Happy Halloween to all of you out there! It is being celebrated here, mostly by businesses wanting to exploit its financial aspect. They have probably noticed what an economic bonus it is for Americans in retail. Tivoli has Halloween decorations up and it is absolutely charming, and various and sundry shops have one lone jack-o-lantern out front.
The YSAs however are disdainful of the silly borrowed celebration day. They refuse to mark it as anything special. I think they have a point. It is great fun in the States to watch the little ones have so much fun with it....the costumes, the candy and the fun. But by and large, it is a money-making orgy for anyone enterprising enough to market their wares as Halloween products.
We took the bus to the temple early this afternoon and spent the day and evening serving, coming home around 10:00. It was lovely to be there. Throughout our time in the temple we saw several of our YSAs.....among them, two young women who try to attend at least twice a week....each will be leaving on her mission in December...one to France and one to Denver, Colorado.
There were also two young elders who are serving in Iceland. They were here for a couple of days on mission business and took the time to be in the temple. It is just plain exciting to see their willingness to sacrifice their time to be there.
It is beginning to feel like the holiday season in Copenhagen. It is completely dark just after 5 p.m. and cold....good things cooking send out delicious aromas into the cold air....people are bundled up and talking excitedly.....and the real giveaway: everyone (stores and businesses) is putting up Christmas decorations and putting out Christmas merchandise.
Tivoli will close this weekend for a couple of weeks while they take down the Halloween/Fall decor and put up Christmas. I can hardly wait....last year it was so charming to wander through that place.
It is worth it to be cold. It is so fun to come in out of the cold. It is so fun to bundle up in a warm coat, scarf, gloves and boots and crunch along in the snow. It is fun to walk into warm homes, churches, the center and shops. It is so nice to be out and feel the excitement of Christmas shopping. The sounds of the city hall's bells echo in the most charming way through the cool night air. And when is hot chocolate any better than on a cold frosty evening?
Hey....I think I am ready for the holidays.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Chimis!
Sunlight and cool temperatures were the order of the day as we made the rounds on foot to our favorite stores to get the best prices. Have I mentioned how much I love this place?
Our meal at the center (on paper) cost relatively little, because we had purchased the meat and the tortillas weeks ago at super low prices. We had 50 very large burritos...at least twice the size of those we eat in the States. We purchased more than a dozen avocados, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, bottled salsa (and it wasn't half bad!) and corn chips. I made a pumpkin sheet cake, and we had a meal!
While class was in session, I had an easy hour and a half chopping lettuce and tomatoes...I made the guacamole about 10 minutes before class got out. I started cooking the burritos as soon as I heard them coming out. (They were individually wrapped in foil and had been heating in the oven.)
I deep-fried them - four at a time and sent them out to the serving table as soon as they were done. It took at least 20 minutes to get them all done and served....perhaps longer, but they disappeared as fast as I got them out. Nearly everyone was unfamiliar with the term chimichanga, which immediately moves the dish up a notch on the exotic scale. I would say they were an unqualified success ("unqualified success" is a term I have heard for years....but it seems like it should be "qualified success." ...any editors out there?)
Considering the chimis were mostly made and considering that it is one dish I have made many times and so very low-stress, I would say that today has been lovely and comparatively easy. It is still a very long day cooking and cleaning, but it was a good day.
I spent some time with a sweet young woman who is an au pair (nanny) for a wealthy family here. She is from Brazil and is outgoing and cheerful, but it has been a struggle for her to find a niche here with friends and church members. She is brave to set out alone like that from so far away. I think she will be fine. I am sure that she will begin very soon to feel more at home here. It sounds like her host family think very highly of her.
I can't imagine even trying to do all that I do here without SK!
I also spent some time with a beautiful young law student. She was so helpful getting the meal on with me and so cute. She has a delightful sense of humor and I so enjoy spending time with her.
We have a small group of YSAs who are nearly always there to every gathering. Otherwise, there are many who come when they can...maybe once every 2 or 3 weeks. There are so many that I just love and look forward to seeing.
When all the food was put away, there were 3 or 4 rousing games (and I do mean rousing) of CRUD. Morten the young man who is the president/chairman/CEO/head honcho of the YSAs here in Copenhagen talked to Brother Andersen about it, and it looks like it will be gone as soon as movers can be arranged for.
So until that happens, there will be lively games in the evening. I do hate to see that happen, because it has been such a joy to watch, listen and laugh at all the antics that go on over that game.
I think we will get very creative and find many new and exciting activities that people will enjoy at the center.....but it is sad to say goodbye to that game.
Our meal at the center (on paper) cost relatively little, because we had purchased the meat and the tortillas weeks ago at super low prices. We had 50 very large burritos...at least twice the size of those we eat in the States. We purchased more than a dozen avocados, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, bottled salsa (and it wasn't half bad!) and corn chips. I made a pumpkin sheet cake, and we had a meal!
While class was in session, I had an easy hour and a half chopping lettuce and tomatoes...I made the guacamole about 10 minutes before class got out. I started cooking the burritos as soon as I heard them coming out. (They were individually wrapped in foil and had been heating in the oven.)
I deep-fried them - four at a time and sent them out to the serving table as soon as they were done. It took at least 20 minutes to get them all done and served....perhaps longer, but they disappeared as fast as I got them out. Nearly everyone was unfamiliar with the term chimichanga, which immediately moves the dish up a notch on the exotic scale. I would say they were an unqualified success ("unqualified success" is a term I have heard for years....but it seems like it should be "qualified success." ...any editors out there?)
Considering the chimis were mostly made and considering that it is one dish I have made many times and so very low-stress, I would say that today has been lovely and comparatively easy. It is still a very long day cooking and cleaning, but it was a good day.
I spent some time with a sweet young woman who is an au pair (nanny) for a wealthy family here. She is from Brazil and is outgoing and cheerful, but it has been a struggle for her to find a niche here with friends and church members. She is brave to set out alone like that from so far away. I think she will be fine. I am sure that she will begin very soon to feel more at home here. It sounds like her host family think very highly of her.
I can't imagine even trying to do all that I do here without SK!
I also spent some time with a beautiful young law student. She was so helpful getting the meal on with me and so cute. She has a delightful sense of humor and I so enjoy spending time with her.
We have a small group of YSAs who are nearly always there to every gathering. Otherwise, there are many who come when they can...maybe once every 2 or 3 weeks. There are so many that I just love and look forward to seeing.
When all the food was put away, there were 3 or 4 rousing games (and I do mean rousing) of CRUD. Morten the young man who is the president/chairman/CEO/head honcho of the YSAs here in Copenhagen talked to Brother Andersen about it, and it looks like it will be gone as soon as movers can be arranged for.
So until that happens, there will be lively games in the evening. I do hate to see that happen, because it has been such a joy to watch, listen and laugh at all the antics that go on over that game.
I think we will get very creative and find many new and exciting activities that people will enjoy at the center.....but it is sad to say goodbye to that game.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Thoughts About Life
This has been a day to prepare and to work on various assignments....and to clean and IRON. Those white shirts stack up. I listened to a few BYU Women's Conference talks....one was by Bruce and Marie Hafen. It was very inspiring....but then they all are.
We heard of an accident in Gilbert. A young police officer on a motorcycle collided with a car in an intersection not far from our home and died. He was married with four children, living in Erin and Ethan's ward. I am sure the entire ward and neighborhood is reeling. My heart aches for his young wife and children.
When something like this happens it shocks us. It shouldn't happen this way.
Life is fragile and can be taken without warning.
But there is purpose and meaning to life, and peace and comfort available to us. I know that during these very difficult times the Spirit can be felt more immediately than other times. It is literally a balm to the soul.
Many heartfelt prayers will be offered for that little family and ours will be as well.
We heard of an accident in Gilbert. A young police officer on a motorcycle collided with a car in an intersection not far from our home and died. He was married with four children, living in Erin and Ethan's ward. I am sure the entire ward and neighborhood is reeling. My heart aches for his young wife and children.
When something like this happens it shocks us. It shouldn't happen this way.
Life is fragile and can be taken without warning.
But there is purpose and meaning to life, and peace and comfort available to us. I know that during these very difficult times the Spirit can be felt more immediately than other times. It is literally a balm to the soul.
Many heartfelt prayers will be offered for that little family and ours will be as well.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
The Charm of Copenhagen
I loved this day. It reminded me of those days a year ago when everything was new to us. Last Fall, we walked everywhere exploring this beautiful city. The excitement of being in a new place, with history surrounding us on every side was a constant. There was a chill in the air and an energy that just made me glad to be alive.
We set out today for our 1-year appointment with our mission president. We took the old 2-bus route we rode so many times to the old center. We watched all of the lovely little shops on Gammel Kongevej pass by, lit by a Fall sun, golden leaves blowing along the sidewalks and gutters. We saw people pushing baby carriages, bicycling and walking, dressed in warm black boots, coats and scarves against the chill.
But it wasn't unpleasantly cold. Many sat at sidewalk tables sipping drinks or eating lunch and visiting in the sun. Benches along the sidewalks and at bus stops were occupied by people just visiting and enjoying the weather.
We got off the first bus and began walking to the second bus stop and saw one of our dear friends from our little branch sitting on one of those benches visiting with a colleague from work. We stopped for a few moments and visited and then hurried to the next bus stop.
Our mission president is a spiritual and perceptive man who is also a great teacher. We visited with him about our YSAs, our service at the center, our mission and our marriage. He gave us some wonderful counsel. He shared some excellent insights with us about serving the YSAs and being missionaries. Our particular mission is interesting in that he is our mission president...our leader and spiritual adviser, but as far as the center/YSAs go, we answer to the stake president.
