Stepping Back in Time

At this moment it is 103 degrees in Arizona.  What?  103 DEGREES!

Meanwhile back in Copenhagen.....

Melissa, Derek, SK and I set out for Frilandsmuseet armed with umbrellas, scarves, gloves and wearing our rain coats layered over sweaters and blouses/shirts.  The skies were threatening.  Heavy black clouds raced across the sky.  The winds whipped at our clothing and hair.

We made a brief detour to the temple.

A short 20 minute drive got us to the front gate.  We entered and found ourselves in another century and place.  Despite SK's firm declarations that "There is nothing there but a bunch of decaying houses," we were enchanted.  We wandered from building to building, taking in everything and oohing and aahing about everything.

Suddenly - and briefly, the rain came down.  Just as suddenly it quit, and at one point the sun came out for awhile.  We each had umbrellas - yet we scurried to safety inside one of the lovely old buildings and watched out the open door.

I believe we walked nearly 3 miles while there.  It was an enchanting spot.  We ate lunch at the little cafe there ....it was filled with people busily engaged in conversations with those around them as they ate.

After lunch, we abandoned Derek and Melissa!  We had to go in search of avocados for Tuesday's zone conference lunch, and managed to find some that will hopefully be ripe in time.  They were lovely big smooth-skinned avocados and they were relatively cheap!  But they are also quite hard.  So I will pray for them to ripen up in a timely manner.

We met up again after they had spent another hour and a half wandering.  I am sure that if you were to see the entire place, it would take much longer.  They had walked another several miles I am sure.

Once again at that point, we parted ways.  They went to Tivoli for the evening, and we went with Mette and Jesper.....I have been looking forward to this little outing....and hated to not be with th e kids for the night.  It sounds like they had a good time.

Handmake battlement....the oldest most continuously used battlement of its kind.

We, on the other hand, walked another 4 miles....bringing the total for SK and me to 7 miles for the day!!!!  It was glorious.  It was our little Danish class and husbands, and a few other temple workers and the stake president and his wife.  And there were also 3 other visitors from America, who just happened to be in Copenhagen for the day and were hoping to find a tour of some sort.  They are LDS and they just happened to find the best of all possible tours.

Jesper and Mette have done a great deal of research and writing about the early Danish saints, and they know a great deal about how the Church was established here.  They know wonderful little stories about the individuals who accepted the gospel, and the first missionaries who served in Denmark. We walked down tree-lined streets, close to the harbor, and through lovely little neighborhoods in Copenhagen.  Although the wind blew and the skies were occasionally dark, it never rained on us.

In fact it couldn't have been more beautiful.  The sun came out shining brilliantly and even favored us with a rainbow.  The whole tour was enlightening and inspiring and humorous and so very enjoyable.  It has been a blessing to spend time with all of those very special individuals.

We all went to dinner together....which here in Denmark is no small time commitment.  It was delightful, and I enjoyed visiting with everyone, but after 2 1/2 hours, I was wanting to get home to spend some time with Derek and Melissa.  We said our goodbyes and came home.

It was so nice to be able to spend some great time with Melissa and Derek.