. How is it that our little life's events are the subject of conversation in another family circle living 300 miles away? Somehow we, the Nordbergs, are involved with the Sinclairs and their extended family and I was humbled to think that my life, my concerns, my heartaches , my joys are important to someone I see maybe once a year. We are connected.
She doesn't know how much her questions and her knowledge about our family meant to me. God sends just the right people, at just the right time. Sometimes we are waiting, hoping for that future grace and glory that is to come. For the joy set before us.
But sometimes it comes in the here and now
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013
Veterans Day 2013
My dad was a B17 Bomber pilot in World War II.
He flew in the Mighty Flying Fortress.
He flew 35 missions over Germany and 1 over Norway, looking for the German submarines hidden in the deep waters of the Norwegian Fjords. The limit for the number of missions flown for pilots was supposed to be25, but the US had lost so many planes over Europe that many pilots had to fly extra missions.
My dad, John, was an excellent pilot. He was focused on the task at hand, gave responsibility to his copilot so he could concentrate on his job and getting his squadron back to base. He hardly ever spoke about his war experience but every once in a while he would share. Often times he said when they got back to the base in England and they looked at the planes they would wonder how they made it back.
He was a tremendous leader, with devotion to his country and the men who were under him. He maintained contact with his unit and his only one desire that I ever heard was that he could go up in a B17 again. I know it's silly but I do hope he gets to do that someday in heaven.
His leadership translated well back into his civilian life. He got married, went to college while working as a teller in a bank and doing gigs with his band on the weekends. He worked himself up to bank president and board member during his last 15 working years.
I honor him and my uncles and Christian today for the service they gave to our country. My dad was 22 when he assumed command of his unit. It seems almost unbelievable that maturity and responsibility was conferred at such an early age. But the men then rose to the challenge and the best was brought out of them. He lived the rest of his life with honor and integrity as his compass.
His grandchildren have a lot to be proud of!!
Friday, November 8, 2013
The Calender
I wish that I could take an Exacto knife to November 8th, past and present. That I could erase that day, starting in 2007, from the face of existence. That the events and memories could be eradicated and filled with joy and special events.
But that's not real life, and we do live in the real world.
No one thinks they will be on the national morning news.
No one anticipates a life being taken in their 30's.
No one thinks tragedy will happen to them or their family.
No one is prepared for heartache, grief, loneliness, anger, and just sheer exhaustion.
Everyone has plans, hopes, dreams, ideas, schedules, appointments, family reunions, party's, and commitments, and birthdays.
And yet, it came.
To us.
To my daughter, my son, my wonderful new extended family, and us who loved him so much.
And it didn't destroy us. We ran to the rock which is higher then us.
And He was there.
He didn't leave us or forsake us. He didn't despise our grief, our crying, our anguish, our confusion, or our questions.
The moms comfort each other, talk and pray with each other. The fathers talk on Fathers Day. Remember and love each other and talk about "someday"......
For we have hope. Hope and assurance that one day our tears will be wiped away. We will be reunited and joy and sorrow will be gone. So we asked Him to help us number our days so that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. And help us to be "ready".
"For now we live, if we stand fast in the Lord" I Thessalonians 3:8
Christian Philip Skoglund
But that's not real life, and we do live in the real world.
No one thinks they will be on the national morning news.
No one anticipates a life being taken in their 30's.
No one thinks tragedy will happen to them or their family.
No one is prepared for heartache, grief, loneliness, anger, and just sheer exhaustion.
Everyone has plans, hopes, dreams, ideas, schedules, appointments, family reunions, party's, and commitments, and birthdays.
And yet, it came.
To us.
To my daughter, my son, my wonderful new extended family, and us who loved him so much.
And it didn't destroy us. We ran to the rock which is higher then us.
And He was there.
He didn't leave us or forsake us. He didn't despise our grief, our crying, our anguish, our confusion, or our questions.
The moms comfort each other, talk and pray with each other. The fathers talk on Fathers Day. Remember and love each other and talk about "someday"......
For we have hope. Hope and assurance that one day our tears will be wiped away. We will be reunited and joy and sorrow will be gone. So we asked Him to help us number our days so that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. And help us to be "ready".
"For now we live, if we stand fast in the Lord" I Thessalonians 3:8
Christian Philip Skoglund
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
November 4th
November 4, 1976 turned out to be the beginning of the most wonderful adventure that Rob and I have engaged upon.
Our first child was born.
In the wee hours of the morning, Elizabeth Jane Nordberg, entered this world screaming, hungry and very overdue. When she was placed in Rob's arms, the nurse introduced her as "our little princess". And she has certainly fulfilled that each day in our eyes.
We loved her immediately. Red faced, no hair, new born diapers too small.....but she was ours and she was God's best gift ever to these two awe struck parents. And the proud grandparents, great grandmother and aunts and uncle.
Elizabeth was the first of that generation. And she led the way with grace, honor, beauty, strength, intelligence and most important, a love for her savior, Jesus Christ.
