Last Thursday was the first real official meal in more than 2 months! I think I was getting used to not cooking.
And actually, it wasn't a REAL meal, because Anne Marie came up with the menu and prepared a lot of it, and we had 5 YSAs in the kitchen for a couple of hours before doing all kinds of preparation....AND because Erin and Ethan were in the apartment kitchen cutting, chopping, stirring, assembling and generally cooking.
This week...today, was a good dose of reality. I did all the cutting, chopping, stirring, assembling and general cooking. Well, most of it. SK was busy running errands etc, and stepped into the kitchen for awhile to help with chopping basil. He was invaluable in so many important ways, but I was essentially alone in the kitchen.
I started around 9 a.m. and took a break around 2 to shower and clean up. We went to the center where all that was left to do was assemble the salad, make the dressing and bake the ziti and set things out.
It was fairly simple from that point on.
I do believe that I will see about getting a couple of YSAs to come early each week just to help with cutting and chopping and assembling.
The difficulty was that in our small kitchen with small pots, and only 4 burners - everything took longer to do. The stove in the new center is going to be wonderful to use, but it is an induction stove and requires a special type of pan, which we should be getting next week sometime. In the meantime, the stove is unavailable.
But it was all worth it. I think the baked ziti was a grand success. Everyone seemed to love it. We served sliced French Bread and green salad. For dessert Nutella cookies....and they were very well recieved.
I think most everyone likes the new center, although it will take some time to get used to being crowded together in that small place. A lot of people stayed around to visit...no CRUD this evening (it might have had something to do with the fact that the pool table was covered with dishes and food!)
I especially enjoyed a visit with a lovely young woman who has a wonderful testimony and great strength and trust in the Lord. She has a close family and adores her little niece and nephew. I can tell by the way she talks that she will be a warm and loving mother someday....and a supportive and caring wife.
I also enjoyed talking to a young friend who is planning a trip to Arizona!...of all places. She will be with her parents, and they will visit her brother. She has been there before so the 100 degree weather won't be too much of a shock.
It is so interesting to ponder what lies ahead for these great young people. So many good things ahead, yet also some experiences that will require great faith and patience. I have never had greater hope for the future than this last year as I have seen these good YSAs and the young missionaries who serve here.
I think they are unique and uniquely wonderful, but I suspect that they are a part of a great army of incredible people sent to this earth now.
It is a blessing to serve with them in this beautiful land.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
A Normal Wednesday Evening
This day begin with clear blue skies and a cool breeze....it ended with rain and chill. It has been a marvelous day!
Laundry, vacuuming and mopping were the order of the day with a few closets and drawers organized. As a teenager, if someone had told me that I would one day relish a day like today, I would say they were way off base. But here I am enjoying it immensely.
SK spent the better part of his day helping the mission office get cars straightened out, so he wasn't here when it came time to shop for tomorrow. With our handy little cart, I set out for Netto...a sort of discount store. I found a few items I needed, brought them home and then went to Lidl and Fotex. I am pretty sure that I have what I need for tomorrow's meal. I will prepare most of it here in the apartment, because we don't as yet have pots and pans for the induction stovetop.
I will do the baking at the center.
I am asking the usual questions: How many will be there for dinner? Will there be enough? Will they like this new dish? (Baked Ziti)
I'll let you know tomorrow night!
Laundry, vacuuming and mopping were the order of the day with a few closets and drawers organized. As a teenager, if someone had told me that I would one day relish a day like today, I would say they were way off base. But here I am enjoying it immensely.
SK spent the better part of his day helping the mission office get cars straightened out, so he wasn't here when it came time to shop for tomorrow. With our handy little cart, I set out for Netto...a sort of discount store. I found a few items I needed, brought them home and then went to Lidl and Fotex. I am pretty sure that I have what I need for tomorrow's meal. I will prepare most of it here in the apartment, because we don't as yet have pots and pans for the induction stovetop.
I will do the baking at the center.
I am asking the usual questions: How many will be there for dinner? Will there be enough? Will they like this new dish? (Baked Ziti)
I'll let you know tomorrow night!
