Happiness

To you.

I am currently sitting here doing my biology homework learning about caner cell and listening to worship music. The song that's on right now is "All you've ever wanted" by Casting Crowns and it's so good, and it makes me so emotional to know that all God ever wanted was my heart and after giving it to Him- I feel so much happiness that I nearly tear up just thinking about it. The Lord has blessed me so tremedously the last 6 months of my life because I let Him into my heart.

Here at UND I've met so many amazing people, I've become part of a Christian community and the Lord brings me such great joy through it. I've also found that my compassion for people have grown more than I ever thought possible, my heart aches for some of my closes friends that have drifted a bit away from the Lord because I know how much my life has changed for the better.

I always seeked my acceptance in guys and worldy things. I was never the partier or got into trouble. But I have had some seriously toxic relationships and I would idolize who I was dating. I became completly obsessed with them, and because I was so selfcouscious of myself and thought that I wasn't good enough, and even though they said they loved me I was convinced that they would find someone better, someone prettier. I may or may not have been cheated on, I don't know- some say yes, some say no- and that was such a blow to the heart.

I've always worn my heart on my sleeve, and I though that sex was equal to love, and all I wanted to feel was loved- so I lost my virginity at a very young age, because I was in love and I thought that was a good way to show it. Sex has been a big part of my life, and I thought that was what I was seeking to fulfill me.

What a lie. I mean, I liked it. But a lot of the time it would make me feel empty rather than happy, I was never satisfied and it made me so much more connected to the person I was dating which made it hard when the relationship came to an end. It broke me more than I could ever have imagined.

But then I came to know Jesus, and He restored my heart. I don't have that emptiness in my heart anymore, and I seek my happiness in Him, and I can promise you that I have never ever been this happy before. I was so emotinally broken, but He helped restored my heart and now I'm guarding my heart rather than giving it to the first guy that gives me some sort of positive attention.

I feel so happy and so fulfilled, because there is nothing I can do to make Him love me more, and there is nothing I can ever do to make Him love me less- what a blessing! He died for me. He died for us all- so that we could be with Him FOREVER, as long as we choose to believe in Him.
He suffered the most horrific death, crucifixion- for us. All of us! What an act of love!
Jesus has done everything for me and His love so perfect, nothing can compare to it!

Sure, I would love to get married someday- but I will not idolize my husband- and I'm gonna quote Brittney Moses here.

"To many women give men Jesus expectations. He can't heal your old wounds, he can't make you whole. Take your broken pieces to the cross. Healthy love realizes that people don't complete people. An imperfect person cannot make you whole. A spouse is a life partner, not a Saviour".

I took my broken pieces to the cross, to my Saviour. He healed me from my old wounds- he made me whole, and I cannot thank Him enough for that. There is only one Jesus, and your significant other is not Him.

I pray that you got something out of reading this, and I just want to tell you that you don't have to "clean up" before you seek Jesus. He wants you exactly as you are, He wants to help you through everything you go through, but you have to let Him.

From the bottom of my heart, I love you.

Å være forelsket

//Første del av innlegget er på norsk, det andre er oversatt til engelsk. Bilder vil alltid være i første del av innlegget med norsk og engelsk tekst til//

//The first part of this post is in Norwegian, the second part is translated to English. Pictures will always be in the first part of the blogpost with Norwegian and English comments to it.//

Husker du den følelsen da du var skikkelig forelska?

Jeg regner med dere leser bloggen min fordi dere lurer på hva som skjer i livet mitt her borte i USA, og det er en del av livet mitt som kanskje ikke har kommet så tydelig fram, men dette innlegget kommer til å handle om mitt forhold til Jesus.

Jeg beklager hvis dere ble skuffa og trodde at jeg hadde fått en kjæreste eller noe, men dette her er uendelig mange ganger bedre (synes jeg).

De to siste ukene har jeg gått til en kristen sammenkomst på skolen som heter Chi Alpha (uttales, Kai Alfa) som er hver torsdag, hvor vi synger og gleder oss i Herren og har en liten preken og tilbringer tid med Gud. Jeg har fått utrolig mye glede ut av Chi Alpha og føler allerede at Gud bruker det for å bringe meg nærmere han, og det er en helt fantastisk følelse.

