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.

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!

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.