Bikes

The bike is the #1 mode of transportation in Denmark.  85% of the people ride bikes.  70% have only bikes as their transportation.  The above bike is for a child in the front and one in the back.  Usually babies and toddlers ride in these.  By the time they are 5 or 6 they are riding their own bike with the family.  During our commutes, I am amazed at the amount of bikes on the road.  The child seat in the back is interesting.  I love watching the children.  One little girl was sound asleep, leaning against her mother, as her mother frantically rode through rush hour traffic.  I love watching father's with the hands on the child's shoulder to guide them as the Dad rides a bike and child pedals their own.  If Denmark has taught me anything, it is that family is first.

This is a mail bike.  It has a small motor to maneuver more comfortably.  This is a kind of bike is quite a common sight.  When we are in Odense, we saw chimney sweeps with this kind of get-up, all dressed in their finery, from black top hat to brushes and brooms in the front box.  There is a barista bike outside of the train station.  We will get a picture soon.

Bikes come in all kinds of colors and are everywhere.  This is for my 'orange' loving grandsons.

We did not go to work today.  Clyde took forever getting ready for work this morning.  His stomach was really hurting him.  I finally took matters in my own hands and told him we were staying home.  I emailed Jeppe and that ended the discussion.  He is feeling much better this evening.

A Beautiful Fast Day

Tivoli - on of the world's oldest amusement parks - is getting ready for Halloween.  It has three seasons, Summer, Halloween and Christmas.

The wind was really blowing on Friday.  I had to sit down for a minute after we had walked for more than an hour.

Today was a glorious Sabbath.  Fast and Testimony meeting was wonderful and helped me get my goals back in focus again.  This evening I watched the Women's Broadcast from last evening and was so uplifted.  It has been a glorious day.

Lego - Let's play!

We walked through the old part of Copenhagen yesterday and ran across a Lego store (pronounced Lee-go in Danish).  We saw this rendition of one of the Danish Queens Guards.  To the right you can see a mosaic made out of Lego.

The dragon wove through the wall and his tail is actually on the other side of the archway.  He loops on both sides of the walls too.  He is quite a monstrous creation.

This is self explanatory but there is more Lego mosaic in the background.

Walking to Vor Frue Kirke, we ran across this beer hall.  This is for you Heidi.  Right across the street from the church is an all nude bar with very explicit pictures on the walls.  This is not uncommon here.  I guess you go to church and then the strip club!

!

One of 2 benches outside the 'beer bar'. 

Today we went to an 8 year old's baptism and then to the Turkish Market.  This evening we got to talk to 2 of our daughters.  It has been a wonderful day.

"Come Unto Me"

Today we went to the Vor Frue Kirke and saw "Christus".  I apologize for the blurriness of the pictures.  You cannot use flash and the light from outside was very low.  Under the Christ's feet - on the pedestal - it says, "Come Unto Me".

This is the Apostle Peter.  Notice the keys in his right hand.  This is one of Clyde's all time favorite statues.  He loves the power of it.  It was quite breathtaking to be in the chapel with this incredible art.  There is a sacred beauty there.  When we went as a family over 40 years ago, there were no pews and the statues were kind of out in the room.  Then they put in pews and put the apostles in their own individual alcoves.  About 8 years ago, the chapel was refurbished and the statues were brought down from their alcoves and set in the room.  I wish I had thought to take a picture of the chapel.  We will the next time we go.

This is Bartholomew

This is Thomas



The Lutheran's believe in Infant Baptism.  They do not believe in total immersion.  Here is the 'Baptismal' - also carved by Thorvaldsen.

Is it just Thursday!

This is the Princess and the Pea bed.  It isn't exactly 100 mattresses but it is a fun piece to look at. 

Hans Christian Andersen was quite a phenomenal artist.  He loved the art of paper cutting (scherrenshnit) and was a master at it.  He used very large scissors because he had very large hands but it was incredible the beautifully delicate pieces that were cut.  He also loved to use pen and ink and did many drawings.  His landscapes and animals remind me a lot of Van Gogh. 



He was not bad looking as a young man.  Unfortunately the most photographed and sculpted form is in his later years, when his features were quite sharp and he was quite gaunt.  This is a sculpture from his 40's.  He was born the same year as Joseph Smith, Jr.  but got to live until he was 70.

We stayed inside all day long and did nothing but read and surf the internet.  I think it is just what we both needed.  I keep thinking it is Friday though.

