Looking Ahead.......

In less than 6 hours, we will be leaving for the Copenhagen Airport.  President and Sister O'Bryant will pick us up along with Sister Hamblin, and we'll take that short ride to the airport....the one that seemed like such a very long ride two Octobers ago.

It has been a lovely day....full, but nice.  We have of course, been trying to tie up loose ends and pack.  We spent a couple of hours with Elder and Sister Parker going over things about the center and about the apartment here, and the YSA program.

We walked to the bank to finalize things with accounts.  We visited with Sister Hamblin for an hour or so, and then in the evening, we drove to the pier, where we met Doris and Michael to see their sailboat.  The sun was slowly setting as we walked along the plankway to their boat.  Doris was so happy and Michael was charming.

The sailboat was quite amazing.  It can sleep 6, and uses space so efficiently, that it seemed spacious.  We sat together while they made Danish pancakes, which were delicious.  They served them with honey from the Canary Islands.  How often do you eat honey from the Canary Islands?  Note to self (and others):  No desserts ever again once we land in the states.  It is time to stop eating!!!!!

I love Doris   We met her soon after we arrived here...when we enrolled in our Danish class.  She is a wonderful woman and I have so enjoyed knowing her.  She and Michael will get married on February 6.  That is wonderful.  They promised they will come and visit.

They are very much in love.  Michael is a good man and so kind.

Throughout the day, we have been recalling last night.  It was such a bittersweet experience...the conversations we had with all of the young people we love so much....I have been replaying them in my mind.  I decided that when I get on the plane (if I don't fall asleep), I will write down everything I can remember from that whole evening......every conversation with every YSA. That will be a nice way to spend some of our flying time.

We will leave from here somewhere around 7....go to Paris, and from there to Salt Lake, and finally home to Phoenix.  It will take 22 hours from the time we close the door on this apartment until we step off the plane in the Valley of the Sun.

We were up very late last night.  Something incredibly sweet happened, the memory of which will stay with me as long as I have a memory.  All of the YSAs had said goodbye and left.  We were tidying up, when the doorbell rang.  It was one of our dear young adults....someone who had come to talk with us a little more.

For an hour or so, we sat there talking, and sharing experiences, testimony, and wonderful news.  It was one of those very precious experiences that warmed me from my head to my toes.  If we had been in a hurry to leave, we would have missed those special moments in time.  I don't know why it is exactly, but some of our very best and most cherished moments with YSAs have been in the wee small hours of the morning at the center.

In the past nearly two years, our lives have expanded dramatically to encompass relationships with so many incredible people.  I looked at SK a few times today, and thought, "We have shared an amazing experience......I have seen so many new strengths in him....and been so grateful for him.

The question tickling me now is.....what does the future hold for us?