Experiencing Denmark!

Have you ever gotten up early to go to a party?

SK and I arose this morning much earlier than usual so that we could get ready and drive to one of our YSA's home for his parents' twenty-fifth anniversary.  They have three YSAs...all of whom we love.  One of them is a returned missionary and has been back for about a year.  He is a great young man.  Another is on a mission, and doing well....in South Africa.   The third his their younger sister who is eighteen.

We drove over the farmlands and through a few lovely little communities which seemed to be quietly sleeping in the morning mist.  The skies were dramatically cloudy, with the sun occasionally breaking through.  It was cool....in every way.

We pulled up to their home, and saw a group of people waiting outside, and several cars parked along the road.  After parking the car, we joined the group, were handed a piece of paper with two songs on it, and waited expectantly for a few other guests to arrive.  Once they were there, Phillip began to play the saxophone, which was our cue to join in the singing.

You would think the songs would be funny, maybe even a bit raucous, but they were actually beautiful and even spiritual.  Have you ever sung along with an alto sax?  It is low, and I was happy to be singing in the lower registers early in the a.m.

Soon, the parents came to the door, smiling broadly, arms around each other, and in their pajamas.  They stood looking at the scene around them.  We finished our singing and yelled hurrah.  We were welcomed and invited in the house for breakfast.  There were probably about 40 of us.

The parents were so cute....and feigned surprise, like every set of parents has for who knows how long.  The children are in charge generally, and Phillip and Josephine did a magnificent job of decorating the front door and driveway, the house an even the backyard.  They put a spacious open white tent up in the yard with tables and benches, and had extra serving tables in the family room.

Wonderful smells wafted from the kitchen, and in just a few moments fresh breads, cheese, cinnamon rolls, fruit platters, juices, milk, hot chocolate and a variety of other things appeared.  For 2 1/2 hours we visited with friends and family members, sampling the array of foods.  I asked many different people about this delightful tradition.

I guess it is in honor of a marriage that has stood the test of time for 25 years.  It is a cause to celebrate by all of those near and dear to the couple.  It is always begun by "surprising" the couple early in the morning....waking them up to celebrate.  I kind of think no one is surprised....but isn't it fun for everyone if they pretend!

The couple looked so happy....the wife seemed like a happy bride and the husband the proud groom.  Once again, I experienced that Hygge that Danes are famous for.....an amazing outpouring of love from friends and family and a closeness and ease in their company.

We drove home, picked up Tessa, and headed out to FrilandsMuseet, a park about a half hour from here. It is an open-air place with something like 40 to 50 authentic old homes and farm houses which have been brought here from all over Denmark and a beyond to other islands which come under the jurisdiction of Denmark.  The buildings were taken apart, shipped to this park, and reassembled to look as authentic as possible.

I took all kinds of pictures with my telephone, but they won't download to the computer so I had to stoop to taking photos off the internet, except for the photos above of Tessa.

There was no electricity in any of them as far as I could see.  It was a 2 1/2 walk around to see the structures.  We didn't see them all....but we saw most of them.  It was fascinating, and it was a gorgeous walk through spring-green forests and grassy fields.  The park seemed to be nestled in the city, but when we began walking around, we felt like we had stepped back in time to a very rural and large old village.

Our institute director (and former mission president to the Danish Mission) told us that when new missionaries would arrive, he would take them out almost immediately to this place.  He would tell them that when the first missionaries arrived in Denmark, this is what it was like for most people as far as living conditions.

I am certain that is true.  It is fascinating to imagine what life was like for the people who had inhabited those places, what the people were like, if they had dreams similar to our own, and if life was so strenuous that they found little joy.  I thoroughly enjoyed our time there.  We stopped at a little cafe attached to the park and for quite a reasonable price ate a nice little lunch.

Not content to call it a day, we drove out to Amager to let Tessa try what is reputed to be the best ice cream (Lia claimed it is gelato....which was confirmed) in Denmark.  It was excellent.

A few games of Nines had me laughing hysterically at SK.  Tessa and I were the clear victors....well Tessa was....and SK is never funnier than when he is losing and feels unlucky.  We were both laughing at his antics....and they are antics.

It is nice that we will call it an early day and all retire early so that we can be ready for the Sabbath day.  It is a day I look forward to, and I know that Tessa will enjoy it

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