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
As Sisters in Zion
The grand highlight of this day was a meeting for all girls and women age 8 and above. It was held in the meetinghouse that has been doubling as our stake center near the temple. SK drove me in and I hurriedly found a seat next to our newest member, a sweet young woman who was baptized on Sunday morning.
We visited for a little while, and then because of transmission problems we all changed seats, and I ended up near a wonderful young woman whom I have felt a closeness to since we first arrived in Denmark. We only had a minute to visit before the meeting began.
Elder Bednar and Elder Ballard both spoke, and they were both inspiring. Before they spoke we heard from Sister Kearon (her husband is in the area presidency), Elder Teixeira (the area president), and Elder and Sister Hallstrom. All of the talks were wonderful...every last one.
The meeting was broadcast from Germany to 39 countries throughout Europe. It was historic in that there hasn't been a women's gathering of that size in Europe ever. We who attended were richly rewarded. There were not enough of us to fill the chapel and overflow, but our stake covers all of Sjaelland which is fairly large....it would require a fair amount of travel from those living farthest away...especially on a week night.
But I was deeply touched as I sat there singing with all the sisters. I looked around and realized that a good number of the women sitting there were YSAs! Many of them came by bus and train and would have taken an hour or more each way to be there. They are stalwarts....so good.
The messages we received tonight were about our hearts....about our steadfastness in a troubled world. It was uplifting and encouraging and enlightening.
Before he dropped me off, SK told me to call when I was ready to come home and he would come and get me...and Sister Hamblin and Sister Swena. As soon as the meeting was over, Sister Swena appeared and said, "If we leave right now, we can get the #12 bus home."
I thought that would be good and then I wouldn't have to bother SK. So we hurried outside into the night. I had gone about 5 feet and realized it was raining, so I quickly put up a small (very small) umbrella that I sometimes carry just in case. We ran, and as we ran the intensity of the rain increased. By the time we got to the bus stop it was torrential! Sister Hamblin appeared out of nowhere and we all huddled together waiting for the bus.
Soon it came and we scrambled aboard. We were all pretty wet. I hadn't worn a raincoat...just a sweater. Sister Swena only had a light cloth coat, but Sister Hamblin was well-prepared with a raincoat and an umbrella....so she wasn't quite as soaked.
Normally, the walk home from the bus stop would have been a pleasant 4 block walk, but tonight I called SK and asked if he would come and get us. He got there right away....and just walking from the apartment to the car drenched him!
We got home in good order....my wet clothes are hanging up to dry...and my purse is also drying out.
Between the rain and the wonderful meeting, it was a great evening! I still hear the pitter patter of the raindrops outside my open window. There is also a goose out there somewhere who scolds someone every minute or so.
You would almost think we were in Gilbert, Arizona! (except for that noisy goose)
We visited for a little while, and then because of transmission problems we all changed seats, and I ended up near a wonderful young woman whom I have felt a closeness to since we first arrived in Denmark. We only had a minute to visit before the meeting began.
Elder Bednar and Elder Ballard both spoke, and they were both inspiring. Before they spoke we heard from Sister Kearon (her husband is in the area presidency), Elder Teixeira (the area president), and Elder and Sister Hallstrom. All of the talks were wonderful...every last one.
The meeting was broadcast from Germany to 39 countries throughout Europe. It was historic in that there hasn't been a women's gathering of that size in Europe ever. We who attended were richly rewarded. There were not enough of us to fill the chapel and overflow, but our stake covers all of Sjaelland which is fairly large....it would require a fair amount of travel from those living farthest away...especially on a week night.
But I was deeply touched as I sat there singing with all the sisters. I looked around and realized that a good number of the women sitting there were YSAs! Many of them came by bus and train and would have taken an hour or more each way to be there. They are stalwarts....so good.
The messages we received tonight were about our hearts....about our steadfastness in a troubled world. It was uplifting and encouraging and enlightening.
Before he dropped me off, SK told me to call when I was ready to come home and he would come and get me...and Sister Hamblin and Sister Swena. As soon as the meeting was over, Sister Swena appeared and said, "If we leave right now, we can get the #12 bus home."
