We Passed the Test!

We passed the immigration test and now we can stay for our full mission.  We need to re-register with our commune (neighborhood) and then we will be good for 3 more years.  We only need it until next April though.

We started doing the early 1800 protocols and they are awful.  They are about 4 or 5 inches thick and weigh so little that if you hit it wrong - the whole book goes flying.  Our images also reduced by half because it takes 2 pages across to record all of the information.  They are basically ledgers.  We had no problem with the first 3 books but now these thicker ones have us on edge.  We will hopefully be finished this week.  Jeppe wants to have a party to mark the end of our first project.  It is Thursday because Friday we are going to the temple for the first time in 6 weeks.

I walked home today without a cover up of any sort.  It was interesting to walk in shirtsleeves.  So beautiful today.

Daylight Savings Time

Last night at the President Sederholm's house, we found out that Denmark has Daylight Savings Time.  I have never been a fan but I am now.  To wake up every morning at 5:30 a.m. because the sun is blasting through the blinds is hard.  This way the sun rises at 6:30 a.m. - a more acceptable time for a few days anyway.

This will be short and sweet.  We are on our way to another dinner for the Thorne's and I have to get ready.  I have been fighting a horrible headache all day but at least it feels like 60 degrees outside.  I will take that warmth any day.  I won't need to wear a sweater on the way to the Hansen's tonight, we will be carrying our sweaters to wear home. 

We need to be aware of pickpockets right now.  One of our fellow senior sisters lost everything the other day.  I am actually locking my purse with a travel lock so they can't take anything.  Should be an interesting summer.

Stilhed - Silent

As we are doing the protocols, we see STILHED on entries.  It means silent.  How do you have a silent funeral and why is this so important that it is noted?  Do you just sit there in silence with no music and talking?  No one at that archive really knew what it was.  They surmised the same thing I did.  Finally last week, I asked Helge.  She said it meant that is was not advertised in the newspapers or made public.  It is for family only.  It is interesting because as the years have gone on, these have become extremely popular. 

We finished the more current end of these protocols and have 11 more from the early 1800's to do.  Then we will do the German graves and on to the next project.  We are waiting for the orders from Salt Lake.  The woman that does the conservation of the documents, Anni, said that they have 40 kilometers of documents that they would like to have digitized just for the city of Copenhagen.  FamilySearch is a bit picky about what they are willing to do.  They want the most bang for their time.

Annika, the young woman that came in the same time we did, is only going to be there until May.  They did not extend her contract.  I will be sad to see her go.  She is a delightful young lady.  Maybe I keep falling in love with these young women because they remind me of our daughters.

I don't know if I have posted this before or not - but they do not use disposable things here.  Lunch is always eaten on a plate with utensils, even if it is just a sandwich.  Open face sandwiches are always eaten with a knife and fork.  If you think about it - that does cut down on trash.  We get a good bit of money back on our plastic bottles.  They are great at recycling here.  Lunch is also what we would consider breakfast fare in the states.  At least a couple of times a week, it is eggs (done different ways), bacon or ham and toast.  For dessert, most of the guys have Nutella on bread.  All of the permanent young men that are employed at the archive, pool their resources and take turns preparing lunch.  When it is Daniel and Jeppe's turn, it is quite a feast.  The rest of the guys just buy sandwich fixings.  Anni, had the most beautiful open face sandwich the other day.  She had thinly sliced ham, Havarti cheese and sliced radishes on that.  On the side she had avocado, and a fresh fruit salad.  It was beautifully plated - which seems the norm for the employees in our office.  It looks like they have received the food from a restaurant, but I watched them put it together in the kitchen.

We are going to the Mission President's home for dinner tonight.  Another senior couple has just arrived and we will be introduced to them there.  Sister Swena and Sister Hamblin found us a rug for our living room.  When they come to pick us up, we will receive our rug.  Yeah, that will help with the cold floors this winter.

Happy Birthday, Heather

Today is Heather Lou's birthday.  She is 35!  I am getting old.  Here is Heather and Sunshine.  Heather, you wonder why your girls don't smile in pictures!?

 Heather and her oldest daughter, Bella

Heather and her husband, Brandon

Heather with her sisters and Popi.  This year begins another chapter in your life.  Keep true to the faith and stay close to your Father in Heaven.  Life is going to be wonderful for you.  Love you so much.

