To Meet and To Part is the Way of Life

An old Danish proverb says "To meet and to part is the way of  life."  I have never liked this adage, but I have found it to be so very true.  I have called it to mind many times when hard goodbyes have been said.

This was to be our last formal Danish class today.  The test will be Thursday and then we will be done, unless we are able to find some time in the future to sign up again.  We went to class, but on the way got a phone call from the mission office and had to return home to take care of some things.

Nevertheless, we went into the class to say good-bye to the other class members.  These are all people we have spent a fair amount of time with for the last 6 months.  It was difficult to say those farewells....SK got emotional, and after all the goodbyes were said and we were on the bus again, I felt terribly sad.

It will be nice not to have the stress of homework, and not to have to give up 4 hours a day - four days a week for the class.  But it is sad to say good-bye to all of the kind people we have come to know and care for.  I was especially sad to say good-bye to Doris, and I hope I can keep in touch with her.  I love her smile.  And she  is so kind to everyone.

We were able to say our farewells to each one who has been with us the longest in class.  Two of the young women from India - both so beautiful - have become dear friends too.  One of them whispered to me that she is expecting a baby.  She is three months along.  I am so happy for her....she miscarried last Fall and it was difficult for her.  She is a gentle person with a beautiful smile and a soft voice.  She teared up when we told her we were leaving and it broke my heart.

Our friend from South Korea was so dear as she wished us well.  She is a sweet young mother who talks about her little boy and husband.  She works hard and prepares well for class.

I hugged everyone.  When the Latvian came in just before we left, I hugged him and told him I was grateful for the chance to get to know him.  He is working hard and he is devoted to his wife who is a student at the University here and to his two young children.  He forces himself to speak Danish to his colleagues at work, and seems to be progressing well with the language.

We left class and took the elevator down to the first floor.  When the doors opened, there were the other three we hadn't see in class!  I was so happy to be able to say good-bye to them.  Melba, a beautiful young woman from Liberia and her friend from Ghana, and then a young woman from Phillipines.  We spoke for several minutes and hugged each other and promised to stay in touch.  I hope we can because I love them.

We got things straightened out for the office and then decided to go sight-seeing.  We went to the botanical gardens which were beautiful.....the day was cool, breezy and overcast.  It was a good walk to the gardens, and the stroll through took awhile.  From there we walked a couple of blocks to the Rosenborg Castle.

These Danes know how to build castles!  This one was imposing and had a moat.  We happened in upon the castle on a day when we could not go inside the castle because the Queen was visiting.  I don't know what the purpose of her visit was, but we watched the regular guards changing with the Queen's guards out front.  Her guards wear the very tall furry black hats.

Do you see the little hearts on the side of the little guard house?  Don't you just love it?

We stopped at La Glace on the way home.  It is well-known in the city as the finest place to get a piece of cake.  After drooling over the menu, we finally each chose a cake.  We were served the cake with hot chocolate....which was.....hot...chocolate with cream.  It was everything we have heard it was. We have gone by it many times and just looked in the windows, which is a treat all by itself.

That was our dinner....because it cost about what dinner would have cost had we gone out!  But it was worth every kroner.  It was a delightful experience.

The beautiful walk and the rich delicious cake offset the sadness I felt from our goodbyes.

I don't like good-byes, and for the first time since we got here, I have realized that leaving all of the wonderful people we have come to love here may be the hardest part of our mission.  It is a good thing I don't have to think about it for awhile.

But think of the meetings ahead!!!!!   We are awaiting news from our youngest daughter.  Her new little daughter is due tomorrow.  Wow....we can hardly wait.