Did you know that missions for senior couples can be fraught with discord? Often by the time a couple has reached 40 or more years of married life, they have developed independently of each other. Being thrown together 24 hours a day can be a challenge, especially if they each have differing opinions of their goals and methods of reaching them.
SK and I laughed when we heard stories about that when we were preparing for our mission, but since arriving in Denmark, we have sometimes found ourselves on different sides of an issue. We have learned over and over that we must go back to basics....prayer, spiritual nourishment in the scriptures and conference talks and repentance/forgiveness. Learning to function with one heart and one mind can be difficult but exhilarating.
We did some shopping for ripe avocados at one of our favorite stores...a little fruit stand called the Turkish Marketplace, and another grocery store. We retraced our steps home taking the two buses.
For lunch we cooked up a couple of the (48) burritos I made and froze a few weeks ago. I am happy to report they were quite good. So we will get the rest of them from the Thorne's freezer and cook them up for Thursday night as chimis....with sour cream, salsa and guacamole. That should be relatively easy.
Afterwards, not to let a beautiful day like this pass, we took a long walk down my favorite street going in and out of great little shops. We found some products we have been looking for...expensive, but that is just the way it is. We found a brand new little cake shop. It was tiny....maybe 10 by 15 feet, had an old store front, and the interior was old but well-preserved. They had delightful sweets. We each chose a slice of a specialty cake and the lady boxed them up. Then we wove our way home through the sidewalk crowds.
It was getting dark and a little chilly and then we found an adorable little shop that drew us in. We saw some sweet little Danish Christmas figures. They are made by a Danish woman using the same porcelain as Royal Copenhagen Porcelain and each little outfit is done completely by hand and sooo cute! We decided that since Christmas in Copenhagen is such a wonderful treat, a couple of these little people would always be a sweet reminder of our time here.
A few more stops in and out of shops and one to the grocery store and we came home. I loved it!!! We ate dinner and then sampled our delectable little slices of cake.
I guess it would be hard to find a day more relaxing and enjoyable than this one.
We set out today for our 1-year appointment with our mission president. We took the old 2-bus route we rode so many times to the old center. We watched all of the lovely little shops on Gammel Kongevej pass by, lit by a Fall sun, golden leaves blowing along the sidewalks and gutters. We saw people pushing baby carriages, bicycling and walking, dressed in warm black boots, coats and scarves against the chill.
But it wasn't unpleasantly cold. Many sat at sidewalk tables sipping drinks or eating lunch and visiting in the sun. Benches along the sidewalks and at bus stops were occupied by people just visiting and enjoying the weather.
We got off the first bus and began walking to the second bus stop and saw one of our dear friends from our little branch sitting on one of those benches visiting with a colleague from work. We stopped for a few moments and visited and then hurried to the next bus stop.
Our mission president is a spiritual and perceptive man who is also a great teacher. We visited with him about our YSAs, our service at the center, our mission and our marriage. He gave us some wonderful counsel. He shared some excellent insights with us about serving the YSAs and being missionaries. Our particular mission is interesting in that he is our mission president...our leader and spiritual adviser, but as far as the center/YSAs go, we answer to the stake president.
Did you know that missions for senior couples can be fraught with discord? Often by the time a couple has reached 40 or more years of married life, they have developed independently of each other. Being thrown together 24 hours a day can be a challenge, especially if they each have differing opinions of their goals and methods of reaching them.
SK and I laughed when we heard stories about that when we were preparing for our mission, but since arriving in Denmark, we have sometimes found ourselves on different sides of an issue. We have learned over and over that we must go back to basics....prayer, spiritual nourishment in the scriptures and conference talks and repentance/forgiveness. Learning to function with one heart and one mind can be difficult but exhilarating.
We did some shopping for ripe avocados at one of our favorite stores...a little fruit stand called the Turkish Marketplace, and another grocery store. We retraced our steps home taking the two buses.
For lunch we cooked up a couple of the (48) burritos I made and froze a few weeks ago. I am happy to report they were quite good. So we will get the rest of them from the Thorne's freezer and cook them up for Thursday night as chimis....with sour cream, salsa and guacamole. That should be relatively easy.
Afterwards, not to let a beautiful day like this pass, we took a long walk down my favorite street going in and out of great little shops. We found some products we have been looking for...expensive, but that is just the way it is. We found a brand new little cake shop. It was tiny....maybe 10 by 15 feet, had an old store front, and the interior was old but well-preserved. They had delightful sweets. We each chose a slice of a specialty cake and the lady boxed them up. Then we wove our way home through the sidewalk crowds.
It was getting dark and a little chilly and then we found an adorable little shop that drew us in. We saw some sweet little Danish Christmas figures. They are made by a Danish woman using the same porcelain as Royal Copenhagen Porcelain and each little outfit is done completely by hand and sooo cute! We decided that since Christmas in Copenhagen is such a wonderful treat, a couple of these little people would always be a sweet reminder of our time here.
 |
| Do you see their cute little wooden shoes? |
A few more stops in and out of shops and one to the grocery store and we came home. I loved it!!! We ate dinner and then sampled our delectable little slices of cake.
I guess it would be hard to find a day more relaxing and enjoyable than this one.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Oh CRUD! No Way!
We awakened to blue skies and sunshine! I hurried outside and enjoyed it with a 45 minute walk. It felt so good. I stopped to say hello to the swan family......the teenager is still shades of brown and gray. Perhaps just like Hans Christian Andersen's story, he will have to endure the winter before he turns a glorious white.
Sk and I came to the center early in the afternoon, and spent a good portion of those hours just visiting with the young men who came after school or work. One of them just went to the temple for the first time on Saturday. They are cute, and it is fun to learn about their lives and their dreams.
Family Home Evening started at the same time as usual and was a wonderful evening. The missionaries brought two young people to the center who seemed to like being there. One was a young man they met a week ago, who seems very prepared for their message. They have met with him several times. He joined in the activities and games. The other was a young woman who has been there before, but after a 3 month hiatus joined us again.
Our president has made a very dramatic announcement to us, which he will be acting on in another 3 weeks or so. He has decided that the CRUD table has got to go. Yes...really. He is one of the primary CRUD contestants and loves it as much as SK does, but it is too big. It takes so much room...room that could be used for a couple of comfortable sofas and more chairs. He even said that people don't like to stay when there is a CRUD game going on, because it causes so much noise.
How about that? I can hardly imagine what it would be like without it, but I know he is right. Before they played CRUD tonight, they set up 3 tables that seat 8 each and pulled out several board games. They had a wonderful time. I think it helped us all to realize that it is possible to have a fantastic time without it.
Nothing so constant as change.
Sk and I came to the center early in the afternoon, and spent a good portion of those hours just visiting with the young men who came after school or work. One of them just went to the temple for the first time on Saturday. They are cute, and it is fun to learn about their lives and their dreams.
Family Home Evening started at the same time as usual and was a wonderful evening. The missionaries brought two young people to the center who seemed to like being there. One was a young man they met a week ago, who seems very prepared for their message. They have met with him several times. He joined in the activities and games. The other was a young woman who has been there before, but after a 3 month hiatus joined us again.
Our president has made a very dramatic announcement to us, which he will be acting on in another 3 weeks or so. He has decided that the CRUD table has got to go. Yes...really. He is one of the primary CRUD contestants and loves it as much as SK does, but it is too big. It takes so much room...room that could be used for a couple of comfortable sofas and more chairs. He even said that people don't like to stay when there is a CRUD game going on, because it causes so much noise.
How about that? I can hardly imagine what it would be like without it, but I know he is right. Before they played CRUD tonight, they set up 3 tables that seat 8 each and pulled out several board games. They had a wonderful time. I think it helped us all to realize that it is possible to have a fantastic time without it.
Nothing so constant as change.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
"I Never Met a Meeting I Didn't Like" - SK
We have had a full day of meetings and every one was great.
We started out with our regular sacrament meeting and then relief society. Our branch president announced at the beginning of the meetings that starting next week, we will have a 2 1/2 hour block and will have relief society/priesthood and Sunday school weekly from now on. That is great news. It will be an excellent schedule.
You might be wondering now why we have had only 2 hours up to now. The answer is that the branch is so small that it is too much of a tax on everyone. With only about 20 or so active adult members, everyone speaks in sacrament meeting every few months, everyone teaches often and everyone gets all kinds of opportunities to participate, which can be good. On the other hand, it can be a little too much. I am looking forward to seeing how it all goes.
After our block, we came home for five minutes to deliver the Thornes and Sister Hamblin to their respective apartments. We went back onto Amager (the island our church is on) to the home of our fairy tale prince and princess, where SK met with him and the others in the Elder's Quorum Presidency (SK is a counselor to the President). While they were doing that, I helped peel potatoes and visited with Christine and her mother and father (her father is the branch president).
They are a wonderful wonderful family (coincidentally, Morten - our YSA President - is Christine's brother and President Olsen's son.) You probably won't follow this, but our relief society president was just released....she is President Olsen's wife....so that he could be put in as the branch president. Visiting with them was very enjoyable.
After the Elder's meeting, the young full-time missionaries came and the 10 of us sat down to a feast....salmon, potatoes and gravy and broccoli (doesn't that qualify for one of the healthiest meals?) and homemade bread. Sebastian, Christine's husband is on a bread-making kick, and like everything else he does....is going at it with flair. The bread was GREAT.
We attended the student council meeting with the committee chairmen at the center, followed by sacrament meeting. Two young people who have received their mission calls spoke, as well as a counselor in the stake presidency.