The Train Station

 Yesterday, we got into the train station early, so I took some pictures.  This is the main part of the station - where you catch the train is on what would be the left wall to this picture.

 This is the end we catch the bus on.  The glassed in area on the right is a local TV station.

The ceiling to the train station.  There are pigeon nests in those rafters.

Today we went in and found out the reason we couldn't evaluate our books yesterday was because of a brown out caused by the new dishwasher.  There was an electrician in all day trying to fix the problem but he was telling Christian, the guy over all of the archives for Copenhagen, that there were many many severe problems.  When we were downloading at lunch we lost our data because the power was turned off again.  It now will not upload onto the external hard drive.  We are waiting for the fix for that now.

 

The Days are getting easier...

It is hard to get back into the swing of things when you have been away for so long.  That plus Clyde being so sick that his recovery is moving along slowly.  We have had 3 good days this week but ended up coming home early today because of a glitch in the program again.  We were reviewing book #4 when all of the sudden it just spun and froze.  About every 3 or 4 minutes, another page would be there for our evaluation but when we are used to doing the whole process in less time than that - it was frustrating.  We finally shut everything down and will try again tomorrow.  We have sore muscles like in the beginning but other than that - life is good.

Mads took pictures of us today doing our work.  We will let you know when they are put on the website and you can see for yourselves (all three of you that read this blog).

Vanessa, a young woman that we were very close too, came in today with lots of hugs for both of us.  She is a charming and wonderful young woman.  She loves her new job but we miss her sweet smile everyday.

It was cold and rainy today.  This is what it was like when our family came to Denmark, 42 years ago - on the trip that Marianne said she could never say was a fun experience - no matter how old she got.

We are laughing about how much things have changed in our lives in the last year.  A year ago, we received our call to Denmark, and were desperately trying to find a place to put our stuff in storage in Kerrville.  No matter how many companies Clyde called or emailed - we never heard from one of them.  It turns out that we were not supposed to be there but in Manti.  Everything fell into place for that location.   Now it looks like we will have granddaughters in Manti, living quite close by.

This morning when I got off the bus, the bus driver tried to squash me.  The bus doors don't pop open when something is in the way like they do in the US or like elevators do. You can end up getting really hurt on them.  Today, I was stepping off the bus and there were 4 other people behind me, when the doors started shutting.  I am bruised because of the impact but the other women that I have a nodding acquaintance with, started yelling at the bus driver to open the door.  I was out of there before I was too hurt.  Some bus drivers don't like to stop and don't like to open the doors.  It is interesting using the public transportation here.

Today we met Sabrina...

Today, a lovely woman came into the archives and introduced herself.  It was Sabrina, Jeppe's wife.  We had a wonderful visit.  She was very interested in what we were doing.  She loved the set up and was thrilled we would do this for the Danish people.  It was a wonderful opportunity to finally get a face with the name.  Jeppe is very proud of his family - and he should be.

Mio was back.  His dad had a meeting and as I walked back, I saw this little 5 year old bossing all of the people in his dad's office around and telling them what he wanted.  I just laughed.  He does come down to see us and tries to scare us.  Such a boy!

Pirnelle brought a tray of sprouts into lunch today.  The guys in the office had taken an old, broken keyboard and planted sprouts in it.  There was a note on her computer that said she had been gone so long, her keyboard had sprouted.  Like I have said before, this office is fun to work with.

It was interesting at lunch because everyone was talking about Putin and the Russians taking over the Crimea.  Their concern was, what if he has designs on Denmark and other small countries?  This is exactly how WWII started.  It was quite fascinating to listen to their very legitimate concerns.

We have both been chilly today.  The weather never heated up and now it is raining.  It will be a miserable day tomorrow.  I ache from my neck down.  I think I am getting arthritis in my neck.  Not fun.

Pernille is back!

One of our co-workers, Pernille is back from her 2+ month trip to India.  She is tanned and looks wonderful.  She is very glad to be back but overwhelmed by all she has to do now.  We had a couple of wonderful visits today.

The train was so late getting into the Copenhagen main terminal that we missed our bus (we usually have 10 or 15 minutes to wait.)  So today we got to wait 25.  We are 1/2 hour late getting to work but we did get 5 books done today.  They weren't quite as big as some in the past but we are getting back in the groove finally.

