Merry Christmas!

Ingrid Magnar Solbjørg Mamma og pappa

This advent, as before, the writing of the yearly report is my (Ingrid's) lot. And this year there is actually something of real substance to report — Jørgen and I got married! He proposed on the 2nd Of January (hurray), and we got married on the 25th of July. We had a wonderful celebration and are so grateful for the day and everyone sharing it with us. I know Jørgen was somewhat worried I'd go into a post-wedding-depression, but no such thing! I'll admit planning and looking forwards to the weddings was great fun, but being married is even better. We are living in a tiny apartment in Bergen, and having our own place is really nice. Jørgen is halfway through medical school, and I have one semester left of my masters of theology. This year I'll write my master thesis on hell, and no, I am not going on a field trip. Apart from being married and studying, Jørgen spends a lot of time on the Christians Sports Association in the area. I do some dancing and a lot of knitting and embroidery. Together we are running a group for training young, Christian leaders.

Magnar just finished his masters in algorithms. He did really well! Solbjørg, dad and I and a lot of others saw his defense, and were most impressed. And we actually understood a lot of what the thesis was about — who would have thought. Magnar and Solbjørg are still living together, and Ragnhild Låstad has also moved in. Every time I have been around to check on them, they have been having a good time, so I think they are doing fine. Ragnhild has also added an el-piano to the apartment (ref last year's letter when I mentioned Solbjørg and I being somewhat worried Magnar would not want us back in the apartment after living with two guys who had an el-piano). Magnar is still dancing and doing all sorts of other stuff, I don't know it all. But I do know for sure that he is rather much in love;) So we will see — maybe next Christmas letter will bring news on that.

Solbjørg is in the final phase of her PhD, and will hand in her thesis in January. She is enjoying work a lot, it seems, she always look forwards to working, and is really good at it. She turned 30 in November. We celebarted with friends on a hut in the mountains, and later with a familiy dinner at Radøy. Great fun. She got a sowing machine for her birthday, and now she has big plans (and I am a bit jealous, I have to admit). Solbjørg has also had surgery on her foot this year, on a bone that fractured and would not heal. So she has had to take things easy. But now it is healing and she is looking forwards to dancing, skiing, running, hiking and everything else that she likes so much. In the mean time she has knitted LOADS, and learned to play the guitar. Kudos.

Mum and dad have turned up in Bergen multiple times this year! They seem to have a flourishing cultural life, and are visiting the theatre and concerts. We like that a lot, as they then often stop by at Jørgen and my place, or at Solbjørg and Magnar's. At home on Radøy things are much the same. Mum says I only have to write that she bikes to work, because apart form that she does not do much. That is, however, not true. She does a lot, actually. She cleans the house, makes a lot of really good food, is a great teacher, spends time with friends and takes care of her husband. Not easy work. Dad works a lot in the company, where Magnar will also start in January. Dad and mum have also fixed up the garden a lot. I am impressed.

Now I have to go pick Jørgen up at the bus stop. All right. He is so handsome.

Well, merry Christmas, everyone! Jesus was born! And that is something to rejoice over!