The really great thing about today was talking to Lauren, our granddaughter. This is her 14th birthday and she is a lovely young woman. She came with a very compassionate heart and the desire to do what is right.
It was all good.....a lovely day. The "day" however seemed even shorter than usual....very little sunlight, and now that we have gone off Daylight Savings Time, the day seemed to end halfway through!
A side note: Sister Swena, our friend, neighbor and fellow missionary has been sick for a week and will be getting testing tomorrow. We only hope the doctors will be able to help her get back to feeling well and back to her work at the mission office....I don't know what they have done this last week without her!
We started out with our regular sacrament meeting and then relief society. Our branch president announced at the beginning of the meetings that starting next week, we will have a 2 1/2 hour block and will have relief society/priesthood and Sunday school weekly from now on. That is great news. It will be an excellent schedule.
You might be wondering now why we have had only 2 hours up to now. The answer is that the branch is so small that it is too much of a tax on everyone. With only about 20 or so active adult members, everyone speaks in sacrament meeting every few months, everyone teaches often and everyone gets all kinds of opportunities to participate, which can be good. On the other hand, it can be a little too much. I am looking forward to seeing how it all goes.
After our block, we came home for five minutes to deliver the Thornes and Sister Hamblin to their respective apartments. We went back onto Amager (the island our church is on) to the home of our fairy tale prince and princess, where SK met with him and the others in the Elder's Quorum Presidency (SK is a counselor to the President). While they were doing that, I helped peel potatoes and visited with Christine and her mother and father (her father is the branch president).
They are a wonderful wonderful family (coincidentally, Morten - our YSA President - is Christine's brother and President Olsen's son.) You probably won't follow this, but our relief society president was just released....she is President Olsen's wife....so that he could be put in as the branch president. Visiting with them was very enjoyable.
After the Elder's meeting, the young full-time missionaries came and the 10 of us sat down to a feast....salmon, potatoes and gravy and broccoli (doesn't that qualify for one of the healthiest meals?) and homemade bread. Sebastian, Christine's husband is on a bread-making kick, and like everything else he does....is going at it with flair. The bread was GREAT.
We attended the student council meeting with the committee chairmen at the center, followed by sacrament meeting. Two young people who have received their mission calls spoke, as well as a counselor in the stake presidency.
The really great thing about today was talking to Lauren, our granddaughter. This is her 14th birthday and she is a lovely young woman. She came with a very compassionate heart and the desire to do what is right.
It was all good.....a lovely day. The "day" however seemed even shorter than usual....very little sunlight, and now that we have gone off Daylight Savings Time, the day seemed to end halfway through!
A side note: Sister Swena, our friend, neighbor and fellow missionary has been sick for a week and will be getting testing tomorrow. We only hope the doctors will be able to help her get back to feeling well and back to her work at the mission office....I don't know what they have done this last week without her!
Saturday, October 25, 2014
It's Fall!
This week has certainly been devoid of sunshine...but it has had its own kind of beauty. The days have been dark with a hint of the dramatic....as though we are living in an Charlotte Bronte novel. Being out doors in the wind and the rain is exhilarating, but it is being indoors that gives everything a moody quality...but I like to think of it as cozy, because it is so delightful being inside looking out.
Our stake held its Women's Conference today. There was a very small turnout for various reasons...one of which is that our Stake Relief Society President is the wife of our Institute Director...it was their daughter who passed away a couple of weeks ago, and I believe the entire presidency is reeling from that. So many of the things that should have been done during the last 3 weeks or so didn't get done and as a result not many really knew about the conference.
The weather was another factor. But those dear sisters were all there, including the president and her two daughters. They were going through the motions, but I don't know how they are managing to carry on with such things. I spoke briefly with all three and wanted desperately to hug them close and make things right.
I gave my slide talk to a small group of women the first hour and then listened to a lovely presentation the second hour. It was all in Danish, and while I got a lot of it, I also missed a lot of it, and I find myself getting disheartened. I so seldom am in a Danish-only situation and I speak English almost exclusively with the YSAs. I have kind of lost my drive to learn and have really slacked off in the study area. It is isolating to be in a group of people whom you don't understand, and I have been here long enough, that I should know more than I do. I left discouraged.
SK had been in the temple during the morning, so he waited for me to get done and like a true hero whisked me away to see the Fall in the glorious forests around here. We drove around and found some beautiful little country lanes through breath-takingingly beautiful woodlands.
To end out the day, we stopped at a quaint little restaurant, where we had a nice meal. We needed to do some shopping and had planned on stopping at one of our favorite grocery stores on the way back into town, but instead decided to stop close to the restaurant. As we were cruising around the store, a young man (a worker there) approached us with a big smile on his face.....it was one of our YSAs! Right there about 45 minutes away from home in an absolutely random stop. THAT was fun......what are the chances?
Our stake held its Women's Conference today. There was a very small turnout for various reasons...one of which is that our Stake Relief Society President is the wife of our Institute Director...it was their daughter who passed away a couple of weeks ago, and I believe the entire presidency is reeling from that. So many of the things that should have been done during the last 3 weeks or so didn't get done and as a result not many really knew about the conference.
The weather was another factor. But those dear sisters were all there, including the president and her two daughters. They were going through the motions, but I don't know how they are managing to carry on with such things. I spoke briefly with all three and wanted desperately to hug them close and make things right.
I gave my slide talk to a small group of women the first hour and then listened to a lovely presentation the second hour. It was all in Danish, and while I got a lot of it, I also missed a lot of it, and I find myself getting disheartened. I so seldom am in a Danish-only situation and I speak English almost exclusively with the YSAs. I have kind of lost my drive to learn and have really slacked off in the study area. It is isolating to be in a group of people whom you don't understand, and I have been here long enough, that I should know more than I do. I left discouraged.
SK had been in the temple during the morning, so he waited for me to get done and like a true hero whisked me away to see the Fall in the glorious forests around here. We drove around and found some beautiful little country lanes through breath-takingingly beautiful woodlands.
To end out the day, we stopped at a quaint little restaurant, where we had a nice meal. We needed to do some shopping and had planned on stopping at one of our favorite grocery stores on the way back into town, but instead decided to stop close to the restaurant. As we were cruising around the store, a young man (a worker there) approached us with a big smile on his face.....it was one of our YSAs! Right there about 45 minutes away from home in an absolutely random stop. THAT was fun......what are the chances?
Friday, October 24, 2014
Temple Light
First, my apologies. I should have taken pictures of that feast last night! You would have loved the pictures....you would have loved the food. I took one little picture of the bruschetta so I will post that now. It was the least of the dishes, but it was very good. Whoops....technical difficulties....I'll post that photo tomorrow.
SK and I spent a beautiful day at the temple. We left at 1 in the afternoon and returned home sometime before 10, so it was a long day. I enjoyed the peace and beauty there and I always enjoy the people as well. I was with SK on a couple of assignments and that is always nice.
The last session was very special....two of our YSAs were there for the first time, and they were both so cute. A young woman who will be leaving for a mission in France within the next few months, and a young man who was baptized a little over a year ago. He is too old for a mission, but he is a missionary nevertheless.
Both were solemn and attentive, yet happy with eyes sparkling. Both looked so beautiful (I hope young men don't take too much of an exception to my calling them beautiful!....I am not sure there is a better word to describe the inner and outer attractiveness of both men and women here).
We took the bus both ways....that is always kind of fun.
The days are getting markedly shorter ....yet SK remarked that it is another two months before we hit the shortest day of the year. It is getting darker earlier and staying darker later in the morning and for the last several days, the sun has laid low all day....hiding somewhere. So the days have been dim.
One lovely thing about the dark days in October and November is that they hold in them the promise of the holidays, and all that goes with them. What's not to love about that?
SK and I spent a beautiful day at the temple. We left at 1 in the afternoon and returned home sometime before 10, so it was a long day. I enjoyed the peace and beauty there and I always enjoy the people as well. I was with SK on a couple of assignments and that is always nice.
The last session was very special....two of our YSAs were there for the first time, and they were both so cute. A young woman who will be leaving for a mission in France within the next few months, and a young man who was baptized a little over a year ago. He is too old for a mission, but he is a missionary nevertheless.
Both were solemn and attentive, yet happy with eyes sparkling. Both looked so beautiful (I hope young men don't take too much of an exception to my calling them beautiful!....I am not sure there is a better word to describe the inner and outer attractiveness of both men and women here).
We took the bus both ways....that is always kind of fun.
The days are getting markedly shorter ....yet SK remarked that it is another two months before we hit the shortest day of the year. It is getting darker earlier and staying darker later in the morning and for the last several days, the sun has laid low all day....hiding somewhere. So the days have been dim.
One lovely thing about the dark days in October and November is that they hold in them the promise of the holidays, and all that goes with them. What's not to love about that?
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Meraviglioso Pasto!
Today was one of the more laid-back Thursdays I have had here in Denmark. I didn't do anything at home to take to the center because it was all done last night with Monia. She told me yesterday that she would come and help me a little after 8, which was fine because she had already helped me get it all ready. Maybe I ought to say that I helped her.
I went to the center in the early afternoon and did a little cleaning and visiting with different YSAs who came early. About 6:30 when things were really picking up Monia came in! I heard a sweet voice from across the room say "Hello Janis." I turned and there she was hanging up her coat.
She is wonderful in the kitchen. She started chopping tomatoes for the bruschetta and then slicing bread. She is efficient and amazing. Last night we made 2 oversized pans of lasagne and by 7:00 this evening I was worried. I figured that we could serve 30 people with the 2 pans.