We have been approved by the Copenhagen government to do the German burial records.  What will happen since they have not heard from Germany is that we will go ahead and digitize them.  Then the Danish government will hold them if necessary until 70 years is up.  In the next few years they will be legal that way but we are still hoping that the records can get on the internet before then.  In the meantime we will have them ready to go.  We will do the records as soon as we are finished with 1968 - about 10 more books.

Sunrise:  5:55 am
Sunset 6:40 pm  YEAH!

The Plan of Happiness

Today in Sacrament Meeting our Branch President spoke about the Plan of Happiness and how it is our responsibility to be happy while we are here on earth.  Heavenly Father wants us to be happy.  Yes, we will have sad experiences but the Gospel should feed our souls and make us a happy people.  Maybe I am just looking at it differently because I want to be content and happy.  I know the Gospel makes me happy.  I should be seeking good things that make my soul happy, not my carnal being.  That is at least how I interpreted it.  Clyde and anyone else listening may have heard something totally different.

In Relief Society our Conference talks were President Packer's and Elder Ochoa (the one about playing marbles and not paying attention).  We were discussing how important it is to set a good example to our family members.  I thought of the summers we would spend camping under the Jungfrau.  Marianne and I would wander around, get to know the owners of the campground and read while Mom and Dad spent their time in the temple.  I loved seeing my parents get ready to go to the temple and looked forward to the day that I too could attend.  That memory brought another one.  We had taken the train to the top of the Jungfrau and we were freezing.  Dad bought Marianne and I hand knit poncho's and we bundled in those and watched the avalanches off the face of the Jungfrau.  So incredible.  I knew I was very blessed to be sitting there with my best friend - having such a wonderful experience.  I still have my poncho and there have been several times I have wished for it here.  Oh well.  I am doing well with the coats and jackets I have.

It was supposed to be raining when we came home but it hasn't even started as of yet.  That means that tomorrow is probably going to be a wet day.  Oh well.  I have dry clothes at work if mine get to soaked.

Preparation Day

When you have your P-day on Saturday, it makes you realize how important it is to prepare for the Sabbath and the coming week.  I think (for me) that if my prep day was during the week, I would squander it.  This way I don't.

When we were on the bus to go to the senior's conference, I saw a little store front called "The New Dehli".  It was a take out place for East Indian food.  It was also a delicatessen.  Made me smile.

We went to the bakery to get our bread for the week and there was a different young woman there.  She was very nice and fun to work with - but then we have not been disappointed with the service there since the first day we walked in.

With my yellow lighter weight rain coat, I must look foreign now.  We have people automatically speaking English to us - where when I have worn other coats or jackets, it has been assumed we were Danish. 

I saw some sweet little purple flowers in bloom along our train ride and the daffodils and crocus are in full bloom.  So fun to be in Denmark in the Spring.

We Spent the morning in the Kobenhavn Stats Arkiv

As a warning, this is a very picture heavy post.  I have so much to say but doubt I will get it all in today.  This is a statue of Hans Christian Andersen.  It happens to be in front of the Copenhagen City Hall and on H.C. Andersen Blvd.  The wind was blowing and it was starting to sprinkle but we didn't know if the weather would be worse when we got out of the archives.  My hair looks awful and will continue to do so because I refuse to pay the ridiculous prices for a hair cut.  Clyde wanted me in the picture - I hate having my picture taken.

This is one of three gargoyles in front of the City Hall.  I managed to clip the nose off.  Will try for a better picture this summer.  Clyde lost so much weight while he was sick that he is having a hard time keeping his pants up.

This is me again in front of the city archive offices (it is carved in the top of the doorway).  The bust of Hans Christian Andersen beside me.  This is taken literally in the 'town hall'.  It is a big domed room that large gatherings are held in.  I wanted to take pictures of it but when we got out there was a big function taking place there, so we couldn't.  I meant to get a picture with Helge.  I have NEVER seen as many records as were here (even at the genealogy library in Salt Lake).  She kept showing us records that she hoped we would be digitizing.  If she has her wish, we will never make it the National Archives.  We were able to tell her things about the protocols we have been working on that she had no idea about.  That was fun.  She showed us special documents from the Bishop that founded Copenhagen in the 1100's and other very special documents through the ages.  That was wonderful and something we would never have had the opportunity to see otherwise.  I am very grateful for today.  It actually makes me more anxious to get this work out there.