I thought that would be good and then I wouldn't have to bother SK. So we hurried outside into the night. I had gone about 5 feet and realized it was raining, so I quickly put up a small (very small) umbrella that I sometimes carry just in case. We ran, and as we ran the intensity of the rain increased. By the time we got to the bus stop it was torrential! Sister Hamblin appeared out of nowhere and we all huddled together waiting for the bus.
Soon it came and we scrambled aboard. We were all pretty wet. I hadn't worn a raincoat...just a sweater. Sister Swena only had a light cloth coat, but Sister Hamblin was well-prepared with a raincoat and an umbrella....so she wasn't quite as soaked.
Normally, the walk home from the bus stop would have been a pleasant 4 block walk, but tonight I called SK and asked if he would come and get us. He got there right away....and just walking from the apartment to the car drenched him!
We got home in good order....my wet clothes are hanging up to dry...and my purse is also drying out.
Between the rain and the wonderful meeting, it was a great evening! I still hear the pitter patter of the raindrops outside my open window. There is also a goose out there somewhere who scolds someone every minute or so.
You would almost think we were in Gilbert, Arizona! (except for that noisy goose)
Monday, September 8, 2014
Good Day Sunshine
The day dawned with brilliant clear blue skies and sunshine, so SK and I set out walking to find large mugs....you know cups with handles. As the weather turns cold, soup is easy to fix and comforting to the body and soul. Since we are in a situation where most will be holding their dishes on their laps to eat, we thought the little bowls we now have simply will not make it. A handle is in order....hence the mighty mug!
We walked some distance to check two places that have such things for very reasonable prices, but found nothing that will do. We returned home and drove to IKEA, where, after a lengthy and circuitous journey through the store - twice - we left empty handed.
We were also looking for bins to organize the drawers. We have a lot of utensils and the drawers are deep. To get the most use from the drawers we thought we need something that will stack nicely and be easy to move. We struck out on that too.
We went to the center to assess the situation again, and decided that we could get along without the bins, but we do really need those bowls. Tomorrow, we'll check our Costco wannabe and perhaps some genbrue stores (used, as in Deseret Industry).
In the afternoon we walked to the center...well we took a bus that let us off almost as far away as our apartment is from the center! We walked maybe a half of a mile which isn't bad ..and we weren't carrying anything but the MP umbrella, so we made it in good time.
We did some organizing and cleaning up before anyone got there. It wasn't long before one young man came and cajoled us into playing Trivial Pursuit. Hey! I like that game as much as the next person and I do OK with it. I am not a genius, but I get a few answers right.
The problem with the Trivial Pursuit game we played today was that it was in Danish, and the questions related to Denmark mostly. It turned out to be funny though, and the one question I got right was the Elvis Presley song "Can't Help Falling in Love With You.
We had our missionary committee with the YSAs at 6:30, which was very productive, and then our Family Home Evening. The message was given by 2 full-time young elders. He talked about repentance. I didn't have a translator, but I understood most of it....it was a wonderful message about turning our hearts and minds to God.
He talked about his father who has had a problem with pornography. He told what a trial it was for the family. He said his father is coming back and putting the problems behind him of pornography. He showed us a video from the Church about it, and then bore a powerful and sincere testimony about the power of repentance and the light of a new dawn when we repent. His father was the man in the video, and this elder's mother was in it as well. It was inspiring.
I had a wonderful visit with a beautiful young woman who has been a member for some time. She has a firm sense of the gospel and what it is. She is beautiful and kind and has a depth to her testimony that is inspiring. She loves the Gospel and wishes she could share her joy with everyone. She is amazing.
About 11:00. we walked home from the center. It was nice and cool with people wrapping their sweaters around them, Walking Street was already closing down, but Tivoli and the trains were still full of people with places to go.
I have a place to go too....bed! Good night.
We walked some distance to check two places that have such things for very reasonable prices, but found nothing that will do. We returned home and drove to IKEA, where, after a lengthy and circuitous journey through the store - twice - we left empty handed.