By 7:30 we had 40 people there. Monia had cut up a large pan of vegetables and seasoned them and topped it all with olive oil. We baked the two pans of lasagne, the vegetables and made 100 small bruschetta pieces, and put together a large green salad. Monia had mixed up a wonderful mustard vinegrette.
Can I just take a minute here to say that the lasagne was the best I have ever tasted? It was incredible. Last night, she browned 2 pounds of ground beef, added some Italian seasoning, tomato sauce, basil, salt, pepper and a ton of paprika. It is just fun to watch. She took the box of salt and poured it in until it looked good, then she did the same with paprika....absolutely poured it in....maybe 3 or 4 tablespoons! She added the seasonings and water and then stirred, leaning over it slightly with her eyes closed and smelling the aroma of the sauce. She nodded yes, and then let it simmer. No fuss.. no stress.
We each assembled a pan...I watched her and followed what she was doing. First a layer of the sauce, then a layer of pasta, then a layer of Bechamella sauce topped with parmesan cheese, repeated three times and finished with a thick layer of mozzarella. Wow!
It smelled wonderful today as it cooked. When Monia and I sat down to eat, I thought it was spectacular. The Bechamella sauce was so much lighter than the heavy ricotta cheese I usually use. The lasagne held together well, and the blend of the flavors was superb. Everyone loved it. And we had quite a few eat....probably 30. But there was plenty of food for everyone. It always works out somehow.
The vegetables she baked were seasoned with paprika also...and not a light sprinkling. They were perfect.
Brother Andersen called her in to the classroom and announced to everyone that she was our guest this evening and had made that wonderful meal and had everyone give her a round of applause. I think she was pleased. Besides that lovely tribute to her, so many came and thanked her profusely.
Do you know what was especially delightful? After it was all over, she said, "Maybe we can do something different another time." I think she enjoyed it. I quickly answered, "Whenever you have the time, call me and we'll do whatever you want!"
By the way, the tiramisu she fixed was amazing. Several of the YSAs took me aside and asked if it had coffee and alcohol in it. I told them I helped fix it and it was entirely legal. It looked like a layer cake when we cut into it. The cake was wonderful Italian lady finger cookies but better than ones I have tasted in America. They were dipped into unsweetened cocoa/milk which had been heated and cooled. Between layers of the cookies were an egg mixture that had been whipped with sugar and mascarpone....no vanilla or other spices....just that. It sat all night in the refrigerator and it was creamy and delicious.
Forgive me if I am running out of superlatives for this meal but it was wonderful. I hope she'll come back. I loved her company in the kitchen, and I loved what she does with food!
Wouldn't it be great if I went home from Denmark knowing how to cook like an Italian?
I went to the center in the early afternoon and did a little cleaning and visiting with different YSAs who came early. About 6:30 when things were really picking up Monia came in! I heard a sweet voice from across the room say "Hello Janis." I turned and there she was hanging up her coat.
She is wonderful in the kitchen. She started chopping tomatoes for the bruschetta and then slicing bread. She is efficient and amazing. Last night we made 2 oversized pans of lasagne and by 7:00 this evening I was worried. I figured that we could serve 30 people with the 2 pans.
By 7:30 we had 40 people there. Monia had cut up a large pan of vegetables and seasoned them and topped it all with olive oil. We baked the two pans of lasagne, the vegetables and made 100 small bruschetta pieces, and put together a large green salad. Monia had mixed up a wonderful mustard vinegrette.
Can I just take a minute here to say that the lasagne was the best I have ever tasted? It was incredible. Last night, she browned 2 pounds of ground beef, added some Italian seasoning, tomato sauce, basil, salt, pepper and a ton of paprika. It is just fun to watch. She took the box of salt and poured it in until it looked good, then she did the same with paprika....absolutely poured it in....maybe 3 or 4 tablespoons! She added the seasonings and water and then stirred, leaning over it slightly with her eyes closed and smelling the aroma of the sauce. She nodded yes, and then let it simmer. No fuss.. no stress.
We each assembled a pan...I watched her and followed what she was doing. First a layer of the sauce, then a layer of pasta, then a layer of Bechamella sauce topped with parmesan cheese, repeated three times and finished with a thick layer of mozzarella. Wow!
It smelled wonderful today as it cooked. When Monia and I sat down to eat, I thought it was spectacular. The Bechamella sauce was so much lighter than the heavy ricotta cheese I usually use. The lasagne held together well, and the blend of the flavors was superb. Everyone loved it. And we had quite a few eat....probably 30. But there was plenty of food for everyone. It always works out somehow.
The vegetables she baked were seasoned with paprika also...and not a light sprinkling. They were perfect.
Brother Andersen called her in to the classroom and announced to everyone that she was our guest this evening and had made that wonderful meal and had everyone give her a round of applause. I think she was pleased. Besides that lovely tribute to her, so many came and thanked her profusely.
Do you know what was especially delightful? After it was all over, she said, "Maybe we can do something different another time." I think she enjoyed it. I quickly answered, "Whenever you have the time, call me and we'll do whatever you want!"
By the way, the tiramisu she fixed was amazing. Several of the YSAs took me aside and asked if it had coffee and alcohol in it. I told them I helped fix it and it was entirely legal. It looked like a layer cake when we cut into it. The cake was wonderful Italian lady finger cookies but better than ones I have tasted in America. They were dipped into unsweetened cocoa/milk which had been heated and cooled. Between layers of the cookies were an egg mixture that had been whipped with sugar and mascarpone....no vanilla or other spices....just that. It sat all night in the refrigerator and it was creamy and delicious.
Forgive me if I am running out of superlatives for this meal but it was wonderful. I hope she'll come back. I loved her company in the kitchen, and I loved what she does with food!
Wouldn't it be great if I went home from Denmark knowing how to cook like an Italian?
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Moderation.....
SK was gone most of the morning taking care of several small errands. They are all pesky little things that have to be done, with a couple of important items as well. We are still working on getting a parking spot by the center. It would be lovely during the dead of the winter to be able to park, carry all of our groceries, appliances and prepared-ahead food. He also borrowed a projector from the mission office for me to use on Saturday at the Stake Women's Conference.
I will be presenting one class in the morning, on art, and then I will attend the second class. I don't know how many classes will be presented at the same time, but I am assuming that I will have a very small group, which is fine.
In the afternoon, I met Monia at the center, and together we made Tiramasu and Lasagne. I had never tasted Tiramasu before, much less made it but I think it is going to be wonderful. She used mascarpone cheese....an Italian (from Italy) cream cheese that puts Philadelphia Cream Cheese to shame.
That was for the dessert, and I think I will have to make this dish....but it may be difficult. I watched Monia and thoroughly enjoyed the casual and relaxed way she cooks. She cracked and separated eggs into dishes, then put some sugar in the yolks and began to whip. She tasted it, liked it and so continued....tasting a little every now and then. The lasagne was the same. She just poured stuff in and then tasted, and usually needed little else. Everything she put together was really really good. I can hardly wait to see how it goes tomorrow. She and I got everything ready to slide into a hot oven tomorrow evening.
I had about 3 hours to visit with her and think she is a remarkable lady. She belongs to the Church of Scientology. She is very health conscious and loves to help others get back on track with health issues. She has been helping a man who has been addicted to drugs for several years with a prescribed regimen from her church. She is about 40 years old and so lovely. A lot of what she says about health makes very good sense....and fits right into our Word of Wisdom.
I have a feeling though that the Tiramasu isn't written into any health code in her church or mine....unless it is cloaked in the several references in the scriptures to "Temperance."
Before I die, I hope to say that I have learned temperance. I guess I had better live for many years yet!
Oh well. I'll start to work on that virtue after the Tiramasu tomorrow evening.
I will be presenting one class in the morning, on art, and then I will attend the second class. I don't know how many classes will be presented at the same time, but I am assuming that I will have a very small group, which is fine.
In the afternoon, I met Monia at the center, and together we made Tiramasu and Lasagne. I had never tasted Tiramasu before, much less made it but I think it is going to be wonderful. She used mascarpone cheese....an Italian (from Italy) cream cheese that puts Philadelphia Cream Cheese to shame.
That was for the dessert, and I think I will have to make this dish....but it may be difficult. I watched Monia and thoroughly enjoyed the casual and relaxed way she cooks. She cracked and separated eggs into dishes, then put some sugar in the yolks and began to whip. She tasted it, liked it and so continued....tasting a little every now and then. The lasagne was the same. She just poured stuff in and then tasted, and usually needed little else. Everything she put together was really really good. I can hardly wait to see how it goes tomorrow. She and I got everything ready to slide into a hot oven tomorrow evening.
 |
| No......who needs measuring cups? |
 |
| Tiramasu! Looks awesome....and I know it will be. |
 |
| Same thing with lasagne sauce....open salt spout and pour. How does she do that? |
I had about 3 hours to visit with her and think she is a remarkable lady. She belongs to the Church of Scientology. She is very health conscious and loves to help others get back on track with health issues. She has been helping a man who has been addicted to drugs for several years with a prescribed regimen from her church. She is about 40 years old and so lovely. A lot of what she says about health makes very good sense....and fits right into our Word of Wisdom.
I have a feeling though that the Tiramasu isn't written into any health code in her church or mine....unless it is cloaked in the several references in the scriptures to "Temperance."
Before I die, I hope to say that I have learned temperance. I guess I had better live for many years yet!
