15 February, 2010, near Lillehammer, Norway~

Dear Journal~

Hello from Norway!  This is your friend, Ingrid Elzbeth Schoenfeldter, writing!  Hope this finds you well and happy!

I am doing quite well, although I do have my bad days when my PMA rears its ugly head; however, on those days, I have learned to pace myself and not overdo.  I try to take it easy.  It's hard though, especially on days where I want to go skiing or whatever.

Thank God I have Larz in my life; he is the best thing that's ever happened to me.  We've been seeing each other for six/seven months now, and our love for each other has only gotten stronger; so much, in fact, he's asked me to marry him!  That's right:  Larz and I are now engaged; he proposed to me on Christmas Day; there was no way I couldn't say no!

Someday, I will become Mrs.  Larz Tieggeren.  Kind of has a nice sound to it, doesn't it??  :)

We both had a very nice Christmas.  Besides proposing to me, Larz also got me some new clothes, a car (not new, but it's better than the one I had previously; my old car died), the engagement, and some books; he knows I am a regular bookworm.  Meanwhile, I got him a new sweater, a new winter coat, some cologne, a new watch, some ties, some slacks, some shirts, and some new shoes.  We spent Christmas at his family's house; they've taken to me; they have already claimed me as their "adopted daughter"!  LOL  I just love the Tieggerens so much!

My sisters Maikken, Maija, Freja, and Kalle, as well as my brothers Hjalmar, Lunt, Franz, and Kjell came to spend Christmas with me as well; it was nice seeing them, as well as my numerous nieces and  nephews again.  Makes me wish I were younger, so I could have children; I'd love to have a child of my own; however, I don't think my health would allow it.  If we do decide to have children, we will adopt; there are so many needy children in need of homes or families in this world.

Lunt did spend some time in hospital around October/November:  he had the flu; he had that swine flu.  He was very sick; we thought for a while he was going to die, but thankfully he recovered.  Maikken also had the flu, but not nearly as bad as Lunt did.

Maija got promoted at her job; she works for a lawyer.  As for Freja, she and her husband recently celebrated their twenty fifth wedding anniversary.  They celebrated the occasion by taking a Mediterranian cruise, visiting Greece, Italy, and Sicely.  Meanwhile, Kalle and her husband, Knute, renewed their marriage vows and are currently visiting Africa; they'll be back within a week.

Hjalmaar and Kjell are working hard at their auto repair shop; they've always loved tinkering with cars, ever since they were teenagers.  Now that they're older, they're living out their dream and are very successful at it too.  Their auto shop continues to do a booming business.

Lastly, Franz is in British Columbia, in Canada, where he is attending the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.  He is a professional photographer for a sports magazine, so he had to go on assignment and take pictures of some of the action going on at the Olympics.  Lucky dog; how I wish we could be there!  We went to the Winter Games when they were held here in Norway (live just a few miles from Lillehammer), and it was exciting to have the Olympics right in our back yard!

We saw some of the skating and snow skiing events, as well as the Opening/Closing ceremonies, and it is something we will remember for the rest of our lives!

I could have been a champion skier (and even try out for the Olympics), but never got the chance.  Now that I have this progressive muscular atrophy, my dreams of Olympic glory are over, sad to say.  :(  I sure do miss skiing ...

Well, it is afternoon here, and I am meeting Maija for lunch.  I will write in here again soon; sorry for the delay, but now you know why I haven't written.  If it isn't my health, it's doing one thing or another, either with family, or with my boyfriend (and now future husband!), Larz.  I am a very busy woman.  LOL  I hope you understand.  Until next time, this is Ingrid Schoenfeldter saying so long!  Take care and God bless!

~Love, your Norwegian friend, Ingrid.  :)