Hip Hip Hooray

Andy and Chris came in today to set up the Fredericksburg site for the Brookes (who are coming in the middle of October) and swung by the archive to see what there was to see.  Andy decided that it is the hard drive failing.  They are taking it and going to go and see what they can do.  We are out of work until at least Tuesday of next week.  We will probably go and see the aquarium here and the Christus at the Frue Kirke.  We just might stay home and veg out too!  We are just thrilled that something is happening.

The sunrises here are absolutely beautiful.  This Picture was taken out of my kitchen window this last Monday.  I think I have only seen a few sunsets that were spectacular but then by evening it is usually very cloudy.  Mornings are more often than not quite stunning.

 

This is blurry but it was behind glass and I couldn't use a flash.  It is Jenny Lind paper dolls and clothes from the time that Jenny was an international star.

 

Jenny Lind at the peak of her popularity (and when Hans Christian Andersen adored her.)

My niece, Julianna Foote, posted a talk given by Curt Holman at BYU on "Raising our Ebenezer".  It is excellent and I recommend it.  Two things struck me greatly.  Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard wrote: "Life must be understood backwards.  But...it must be lived forwards."  Curt Holman said, "...it seems to me that my responsibility is to remain strong in my faith not only for my sake but for the sake of my children and my posterity.  I understand that my decision didn't just affect me." 

The "Life must be understood..." comment made me realize even more how important our work here with FamilySearch is.  The second comment made me realize that I might think my testimony of the Gospel is personal but that is not true.  The example I set because of my testimony is very public. 

I will now step off of my soapbox.

"Life is a delightful adventure" Hans Christian Andersen

Clyde and me on a bicycle powered taxi tour.  It was delightful.  We saw parts of Odense that we would not have seen otherwise.  So much fun.  This is the only picture we managed to take today with us in it.

One of my favorite statues of Hans Christian Andersen.  He loved telling stories to children.

There is a domed room called the Memory Room in the center of the museum.  The dome is surrounded with Frescoes that were done in the late 1980's.  Here is Andersen telling stories.  He apparently was enjoyed because of his wonderful tales.

Hans Christian Andersen with Jenny Lind.  He was very in love with her but she was not even interested in him.  He wrote his fairy tale - the Nightingale  for Jenny Lind.

The Steadfast Tin Soldier is one of my favorite tales by H.C. Andersen.  I loved this rendering that one of the illustrators for his books did.

We bought an unabridged copy of the Andersen's fairy tales starting with his first one published and so on.  It is in Danish.  I had hoped to get another set of fairytales in the little blue books like I did over 40 years ago.  They don't have that set anymore.  Not since 1980.  I was kind of sad but tickled with the book I did get.  We also got a book of Andersen's art work and a tote bag. 

I will inundate you with pictures for the next couple of days.  It was just what we needed.

All was well until after lunch

We downloaded 2 books this morning - no problems.  The last 2 were awful - to the point we just shut down the computer and will look into things on Thursday.  I am feeling discouraged and overwhelmed with all of this.

Tomorrow we are off to Odense to see H.C. Andersen's birthplace and museum.  Looking forward to it.  We already have our train tickets.

Just not my week

We went to Church this morning.  We almost missed our connection.  Had the second bus not been a bit behind schedule, we would have had to wait for 20 minutes for the next bus and just gotten to Church in time to go up and lead the music. I also asked about a dozen people if they would do a musical number for the week of Branch Conference (solos, duets and quartets) and was turned down on all requests.  I finally asked Clyde to get together a solo.  He, of course said yes.

We came home right after Sacrament Meeting.  We both got hit with migraines and ended up sleeping for over 2 hours this afternoon.  I have a hangover but Clyde is feeling much better.  I wonder if it is bug rather than a normal migraine.  We never get a migraine at the same time.

A Very Normal Saturday

Today we did what we needed to do to get ready for the Sabbath and the week ahead.  I hadn't realized how stressed out I was about all of the computer issues we have had of late.  I am sure that is what precipitated my migraine yesterday. It has been nice to just have a day to somewhat relax after our morning shopping.  I hope it is wonderful Sunday for all.

Work was okay but still frustrating

We got through 2 books this morning and then D-Cam wouldn't even recognize the external hardrive - a totally new wrinkle.  I got a migraine at 12:30 and came home.  Feeling much better after a 2 hours nap.  Wish we knew what was going on with the computer.

I have learned some interesting things this week.  Jeppe was telling me that when he and his wife get up in the morning, they have kind of a mantra they say to themselves.  It is (in essence) "Today I will make this day the best day I possibly can for my spouse."  Jeppe claims that when he is frustrated about things, he remembers his promise to himself and things quickly are forgiven and forgotten.  What a wise way to go through your marriage.