Oh well. I'll start to work on that virtue after the Tiramasu tomorrow evening.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
We Love Rain
We have been accompanied by the sound of rain nearly all day. We awakened to the splish splash of the droplets on the leaves outside, we walked to the store with our raincoat hoods drawn around our faces, we walked to the Christmas store to snap some pictures for Erin cozied together under the Mary Poppins umbrella, strolled around Tivoli with a light mist settling on our shoulders and hair, and hurried home wading through puddles clutching the Mary Poppins against a deluge.
Last Christmas we purchased season tickets for ourselves to Tivoli....which doesn't include the rides. It is merely entrance in. But it makes it so nice to take a ten-minute walk and cruise around the park looking at the seasonal decorations and perhaps stopping for a bite to eat. I enjoy that lovely old place and sometimes we just go in for an hour or so. It is decorated with Halloween and Fall right now and is charming.
After walking through Tivoli, we found a dry park bench and just sat. It was enjoyable to watch people coming and going. Even in the inclement weather, people looked happy.
We took a fairly long detour on the way to the cute little Christmas store that Lia discovered. The main Copenhagen city hall and all roads around it had been sealed off because of a bomb scare. Several hours later all was restored to the usually busy thoroughfares. Once inside the shop, we asked for permission to snap photos of the merchandise-filled shelves. He remembered Lia from last Saturday.
We shopped morning and evening for the Thursday night meal. Monia will meet me tomorrow at the center to assemble the meal, then I will cook most of it on Thursday before she gets there. She will come and help with the final preparations. She is so kind to do that. I have liked her since we first met....just a nice person. We are making Tiramasu!...for dessert.....a bechamel sauce kind of lasagne for dinner. It will be another pasta meal in a long line of pasta meals, but I think everyone will survive.
As I type, the sound of rain is loud coming through the windows. In an antique store we went in today, I told the man how much we love the rain. He was dubious. I explained that we were from Arizona....he asked where....Gilbert. A knowing nod, then "I have been there.......it is always hot."
Then, "Of course you like the rain!"
Last Christmas we purchased season tickets for ourselves to Tivoli....which doesn't include the rides. It is merely entrance in. But it makes it so nice to take a ten-minute walk and cruise around the park looking at the seasonal decorations and perhaps stopping for a bite to eat. I enjoy that lovely old place and sometimes we just go in for an hour or so. It is decorated with Halloween and Fall right now and is charming.
After walking through Tivoli, we found a dry park bench and just sat. It was enjoyable to watch people coming and going. Even in the inclement weather, people looked happy.
We took a fairly long detour on the way to the cute little Christmas store that Lia discovered. The main Copenhagen city hall and all roads around it had been sealed off because of a bomb scare. Several hours later all was restored to the usually busy thoroughfares. Once inside the shop, we asked for permission to snap photos of the merchandise-filled shelves. He remembered Lia from last Saturday.
We shopped morning and evening for the Thursday night meal. Monia will meet me tomorrow at the center to assemble the meal, then I will cook most of it on Thursday before she gets there. She will come and help with the final preparations. She is so kind to do that. I have liked her since we first met....just a nice person. We are making Tiramasu!...for dessert.....a bechamel sauce kind of lasagne for dinner. It will be another pasta meal in a long line of pasta meals, but I think everyone will survive.
As I type, the sound of rain is loud coming through the windows. In an antique store we went in today, I told the man how much we love the rain. He was dubious. I explained that we were from Arizona....he asked where....Gilbert. A knowing nod, then "I have been there.......it is always hot."
Then, "Of course you like the rain!"
Monday, October 20, 2014
Sometimes Discussion is Pointless
We had a lovely and low-key evening at the center. A couple of hours before the YSAs started coming, my friend Monia from Italy (We met in our Danish class last Fall) came in to talk to me about what we will fix for Thursday evening. She had a menu made out and together we worked on a shopping list. I will buy everything we need Wednesday morning and then she will meet me at the center that evening and we will assemble everything for the meal. She will come in again on Thursday to help get it served.
She is so nice....I enjoy her a great deal. Before she left I told her about FamilySearch and showed her how to get on the site. She seemed genuinely excited about it. I told her about our belief in eternal families. I hope she tries it and gets excited....how can you not? I even showed her how to help with extractions. We'll see. She is a great lady.
There were fewer people at FHE tonight, and I am unsure why. The ones we had were enthusiastic and enjoyable. I didn't have time to really visit with any of them, and that is always the best thing about any evening there. They are such good people.
I did spend an hour an a half with a man who came to the center with an interesting request. He was just in Denmark for a day from another country in Europe. He is looking for a wife. He chose Denmark because he thinks Denmark's blue-eyed blondes are the most beautiful in the world....I have to agree. He wants a Mormon Danish blue-eyed blonde because he wants someone who is pure...never been intimate with anyone.
I explained in several different ways that our young women are beautiful and I expect that they live virtuous lives, and that the reason for that is their faith and testimony in the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and their desire to go to the temple someday with an equally virtuous young man who is worthy to attend. For that very reason, any young Mormon woman would probably not be interested in marrying someone not of our faith.
He patiently explained that it is a new world today where artificial boundaries need to be crushed...that we are much alike, as well as our beliefs. We are all interested in pleasing God and in living as good people, and that if he could find a woman with the two above mentioned charactistics, he would be a good husband. He argued his case....he is a professional, fully established in his career and makes a good living. He is older...by many years, but doesn't feel that would be an obstacle.
He feels that his religion and beliefs are as valid as the Mormon religion and beliefs and therefore he should be an acceptable husband to a Mormon young woman. I tried over and over again to help him understand that young Mormon women want a young Mormon man who will complement them as they strive to live their faith. He was kind and patient, but he could not understand and left thinking I could help him find a wife, even though I told him I could not.
He is frustrated with any religion declaring that it is the only way to God, and especially the ones who try to win converts. I told him that very belief is a mighty force in someone's life to be pure.
Towards the end of the discussion, as he stood at the door, he said, "I only want a young woman who is a blue-eyed blonde and pure....that is all."
I said, "Wait! What about a mind? What about someone you can sit down with in the evening and discuss the events of the day...history, science, literature?"
He answered, "Everyone will have a deficiency of some sort. It doesn't matter if she isn't very smart. I just want a blue-eyed blonde who is pure."
I stood with my mouth open. I had nothing left to say.
She is so nice....I enjoy her a great deal. Before she left I told her about FamilySearch and showed her how to get on the site. She seemed genuinely excited about it. I told her about our belief in eternal families. I hope she tries it and gets excited....how can you not? I even showed her how to help with extractions. We'll see. She is a great lady.
There were fewer people at FHE tonight, and I am unsure why. The ones we had were enthusiastic and enjoyable. I didn't have time to really visit with any of them, and that is always the best thing about any evening there. They are such good people.
I did spend an hour an a half with a man who came to the center with an interesting request. He was just in Denmark for a day from another country in Europe. He is looking for a wife. He chose Denmark because he thinks Denmark's blue-eyed blondes are the most beautiful in the world....I have to agree. He wants a Mormon Danish blue-eyed blonde because he wants someone who is pure...never been intimate with anyone.
I explained in several different ways that our young women are beautiful and I expect that they live virtuous lives, and that the reason for that is their faith and testimony in the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and their desire to go to the temple someday with an equally virtuous young man who is worthy to attend. For that very reason, any young Mormon woman would probably not be interested in marrying someone not of our faith.
He patiently explained that it is a new world today where artificial boundaries need to be crushed...that we are much alike, as well as our beliefs. We are all interested in pleasing God and in living as good people, and that if he could find a woman with the two above mentioned charactistics, he would be a good husband. He argued his case....he is a professional, fully established in his career and makes a good living. He is older...by many years, but doesn't feel that would be an obstacle.
He feels that his religion and beliefs are as valid as the Mormon religion and beliefs and therefore he should be an acceptable husband to a Mormon young woman. I tried over and over again to help him understand that young Mormon women want a young Mormon man who will complement them as they strive to live their faith. He was kind and patient, but he could not understand and left thinking I could help him find a wife, even though I told him I could not.
He is frustrated with any religion declaring that it is the only way to God, and especially the ones who try to win converts. I told him that very belief is a mighty force in someone's life to be pure.
Towards the end of the discussion, as he stood at the door, he said, "I only want a young woman who is a blue-eyed blonde and pure....that is all."
I said, "Wait! What about a mind? What about someone you can sit down with in the evening and discuss the events of the day...history, science, literature?"
He answered, "Everyone will have a deficiency of some sort. It doesn't matter if she isn't very smart. I just want a blue-eyed blonde who is pure."
I stood with my mouth open. I had nothing left to say.
The Hero is the Real Culprit
I have five minutes to post an early blog before leaving for the center.
This just in: SK, the local champion scorpion killer and organizer of neighborhood scorpion watches, confessed today. He is the one who found the scorpion at the local flea market and thought it would be a cute reminder of home. Not only that, he negotiated a deal with the seller..."throw in the smaller one (3 inches), and I'll buy." (Melissa has a birthday coming up.)
Yes....there is a great divide between the male and the female. I told him I would rather not have that monster on the wall reminding me of the one thing I really hate about Arizona, and he reassured me with, "Do you think it will sting you?.....It's dead!"
Oh well....as long as he continues to be willing to slay the dragons in my life (scorpions being one of them), I'll think he is my hero.
This just in: SK, the local champion scorpion killer and organizer of neighborhood scorpion watches, confessed today. He is the one who found the scorpion at the local flea market and thought it would be a cute reminder of home. Not only that, he negotiated a deal with the seller..."throw in the smaller one (3 inches), and I'll buy." (Melissa has a birthday coming up.)
Yes....there is a great divide between the male and the female. I told him I would rather not have that monster on the wall reminding me of the one thing I really hate about Arizona, and he reassured me with, "Do you think it will sting you?.....It's dead!"
