2010 was quite a year for us, because for one thing, we left our heretical churches. I remember while I was in orthodox church, something strange happened. I felt this sudden urge to leave, and I did just that. I realised later that it was God telling me that I really shouldn't be there. It was then I started to realise that what the Orthodox people are actually DISOBEYING God, & they believe they aren't. I rippled that necklace with the icon of Mary and baby Jesus and I burnt it. I burnt the palm-sized icon I had for 40 years and all other idols. I realized we were saved the whole time but only babes in Christ, but it was our daughter Astrid who gave us a King James Bible (1611) and when we read it our eyes were opened! We told our other children and other family members and it spread beautifully. Now everyone in our family is going to Heaven.
Morten's mother & my godfather died the same year (my godmother is still alive), but thankfully both my godparents, who were devout were also born again Christians and now know the true Jesus. We're saved by God's grace.
We read the bible full on, everyday, and our bands were also going to split that year, so we figured it'd be best if Morten & I retired together, though we'd actually be semi-retired, as in we'd still sing just not with the bands anymore. After our final concerts, we went to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage. We were baptised in the Jordan River, which was the first thing we did, and we explored Jerusalem. We sent Bibles to our children and told them it's important to read the Word of God everyday. We were all so happy and we truly started to grow in the Lord! We thank God that He never left us.
2011 was not a good year for us, but by the grace of God we got through it. Morten visited Astrid & her family in Stockholm while I went to see Alexander & his family. We were going to switch because Morten had a one-time reunion with A-ha to perform after the massacre. I then arrived at Stockholm airport where everyone was waiting, and then Morten had to catch his flight, so he & our son-in-law said their goodbyes and we headed home. Sonia & I shared a room together which was great because we'd talk before going to sleep.
Whenever one of our family members were in the spotlight, the WHOLE family would attend. And in September we attended these Norwegian music awards, where Morten and his friend & fellow bandmate "Mags" as people called him, would get the award.
That was the last time that the family got together, because the following month, we went to Stockholm to see our middle child and her family. One of the nights, they thought it'd be a good idea for our granddaughter Sonia to spend some one on one time with us, and we agreed. So we took care of her while her parents had a date night. I admit that we were your typical grandparents who'd spoil their grandkids from time to time, but they were taught that it's not all we do. We were strict with our children growing up, but at the same time loving. You need that balance.
Initially we thought they got a hotel, because they didn't come home. And sure enough, there was a police officer who came to tell us that our daughter & son in law were killed in a car accident. I actually fainted, and the policewoman held me up. The only other time I fainted was when I was 12. But this time it was so much more intense. She helped me sit down (there is a seat by the door where people sit to put their shoes on & stuff).
Morten came down and saw the policewoman comforting me as I cried, so he asked what was going on. The policewoman told him the same thing, and I could tell she teared up too. She was one of our fans. Anyway, he started crying, and I got up to hug him. We were thinking about poor little Sonia. She was only 6 years old – how do you tell a 6 year old child about something like this. We thought it'd be best if we told her, as hard as it was. The poor girl was crying, and she was also scared. But good thing was that her parents wrote a will when Sonia was born, and named us guardians if anything ever happened to them. That meant we had our precious granddaughter right away.
She stuck to us like paste at the funerals (there were 2) and after the funerals it was the end of October when we went to watch the trial of the woman responsible for the accident. This was a high-speed accident. We sat in the "audience" part of the courthouse as we watched the trial.
"What was it that you were going to do that was so important, that those two people right there have to now spend the rest of their lives thinking about what they've lost?" Asked the prosecutor.
The female driver who was responsible answered that there was nothing, and she seemed remorseful, and she was crying, but that wasn't going to bring our daughter & her husband back.
She was sentenced to jail, and then there was a quick civil proceeding that involved the parents of the young woman because they didn't do anything to stop her habits of speeding.
"Gross negligence is to have such a reckless disregard for people, such as these (us) and not stop the person from doing the wrong thing." Said the female prosecutor.
We felt closure after the trial, and we did forgive the driver and her family, and we know we have to forgive, because if you don't forgive, God won't forgive you, and we are no exception to that. Also, we felt a sense of relief after forgiving them, and also we could tell our granddaughter was happy living with us. We could tell she loved us, and of course we love her. The Lord comforted us in our mourning and reminded us that our beautiful, precious Astrid was safe with Him.
We never ever turned away from God during tough times, in fact we always looked to Him (not that I intend to be self-righteous) and we always looked to Him in times of joy, sadness and everything! Not a single day went by without prayer. God comforted us, and assured us that our Astrid & her husband were safe with Him, and that we'll ALL be in Heaven with Him forever when we leave this earth.
For the remainder of the year we were happy, and our beautiful young Sonia settled well in Finland