Apparently Clyde and I are the most easy going of all of the Senior Missionaries.  Elder Andersen, the full time missionary from here in Copenhagen that finds living space for the missionaries, said that when he found our apartment - there was great concern that we would out and out reject it as unsuitable.  It is obvious that we did not.  In fact we are grateful that Elder Andersen found anything for us and we have a nice and warm space to call our own.  He tells this to everyone that he can.  There were a few of the other couples (some gone home now) that told Elder Andersen he was wasting his time even accepting this apartment because it would not be to our liking.  I don't understand how some people can be so hardheaded about things like this.  It is not forever and IT IS a very European apartment.

So some weird trivia.  Did you know that Egyptian women were some of the most 'free' of all women in past societies?  They were allowed to choose their spouse and run their own businesses.  The were allowed to be educated with the males of the culture.  It wasn't until after one of the later Pharaohs said that they could no longer be free, that Egyptian society started to break down.  Their society was in the forefront of all other societies of their time for over 400 years.  The last 100 were not free to women.

Witches were usually single women that were long lived.  If a woman made it over 60 years old in the 1600's, she was suspected of being a witch - more so if she was unmarried.  The idea of witches is recorded to 2 men that wanted a 'spinster's' property.  They had her declared a witch and the rage went from there.

Hurray, finally a good day!

This morning we got almost 3 books done - an then D-cam shutdown on us and would do nothing.  We finally just went and shut everything down and ate lunch.  We were able to finish up the book and start book 4 but D-cam shut down a dozen more times before finally letting us finish the book.  We had 1 hour and 30 minutes of downtime just in that book!  We did get 4+ hours of camera time in.  It was a relief.  When we went to download to the external hard drive, we had no issues.  Starting to think the camera is at fault.

I am a sun-worshipper.  I love basking in the sun.  I am enjoying the glorious afternoons we are experiencing right now.  I promise to enjoy each and every one until the bad weather comes.

Our commute this morning was incident free.  Overall it was just a good day.

I am so frustrated with D-Cam because...

...it is shutting down on us dozens of time a day!  We can't get through a book without it shutting down on us at least a dozen time!  Our production is way down and it is causing our work not to be accepted.  So upsetting.

We also missed our first bus this morning.  We usually get the bus at 12 after 7 but this morning the driver showed up at 4 after instead.  We couldn't get there quick enough.  We tried another route on another bus but we still missed our second bus.  We got to work 25 minutes behind our time because of that.  I guess I should have realize this day was not going to be an easy one.  We have more downtime than camera time!  Same as yesterday.  I wish someone would come and wave their magic wand and it would be fixed.  No such luck.

A Frustrating Tuesday

Today was one glitch after another until the computer just froze.  It took Clyde forcing a shutdown to turn it off.  We then downloaded 2 books and it took over 3 hours!  We finally just shut everything down and came home early.  We were both frustrated and sad we didn't get more done today.  Frederick wants to come in tomorrow and analyze it again.  We are so lucky to have these amazing young men working around us.  We know if there is a problem that one of them can take care of it.  So blessed.

Danes (as in nationality - not grandson) come in 2 sizes - short like me with the men no taller than 5ft. 7inches or well over 5ft. 10 or 11.  Lars is 6ft. 3inches and Frederick is taller than him.  Most of the guys in the office are well over 6 feet.  It is not at all unusual to see a woman well over 6 feet around here and they are either rail thin or very well proportioned.  There are a lot of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern people that make me look tall but they are not true Danes.  Danes are a very beautiful people too.  Quite often I cannot tell what sex someone is unless I look for an Adam's Apple.  The men are as beautiful as the women.  I have also noticed that Danes don't really react too much.  It is the other nationalities that are discontent.  They are an amazing people.

Elisabeth came back to work today after being sick for over a week.  How awful to be sick and alone.  She is such a wonderful woman.  She saw us this morning and waited so we could visit on our way in to work. 

I know I say this a lot but I am so grateful that the Lord called us to Denmark to be with these amazing friends we have made.  We are so blessed.  I complain about the short days in the winter and the cold but I will live through it.  I am startled when I realize we have 7 months left before we go home.  It is going quickly.

There is a little girl outside our window that is about 4 or 5.  She is riding her scooter up and down the sidewalk, going circles around her mother and grandmother.  I keep hearing her giggle.  Reminds me of our grandchildren.  That is another amazing trait of the Danes - family is always first.

Not any better

I now have a stomach bug.  Definitely not much to say.  Hope I feel better tomorrow.

Gloomy Sunday

The day started out with wild rain storms and has rained off and on all day.  The sky is gloomy and the temperatures are chilly.  It is not a fun day.