Oh well....as long as he continues to be willing to slay the dragons in my life (scorpions being one of them), I'll think he is my hero.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Wait a Minute....How did YOU get here?
First the really nice news. Lia and Peter's plane made it to the Los Angeles Airport 45 minutes ahead of schedule, which was a miracle. Other miracles followed:
The luggage all arrived promptly, and they picked it up, stacked it on a cart and were off to customs post haste.
They were herded into an area with a lot of booths with long lines. Two women seemed to be directing things and pointed to Peter and Lia, saying "You two go to that line." They went to a booth with no line and were processed through in no time.
They were then to go through another processing line...equally as daunting as the first. Once again, two women directed them to another booth with no line. The man behind the counter wondered how they got to him, but got them through and on their way. They arrived at the airplane with minutes to spare. I am grateful that someone was watching out for them...maybe some very kind women who were sensitive to the spirit.
A few years ago, a fake head of lettuce showed up in our refrigerator. We laughed about it, because that is not an unusual kind of thing to happen in our family. I think Erin had something to do with it. Since that time it has bounced from home to home - showing up in the oddest places. Five years ago, we elicited Peter's parents' help to hide it in Peter and Lia's garden in Provo, Utah. Since then, Lia has been very creative in leaving it with us....sometimes it has taken months to discover. We have tried to reciprocate....one of our best was hiding it in their dutch oven in the garage. Boy, that took a long time to discover. They only use the dutch oven in the summer, so it languished a looong time.
You might have guessed that when we unpacked our suitcases here in Denmark last October, there was the faithful lettuce!
Of course, before Lia and Peter boarded their plane for home, SK deftly cached the green head in one of their carry-ons. It was discovered before they left Danish airspace, but it was in THEIR possession!
Today, the practical joking took on an uglier side....scroll down to see what was left in our apartment by the departing former Arizonan:
And no....it is not a lobster....but almost as big. It is about 6 or 7 or maybe 20 inches long from claw to tip of tail and it is far uglier than it looks.
This little beast has got to go....anyone coming to Denmark soon?
The luggage all arrived promptly, and they picked it up, stacked it on a cart and were off to customs post haste.
They were herded into an area with a lot of booths with long lines. Two women seemed to be directing things and pointed to Peter and Lia, saying "You two go to that line." They went to a booth with no line and were processed through in no time.
They were then to go through another processing line...equally as daunting as the first. Once again, two women directed them to another booth with no line. The man behind the counter wondered how they got to him, but got them through and on their way. They arrived at the airplane with minutes to spare. I am grateful that someone was watching out for them...maybe some very kind women who were sensitive to the spirit.
A few years ago, a fake head of lettuce showed up in our refrigerator. We laughed about it, because that is not an unusual kind of thing to happen in our family. I think Erin had something to do with it. Since that time it has bounced from home to home - showing up in the oddest places. Five years ago, we elicited Peter's parents' help to hide it in Peter and Lia's garden in Provo, Utah. Since then, Lia has been very creative in leaving it with us....sometimes it has taken months to discover. We have tried to reciprocate....one of our best was hiding it in their dutch oven in the garage. Boy, that took a long time to discover. They only use the dutch oven in the summer, so it languished a looong time.
You might have guessed that when we unpacked our suitcases here in Denmark last October, there was the faithful lettuce!
Of course, before Lia and Peter boarded their plane for home, SK deftly cached the green head in one of their carry-ons. It was discovered before they left Danish airspace, but it was in THEIR possession!
Today, the practical joking took on an uglier side....scroll down to see what was left in our apartment by the departing former Arizonan:
And no....it is not a lobster....but almost as big. It is about 6 or 7 or maybe 20 inches long from claw to tip of tail and it is far uglier than it looks.
This little beast has got to go....anyone coming to Denmark soon?
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Waiting to Hear
It wasn't a Monday and it wasn't rainy but today got me down.
I said goodbye to Lia, Peter, Eliza and Rebekah at the front door of our apartment. They were all so dear. Eliza kept waving from the car with such an earnest sweetness.....it broke my heart. I hugged Peter first and couldn't speak because the tears had started...then Lia and the two little ones. I guess I was a bit incoherent. Lia and Peter were a delight to have here....even if Peter and SK were TWICE victorious at Rook - despite my unorthodox methods of play (Do I dare say "cheating?")
SK drove them to the airport, helped unload all the bags, helped them get inside and checked in and then said goodbye.....not easy for him ever. I am sure he has a headache.
We had delivered everything to the center for the after-temple dinner. Most of it we had on hand (leftover lasagne sauce aka spagetti sauce and pasta) so it should have cost very little....which is a good thing, since we don't have any money in the center account. Unfortunately, because of a break in the line of communication, one of our sweet YSAs went out and bought everything for a meal to feed 35...using a lot of fresh veggies etc. I am certain she would have made an excellent meal. We combined the two.
I walked to the center after The goodbyes and stayed for several hours until everyone had left. SK joined me after saying his own goodbyes.
We had 20 come for dinner and we had a ton of food. We will use what we can for this Thursday, but a complication is that Monia - my Italian friend will come to make dinner for us that day. I am excited to have her visit and I hope she will get to know a few of these great young people and feel something special about the place. And I am looking forward to seeing how she cooks real Italian food! Two Thursdays ago, she giggled at my very American Lasgne (any true-blooded Italian would!) and I enjoyed her amusement.
We will wait for word from our little family crossing the ocean and the American continent. They will land at LAX and have an hour and a half to claim their baggage, go through customs and hurry to the gate of the airline that should fly them home to SLC. The biggest problem with that (besides being an almost impossible chore with two little girls) is that it is the last flight out. There is no other way to get to SLC tonight, even if routed through other western states. We will be praying for them.
If you never had the chance to watch the very funny video made by the Danish attendees at Festinord, take a look at it now. It is very funny....and has some of my favorite young people in the world in it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVngOAv-D-k
I said goodbye to Lia, Peter, Eliza and Rebekah at the front door of our apartment. They were all so dear. Eliza kept waving from the car with such an earnest sweetness.....it broke my heart. I hugged Peter first and couldn't speak because the tears had started...then Lia and the two little ones. I guess I was a bit incoherent. Lia and Peter were a delight to have here....even if Peter and SK were TWICE victorious at Rook - despite my unorthodox methods of play (Do I dare say "cheating?")
SK drove them to the airport, helped unload all the bags, helped them get inside and checked in and then said goodbye.....not easy for him ever. I am sure he has a headache.
We had delivered everything to the center for the after-temple dinner. Most of it we had on hand (leftover lasagne sauce aka spagetti sauce and pasta) so it should have cost very little....which is a good thing, since we don't have any money in the center account. Unfortunately, because of a break in the line of communication, one of our sweet YSAs went out and bought everything for a meal to feed 35...using a lot of fresh veggies etc. I am certain she would have made an excellent meal. We combined the two.
I walked to the center after The goodbyes and stayed for several hours until everyone had left. SK joined me after saying his own goodbyes.
We had 20 come for dinner and we had a ton of food. We will use what we can for this Thursday, but a complication is that Monia - my Italian friend will come to make dinner for us that day. I am excited to have her visit and I hope she will get to know a few of these great young people and feel something special about the place. And I am looking forward to seeing how she cooks real Italian food! Two Thursdays ago, she giggled at my very American Lasgne (any true-blooded Italian would!) and I enjoyed her amusement.
We will wait for word from our little family crossing the ocean and the American continent. They will land at LAX and have an hour and a half to claim their baggage, go through customs and hurry to the gate of the airline that should fly them home to SLC. The biggest problem with that (besides being an almost impossible chore with two little girls) is that it is the last flight out. There is no other way to get to SLC tonight, even if routed through other western states. We will be praying for them.
If you never had the chance to watch the very funny video made by the Danish attendees at Festinord, take a look at it now. It is very funny....and has some of my favorite young people in the world in it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVngOAv-D-k
Friday, October 17, 2014
In Absentia
My humble apologies....I missed yesterday....in more ways than one.
I got up and the room spun and my stomach roiled. I stayed in bed all day and by evening was fevered and miserable. I got through the night and mostly rested today. By evening I was feeling a little more human and joined everyone for dinner.
Both the little girls had a variation of the same earlier this week, but either they had much milder cases or I am an even greater wimp than I had heretofore thought. Peter and Lia both had a day of it as well....but they didn't slow down. Yes...I am a wimp.
Yesterday they all went to the zoo....it didn't rain....and the weather was not unpleasant. They declared the Copenhagen Zoo to be one of the best ever. Little Eliza absolutely loved it. In the early evening, they took advantage of the good weather and went to Tivoli.
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In the evening, Lia and Peter walked the whole half block to the Ny Teater, where they saw the Danish production of "Beauty and the Beast." They got tickets months ago and have been so excited to see it in this beautiful old ornate theater. Thomas Kofod played the beast and they said his voice was better than the soundtrack. They were enchanted by the theater, the staging, the costuming, the acting and the singing, and the short walk.
SK did a wonderful job of entertaining Eliza and getting Rebekah to sleep (with some fussing...from her).
Today, Peter and Lia took Rebekah for a stroll down some of the sweet little streets here, and Eliza stayed home and napped...so did I. They returned to the Christmas shop they found, and got a few more things. They returned home in a deluge. They walked in and said they had fallen in the lake. I am not sure they would have been any wetter had they truly fallen in. Thankfully, little Rebekah was dry and happy. Now.....if they had only followed my advice and taken the Mary Poppins! (I know it is bulky to carry around, but when the occasion arises, it is invaluable!)