We were also looking for bins to organize the drawers. We have a lot of utensils and the drawers are deep. To get the most use from the drawers we thought we need something that will stack nicely and be easy to move. We struck out on that too.
We went to the center to assess the situation again, and decided that we could get along without the bins, but we do really need those bowls. Tomorrow, we'll check our Costco wannabe and perhaps some genbrue stores (used, as in Deseret Industry).
In the afternoon we walked to the center...well we took a bus that let us off almost as far away as our apartment is from the center! We walked maybe a half of a mile which isn't bad ..and we weren't carrying anything but the MP umbrella, so we made it in good time.
We did some organizing and cleaning up before anyone got there. It wasn't long before one young man came and cajoled us into playing Trivial Pursuit. Hey! I like that game as much as the next person and I do OK with it. I am not a genius, but I get a few answers right.
The problem with the Trivial Pursuit game we played today was that it was in Danish, and the questions related to Denmark mostly. It turned out to be funny though, and the one question I got right was the Elvis Presley song "Can't Help Falling in Love With You.
We had our missionary committee with the YSAs at 6:30, which was very productive, and then our Family Home Evening. The message was given by 2 full-time young elders. He talked about repentance. I didn't have a translator, but I understood most of it....it was a wonderful message about turning our hearts and minds to God.
He talked about his father who has had a problem with pornography. He told what a trial it was for the family. He said his father is coming back and putting the problems behind him of pornography. He showed us a video from the Church about it, and then bore a powerful and sincere testimony about the power of repentance and the light of a new dawn when we repent. His father was the man in the video, and this elder's mother was in it as well. It was inspiring.
I had a wonderful visit with a beautiful young woman who has been a member for some time. She has a firm sense of the gospel and what it is. She is beautiful and kind and has a depth to her testimony that is inspiring. She loves the Gospel and wishes she could share her joy with everyone. She is amazing.
About 11:00. we walked home from the center. It was nice and cool with people wrapping their sweaters around them, Walking Street was already closing down, but Tivoli and the trains were still full of people with places to go.
I have a place to go too....bed! Good night.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Join In the Joy
We missed attending church today in our little branch. We were sorry to miss that very important meeting. Our branch president was released. He is a dynamic and cheerful and energetic man who has been a very capable leader. And he is a very good man. We have enjoyed being in his branch so very much.
The new branch president was his counselor. He is a policeman of 30 years and is also one of the finest men I have ever met. He is unfailingly kind and thoughtful. Comments that he has made lead me to believe that he is a great student of the scriptures and strives to live the gospel in every aspect of his life.
We missed it because we attended a baptism of a young lady in another ward. She does not live here...she was visiting to see a doctor. She had undergone jaw surgery a few weeks ago and was here to have it checked. She was sitting on a park bench praying to the Lord for help to find the truth. About that same time, two young elders approached her. They have been teaching her for 2 weeks! She was baptized this morning because on Tuesday she will return to her home in Greenland where there are no missionaries or wards or branches. She will continue the new member lessons by skype.
The baptism was beautiful. She is a dear young woman and has embraced the gospel with great joy. We stayed for sacrament meeting, since she was confirmed there. Then it only seemed natural to go to the YSA Sunday School class and finally relief society. We finally got home around 3 after a wonderful morning. Later, the Thornes told us what we had missed at our branch.
We went over to the Thorne's apartment to play Nines with them and Sister Swena and Sister Hamblin. It was a nice relaxing end to our day.
Our thoughts keep going to Erin and Ethan, and one of us will say out of the blue, "Wasn't that fun when.....?" Our hearts are filled with gratitude for this beautiful country, this wonderful mission, the experiences and opportunities that have come to us here, and for the blessing of having them come to visit.
It has been a sweet Sabbath day.
The new branch president was his counselor. He is a policeman of 30 years and is also one of the finest men I have ever met. He is unfailingly kind and thoughtful. Comments that he has made lead me to believe that he is a great student of the scriptures and strives to live the gospel in every aspect of his life.
