Preparation Day

For a young missionary, Preparation Day is a time set aside to do laundry, shopping for the week, and all necessary tasks for the following week.  For most seniors, it is the same.  But we are not typical missionaries, and we don't have a regular "Preparation Day."

Our schedule follows that of the YSAs, and while we know that Thursdays and Mondays are pretty much set in stone, the other days of the week may be up for grabs.  For instance, we have two temple days a month....one is a Saturday and one is a Wednesday.  We have one Sunday a month at the center for student council and our YSA Sacrament meeting.  And there are various and sundry activities that might fall on another day of the week.

Generally, we take our day of preparation on Tuesdays, because that is almost always free of other things....except for zone conferences etc.

Since we began doing missionary inspections Tuesday has been the day of choice because it is otherwise free.  So our preparation day has been sporadic at best, especially with all the fun we have been having with visitors!

Today was a Preparation Day of the finest sort.  We started out at the Costco Wannabe and bought a lot of food.  We were finishing up the buying spree for the zone conference, which is tomorrow.  Melissa went with us and was fascinated with the place.....everything here is organized much differently than in Arizona....and it takes some getting used to.

We went to two other stores before coming home.  SK went to several later by himself in search of the very last items.  Melissa was fun in the other stores.  She wanted to meander through and browse, but alas, there was simply no time!  She seems to have adapted quite well, and was un-intimidated by the check-out process.

SK, Melissa and Derek had a grand time in the afternoon.  They climbed the 400 stairs to "Vor Frelsers Kirke - The Church of our Savior" and stood high atop the steeple after winding their way up a narrow little stairway on the outside of the structure.  They went to the Frederiksberg Park - which is an absolutely fantastic area of ponds, forests and flowers.  They stopped in at the zoo just momentarily to check out the gift shop.  They put plenty of steps and miles on her little fitness bracelet.

Meanwhile, I was able to organize receipts from all of our shopping, organize all of the appliances, pots, bowls and utensils to take with us to the church.  I made lists and more lists so that I have everything I need tomorrow.  I made 6 batches of the wonderful cilantro-lime salad dressing.

I packed up everything I needed for biscuits and gravy at  the center and then walked over.  I got there about 3:30.  I was excited to see Monia. who had said she would come and say goodbye before leaving for Italy.  She called around 4 to tell me she was swamped and could come tomorrow on her way to the airport....but she would have all her bags and luggage with her.

I thought it was lovely that she even entertained the thought!  I told her I wouldn't be at the center tomorrow, but on the outskirts of Copenhagen....(30 minute drive from the center).  So we said goodbye on the telephone and promised to keep in touch.  I hope we can stay close through correspondence.

David, our returned-missionary from Mesa, Arizona mentioned that he loved biscuits and gravy better than almost any food he has had in America, I told him that perhaps I could persuade Melissa to make him some while she was here.....and it turned out, she was easy to be entreated.

She arrived around 5, and had them mixed up and ready to eat by 5:30.  We don't have the same kind of sausage as America, but what she fixed was really really good.  And David was in heaven.  He was so cute....he broke away from his studies and came and ate 3 big helpings, and visited with us for another half hour after before returning home to finish his last night of preparing for his final exam tomorrow.

Melissa came home and made two very large key-lime pies for Thursday night at the center, and 2 large pans of brownies for the zone conference tomorrow.  YES....I am extremely grateful.  She walked home from the center, taking a small ....well maybe not so small detour down the walking street to find some special things for her children.  Then she found her way home as though she had lived here for 2 years!

I spent the rest of the evening at the center.  Ulrik gave an outstanding lesson about Satan...there were a lot of thoughtful comments and participation.  He is a very good teacher, and always brings interesting things in to any discussion, but always straight on in doctrine.

As an activity, Ulrik asked each of us to write our worst phobia.  Then teams took turn guessing which one belonged to whom.  No one guessed mine....but if you know me, you already know.....
scorpions!  But I decided that wasn't my worst fear at all after hearing some of the others.  Fear of being buried alive, fear of heights, fear of losing a loved one, fear of being alone in the dark, fear of dying alone somewhere in the middle of nowhere....they all sound scary!

SK came at nine and stayed until everyone left, and I walked home to finish my preparations for tomorrow.  It was still very light outside, and cool and wonderful.

Don't you love a good preparation day, when you can focus entirely on organizing your life?

Note to self:  schedule one for yourself very soon.....windows to be washed, floors to be mopped, dusting to be done, and the laundry and a pile of white shirts to be ironed await.

I am old enough to know that they will wait patiently until I get there.....and the world will go on whether they get done tomorrow or Saturday or whenever.

But I do love a day to prepare.