Sleep is a Good Thing / or the Hazzards of Being a YSA Senior Couple

What has been promised is here....winter.  The temperature registered 27 this morning and is probably 21 at the moment.  The weather report said that the "feels like" temperature is 11.  I can attest to that.  We walked to the post office, which is perhaps a 10-minute walk, and it was so cold that SK actually said, "I think it is time to buy a scarf."  I am sure that we will be doing that tomorrow. The next few days will be very chilly, and the wind seems to be a constant around here so "very chilly" is probably an understatement. In weather like this you really need to have your ears covered up...and it helps to have your mouth and nose covered up as well.  And while you are at it, maybe some warm goggles for your eyes!  It is the wind that really does the freeze freeze.

We passed by one of the lakes today that was frozen....perhaps you can't tell that in the picture, the little bird is walking on the ice, not swimming in the lake.

You probably think there is nothing exceptional about this picture, but if you look just above the middle of the photo, you will see blue sky!  

But it really makes it seem like January somehow.  

In the continuing saga about my legal status in the country (you may remember that there was a slight problem with my passport that turned out to be nothing), we discovered that I was missing a very important card - which you are supposed to carry on your person at all times.  It is called a Residence Permit.  SK and I tore the apartment apart looking for it.  I was sure that I have never had one and SK was sure that I must have had one and lost it. Neither of us could remember where SK had gotten his Residence Permit card or when.  It is not a good thing when both individuals in a couple are short on memory.

I called the Immigration Office of Denmark and was told to come in.  Apparently they never issued a card to me because there was a problem with my fingerprint.  So on this gray morning we went to the Immigration Office.  It was a shocking visit.....shocking because I have never been in a government office that was so efficient!  I went in, took a number, waited possibly one minute, was called to the window, presented my SSN card and my passport, had my fingerprints taken, my picture snapped, gave them my signature and was out of there in 10 minutes or less.  Impressive?  Yes!  

It is midnight at the center....well 12:45 to be exact.  This was the farewell party before we move out of this place, but our lease has been extended another month, maybe two or three if the powers that be can't find something sooner.  But the party was scheduled and planned, and why waste a perfectly good farewell party if you aren't saying farewell yet?  

It is now 1:30 and the last of the YSAs are saying goodbye, so I anticipate that we will be home by 2:15.  It has been a fun evening though.  I know I will sleep tonight.  I really don't mind staying up so late....except that I have to sleep at least long enough to get 6 hours of sleep and by the time I drag myself out of bed in the morning and dressed and up...most of the morning will be gone!  And so goes our P-day.  Oh well....good thing we have a small place.

Tonight I had a sweet conversation with David, our newest member.  He was baptized about 2 weeks ago tonight.  He has already had the missionaries over to teach a good friend, and he is teaching the friend as well.  David's testimony is strong and dynamic.  He has been attending and investigating the Church for nearly 2 years and has arrived at this point with a certainty and a humility that is inspiring.  He is so very happy to be here.  He served in the Danish forces in Afghanistan (I have heard that per capita, the Danes have lost a greater percentage of lives than any other country), and it was rough.  He has been home over 2 years and told me that at some point he just decided that he would not be grumpy anymore.  He would not look at the world as a "half empty world, but as a half full" one.  He has consciously made the choice to be happy...to be upbeat....to be full of faith.  He is very impressive and such a wonderful addition to our group.

It is 2:28 and time to wrap up in the warm down comforter.  Ah.....goodnight!