Celebrating Christmas for the Rest of the Week

The Turpins had a lovely day to travel....38 degrees to 40 day and night today with an almost heat wave coming tomorrow of 44 degrees.  They got away late in the morning and traveled approximately 2 hours to arrive in Odense, where they will serve.  If you are familiar with Denmark, you may remember that Odense is the childhood home of Hans Christian Andersen, who by the way, was born in the same year as Joseph Smith.


I went to my Danish class today.  She is barreling ahead and I feel like I am learning so much better with the way she teaches and the materials she is using.  We began a classic Christmas children's book today which is in rhyming verse.  I know few of the words but we are going through it a little at a time. It was first published in 1866 and the newest edition has the original illustrations which are charming.

I enjoy the other 4 ladies immensely.  We have lunch first and try to speak only Danish as we eat.  Mette, our teacher patiently listens as we struggle to communicate and corrects and assists when necessary.  She took us through a list of verb conjugations and assigned homework.  We finished our last children's book, and began "Peters Jul"  - I think Danes don't have an apostrophe to show ownership.

In the evening, Elder and Sister Thorne and Sister Hamblin, SK and I went to Christine and Sebastian's home for a Swedish Christmas dinner.  It was delicious with Swedish meatballs, a wonderful Swedish potato dish, pickled cucumbers, lindonberry sauce and the best gravy I have ever had.  Sebastian said that in each bite you had to have a bite of everything, which I did.  It was incredible.  Ahhhh.  For dessert we had wonderful rich hot chocolate and Christmas cookies (they are available in stores everywhere this time of the year and are generally variations on gingerbread cookies).

At one point, we were gathered close around the family room talking in the lowered light with candles glowing all around us.  We talked of many things but turned to our branch.  Sebastian and Christine both declared how very much they love our little branch.  They do so much for everyone in the branch and they seem untiring in they way they serve.  Christine is about 6 weeks away from delivering her second child and it hasn't seemed to slow her down.  I have long called them our fairy tale couple, and it seems more like that than ever....they are wonderful.

The young elders serving in our branch were there also.  After the meal they gave us a beautiful message about the birth of Christ and what happened then with the believers on the American continent.  Those guys are so cute.  Eighteen and Nineteen year olds who enjoy every bite of the meal and then ask if they can share a message.  Then they hurry out, according to mission rules to another appointment or to knock doors etc.

I enjoy the young missionaries every bit as much as the YSAs....even though technically that is what they are.

Great week.....tomorrow night, Institute and dinner, Friday...temple day all day....Saturday Christmas party at the center.....Sunday....Church and the ward Christmas party at Sebastian's and Christine's home, and back to Family Home Evening at the center.