This is pigeons sitting on the heat vents in front of City Hall.  I took this picture for Dane.

The front of the Kobenhavn Radhus (Copenhagen City Hall).  The building was constructed in 1902.

A building across the courtyard from city hall.  The construction of the left of the picture is for a subway they are trying to build.  It was supposed to be finished next year but now has been moved to 2020.

This picture is for Marianne, Bob and Popi.  These are nigerkussen (frolig bryllup in Danish).  They are a thin wafer with sweetened whipped air as a filling (it is somewhat like marshmallow but fluffier and not quite as sticky) and then covered with a thin layer of dark chocolate.  The package we picked up also had coconut nigerkussen.  I have to say that ordinarily I have to be in a certain mood for coconut but these were wonderful.  The coconut is actually fresh - not sugared like it is in the states.  Fun memories came as I ate these.  We would rush to the bakery in the mornings so we could have them for Family Home evening treats in Germany.  If we didn't get them early, we wouldn't have any.  They would be deflated and hollow if you didn't eat them the same day they were made.  In those days, the bakeries made them but now they are mass produced and stay fresh longer.

Continued Coverage of Seniors Conference.

I got a horrible tickle in my throat just as the meeting part of the conference ended.  I was leading the music and by the time I sat down - I was in tears from keeping the cough inside.  Then I couldn't stop coughing because the tickle was right where the breath would aggravate it.  A sister behind me handed me a cough drop.  I popped it in my mouth and I am not kidding - I almost overloaded on thoughts of my childhood in Germany.  It was a cough drop like Sister Mebius and Kaethe Voight always gave me.  The memories were coming so fast it was almost overwhelming.  I have had other instances where a smell or taste has brought back a memory - but never like that.  It was quite a wonderful experience.  I might get some of my own (they are a salted licorice taste but very small - so not overwhelming).  This time I will channel the memories and write them down. 

The lunch was wonderful and the company was even better.  It was a time of renewal.  I am very grateful we had that opportunity.

Happy Spring, everyone!  I have never been so glad to see this time of year - when the days are getting longer and sun shines so brightly.  Plants are on the verge of bursting forth and the ducks and birds in the area are pairing off.  So much fun.  We come home just as tired as ever from work but we walk in the daylight.  So wonderful.

We did 4 books today.  We have 15 left in this series and then we start on the early 1800's.  In all we have 30 books to do before our next project.  The German Refugee burial records from WWII were brought to us and then taken away again.  It seems they need to negotiate with the Germans on the right way to handle them.  Would they like the information from FamilySearch too?  I was just tickled to see them and that we get to do them.  Clyde said he couldn't understand why I wanted to do them so badly but there is a burning in me to see those done.  So glad we are getting closer.

Tomorrow we go to Copenhagen City Hall and learn how the Danes do family history.  It is the number one pass time in Denmark.  On Friday's the reading rooms are closed but they are going to let us use them with a private tutoring session.  I am taking my camera because there is a statue of Hans Christian Andersen in the front of the City Hall.  It is just across the street from Tivoli (on the other side of where we catch the bus).  He has always been my favorite author.  I love seeing his name everywhere here.  He is H.C. Anderson to the Danes.

Wow! What an Incredible Day!

Today was our Senior Missionary conference.  It was fun to see other couples we haven't seen since Provo and the Senior Language Training.  We had a surprise guest speaker: Tomas Kofod.  Those of  us in the Church would recognize him as 'Jesus' in the movie 'The Testaments'.  He spoke briefly about how he was chosen and in fact was set apart for the role the counselor in the First Presidency, Thomas S. Monson.  He had to be a member of the Church and holding a temple recommend.  He said that it was a pivotal time in his life.  He currently is at one of the main theaters in Copenhagen doing the part of the 'Narrator' (the Antonio Banderas part in the movie) of Evita.  He is the one getting the best reviews.

He said that he could speak about his conversion to the Gospel or go into more depth about the experience of portraying the Savior.  But he had the impression we needed to understand that we must be worthy to RECEIVE the blessings our Father in Heaven has in store for us.  I had never thought of receiving as a gift from God but the more Brother Kofod spoke - I realized what he said was true.  We talk about mercy and giving  and other Gospel principles but we don't ever talk about being prepared to receive.  It was a beautiful and inspiring talk.  He said that when there are a chain of circumstances - like when he was chosen to be Christ - that he knows the Heavenly Father is in the process.  He also said that LOVE is a spiritual gift and we should be ready to share it.  He gave some wonderful tips on how to treat the Danes.  It was just a wonderful opportunity to listen to him.

