Hello from Norway!

My name is Maikken Kristina Volkenstaad; I live in northern Norway with my family:  my husband, Olaf, and our three children.  Our children, all girls, are all in their later teenaged years now; they've grown so much!  They are no longer so little.  I miss that ...

I am employed at a law firm; I work for a lawyer specializing in "small-claims" cases ...  those who really don't need the services of a court judge.  I've worked there for over ten years. 

I have four sisters and four brothers:  Lunt, Freja, Ingrid, Kalle, Franz, Kjell, Hjalmaar, and Maija.  I'm one of the oldest; I'm in my middle sixties.

Yes, call me a "senior citizen".  One of the "old ones".  No longer so young myself, but am still full of life and vitality.  I am in surprisingly good health for my age; no problems other than some nagging arthritis in my hips and knees, but nothing that a little arthritis rub (or Tylenol) can't fix.  :)  At least I don't walk with a cane or crutches.  (My sister, Ingrid, walks with crutches, and not because of arthritis:  she has something called progressive muscular atrophy.)

I feel sorry for my sister:  up until she was diagnosed with this problem, she skied like an Olympic champion.  In fact, if she were somewhat younger, she would have gone into training; I am sure she would have won a gold medal for the Norwegian Olympic Ski Team!  She was that good!

Ingrid has been having a hard time trying to accept her illness (disability); she has had to go on disability; she can no longer work.  I have been keeping her in my prayers every day.  She can really use a break!

I have been watching the 2010 Winter Olympics from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  The athletes from the United States have been doing very well:  they have a total of 24 medals -- 7 gold, 7 silver, and 10 bronze.  Meanwhile, Norway has some medals as well, for a total of 12:  5 gold, 3 silver, and 4 bronze.  Norway has some Olympic heroes of her own; we will probably have a country-wide celebration to honor those who worked so hard to bring some Olympic glory to our nation.

I love the Olympics; I always have, especially the Winter Games.  The Summer Games are okay, but living in a colder climate (in the Arctic Circle in northern Norway), I prefer the Winter Games.  I especially enjoy the figure skating (men's and women's) and snow skiing events (Nordic skiing, not snowboarding; to me that is nothing but silliness!).

Well, I have to go:  my oldest daughter, Erica, needs me in the kitchen; she is cooking supper.  I will write in here again; until later, this is Maikken signing off!  Take care and may God bless you!

~Sincerely, Maikken Volkenstaad.