I was running a fever all night.  I decided I better not go to Church today.  I at first felt guilty for not trying harder to go but then realized that I was doing the best for all.  I am feeling some better and hope to go to work tomorrow.

We did it!...Indeed we did!

We gave our presentation at the Copenhagen City Hall this morning.  It was very well received.  We did 80% in Danish and 20% in English (mostly comments and answering questions.)  We presented to over 80 people and most all of them came and thanked us for this wonderful service we are performing for their people.  One woman said that Family Search is an invaluable resource and to have this be both on Family Search and the Copenhagen site, she just gushed about it.  It was quite a heady experience.  Makes this all worth it.  One of the attendees is LDS and will see Clyde at the High Priest Quorum meeting on Sunday

After the presentation, we headed to the largest mall in Copenhagen and got some things we can only get there.  It was a productive and inspiring day.

O What a Day!

Glitches on top of glitches.  Frederick came in and diagnosed the problem as a software problem.  He thinks that the computer gets stuck on a loop and can't get out of it.  After we came to a conclusion and strategy to work through everything - it didn't do it again.  10,010 images for the week is not shabby work.  Tomorrow is our presentation at the City Hall for mostly professional genealogists.  There was a program on what is Danish Public radio about the Mormon's and their search for records.  We are going to try and see if it will be replayed and we can listen to it on our computer.

We were hoping to go to Tivoli tomorrow but it isn't going to happen.  Kind of sad.  Clyde does not really want to go to Tivoli.  I just want to go through one time - mostly for my mom.  I know that sounds odd but my mother never came when it was opened and I would like to wander through one time for her.

More clouds and cooler temps.

We are heading into the time of year that a friend of ours called 'the inside of a ping pong ball.'  It has just kind of been murky all day.

Whatever Mikkel said to our inter net provider - it must have been amazing.  Second month in a row we have a credit on our bill and don't have to pay.  So grateful.

We are doing marriage banns right now.  I laughed out loud when I saw that under 'bridegroom' (brudgom) it said Margarethe Kristina Anna Jensen and under the bride (brud) it said Jakob Adolph Larsen.  I wonder who wore the pants in that family?

A couple of bits of trivia:  Next June (2015) will be the 200th anniversary for Waterloo. 
Of all cultures, Ancient Egyptian women were treated equally and given the same rights until the later years when it was all taken away.  Coincidentally, that is when the Egyptian culture started its fall.
For the last 100 years of the Roman Empire - the populace lived on Speed and Opium.  Kind of sad. 
         Oh the amazing things I learn in Danish magazines.

Jeppe helped us with our presentation on Friday for the Raadhus.  It should be interesting.

Wait! I'm not ready for

...cooler temperatures and wind.  I don't want it to be autumn yet.  Today we didn't get out of the 50's and there is dry leaf smell in the air.  I don't want it to come already!  Today my lightweight raincoat was not enough protection.  I am so sad.

We had a wonderful day at the archive yesterday and today two books glitched - but we know why.  The electricians are back reeking havoc on our camera time.  We will have to reshoot one of the books tomorrow.  We had a good lunch with everyone in the archive today.  I love Tuesdays for that reason.

We are practicing for our presentation at the City Hall on Friday for Copenhagen indexers and professional genealogists.  Jeppe is helping us practice our Danish tomorrow.

So much to say...

This morning, we went to get on the bus and I couldn't find me 'periode korte' (bus pass).  I ran to the apartment and tore everything apart and couldn't find it.  I used our 'klippe korte' when we got on the bus but I just prayed I would find it.  I am obsessive about the stupid thing and couldn't understand what happened to it.  All of the sudden a little voice whispered - 'Look in the inside zipper pocket of your purse.'  I did and it was there.  I have NEVER put my card in that pocket.  It was truly a miracle.  Prayers are answered.

We have a new focusing program for D-Cam at work.  You hit auto focus and a number pops up.  You think you can do better so go up or down.  Problem is that there is no guarantee if you go up that the number will go up.  You don't have anyway of knowing where you will end up and you have to end on a right click.  Clyde and I have dubbed this gambling.  I have had to tell Clyde to accept what it given and be content - as soon as the writing is sharp.  Sometimes he listens.

I love Danish sandwiches.  Have you had fresh cucumbers instead of pickles on your sandwich?  What about thinly slice carrots or radishes?  Danes rarely put lettuce, or pickles on their sandwiches but they do put on a variety of thinly slice vegetables instead.  You don't need condiments - the sandwich sings with the freshness

Wishing I was with my girls right now.  Can't wait to see them.  Thankfully the time is flying.