Testimonies were given and then President and Sister Sederholm spoke.  We were so uplifted the whole time we were there but once we got home we were exhausted.  This truly has got to be one of the best days we have had on our mission.

Tuesday's news

Today was a good day.  It was cold, rainy and very windy but we stayed at work 1 hour longer than any day last week.  We got 4 books done and have about 35 more to do for this series.  Then we will do the German graves, welfare records and school records.  Should be interesting.  The archives are coming with up with more and more projects so we could really use another couple to come and help us with the national archives.  It is sometimes overwhelming how much there is to do.  And we only see a small fraction of it.

I saw a guy today that made me do a double take.  He looked exactly like Josh Davis.  There was a difference though, this guy had a daughter that was bossing him around (about 5 years old).  It was pretty funny.  Kelly will shoot of fireworks for her first granddaughter, I am sure.

Tomorrow we are having a mission conference just for the senior missionaries.  Should be a very spiritual day.

So Tired, tired of waiting

I ended up staying home again today.  I had a stomach bug and couldn't venture to far afield.  I am just  now to the point where food sounds like it might be a good idea.  We will see.

Clyde did go in alone today and got 3 1/2 books done.  He would have been home sooner had the DHL guy come sooner to pick up our shuttle with the hard drive in it.  He is exhausted and I am hesitating waking him.  I will give him a few more minutes.  Hopefully I will be up for work tomorrow.

Thanks for the Sabbath School

I have so much that rolls through my mind for this and only a fraction of it ever seems to get here.  Something I have meant to blog for a few days now is about my mother.  Since her passing, she has saved my life several times.  I don't know if I have sleeping issues or not but when I get a bad cold, I tend to stop breathing while I am asleep.  I know this because my mother has come in all of these cases to wake me up.  She scolds me a bit and says something like, "Rebecca, wake up.  It is not your time yet."  This is what she said the other day to me.  She then kisses me and I wake up.  The other day I couldn't catch my breath because every time I breathed in - I would cough because of a tickle in my throat.  I basically could only breathe out - which doesn't help much with oxygen intake.  I had to force myself to breathe in enough air to push out.  That was last Thursday night and part of the reason we did not go into work.  I had very little quality sleep that night.  Mom came to me several times while we were in Rhode Island too.  One time, I had just been chewed out royally by the temple matron.  I was in tears as I entered the dressing room, vowing to never go back.  I smelled Mom's perfume envelop and along with the warmest feeling.  I knew I needed to be big and forgive. 

One of things I told Mom, as she lay dying was that she would be a ministering angel for our family.  Each of our daughters have instances where Grandma, Grandpa Bill and Grandma Sarah, have all been there for them.  I am so grateful we have the Gospel and such sweet promises in our lives.

It rained today.  We were soaked when we walked into Church.  I am not sure we ever dried out but by the time we got home and walked in the pouring rain again, our shoes and clothes were drenched.  My skirt and shoes are still wet and we got home 3 hours ago.  I will have to get myself some rubber boots if we walk in this much.

The men's suits here are on a very trim line.  They pant legs are very narrow and the jackets fit tightly but not pulled.  It obvious our US suits are cut wider and maybe more generously but they never look as tailored as the ones here.

I wrote about Christina, a ballerina in our branch, once before.  Her husband Sebastian also does ballet.  In fact that is how they met.  He was the first cast male in productions but Christina caught Sebastian's eye because of how she acted and lived.  He joined the Church and they were married in the temple.  He now owns a ballet and dance school in Copenhagen while she still dances with the Danish Royal Ballet Company and helps him occasionally.  I was watching Sebastian pass the sacrament today and he just moves beautifully. 

Our High Council speaker said today that we should pray to have our eyes opened.  We need them opened to do the Lord's will, to be aware of our surroundings and to do the things the Lord wants for us.  I loved that and have been pondering that all day.  I am sure I will ponder it much more this week.

Hopefully this week will be better than last.  We did make it through all of meetings today.

