Norheimsund & Flåm: Roots, Railways & a Sister Moment
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Time to read 2 min
Day 4
Woke with the ghost of a dream — something with my Norwegian cousins from Lygra — that slipped away before I could catch it. Perhaps it was telling me of the wonderful day ahead.
Our guide, Johan, took us deep into family history: two ancestral churches, a family farmstead, generations of entrepreneurs and tradespeople etched into this landscape. At one church, an ancestor’s donated angel still hangs overhead. We learned that Norwegian graves can be resold after sixty years, families layered upon families, which somehow felt very Norwegian. Very rooted.
We met Lars, a blacksmith, who showed us the trades our ancestors would have practiced. Watching him work metal with his hands felt like recognition. We work with metals today, and here it was, alive in our lineage centuries before us. There’s something profound in that continuity, the way everything connects across time. Discovering mid-visit that Lars himself is a living relative only deepened it.
We made it to the Norheim farm. The name is rooted in the land itself — nor meaning strait, named for the narrow passage of water connecting the inner lake to the sea below the farm. Standing there looking down at it, I felt it.
And there are threads in this lineage that go even deeper; hints of something extraordinary reaching back to the 1500s that I’m still sitting with.
I’ve always felt Norwegian, but I didn’t know I could feel more Norwegian. Each discovery today pulled me deeper — more connected, more rooted, more certain that this place is part of who I am.
Day 5
Morning Reflections
I woke up feeling genuinely alive and grateful. Thinking of Sprout from The Book of Sprout, how he is the hero of his own life, and claiming that for myself. Letting go of inner restrictions and others' expectations. Feeling open to something new: redemption, relief, courage. Released from regrets. Refreshed and excited.
Yesterday's ancestry experience is still resonating deeply. Going to the Norheim farm and meeting the new family was more emotional than expected. Overwhelmed with gratitude and a strong desire to stay connected and feeling very Norwegian.
The Day — Flåm
I needed a chill day and got one!
We had a nice drive to Flåm and arrived in time for the Flåm Railway. It was relaxed, scenic, and fun. I even got to enjoy shopping with Stephanie. We shared a sister moment as I gifted Stephanie a compass inscribed with a line from one of the Norse sagas: “one's back is vulnerable unless you have a sister.” I am feeling truly and deeply blessed to have her on this life journey with me.
As we were on the train — I loved being filmed on the railway — we were quite a spectacle, drawing lots of attention and questions from people. The scenery was stunning, and it almost felt like Mother Earth showing one of her best sides. Norway being Earth's finest face and side.
Overall, we are finding our stride and letting it flow. I am excited about the documentary direction and looking forward to meeting Frank soon. We soaked in the view as our night drew to a close.
About The Book of Sprout
The Book of Sprout is a children's book about courage, resilience, and self-discovery by the Norheim family. Follow Sprout's journey at thebookofsprout.com.