We missed it because we attended a baptism of a young lady in another ward. She does not live here...she was visiting to see a doctor. She had undergone jaw surgery a few weeks ago and was here to have it checked. She was sitting on a park bench praying to the Lord for help to find the truth. About that same time, two young elders approached her. They have been teaching her for 2 weeks! She was baptized this morning because on Tuesday she will return to her home in Greenland where there are no missionaries or wards or branches. She will continue the new member lessons by skype.
The baptism was beautiful. She is a dear young woman and has embraced the gospel with great joy. We stayed for sacrament meeting, since she was confirmed there. Then it only seemed natural to go to the YSA Sunday School class and finally relief society. We finally got home around 3 after a wonderful morning. Later, the Thornes told us what we had missed at our branch.
We went over to the Thorne's apartment to play Nines with them and Sister Swena and Sister Hamblin. It was a nice relaxing end to our day.
Our thoughts keep going to Erin and Ethan, and one of us will say out of the blue, "Wasn't that fun when.....?" Our hearts are filled with gratitude for this beautiful country, this wonderful mission, the experiences and opportunities that have come to us here, and for the blessing of having them come to visit.
It has been a sweet Sabbath day.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
To Meet and to Part.....
We stayed up very late last night....we just couldn't let go of the week with Erin and Ethan. It was such a grand week and it flew by, as we expected it would. But it is still so hard to have it over.
We were up early to be ready to leave for the church where our missionary conference was held. Erin and Ethan got up to say good-bye. We had a prayer together and tearfully hugged. It was so hard to part.
We had a week together like we have never had before. When Ethan was in school years ago, we all lived together for a year. He was very busy with school and Erin was very busy with little ones, and SK and I were both quite involved with our own lives. Here in this magical country, we spent time together seeing so many wonderful sights and talking....talking....talking....catching up on everything we could. It was an amazing luxury. Even all the time we were together shopping and preparing food for Thursday had a closeness of its own.
We have been so very grateful for the opportunity we had of spending that time with them....glad that it worked out like it did. Our mission president gave us permission to leave Copenhagen and see some of the beautiful areas of the world here, and that was wonderful. When you share something you love so much with people you love so much....it is a very special joy.
We were able to take care of our responsibilities at the center, and are now ready to spend more time there beginning with the new week. Our Institute Director would like to have it open 5 days a week, which will be good.
The church where our mission conference was held is by the temple, and coincidentally by the old center. We were to gather on the temple steps for a picture first, and then walk over to the church.
We parked a couple of blocks away, and even as we drove along the street we saw young men in suits and young women dressed up, all wearing the characteristic black name tags. There was an enthusiasm and energy that we could sense even from the car.
We walked to the temple and saw dozens more. Missionaries young and old were summoned from all over the mission for this very special occasion. Many were carrying the small suitcases they brought to stay the night last evening so they would be ready bright and early to be spiritually fed.
We assembled in the chapel at the church by 8:40 and sat quietly listening to incredible prelude music played by an excellent young missionary pianist. At 9:15 Elder and Sister Bednar, Elder and Sister Hallstrom (of the Presidency of the Seventy), and Elder and Sister Kearon of the Area Presidency entered the small room and everyone quietly stood in respect.
The meeting was -indeed - a spiritual feast...with those six speaking. Elder Bednar had the lion's share but conducted a lengthy give and take between the missionaries and the individuals on the stand. I am certain that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most of us to be in such a small setting (no more than 150 of us....probably closer to 120). We listened and many were able to ask questions that were respectfully and satisfyingly answered. All of the music was wonderful.
One of the senior sister missionaries will be returning home at the end of the month. She and her husband have been here nearly 2 years now, and she is eager to see her family. She is in the process of clearing out their apartment and was kind enough to offer me her Bosch mixer!!!!
I can hardly wait to make cinnamon rolls and regular rolls for dinners and other occasions. I have been mixing them by hand, and while it is a great way to work out frustrations :-), I can only make so much at a time. This will save a ton of money and time.... and who doesn't love homemade bread, or at least the smell?
I'll slip into sleep tonight dreaming about the last week with our dear Erin and Ethan...