My brother's Birthday

Today is my brother, Robert Maynard Brugger's birthday.  When I found out my mother was pregnant, I prayed every day for a brother with blue eyes and blonde  hair.  On March 15 - just after my 5th birthday, I got my wish.  I was beside myself with joy.  We have always had a special connection.  I am grateful to Dena because the last several years, Bob has seemed more content and happier than I have ever known him.  Happy Birthday baby brother.

Today is like the Denmark we saw when we were here in 1972.  The wind is blowing so hard that I almost knocked me over several times on the way home from shopping.  My bags were acting like sales and I was walking against the wind anyway.  It was hard work getting home. 

We are praying that we will make it to church tomorrow.  I am so sick of this.  I did wake up with no headache this morning.  That is a plus.

A little bit of this - a little bit of that...

We ended up staying home again today.   I have had a raging sinus headache and either have a new infection or my old one is back.  Clyde was exhausted this morning too, so he slept for an extra 3 hours - which I think was a good thing.  He was getting a bit bored this afternoon - a good sign.  Tomorrow he is going to help a Young Single Adult group from Aarhus with baptisms at the temple.

I saw an older woman on a motorized tricycle that was all tricked out with baskets and bags for her to get to use to bring her groceries home.  I decided that something like that would be great for living in Manti or Ephraim.

It was another beautiful day in the neighborhood today.  Clyde and I sat on a park bench on the way home from the cheese store and the grocery store where we get part of our groceries every week.  We will go to SuperBuy tomorrow at the other location we found last week  because it is bigger.  Below is a picture of some little yellow flowers, kind of like snowdrops.  They are the first evidence of the beautiful things to come.  The trees are just about ready to burst forth with their beauty.

When will this end?

Clyde and I went in to work today and were ready to come home after about an hour.  For some reason today has been the hardest of the 3 we have gone in.  You would think by now that we would be getting stronger.  We came home and had a nap. 

They want to take pictures of us and the equipment for the Copenhagen archives website.  They want the Danes to know that Family Search and the states archive are working hand in hand.  Mads was supposed to take them yesterday but he is out sick this week.  Bo is out sick too.  The young men in the office keep opening windows to air the rooms out.  I think things will start looking up soon. 

Happy Birthday Isabella Lou!

Happy Birthday Bella.  I hope you have a wonderful birthday and an even better year.



I cannot believe how quickly you are growing up (Our March Birthdays).

I hope you always stay as beautiful inside and out as you are right now.  Lots of Love!

Chocolate Covered Licorice and other bites

Last week the archives - under Jeppe's direction, sent us red tulips and chocolate covered black licorice.  We have enjoyed the flowers but our taste buds weren't quite ready to try the licorice.  We did Sunday and have been enjoying them ever since.  I have a new favorite candy.  I starts off like bitter chocolate then you get the smooth milk chocolate taste and then the bite of the licorice.  So good.  Clyde is even enjoying them.

We did make it back to work today.  Everyone came in to see us.  It turns out that Helge and Sorens have both had lung infections.  Sorens is now going on the 6th week and 3rd round of antibiotics.  Don't know if that is where we got it or the public transportation.

They have upped the price of our transportation pass.  It was 800 krone each when we first moved here but has now gone to 1000 each.  If it wasn't a must have, we would find ways to whittle it down but we don't have a choice.  We do enjoy riding in the silent car of the train.  So nice to just quietly sit there and not have to listen to people yacking on the phone or with each other.  Let's face it - we just like the train best.  Today we lost another bus for our ride into the office.  It was going to be there in 3 minutes and then sprang to 20.  So annoying.

The one thing I was sad about with missing work for the last 2 weeks, was we didn't get to say goodbye to Vannessa Venn.  Fortunately Annika had her email address, so we can keep in touch with her.  Annika is applying for a job in Iceland.  She is very excited about it.

It was a good day.  We only worked 3 1/2 hours but we did get 2 books done.

Going to work tomorrow

We are going to go into work tomorrow for 1/2 day.  We are going to ease in to this so there is no chance of relapse.  Salt Lake and our area coordinator have both told us to take it easy and not try to rush things (they must know my husband well).  I think we are both up for this.  Clyde has been kind of bored today.  I have had a couple of bad coughing fits.  I really wish I didn't have to go through that but I have great empathy for what Clyde has been going through.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day out today.  It felt like 59 degrees.  We will take it.  We sat and basked in the sun for a few minutes on a park bench on our way home from the corner store.  Hopefully tomorrow I will have more to report.

Seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

For over 2 weeks Clyde has been very ill.  I have been off and on for most of that time too.  We stayed home today and both of us slept most of the day.  We have neither one done that for a couple of days.  Don't know if yesterday just wore us out or if our bodies needed the rest to continue to heal.  Probably both.

With so little going on, there isn't much to blog about.  I am grateful that we don't have to fret about Daylight Savings Time.  We have enough light until quite late - so why mess with a good thing.  The sun is coming up a 6:30 am and going down at 6:15 pm.  Yes, I am doing a happy dance.  I think I can handle anything in the daylight.  Plus it was 52 degrees today.  Felt like a heat wave.

I am grateful that Clyde is feeling better and able to help with the dishes.  It goes so much quicker when he wipes and puts them away.  I am grateful that for the last couple of days he has felt well enough to help.

Another Milestone

Today we went to the pharmacy and the grocery store (on the bus as planned).  We survived but have been exhausted ever since.  It looks like Church tomorrow is not going to happen.  We are going to have to work part days at work when we start again (hopefully next week) until we can handle full time again.

Clyde's mother fell and broke her shoulder.  According to Sara, Clyde's sister, Thelma is giving her caregivers fits.  She will be 90 in May.  Clyde's sister Susan had the flu and is having about as good a time of it as Clyde.  Susan's husband, Denny passed kidney stone - so things are not going well in California. 

The grocery store we went to today was about the size of an American Super market.  It was wonderful to find what we needed.  We overloaded though because it has been 2 weeks since we went to the store last time.  Thankfully, the bus stop is just 1/2 block away.  I think we will be frequenting that SuperBest the most from now on.

Another Set Back

This time it is me.  I have been running a fever of 100 all day and feel awful.  Clyde on the other hand is getting a bit bored.  Yeah!  I take that as a wonderful sign.  He has done nothing but sleep for 2 weeks.  So glad that he has stayed awake all day and tried to find things to keep him busy.  Maybe we have finally turned a corner.

Not much to report.  So hoping we are much better and can go to Church on Sunday.  However I don't want to push because we just do not need another relapse.  I am hoping this is the end of sickness for a long long time.

You've Got mail

The Danes are very practical.  This is the POST cart.  It has bins in the front of the 'tricycle' and some on the back.  It has a small engine to make the delivery route easier.  I tried to get the postman in here too, but he declined.  I think this would be a great way for the US mail to be delivered in most parts of the country.  It would certainly save fuel costs.

Clyde went to the DR again today.  His infection rate is 1/2 of what it was Tuesday, so the antibiotics are doing their job  He is to follow up with our assigned physician on Monday.  We both have those deep coughs but hopefully they are doing their job.

 

The normal place we shop is over 1/2 mile away.  Clyde and I are both having a hard time making it up and down the stairs, so to walk that far for groceries has seemed impossible.  It dawned on us today that we could go to the grocery store 3 stops away and ride the bus.  We wouldn't be as fatigued and we would be able to get what we needed with little effort.

 

I am now rambling big time.  I just want to get back into the groove of what we are supposed to be doing.  We are going to have to go through all of the aches and pains we suffered when we first started if we don't get back soon.

Clyde Received Flowers Today!

I was sitting in the Living Room, minding my business when the doorbell rang.  I answered the phone but no one was there.  Suddenly there was a rap on our door.  This beautiful bouquet of red tulips and a bottle of chocolate covered black licorice were presented to us.

Clyde had received flowers and candy from EVERYONE at the city archive, wishing him a speedy recovery.  We immediately sent Jeppe an email thanking him.  (In the background you can see our Pfiester family.  I am hoping to fill that wall with pictures from loved ones.)

Chocolate covered black licorice is a very Danish candy.  Their national candy is licorice, I think.  Their favorite way is salted black licorice.  That was just way to strong for me.  I am intrigued by this.  When I am feeling better and can actually taste again, I will definitely try it.

We are doing some better today.  We walked to the bakery and ended up only getting 1/2 loaf of multi grain bread.  We went in just before closing and they were very depleted.  We went on to the nearest grocery store Brugsen's - which is very expensive but about all of the energy we could handle.  We will be okay for a day or two now. 

