Sunday, 9 November, 2008, near Lillehammer, Norway~

Dear Journal~

Greetings from the Northland!  This is your friend, Ingrid E. Schoenfeldter, writing!  Hope this finds you well, happy!

Since I last wrote, I thought I'd share what is going on with me.  As you know, while in America, I was diagnosed with a terrible illness, but it's not so bad, no, not really.  I have a disease called progressive muscular atrophy; it's like Lew Gehrigs disease, but it progresses a lot more slowly; I can have years of active lifestyle before I end up in wheelchair or on crutches.

It's hard because I don't know when I'll start to have more trouble; just have to learn to take it easier, slower.  Sometiems I cry because I know I won't like being inactive.  I'm fifty years old, but look more like thirty.  I'm very svelte in appearance, with a hard, muscled body, shapely legs, flat-toned stomach muscles:  not one ounce of fat on me.  I look good! :)

When I got back here to Norway, my brothers Hjalmar, Lunt, Kjell, and Frans, and my sisters Maikken, Maija, Kalle, and Freja, they hold big party, big welcome home, for me.  I was moved to tears; they didn't have to do that!  I guess they really must have missed me; well, the feeling's mutual:  I missed them, too, while I was in America!

Even daddy was there.  He looked frailer than ever.  It broke my heart.  I know he's old and all, but I hate to see him being sick with cancer!  If I had one dear wish, it would be for daddy to be well, not to have cancer of the stomach! 

I pray for him every night, ask God to not let him suffer any more pain, discomfort.  I pray for strength on his behalf, pray for him to live another day.

The northern lights must have missed me, too.  Ever since my return, they've been out in full force, lighting up the northern skies with an incredible display of color, movement.  I feel special because it's like the lights are putting a special show just for me; they are happy to see me back home! :)

It's a most wonderful feeling! :)

Already there's snow on the ground here.  Guess that means we're in for a long, cold, snowy weather.  Such as the norm here.  I hope, plan to get a lot of skiing in before this disease of mine overtakes me.  I have to do all I can to stay active, to try to stave off the progressing of the disease called PMA!

While I was in Nashville, Tennsee, I met a woman named Lindsey Maureen Bauer who has the same disease; she's in a wheelchair now, but she has such spirit, such determination!  She was always smiling, and she has a happy, full life, even with being in a wheelchair!  I got a lot of encouragement from her; for the first time since all of this came on, I have a sense of hope!

It also helps that I have Jesus in my life; I know He will get me through whatever uncertainty, scary new symptoms this disease will throw my way!  If I didn't have Jesus in my life, I don't know how I'd be coping as well as I am doing now!

Well, I'm getting sleepy, so I will let you go.  I will write in here again soon; until then, this is Ingrid signing off!  Take care of yourselves, and may God bless you as much as He's been blessing me!

~Love, your friend in Norway, Ingrid Elsbeth Schoenfeldter. :D