Men, i kveld var en av kveldene hvor Chi Alpha hadde noe som kalles "Small Groups" som rett og slett er små grupper mennesker som møtes og snakker sammen om alt, og som har Jesus som midtpunk. Idag dro jeg på det og det var en helt fantastisk følelse!

For det første var jentene utrolig hyggelige og Guds kjærlighet bare strålte ut av dem! Vi var en 6-7 jenter samlet i leiligheten til Hannah også fortalte vi litt om oss selv og sommeren vår og snakket om hva vi ønsket å få ut av vår Small Group. Etter det så ba vi sammen, og akkurat da var jeg så lykkelig.

Jeg følte meg som en nyforelsket, glad og elsket person- og mens de ba så ristet jeg smått av fnising/latter fordi jeg var så lykkelig! Jeg har aldri vært så lykkelig som etter jeg ble kristen. Gud er så utrolig god, og jeg merket allerede da jeg kom hjem at jeg hadde en helt annen holdning enn jeg hadde før jeg dro- fordi jeg hadde fått fokus tilbake på det som virkelig betyr noe, nemlig Jesus.

Jeg kan virkelig ikke takke og prise Gud nok for all den gleden og kjærligheten jeg får kjenne på på grunn av Jesus. Av og til er det helt overveldende. Av og til er det vanskelig, men det er så utrolig fantastisk. Jeg elsker Jesus, og jeg er så utrolig, utrolig takknemlig for at jeg får føle meg som en nyforelsket liten jente på grunn av Han som er større enn alt!

Jeg får nesten tårer i øynene og det kjennes ut som hjertet mitt skal eksplodere av glede, og jeg får bare lyst til å synge halleluja! Jeg har aldri vært så "forelsket" og lykkelig før!

Intet bilde kan vise hvor stor fred og glede jeg har i Herren!

No picture can show how much peace and joy I have in the Lord!

(Bilde fra Google/Picture from Google)

God natt og Gud velsigne dere alle sammen!

-Siv

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Do you remember the feeling of being in love?

I figured that you're reading my blog because you're wondering what's going on in my life here in the US, and there is one part of my life that may not have been as prominent on my blog, but this blog post will be about my relationship with Jesus.

I'm sorry if I'm disappointing y'all and that you thought I'd gotten a boyfriend or something, but this is infinitely better (I think).

The last two weeks I've been going to a Christian Worship group named Chi Alpha, which is every Thursday where we sing and rejoice in the Lord, have a little sermon and spend time with God.

I've gotten so much joy in the Lord through Chi Alpha and I can already feel God using Chi Alpha to bring me closer to Him, and that is an amazing feeling.

Tonight was one of the nights where Chi Alpha had 'Small Groups' which is basically where a small group of people meet and talk about anything, and that has Jesus as its midpoint. Today, I went to that and it was awesome!

First of all, the girl were lovely and God's loved just shined through them! We were 6-7 girls gathered in Hannah's appartment. We told a bit about ourselves and our summer and talked about what we wanted to get out of our Small Group. After that we prayed, and I was so happy. I was feeling like a room without a roof (he-he, get it?).

I felt like someone that's newly in love, happy and loved- and while we prayed, I was shaking of giggles and joy because I was so happy! I've never been happier than since after I became a Christian. God is so amazingly good, and I could already tell when I got home, that my attitude was completly different than it had been before I left for small group- because my focus was back on what really mattered, namely- Jesus.

I honestly can't thank and praise God enough for all the joy and love I've gotten to know because of Jesus. Sometimes it's so overwhelming. Sometimes it's hard, but it is so amazing. I love Jesus, and I am so eternally grateful that I get to feel like a little girl that's in love because of Him that is greater than all!

I almost tear up and it feels like my heart is going to explode with joy, and I just feel like shouting "Hallelujah!" from the rooftops! I've never been this "in love" and happy before!

Goodnight, and God bless you ALL!

-Siv

Long time no see!