We were up early to be ready to leave for the church where our missionary conference was held. Erin and Ethan got up to say good-bye. We had a prayer together and tearfully hugged. It was so hard to part.
We had a week together like we have never had before. When Ethan was in school years ago, we all lived together for a year. He was very busy with school and Erin was very busy with little ones, and SK and I were both quite involved with our own lives. Here in this magical country, we spent time together seeing so many wonderful sights and talking....talking....talking....catching up on everything we could. It was an amazing luxury. Even all the time we were together shopping and preparing food for Thursday had a closeness of its own.
We have been so very grateful for the opportunity we had of spending that time with them....glad that it worked out like it did. Our mission president gave us permission to leave Copenhagen and see some of the beautiful areas of the world here, and that was wonderful. When you share something you love so much with people you love so much....it is a very special joy.
We were able to take care of our responsibilities at the center, and are now ready to spend more time there beginning with the new week. Our Institute Director would like to have it open 5 days a week, which will be good.
The church where our mission conference was held is by the temple, and coincidentally by the old center. We were to gather on the temple steps for a picture first, and then walk over to the church.
We parked a couple of blocks away, and even as we drove along the street we saw young men in suits and young women dressed up, all wearing the characteristic black name tags. There was an enthusiasm and energy that we could sense even from the car.
We walked to the temple and saw dozens more. Missionaries young and old were summoned from all over the mission for this very special occasion. Many were carrying the small suitcases they brought to stay the night last evening so they would be ready bright and early to be spiritually fed.
 |
| We all stood together for a picture on the steps of the temple...I will get a copy of the official one from Sister Sederholm. I broke away immediately after they snapped it so I could get my own. You'll have to take my word that I was there! |
We assembled in the chapel at the church by 8:40 and sat quietly listening to incredible prelude music played by an excellent young missionary pianist. At 9:15 Elder and Sister Bednar, Elder and Sister Hallstrom (of the Presidency of the Seventy), and Elder and Sister Kearon of the Area Presidency entered the small room and everyone quietly stood in respect.
The meeting was -indeed - a spiritual feast...with those six speaking. Elder Bednar had the lion's share but conducted a lengthy give and take between the missionaries and the individuals on the stand. I am certain that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most of us to be in such a small setting (no more than 150 of us....probably closer to 120). We listened and many were able to ask questions that were respectfully and satisfyingly answered. All of the music was wonderful.
One of the senior sister missionaries will be returning home at the end of the month. She and her husband have been here nearly 2 years now, and she is eager to see her family. She is in the process of clearing out their apartment and was kind enough to offer me her Bosch mixer!!!!
I can hardly wait to make cinnamon rolls and regular rolls for dinners and other occasions. I have been mixing them by hand, and while it is a great way to work out frustrations :-), I can only make so much at a time. This will save a ton of money and time.... and who doesn't love homemade bread, or at least the smell?
I'll slip into sleep tonight dreaming about the last week with our dear Erin and Ethan...
Friday, September 5, 2014
Saving the Best For Last - or Fit For a King - #2
After our very tiring day of yesterday, we kind of slept in, then gulped down a light breakfast and set out for the castle in Hillerod. It is known as the Frederiksborg Slot or castle. Most LDS love to see it because many of Carl Bloch's most beautiful paintings of Christ reside there.
We have seen some magnificent castles this week, but Frederiksborg was nearly mind-boggling. It loomed large over the little city it presides over. We entered over a moat and through a magnificent courtyard.
Nearly the first thing we saw upon entering and walking up a flight of stairs was the chapel, a very large and spacious room. We saw it from an upstairs room that looked out over the expanse of that great hall. We circled the upper story of the chapel and ended up in the small room of Carl Bloch's paintings. It took our breath away. We stood with our mouths open trying to drink up the beauty there before we were shooed out because a service was about to begin.
We happily toured through much of the castle, enjoying the beauty of the ornate rooms and the treasures housed within. We found a few more Carl Bloch paintings, and then returned to the chapel, where we spent some time taking pictures and taking about his great ability.