A Spiritual High Saturday

I apologize to those that read Clyde's newsletter and then read this because we do crossover a lot.  However we are together 24-7 - so it is what it is.

Yesterday morning we met at the temple steps and had a group mission picture taken.  It is the first time that the Iceland and Danish missionaries have all been together since the early 1960's.  Then we all filed into the chapel behind the temple and prepared ourselves for a feast.  Elder Bednar had us read 3 of his General Conference talks before we came.  Then he taught a profound teaching principle.  He told us to quit playing 'What is in my head' with classes.  When you approach teaching that way, everything, including your name - flies out of your head if you are called on cold.  He instead asked us, "What did you learn from these talks?"  He had missionaries stand up and testify of the what they learned.  There were no mind boggling changes to any doctrine we knew but some ideas were brought to the forefront of our minds because of the situations we are in right now.  I hope I can remember to teach that way.  I learned more in the 3 hours we were with Elder Bednar than I have in a very long time.
Other things I learned were:

• When you are afraid, don't look up scriptures on fear but on faith.
• Talking and 'telling' are not teaching.
• The person you are teaching, must want to act on what is being taught.  This is why more often than not - the teacher gets more from the lesson than the student.
• Listen and observe as you teach.  Discernment is learned and must be exercised.
• We can only teach when someone wants to learn and be included in the lesson.
• Testimony is the exclamation point of the Spirit.
• The scriptures are the Iron Rod - hold to them, fast! The Word of God will keep us true and remind us of our purpose.  When we read the scriptures and pattern our life after the Savior, we will have peace and comfort.
• Conversion is a personal thing.  I cannot convert anyone else - only myself.
• Christ is in all things.

Then Elder Bednar asked 2 questions: "Based up on what you have observed, learned and felt today, what will I do?  Based upon what we have observed, learned and felt today, what will we do?

I will continue with my observations tomorrow.  Our Branch Presidency was changed out today.  I will miss President Lars Krag but look forward to Henrik Olsen's leadership.

It seems like Saturday

Today Clyde and I went to the temple and then to the Turkish Market afterwards.  We had some fun visits with friends from Church along the way.  We were trying to get as much done today as we could so we would be able to devote our energy and time to listening to Elder Bednar tomorrow.  So looking forward to the experience.

Tomorrow all of our daughters will be together for the first time in 2 years.   I wish I could be a part of this but know that they will have a wonderful time together.

Just for laughs

This is the new sign at the Copenhagen Central Train Station.  It made me laugh so hard this morning.  (And since we missed our connection, I needed a laugh).  I think it is self explanatory.

We had a very productive day.  For the first time in 3 weeks, the books and the software cooperated to bring us back to our usual daily totals.  Tomorrow is our day in the temple (and grocery shopping) and then on Saturday at 8 a.m. we will listen to Elder Bednar.  So excited about that.

Nothing Witty to say

I stayed home today.  I ached all over and didn't sleep well last night.  Feel better after a day of sleep.  Think that is all I needed.

We are studying 3 talks by Elder Bednar, in preparation for his visit on Saturday.  Looking forward to that.

There once was an ugly duckling...

Clyde and me on Ven.

A mother swan and her cygnets.
 

Me, walking and eating an apple that Elisabeth and Clyde picked along the path.  Really good apple!

Still working lighthouse on Ven.

Cute little outbuilding I saw.  I liked all of the entries on it.  The lavender in the front of the picture smelled heavenly.

Our dear friends Elisabeth and Helge.  Daniel (in the background) brought me some 88% cocoa chocolate today.  I don't usually like dark chocolate but this was really good.  He also thanked us for going.  He told us that he really enjoyed our company on Friday.  Oh, and today Lars decided I would be his mother/mother-in-law and he would like me to make ham and bean soup on the day his 'mother' has to cook.  I told him I could do chili but everyone said that ham and beans sounds incredible right now and it wouldn't be too spicy to eat!  And thus ends our day on Ven.

More from the Island of Ven

Anni, Mona and Sjorne just before we got off the ferry.

A true chain link fence!

Bo, Pernille and me, waiting for the museum tour. 

Sign for the entrance of the museum.

Sorry you are seeing mostly backs but starting on the left is Mona, Allen, Jurgen, (You can see Helen's face between Allen and Jurgen), Helge, Pernille, Liese (pronounce Lisa), Daniel, Marianne and three girls that are interns I don't know.

Statue of Tycho Brahe

Different angle

Rose hips the size of cherry tomatoes!  I wanted so badly to pick some and make rose hip tea but had no way to carry them.