//Første del av innlegget er på norsk, det andre er oversatt til engelsk. Bilder vil alltid være i første del av innlegget med norsk og engelsk tekst til//

//The first part of this post is in Norwegian, the second part is translated to English. Pictures will always be in the first part of the blogpost with Norwegian and English comments to it.//

Jeg vet ikke helt hva jeg skal si, ettersom det har vært så lenge. Men JEG ELSKER USA!

Jeg har vært her i 3 uker, men det føles ut som det har vært mye lengre.

Først og fremst, flyturen gikk VELDIG bra. Jeg brukte ikke de beroligene jeg har fått mot flyskrekk, fordi troen min på Jesus er større enn frykten min for å fly, så jeg tok ikke beroligende, og tilbragte heller tiden jeg skulle vært redd til å be og fokusere på Han som er mye større enn alt. Gud er god!

 Da vi først landet så landet vi i Minneapolis i Minnesota. Der møtte vi Wes, som vi gikk på skole med på American College fordi vi skulle være der til dagen etterpå. Det var veldig hyggelig. Vi tok en liten sykkeltur og dro til DairyQueen.

Dagen etterpå dro vi på Mall of America (det største kjøpesenteret i hele USA, som har en fornøyelsespark i midten) med moren til Wes, og søsteren hans. De var så gjestfrie og hyggelige, og hadde verdens søteste hund (og katter). Etter å ha vært på Mall of America møtte vi Sally, moren og søsteren til Sally og venninnen til søsteren til Sally fordi alle bortsett fra Sally skulle hjem til Norge.

Etter det dro vi på Whole Foods Market, noe som var veldig kult, siden jeg har hørt veldig mye om det.

Lørdag den 16. dro vi opp til Grand Forsk for å flytte inn i Swanson Hall, og vi møtte studentmentoren min Chloe. Vi dro på Target for å kjøpe litt ting til rommet, også dro vi på Panda Buffet for å spise.

Uken etter det gikk til international orientering og fiksing av papirer.

Jeg vet ikke helt når jeg begynte å få venner, men jeg har fått nye venner! Jeg mener, jeg er glad i de andre vennene mine- men jeg var litt bekymret for å skaffe nye venner- men det gikk helt fint! Ligretto (et kortspill) og å bo i samme etasje bringer folk sammen, haha. Siden det har vi hengt sammen (altså, gjort lekser, spilt kort, snakket, spist, etc...) nesten hver dag, noe jeg synes er veldig koselig.

Timene mine går litt opp og ned, biologi er veldig mye arbeid- noe jeg ikke har noe imot, og jeg trodde jeg var ganske god i det, men den gang ei. Matten er også veldig dårlig, men jeg har ikke hatt det på ett år og matte var aldri mitt sterkeste fag. Heldigvis har de gratis ekstrahjelp som vi kan gå til sånn ca når som helst, og det er fint å vite! Ernæringsfysiologi er interessant, men å lese 30 sider er ikke like gøy (og forble ugjort inntil videre- sånn er det når man utsetter ting). Jeg liker veldig godt psykologi og faget rehabilitation and human services. Jeg skal avtale møte med en fra Rehabilitation and Human Services og en fra Nutrition for å se om jeg heller vil ta en dobbel bachelor i Rehabilitation and Human Services og Psykologi.

Shoutout til Jonathan, Jeff, Chris, Becca, Eric og Monika for å ha hjulpet meg med lekser.

Jeg har også vurdert å ta en master her i Counseling (rådgivning) og jeg vet at de har et masterprogram med Counseling og Rehabilitation and Human Services, og det er jeg ganske interessert i. Så det her kan bli spennende!

Campus ganske stort, slik som alt i USA er, og kjempefint. Jeg vet ikke helt hva jeg skal si om alt, jeg har det i hvertfall veldig fint. Men jeg savner brunost, gulost, melkesjokolade og kvikk lunsj. Og familie og venner, selvfølgelig. Men det er litt billigere å sende over brunost enn hele slekta.

Bak denne "gardina" her har vi satt kommodene våre og hengt noe klær.

Behind this curtain we put our drawers and put some clothes.

Veldig lite interessant, men her er da dusjen vår

Not very interesting, but her is our shower.