She and I were buddies, right from the start and have continued to be best friends. She would stand right up next to me while I was teaching a ladies Bible Study. She loved music, played the piano, trumpet and french horn. She was "put in charge" of her 1st grade class, when her teacher had to step out of the room. She loved to read and play games. At 13 she "took charge" of the family while I went out and cared for my sister who had just had breast cancer surgery, cooked dinner each night, washed every one's clothes and cleaned the house. She loved to bake, and every Saturday morning would make some sort of dessert for all of us. We know how to cook together, how to decorate together and how to entertain together.
Elizabeth was very athletic and loved animals. We had dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters as she was growing up. When we moved to Canton, she developed a love for horses and riding. So, of course, she had a horse, Whim. She rode and showed her for years until she also developed a love of swimming competitively. Then a choice.
She was an excellent student, devoted friend, and wonderful daughter, and sister to her three brothers.
And she was my mom's first grandchild. They had a special bond. They loved the same things.....shopping, eating chocolate, watching Princess Diana get married, the beach, and being together.
My mom died, 8 years ago on November 4th, Elizabeth's birthday and less than a month after my dad died.
It was difficult. She had been struggling with Alzheimer's for about 10 years. When my dad died I think she just decided that she didn't want to be here anymore.
She was the most wonderful mother anyone could have and I miss her enormously. She loved and served my dad for 65 years. He was her rock and she adored him. I remember as a child, when 5:00pm rolled around, she would stop whatever she was doing, clean herself up and put on fresh lipstick in preparation of his arrival at 6:00pm each night. They gardened together, him in his vegetable garden and her in her rose garden. They went to black tie dinners for my dad's work, she always looked gorgeous in her long gowns. She was devoted to her children and loved them unconditionally. And her grandchildren were the light of her life. She could hardly wait to see them always anticipating their next visit. She taught Sunday School to elementary children for 25 years, preparing for hours on Saturday afternoon. She was so generous with her time and talents in the community, taking people to doctors appointments, exercising the handicapped, volunteering at our local hospital and always on call for any need that would arise with her children. If we needed help, any time, any where, she and my dad would be there.....no questions asked.
My mom wasn't perfect but she was just the right mom for me. I loved her and appreciated all the valuable lessons she taught me just by watching her. She loved being a mom and a wife and she was great at it.
My mom and my daughter. The two most important women in my life. I love them beyond measure and look forward to a glorious reunion for us all one day.
"Lord, come quickly"
Our first child was born.
In the wee hours of the morning, Elizabeth Jane Nordberg, entered this world screaming, hungry and very overdue. When she was placed in Rob's arms, the nurse introduced her as "our little princess". And she has certainly fulfilled that each day in our eyes.
We loved her immediately. Red faced, no hair, new born diapers too small.....but she was ours and she was God's best gift ever to these two awe struck parents. And the proud grandparents, great grandmother and aunts and uncle.
Elizabeth was the first of that generation. And she led the way with grace, honor, beauty, strength, intelligence and most important, a love for her savior, Jesus Christ.
She and I were buddies, right from the start and have continued to be best friends. She would stand right up next to me while I was teaching a ladies Bible Study. She loved music, played the piano, trumpet and french horn. She was "put in charge" of her 1st grade class, when her teacher had to step out of the room. She loved to read and play games. At 13 she "took charge" of the family while I went out and cared for my sister who had just had breast cancer surgery, cooked dinner each night, washed every one's clothes and cleaned the house. She loved to bake, and every Saturday morning would make some sort of dessert for all of us. We know how to cook together, how to decorate together and how to entertain together.
Elizabeth was very athletic and loved animals. We had dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters as she was growing up. When we moved to Canton, she developed a love for horses and riding. So, of course, she had a horse, Whim. She rode and showed her for years until she also developed a love of swimming competitively. Then a choice.
She was an excellent student, devoted friend, and wonderful daughter, and sister to her three brothers.
And she was my mom's first grandchild. They had a special bond. They loved the same things.....shopping, eating chocolate, watching Princess Diana get married, the beach, and being together.
My mom died, 8 years ago on November 4th, Elizabeth's birthday and less than a month after my dad died.
It was difficult. She had been struggling with Alzheimer's for about 10 years. When my dad died I think she just decided that she didn't want to be here anymore.
She was the most wonderful mother anyone could have and I miss her enormously. She loved and served my dad for 65 years. He was her rock and she adored him. I remember as a child, when 5:00pm rolled around, she would stop whatever she was doing, clean herself up and put on fresh lipstick in preparation of his arrival at 6:00pm each night. They gardened together, him in his vegetable garden and her in her rose garden. They went to black tie dinners for my dad's work, she always looked gorgeous in her long gowns. She was devoted to her children and loved them unconditionally. And her grandchildren were the light of her life. She could hardly wait to see them always anticipating their next visit. She taught Sunday School to elementary children for 25 years, preparing for hours on Saturday afternoon. She was so generous with her time and talents in the community, taking people to doctors appointments, exercising the handicapped, volunteering at our local hospital and always on call for any need that would arise with her children. If we needed help, any time, any where, she and my dad would be there.....no questions asked.
My mom wasn't perfect but she was just the right mom for me. I loved her and appreciated all the valuable lessons she taught me just by watching her. She loved being a mom and a wife and she was great at it.
My mom and my daughter. The two most important women in my life. I love them beyond measure and look forward to a glorious reunion for us all one day.
"Lord, come quickly"
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