Thankful for my Family and the Life we Live...

Josefina, Lucas and I have had wonderful days with my mom and dad, but tomorrow we head up to Stockholm again. Our visa papers should arrive in the mail tomorrow so hopefully we can schedule and interview at the US Embassy on Monday. Never know... I am really longing to come home now, looking forward to putting all our clothes back in their drawers again, looking forward to cleaning my house again etc :). Anyway, tonight I just wanted to say that I am so thankful for my family, Peter, Michael, Josefina, Lucas, mom, dad, my sister Helén, my brother Marcus, my SOS family... I feel so rich to have all these people around me that I love so much and that love me back. Wow, and just to think about the life God has given us. To be able to serve Him, love Him and see His kingdom grow! Wow, and wow again. God gives and gives again!

Here's to this day:



/Martina Published: By: The Almqvists - 5:49 PM

My Mom's House

Fotö IS beautiful!!!

Yesterday Josefina, Lucas and I took the train to my mom's house on the little island Fotö... Figured that since our visa papers are on their way now we will be leaving Sweden pretty soon and won't see my family for another year. On our way to the subway yesterday morning, Josefina and I were taking our sweet little time just to realize (when we were almost to pass the gates down to the tube) that I forgot our backpack in the apartment!!! (How absentminded can you become uh? Ha ha...) So we had to RUN back with stroller, baby Lucas, car seat and everything to get the bag, but we made it! Now we're here and Josefina is enjoying playing with all my little stuffed dogs that I had when I was little :).



We moved into Anna and Jonatan's new apartment last week, they just got the keys and were ready to move in after 9 months in suitcases, but let us stay there instead. What generous people! Anna and Jonatan; you guys are amazing in so many ways, we love you so much! BTW, their apartment is just a two minute walk from Stockholm's largest mall!!!



Oh oh. Lucas just woke up, have to go now!



/Martina Published: By: The Almqvists - 4:42 AM

Visa Papers Approved!!!

Today we got the fabulous news!!! Our visa papers are approved and we can return home in a couple of weeks!!! Thank you Jesus! It's been an interesting and really good summer for us here in Sweden. Helping out building SOS Church, getting to know alot of "new" SOS people (that have been in the organization for awhile, but that we didn't know), spending time with family and friends, being here for the church launch and much more. But, these last couple of weeks we've been homesick, I guess that's what you should feel when God has called you to be someplace else, so it's good. I have learned alot during this time (it's late so I'll post that some other time :)). But over all: God is faithful, He never gives up, He's the conqueror and ruler, He's the Great One, the One above all!!! Thank you God, and also...

Thank you Bruce Edwards at APC for working so hard helping us in this process. You're great and we love you!

So... America - here we come - again!!!

/Martina Published: By: The Almqvists - 5:50 PM

Michael in Swedish School

So, today was the big day for Michael to start second grade in Sweden! He will be in the same class as Adam (Johannes and Maria's son) and he was so EXCITED this morning!!! Peter or I have to be there with though since he doesn't have insurance to be in a Swedish school, but they get off at 1 or 1.30 PM every day so it will work. It will be good for him to be in a regular school setting again, he needs that ;)!!! Here's a picture of his "new" school, hopefully we'll be back to his old school soon.


/Martina Published: By: The Almqvists - 4:59 AM

Homeschooling...

I never thought that I would be happy to look at homeschooling stuff online, but hey - you never know what happens in life! This said, as you know school started over a week ago in Pittsburgh and we are still here in Sweden, so I was beginning to start worrying about their learing and don't want them to fall way behind. So Shelley, (a great friend!!!) found this website www.edhelper.com and it was great! This afternoon Michael has been doing Math and reading (not done yet... but still...) and Josefina's been writing numbers. Thanks Shell - you're the best!!! We will be doing more stuff and Michael might be able to jump into Adam's class while we're here, but this is a start. I am gonna welcome that yellow school bus with a great big smile though when we get home :).

/Martina Published: By: The Almqvists - 10:53 AM