Her er hvor vi oppbevarer håndklærne våre.

Here is where we keep our towels.

Her er vasken.

Here is the sink.

Bak gardina, woohoo!

Behind the curtain, woohoo!

Dekorativt.

Decorative.

Her er senga mi, med bilder av Emma, Oldemor, Bestemor, Mamma, Pappa, Tommy, Stine og meg.

Here is my bed, with pictures of Emma, my great grandmother, grandmother, mum, dad, Tommy, Stine and myself.

Her er timeplanen vår! Det rosa er fag vi har felles, det blå er mine og oransje er Monika.

Begge har RHS, så vi burde egentlig oppdatere den...

Here is our schedule! The pink is the classes we have together, the blue are mine and orange is Monika. We both have RHS, so we should update it...

Vi har kjøpt kjøleskap, og jeg bruker det som nattbord.

We bought a fridge, and I'm using it as a nightstand.

Pulten min.

My desk.

Pulten til Monika.

Monika's desk.

Søte Monika på senga si.

Cute Monika on her bed.

Håper dere har det bra der hjemme, og hvis dere har noen spørsmål, så kan dere stille de på facebook, også kan jeg svare her på bloggen!

God natt!

-Siv

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I'm not sure what to say, since it been so long. BUT I LOVE AMERICA!

I've been here for three weeks, but it feels longer.

First and foremost, the flight was VERY good. I did not use the calming medication I have against flight-fright because my faith in Jesus is bigger than my fear of flying, so I didn't take it and spent the time I should've been scared to pray and focus on Him that is greater than everything. God is good!

When we first landed, we landed in Minneapolis in Minnesota. There, we met Wes who we went to school with at the American College because we were gonna stay at his house until the next day. It was very nice. We went on a little bike ride and we also went to DairyQueen.

The day after, we went to Mall of America (the biggest mall in the whole of America, it has a big amusement park in the middle) with Wes' mum and his sister. They were so hospitable and nice, and had the cutest dog (and cats). After going to Mall of America, we met Sally, her mum and sister and her sister's friend because everyone except Sally were going back to Norway.

After that, we went to Whole Foods Market, which was very cool since I'd heard a lot about it.

Saturday the 16th we went up to Grand Forks to move into Swanson Hall, and we met my student mentor Chloe. We went to Target to buy some things for our room, and we went to Panda Buffet to eat.

The week after that went to international orientation and fixing papers.

I don't know when I started getting friends, but I've gotten new friends! I mean, I love my other friends- but I was a bit worried to get new friends- but it was fine! Ligretto (a card game) and living on the same floor brings people together, haha. Since then we have been hanging out (like doing homework, played cards, talked, eaten, etc...) almost every dat, which is very nice.

My classes are a bit up and down. Biology is a lot of work- which I don't mind, and I thought I was good at it, but alas. The math goes bad as well, but I've not had it for a year, and math was never my best subject. Luckily, they offer free tutoring which we can get approximently all the time, and that's nice to know! Nutrition is interesting, but reading 30 pages is not that fun (and remaind unread- that's what happens when you procrastinate). I like psychology and the subject Rehabilitation and Human Services. I am gonna schedule a meeting with a professor from Rehabilitation and Human Services and one from Nutrition to see if I would rather do a double bachelor in Rehabilitation and Human Services and Psychology.

Shoutout to Jonathan, Jeff, Chris, Becca, Eric and Monika for helping me out with my homework.

I am also considering doing a master in Counseling, and I also know they have a masterprogram with Counseling and Rehabilitation and Human Services, which I am very interested. So this is exciting!

Campus is pretty big, like everything in America, and really nice. I don't know what to say about it all, I am enjoying myself atleast. However, I miss brown cheese, yellow cheese, milk chocolate and kvikk lunsj. And family and friends, of course. But it's a bit cheaper to send brown cheese rather than my whole family.

If you have any questions, you can ask me on facebook and I can answer on the blog.

Good night!

-Siv

Håper dere har det bra der hjemme, og hvis dere har noen spørsmål, så kan dere stille de på facebook, også kan jeg svare her på bloggen!

God natt!

-Siv