Lia has been puttering around packing, and SK and Peter are in a jovial scrabble competition on their telephones. Who would have ever thought? Cell phones boggle the mind, but after you have had one for awhile, how do you ever do without it? Lia and Peter walked all over the place here in Copenhagen with the use of their phones....always finding their way back home. You can ask anything...
"Is there porter service available at the Copenhagen Airport for little families with too much to carry?" "When do swans turn white?"
"What is the weather in Copenhagen going to be today?"
Lia and I met a wonderful young woman at the center today so Lia could interview her for a possible article on YSAs in Denmark. Lia visited the center twice and visited with people and watched and listened and enjoyed. She settled on one young woman to interview and I think it went very well. It might never see the light of day, and even if it does, it could be a year and a half away.....but it was such a treat to hear the interview and imagine what will come of it.
While we were there, Brother Andersen and his youngest daughter came in to see the center. She recently came home from her mission to be with her older sister before she passed away. They were going to the temple. My heart aches for them. My 30-year-old brother passed away after an accident over 31 years ago, and still leaves a gaping hole in my heart.
I"ll have to say goodbye- tomorrow to our little family here at home and then head over to the center to get lunch going for the group who attend the temple. Maybe that is a good thing. There is no room in the car for me when all of the luggage and the little family is loaded up. When we picked them up, I took the train home and got fined $150.00 for being on the train at the wrong time!!!! (Since I am over 65, I get a significant discount on our bus/train passes, with the stipulation that we don't ride at certain times of the day.....and since we seldom take the train, I completely forgot. I am sure I could contest it, but "stupidity" is not necessarily the best defense.)
I think being in the center working on a meal and then being with the YSAs will dull the pain of the empty apartment when they are gone. Eliza's sweet little voice and Rebekah's coos have been lovely sounds. Lia and Peter have been great fun and so excited about all there is to do and see here.
Once again, I am grateful that #1 we are able to have visitors, and #2 this was a holiday week in Copenhagen....no meals no shopping. And except for tomorrow's activity, and Monday's FHE, there has been little going on.
Now it is time to get back to work.
I got up and the room spun and my stomach roiled. I stayed in bed all day and by evening was fevered and miserable. I got through the night and mostly rested today. By evening I was feeling a little more human and joined everyone for dinner.
Both the little girls had a variation of the same earlier this week, but either they had much milder cases or I am an even greater wimp than I had heretofore thought. Peter and Lia both had a day of it as well....but they didn't slow down. Yes...I am a wimp.
Yesterday they all went to the zoo....it didn't rain....and the weather was not unpleasant. They declared the Copenhagen Zoo to be one of the best ever. Little Eliza absolutely loved it. In the early evening, they took advantage of the good weather and went to Tivoli.
 |
| Peter didn't quite fit in the airplane, but like any good dad, rode along as the guardian angel. |
In the evening, Lia and Peter walked the whole half block to the Ny Teater, where they saw the Danish production of "Beauty and the Beast." They got tickets months ago and have been so excited to see it in this beautiful old ornate theater. Thomas Kofod played the beast and they said his voice was better than the soundtrack. They were enchanted by the theater, the staging, the costuming, the acting and the singing, and the short walk.
SK did a wonderful job of entertaining Eliza and getting Rebekah to sleep (with some fussing...from her).
Today, Peter and Lia took Rebekah for a stroll down some of the sweet little streets here, and Eliza stayed home and napped...so did I. They returned to the Christmas shop they found, and got a few more things. They returned home in a deluge. They walked in and said they had fallen in the lake. I am not sure they would have been any wetter had they truly fallen in. Thankfully, little Rebekah was dry and happy. Now.....if they had only followed my advice and taken the Mary Poppins! (I know it is bulky to carry around, but when the occasion arises, it is invaluable!)
Lia has been puttering around packing, and SK and Peter are in a jovial scrabble competition on their telephones. Who would have ever thought? Cell phones boggle the mind, but after you have had one for awhile, how do you ever do without it? Lia and Peter walked all over the place here in Copenhagen with the use of their phones....always finding their way back home. You can ask anything...
"Is there porter service available at the Copenhagen Airport for little families with too much to carry?" "When do swans turn white?"
"What is the weather in Copenhagen going to be today?"
Lia and I met a wonderful young woman at the center today so Lia could interview her for a possible article on YSAs in Denmark. Lia visited the center twice and visited with people and watched and listened and enjoyed. She settled on one young woman to interview and I think it went very well. It might never see the light of day, and even if it does, it could be a year and a half away.....but it was such a treat to hear the interview and imagine what will come of it.
While we were there, Brother Andersen and his youngest daughter came in to see the center. She recently came home from her mission to be with her older sister before she passed away. They were going to the temple. My heart aches for them. My 30-year-old brother passed away after an accident over 31 years ago, and still leaves a gaping hole in my heart.
I"ll have to say goodbye- tomorrow to our little family here at home and then head over to the center to get lunch going for the group who attend the temple. Maybe that is a good thing. There is no room in the car for me when all of the luggage and the little family is loaded up. When we picked them up, I took the train home and got fined $150.00 for being on the train at the wrong time!!!! (Since I am over 65, I get a significant discount on our bus/train passes, with the stipulation that we don't ride at certain times of the day.....and since we seldom take the train, I completely forgot. I am sure I could contest it, but "stupidity" is not necessarily the best defense.)
I think being in the center working on a meal and then being with the YSAs will dull the pain of the empty apartment when they are gone. Eliza's sweet little voice and Rebekah's coos have been lovely sounds. Lia and Peter have been great fun and so excited about all there is to do and see here.
Once again, I am grateful that #1 we are able to have visitors, and #2 this was a holiday week in Copenhagen....no meals no shopping. And except for tomorrow's activity, and Monday's FHE, there has been little going on.
Now it is time to get back to work.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Rain Rain Go Away....And Please Come Back Another Day
The weather report for the rest of the week is basically cold, windy and rainy.....not good for sightseeing! But "When in Denmark, do as the Danes do."....isn't that the way it goes? I have often heard people say that there is no bad weather in Denmark, only people who are improperly dressed. Layering is the order of the day.....and it had better include a layer of plastic or rainwear.
It drizzled most of the day, and the sun did not put in an appearance. Even the lake path was mostly deserted except for a few intrepid travelers with umbrellas unfurled. Housecleaning and laundry were crying for attention, so we worked at that and then ventured out.
We saw a few sights here in Copenhagen...considering just walking along the streets a major sightseeing treat. We also went to the train station to renew SK's and my bus passes. We get them every three months. It is a miniature version of Grand Central Station and is quite busy. We all wandered around there for a short time and then took a short train ride....mostly so Lia and Peter could say they did....you know, check it off the list. And it is kind of fun....the trains are clean, quiet and fast.
A visit to the toy store brought a sweet smile from Eliza. A visit to the hot dog stand at the train station brought a smile to all of us. An evening trip to a little shop which is reputed to be the best ice cream in all of Denmark if not Northern Europe brought even more smiles.
We didn't do as much as we might have done if the sun had been brightly beaming down upon us, but what we did was great.....and probably nice for the little girls. They both got good naps today and the rest of us .... rested. Ahhhhh.
It drizzled most of the day, and the sun did not put in an appearance. Even the lake path was mostly deserted except for a few intrepid travelers with umbrellas unfurled. Housecleaning and laundry were crying for attention, so we worked at that and then ventured out.
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| Yes...Build-a-Bear is in Copenhagen! And just as fun. Little Eliza was quite enchanted with the snow tiger. |
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Meanwhile Grandpa pushed Rebekah around to help her sleep. |
We saw a few sights here in Copenhagen...considering just walking along the streets a major sightseeing treat. We also went to the train station to renew SK's and my bus passes. We get them every three months. It is a miniature version of Grand Central Station and is quite busy. We all wandered around there for a short time and then took a short train ride....mostly so Lia and Peter could say they did....you know, check it off the list. And it is kind of fun....the trains are clean, quiet and fast.
A visit to the toy store brought a sweet smile from Eliza. A visit to the hot dog stand at the train station brought a smile to all of us. An evening trip to a little shop which is reputed to be the best ice cream in all of Denmark if not Northern Europe brought even more smiles.
We didn't do as much as we might have done if the sun had been brightly beaming down upon us, but what we did was great.....and probably nice for the little girls. They both got good naps today and the rest of us .... rested. Ahhhhh.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Scratching the Surface
This entire week is a holiday week with school out. We had our regular Family Home Evening Monday, but there will be no Institute/Dinner on Thursday. We had our monthly planning meeting at the center, with our high council rep, stake presidency member, YSA leaders and us (SK went).
So it was not a surprise to pull into the parking lot of Frederiksborg Castle and see that it was nearly full. Clearly we are not the only ones who enjoy the beauty of that place. It was overcast all day...which I have learned....actually makes it warmer. We all had warm clothing on....which proved to be too warm, especially inside the castle.
Lia and Peter were properly impressed with the opulence and the abundance of art. It is a treasure house of work of some of the greatest Danish artists. It is not just the paintings on the wall that astonish, but the detail of the woodwork and the architecture and the ornate ceilings and floors.....as well as the sculptures that are everywhere you turn.
We toured through the castle and grounds, stopping to say hello to the teen-aged swans (haven't turned white yet) and then ate at a charming little restaurant at the back of the large gardens. We had open-faced sandwiches....very Danish fare and enjoyed them immensely.
We drove about 10 minutes from there to see a live falcon show.....which everyone loved.....even Eliza. (Well, Rebekah was none too impressed, because she was asleep.)