Clyde is going back to the doctor tomorrow and see if he can get a cough medicine that will help him.  However his coughing spasms are coming less frequently and not lasting as long. 

Finally!

Clyde went to see the DR - finally!  He has an infection in his left lung.  The DR put him on antibiotics but wants him to cough to bring up the phlegm.  She said he was is very sick and looks very weak.  I think in truth that he has aged a bit during this.  Hopefully he will spring back quickly.  He has lost over 12 pounds since we left RI.  I am thinking he lost about 5 during this illness.  But his suit has been big on him for quite a while.  Now he needs to get another belt to hold his pants up.  There is no where else to go on the belt he has right now.  I would love to lose weight as quickly as he does but then I don't want to get sick like him.  Oh well.

Thank you, Brother and Sister Torben Valgren for taking Clyde to the pharmacy and getting his prescription.  Clyde had to take the bus to get to his appointment but to have someone come and take him right where he needed to be - was pure heaven.  I did not go with Clyde either place because I am still contagious and I did not want to get something else from the DR's office.  Hopefully this will turn the tide and we can get back to work.  Brother Valgren told Clyde that he thought this was to teach Clyde patience and to learn to be calm.  I found that interesting.

There was an missionary hit by a car in Sweden and killed.  President Sederholm announced that at zone conference today and apparently there was a very audible gasp.  It turns out that there is an elder in our mission who is/was best friends with this elder.  They have been best friends forever, even planning to enter the MTC together and coming home around the same time.  When I heard that story, I cried.  We will be more careful when we cross the street. 

I am reading the Wizard of Oz series on my Kindle.  I have never been a big fan of the movies, so I didn't want to read the books.  I am finding the books to completely different from the movies that have been made.  I am glad.  I am quite enjoying them.  I am so fuzzy right now that to read an extremely complicated plot would be lost on me.

Another Day

One of the astonishing things about this illness with Clyde is that he is sensitive to salt.  Those of you who know him, know that he eats with a salt shaker in one hand with the fork or spoon in the other.  For the last 10 days - celery has seemed too salty to him.  On the other hand, I am loving salt.  In fact the saltier the better.  I wonder why this role switch?

Clyde has an appointment with a doctor that is picking up on call patients for the DR we are supposed to see.  He will see the new DR tomorrow at 1.  We are in the throes of fasching or Mardi Gras.  Lent must be next week.  It is holiday that you can take off if you want to shorten you summer holiday.  This morning I saw a girl about Evie Nordell's age dressed as a pink devil.  I think the reason that one stuck is that she looked like Evie and it seemed a very Evie thing to do.  Other children have been dressed like fairies and dogs.

I have a favorite snack mix that I eat here.  It is called the Student Mix (don't know why).  It is raw almonds, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, cashews and sometimes raw peanuts.  Then they throw in dried currents and or raisins in the mix, in equal parts.  Great pick me up.

I am babbling on this blog.  Hopefully we will both feel like going to work on Wednesday.  Right now all we are doing is sleeping and reading and sometimes watching a movie on TV.

Titles

Not quite sure why but "Curious George" in Danish is "Peter Petal".   "East of Eden" is "East of Paradise" and the movie title "The Bad and the Beautiful" translates in to "The Illusion".  More and more we see that titles in Danish having nothing to resemble the original English Title.

It seems like for the last year we have been on a 'Hurry Up and Wait' mode.  Hurry up for a visas (waited 2 months).  Hurry up for Clyde to get better so we can do what we came here to do (over 2 weeks with no end in sight).  Hurry up and wait for our retirement (still have heard nothing).  It has been frustrating.  I guess we are supposed to learn something from all of this.

We stayed home as planned but it was a good thing we did.  Clyde had a step back last night.  We are both so tired of this.  One of the other Senior Sister Missionaries called to say that her companion, Sister Swena, is in the hospital with bowel problems.  Sister Swena has the worst case of Celiac Disease I have ever seen.  We are all praying for her.  That also put this in a different perspective, at least Clyde is not in the hospital.

Feeling a bit better

Clyde and I slept pretty good last night and have done nothing today.  Clyde has his appetite back.  I lost mine with all of this congestion.  We are staying home from church tomorrow for a couple of reasons.  I am afraid it would relapse Clyde again and we don't want to infect everyone around us.

Because we had been nowhere and have had no contact with anyone, no news to report.