We walked about 10 miles....well it felt like it, but it was probably a mile or so out into the grounds of the castle and then back to the car. It is one of those times when it seems nearly impossible to grasp all I saw....and it seemed like there was so much more to see in every room than we had time or emotional energy to see. It was astounding and beautiful. Even the ceilings were mind-bogging.
We returned to the apartment....a drive of about 40 minutes, parked the car and headed on foot over to the walking street. We walked the length of it and on down to Nyhavn, that iconic harbor street, where we boarded one of the many harbor boat tours. It lasted about 45 minutes and gave us some lovely views of Copenhagen. It was a little chilly.
We came home, ate a very quick dinner and then headed out to Amager for ice cream....reputedly the best in Copenhagen, if not Denmark. It is a one of a kind place, and has been in business for many years. We waited in line, placed our orders and ate with relish (that means with enthusiasm - not the pickle variety).
It was one of those very exhausting days, but it was worth being exhausted.
We have packed so many things into this day, this week that I am floored with all that we have seen.
We have loved being with Erin and Ethan, and the week has flown by. It will be very difficult to say good-bye early tomorrow morning. We are nearly halfway through our mission, and so this was a lovely reunion, and a lovely way to spend time with them.
We will leave bright and early tomorrow for a mission-wide conference with Elder Bednar....perhaps that will help ease the pain of having them leave. When my brother was here 2 months ago, we had 3 glorious days with them, and it took awhile before I quit missing them....I know I will feel like that these coming days.
I can see why it is not encouraged for families to visit young missionaries....too difficult to get back and focus on the work.
Our work is with young people we love, so that won't be difficult at all to refocus, but it will be hard to have our loved ones gone from us again.
We have seen some magnificent castles this week, but Frederiksborg was nearly mind-boggling. It loomed large over the little city it presides over. We entered over a moat and through a magnificent courtyard.
Nearly the first thing we saw upon entering and walking up a flight of stairs was the chapel, a very large and spacious room. We saw it from an upstairs room that looked out over the expanse of that great hall. We circled the upper story of the chapel and ended up in the small room of Carl Bloch's paintings. It took our breath away. We stood with our mouths open trying to drink up the beauty there before we were shooed out because a service was about to begin.
We happily toured through much of the castle, enjoying the beauty of the ornate rooms and the treasures housed within. We found a few more Carl Bloch paintings, and then returned to the chapel, where we spent some time taking pictures and taking about his great ability.
We walked about 10 miles....well it felt like it, but it was probably a mile or so out into the grounds of the castle and then back to the car. It is one of those times when it seems nearly impossible to grasp all I saw....and it seemed like there was so much more to see in every room than we had time or emotional energy to see. It was astounding and beautiful. Even the ceilings were mind-bogging.
We returned to the apartment....a drive of about 40 minutes, parked the car and headed on foot over to the walking street. We walked the length of it and on down to Nyhavn, that iconic harbor street, where we boarded one of the many harbor boat tours. It lasted about 45 minutes and gave us some lovely views of Copenhagen. It was a little chilly.
We came home, ate a very quick dinner and then headed out to Amager for ice cream....reputedly the best in Copenhagen, if not Denmark. It is a one of a kind place, and has been in business for many years. We waited in line, placed our orders and ate with relish (that means with enthusiasm - not the pickle variety).
It was one of those very exhausting days, but it was worth being exhausted.
We have packed so many things into this day, this week that I am floored with all that we have seen.
We have loved being with Erin and Ethan, and the week has flown by. It will be very difficult to say good-bye early tomorrow morning. We are nearly halfway through our mission, and so this was a lovely reunion, and a lovely way to spend time with them.
We will leave bright and early tomorrow for a mission-wide conference with Elder Bednar....perhaps that will help ease the pain of having them leave. When my brother was here 2 months ago, we had 3 glorious days with them, and it took awhile before I quit missing them....I know I will feel like that these coming days.
I can see why it is not encouraged for families to visit young missionaries....too difficult to get back and focus on the work.
Our work is with young people we love, so that won't be difficult at all to refocus, but it will be hard to have our loved ones gone from us again.
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