Peter and Lia went out to a late dinner at a very excellent Italian restaurant where nearly all the waiters were Italian. She was able to speak some phrases to them, and she and Peter were in heaven over the delicious and numerous courses of food brought to them. It was especially nice for them, because since little Rebekah was born, only Peter's parents have babysat for them...and they live an hour away, so going out isn't always easy.
Eliza and I had a good evening together....we put together some puzzles and played with the pots and pans....and then watched a few songs from the movie "Frozen" on the computer. She watched the computer and I watched her sweet little face as she enjoyed the music and antics of a little snowman.
It is late, and I hear rain outside. Rain is forecast for tomorrow...so we may mostly stay close. I need to do some work here and will probably join them later in the day. We haven't as yet scratched the surface of Copenhagen, but we are making a good attempt!
So it was not a surprise to pull into the parking lot of Frederiksborg Castle and see that it was nearly full. Clearly we are not the only ones who enjoy the beauty of that place. It was overcast all day...which I have learned....actually makes it warmer. We all had warm clothing on....which proved to be too warm, especially inside the castle.
Lia and Peter were properly impressed with the opulence and the abundance of art. It is a treasure house of work of some of the greatest Danish artists. It is not just the paintings on the wall that astonish, but the detail of the woodwork and the architecture and the ornate ceilings and floors.....as well as the sculptures that are everywhere you turn.
We toured through the castle and grounds, stopping to say hello to the teen-aged swans (haven't turned white yet) and then ate at a charming little restaurant at the back of the large gardens. We had open-faced sandwiches....very Danish fare and enjoyed them immensely.
We drove about 10 minutes from there to see a live falcon show.....which everyone loved.....even Eliza. (Well, Rebekah was none too impressed, because she was asleep.)
Peter and Lia went out to a late dinner at a very excellent Italian restaurant where nearly all the waiters were Italian. She was able to speak some phrases to them, and she and Peter were in heaven over the delicious and numerous courses of food brought to them. It was especially nice for them, because since little Rebekah was born, only Peter's parents have babysat for them...and they live an hour away, so going out isn't always easy.
Eliza and I had a good evening together....we put together some puzzles and played with the pots and pans....and then watched a few songs from the movie "Frozen" on the computer. She watched the computer and I watched her sweet little face as she enjoyed the music and antics of a little snowman.
It is late, and I hear rain outside. Rain is forecast for tomorrow...so we may mostly stay close. I need to do some work here and will probably join them later in the day. We haven't as yet scratched the surface of Copenhagen, but we are making a good attempt!
Monday, October 13, 2014
Christmas, Cake and finally...CRUD
It happened again at our missionary meeting this evening at the center. We have a brand new missionary from Utah. She was asked to say the opening prayer, and began by being grateful for the rainy weather. I am from Arizona....and I am ALWAYS grateful for rainy weather.....but I don't know any Danes who say that in their prayers.
I was even grateful for it today when Lia, Peter, the little girls and I started out our trek. We walked over to Stroget, where we found what is reputed to be the best Christmas shop....it was. It was small, but packed full of fun Scandinavian Christmas ornaments and decorations. I have to take SK back there (he doesn't like shopping....and he won't exactly be on fire to go....but it IS Danish, so he might be willing.)
Lia and Peter were elated to find it and carefully looked through everything until they found their 2014 Christmas ornament....something to remind them of this year. I mostly stayed with Rebekah and Eliza who were quite content to window shop....but I did go into the Christmas shop for a few moments, and a few moments was enough to find and buy a couple of small angel ornaments.
Later, we made our way to LaGlace....the premier cake shop and bakery in Copenhagen. You really should not visit Copenhagen without having a slice of cake from that lovely little cafe. My vanilla cream cake was outstanding, Lia's Nutella cake was better, and Peter had the orange cake which was best of all. Eliza had a pastry....which looked pretty good.
At that point, we parted company....I to the center and Lia, Peter and girls to the harbor cruise where they had prime seats on a glass-encased low boat to see Copenhagen from the sea. All enjoyed it, especially Eliza.
I spent the afternoon and evening at the center, visiting with many of our YSAs. I spent some time visiting with a student from America who is studying here. He was very interesting....having lived several other places outside the USA he had great things to tell. I believe he truly enjoys being in Denmark...but then who wouldn't?
Lia spent a couple of hours with me at the center. It was not a good representative night....not so many YSAs as usual and not the same level of spirituality as usual. Perhaps it is the holiday week. She enjoyed watching their activity and the CRUD games and enjoyed visits with some of them.....but there was not much to write home about tonight!
She left to help Peter get the little girls in bed and SK and I got home late.....too late for a round of cards so that will have to wait until tomorrow night.
I am so grateful for their sacrifice in coming here. I am so grateful to be with these sweet little girls and have the opportunity to meet little Rebekah before she grows up! She is so responsive but still so cuddly. And Eliza is talking so much....she prattles all day long, or sings, or counts or whatever and it is a joy to hear such lovely sounds echoing through our normally silent apartment.
Although this first year has gone by so fast, the visits from Dave and Deb, Erin and Ethan and now Lia and Peter have really made it wonderful for us and helped us feel like we can do this second half of the mission with renewed dedication.....especially if we can look forward to Spring and visits from Melissa/Derek and Derek/Heather.
I was even grateful for it today when Lia, Peter, the little girls and I started out our trek. We walked over to Stroget, where we found what is reputed to be the best Christmas shop....it was. It was small, but packed full of fun Scandinavian Christmas ornaments and decorations. I have to take SK back there (he doesn't like shopping....and he won't exactly be on fire to go....but it IS Danish, so he might be willing.)
Lia and Peter were elated to find it and carefully looked through everything until they found their 2014 Christmas ornament....something to remind them of this year. I mostly stayed with Rebekah and Eliza who were quite content to window shop....but I did go into the Christmas shop for a few moments, and a few moments was enough to find and buy a couple of small angel ornaments.
Later, we made our way to LaGlace....the premier cake shop and bakery in Copenhagen. You really should not visit Copenhagen without having a slice of cake from that lovely little cafe. My vanilla cream cake was outstanding, Lia's Nutella cake was better, and Peter had the orange cake which was best of all. Eliza had a pastry....which looked pretty good.
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| This was not the best window to take a picture of, but the line was moving fast and I just snapped what I could. If I had a picture of the best window....it would pack on calories even through the camera lens! |
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| Rebekah is pondering the kind of cake she wants. |
At that point, we parted company....I to the center and Lia, Peter and girls to the harbor cruise where they had prime seats on a glass-encased low boat to see Copenhagen from the sea. All enjoyed it, especially Eliza.
I spent the afternoon and evening at the center, visiting with many of our YSAs. I spent some time visiting with a student from America who is studying here. He was very interesting....having lived several other places outside the USA he had great things to tell. I believe he truly enjoys being in Denmark...but then who wouldn't?
Lia spent a couple of hours with me at the center. It was not a good representative night....not so many YSAs as usual and not the same level of spirituality as usual. Perhaps it is the holiday week. She enjoyed watching their activity and the CRUD games and enjoyed visits with some of them.....but there was not much to write home about tonight!
She left to help Peter get the little girls in bed and SK and I got home late.....too late for a round of cards so that will have to wait until tomorrow night.
I am so grateful for their sacrifice in coming here. I am so grateful to be with these sweet little girls and have the opportunity to meet little Rebekah before she grows up! She is so responsive but still so cuddly. And Eliza is talking so much....she prattles all day long, or sings, or counts or whatever and it is a joy to hear such lovely sounds echoing through our normally silent apartment.
Although this first year has gone by so fast, the visits from Dave and Deb, Erin and Ethan and now Lia and Peter have really made it wonderful for us and helped us feel like we can do this second half of the mission with renewed dedication.....especially if we can look forward to Spring and visits from Melissa/Derek and Derek/Heather.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Seeking After......
Sunday morning and Fall is definitely in the air.....it was clear and crisp with occasional clouds trying to block the sunlight. We all managed to get ready for Church and arrive on time.
Eliza was a little gem throughout sacrament meeting....even sitting very quietly without toys during the Sacrament. She was delighted to discover that she had a little nursery all to herself during the first part of the second hour. It is a wonderfully stocked with great toys for little girls....and boys. She and her mother stayed there for most of the hour, with another little boy and Sister Hamblin coming in later.
Rebekah and I went to Relief Society and all of the sisters (perhaps a dozen) in there gave a collective sigh when I entered with her. Halfway through she began fussing and I stood to do the required dancing....she burped, and once again the response from the sisters was a big smile and nod as if to say "That was the problem!"
After church we came home and had a bite of lunch, and a nap for the girls. SK took advantage of the time to entertain Rebekah.
Rebekah and I went to Relief Society and all of the sisters (perhaps a dozen) in there gave a collective sigh when I entered with her. Halfway through she began fussing and I stood to do the required dancing....she burped, and once again the response from the sisters was a big smile and nod as if to say "That was the problem!"
After church we came home and had a bite of lunch, and a nap for the girls. SK took advantage of the time to entertain Rebekah.
Later we headed out to find the little town of SK's ancestors. We entered the beautiful little village, found the church and spent quite a bit of time looking at the gravestones and taking pictures. It was overcast and beautiful and even little Eliza enjoyed the time there.
It was dark after we got home, and Sister Hamblin had a pot of chili for us....which really hit the spot. Everyone ate...the little girls went to bed, and now as I type, Lia, Peter and SK have "The DK Book" and are debating which place to go tomorrow. They are laughing and teasing. It will be good.
Sunday is not a day of rest for parents of small children (probably all children), but it was a nice day,
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