“A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on.”

I awakened around 4:30 a.m. this morning and as usual, listened to the stillness.  It has always amazed me that we live in this large city, yet nights are as quiet as Gilbert nights were so many years ago (except for the occasional drunks on their way home from the Danish bars in the early hours of the weekends).  However this morning, the silence was disrupted by sirens and then helicopters.....not loud, but distant.  I fell back asleep.

We received an email from our son-in-law this morning asking about the shootings in Copenhagen, so I went online to check it out and read some of the news reports before time to go to church.  We learned a little more at Church since our branch president is a police officer and he was on call all through our meetings.  Our former branch president works for the transit system and shared with us some of his experiences through the night.

Both shook their heads in wonder.  Both had been up through much of the night.  One train station had been completely shut down as police forces did a thorough search.  You may have read the same reports we did.....Law enforcement officers in full armor and heavy-duty vehicles were out throughout the night.  Roads were closed off and areas sealed off for a time.

Except for the sirens and helicopters, we saw and heard nothing that would even hint at the fact that the peace of this beautiful city has been broken.  It is because Copenhagen is so very peaceful that this is shocking.  People at church said that this is the worst incident of its kind since World War II.  I think it would have not been so jarring had it occurred in other major cities around the world.

This morning, bicyclists and pedestrians were out as on every other morning.  The city still feels the same....people going about their daily routines.  I am certain that this will continue.  We feel no different about being here and doing what we love to do....walking all over this beautiful place.

The Danes have a wonderful country and they will do whatever it takes to keep it a haven for people who want a progressive, free and peaceful place to live.  I know the police force is on high alert to see that this doesn't happen again.

The lakes outside our windows are the border between Copenhagen and Frederiksberg.  The sites of the shootings were quite a ways north and west of here.  Even in that area, peace is being maintained. Thousands of flowers line the street outside the synagogue from sympathetic Danes....sending a message of solidarity.

Spring will come and people will remember the somberness of these hours, but mostly as a cautionary tale to be a little more vigilant.

On another and entirely happy note, our fairy-tale princess delivered her second child this last week.  He weighed 9 1/2 pounds and he is CUTE!  The new baby, his big brother and their parents came to church today.  Our entire congregation of 40 could hardly pay attention to anything as delighted friends drank in the sight of that one perfect little one.

Later, Christine (his mom) and he entered relief society as we were singing the opening song.  I am not exaggerating when I say that everyone stopped singing to watch them walk by....and there was one loud collective sigh.  Is there anything as beautiful as a newborn quietly sleeping in his mother's arms?

He was wrapped in a cute little fire engine blanket which Erin found for me to present to him! (But you can't see it here.)