This is a wonderful time for families and they celebrate together. Many of our young people who left their families to move into the city for school and work, return to their homes and spend their holidays with loved ones revisiting all of the wonderful family traditions. Almost everyone in the country stops what they are doing at 4 p.m. on December to watch the Disney Christmas special. It has clips of all of the old favorite animated full-length films, including songs from "Snow White," "Cinderella," "Bambi," "Pinocchio" and this year, "Frost." We thoroughly enjoyed watching it with the Paulsens.
Since we have been celebrating for two days, and since we are in Denmark we decided to go shopping! We went with Anna...a sweet young woman from our branch and Sister Hamblin. We met Anna at the train station at 9.....no small sacrifice since we had been up very late last night and had to get up before the sun this morning (it crawls out of bed sometime around 8).
We crunched our way to the station over ice and snow and through freezing temperatures (I am not kidding....the thermometer registered minus 9 this morning.). It was so cold that SK wore his scarf, his hat and his gloves....AND he zipped up his coat!!!!! Layering is the order of the day. I wore two scarves, a warm shirt and a sweater under my winter coat, and Sister Hamblin had a blouse, a sweater, a jacket and then her winter coat. Smart.
We stood on the cold platform waiting for our train....it wasn't long before we were on it and smoothly, speedily and quietly heading for Malmo Sweden. It is the third largest city in Sweden and is about a half hour away from downtown Copenhagen. Everyone tells us that it is a great place to shop, and it must be true, because so many of the Danes we know shop there for Christmas. Two reasons: it is cheaper (taxes and rate of exchange) and they have stuff Denmark doesn't have.
I might have reconsidered (considering that it was the coldest cold I have experienced so far here) had I known that the mall we were heading for was an outdoor mall! But the company was good and the shops were enchanting...many were one of a kind....and it was gloriously beautiful. I guess you already know that in the winter here the sun makes a low arc in its path along the sky. At its highest, the sunlight dazzled off the surfaces of the buildings and the ice on the ground and left us nearly blinded as we wandered among the shops.
SK, Anna and Sister Hamblin posing with some outdoor statues. |
SK wondering which way to go. |
None of us were there to buy much....mostly to look. But SK found two things near and dear to his heart (or stomach) at a very good price so we bought several of each. I found a new kitchen utensil - a pastry blender - and we all found some cute Christmas things at half off. Hardly enough to pay for the train ticket over....but it was inexpensive considering the entertainment value.
We ate at TGIFriday...don't laugh. SK had ribs and was in seventh heaven and I had a hamburger and it was the best hamburger I have had in well over a year. Plus it was warm and comfortable inside.
As the sun was setting, we were on the train again racing over the water towards Copenhagen. We arrived at the apartment in the dark....had a little snack and settled in for a little reading. By then it was nearly 6 p.m.
We watched the progression of a brilliant sunset from the window of the train. |
With the sun retiring so early....I feel like it is time to go to sleep too. Celebrating can be tiring.
I know what you're thinking...."Where was I when the mission calls for Denmark were handed out?"
We'll be getting back to work here soon....I promise.
Enjoy it while you can. I have a hard time working when it is dark and cold - but push myself to do what needs to be done. Went to the temple twice today - 5:30 AM session - and 8PM sealings w/my grand daughter. Cold and dark both times - but her radiance made the 8PM trip well worth while. Your shopping trip sounded delightful - even the hamburger. L&P
ReplyDeleteGoing at 5:30 a.m. well, that is hard. Going with your grand daughter must have been a joy. I love the dark days, but having to be out in the cold early morning is another matter. I am sure that you are blessed for the sacrifice......I think it would even be worth it here to work in the temple. But it never opens that early! L&P
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